Extending our house without extending ourselves beyond our means

hugglemonster

Sounds like a perfect day, I'm lucky that my two like being in the great outdoors - they've no choice really as both me and dh are out constantly!

Well done on your running I'm doing the 1000 miles in 2017 challenge and a bit behind so far, it does get me motivated to get out myself. I'm leading my beginners group tonight with a bad back so a nice easy session to come.

Good news on the meal plan always a bonus when you can stretch it out a bit.

H x

PurpleFairy26

hugglemonster wrote: »

Sounds like a perfect day, I'm lucky that my two like being in the great outdoors - they've no choice really as both me and dh are out constantly!

Well done on your running I'm doing the 1000 miles in 2017 challenge and a bit behind so far, it does get me motivated to get out myself. I'm leading my beginners group tonight with a bad back so a nice easy session to come.

Good news on the meal plan always a bonus when you can stretch it out a bit.

H x

Wow 1000 miles in a year is good going! Am at 12.5k/50 in 6 days which is good. Was hoping to do an extra couple last night but managed 5. My left hamstring was tight, so didn't push it and have rested today (save for a gentle walk with a friend) will stretch tonight and try a few km tomorrow but will likely be short of time.

Good few days at the homestead. Curtain pole up in girls room, DH has moved the blinds as they were catching in window and resealed round window. New curtains were annoyingly 2 cm too short, so they're back in the car to go back to shop. Hopefully will get a refund despite it being a few weeks since I bought them. Will be £25 back in coffers. We've put old ones back up. They might stay.

DH also mowed lawn, always looks better doesn't it and cleared out garage spot some more space. Bag of clothes and a book to two to friend so more stuff left house.

Paid £91 of coins that had been bagged up in bank, plus some money a customer paid me for something. All to CC :T

Still deciding whether to have rest of windows done or a porch built with some house savings we have. Suspect it will depend on whether we can get the later for the funds we have. Need to call a couple of builders. Had one quote, but believe it can be done for less.

Ordered a new bike for me but will use a bike to work scheme. Means it's effectively almost half price. Plus deducted from salary over next 18 months at the princely sum of £13 a time :A will list my old one of local Faceb00k page, will do it on a sunny day though

Have moved some furniture around upstairs to make some more space. Looks much neater, everything repurposed, just in different rooms. One piece I want to bring downstairs, just need to find osmething to replace it first. Ideally something we already have, so need to get thinking cap on

Birthday party for both smalls tomorrow (same one so easy) couple of presents to wrap for that and then out on their bikes for some fresh air.

PurpleFairy26

Didn't manage out on bikes but DH and both went to the gym to make use of our membership but went independently as we obviously have smalls to look after. I've managed 17.5km running in 7 days which is good news. Need to keep it up, but busy week hurtling towards me at work.

Used left over treacle tart mixture that's been in back of fridge for a couple of months to finally make another tart. Lamb stock from last weeks joint in a sc stew with some pork daube. Lovely. Will freeze the last bit of veg/ stock/ pearl barley mix for next sc. meal

Made DD sandwiches for next two days and burritos for DH for next two days at work.

Whole family did yoga this morning on you tube that DH managed to get on tv

Couple of loads of washing dried outside and a NSD so good progress all round

OrangeFairy

Well done on the running PF - I need to start again...I was really enjoying it then stopped last August when we went on holiday and haven't picked it back up. Free exercise is always good.

I hope you manage to get some good quotes for the work on the house. I love the family yoga! I'll have to look at that!

OF x

PurpleFairy26

Thanks for popping by OF I was the same as you, running regularly this time last year, went on holiday end of May, had itchy feet whilst there as I couldn't run (no kit and too hot ) and then when I cam back really struggled to get back in to it and managed about 10 runs until late summer. Did a bit more from October onwards but then something happened in December which set me back and I've only just really picked it up again. Don't know why it's taken me this long, it makes me feel so much better about just about everything

Another week gone here and only 2.5k run as hamstring still not 100% and don't want to push it. Did manage a 6k walk at quick pace on Thursday to keep my hand in. Will try again tomorrow.

