<<<out of cheese error>>>

Seasidegal58

Glad to hear you had a good break. I've only ever been to Whitby for the day once but loved it (biggest seagulls I've ever seen with enormous feet!)

redofromstart

A new low.  Last night she sat on my knee being as heavy as possible, with her back to me, and hissed if I stroked her.  Just a matter of time till she cracks and purrs.  I need to clip her claws and brush her so that'll give me another week of peace.

I love being by the sea, the only reason I live in the middle of the country was for work originally and now stuck till the boys finish school at least. When we eventually move to the 'last house' it will be closer to the sea, and somewhere where the land isn't flat.  

Sun_Addict

Glad you had a lovely break by the sea. Like you I'm also landlocked in the middle of the country but love being by the sea. I'd love to retire to the coast, one of my friends did a few years ago and says it's the best thing she ever did. Years ago we put our two cats in kennels when we went on holiday. When we left them in the kennel one of them wasn't bothered at all, in fact she turned her back on us, but the other one stood on his hind legs like a meercat watching us leave.  I felt awful and couldn't stop thinking about him for the first few days of the holiday. 

redofromstart

@Sun_Addict I couldn't possibly put Fatso into kennels.  She would never forgive.  
Mr Fluffy Pants came and pinned me to the sofa last night, he at least has finally forgiven me.  The ex stray watches us anxiously in case we go again. Still on six meals a day just in case.  

Financials are ok, my tiny pension pot from the short term job is doing surprisingly well so I decided to do a monthly trickle into that on top of the work one which is not doing brilliantly but is worth it due to the tax savings.  

Foodwise we continue to eat well, lots of nice salads.   I did tidy the freezer and after a few weeks of use up we have room in the freezer for more protein.  Torn between more excellent fish or trying somewhere new for meat.  MrRedo wants me to get a whole salmon so we can do our own hot smoked again.  Ages since we did that, but always a giggle.

Health and exercise compromised by minor ankle problem.  I must make myself call the quacks.  I hate going to the quacks. 

Seasidegal58

Good idea on the pension - luvverly tax savings!👍
Intrigued - do you have a contraption to smoke your fish?

Hope your ankle improves. Get to doctor's!

redofromstart

@Seasidegal58 you can cobble together a contraption to smoke things using a metal biscuit tin, old wire rack (or clean chicken wire) with sawdust or wood chips in the bottom then you stand the tin on the BBQ.  What we have is an old fish kettle that means we can do a whole one and freeze in bits.  Lots of flavour.  Easy to over smoke though.

greenbee

Smoked duck and chicken are both nice too. And I have a friend who smokes tomatoes. And cheddar.... both are fabulous. 

Seasidegal58

During this current series of Escape from the Chateau they helped a guy build a cheese smoker. I always thought you had to buy special gear but they made it look very easy too. 

redofromstart

Huge posting gap, have been busy with work and sorting out college and transport etc.  Something has to give or I will burn out.
Finances continue to go well, with a rather satisfying over payment taking up to the next big 10k number this month.  We could over pay by more but I think cash may be key in the short term.  A 60 mortgage/40 savings split may be the route forward.
Monthly saver matured so that was a nice bonus, need to find my log on details to do the new one.

redofromstart

Also, one of the challenges of recent weeks has been to find a bank account for the 16yo complete with contactless card without physically going into branch with ID which all the main banks insisted on, including those he held a child account with!  The answer was Monzo which let us do the whole thing on line using a photo of passport, card arrived within days, was test run with PIN and now works perfectly for contactless on the bus. 
Posting this in case anyone else is struggliing.