And so it begins: The Pig Vs The Mortgage

pinkypig

Hello 😀

We are having an easy day today after a busy but fantastic first week of our staycation.  So far it has involved a walk with the dog, some reading, a bit of housework (no my ideal holiday activity but needs must!) and laundry.

I’ve also done some pottering in the kitchen.  I’ve got two batches of sourdough proving, one for a loaf and one for rolls and tried a new plant based recipe for lunch ( wraps with spiced black beans, avocado and salsa ) which was really quick and easy and so tasty.  We also had a lunch pudding 🙄(love a lunch pudding!).  pineapple and mango with hm fat free, sugar free ice cream which was also yummy so we are literally fit to burst now 😂. Once we can move we are going to put into the countryside so the dog can have a good run around.

We had a lovely day yesterday where I got to meet some more of OH’s friends.  They were so nice and made me feel really welcome.  We had a fab day with loads of nice food and a long walk in beautiful countryside.  It was a long day though and we were bushed - hence the quiet day today.

This weekend’s small steps to freedom and happiness included;

No spends- can’t believe that apart from a tank of fuel this brilliant week has cost us nothing (we even picnicked yesterday which we all felt was so much nicer than going out).

Good quality sleep

Mainly healthy eating ( a large slice of cake did fall into my mouth yesterday 😳).

Enjoying my CS book

Lovely walks in beautiful countryside in the sunshine ( we did dodge one shower)

Finding that I love soya milk on cereal and in coffee😀

Finally but perhaps most importantly the company and the ability to laugh and almost anything, including each other and ourselves.  I actually laughed until I cried yesterday about something that would have turned most people’s stomachs 😂😂

I hope you are all having a lovely weekend and have dodged those showers and enjoyed some sunshine.

PP xx

pinkypig

Morning 😀

The sunshine is back although it’s also very windy however that is a massive improvement on the torrential rain of yesterday😱.  

I actually rather enjoyed yesterday as we had a home day of relaxing and pottering  OH is moving house and we went and had a good poke around in the morning.  It is gorgeous (dated and in need of work but still gorgeous).  We are not going to be short of projects but we’ll have more space for our large joint family and the house itself and the location is more than we could have dreamed of.  Feeling excited!

The rest of the day was a couple of dog walks in between cloud bursts, reading and some cooking.  September is looking very busy for us both do while OH was doing some jobs elsewhere I sorted out the freezer and did some batch cooking. We now have veggie curry, stuffed mushrooms, veggie cottage pie, veggie burgers and sourdough rolls.  There has been a dhal in the sc overnight so I’ll sort that out later.

We’ve had some spends (it had to happen eventually 😂).  OH is WFH a lot and this is going to be the case for some time so we went in search of a desk.  The CS gods didn’t fail us and we’ve got a lovely one with a leather top and proper adjustable ergonomic chair that looks unused.  The desk needs some tlc (thick glossy varnish removed, scratches sanded out etc) but we are well on with that and it’s looking very smart. Whilst in the CS I couldn’t resist a poke around and found an ivory throw, a set of pasta bowls, a posh Xmas ornament and 4 bags of those gliding things you stick on the feet of sofas to stop them scratching the floor (RRP £15 a set 😱😱) £74.50 spent 😀😀.  OH is new to the CS thing but has taken to it like a duck to water😂.  As Aldi have their fab chalk paint in at the moment at £4.99 a tin we also stocked up for some future projects we have planned .

Today’s plans include a run, making damson gin , a decent walk with the dog and finishing our little desk project.

Small steps to freedom and happiness included;

Sleeping so well at the moment 😴

Plant based diet baby steps going well 

Batch cooking for an easy and thrifty September 

A run and several walks despite the weather

Taking life at sedate pace and just enjoying the here and now

Coffee in bed reading our CS books

Lots of NSDs

Charity shop bargains 

Taking a firmer line with tenants over their arrears.  Evidence suggests that I’m being played so no more being a wet nelly!!

Lots of lovely conversations about the future 🙂

Happy Hump Day 😀😀

PP xx

Karmacat

Pinky, there's more wonderfulness in evidence!  I love renovating the desk to make it super duper, and all the batch cooking.  And I'm lost in admiration at your starting to be firm with your tenants!  Have a lovely rest-of-the-holiday.

Baileys_Babe

We renovated a beautiful old desk, previously it was functional but you wouldn't want to put it where it could be seen. After a couple of hours of work including adjusting the drawers so they open and close smoothly. It now lives in our residing in our dining room bringing me joy.

pinkypig

Hi BB and KC 😀.  The desk is just lovely, we are delighted with it.  I’ll be honest, stripping the gloopy varnish off the bottom section had its challenges but we battled through and I’m so glad we did!  

rtandon27

What a lovely project to have taken on!

pinkypig

Morning 😀

I’m now back home after my lovely staycation in OH’s city.  We had such a nice time, really relaxing as we had time to just take things at a sedate pace.  Although we did nothing particularly exciting it was just great.  We visited some beautiful cities , countryside and villages, we walked, picnicked, did some great runs, read, cooked and binge watched some box sets.  I feel really rested and refreshed which to be honest is often not the case when we have been abroad because of the travelling. It also cost us one tank of fuel as (other than my CS purchases which came out of my personal spends we spent nothing!) Something to ponder for the future.

Today I need to organise my life as term starts next week😱. I’m starting with coffee in bed while I think through my To Do list😂.  I’m going to start with a run as the sun is shining and I’m really enjoying my running at the moment.  Other plans today include having lunch out with DD, her BF and his family (who are lovely) so that will be a treat.  I also want to go and see mum and then later on I’ve offered to be mum’s taxi when they have a night out.  The rest of the time needs to be dedicated to getting some jobs done.

School jobs include finishing my planning, updating my website info and getting my resources together and into the car.  

At home I need to tidy the garden which needs a weed and some cutting back as a few things have been flattened by the wind.  I meal planned and did the food shopping yesterday but I need to food prep for next week .  I think I’ll focus on school and garden today and do food prep either tomorrow or Monday.

Recent small steps to freedom and happiness have included;

A couple of runs 

Cheap, healthy eats (plant based is going well so far ) and highlights have included bbq pulled jackfruit, blackbean burritos and vegan ‘tuna’.  I also really like unsweetened soya milk.

Sleeping well

Having a catch up with DS and DD -I’ve missed them !

Finishing our desk - it looks great 🙂

Some great CS buys for my autumn wardrobe.  Two jumpers, a dress and some ankle boots.£1 an item 😀

Sorted out the utility room to accommodate new to me dog crate so we can now open the back door!

Gathered together a few bits to go to the CS

Did a stock up at Lidl to use my £5 voucher and coupons from the new app 

Found a  doggy car boot protector in Aldi’s clearance bin £1.99 down from £14.99😀

Have a lovely weekend whatever you’re up to.

PP xx

Karmacat

And the wins just keep on coming I love that you're keeping on in the holiday mood as hard as you can, rather than submerging into the deluge of guidance.  You have a specialist topic rather than a class of your own, is that right?

Mrs_Money_Penny

Love reading your diary. Your life sounds lovely.Self care is so important xx

Busy_Mee

All sounds fab Pinky.
I have also been trying cow's milk alternatives, mainly because I have never been that keen on milk. I have tried almond milk and oat milk (my favourite) but not soya yet.  My DD says I am breakfast vegan