Travelling On

Karmacat

That was interesting!  29 minutes on hold on a chat line, then TalkTalk confirmed I was out of contract and just have to give 30 days notice.  I even have a phone number for cancellations, unheard of these days    That Vodafone deal would cost me £28, I think, because I go for unlimited landline minutes - I can't cope with chatting on my mobile when the other person is also on a mobile, my ears don't work that way, sadly!  But going with Vodafone in that way will save me £15 a month, no small beer.  

Energy bill things not done, of course, the broadband thing took forever.  Food now!  And thanks again, madvix.  I hadn't meant to do it this week, but the cost saving is tremendous.

Staffordia

With regards to the possible car, if the solo events are within a reasonable distance might it not be more cost effective to use taxis rather than have the ongoing running costs of a car? Of course you maybe reluctant to do this in the current climate.  

themadvix

Oh Karma, didn't mean to distract you from your list! But it is a good saving, so that's good!

Karmacat

Hi staffordia!  It's exactly the current climate that convinces me to finally get a car, you've nailed it There's also that sense of "I fancy doing it now" - of course, taxis are always available, for a price and at their own convenience, but I just don't like doing it.  I'm also a solitary sort of person, and continually having taxis would *not* be good. 

Plus things I'd go to would be in the countryside or in other towns (this town is only 35,000 people, doesn't have the specialist groups/ spaces that I like) and calling a taxi out, relying on there being one that's willing to come out, not good.  I used to live on the outskirts of a big city, and although there were hundreds of taxis, it could take me 30 minutes to get one, for a journey that was only 20 minutes, they didn't like coming out to the edge of the city.  Unless I was queuing at a train station, I often found taxis more trouble than they were worth.

I might not have a car long term, of course - maybe 5 years?  Don't know, but it would be subject to review  

Karmacat

themadvix said:

Oh Karma, didn't mean to distract you from your list! But it is a good saving, so that's good!

Awwww!  It was actually on the list, I promise you, under "sorting out the broadband bill"   I knew I was overpaying - I loathe getting in touch with them so much, thats what was putting me off, your post was great timing

Staffordia

Sounds like the car would be beneficial then. We debated going to one car when I retired, but I like the convenience of always having transport at my disposal. We may review in 20 years 

Karmacat

Exactly!  As an environmentalist, I feel bad about it - I don't **need** a car in many ways.  But I feel very stuck, not having my own transport for such a long time, when whatever's in walking distance is so bland.  I like much more colour in my life than I've got right now.

It will be 2nd hand, mind you ... I just checked on the Renault Zoe website run by Renault themselves: new cars start at £27,595  **faints**  good grief.

Anyway - almost cleared two more spots for herb planting, I think I might be able to actually plant another four tomorrow.

beanielou

One of my friends is on her second or third Zoe & loves it!

Chiglepig

Happy planting, KC! I love the satisfaction of seeing a newly cleared bed. It would have been an ideal weekend to get garden stuff done if I'd felt well, I have lots of white evening primrose and foxhloves to plant, all grown from seed, but there isn't any room yet because the summer annuals are still going sttrong - especially the Zinnia and Tithonia.

Karmacat

Thanks chiglepig!  I need to remember to keep weeding around the newly-planted plants until they can overcome local weed seeds sprouting - there's an awful lot out there, I'm afraid

Evening primrose and foxgloves sound wonderful!  I'm afraid I'm not such a fan of annuals, or at least purely ornamental ones that need to be nurtured.  Give me perennials, bulbs or self seeding annuals every time and I prefer my stuff to be useful to me, or to bees, or to other pollinators The ones I'm planting are sage and mint - there's also an angelica, which is perennial, and a couple of parsleys seem to be managing to stay alive.  

Just had a nice long talk with brother, about a family member who's very highly qualified in the financial world who might be open to taking on family wealth management.  That would be interesting    Now, though, cup of tea, but not much time before lunch, so tidying is the main thing, then weeding and planting in the afternoon