Cooking for one (Mark Three)

Wednesday2000

I read that on another thread, that is exciting Brambling!

I just had toast and a cup of builder's tea.

My NHS exemption card runs out next month so I have to go to the GP and fill in some paperwork. It is raining and dull today after being so lovely yesterday.

Need2bthrifty

Good morning, lovely sunny but frosty start to the day here - roll on the days when weather forecasters talk about the temp being in double figures, I’m not greedy I’d be happy if it reached 10c.
 
Even though its cold I’m craving salady bits so for lunch I’ll have ham, coleslaw, tomatoes, cucumber, lettuce, pickles and whatever else comes to hand.
 
Defrosting a salmon fillet for tonight, not quite sure what I fancy doing with it, I do enjoy it poached or teriyaki style but might try it with a pesto and parmesan crumb for a change.

Brambling said:

I envy those of you living by the sea i grew up close to it in Dorset and then I lived In Portsmouth as a student and loved walking along the beach in winter the nearest coast to us is about 40 mins away.  I like the small market town I live in so it's probably not going to happen although you never know 🤷‍♀️ 

I told my manager I'm going to retire in May no later than the 23rd and turned down the offer of part time on a sloping scale for another year or so instead. He seemed surprised but I've talked about it previously I think he thought the PT would sway me but I've see the extra hours PT colleagues work for no OT and TBH the numbers add up not to have to 

Never say never, Brambling.

I think you are right not to go PT, often you are expected to do the same amount of work with less time to do it. 

Farway

Drizzling this morning but at east it's not hammering down, small mercies.

Hope the retirement works for you Brambling, I only recently realised I've been retired for over twenty years now and have never regretted it

Message from Asda, running short of some items, but mainly the chilled stuff I'd ordered, like quiche / flan. None of which will be doom if they never arrive tomorrow.

Lunch, another cheese & fresh onion sarnie

Dinner, frozen MFO RM cannelloni

caronc

Good morning everyone,
Oh Brambling not long to go! I think you're right to just go for it if you can. 
I'm still really wonky so a flare up I think, I've put today's planned physio session on hold until next week as I can't face being rumbled about. I'm due to see friends on Friday so really hope it settles enough. DS2 was off at 5am to head to Catterick for a site meeting, depending on when he finishes he might pay a visit to the farm shop at Tebay. 
LO minestrone for lunch and chicken casserole for dinner when DS2 gets back.

Wednesday2000

I went to fill in the form at the GP, it was drizzling slightly all the way there and back. I popped into a charity shop and came out with a black handbag and two wicker baskets.

I fancied potato wedges so I made them in the air fryer with spray olive oil and a big salad for lunch.

justkeepswimmimg

Not jealous at all, Brambling! You sound like you have made the right decision for you, get the countdown started. A few of us were talking in the office yesterday about how long we’ve got left…17 years still on my mortgage 😬

Grey and rainy (and cold) all day here. Wfh though so haven’t had to leave the house yet.

Posh fishfinger sandwich, made in pitta bread, for lunch. Will have the LO pasta from last night in a bit, off to a short meeting early evening.

Brambling

JKS redundancy over 10 years ago after 25years sorted my mortgage 🙂

Another advantage of retiring was the cancellation of my annual review this afternoon 😁 I hate those things.  I did have a catch up with my manager and he was trying to steer me towards part time, so I was blunt in telling him that no one in the team working PT had ever just worked their hours 🙄 he didn't deny it just said he had to try so the quicker I get my letter to him the better. He did admit he would do the same if he could 

Another bowl of HM soup for lunch.  I didn't fancy the chicken again so unearthed some sirloin steak and some chips and cooked mushrooms and tomatoes and some green veg 😋 I may have finished the gin but it was only about one pub measure left in the bottle which needed recycling  

Wednesday2000

We paid off our mortgage in 15 years, rather than 25 as we were so frugal as my husband was ill with cancer and then I was ill with fibromyalgia and we didn't go out socially for years so we saved a lot of money! It was strange talking to my uncle at the party the other week after not seeing my family for 25 years. He is 20 years older than me and he is just retiring now and I am hoping that my husband will retire this year. Usually people are much older than us to be in this position. He looked fairly confused when I said I was close to retiring, lol. The advice on this forum helped me a lot.

I am cooking for two later as it is Valentine's day. I am just going to have a smoothie before then as the meal is fairly rich.

Farway

Another wet day, even my Asda delivery was a tad soggy, nothing bad, just some packaging. 

Sent three items back, well two actually, the sirloin steaks were subbed with Rump so returned, the C & O flan was subbed with bacon flan. I was sending it back, but driver said keep it & he'll refund anyway, so cheers Asda.

Lunch, despite the fresh delivery it's stale bread toasted, topped with grilled cheese

Dinner, Trying Asda meat & veg pasty, with AF chips and open a tin of beans

caronc

Good morning everyone,
Back when I was arranging my mortgage in 2006 to buy my ex out, my plan was to partially retire when I was 60 and fully retire when I was 64 and took a term of 23 years to reflect this. However, I've always overpaid it, not by masses each month, but enough to reduce the overall interest paid significantly. There's very little left now and I could pay it off but it's on a low fix rate and I get more by saving the money. It will naturally complete before the end of my current fix. Of course life didn't quite work out as planned though I never expected to have to retire in my early 50s. 
I feel slightly less wonky this morning and had a much better night so fingers crossed the current flare up is waning.
LO casserole for lunch and lovely Tebay farm shop sausages for dinner.