"Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it."

doingitanyway

I had a fortnight's worth of rubbish and recycling due to missing the temporary collection days over Christmas/NY I was disproportionately happy to get rid of it all a few days ago 

greenbee

Must put the bin out today, although there isn't much to go in it!

I've managed to run the DW, despite the solar panels being covered in snow and generating very little to begin with. They are now clear (but generation had tailed off as it clouded over), but it's just started snowing again!

greenbee

Turns out bins are today (still not much in there, so not a disaster if I miss it!)

Sleet overnight has got rid of most of the snow, so we now mostly have ice. Yesterday morning was fabulous with snow and sunshine so Stinky and I had a lovely walk. Not so nice today, but Stinky has invited a neighbour for a walk later. Not-Fatty hates snow and was reduced to using the indoor facilities last night (but made sure I knew all about it and emptied the litter tray immediately! Both cats have been very cuddly. Stripey cat loves the snow and has been playing and rolling in it. Both are being difficult about food. Stinky of course is happy with whatever he is given!

Visitors at the weekend mean I need to do a proper review of fridge and freezer contents and meal plan. I have a supermarket delivery booked just in case, but may try to get out to shop in person tomorrow morning if the weather is ok. 

Morning headaches seem to be caused by upstairs heating kicking in on pre-heat and overheating, so I’ve turned off preheat and the flexibility to overshot set temperature by 2C for upstairs. Hopefully that will help.

Lots of deliveries this week - new dressing table lights arrived and they’re perfect (unlike the ones in the spare room, so I think I’ll look for replacements for those). Some Xmas decs ordered in the sale arriving tomorrow, plus the new bedding I ordered after finally going through it all the other day. 

I’m making good use of Christmas presents (lined short wellies, jumpers, bed socks, walking socks, welly socks, ear muffs, long waterproof coat, head torch, LED collar for Stinky), and have been given a new heat meter with pipe clamps for my birthday so should be able to balance the radiators and set the boiler flow temperature correctly once I get it set up. 

After the weekend I need to get moving on the heat pump design so I can get quotes/dates, and also on the garage conversion/utility/downstairs loo/kitchen project as I need a plan and to understand what needs to be done in what order, and what needs building control involvement (and what I need to provide to get approval). There are also some bits of construction to do in the garden - another trellis panel, putting up the raspberry supports, possibly taking out the new obelisks and replacing them with a corner pergola and relocating the obelisks, finding a new spot for the washing line, and lifting turf for new beds. Oh, and putting vine eyes and wire on the fence for the fig and blackberry to grow up. 

And then there’s work… 

EssexHebridean

That's a fantastically useful set of presents greenbee - I'm a big fan of buying people practical stuff that's needed as it then frees up their money for less mundane stuff. Small things like warm items for late night dog comfort trips make quality of life so much better too don't they. 

Pleased that the neighbours have been at least initially obliging about the light positioning too - so much easier when people take the view of "OK, yes, we hadn't realised that was an issue and now we know we'll sort it out!" 

greenbee

I provided a list EH, and for once have been given the stuff on the list rather than random stuff. I did get other things as well - a nice overnight bag, some jumpers, a bottle of gin, and a cookbook (for reading, not cooking - at least, not until the kitchen is done!

Agile pricing is high today, but not as high as this time last year. It reminded me to check - our average import price for the last 12 months has been 9.93p, and our average import amount has been 4.2kWh. So it’s definitely paying off - and apart from the odd blip where we forget to turn off/set/adjust charging, we’re getting pretty good at adapting to the pricing. And adapting what we do each day and when based on pricing. Although I don’t let it stop me do things that need doing. I have my electric blanket on now, despite the battery being low and the forecast tomorrow being overcast. Battery import is set up, and we know that as we have visitors at the weekend, we may have to import more than normal. 

Watty1

Love the Christmas list.   A couple of years ago I decided to stick with usable gifts so seeds, plants, bathroom smellies, edible stuff for humans, their dogs or their horses.  It has made buying easier for people and I feel I am not adding to the mountain of stuff in the world.

greenbee

Lovely but exhausting weekend with friends. Rested yesterday afternoon but still very tired this morning, however, dog needs walking, garden waste bins need filling (there’s a laurel to hack down and the Christmas greenery to remove from the porch, and thank you letters need writing. And it’s a work day. I’m hoping that as the dog had a busy and exciting weekend he might be ok with a quieter day today, but I know that’s not how it works,

I want to try to either have visitors staying or visit non-local friends once a month - I can’t manage more frequently, but that should help me stay in touch. I’m also hoping that this year I’ll get the house sorted so friends with dogs can bring their dogs. At the moment there’s nowhere for them to go at night safely. I’m not having them upstairs/on beds, so any who need to sleep on beds aren’t invited… same with those that chase cats!

I will need to plan food more carefully and prep more in advance - we abandoned plans for pudding as I didn’t have anything prepped, but actually didn’t need it - and didn’t eat the cheese either, so it wasn’t missed. 

I’ve got a lamb bone I need to shove in the SC. I was going to make and freeze stock, but I think it makes more sense to make soup straight away and that I’ll do for meals this week. Or at least be usable straight from the freezer.

EssexHebridean

Good plan to crack straight on with making soup - it just rather streamlines the process of getting it back to the freezer in a useable state doesn't it. 

greenbee

Interestingly, at the 'stock' stage, it was thin and disappointing. After adding barley, lentils, and squash, it's great (but more stew than soup). I should have used a LOT more veg, but that would have meant dragging myself to a shop (we're short on carrots and Stinky needs one a day). However, I can add veg later. 

Slowly getting laundry done and the kitchen tidied after visitors. And also getting cross about how tired everything makes me. 

Baileys_Babe

I'm with you on the tiredness front, plus my joints are being troublesome.