And now the fuse is lit...

ZTD

Well, I've been outside. And yes, I did wear my big coat.

The back door just knocked off the peaks of the snow, the garage door on the other hand swept a lovely smooth curve.

Smooth until I stood in it of course. :T

I went out to run my car to ensure the battery stayed topped up, so I ran it about 35 minutes because it seemed a little hesitant to start. It was somewhat difficult to get into, as although like the garage door, the driver door swept a smooth curve, outside of that arc was a high ridge that took some stepping over.

This is the start of the forecasted thaw. The wind has dropped, it's -1C and it's snowing. Obviously I must understand the word "thaw" differently to weather people. Perhaps I should be thinking more along the lines of "Thaw - the god of Thwunder"

ZTD

Robins are both scarily intense, and extremely cute when they fight...

ZTD

So, the long awaited thaw is finally here. Everything is dripping; it's very,very foggy; and it's snowing a blizzard.

Spring is obviously just around the corner.

It's also intensely chilly. Wet cold chills in a way that dry cold can only dream about.

ZTD

Done the weekend banking. I've been paid - that's always a good sign. So that's £1,000 off to the offset.

I must investigate the possibility of getting my DDs taken directly from there. That would make the offset work even harder for me. It's just that the online bit isn't as good as FD.

beanielou

Sure that you can work something out.

ZTD

beanielou wrote: »

Sure that you can work something out.

I'll probably leave it until after the financial year ends. Too many balls up in the air in regards to that offset at the moment. Though it is certainly looking like a plan to pay that in full, stick a few direct debits in as well, then take out "spending money" for myself.

Effectively every penny would be earning interest (tax free) at the rate of my mortgage.

ZTD

A small transfer to the offset account, of interest earned by the "alternative" current account. (It's "alternative" in the same way as "alternative" comedy - i.e. not very funny)

I've also dropped the amount going to a regular saver, and the excess is due to go the the offset. Strictly speaking, it is a slightly lesser interest rate, but I think I can swallow the £2.40 per year...

ZTD

And the final half-kilo of silver shrapnel has disappeared into the automatic cashiers at Tesco. It's funny, but it swallowed all of the funky, gunky coins, but rejected a nice silvery new 5p.

Next is the copper coloured shrapnel. I'm probably going against instincts, but I think I'll be using one of those Coin-o-rama (or whatever they're called) machines that take a 10% chunk.

Live is too short to be shovelling in 2kg of copper which will be worth about £3.48...

edinburgher

Thanks again for the lantern tip, repaired and casting an eerie glow :beer:

ZTD

edinburgher wrote: »

Thanks again for the lantern tip, repaired and casting an eerie glow :beer:

No problem - I have too much experience with cheap electrical gizmos alas...

I'm still shocked it was lead-acid. It's certainly not going to blow away in a breeze...