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

greenbee

Long covid clinic is good. I suspect they'll tell me that I'm doing too much - they said working full-time wasn't ideal. I said not paying the mortgage probably wasn't ideal either... But the fact that they're organising referrals, have taken screenshots of my HR data from my fitness tracker, and are monitoring symptoms, activity and weight is good. For a start it's got me back on track eating and I feel so much better eating less and properly. It'll be cheaper too, as I'll be eating less. 
@Fortune_Smiles - last March I started telling everyone that I couldn't predict 6 weeks ahead, let alone my normal 10-year timelines (I like long-term predictions, they're nice and vague ). And we saw a massive acceleration in technology adoption, so that was probably the right thing to say. Thankfully I don't have to do that kind of stuff now - although it still tends to come up. 

greenbee

Nothing done today. Long lie-in, not actually sleeping but reading/looking at recipes in bed. I managed to finally order some spice jars to fit in my spice racks, which should mean I can clear out a drawer and that i'll know what I've got and what I need to restock on. I want to make more of an effort to use spices and make food interesting, so being able to see them will help... 

Spoke to family and then eventually got up. Thought about gardening, went outside and discovered how cold it was... so nothing done other than bringing in logs and making 'buffalo' cauliflower for supper. 

Karmacat

Freezing, isn't it!  Excellent news about knowing your spices - I found my salt and pepper mills, and I've just bought 2 new mills with vouchers, for the unopened cardamoms and too-chunky mixed herbs.

greenbee

@Karmacat - I ended up making up a batch of ras-el-hanout last night as I thought I'd run out... only to find it when I was halfway through blending them! I clearly need to get used to what's where...

I have DONE my YE finances. A huge amount of money has gone into the SIPP I could get into (I still need to spend some time consolidating funds), and less huge amount into my S&S ISA and one trade done - I need to check the Ts & Cs to see how many trades I can do each month for the monthly fee as I'd like to consolidate the funds in this too, and then set up some regular investments. Or possibly move it to a managed ISA instead and then set up the regular contribution. A slightly smaller amount has gone into my cash ISA, which is my 'big' emergency fund. And my monthly payment into my SIPP has been dramatically increased to compensate for the pitiful amount that now goes into my work pension. I've still got a reasonable amount in an instant access savings account for things like the dentist, work on the house etc, and will try to restrain myself from attempting to build that up too much now that the kitchen is done. While I know the garden will be expensive when I finally get the last of it done, I should have the quote soon and the work won't be done until September. After that the next big expense will be when I finally have to change my car. 

Wind has dropped, sun is shining so I might venture out one more time and fill up the kindling bucket ready for an evening of list-making and mindless TV in front of the fire!

Cheery_Daff

Ooh, good work on sorting the finances! Lovely to be able to see the end of the big expenses. Enjoy your evening in front of the fire!

Karmacat

How wonderful that the uproar of modernisation and personalisation is starting to subside - I'm sure that will give you a chance to conserve your energy, or spend it on yourself.  Lovely evening too, enjoy  

greenbee

So today's pension investigations have revealed that my current employer hasn't been paying me the correct amount for the last 6 months. Nor have they been taking the correct amount from my salary. As this means that is has been below the legal minimum they've got some sorting out to do when I break the news to them tomorrow morning. 

Kitchen is tidied - I need to get into the habit of using the main work surface and keeping it clear, not dumping stuff on it and using the small bit by the cooker. Floors have been washed (they were filthy... I must to it more often), strawberry runners potted up, seedlings potted on and salad planted out. 

Peppers, chillies, tomatoes, aubergines, beans, kohlrabi, courgettes and peas are all getting going inside and in the greenhouse, so I need to start hardening off some of the seedlings that will go in the raised beds, rearranging the garage (so that I can rearrange the greenhouse for the stuff that will live in there), and digging the bean trench. Lots more compost, mulch, manure and small pots are needed - homegrown fruit & veg is expensive!

Karmacat

You've done so well!  Between the pension and the fruit and veg  

greenbee

Thanks KC  
Thanks to a friend I've established why the pension payment is so low - and by querying HR for the information to confirm it, I've established that they're going to start paying based on 100% of pensionable pay from this month, not stop at the qualifying earnings limit. I suspect I'm not making myself popular by asking where the communication is, how I can check that last year's payments were correct, and whether they are changing to salary sacrifice. This is the point at which they said they were busy and would get back to me later. 

Landscaper has been (he was early... this is not always good, but thankfully I was dressed). He's going to come back to me with a plan and estimate and dates. That'll give me time to refine it and save up. 

Coffee and HXB now, need to prep some salad to eat on my next break. Supper will be leftovers of some kind. And I need to make a decision on whether to get a veg box this week given I have a HUGE waitrose order due on Monday. 

Cheery_Daff

Glad you've got to the bottom of the pension mystery - will that be a better system for you all in the future? I'm still getting my head round pensions and not sure what all the implications are.

Sounds like the garden is coming along nicely, with seedlings on the go and landscaping plans. What are you having done?