Busy week here. DH been offered additional work 2 days a week, money will obviously come in very handy although we need to do some childcare shuffle and likely need wraparound 1 day a week. Not ideal but gives us so many more options as his income will double overnight and as dc2 will be starting school in September our childcare will still be lower than it ever has been

So we've been to view a wraparound place, was beautiful and far better provisioned than we could have hoped, so all good there. Just need dd1 to do a visit there at some point and pay a holding fee, but we'll get that back when she starts.

I've finally put the curtains up in the lounge to match the dining room, had them since new year but was hoping to get them sown together first (there is 2 pairs as that was the cheapest way to get them) they actually look fine as they are separate, so will just see how it goes. Need to get a few more rings but as we repurposed the rail, the shop we got it from doesn't stock it anymore, will search online.

I've moved a unit of toys back in too and just need to find the best way to stash the rest so they look tidy but accessible. Don't really want a second unit. Have a few thoughts. Will be better when the box of photo frames (which are in the process of being put up) and the 2 boxes of fleabay listings are done with. Listed 36 items tonight :eek: may move the boxes to the garage now DH has made some space in there.

Still looking for the right shade for a small lamp stand I have (it's been a year ) and move another unit in and get sofa and cushions and then were done :T

Compared to before it's amazing, I really do love it I am going to get the carpet people back though as a patch of it looks like the colour has changed and it's annoying me

Tomorrow will be about upstairs and getting two pieces of furniture back in the girls room then out in the garden if I have time, veg is growing nicely and DH even mentioned buying a small greenhouse he'd seen. Wonders will never cease :rotfl: I would like to do some hanging baskets and plant a few bedding plants for some colour. I'd also like a run if there's time.

I may (:o:o:o) also have peeled some more wallpaper off in our room. The only thing that stopped me taking the massive picture off the wall and getting the rest of the hideous bright pink and black wallpaper (yep, it's not a typo) off the wall were the massive cobwebs that were behind it and as it's above our bed, I really need to do that before I change the bed :rotfl:

I'm almost talking myself into doing our room and the study at the same time, that way the plasterer can just do it all in one go and then it can be painted together and carpeted together (we'll have the same carpet anyway) just need to think of logistics of where our bed will go whilst the plastering is happening :think:

Something to ponder over my glass of wine

brizzledfw

Love the newsy posts. Great news re OH too.

Hope the pondering came up with a wicked plan!!

PurpleFairy26

Hey Brizzle only that'll be difficult :rotfl: having said that it's going to be difficult anywhixh way as we have a superking bed, so the matress doesn't lend itself to being moved anywhere will see state of walls when it's stripped, ideal would be that it doesn't need plastering and we only need move it for the carpet. Fingers crossed.

Busy, busy, busy here but so good and such a good feeling. Two items restored to their rightful home, cleaned and sorted on the way. Meant a big bag of stuff stiffened off for sale too.

Cleaned and stashed some outgrown tap shoes ready for next one. All washing done and dried on line. All but last few bits put away. Got rid of three areas if mould/dirt with some spray I already had. Tuned a smelly candle I already had to take the stench away :rotfl:

Managed a small shop for the week, mainly fruit and veg. Also was able to do a run, which was great.

Can't believe 2 of the rooms are so close to being done. Think I've found a sofa (subject to comfort ) for a very reasonable price. Just wardrobes in the other room, may get on Thursday if DH doesn't start his new job, if not it'll be Friday after work which isn't ideal - might swap the te5co vouchers we have for p1zza expre55 to make it more palatable with the smalls in tow :rotfl:

Ready for week ahead and to do lists/annoying things lists updated so I feel raring to go. Would be great if I could shift a few lbs too somewhere along the line. Hmmm, can't have everything.

