Tales from The Shire

Fortune_Smiles

Lovely to see the sunshine back this morning although it's not set to last. At least I won't have to worry about watering the veg patch. It's right at the top of the property and there's no stand pipe so I am carrying watering cans back and forth at the moment.

I cleaned up the Annex on Tuesday. Just need to go in and put the vacuum round before our next guests arrive today. They're only staying for two nights and it's due to rain the whole time. Poor them. Although they've come up to visit family rather than sight see.

I was out of the house most of the day yesterday. Yoga in the morning. I really feel I'm making progress and can sit in the accomplished pose now. That was my first goal I'm going to work up to bow pose next.

Then I met up with a lady who had bought some curtains from me on FB M@rk£t Plac£. £15 in my pocket Although I then spent £5 of that having coffee and cake with a couple of yoga friends I also posted two Bay items on which I'd made £10. And then picked up a top I'd ordered. I'm short on tops I can wear in warmer weather and this one will be cool and versatile. Although, looking at the forecast, it's not going to get any wear in the next two weeks :rotfl:

Took the car in to have the tyre checked. It was leaking at the rim. They have glued it but the rim has deteriorated so, if the glue doesn't work, the wheel may have to be refurbished. I'll check with the garage whether they'll cover that under warranty but Mr F will be able to make a repair if not.

Popped into the charity warehouse whilst waiting for the car and bought some books to replace one our last guest took (we have a take one and leave one policy or make a small donation if you haven't got a book to leave). Picked up a small electric fan for £5 to help keeps things cool in the Annex. The sun may not be shining but it's been quite muggy.

We picked our first produce from the veg patch last night and had a tuna and cheese salad with all the leaves and herbs we've grown. It was delicious

My home insurance renewal has come through and the new policy is £100 more than last year and doesn't cover paying guests Any one know which insurers cover @bnb?

Enjoy the sunshine while it lasts peeps.

Fortune x

Greying_Pilgrim

Fortune_Smiles wrote: »

My home insurance renewal has come through and the new policy is £100 more than last year and doesn't cover paying guests Any one know which insurers cover @bnb?

I don't have the answer Fortune - but it looks like a subject that has been discussed on MSE, HERE. Don't know if that helps?


Sorry - edited to say that I should have been more specific - Section 4 talks about insurance, and there is also the discussion thread HERE that may have some additional tips.



Greying X

Fortune_Smiles

Greying_Pilgrim wrote: »

I don't have the answer Fortune - but it looks like a subject that has been discussed on MSE, HERE. Don't know if that helps?


Sorry - edited to say that I should have been more specific - Section 4 talks about insurance, and there is also the discussion thread HERE that may have some additional tips.

Greying X

Thank you Greying - that's very helpful. I find organising insurance for anything a real chore.

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

What a grey couple of days. We have generally stuck close to home and got some indoor chores done but did venture out Friday evening to a comedy gig. We'd paid for the tickets a while ago so our only additional spends were the fuel to get there (which I think I can cover from my general fuel budget) and a few drinks (from the fun money). It was a really good show and we were glad we ventured out in the downpour to see it.

Our guests left yesterday morning and seemed very happy with their stay despite the rain. They come up to visit family quite regularly and have promised to return. I am very proud of what I've achieved with the Annex. Apart from Mr F making a few repairs in there, I've set things up entirely myself and, so far, it's been a great success. Now I've gained some experience and we have some good reviews I'm going to concentrate on marketing and getting more bookings.

Yesterday I prepared and ate fresh artichoke for the first time I've always been a little bit frightened of artichokes But I got two in my veg box on Friday so took the plunge. Turns out they are a bit fiddly but quite straightforward to prepare. I roasted them using this recipe. They were delicious! I also made Carrot Top Soup as my veg box carrots came with the greens on them.

Mr F spent yesterday having a sort out in the barn and has collected any potential Bay items together so I can list them easily. There's really not much left though. I have a parcel to post today as my non-payer paid up once I raised a case against them.

We are planning to visit a local antiques fair today just for a mooch around and to help with FDawg's confidence building. I shall take a little of this month's fun money in case we see anything we can't resist.

I am focusing any spare money into the emergency fund at the moment. I can start drawing my pension in two year's time and Mr F and I want to explore our options at that point so that he can go part time or self-employed if he wants. In the meantime, I'd like to have a cushion in case there are changes in his job. It seems likely there will be as two years is the longest there's been any stability in his role with this company.

Make the most of the sunshine while you can.

Fortune x

doingitanyway

Another one here who is frightened of artichokes.

I like the sound of your future plans

in_need_of_direction

I’m generally afraid of veg needing anything other than peeling and cutting

beanielou

All sounding good ��

teapot2

Well done with the annexe and visitors, sounds like that business is building nicely and you've really only been going a few months.

Another one here who has never tackled artichokes - I've only had the ones in a jar that I use in risotto.

Fortune_Smiles

Evening all

As always, the busier my life gets the more I neglect my diary It's definitely time to press pause and review progress.

HEALTH :j

• hmm - the less said about that the better. I have been over indulging

WEALTH :money:

• the Annex is going well. We are booked up for most weekends now until September :T
• our builder is coming to repair the lower part of our patio next week and our drive the week after
• Gate-gate is ongoing. We've had a progress report and the repairs are about half way through
• despite the reappearance of the Chiffchaffs in the fruit cage, we have a good number of pink currants (not white as I'd originally thought), an abundance of raspberries and a promising crop of red and black currants
• I have made Raspberry Financiers (without the basil though), Raspberry & Amaretti Crunch Cake (now in the freezer), a litre of raspberry gin and a raspberry, cheesecake & amaretti trifle (a concoction of my own devising).

HAPPINESS

Mr F has had the last week off work and we decided to make it a jolly holiday. We dipped into our Annex money and funded some trips and days out, entertained visitors and met up with friends. A lovely, busy time has been had


The financials are starting to feel a bit more under control now. We are at 96% of our minimum emergency savings target and should reach 100% by the end of August. We've paid about 12.5% of the mortgage so far. I'm not sure whether to re-start OPing now so will have a chat with Mr F about it.

I hope all is well with my forum friends.

Fortune x

beanielou

Glad that all is well in your world.
Great emmergency fund savings.
Glad you have had a lovely time with Mr F