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

greenbee

The pension will be better, but it's still dire. However, I'm well paid, so I'll just have to be more proactive with paying into my personal pensions and managing them properly. 

The garden is looking good - not as big as yours (luckily!). The landscaping will move the drive and make the garden more private - new hedge, new fence, new gates. They're saying September/October which is a better time to have it done than now. 

Unfortunately the seedlings are feeling a bit sorry for themselves today - obviously last night's temperatures were a bit of a shock for some of them. Hopefully spring will arrive properly soon and the tougher ones will get going properly. 

greenbee

Not much done since the last post. A small amount of cashback applied to the mortgage, but OPs will be low for a bit as I've increased pension payments and have a dental bill to pay.

Quite a few seedlings succumbed to the frost, but I did manage to get some bubble wrap to cover some of the greenhouse, and fleece to cover the seed trays/pots that survived. I need to have a sort out in there once the frosts have passed and work out what I need to sow. I also need to get the outside gardening back on track.

Work is busy, everyone is a bit stressed (mostly because the boss is stressed...)

Vaccinated on Wednesday - I managed to get a short notice appointment close enough that I could manage the drive myself. Felt pretty grim on Thursday and part of yesterday. Long covid clinic say most people are reporting relapses that last around 2 weeks - sadly after that you go back to previous levels of symptoms rather than being magically cured.

The no exercise plan is working from the point of view of reducing brain fog and making work more manageable. I'm hoping that once this relapse is over I can try to reintroduce it gradually, starting with pilates and then working in the yoga and some walks. 

Karmacat

Expanding to pilates and yoga when you can manage sounds great, really looking after yourself.  If no exercise means no brain fog, then its obviously better for you.  Enjoy  

greenbee

Two week relapse wasn't pleasant, but I'm now not feeling too bad other than the fatigue. I've also had blood tests, which apparently are all fine (as expected). LC clinic should be making another appointment - and if I can get work to sort out my healthcare (they've got the day and year wrong in my DOB) I might be able to get some of the appointments I'm currently on waiting lists done privately. 

Managed another decent OP at the end of last month, work pension contribution is now higher, but tax seems to have straightened itself out (until I do my tax return) so I am contributing more but also getting more... which should help with my increased personal pension contributions. 

Went to see my mum (we're in a bubble) and she kindly paid for the driver (who she will be using to come down here at the end of the month) as otherwise it would have been a rather expensive month as I've been spending a lot on the garden. 

Sadly not many seedlings survived all the frosts, but I've just sorted out the greenhouse, potting things on, tidied up and sowing replacement seeds. Temperatures look like they're going to stay above freezing from now on, so fingers crossed things get going. Lots to do in the garden, so it should keep me out of trouble!

greenbee

Greenhouse is now full of things that need potting on, I have lots of empty spaces that need things sowing in them (or transplanting) and will need netting, as the pigeons seem to have discovered the salad over the weekend. Luckily the new frames for the covers on the planters can be set at half-height, and I can use my spare netting on them. I'll have to make something (but have the wood) for the small raised bed. And plant up the main bed which has a frame and net already. 

Lots of furniture has been taken away by a friend, so I need to think about how I might redistribute what's here before buying anything else. It's also nice to have the space - and some space in the garage! I've even managed to do a bit of cleaning and tidying in the last week or so, although theres still a long way to go. 

Quote for garden work is in, although there are changes that will need to be made. I just want to get it booked in! Happy that it's in the autumn, rather than disrupting the summer. It also gives me a good deadline for sorting out various other things - once that's done, if I want to move, then the house is saleable. I suspect it'll be another couple of years before I summon up the energy, but there are various options on the job front that might make it sensible. 

A bit more paid off the mortgage at the end of the month (although it was a tight month, with dentist's bills from the CC hitting the bank account. For the moment I need to concentrate on saving for the garden work and hopefully having a bit left over. Next year will probably have to involve a new car as it's really only lockdowns that have delayed it. Holidays at least should be low-cost this year. My brother has moved to Devon (although seems to have friends visiting pretty much every weekend for the whole summer!), and my mum is in Norfolk, so I'm hoping visits to the two of them will be this year's holiday. I just have to work out whether I'll be up to driving, or whether to budget for a driver. I guess it'll depend on feedback from the fatigue clinic, but they've sent their form as a word doc, which I can't read on my mac... ETA - restarted pages and it worked, so the form is sent off and I've also done some more gardening. Mostly removing blanket weed and weed from the stream, plus planting a few things dug up earlier. 

Karmacat

You might move after you worked so hard on your house?  Oh my word!  Being nearer family is (nearly) always a good thing, though ...  and I'm loving the idea of the frames on the covers of the planters being able to be set at half height, excellent.

greenbee

This is a VERY expensive part of the world KC. Moving north or west would give me a LOT more for my money, and after 15 years of remote working I don't actually NEED to be here - especially now my brother and the kids have moved (which is why I moved to this particular location from the previous one as I was too far away to help with childcare emergencies when the kids were small). Family are now in Norfolk and Devon so I should probably move to the Midlands...

Half-height frames means I can open the kitchen windows too  

greenbee

23p interest paid on my current account today has gone straight to the mortgage account...

QueenJess

Ooh.. surprised you can transfer that!  I tried to take money out of Paypal the other day (from a survey reward), forgetting it had to be a minimum of £1..

greenbee

My mortgage is with the same bank as my current account and a couple of savings accounts - handy for silly amounts!