PurpleFairy26

Another busy week at perps house didn't manage to get the wardrobes as we were busy doing other jobs. DH didn't start work but is this Thursday :T not buying the wardrobes meant the money will stay in our account longer :T

We have also:

Signed our final wills (FOC through the free wills network)
Sold 4 items through fleabay (will relist the rest tomorrow as last time when items ended on bh I did ok)
Moved interest and cb from account to CC
Meals from stores
Conscious effort to go supermarket less is working :T
Bought some cheaper cat food and he likes it :T
Despite the weather have managed to wash and dry everything outside
Earned £5 voucher from surveys and am up to nearly £20 on pr0lific
Managed to run 15.5k :T including a PB yesterday :A

We're going to the theatre this afternoon, will take snacks with us. Tickets bought ages ok and paid for

Going to potter in the garden this morning after doing some jobs as the sun is out :T

PurpleFairy26

Another week, why can I seem to only get time to post on a Sunday :rotfl: good things that have happened this week:
DH started additional job, for 1 day and will have 2 days per week from next week :T
Another 3 fleabay parcels left the house another has a bid on and will sell. A few watchers on others
Payday :A
Pots all looking healthy, would like a cushion in a few, but can't really complain
Lots of sunshine :j
Completed my 50k in May yesterday, which included longest ever run of 8.2km on Friday and a PB for 5km and 7.5km :A am aiming for 55k in June.

Not so good things:
Something happened to boiler at rental house. Has cost c£800 to fix. Thanks goodness for EF. Will need to 'pay this back' in future months, not the end of the world, just annoying. Got me thinking of wether to set up a small EF for rental :think:
Work very busy

DH going away for a few days, so planning on getting a few jobs done whilst he's away. We won't be going out much to save pennies so plenty to be done around the house to keep things moving forward. Treated myself to a new feather duster :rotfl: so the cobwebs that have been sprouting continuously have taken a battering and the house generally looking neater.

DH has mowed both back and front garden this week and trimmed the edges and started attacking a conifer that we don't like. Neighbour has said they will put up a fence instead which suits us :T they also mentioned they might but up a wall instead of fence at the back which would be amazing. We may have to contribute as it's technically 'ours' but I think he'll build it as he's redone their whole house :T

Lovely having a long weekend, hope you all enjoy yours. Perps.

PurpleFairy26

2 days in a row on my diary, recent record

Great day yesterday, lots of jobs done. Planted 3 hanging baskets and put some of the remaining plants in the front garden. Planted out 3 tomato plants. Cleared out garage and organised a bit. Have some bags for the charity shop (still ) an old duvet for recycling that I put at the front of the garage for easy access from the Drive. I also listed my bike on faceb00k, may also list on fleabay if it doesn't go today.

Girls played with some outdoor toys that haven't seen the light of day for a while and they helped me planting.

I made jam in the breadmaker as an experiment as I had some frozen strawberries that have been in freezer for too long. Was so easy and the result was fab. So making another batch today. I also made pizza dough as DD had a friend round, again why haven't I done this in the BM before. So easy and tasty. (We normally use cheap naan bread as pizza bases, which are quick and easy) but for a larger pizza this was great. Froze half for another day. Even buying mozzarella for the purpose the whole pizza was less than £1 for 4 of us :money:

Washed the winter coats and dried on line yesterday, have put away in wardrobe for more space. Found something else to list on fleabay, washed and dried that too. Will list today.

Didn't get chance to do hm pedicure last night (mainly as DD had a friend stay over and getting my nail polish out would have been dangerous :rotfl:) will do today.

I think we might be having our new carpet replaced. It has grown what looks like a water mark so it looks two tone. I called the place we got it from and they need to come and look as apparently it's a naturally occurring fault. However, luckily the particular carpet we bought is the only company that replace for red the rest say they won't as it's naturally occurring :eek: we'll see.

Weather looks wet and dull here but will want to get out later with the smalls. Free trail or local NT property I think. Enjoy your bh folks.