Get a grip woman!

Suffolk_lass

Just done the tomatoes. I large and one medium jar (and I used the rest to make Melanzane Parmiggiana last night). I have literally just heard one of the lids "pop" as I am typing this

Another build up of courgettes means we will be having some for supper tonight - I might get some chops out of the freezer as we have had meat infrequently since returning but I think DH would like it. He goes off on his motorcycle to a club rally or festival tomorrow and I will happily live on bitsa over the weekend.

Suffolk_lass

Well the joiners arrived yesterday to fit the bespoke front door we commissioned in May. There is no letter box but we have the handles and lock fitted. A minor irritation is that they fitted the handle out of line with the cross brace because the cross brace is thicker wood and a man's knuckles would not fit in the gap without the loss of skin. It doesn't notice outside because the door is plain. The knocker and keyhole escutcheon are on order.

We also had oil delivered - part of the Village oil club £241.50 including VAT for 500l is cheaper than last year per litre, and 500l less. We are actively thinking of changing the (huge steel, rather rusty) tank next Spring for a smaller bunt (double skin) tank that tucks back a bit. This one is right behind the first bit of fence and we might take that out to make the drive entrance wider and access for the camper van easier.

Busy_Mee1

Morning SL it sounds like you are back to it after your holiday.

Interesting that you are thinking about part-time seasonal work for the winter.

Two of my friends who have retired have both picked up paid work for two days a week, from what started as voluntary work (In a school and with the police) Both said they needed a bit more purpose and structure to their week. Makes me think that the partial retirement option might be good for me ( goes away to ponder yet again and flip flop in decision making:think:)

Great news on the mortgage payment. I can't wait to pay off a chunk of our mortgage when Mr Mee retires......he only has 8 weeks to go now :T

Suffolk_lass

Busy_Mee1 wrote: »

Morning SL it sounds like you are back to it after your holiday.

Interesting that you are thinking about part-time seasonal work for the winter.

Two of my friends who have retired have both picked up paid work for two days a week, from what started as voluntary work (In a school and with the police) Both said they needed a bit more purpose and structure to their week. Makes me think that the partial retirement option might be good for me ( goes away to ponder yet again and flip flop in decision making:think:)

Great news on the mortgage payment. I can't wait to pay off a chunk of our mortgage when Mr Mee retires......he only has 8 weeks to go now :T

My motivations in applying for temporary seasonal work are based on several factors:

1. DH will be painting and although paint no longer contains solvents it still upsets my respiratory system so being out while he paints is good
2. 20% discount in certain retailers, if I am successful
3. bit of a contribution to my NI contributions - I need to top up my career of working opted out for the remaining 4 years until I am 65 (contributions in the year withing which you reach SPA don't count) - each contribution year is worth £4.65 a week so it won't take long to make it up
4. I don't want to turn the heating on before my Mum comes for Christmas :money:
5. A bit of extra money
6. I fancy doing something temporary

The letter from the BS confirms our interest is now £18.49 a month :T

Suffolk_lass

I managed to catch the postman yesterday to apologise for not having a letter box in place. I am off outdoors to look for an option to use as an interim measure but I would like a wall-mounted box to put in adjacent to the door, which we will commission from one of the joiners. It's another spend but I think it will be worth it. I just don't want to cut a hole in our beautiful new door - it was hard enough watching him cut holes for the sash bolt, handles and keys. I might consider a dead-bolt on the inside, top and bottom to improve security (because in theory the outward opening part reduces this).

On my own last night as DH away on his bike for the weekend, there was a knock at about 11pm - a lost stranger. I explained two ways to get to the road south but after they had gone I looked on google maps. I had not realised the main road was shut. Both my options relied on it being open. I hope they got home safely.

It was an odd moment, as I opened the door at that time of night. It was only at that moment I considered my possible safety. Nothing to worry about - they were panic-stricken and I could help. I am not sure he took it in as he was in such a state but I wasn't going to leave the door open while I drew them a map

Karmacat

Ooh, SL ... I doubt I'd open the door at 11pm, sadly - and at the moment I'm in bed well before then in any case. But I'm not anywhere isolated, there's be plenty of other options for anyone who's lost.



I *do* know what you mean about the postbox - that's a great idea to have one wall-mounted - and anyway, even though draft exclusion is so good these days, better not to do it when you've got options.

