From debt to freedom...

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you SH & Janb5.  I was quite tired yesterday after such a late night, but all caught up on sleep now🙂. I got the completed forms posted off yesterday so can cross those off the to do list. I have a couple of more complex forms to tackle today which need to be done ASAP.

Yesterday I took 3 of the children with me to visit my lovely parents. They, very kindly, took us out for lunch so that was a treat. It’s a shame that the others miss out but under the rule of 6 we can’t all meet up 😕. My mum has managed to visit on a day when the younger ones are at school, so she’s had a bit of time with the older ones who are in shift work times. Strange to think that something we have taken for granted, being able to see each other as a family group, isn’t allowable. 

Having got off to a good decluttering start, I’m hoping to continue that over half term. I also have some tulip, daffodil and iris bulbs to plant up, so must get those in.

I spent some of my job 2 wages on ingredients for Christmas cake so time to get the fruit soaking in the brandy 🙂.

Have a good Sunday everyone.

magicgal

I’m sorry things are so crap with the rule of six. I think you have all done well to find a workaround that fits your needs though. 

And yay for getting ready for the festive season! I’m itching to start doing stuff with the kids but waiting til we’ve managed to sort the flat. 

I know the nature walk blog has been mentioned but I’ve been wanting to see a recipe one from you with all your bakes. I’ve been so inspired by all your baking that I tried to teach myself to make croissants. It’s still a work in progress but they are definitely getting better. I actually have some time for a change so trying to use it productively x

Honeysucklelou2

Sunday was a lovely relaxing day. I got out for a walk, in the afternoon. It did come in to rain, as we were walking but sometimes the need to walk and be outside is greater! DS3 had his waterproof suit and wellies on so thoroughly enjoyed finding and splashing in every puddle! The grass is such a vibrant shade of green with all the rain we’ve had recently 🙂.

DD3 and I went out for some driving practice.  When we got home ( I was driving), I heard a sound that made me think a drumming track was playing on the radio...turned out that the bottom part of the exhaust had come off and was banging on the road 😳😫. One of the first jobs today will be to ring the garage and get that sorted.

The dried fruit has been out to soak in brandy overnight, so that the Christmas cake can be made tomorrow 🙂.  Tea was chicken cobbler followed by chocolate upside down pudding, both warming  and filling dishes.

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Magicgal...so glad that you feel inspired to bake. Well done on tackling croissants!

Interestingly DD1 reminded me today about something I started to write about 10 years ago...a book about the hedgerows written for children, so that they know what the main hedgerow plants are. I’d forgotten about it, but DD1 is keen to unearth it and add illustrations to it. Probably needs a fine tune with the words but could be a fun winter project!

janb5

Hi HSL- so the blog might actually happen as you`ve already done the spade work! 

Sun_Addict

Isn't it daft your kids having to see their grandparents in shifts. It's like when DS, DIL and the GKs come to visit us it makes 7 in the house if DD isn't at work, so who am I supposed to kick out. The hedgerows book sounds lovely. I used to know all the names of wild flowers etc when I was a child, I bet not many do nowadays. I enjoy reading about your walks, gardening and cooking 😊

Cherryfudge

I will be queuing up for your hedgerow book once it comes out! I've realised I know so little this year: I have a few apps to help me identify things (three species of fungi recently) but something with beautiful illustrations would be a different sort of treasure.

I've just done my Christmas cake: I have some of the glass containers with clip-on plastic lids and have discovered the largest size is perfect for soaking the fruit as it can be shaken with impunity and the 'juice' doesn't evaporate. The cake still has a 'smiley face' on top where - as always - it's split. I always forget the recipe was designed for an oven with no fan so the poor cake looks a little tanned... but happy.  

We have a similar issue with the rule of 6, as we are 7. DS2 is working on Christmas Day and both couples had arranged to be elsewhere with friends and family so we had a family conference to reschedule Christmas, which has moved the problem up all of three days. I can see us all socially distancing down trestle tables in the street at this rate!

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Janb5, SA & Cherryfudge.

Its been one step forward, two steps back this week so far, but feeling upbeat with the progress thus far.  I delved into one of the cupboards of clutter and unearthed the first and second draft of the hedgerow book 🙂. Some parts I’m happy with, but some I am most definitely not, so will be thinking about how I can edit and improve parts. DD1 was happy that I’d found it and since her job comes to an end on Saturday, she will have some time in November to think about how she wants to illustrate it🙂. 

A far amount  of time has been spent taxiing children around, primarily DD1 to work and then back again but a few other errand type journeys. DS1’s dog had to have a minor op yesterday so ended up collecting the dog and watching him carefully, post general anaesthetic. It’s a good lesson for DS1 to learn, that sometimes things crop up and will require financial attention. Thankfully he seems to have had enough to sort this op out.

I’ve tackled some financial forms that I had been putting off. Unfortunately it seems that I will need to have certified copies of id, but they have to be certified by a solicitor. I’ve emailed the solicitor I use at the moment to ask if they can sort it out.  I’ve been able to send emails to estate agents and the mediator to do everything I can to chivvy things along - amazing how much can be done on a determined day🙂.

I banked another £15 of tips yesterday and along with £15 that DD2 owed me for something, I’ve been able to add £30 to a savings pot😌. I have to pay another £12.50 to the H2S to complete this month’s £50 , which will then mean that £500 has been saved across various pots. I know it doesn’t sound very much but with the little wriggle room that I have at the moment, it feels like a sizeable achievement! Part of me is so tempted to use it all to pay off the window loan, but I know that’s not a wise choice, in case something breaks down or some other emergency comes up. I’ll keep chipping away...

Cherryfudge

£500 is a brilliant saving, especially when you have a number of mouths to feed!

janb5

Please don`t invite X for Christmas!