From debt to freedom...

Cherryfudge

Great to hear this - I hope you can get to a beach too!

Just a note of caution which I hope will be totally unfounded: I'm concerned that Ex will try something on last minute, I don't know what. It just sounds as though he might. Perhaps alert the children and any neighbours to be wary of anything that might originate with him, and ask the children who live with him not to go to yours without first speaking to you.

Cherryfudge

Sun_Addict said:

That's absolutely beautiful, how amazing to have such a colourful display in winter @janb5

Will definitely be added to my plants to buy list, I love a splash of winter colour. I've got a tree that sprouts pink blossom in winter, no idea what it's called though. I'm a plant random things, forget what they are and hope for the best type of gardener 😆

SA, could it be one of these: Viburnum × bodnantense 'Dawn'|arrowwood 'Dawn'/RHS Gardening ?

I have one by my gate and the fragrance is superb though the flowers are so tiny. It flowers when nothing else will but only till other things start to appear.

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Maggiem, SH, SA & Cherryfudge.

Maggie - Yes locks were changed again so feeling safe. I’ve also been able to fit a bolt to the door most often used which has also helped with making us feel secure. 

Cherryfudge - I do get exactly what you mean and I will be chatting to the DDs as the coming week will be the first week that we have no one  here by day having to self isolate,  for over a month! 

I didn’t quite get as much done as I’d hoped today. I have to say I was shocked how tired I felt by 2.30. We did get out to take DS3 to a friend’s birthday party and to get some groceries. The beach will have to happen tomorrow when hopefully I have some more energy!  Spending today has been on gift for the party, groceries, petrol and some seeds. I had done a check of the seeds I have left over from last year, before going out. I find getting some seeds from the garden centre useful as they stock seeds from  about 5 different companies, so it’s easier to compare exactly how many seeds you are  getting for the price! I now have some sweet peas to sow🙂.

I did check on the oil today and was quite shocked at how much we seem to have used so far this winter. I am quite careful about not turning the heating on until at least November. I have researched prices and will need to order more fairly promptly.

DD1 goes back to uni tomorrow. I ought to be used to her coming and going by now but I do enjoy her company and will miss her. She has been so good at helping me to be motivated to paint after the furniture raid. She has very kindly painted me a “signature” wall piece of art on the kitchen wall which has transformed the room again🙂.

Sayschezza

I hope you have a lock on your oil tank Lou. 

savingholmes

Signature art sounds nice. Bolt sounds good. Don't push through covid fatigue it may make it last longer.

Hope you have a restful day

Parkyp

Awe how lovely of dd to paint you some wall art. Your home sounds like it’s coming along nicely with your wee added touches. 

I think fatigue is quite a coming lasting effect of covid, so might have to still take it easy. 

I planted some seeds last year after your wonderful flower advice you gave me. They looked really nice I’ll need to start again this year 😀.
Hopefully you get out a walk today, I’ve just been out and there’s an icy cold wind here. 

crazy_cat_lady

Take care - you may not have been very unwell but I hear that people are wiped for weeks afterwards. You don't want to wipe yourself out again straight away.
I'm SO pleased that the court order has been sorted. Does that mean you can finally get rid of him once and for all?

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Sayschezza, SH, Parkyp & CCL.

 Sayschezza - I have a clip type lock on the oil tank at the moment. DD3’s theory is that we have used more oil due to having the windows open so much during the last month because of Covid. I guess if the boiler had to work harder to maintain the temperature it may possibly have used more?

CCL - it means that financially I will be not be joined, even though it’s only been joined through the mortgage, not in a day to day capacity at all.  It also means that I can live here and following some conveyancing work still to happen, the ex won’t have any right to come in, store things here etc.  With half the children still under 18, there will inevitably have to be some communication but am aiming to keep that to text / email for traceability and to not put myself through the stress of face to face communication.

Today was a lovely day...I made it to the beach with 6 of the children. These days with some working and DD1 at uni, the opportunities for getting the majority together are less ad less frequent which makes afternoons like today, all the more precious. It was a very low tide this afternoon. The sea was calm, a beautiful milky blue-grey colour with the distant cliffs looking quite mysterious!  There were quite a few black silhouettes in the water, mainly surfers waiting for a wave, although the waves weren’t that big to speak of and a few paddleboarders looking like they were having fun at sea. The huge expanse of sand, sea and sky was wonderful. Youngest DD was very happy to find a few pieces of sea glass nestling between the shells and pebbles. I felt better for the walk and fresh sea air.

Pasties for tea since I had the time and the energy followed by chocolate brownies.  I did get a little bit done in the garden which was good. Every little bit is improving the space.🙂

savingholmes

Glad you got to the beach

Cherryfudge

Beach sounds as lovely as ever!

I'm so pleased things are moving towards resolution.