Suffolk_lass

Well here we are on Monday! Lots of garden clearing to do. Yesterday I did about an hour; I finally cut down the agapanthus seed heads (Monty told us it was a job for the weekend at least 3 weeks ago) and started on the lavender spent flower heads. I think I have missed my best chance of rooting some cuttings. I also cleared loads of rudbeckias that are too close to paths and had flopped across. My word my garden needs some reorganisation. Dead shasta daisy spikes are everywhere, demonstrating just how invasive they are too.

I also made 4 small jars of Strawberry jam, using the last sachet of pectin that I had in, with most of one of those large trays of strawberries (I eat some and then made jam with 600g of them) - they were reduced to £3 and I had a big bag of caster sugar from my outing to Costco with my friend's husband (that sounds much more weird than it was :rotfl:). I reckon £1 a jar and I know what is in them, which matters to me.

I took the plunge and read the meter this morning (first time since May) and our readings are well below the estimate they used for the August bill. It all comes out in the wash but there is no way any prediction algorithm will ever get the hang of our usage which is abnormally high from October to Easter and then abnormally low through the light months, thanks to the always-on electric range we have that runs on the electric. I try not to turn it on until October and as we will be going up to my Mum's in Scotland at the end of the month, that is easy this year. We also have a post-Easter trip organised for the last weekend in April through for 10 days next year, so there is already a switch-off plan in my head

I need to buy breathalisers, a GB sticker and a couple more high vis vests this week, and I might invest in some salt traps for the motorhome too.

Baileys_Babe

I've spent the last couple of weeks reading your diary. Your plans for retirement, building up to your retirement, then DH retirement. We would like to own a camper van/motor home. I thought you might of considered a trailer so you could take a motor bike or two for use when camping.
Whilst reading I've found out some about investments, I need to do lots more reading around the subject.
I enjoyed your posts about nutrition, this has always been an interest of mine, but I haven't devoted much time to it over the last couple of years, I will try and rectify this both for pleasure and to improve my health.
Please can you direct me to the instructions you used to make the soap, I have had this on my bucket list for years. Are you happy with the finished product?

We have a solid wood front door, our letter box is mounted on the adjacent wall, I didn't want a letter box in the door as we want to reduce where drafts can come in and I feel a house is more vulnerable if there is a hole in the door.

Suffolk_lass

Baileys_Babe wrote: »

I've spent the last couple of weeks reading your diary. Your plans for retirement, building up to your retirement, then DH retirement. We would like to own a camper van/motor home. I thought you might of considered a trailer so you could take a motor bike or two for use when camping.
Whilst reading I've found out some about investments, I need to do lots more reading around the subject.
I enjoyed your posts about nutrition, this has always been an interest of mine, but I haven't devoted much time to it over the last couple of years, I will try and rectify this both for pleasure and to improve my health.
Please can you direct me to the instructions you used to make the soap, I have had this on my bucket list for years. Are you happy with the finished product?

We have a solid wood front door, our letter box is mounted on the adjacent wall, I didn't want a letter box in the door as we want to reduce where drafts can come in and I feel a house is more vulnerable if there is a hole in the door.

Ooh, welcome Baileys Babe, blimey that was a bit of a trek through, I think I started in 2017 with this diary.

Re the soap, the recipe I used is near the bottom of the page on this link.

I also watched a u-tube video - I liked this one best link.

I used filtered water instead of distilled. I used silicon patty tins instead of buying a mould and I mixed using my stick blender, putting the surplus into a bread tin lined with cling film (cleaning it very carefully afterwards with lots of very hot water. I had some of the pin-hole matting. I think I used tea tree and mint essential oils.

I also wear glasses so no goggles - just pour the right way round and pour slowly (and don't tilt the blender!). I made mine in a big glass jug so pouring was easier. No colours - the coconut oil makes it a pleasing white colour.

-We love the quality of the soap and the way it leaves my hands soft and have since bought a second mould, a £7 stick blender from Sainsbugs and I will add more essential oil next time (the fragrance has faded but I did not wrap it straight after curing).

Good luck!

Karmacat

That sounds wonderful! Thanks for putting it up there again, I might need to copy that into a separate file Have a good day, SL.