Tales from The Shire

Fortune_Smiles · 13 January 2022 at 11:44AM

beanielou said:

Woohoo

Thanks Beanie 😁

savingholmes said:

Well done on the 10% OP. That sounds amazing. Also well done on doing something for you.

I was talking to a family member about £ yesterday and they were all concerned - whereas obviously on here it's normal - and out there it's still taboo... I think I'm doing alright I'm just trying to stay within budget and being open about it but they are obviously not used to people discussing such things...

I'm quite open with the Younger Fortunates about money and I think it has helped them make good financial decisions. Some years ago, one couple 'released' money from the house when they remortgaged to buy some very expensive items for the home. I sent them a link to the mortgage overpayment calculator so that they could work out the total cost of those items over 25 years 😲 Plus explained how much interest we'd saved over the years by overpaying. They've not 'released' any money since and are overpaying enthusiastically.

I'm open with friends and family about retirement plans and what that means for our spending. I think it helps to set expectations.

Mr F, however, thinks our financial situation is not a subject to be discussed with others, even the Younger Fortunates. I think we should help them develop these life skills and lead by example.

Cheery_Daff said:

Well done on the mortgage OP, and for watching TV in the bath, how decadent 😊😊 glad you got out in the garden - I confess I often ignore it at this time of year and wait for a bit of warmth. Brrrrr.

Thank you Cheery. Whispers: I often catch up on TV from the bath... sometimes with wine 😲

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles · 13 January 2022 at 12:33PM

Pottering Along

I'm still gently pottering into the New Year. Not much to report which I suppose is a good thing 😊

We had Feta, Sweetcorn & Chard Tacos for lunch yesterday - with some adjustments as I could only scrape together a little chard from the veg patch. I added red pepper and cherry tomatoes and used up some hard goats cheese rather than feta. Supper was the leftover sausage stew with some roasted baby potatoes. I'll make tuna mayo wraps for lunch today and add all the little bits of salad veg I have sulking in the fridge. Supper will be Creamy Salmon, Leek & Potato Tray Bake.

The veg box is due today. I didn't leave out a little Christmas something in time for the delivery driver last time he was here so I've left a bottle of wine on the doorstep with an apology this morning. I'm sure he won't be too disappointed that it's late.

Today I have the usual housework to do. Mr F is out tonight so I'll have sole control of the remote and am badly in need of a manicure so that's my plan for the evening.

Happy Thursday all.

Fortune x

Suffolk_lass · 13 January 2022 at 1:01PM

I missed the postman, dustmen, window-cleaner and milkman before Christmas so they each received a cash without card thing last week. We have not had eggs yet as the chickens are in moult but that is the fifth one I do. It does mean I am one of the ones where the refuse collectors collect my bin even when I occasionally forget to put it out, and in hot weather I leave bottles of chilled water out for them as they aren't allowed to remove any of their high-vis kit, which is always appreciated.

I really appreciate these guys. Having had awful dustmen when I was a child - they used to try and goad our dog to try and get through the gate between them and the garden by opening the gate a bit, before closing it around the dog's neck. My Grandfather used a slingshot to pelt them with pellets and later ice-cubes (less evidence) when he caught them doing it and they refused to collect for weeks. When collections resumed he, then I "supervised" by standing watching. The bins were all the street-side of the gate so no need to touch it. He was 6'4" and very intimidating. However, when he was out and I was there, one of them tried to intimidate me. I offered to open the gate and let the dog through, since that was what he had been doing. He wasn't impressed. The next time I oversaw it I had a portable cassette recorder and showed him and told him I was recording him and we planned to get a camera set up to cine-film him. It did stop but we never trusted them.

Fortune_Smiles · 13 January 2022 at 2:36PM

Blimey SL! What a nasty character 😲 I do the same but get special boxes of chocolates for the dustmen, postman, veg box driver, window cleaner and hairdresser. I can usually get a 2for1 or other deal on them so it doesn't cost me much. I added some cash for everyone this year and last too as I don't know where we'd have been without them (being very rural). I know most appreciate the gesture but I think I've still got ground to make up with the dustmen. We're at the end of a no-through road and they used to be able to turn around on our drive. However, the drive is only gravel on earth and was getting damaged. When we had the drive re-layed (£2.5k 😲), I spoke to the company about it and they said they couldn't commit to making good any damage they caused so I said, well I'm sorry but you can't use the drive then. Poor old driver has to stop at the junction and reverse round to us now. It's not a big deal but probably a little inconvenient. We leave the bins further up the road to make life easier for them but I suspect they're still a bit miffed. Not that they give us any trouble. I'm hoping the Christmas tips are gradually putting us back in favour. I might leave some Cr£am £ggs out for them at Easter to curry some more favour 😆

I have a small budget each month which I use to spread a little happiness - sending presents to friends and family who are having a tough time, small surprises for no reason at all, anonymous presents left on doorsteps, etc. Our conversation has made me think I should increase it. According to a recent study at Yale University, happiness boils down to three things: sleep, gratitude and thinking of others. Apparently, performing consistent random acts of kindness for others can lead to a lasting boost in mental well-being. I once had to explain to the Younger Fortunates what a spurtle was over a video call. When I asked if they 'wanted to see my spurtle' there was uproar 😆 I sent them a spurtle of their own through the post after and the thought of them discovering it made me laugh for days.

Gone completely off topic there but you just set me thinking.

Fortune x

rtandon27 · 13 January 2022 at 3:13PM

Fortune - it's the "off-topic" bits that make for an extra delightful read! What a coincidence that OH & I just had a conversation last night about a spurtle - LOL - You are absolutely correct in summing up the three points of happiness it's a great one to ponder on!

Our new neighbours were downright shocked with the tin of biscuits left for them at xmas. The three in our terrace have all been so kind in welcoming us the past few months, that I thought it was the least we could do to express appreciation.

Fortune_Smiles · 13 January 2022 at 3:36PM

The spurtle jokes are still coming over a year later RT 😂 How funny that the subject has come up twice for you now. Maybe it's the universe trying to send you a message... although what about I don't know... eat more porridge? 😂😂😂

Keep spreading the happy 😁

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles · 13 January 2022 at 7:25PM

Dry January

Whiskey fudge... allowed? 🤭

Fortune x

Paspatur · 13 January 2022 at 7:27PM

Fortune_Smiles thanks for sending me down the must get a new spurtle route for the 100th time!!!!!
Mine is cracked and swollen at the bottom and I keep thinking it cannot be hygienic with cracked wood (but never killed me yet)
But, every time I try to find a new one they are not the right shape!!!
Mine is rounded on the bottom and all I can find are ones with flat bottoms or a rounded disc on the bottom
Where oh where can I find one with a rounded bottom???
And then I start wondering where did I get it?
And I have no idea
Did I buy it and if so where
Was it my mum's, in which case it is seriously ancient
Or my grandma's , in which case eek to the age
I then give up again and don't buy a new one
I really must find one or it may be death by spurtle for me!!!
I use mine for lots of things not just porridge
Scrambled eggs, it gets to the bits round the side far better than a wooden spoon or spatula, it just fits the pans curves better
Help please, if anyone knows where I can buy a rounded bottom spurtle xx