EH - Essex > Hebrides...the next step of the adventure?

enthusiasticsaver

Fingers crossed you continue to stay negative.  It is rife everywhere so apart from immediate family we have all opted not to socialise on the run up to Christmas. 

Those photos of the Reds are wonderful.  What a lovely blue sky as a backdrop. 

EssexHebridean

Thanks for all the crossed fingers and posi....negative vibes!   Still all clear this morning, and now Queen Nicola has decreed that there will be no last minute changes (didn't predict that announcement!) we're feeling slightly more hopeful...

Food needs to be all as per plan this week. I used the last of the swede and the parnips in a double batch of three root mash last night - half got frozen and that will provide part of an easy meal once we're back, probably alongside the last of the lamb - the second to last bit - chump end chops - were consumed last night and were utterly delicious!  Tonight is couscous with roasted veg, halloumi and toasted seeds. Probably a drizzle of yogurt & mint sauce over the top, and some zatar or sumac - all very simple and easy and we can do other jobs whilst the veg is roasting. 

Washing went through last night and on the airer this morning - the last load which can include clothes to pack to take with us - and MrEH will be putting his waterproof coat through for a wash tonight then setting it to run again to proof which only needs a short wash as soon as he gets up. Tomorrow night will be towels which will get an hour drying so they should only be damp when they come out, and we'll probably do a final load of clothes either Thursday or Friday night so we have stuff to wear when we get back. When we go in the spring we have access to a washing machine so bring most stuff back clean - not so for this trip though which will mean 15 days worth of dirty clothes when we get back! 

The temperature is holding up surprisingly well in the flat at the moment in spite of external temperatures having dropped - I'll probably turn things down a little before we go away but not too much as it is the very devil to get it to warm up again if it drops down too low. We're using in the region of £2.50 a day at the moment which is pretty respectable I think, and better than I thought we might be by now. Must add reading both meters to my ever-growing "to do" list too - ideally I'll need to put the electricity one through in the next few days. Not sure I can give EDF readings yet - I'll need to have a look. I can literally read that and then keep the reading in case they ask for one while we're away though as it won't change between times. 

Feels like there's lots of stuff to get done over the next few days - packing of course, the christmas cooking....and that reminds me, I'll need to pop to T's this evening to get the chipolatas and streaky for pigs in blankets, and normal sausages for sausage rolls. I'll probably do that while killing time ahead of MrEH getting out of London. I might think about making the first lot of pastry this evening - I should just need two batches - one each for sausage rolls and mince pies.  I do need to get some of the cooking stuff done over the next few days too as otherwise I'll just run out of time on friday. 

Sunshine_girl2

I am getting excited listening to all your Hebridean travel trip news . It looks like you will be ok now , fingers crossed. 

Cheery_Daff

Ooh, getting closer, and sounds like you're good and prepared!

leftatthetrafficlights

Hope you have a lovely time over the holiday period!! 😊 

EssexHebridean

Thanks all - SG2 the next few days will be telling to see if MrEH WAS exposed to the virus on Saturday. We literally have no idea - we know a member of bar staff has tested positive, and it sounds like potentially now several more too, but no idea which one, so he doesn't know if he was in contact or not! Realistically he won't start feeling he's out of the woods until after next weekend, I suspect. 

On the same basis I've decided that I won't be going to the gym again now before next year - just not a risk worth taking I don't think. I need to formally cancel my Hussle pass too, to make sure they can't take any more money. 

I think my Dad had decided that his usual Christmas Eve meet up with some pals at a pub is probably not a good plan, we were intending to take him, I was going to stay for a half, and MrEH was going to stay throughout, and I have to say I'm not too sorry to not be doing so now, it didn't feel like a great idea. It's a shame for Dad as he was looking forward to it, but I'm not entirely surprised he's leaning towards not going.

Prolific is crawling towards the £20 mark - I'm on £18.92 paid/£2.23 pending now
OnePoll is also creeping slowly in the right direction - 1795 points. this time of year is so S-L-O-W! 

milann

Your trip has come around so quickly. Won't be long now. I think it’s a wise move giving the pub a swerve. Pity your dad is missing out though. 

savingholmes

Hope you both manage to get away scot free... 

Sorry irresistible

beanielou

Give us a wave EH on the way past 

EssexHebridean

Groan - that's a dreadful pun SH!  Beanie - will do, although we'll be a fair way west of you I think! And Milann - it is, but allowing that he's classified as Clinically Extremely Vulnerable I think he's making a wise decision. 

MrEH got his coat washed and proofed, and has also been for his booster jab this morning which is good.  We both had clear tests again this morning too so starting to allow a tiny bit of optimism to creep in - my poor nostrils are starting to feel a bit tender from daily testing though! So far nobody else from the rugby lot who were at the club on Saturday has tested positive as far as we know so that's a bit reassuring as Omicron does appear to have a shorter incubation time in spite of the official guidance still being 3 - 8 days. I've got two sets of clients coming in today for me to witness documents with them which I'd sooner wasn't happening - can't be helped though.

Tonight's tea will be the rest of the stew from Sunday - and I already have the sausages out defrosting for tomorrow night's sausage and mushroom pasta - roasted the whole pack of Shrooms last night too so that will save a bit of a job for tomorrow. 

Just submitted a gas meter reading to EDF so they can do without another one for a while now. Ideally I need to remember to do electric ones to UW in the next few days too - otherwise they'll use a silly estimate again no doubt. 

Threw £225 at the PB account the other day and that is now showing on the balance which is good. There might be a bit more to go that way yet - although I have a hunch that Marcus might increase the savings interest rate before all that long so I may lob the remaining surplus there instead - as far as I know all DD's have now left the account for the month. 

Got onto a nice Prolific study last night - a two parter both parts of which pay over £2 for roughly 10 minutes each which is decent. I've set a reminder to check for the second part next week as payment is reliant on both being done.