Tales from The Shire

Fortune_Smiles

Cracking On

The builders are cracking on with the patio.  All the slabs have been relaid and the grouting is due to be finished today.  The slabs are irregular shapes so it's been a bit like completing a jigsaw puzzle - one slab is left over as there is no space left for it 😆  There are a few small jobs to be included in their visit this time - two brickwork repairs, a newly discovered hole in the eaves which the wind howls through and lifts the roof tiles and the concreting in of Mr F's flag pole.  Hopefully, those will be completed today too.  The patio grouting then needs a week or so to cure after which they'll be back to power wash and seal.  I'd ring-fenced a worst case scenario amount to meet the cost and it seems unlikely we'll get to that so anything left over will go into the orchard fund.  I'm delighted we've been able to tick a big project off the list despite the challenges Covid has brought.  If we can get the orchard planted too that will be a bonus.  The only other big project we'd planned for 2020 was getting chickens so we'll roll that one over to next year.

Another booking has come in for the Annex so that's September full now.  It's good to have a little more coming in as Mr F forgot to tell me about some fuel spends which were quite big ones and would have blown the budget otherwise.

The lasagne stretched to provide lunch yesterday and today with some salad.  The veg patch is still providing lettuce although there's not much left now.  Supper last night was Ham & Pea Soup with buttered cheese topped baps.  I only used about 100g of ham though as I can't tolerate much meat.  It was plenty and there's enough left for Mr F's supper tonight.  I'll be having fish and chips at a neighbour's house.  She kindly agreed to host our monthly girlie get together and is picking up takeaways.  There will only be 5 of us and we'll be outside so I'm feeling relaxed about attending.  I did turn down a lift though as I don't feel comfortable about sharing a car - I'm not even sure what the advice is on that?  Anyhow, it's only down the lane so I'll walk.  I'll take a bottle of prosecco from the wine rack and T£$co will be delivering a box of chocolates with the shopping this afternoon which I'll take along as a thank you to the host. The takeaway should be around £10 which I'll meet from personal spends.  Just need the weather to hold now.

I've spent the morning getting the Annex ready and will need to spend most of the day in there tomorrow as well.  Our next guests don't arrive until Sunday but Mr F wants to get into garden over the weekend whilst the weather is on our side.

I'm wondering what will happen to my yoga class now.  I'd plucked up the courage to go from next term after speaking to the teacher about precautions.  However, numbers were being limited to 8 and now, I think, she can only take 6.  I was the last to book so may drop off the list.  Disappointing as I'd started to look forward to it but there you go.  I will definitely have to get in to a routine with my yoga DVD if I can't go back to classes.

Happy Tuesday everyone

Fortune x

themadvix

I'm not sure what the advice on cars is either Fortune, but when DH's Dad picked us up the other day due to train shenanigans, we sat in the back and all wore masks - no different to a taxi. But if it's only down the lane, walking would definitely be preferable! I hope you have good weather and a lovely evening - it sounds like fun!

teapot2

I've been in a friend's car once and sat in the back on the passenger side.  We had masks on and the windows open a bit as well.

Fortune_Smiles

themadvix said:

I'm not sure what the advice on cars is either Fortune, but when DH's Dad picked us up the other day due to train shenanigans, we sat in the back and all wore masks - no different to a taxi. But if it's only down the lane, walking would definitely be preferable! I hope you have good weather and a lovely evening - it sounds like fun!

teapot2 said:

I've been in a friend's car once and sat in the back on the passenger side.  We had masks on and the windows open a bit as well.

I walked there and back but met my neighbour's car on the way there and they stopped and took my bags for me.  It's surprising how heavy your bags are when you're preparing for a social night out in the great outdoors 😆  I did check the guidance for future reference though and you can share a car with members of your own household or support bubble.  So it would definitely been an illicit trip if I'd accepted the lift.

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

The Return of Summer

What a glorious day it's been here.  I had a few things to finish of in the Annex this morning but took advantage of the weather to get some laundry washed and dried then joined Mr F in the garden.  We dug up all the main crop potatoes - there are loads and they are a good size.  We've put them in paper bags in the barn for the moment but they need to be in a proper potato bag if they're going to stay edible for the next few months.  Also, the last of the carrots.  These latest ones are at least carrot shaped and a reasonable size - the previous ones came out purple and twisted 😆  Another marrow added to the haul.  Plus a humungous courgette which had somehow escaped notice up until now 😆  It will do for a soup.  We weeded the cleared beds and Mr F is planning to dig in the last of the poo pile from behind the barn.  You may remember the previous owner left us a surprise mountain of sheep poo - well, we're still digging it in 😆  At least Mr F has the rotavator to make things easier this year.

