Light the fire...

woodfired

Heatherweed - Thank you I will try that trick, I hate them, just thinking about them makes me itch!! My fave spot on a sunday afternoon is laying on my tummy on the carpet in front of the woodburner reading diaries! Not doing that at the moment -shudder-!!

woodfired

Runders - That sounds lovely, it makes a world of difference in my opinion when you get on well with the neighbours. I'm glad you've settled in well, I've kept an eye on your diary but hadn't seen a post from you in a while. RE: house - we do have a hallway with panelled walls and and porch/boot room also (although this bit needs to be kept tidy as visitors will come in this way :rotfl:). It's not as grand as it sounds but it is lovely . Thanks again and keep posting!xx

woodfired

OK, decided I needed to make jam/jelly to make use of Damsons. Cost £13 on Amaz0n for the jars :eek: DH paid though so not all bad. Last minute decision meant I didn't have time to collect up used jars and re-purpose .
Damsons picked, washed, checked for rot (were so ripe) I then boiled with lemon juice as I was worried about pectin levels with the being so ripe. So I strained through a jelly bag for half an hour or so (wanted to keep some juice back with the pulp for jam later) then boiled up with sugar - should take 10 - 15 mins? An hour later I was still boiling and checking the set (frozen plate, teaspoon of the jelly should 'wrinkle' when cooled on the plate and pushed with a finger) and still runny as anything.

So, whilst standing over cooker, I checked this website for ideas/solutions to the problem, meanwhile jelly boils over the top of the pan and floods the hob (think burnt sugar :eek:) the worktop, goes down the gap between the Esse and the units, it was EVERYWHERE! And if you've ever processed Damsons you'll understand that the colour is the deepest purple that stains EVERYTHING! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: I even have to bleach my wooden spoons after use to get rid of the stain, so you can imagine how good it was on my cream travertine tiles. :rotfl: It was a disaster. Ahh. So I ended up with 5 measly jars of liquid jelly (it never did set!) and a good hour of cleaning up sticky syrup.

In better news, DH picked up 5 Bramleys from F&V shop on his way home. I pushed the damson juice and pulp that was leftover through a sieve and boiled up with the apples and some sugar to make a jam. This was a much tamer beast and fairly easy to make. :rotfl: Doesn't taste half as good as my pure Damson 'syrup' though, it's a shame it didn't set as the flavour is incredible, I adore damsons and have been eating it with a spoon out of the jar! Also will be OK on yoghurt or ice cream I suppose.

The joke is the last time I made Damson jelly, a few years ago, it set so hard you could have used it as a cricket ball :rotfl: Jelly making is clearly not my forte.

woodfired

Wet day off today, DD had a taster day at high school, I can't believe how fast she is growing up!
Dropped her this morning then have been out with DH, quick look round a local interiors place (for inspiration only - didn't buy anything) the popped to local livestck auction to watch my Dad sell at the main sheep sale of the year. Good 'trade' and a cheap, hearty steak pudding, chips and peas lunch in the cafe whilst there.

We then popped into ald1 for a little shop before going back to collect DD - she'd had a fab day thankfully.
Got absolutely drenched stood waiting for DD outside school so both fires now lit at home to warm me up, heat from Esse is warming the attic room nicely so two loads of laundry currently drying in there. Just another load of lights to wash and the baskets are empty - for now at least! Will do those tomorrow after the other loads are dry - can't fit too much in at once or it gets too steamy.

Quick dinner tonight is marinated chicken in flatbreads with salad. Tomorrow I need to organise the fridge, freezer and cupboards and start eating up the stores - all are fit to burst yet I keep buying more. Must be at least a months worth meals in there so will prioritise using up these first.

Happy weekend all, stay dry!

savingholmes

Sympathise on the jam stains - sounds horrific. Glad that the jam making went better after that. Also good to hear your property sale and buy is going through okay... Roll on the dream home...

pinkypig

Poor you - jam disaster clean ups are hideous. We used to have an aga and I did the same with marmalade :eek
Hope you’ve got rid of Ralph’s fleas - I must check the dog :eek::rotfl:

woodfired

Thanks SH!
Pinky- fleas are a nightmare, do check the dog :rotfl: Problem is Ralph hasn't got them anymore the blinking carpet and soft furnishing have them now! :eek::rotfl::(

Have sorted through the fridge and two cupboards this morning. Some stuff set aside for School Harvest Festival - collections for food bank, the rest has been re-organised, decanted into other bottles/tubs (I had 6 open tubs of bisto gravy on the go - 3 of each flavour! :rotfl:), wiped down and replaced. I can now see what needs to be used up and what I have in before future shops take place. For lunch I have de-cluttered a tin of butter beans and some cooking chorizo to make a warm salad. Rest of chorizo is earmarked for Monday's dinner with golden rice and roasted veg. I've also sorted out several storage jars that my sis is going to take, I used to keep dried goods in them but I haven't bothered in ages so they've just been taking up valuable space, I need to continue sorting through cupboards and de-cluttering - it will make packing to move so much easier.

In other news I took DS to his swimming lesson and took a drink and packet of crisps with me to avoid the extortionate prices of the vending machine afterwards. Then took him for his hair cut as it is school photos monday, £5 for his hair. Planning on not spending anything else for the rest of the weekend, we've loads of food in and DH is not feeling great so a cosy weekend holed up at home in front of the fire is planned from this point onwards.

Happy Weekend all.x

woodfired

I've hit an important figure today. I have been keeping track of the amount we still need to save to complete on the new house. I'm not including our current account balance as we will still need cash to live on but the figure comprises the sale price of our house less the current mortgage balance to give a figure for our equity. Added to the equity is the amount we will borrow on the mortgage, a small loan from Mum and all of our cash savings. The total amount we require to move is the purchase price of the new house plus stamp duty, mortgage fees, solicitors fees and estate agent fees. This totals a rather horrifying £473 186.20 :eek: Today I have made an OP to the mortgage that brought the equity figure up to a level that means we have fully funded the move. :T:T

I do have some additional cash savings of £1500 towards emergency spends such as new furniture and pretty things , we have ignored some small balances in S&S ISAs and the current account balance is fairly healthy also. We will hope to save another thousand or two by the time we complete but its good to know we now have the cash ready and waiting to go.

On a less positive note, the H@lifax sent a huge list of documents required to support our application including background info such as our previous careers and qualifications, experience in our current field etc. Hope this is just a standard procedure and that the underwriters look on us favourably, we will probably have an answer mid next week as they want a few bits from the accountants that will take a few days to get together so it's going to be a long week of holding our breath and crossing all fingers and toes!

Starmummy

Hi WF

I've been making my way through your diary all week and it has been such a pleasurable read.

You life sounds so idyllic, I'd love to know where you live it sounds just perfect, a lovely mix of community and countryside.
The new house sounds lovely, as does your current house. I hope the move is as painless as possible.

I'm a bit of a towny now but grew up on a farm and I really do miss it.

I shall be following your diary and look forward to the updates and the food inspiration.

Take care

SM

savingholmes

Hope all goes well with the mortgage. Sounds like you made a good over-payment though so congratulations.