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

Alchemilla

It doesn't seem long since the last time you moved but then I imagine it's a few years.

greenbee

8.5 years since my last move. Longer since redo's! 

Viewings have commenced - agents are being useless from an organisation POV, but the lady showing people round is lovely. I've mostly been here - either in the greenhouse or on one occasion working due to idiots in my office not paying attention to my calendar, which has turned out not to be a problem and in some cases useful. Two second viewings yesterday, and one had lots of questions about the drainage system and the stream. There was an hour's break between the first couple of viewings (a second and a first) and the last one, so when I found out she was going to eat lunch in her car I persuaded her to have lunch in the garden with me and we had a good chat over coffee. However annoying I find the office, she's nice, and she's also the one talking to potential buyers! Having listened to her, she's very good - letting them subtly know that there is lots of interest, second viewings etc, and going into detail about things like the village oil coop, where to get logs etc. Just before she left a whole lot of motorcycles roared past - but apparently every time she'd had people standing in the garden it was silent except for the birds.

It's hard work keeping everything tidy (but it's lovely to live in!) and annoying having to think about cooking smells. 

I'm keeping on with the gardening - the greenhouse is full of seedlings (it's possible I don't need 1500 cosmos), and we had frost on Friday night, so it is also still bubble-wrapped. I've laid another couple of slabs outside, so the potting bench is outside now and I can use that for hardening off seedlings. I need to lay a couple more as the staging is slightly wider, and needs to come out for both hardening off duties, and to make space as I start to get the tomatoes, peppers and aubergines set up. 

I will have to go out and get more compost and bark at some point (it does make the flowerbeds look a LOT tidier and less weedy, although the blackbirds spend a lot of time chucking it about), and also E5 petrol for the mower. I've been successfully putting it off for ages though. I also have to start netting the big raised bed (birds are pulling up seedlings) and the blackcurrant. Strawberries and raspberries can wait a bit. Unfortunately not much is getting done today as when I went out to start weedkilling the drive, I discovered it was raining... which is good, as the waterbutts were starting to look a bit empty, and I was going to have to get more serious about watering (I really must set up all the dripper and seeper systems). 

Not much going on in the way of house hunting yet - I'm going to keep it low-key until I have a firm offer and an idea of how much I have to spend. 

On the money front, the new bonus scheme we put in place for 2022 has just paid out for Q1, so I had some extra despite the increase in NI. Due to the potential cost of moving, most has gone into savings, with about 25% to the mortgage. Plus the 29p interest from my current account. 

I'm still working on eating the contents of cupboards and freezers. I need to get better at meal planning. It's definitely more effective in good weather. I have a delivery of salad stuff arriving today, so I expect rain and cold for the next few weeks. I've roasted a couple of aubergines for baba ganoush, and am also going to be making wild garlic pesto and tapenade today. And am cooking a ham in the SC.

I should probably make some flatbreads to go with them - flour needs using, as does yogurt. And I need to work the rest of my carbs into the meal plan for the next few months - there's various kinds of rice, several types of couscous, buckwheat, bulghar wheat and flour to use. And there are also plenty of pulses. The freezer is full of meat and fish, so I really only need fresh veg. Which hopefully I will soon be growing myself if things get the hint and germinate. There is perpetual spinach, and hopefully chard (I need to clear the lambs lettuce that has gone to seed. I think the radishes will probably do better if I remember to water them...

After that long update, I need coffee, and then to get some of the stuff on the list done!

Alchemilla

I need buckwheat for my Ukrainian guests. Where do you find it?

Karmacat

Al, I've used Healthy Supplies for 6 or 7 years now, I've always had good experiences with their products and their delivery system.  My sister's just started using them too, as she's trying to eat more plant-based protein.  They have all sorts of buckwheat available, in all sorts of quantities: Buckwheat | Healthy Supplies

greenbee

Alchemilla said:

I need buckwheat for my Ukrainian guests. Where do you find it?