The builders finished the patio and extra jobs as planned.  All looks good and they'll be back the week after next to finish the job.  I must remember to transfer some money from savings to pay for the work.

The new garden storage chest was delivered so we now have a place for all the outdoor stuff that needs a place and the wellie store can go back to being a wellie store.

The Ham and Pea Soup stretched for another meal accompanied by a cheese sandwich and we've had Thai Green Curry Meatballs (veggie ones for me) using green beans from the veg patch and Ham Cheese & Potato Pie.  The pie was delicious and easy to make.  It could easily be made vegetarian with onion, leeks or peas instead of ham.

I was hoping not to have to spend any more unplanned money this month but I need something to store the potatoes in and the o-ring on the Annex bathroom plug snapped today.  Mr F has a huge stash of o-rings (who knew).  However, they are all too thick for the job.  So I can feel a visit to @m@zon coming on 🙄

We're intending to get back into the garden tomorrow - best make the most of the weather whilst it lasts.

I hope the sun has been shining on you all today too.

Fortune x

Cheery_Daff

Sun has been shining here too Fortune, although I did not make the most of it in the garden like you! I did go to meet a friend for a walk and a picnic though so that was extremely jolly

Very impressed with your tool storage, I must look into something similar as mine are strewn across the garden and several outbuildings

Glad you had a good social event, and that your garden is producing so excellently! 

Fortune_Smiles

Cheery_Daff said:

Sun has been shining here too Fortune, although I did not make the most of it in the garden like you! I did go to meet a friend for a walk and a picnic though so that was extremely jolly

Very impressed with your tool storage, I must look into something similar as mine are strewn across the garden and several outbuildings

Glad you had a good social event, and that your garden is producing so excellently! 

Doesn't it make life so much easier when the sun is shining Cheery.  'Making the most of it' covers meeting friends and having a picnic too you know 😉

I get very frustrated when things aren't easily accessible so 'storage' is a bit of a thing for us.  I love a good storage solution.

Hope Rusty chicken gets a clean bill of health today.

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

What's that coming over the hill...

... is it a monster change?  Maybe.  Mr F's company sent out a new structure chart today covering Mr F's department.  Mr F's job isn't on it 😮😮😮  That could be because his job straddles two disciplines and he appears on a different chart somewhere but I think it more likely that his job title is going.  The CEO mentioned the word 'redundancies' in an update last week and we've been talking for months about a reshuffle being on the cards.  So, potentially we may find outselves in the following scenarios:

• Mr F's job appears on a different chart and he is safe for the time being
• his job goes and he successfully applies for another job shown on the chart.  There appears to be a vacancy for a job that he would love to do and is well equipped for.  If so, we'll have all the stress of an application process to go through
• he gets made redundant in which case we will get some money (not much if they only pay statutory) and he will set up as self-employed.  Not easy with all the Covid stuff going on but we have a safety net in our emergency savings and I can start claiming my pension next year which would soften the blow.

We've been talking for a while now about Mr F going part-time or setting up on his own so he could slow down a little and spend more time at home.  We were hoping that he'd have a couple more years with the company so that we could get the mortgage down further.  But, if we have to make the move earlier we can, although it might get a bit squeaky in the Fortunate household for a time.

There is a team meeting on Monday so Mr F should find out more then.

As usual in a situation like this, my mind has gone into overdrive and I have spent the day crunching numbers and updating spreadsheets.  I will re-think our plans and tighten our belts so that we are prepared for the worst case scenario.  Apple man has postponed his visit for a fortnight which will give us time to decide whether we can proceed with the orchard plans or not.  Once again, we have got to the stage of being able to afford 'nice to haves' as well as 'need to haves' only to be pulled up short 😆  Whatever happens we can pay essential bills so won't be homeless or hungry - and that is all that matters after all.  We are very fortunate in that respect.

So, watch this space!  If a major change transpires it may necessitate a new diary 😁  What to call the next one?

The sun is still shining here and I hope on you too

Fortune x

South_coast

Ooh, sounds like there could be some changes afoot then. Fingers crossed the outcome is one that works for you both, but why on earth have they set the meeting for a Monday, knowing that everyone is going to be stewing about it all weekend 😠?

Fortune_Smiles

South_coast said:

Ooh, sounds like there could be some changes afoot then. Fingers crossed the outcome is one that works for you both, but why on earth have they set the meeting for a Monday, knowing that everyone is going to be stewing about it all weekend 😠?

It could be worse @South_coast - I've known redundancies to be announced just before Christmas so you get to spend the whole break stewing and stressing about the amount you've spent on presents 😠  I suspect the meeting date was down to people's availability and it does give us a bit of time to think and formulate some questions to ask.  We will be fine whatever happens but it will be a bit frustrating if he is made redundant when we are only a few years from being mortgage free.  Ho Hum.

Fortune x