From debt to freedom...

Sun_Addict

Another beautiful photo, you’ve got a good eye for photography 😍

Drawingaline

The girls driving lessons are £35 an hour and the instructor is pushing for two hour lessons as he says it is easier to really get into the groove. He did a package where I paid upfront for a chunk and got a discount, but it's still going to be a bit of a struggle. But with hubby never passing his test I am determined the kids will learn!

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Cherryfudge, SA and DAL.

SA - I try  to learn from DS1 and DD1 who are both keen photographers!

DAL - we live so rurally that it’s a necessity. I will count my blessings it’s only £60 a time!

I got to the allotment and had a good couple of hours there. Most of the time went on cleaning out the greenhouse. When I got there, more plants had been eaten 😤😣 but there seemed to be a bit of a rodenty type smell. I pulled everything possible out, chopped back weeds that had crept in and for good measure DS1’s mad dog helpfully dug lots of holes in the bed area so I’m pretty sure no rodent was present. There was certainly no evidence of rats but possibly some mice droppings. I got everything raked around and put back in. To make absolutely sure, I lifted up one of the paving slabs that I have in the centre of the greenhouse, to make a path. As I put the paving slab back, I managed to drop it on my toe, which is now very swollen, purple and painful . Hoping it’s just bruised...

I’m thankful that I got some more sweet peas sown  and some Rudbeckias sown. They will be more late summer /Autumn flowering but will be a welcome sight 🙂.

DS2 came home from school with a cooking ingredient list. This year he seems to have less than 24 hours notice between being given a list and actually  cooking the dish 😒. Thankfully this time, it’s a sweet dish so no expensive meats to buy🙂.

Cherryfudge

Ouch! Perhaps strap that toe to its neighbour to give it some support while it heals? As a veteran of broken toes, it does sound like a possible candidate, but you don't want to listen too hard to someone who has a talent for breaking toes (four so far, separate occasions, same foot).

I love both sweet peas and rudbeckia. I hope the rodent doesn't come back and they all thrive.

Parkyp

Beautiful pictures. I hope your toe isn’t too painful. 

Spendless

Oooohhh wild garlic. Did you pick any? I believe it's something that can't be commercially bought, unless that has changed in recent years. I have a chef on my social media who talks about it. The photos are beautiful. 
Eeek, additional costs again. Did you manage to sideline the £500 from a few weeks ago? 3 years ago I was paying 2 hour driving lessons too think it was £40 back then, trying  to get DS through his test before going to Uni. Glad he did it though, so useful for him next year when he graduates and has to seek employment. Wish I could persuade DD, but her anxiety is too high. Toe sounds painful! .

Drawingaline

I love your gardening tales, I am determined I will have a lovely garden full of flowers at some point. My mil is brilliant at gardening, I am limited to not killing lavender and roses so far 😂 this year we are having all the shrubs taken out leaving one tree (which will need cutting back next year I think) and next year I will do some planning.

I have, however purchased a book on how not to kill houseplants, and I have been gifted a spider plant (so 70's) and some cacti and am going to try and keep them alive. If it works I may get some more 😂

Sarahwithlove

Wow lessons have got expensive. Mine used to be £17 an hour but that was over 10 years ago. 2 hr sessions were better when I learnt to drive so I would recommend it if you can. 

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Cherryfudge, DAL, Spendless, Parkyp & Sarahwithlove.

Spendless - I did pick a little wild garlic leaf, more to show DS3 and to get him to smell it. I must try to harvest some on a lane that has less chance of dog walkers! 

DAL - have fun planning your garden. It’s always useful to live  somewhere for a year so that you know which plants you have. Flowers that originate from bulbs might not be in evidence when you first move in, so worth waiting to see what is growing in your garden.

One of the more stressful weeks of my life...sadly the financial court process is causing more of a reaction from  the ex which isn’t pleasant.

Work starts at job no 2 on Monday. It will be quite weird going back. Just hoping I can remember how to do the till! I do enjoy job no 2 as it’s so different from job no 1. Hopefully I will get a mid week evening shift which will ensure I am elsewhere,  but close by if needed, when the ex visits the children.

Spendless

I'm so sorry to hear about this with ex, but sadly not overly surprised. Over the time I've read your thread, he has been both secretive (not revealing where he lives) and unsupportive in several ways but including financial, where he leaves you with the responsibility of having to fund a large family. Yes, I can imagine that being under the  financial scrutiny of a court has displeased him and his thought process being that you're to blame for it.

Fingers, crossed for you're at job 2 midweek. Maybe say to your boss there, 'don't suppose you have any hours on x date do you this week?' If they're busy they may  snap your hand off.