Health food shop. Mine is ancient. I have both ordinary and kashi. I need recipes, so feel free to pass on anything your guests come up with! (I also have buckwheat flour that needs using up - equally ancient). 

RosaBernicia

Also try the free from section (it's gluten free)

Baileys_Babe

Alchemilla said:

I need buckwheat for my Ukrainian guests. Where do you find it?

Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose all sell the grain and the flour. Tthe flour is usually with the standard flours (plain, self-raising ...) try either the world food aisle or with the legumes/grains/pulses. Also, try local Polish stores.

RosaBernicia said:

Also try the free from section (it's gluten free)

Whilst buckwheat is naturally gluten-free it is not classed as gluten-free for coeliacs as it is contaminated through processing and where it grows, the same as for oats.

You can get buckwheat flour which is certified gluten-free one brand is free if this is important to you.
 

greenbee

It’s hard work keeping the house clean and tidy and working round estate agents. 

Contract was up last week, so asked the agents for a report and a plan. Underwhelmed to say the least, but then I think they’re probably the ‘least worst’ option based on a thorough review of agents covering the area. Search agent is helpful when it comes to guidance for dealing with them. 

Viewings have slowed, but yesterday was another second viewing, so fingers crossed! 

Keeping going with gardening, as house selling isn’t exactly a quick process even once you find a buyer. I may have to murder some of my tomato seedlings, as despite sowing fewer seeds I have too many (and more peppers and aubergines than I need too). I need to get yet more compost and pot them up and get the big gravel trays sorted out.

Greenhouse shelves are finally up, along with wire for hanging baskets from the roof (not yet filled. Bubble wrap is down, water butt set up, so irrigation system needs sorting out.

Bank holiday plans are up in the air due to viewings, work travel needs booking for June (boss is travelling, need him to make decisions).

New job description has been signed off and I’ve signed the contract, so I’m just waiting for my boss to communicate the change in job title to the rest of the team and then I can update LI etc. I just hope he does it before the HR systems update themselves…

Am managing regular Pilates. Between that, work and gardening I’m pretty shattered but I need to keep it up and get myself fitter. I’m still struggling to keep my diet under control, particularly when I get cold - which seems to be most of the time (at temperatures that I used to consider to be warm). I know I need to call my GP to discuss options for my remaining LC symptoms but really don’t have the energy (or time).

Money left at the end of the month (barring any surprises) so will split 2/3rds to savings 1/3 to OPs given that moving will be expensive and use up savings.

greenbee

Lots of changes since I wrote - firstly new job is official (but didn’t impact payroll this month).

New photos taken of dining room (so it doesn’t highlight next door’s wall and piles of slabs leaning against it) and outside (leaves on trees, and avoiding making it look overlooked) and listing updated. It probably needs more work. Another viewing on Saturday, but no feedback yet.

Lots of gardening - feedback has been that the garden is too small, so have been tidying and mowing to make it look bigger and highlight the different areas you can sit in - on Saturday morning I dealt with a LOT of long grass (strimming and then mowing several times) and cut down a dead tree. My mum has been here too, so we’ve been weeding below the hedge, cutting out dead saplings and tying in climbers to fill gaps/train them in the right direction. Plans were somewhat scuppered by yesterday’s rain but we did get some greenhouse potting up done and packed up spare bedding and fabric to take back to hers to sort out.

Bin stores have been ordered to cover the bins as there’s a nice area to sit by them, but it may not be that appealing with a row of bins behind it. 

Also had a long discussion with my mum about what happens if I don’t sell and where to put the work in on the house. 

End of month money shuffle means savings topped (nearly enough to pay EA now, assuming they manage to sell the place) and mortgage OP done. Now just crossing fingers for a massive PB win tomorrow 😂

redofromstart

I have been stripping back the overgrown things on the side wall here to make the garden look bigger, it does seem to help.  I do sometimes wonder if people realise quite how much work it is keeping a plot of that size tidy - I know yours is similar size wise to ours.