Viking's Diary

Viking_mfw

Went out into the garden just as it started trying to snow so I rapidly repotted my jalapeno seedlings and chopped some firewood then retreated inside after chasing DS1 round the garden for 20 minutes. Hasn't come to anything though...

savingholmes

Well done on the water butts and the decluttering. I can so relate to things appearing to multiply when you are going through a decluttering phase... I scratch my head innocently and remark 'Where did that all come from?' - as if I didn't know LOL.

Viking_mfw

DH has noticed the increase in clutter due to my decluttering. I asked if he wanted me to stop but the answer was an emphatic "no!" 

It's almost as if he thinks I have too much stuff...

Porridgecat

You have done a lot in the garden over the last few days, I feel shattered just reading about it. I'm sure it will all pay off later in the year when things start to grow properly.

Viking_mfw

Porridgecat said:

You have done a lot in the garden over the last few days, I feel shattered just reading about it. I'm sure it will all pay off later in the year when things start to grow properly.

Gardening and being in the green is one of the things essential to my mental health. I love growing food and am aiming to make the garden as productive as possible over time, partly for environmental reasons, partly for MS reasons (this is probably a false economy - but it's cheaper than therapy!) and partly because it's fun! I was thinking as I fed DS2 puree this morning I can't wait til I'm feeding him things we've grown. But also, I am trying to get the big structural jobs done before my maternity leave ends as I know I'll have less time and energy then. 

savingholmes

Good luck with it all. A decent garden makes a big difference.

shangaijimmy

The clutter seems to leech out into the space that has been created. I'm really hoping that I can get to the tipping point where there is no more to leech out!! 

Viking_mfw

BRRRRRR. 
We spent a good 45 minutes in the garden clearing the corner of carp where the new water butt is going to go, but that was enough for me. We need to order an extender hose anyway, and frankly I draw the line at breaking ice in order to reach into the water to get the tap for the water butt out! The cold has enforced me not going out for a SD'd walk with a friend, though, so that's the price of a coffee saved and also whatever I would have picked up in Mr A on the way back - although that's probably just expenditure delayed. Not an NSD however, as I have ordered the extender for the water butt. 

Discovered last night my MIL had said that if we needed money I could always write another book Not sure she gets exactly how little you make in academic publishing! However, I did let that spur me on to register for ACLS (payments when people photocopy your work - but have to earn out the £36 membership fee first) and PLR (when people borrow your book from the library). It might earn me a pizza in a year or two. Sadly I do not think I am likely to be hitting the Times bestseller list any time soon. 

Anyway, time for indoor jobs this afternoon with the fire lit burning old trellis to keep us warm. It's trying to snow again but I don't think it will amount to anything. Dinner is chicken pie made with leftovers from Sunday and whatever fridge veg looks saddest. 

South_coast

She obviously thinks churning them out is a piece of cake too 🤦‍♀️! Take it as a compliment that you're seen as the intelligent one 😀

Viking_mfw

Thanks @South_coast  
Just over £30 arrived from We Buy Books late yesterday and has been transferred into the holding account for the purchase of PBs at the end of the month. This way I have the safety net of the money in case I need anything The boost from the holiday refund has definitely made a big difference to this month's saving total. Have a sniff of interest in a small item on gtree as well, asking me to post, so waiting to hear if they're happy to go ahead. Am always pleased to get something out of the house! 
Went for the shopping today, mostly to get a break from the house and the DH (!). Ventured into the new HBargains which is next to Mr A and found that it's even cheaper than Mr L for Cadbury's Hot Choc which is our absolute vice in this house. So I have stocked up (I say that - it will probably last a fortnight at most). Freezer pizzas for dinner as a bit of a treat. I think as with everyone, lockdown has started to get to us a bit, compounded by the fact we only have two weeks left before my maternity leave finishes, and definitely made worse for me by DS1 waking up a lot in the night. 
In good news my father has had his first COVID jab. He's not over 70 yet but is in Scotland and I assume the spread out population in some of the rural areas means that they are rounding up near misses to finish up boxes of vaccine. And despite not believing the 'seasonal' pears I bought were pears - because they were not conference - DS1 has grudgingly tried one and discovered he likes it