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redofromstart

We both had final salary schemes that got taken over by the Pension Protection Fund when the big company involved collapsed.  Lost 15% value, but better than losing it all. 

It was too cold to do anything outside, but we shivered our way round and thought about what needs doing.  I had forgotten that I got a boy to weed the veg plot a few months ago so it would be an easy job to rotavate it.  

Little successes though, the lavenders, honeysuckle and daphne cuttings I put in look to have taken.  We moved the stand to a shadier area as previous efforts just cooked and died, or got slept on by cats seeking sunshine.  The supermarket bought herb pots have done really well, I potted them on into big bucket sized pots when they arrived, and moved them into a sheltered but sunny spot up the garden.  Rosemary, mint and thyme all thriving at c£1.50 each.  Might get some more for the front, its a cheap way to fill some pots.

Our co-op have veg and flower seeds in, 60p each, or 3 for £1.20.  Limited range obviously but still a good price if you don't have access to Lidl/Aldi/Wilko.  Must check the seed tin and see what we have left. 

Alchemilla

You've done really well to keep supermarket herbs alive.

EssexHebridean

I've tried everything with potting on supermarket herbs and almost none have been successful. Sometimes I can keep a Basil going for a decent amount of time indoors, but sometimes (more often!) I just can't! Quite envious of those who've got it sussed! 

redofromstart

Don't tell me that or they will immediately fail!  I picked the tough hardy options though, basil coriander parsley die within days for me

redofromstart

If anyone else plans to try I bought good strong watered rosemary and mint inpeak growing season (late spring/summer), put them outside in the day and on kitchen window ledge at night till they recovered from stupidmarket dry heat.  Potted them on into huge pots with decent compost, watered in with plant feed. I kept the stem level consistent with the original pot (so no stem rot from extra layer of soil) but I bedded them in an inch below the level of the pot for extra first protection. Kept them in a shaded morning, warm afternoon position, and moved them to summerhouse patio for extra protection once winter set in. 

EssexHebridean

Ahh yes - I've only ever tried with the soft leaved herbs and failed miserably. We do have a grumpy Rosemary and a surprise mint already - the Rosemary doesn't really like it's pot, where it's placed, or anything much else I don't think, but grudgingly provides enough growth to keep my roast lamb habit covered. The Mint dies to nothing every winter then springs back into a profusion of leafage in the spring with a sort of "Ha! Thought I'd snuffed it, didn't you" attitude, hence the surprise. we also have a sage - I've mentioned this before - which was the first thing we planted when we moved in as a result it thinks it has a similar level of occupancy rights to us - it gets a brutal haircut every second or third winter, sulks for a while as a result but still reaches the bedroom window, which is handy when I want to grab a couple of leaves without going right outside.  

redofromstart

We inherited a few straggly herbs here, including mint which is allegedly unkillable, even if you want to. A few seasons of the late fat but placid alpha old man cat snoozing on it soon saw off that fiction. He used to switch between the mint at the back and the cat mint at the front depending on the sunshine.  Chives still self seed at least. The furry Borg ignore it happily.

redofromstart

It still seems like many days till payday.  I re-read my contract this morning (in the context of the extrabank holiday this year, and will it be a freebie which depends on the wording) and I can increase my salary sacrifice pension contributions to any amount, although it won't be matched. I would still gain tax and NI savings so I need to think about it, and allow for extra tax from April too. 

Mild obsession with rye Ryvita which are both filling and non triggering of stomach issues so far.  Long may it last. 

moving_forward

Fingers crossed the ryvitta is good redo

redofromstart

Thanks @moving_forward it seems ok so far. I don't much like GF bread so this would be a huge improvement. 

Grand plans for batch cooking tomorrow as I have a rare solo day, or a trip to buy myself something nice from him for my birthday, or a mooch round primarni for some new work scarves, but I suspect I will actually drink tea and stay in bed and read Georgette heyer.

pay day isn't until Monday but I can do the new year overpayment allowance on the mortgage on Tuesday and want to minimise what I take out of savings and have a tight February.  I am not even sure how I take money out of the savings.  Apart from hyper ventilating.no council tax or water bill but the insurance renewal is for my car which cancels that out. My car tax is March so ditto.