Get a grip woman!

greent

How big is your garden, S_l? It sounds lovely (if a good amount of work!) 

Suffolk_lass

It's just over 1/3rd of an acre now (it was twice that size but we sold a lump for two houses) - it is very wide and not very deep - apparently this depth is the ideal sized garden for new-builds. I might post a picture or two

lucielle

It does sound huge.  Also lots of lovely things growing
L

Suffolk_lass

Well that has been a useless week for providing updates. I will summarise:

All the hedging is done. Still got to spray paths and areas where ground elder is in residence but can't do that in rain or wind so not today.

The Veg garden is ramping up and I have harvested the first potatoes, courgettes and chard to go with the salad we have been eating for weeks. Loads of gooseberries and raspberries - not so many strawberries or boysenberries (first year) and hardly any redcurrants (birds).

The work on the van is progressing and it now has three shower walls. A bit of a mistake on one means we will be adding a decor feature with some copper pipe to hide a gap where DH did not measure at enough points and missed that the wall was wider at the bottom. We are going for a bit of a steam punk look with brass trim. We are going for a sealed cork floor and using the wall board to trim the sink, lights and splash-back on the wall behind the washbasin. DH still needs to secure the bathroom cabinet. We will find out in a week or so if the campsite is really open.

Another accident for DH - while rummaging in his workshop his drill fell off the counter and bounced into his shin. Cue nurse SL - I stopped the bleeding, stuck it together so no need for stitches and dressed it. The Nurse who gave him a tetanus jab said I did well (smug mode) but he has to keep it dressed for a week to let it heal before the steri strips come off - I recommend these if anyone has not tried them. Brilliant for addressing flesh wounds, and stemming bleeding.

Money wise, I contacted the BS about the mortgage to check about costs to redeem early. It seems they would like us to (at 0.59%) so no early redemption fees or penalties. Just the admin for winding it up and contacting the Land registry and any interest on top of the capital so I will ask them to use some of the savings bond that matures with them in October, and that will finish it off. 

In other money stuff, savings have slowed, costs have risen but all is OK. Life is simple. We are content.

Suffolk_lass

Nearly back to normal (for us) today as our bubble friend will be departing for his home, 50 miles away. We have consumed more than normal, mainly because I made sure I was offering food and drink more often. Going to try and consciously lose some of the treats from now on (so a beer and one snack but no dessert [eek], but not both).

I have some aching joints (knees, feet) after our 5 mile walk yesterday. Went past giant hogweed - terribly invasive and an irritant but a magnificent specimen! It almost makes you forget the bracken and seeding cleavers that are taking over the native heathland and woodland we were walking through

themadvix

Horrible plants, but beautiful too, I agree!

You've been really busy but sound very happy!

greent

Cracking pic - approx how tall was that one?

rtandon27

ooo - what a beautiful Piccy SL!

Karmacat

Hello SL!  I've arrived at a really good point - thats a great pic!  Its a triffid, you know    Your gardening sounds wonderful, and fancy your harvesting too!  Wonderful.

I too have to get to grips with savings rates near zero on existing accounts - must be a  "little" bit better somewhere else.

Suffolk_lass

greent said:

Cracking pic - approx how tall was that one?

That one was between 7 and 8 foot so not a monster but immediately by the path and the light was just right.

I spent the miserable afternoon machining new heavier weights into our shower curtain for the van (making sure it stays in the shower tray. Thanks to a badly timed interruption from my Mum (asking if my Amazon delivery had come to her by accident - it was her neighbour's) I still have bits to finish on the other one. I should explain. I have taken about three inches of the bottom of a shower curtain and made it into a channel across about half way up for a curtain wire (the kind you used to see with a little hook on each end) so that the curtain does not billow in and stick to our bodies (yuk). I just need to make two pockets with the off-cuts so the wire is just to long (then it holds its tension). Just the little pockets to go.

Really good to see you back @Karmacat - long time!