Tales from The Shire

Fortune_Smiles

A shot in the arm...

... or 3 😆  We have now all got a date for our vaccines 😁 It's amazing how quickly and efficiently they are being rolled out.  Just need to make sure we don't get the virus before we get the jabs!

I've had quite a productive couple of days and got through lots of chores and admin.  Money wise:

• I've meal planned for the week and done the grocery shop.  It's over budget this week as I had to carry over a couple of high value items I couldn't get last week
• we won £10 on the postcode lottery which I've moved into OP savings
• I paid the invoice for the orchard.  It was a bit less than budgeted as the Younger Fortunates bought us 3 of the trees for Christmas
• a birthday gift and card have been sourced from my present stash and packaged up ready to send
• I've also packaged up a book to send as a surprise to a friend.  Costs to be met from this month's small acts of kindness budget
• the bank statements arrived so I reconciled the accounts and managed to get everything to balance
• my car has been booked in for a service and MOT
• the law mower has been booked in for a service.

I fitted in a yoga session this morning too 😇

So go me!

Happy Tuesday all.

Fortune x

savingholmes

Glad you have dates for your vaccinations now. Ouch to the bill. Sounds like you have positive plans for Easter...

badmemory

Vaccination dates are good news.  But be prepared for (possibly) a 2 day headache and/or a 2 day sleep!  It is well worth it.  Just waiting for my second which is due mid April.  Not that it makes any real difference to what you do/can do.  I am not changing anything about what I do or how I do it but it does remove some of the worry.  I definitely will not be partying, but it removes some of the worry when some **** bumps into you in the supermarket & you realise that the **** has his mask under his nose.

I wonder if these are the same people that drive around uninsured & not MOTed.  Basically incapable of obeying a simple instruction.

Fortune_Smiles

Morning all 😊

Nothing particularly exciting is happening here in the Shire (which is something to be grateful for in current circumstances), however, it does leave little to report.  I thought, as we are nearly quarter of the way through the year 😲, I'd do a little review of my 2021 goals:


Wealth

• draw my Defined Benefit pensions.  Everything is set up for these to be paid at the end of the month.
• continue to overpay the mortgage by our usual regular amount and my pension amount.  I've continued our regular mortgage payments and the pension amount will be included as soon as I start to receive it.  I've also started squirreling away any PADs, money from sales and budget savings to add.
• agree a financial contribution with Uncle F.  We don't want to make money out of him of course but can't afford to be out of pocket either.  Uncle F will start making a contribution from the 1st of next month and he's increased the amount he gives us for electricity as a result of our much larger bill 😲
• increase our emergency fund target by 25%.  We've almost achieved this already on paper but some of the money we've saved is earmarked for home improvements.
• replace at least 3 of our old windows.  It looks as though Mr F will receive some sort of bonus this year we can use towards meeting this cost.
• replace 3 field gates.  Mr F is researching costs for this.
• identify and prioritise other home improvements as budget allows or need arises.  Our orchard has been planted along with two crab apple hedge plants to fill some gaps.  Once restrictions are lifted, I shall be scouring the antique centres for furniture for my art nook.

Health

• continue to practice yoga 3 times a week.  I was keeping this up until very recently when I hurt my shoulder and have had to rest it.
• walk FDawg daily.  Mr F and I have been going out for a walk with him for an hour in the morning.
• reach target weight.  I am not doing very well on this one.  In fact I've put a few pounds on.  Chocolate is to blame - I've been a complete chocolate monster this last two weeks 😲
• make sure I get some time to myself.  Uncle F is going to need a lot of support and, with two Fortunate blokes in the house, I want to make sure I get some down time.  Now Uncle F is back at work he is away for much of the week which has given me some time back.

Happiness

• stay connected with friends and family virtually/physically.  We are still having regular calls with the Younger Fortunates and I have had several ad-hoc calls with friends.  I'm now joining two writing groups calls.  We even have some social events in the diary 😁
• mark weekends and special occasions as different from the other days of the week.  We've not been able to do anything drastically different of course but have been managing to spend the time doing something together.
• include some time for creativity in my schedule.  I've been able to get some writing done and have entered some competitions.

We're all getting used to the new dynamic with three of us here and everything feels more relaxed.  The weather is improving and it looks as though restrictions will continue to lift.  Mr F and Uncle F have had their vaccines and I'm having mine this week.  I still feel as though we're treading water but the future is starting to look more positive.

Hope everyone is well.

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

badmemory said:

Vaccination dates are good news.  But be prepared for (possibly) a 2 day headache and/or a 2 day sleep!  It is well worth it.  Just waiting for my second which is due mid April.  Not that it makes any real difference to what you do/can do.  I am not changing anything about what I do or how I do it but it does remove some of the worry.  I definitely will not be partying, but it removes some of the worry when some **** bumps into you in the supermarket & you realise that the **** has his mask under his nose.

I wonder if these are the same people that drive around uninsured & not MOTed.  Basically incapable of obeying a simple instruction.

Hi @badmemory.  Side effects haven't been too bad so far - Mr F and Uncle F had fatigue and light headaches the day after.  Uncle F suffered a little more than Mr F and had to take to his bed for the afternoon.  I usually react more to jabs so I've planned in some time for bed rest but am crossing my fingers I won't need it.

I know what you mean about some of the worry being removed - you can't cure stupid 😂😂😂

Fortune x

savingholmes

Glad things are settling down. So looking forward to things calming down. 

Fortune_Smiles

'And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils.'

Our daffodils have survived the recent wind and rain and are putting on a good show - it's very cheering.  There's even been a bit of sunshine today 🌞

I went out for a little adventure earlier - just to the local supermarket to post some items and pick up a prescription.  It was quite busy so I left as quickly as possible.  I'm booked to have the vaccine Friday so I don't want to take any chances.  Other than that, it's just been the usual household chores keeping me busy.

Yesterday's lunch was Smoked Trout, Beetroot & Horseradish Flatbread.  We had Smoky Cod, Broccoli & Orzo Bake for supper.  And Prawn & Leek Chowder for lunch today.  It seems beetroot season has come to an end but I still have some languishing in the fridge which will need using up this week.  Nice to see purple sprouting broccoli in the veg box this week instead.  As you can see I am getting a handle on my diet and chocolate has not been featuring... much.  Alright, I confess.  Mr F left me a few shards of his Easter egg.  And I did eat them.  Well who wouldn't?

Hope you've all had a good week.

Fortune x






 

South_coast

That's surely Mr F's fault for starting his Easter egg waaaaayy too early - it's not for another two weeks yet 🤣!

savingholmes

3 easter eggs gone and replaced in this house already

Grogged

savingholmes said:

3 easter eggs gone and replaced in this house already

Having the same issue with chocolate oranges...
Seem more MSE than the 99p eggs... and I'm sticking with that excuse...😆