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

greenbee

Insurance won't cover the dental treatment, which is as I thought. It was worth a try for a 3 minute conversation.

Tax return all done bar one section - I need to wait for work to produce my P11D. First one from this employer - old one used to take ages, so I'm not expecting it any time soon.

Boat insurance is due, plus I owe my brother mooring fees and need to make arrangements for the boat to go in the water ready for when it is needed in July.

Bonus has been paid this month, but I doubt any of it will be saved - car, teeth and boat will use up most of it. But at least I can manage those from cashflow rather than savings. I'm away a lot in may, so hopefully that will keep costs down. I'm trying out using the milkman - although it'll be more expensive for individual items, I suspect it will cut my overall expenditure as I won't need to go out shopping when I'm exhausted from travel.

And I've just realised I meant to get my DB's birthday present when I was out earlier, but forgot. I'd better have some lunch and then head out to get it!

greenbee

I went for a lovely long walk with a friend yesterday evening - we even braved the woods, despite the wind, so got to enjoy the bluebells before they are over.

Mouth is a lot less painful (and I think the stitches are starting to dissolve), so hopefully all will be OK at the dentist on Tuesday. I've added a bit of variety to my diet and baked a couple of pieces of salmon from the freezer, one of which I had for lunch to supplement my generic root veg soup.

Today has been pretty unproductive. I've put woodworm treatment on a painted wooden box I brought back from my mum's, done a load of laundry, emptied waste paper baskets and put a huge old suitcase in the garage. While out there I discovered that the mice were still around and trying to break into the mouse poison, so I got some out for them. If they're determined to eat it, I won't stop them!

Thought about mowing, but then realised I needed to move my car from in front of the garage door as I've parked too close. I don't usually park in front of it, but my brother's trailer is where I normally park. Really CBA to do anything about it, so came back inside. I think today is pretty much a write off. The grass really does need mowing as it hasn't been done for two weeks now. Maybe after the dentist on Tuesday.

I've got a day in the office tomorrow, then am back on leave until after bank holiday. I should log in tonight and check that everything that should have been done has been done for tomorrow's workshop. Unfortunately I'll probably have to go out after work as well, which I'm not thrilled about, but I have people coming from overseas who are staying the night, so need to be polite.

Hopefully the weather will improve a bit during the week, as I'd like to spend most of the rest of my holiday in the garden!

greenbee

Just checked, and this month's OPs total £136.23. Which has saved me £31 in interest.

There's still a huge dilemma around the whole pension/finishing the house/paying off the mortgage fund allocation.

Clearly I need to pay into my pension as much as I can so that I can retire at some point - and there are tax advantages, plus the earlier I invest the longer the money has to grow.

Finishing the house is also sensible - that way it is saleable in case of unforeseen circumstances (e.g. losing my job, sickness, getting another job that means I need to move).

Paying off the mortgage will make me feel more secure. Once that's done a lot of the pressure is off financially and so work no longer needs to be about earning enough to pay the mortgage.

Realistically I think I need to put most of my money this year into savings that can pay for the kitchen and any leftovers can go to my pension and ISAs. If I do that to the nearest £100 and then put the odds and ends each month into the mortgage I'll be doing something.

Next year there will (hopefully) be less that I need to spend on the house, so more can go to the pension and to the mortgage. Clearly the garden is a bottomless pit (when the drive is done I'll need to buy some fairly big espaliered trees - probably fruit trees - to provide a screen between the drive and the rest of the garden), but then they always are. Obviously the house will need maintenance, and the odd bit of decorating, but all the big stuff (heating, plumbing, electrics, bathrooms, kitchen etc) are done.

Karmacat

You juggle such a lot, and you do so well at it! Though yes, I'd take CBA feelings as an indicator to have the afternoon off

Can I ask why the new trees need to be fairly large already?

greenbee

So that they provide some screening from the start. My garden is all at the front, and fairly exposed. It would be nice to get the view from the drive side cut off sooner rather than later. Plus if they're bigger, they've had more training. I know quinces and crab apples do well here, so might do something with those.

I bought a whole lot of small bare root fruit trees a couple of years ago, and although they are doing well, they're not exactly providing much shelter or shade yet!

I have done some strimming. And discovered that my compost is looking pretty good (although needs sieving), so I really should deal with it this week and then I can dismantle the compost bins and decide whether I'm going to bother composting again. If I am, I'll build bigger ones with easily removable fronts (there's a pile of pallets in the garden I can use for this.

I'm also still considering a small greenhouse, but one that could be more of a summerhouse/storage. Or using the hardstanding I built for it to host some beehives if I can find someone local who needs homes for some. I have lots of dandelions for them to enjoy at this time of year, as well as the fruit tree blossom

redofromstart

I thought you had found a lovely wooden greenhouse?

greenbee

I had, but haven't done anything about it yet. Not even measuring!

Just had a day in the office and am on holiday again tomorrow. Off to the dentist though. And of course today generated stuff that needs to be done by next Tuesday.

Typically today was lovely, tomorrow should be, and then it's going to rain. And I desperately need to mow as it's been two weeks!

Karmacat

I hope you have a few holiday moments today, since you're taking as holiday, as well as the dentist appointment

greenbee

I mowed the lawn after Pilates and before going to the dentist. Does that count?

I want to spend some time in the garden, but I know I need to go and buy my DBs birthday present, plus fill up the car and put some air in the tyres which look on the low side. I have pilates tomorrow, need to collect dry cleaning on Thursday and get my hair done on Friday. I'm just hoping it'll be warm enough to spend the weekend outside in the garden!

greenbee

Went to Pilates again, then to get my DB's present at the garden centre where I also got plant food and weedkiller to use on the creeping buttercup in the lawn. I also got some great advice on sorting out the hedge.

Tyres were over inflated, not under, so the car is a lot more comfortable now! I couldn't get premium diesel though, so I need to do that tomorrow at a different filling station.

Lots of time in the garden - still in the hedge, so no way am I going to get through everything on my list! I've got about 1/3 left to to, and it's the worst bit, but if I can clear it over the weekend and get it fed and mulched that would be a massive improvement. Flowerbeds need edging, weeding and filling - although I'm not sure what with. I don't want to be spending lots of money (and time) on bedding every year so need to think about stuff to fill in the gaps at different times of year - possibly moving some things as one of the other beds should probably be emptied and just have shrubs in it.

We had a brief hailstorm earlier when I was moving a non-performing lilac (about 3 years old) from the lawn into the hedge as I managed to dig a decent hole after removing yet more ivy.

It's a bit chilly - I must get more kindling in tomorrow so I can light the stove in the evening. CBA tonight as I want to have an early night with a book once my DB has been over to pick up his present and drop off some wine.