From debt to freedom...

CRANKY40

I had my letter about the tax credits £500 today - it was dated 23rd of April which was the day that all payments were due to be paid by. You'd think they'd send the letter first and then the money wouldn't you?

Sun_Addict

Beautiful photos. Those lambs are adorable 😍

Parkyp

Stunning pictures

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Cranky40, SA & Parkyp.

Cranky40 - Yes you would think information first, then payment. Hey ho! Glad to have received it.

Today has been a busy day, with lots of driving. After collecting DD1 from work at the end of her shift, we picked up DD2 and headed for the cliffs. When we got to the little cove we were aiming for, DD2 shouted in surprise. The cove that we normally see either full of water ( high tide) or lots of rocks exposed, had the tide go so far out, it exposed a huge sandy bay! I’ve walked to this cove many times and never seen a beach of this size there before! Can only think it’s a very low tide caused by the pink super moon currently visible in the sky. We scrambled over the rocks and onto the sand. We saw quite a few caves set back into the cliff. There were various types of seaweed...I’m  not really up on the seaweed varieties, but one variety stood upright like a forest of trees stuck on the rock. I could have happily stayed there all day exploring the rockpools and drinking in the different perspective of the coastline that being on the beach ( rather than the cliff path) afforded. DD2 found 4 starfish in and around the Rock pools. We’re hoping that the tides stay so low at the weekend so that we can take the younger children.

On the walk back to the car we saw skylarks swooping around and heard  their beautiful, distinctive song.

Cherryfudge

I just love your photos!

Well done on the firm but polite phone call too.  

savingholmes

Well done for being assertive

Love the photos - especially of the sea - feel like I have withdrawal as didn't get to a beach last year...

janb5

Hi HSL- I was quite surprised you are using the membrane in your garden.   I am housesitting for a friend of mine and I`ve found plants don't seem to flourish so well when a membrane is used or am I just prejudiced.  She had a camellia which just wasn`t flourishing so I`m hopefully resiting it in my garden( with permission!)  I tp
oo have Camellia Williamsii- mine is at least 30 years old and flowers just after Christmas.

Spendless

Photos are beautiful and your description of the hidden beach had me longing for the sea and I'd already decided I wasn't booking a hol anywhere this year and probably not next year either, just due to restrictions still in force at places you visit. 

Doesn't sound like your post can be taken. It would be too risky to be seen or if your hand might just get stuck even if the opening is wide.  I smiled at the comment about how  it stops the dogs going mad. Mine has a special 'I hate the postman' bark reserved only for him!  

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Cherryfudge, SH, Janb5 & Spendless.

Janb5 - sorry should have clarified, the membrane is like a woven material and is not going near plants...the back garden is terrible. It looks like a builder’s yard with materials and machines taking up part of it. Years ago the ex dug out some soil as he needed it for work and this odd slope has been there ever since. Since the grass is patchy and I fight an annual battle with nettles, my plan is to dig it all out and level it more. One flatter part has had machines there for so long, I was going to move them, put the membrane down and cover with pebbles, then put a new log store there. The old log store has somewhat collapsed and is the furthest point from the back door, so in winter we end up trying to slip around in the dark, travelling the length of the garden to get logs. I’d like to get the back garden into a relaxing area! Hope you are enjoying your housesitting 🙂.

Its been one of those frantically busy weeks at work, one I was very glad to get to the end of. Hopefully this week will be a little less busy but the pressure is certainly on.

Yesterday we decided to go back to the hidden beach. We went at low tide but there was no beach like there had been on Monday. The cove was mainly rocks with odd patches of sand but nothing like the expanse we saw on Monday. It was bizarre, to look out to sea knowing full well we had walked there earlier in the week. I can only think the extreme low tide was due to the super moon. The cove is still well worth going to but is a clamber down. It’s an ideal natural climbing area for adult and child! DS3 thoroughly enjoyed himself and we spent time looking in the many rock pools  finding limpets, mussels and sea anemones. There are lots of different types of seaweed there including a pale pink variety at the bottom of the pools. The time  spent there took me back in my mind to my grandfather taking me to the beach at this  age and exploring the rock pools with him, except that beach was  further down the coastline. Compared to Monday there was quite a lot of driftwood - DS3 found one piece that he used as his climbing pick but it also looked uncannily like a deer antler! At one point DS3 shouted that he had found treasure. When I looked he’d spotted a sizeable piece of green sea glass. He is convinced that the mermaids dropped it there...! As the sea went out a little more DS3 and the youngest DDs enjoyed drawing in the sand and running in and out from the waves. We had brunch on grass set back from the cliff path, as it would have been a challenge to drag the food bags over the rocks. As a treat we’d got some croissants, chocolate chip brioches and some strawberries and blueberries to eat for brunch. It was a shame to drag ourselves away but DD2 had work to go to. I think this cove might be one we go to more as we try to stick to the lesser  known coves  as the tourists numbers increase.

Payday was on Friday. So far only £30 has been swept out to go to my savings challenge pot. May looks to be a challenge finances wise. I had a good chat with DD3 last week which was useful as there are things that she needs to support her studies particularly in the next 6 months, so it’s good to know in order to budget this in. She is also at the stage of needing to look at university courses so I think it’s worth starting a savings pot for September 2022 so I don’t end up incurring more debt.

Garden wise - the kale has now been potted on as have the antirrhinums. The Nicotiana is incredibly slow growing but hopefully when it’s planted out will put on much better growth. Unfortunately I’ve lost more tomato plants inside the greenhouse. Something has clearly eaten them but the glass is all intact so can only think that something is digging under the floor😣. It’s a little disheartening to get the plants to a decent  healthy stage and then lose them  when I move them. The rabbits got to quite a few plants outside at the allotment last year. I will have to wire the raised beds carefully!

Have a lovely Sunday everyone.

savingholmes

Good luck with protecting from rabbits. It always makes me think of Peter Rabbit and smile though when I hear about rabbits taking food - but I suppose if you are relying on the food it does really matter