Tales from The Shire

Fortune_Smiles

badmemory said:

So glad MrF is in agreement re uncle F.  Sometimes other people don't "see" these things & it can make life difficult for the one who does.

We're usually on the same page with the important things @badmemory.  Thank goodness 😁

savingholmes said:

Well done on annexe progress and saving on oil. Enjoy the peace while your DH is away.

@savingholmes - and just enough time as I'd started missing him by last night 😆

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

Jab No 3

We had our flu jabs this lunchtime.  I'd booked them at B00t$ because, usually, my surgery doesn't get them until very late in the season.  Popped into the surgery this morning for a routine blood test and, guess what?  They offered me an on-the-spot flu jab 😆  I declined as I didn't want to muck B00t$ around and Mr F and I had booked to go together - that's what qualifies as a romantic date once you're over 50 😂😂😂  We'll have had four jabs in total this year if we get the Covid booster before Christmas.

Mr F came straight from his business trip and met me in town.  He made it just in time for us to have a cafe lunch together.  We tried a new to us cafe which is attached to the delicatessen which delivered goods to us during the first lockdown (we thought it was payback time).  Glad we did - service was polite and fast and the food excellent.  We'll definately be going there again.  Costs to be met from the fun money.

This week's grocery shop came in under budget so I used the surplus to stock up on food and treats for FDawg.  He was very sweet last night.  When he wants something he looks at you, then looks at the something, then looks at you, then looks at the something and so on.  Usually he goes to his bed in Mr F's study after supper and stays there until bedtime, snoring away. Last night he kept coming in to see me in the living room and looking at me, then looking at Mr F's chair, then looking at me.  Was obviously missing his buddy 🥰

A man is coming tomorrow from a local blind company to quote for the kitchen and bring me some samples to look at - exciting! 😁  So, I'd better have a tidy up this afternoon.

Happy Hump Day all!

Fortune x

savingholmes

New blinds sound like they will really help set off your newly decorate rooms... I want some but will see what the sales offer as that timing should line up better for me...

Fortune_Smiles

savingholmes said:

New blinds sound like they will really help set off your newly decorate rooms... I want some but will see what the sales offer as that timing should line up better for me...

I'm really hoping that the new paint and blinds will liven up the kitchen @savingholmes.  We inherited dark brown wall tiles so it's been tricky 😆

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

Meh 🤒

The flu jab has left me feeling a bit shaky but I managed to tidy the place up yesterday morning before the Blind company came out.  The guy measured up and left a sample book with us so Mr F and I are trying out looks 😁 Then I sat and did paperwork in the afternoon.  We had baked potatos with beans and cheese for lunch and tortellini and a yellow-stickered M&$ pasta sauce from the freezer for supper.  We may be eating for convenience today too as I'm still wobbly and haven't even got out of bed yet.

In money saving news:

• I took advantage of a couple of offers to get some wine in for Christmas.  Laithwait£$ have their pre-Christmas sale on and Mr F could get a further 15% off through his company discount scheme so that saved us about 30% in total
• also ordered new bedding for FDawg.  I'd originally ordered some for him in August but the company just hasn't been able to get stock so I had to cancel that order and buy from elsewhere.  It worked out a few pounds cheaper
• I'd recently bought some crockery to add to a set so that we'd have enough place settings for Christmas.  I bought seconds as you usually can't tell the difference and it's soooo much cheaper.  The plates were fine, however, the pattern on the bowls was really faded.  Not what I'd consider a 'minor imperfection' as advertised on the website.  I contacted the company about returning them who said that I'd have to pay.  So I quoted the Consumer Rights Act and have been offered either a full refund and keep the bowls or first quality replacements and keep the bowls.  I've asked for replacements as we're going to need them.  So despite the dodgy start they came through on customer service in the end 😁  I'll try and sell the faded bowls and give the money to charity
• I've also ordered some winter wardrobe items - boots, jeans to replace a pair I've worn through, a jumper and some pyjama bottoms.  That should see me through - if we do get to go anywhere this winter 😯  Case numbers are not looking optimistic 🙁
• I'm making a sale a week on some old clothes I listed on the Bay so that will offset the costs of the new.

That spending splurge prompted me to review our pension expectations and mortgage op plans.  We're on track but changes are afoot again at Mr F's company.  A new structure has been issued and that will affect Mr F's job so... here we go again.  Fortunately, we are now in a position where we could survive the job loss if it came to it.  We'd have to cut back to the bone but we'd be able to keep a roof over our heads.  I'm hoping we can maintain the status quo until August next year when our fixed rate deal ends as we'd be in a much better position then.  However, it's a far less terrifying prospect these days than it used to be. All that budgeting and overpaying is so worth it for the reduction in stress at times like these. We'll continue with the home improvement plans we've budgeted for but won't take anything else on for now just in case.

Happy Friday all!

Fortune x

Cheery_Daff

Lots of good things there Fortune! Glad the bowls company came through. I'll try to channel you if I ever have to ask for a refund for anything!

Sorry about the job disruption again. Does sound like you're in a better place to weather it though, well done x

savingholmes

Good customer service in the end.

Hope your DH keeps his job until beyond August then so you can get the right mortgage

SandyShores

Just seconding what others have said.  And agree with your sentiments about all that saving and so on making for less stressy life when you need to pull the belt buckle in.  Hope it all turns out well.

Fortune_Smiles

Cheery_Daff said:

Lots of good things there Fortune! Glad the bowls company came through. I'll try to channel you if I ever have to ask for a refund for anything!

Sorry about the job disruption again. Does sound like you're in a better place to weather it though, well done x

savingholmes said:

Good customer service in the end.

Hope your DH keeps his job until beyond August then so you can get the right mortgage

SandyShores said:

Just seconding what others have said.  And agree with your sentiments about all that saving and so on making for less stressy life when you need to pull the belt buckle in.  Hope it all turns out well.

Thanks guys 😘  We'd rather the decision was in our hands of course but, if not, we'll be ok.

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

Green

Young Decorator arrived yesterday and started on the hall and landing.  He's already finished the corridor leading off the landing and is just about to start in the hall downstairs.  So we are transitioning from cream to green and, fortunately, I love the colour.

After a very lazy weekend recovering from the flu jab, I've been cracking on with chores.  Even went into the Annex this morning:

The Great Annex Clean Up - Part 3

Finished the living room  -

• polished the furniture
• cleaned the windows
• vacuumed again
• washed the floor

Started the kitchen -

• de-cobwebbed the ceiling
• vacuumed behind the fridge and cleaned the floor there ready for the fridge to be pushed back.

It's made a big difference finishing the living room.  Everything smells clean and fresh in there and it's reminded me of how lovely the annex can be.  Just another four rooms to go 🙄

We had Herby Quinoa, Feta & Pomegranate Salad for yesterday's lunch and Coconut, Spinach & Salmon Curry for yesterday's supper and for lunch today.

This week's grocery shop came in a little under budget and we're still making use of produce from the veg garden in the meal plan.

The clothes I ordered have all arrived and fit well so I'm keeping those.  The boots don't fit though so they'll be going back.

I sold another item on the Bay.

I went out with my local girlfriends last night for a catch up.  A friend drove and I only had a sparkling water to drink (in a wine glass though so I could fool myself it was wine 😂).  So an enjoyable but cheap night out.  I'm doing really well with healthy eating at the moment and have lost a couple of pounds.

Uncle F has cried off joining us for Christmas.  Mr F gave him a call to make sure he was ok and he sounds fine.  He has always been a bit of a Grinch about Christmas so I'm not surprised.  A bit less expense and stress for us.

Hope your week is off to a good start.

Fortune x