Travelling On 2 January 2018 at 4:38PM edited 30 November -1 at 1:00AM in Mortgage-Free Wannabe 6.1K replies 266K views

Karmacat

Garden work went well - found another complete roof tile (from when I had storm damage, and some tiles were taken off anyway) so that went under the fence as well.  A bit more soil shifted away.  But the biggest part of the job, 40 minutes or so, was moving the weeding to a new little bed, on the other side of the garden.  It's been protected from the cats by having 2 dishwasher inserts turned upside down onto it, but strawberries have cannibalised it - alpine ones, they're weeds here, I dug them all up.  What *has* made itself at home that I want to keep, is apple's raspberry cuttings and they're in leaf already I've only weeded about a third, but it was *cold* out there, so no more today.  It will need some retaining sides because of the soil I'm putting there, and probably some ground cover, maybe herbs.  That would be nice  

Sort of against my better judgement, I've bought an Amazon fire stick from qvc ... it's only the 60 day unconditional money back thingy that's let me buy it.  Eventually, I want my computer to be in the office, so it would be lovely to view stuff on the tv, as well as my phone.  We'll see.  I may never even open the packet, in which case I'll return it before the option expires.

Tussling with the dandelion roots etc while it was so cold has made me really tired.  Cuppa tea, read a book, that might be it today sleep well all.

apple_muncher

So glad the rasps are thriving! And well done on tussles with dandelion roots. The way they regrow, I'm surprised they haven't taken over the world yet...

Karmacat

That's true, apple - along with buddleias!  Between East Croydon and Central London, anywhere where there are tracks merging and de-merging (?) the area is *filled* with buddleia.  

Big news today: I'm going to socialise on Monday!  First day we're allowed, and I'm going a walk with my sister!  She'll drive here, we'll go for a walk along the roads and paths, she'll drive back.  Bliss   My house is still fairly overwhelmed with tidying tasks, so it's a good job she's not allowed inside yet

Today, it's all about tidying/ carrying on with tasks, including food - I found an untouched set of garlic bulbs when I was cooking the chickpeas yesterday, so a-roasting we will go.  I'm planning to de-skin them first, and I'm getting a "that's not the right way" vibe?  Taking the skin off while they're raw seems the least faffiest way to go about it - bear in mind I don't "cook" more than once a month at best, I just heat frozen veg and assorted nuts and rice/pasta.  De-skinning is good.

Cheery_Daff

I always peel garlic before roasting - I've done both and it is easier to squeeze the middle out when it's roasted... but I LOVE roasted garlic and don't want to be faffing with my dinner once it's cooked! 

How lovely to have a walk with your sister 😊 

greenbee

I roast the garlic with the skins on, then just squish it out with a knife. Or my teeth and spit the skins out... which is one of the advantages of living on my own One of the nice things about lockdown is being able to eat as much garlic as I like

Karmacat

I was thinking about the living on my own thing - definitely a good thing  

So both of you also think it's easier to roast then deskin?  Then that's what I'll do - not for an individual meal, but to stick in a little container and stick it in the freezer.  Thanks both!

I've been out in the garden, finally - fine tuning the "retaining" timbers that will form part of the raised beds ie digging away more soil.  Didn't stay out as long as yesterday, but I was still frozen when I came in - long enough  

debtfreeoneday

iit was nippy out of the sun yesterday for sure. 

Karmacat

Hello 👍🦢🌈 so, I had a walk with another human being!  Yes, my sister  but that still counts.  Very happy Saw my lovely green-bin-neighbour, who I haven't chatted properly with since before Christmas, so ran out of the house to talk to him, and one of the million people who also chat with him stopped by, so today has felt incredibly social yay.

Of course, I've done nothing whatsoever, apart from lose my earband, that I'd worn in place of a hat - it came off previously, snagged by a branch, but I was retracing my steps and found it again.  Today, no such luck, which was sad, but it could be anywhere, quite frankly, and somebody else can have it to love.

I still have one of the Asda 4-for-the-price-of-3 little mini bottles of cava etc that I bought for Christmas, so I reckon I'll have that tonight in celebration  

And now to fill the last few inches of the neighbour's green bin.  He lent it to someone else, bless his cotton socks.

beanielou

How lovely to have a social day.
I chatted to a friend on the doorstep which was nice.

greent

How lovely!! I do find nowadays that if I see someone to chat to that I can gabble on for ages - and about nothing in particular - it's just the sheer novelty of seeing another human (that isn't a member of my household!!) x