My journey to a debt free life

Onebrokelady

Well that was a productive afternoon,I've now weeded the area of the garden where the washing line is and I've also swept all the steps and paths,my garden is about 80 odd foot long and is terraced into the side of a hill,so while its level it's level in stages so I have 4 sets of steps and 5 levels to keep tidy,it's looks a lot tidier now,I've swept the patio but can't give it a good clean until I've moved the chickens which I'm tempted to do on Saturday depending on the weather

I'm on holiday next week but I'm going to be busy so if I don't do it on Saturday it won't get done until Thursday,I will see how I feel when I get up on Saturday morning,I need to make the most of the next few Saturdays because I'm not meeting my mum for 5 weeks because she is going to visit my sister in Derby for a while

In other news I had a visit from the boys next door just now,I went up to the top of the garden and they were playing up there, they always stop and talk to me now if they see me, the brother who i presume is older is really funny, he is like an old man in the way he talks to me, I don't have a fence at the top of my garden and it's totally open to the lane, he was most concerned about this and told me I should really get one and a gate with a big lock on it because anyone could just wander into my garden and it's not safe,I felt thoroughly told off :rotfl:
He said they had just come home from a water park but that his brother had spoilt the day by going into one of the pools fully clothed:eek:so his mum has told them off and brought them home, he wanted to touch one of the chickens but I had to explain that they are quite hard to catch so he wouldn't be able to today
I've just come in for a coffee and then I'm going to go and level the two paving slabs that are wonky whee the chickens are going then the base will be ready to go

Talking of chickens ,they have had a lovely day in the garden today,they've made the most luxurious dust bath under the hedge and have spent a good hour each in there preening themselves,I love it when they aren't happy because they make these little noises sort of like a cat purring but squeakier, I also gave them a nectarine which they haven't had before and they loved it ,it was gone in minutes :rotfl:

Willowtree222

I understand how some things in the house can have an impact on mental health. Hopefully you will be able to replace it soon and feel much better about it.

You have done so much in the house with the decluttering so I am sure that you will be focussed and have that money saved and sorted in no time.

It's been up and down weather wise today. I got some sun, but it has just turned really dark.

Have a lovely evening x

Cherryfudge

Onebrokelady wrote: »

my garden is about 80 odd foot long and is terraced into the side of a hill,so while its level it's level in stages so I have 4 sets of steps and 5 levels to keep tidy

Oh, I am so envious now! I sometimes pass a garden rather like this but smaller and I realised I have a plan in my head for how I would do a terraced garden if I had one! There is such a lot of potential (though possibly also difficulties, like getting a lawn mower up to the top).

I'm glad you had such a productive day: the garden calls louder than the house at this time of year and of course being out there you are saving wear and tear on the carpet as well as not having to look at it. However I think replacing the carpet with laminate is a very good goal. We're looking for the 'right' carpet to replace the old one in our lounge, which doesn't cover all the floor since we had the hearth stripped back. There are pretty dark red tiles visible now but they have been under other tiles since the 1930s and are quite damaged so they need to go back under new flooring and once that's done we will have moved a big step forward. Which is longhand for saying ' You will love it when it's done'.

Well done on the savings account too. It's really progressing, isn't it. And I can just picture the chickens discvering nectarines! When (not 'if') I finally get my chickens, I shall enjoy finding what they like. I'm hoping it will be goosegrass and ground elder, but I won't deny them the occasional treat.

HairyHandofDartmoor

Well done on all your gardening yesterday :T. I love the chats you have with the boys next door . And I have a lovely image of your chickens having dust baths now .

Onebrokelady

Cherryfudge wrote: »

Oh, I am so envious now! I sometimes pass a garden rather like this but smaller and I realised I have a plan in my head for how I would do a terraced garden if I had one! There is such a lot of potential (though possibly also difficulties, like getting a lawn mower up to the top).

I'm glad you had such a productive day: the garden calls louder than the house at this time of year and of course being out there you are saving wear and tear on the carpet as well as not having to look at it. However I think replacing the carpet with laminate is a very good goal. We're looking for the 'right' carpet to replace the old one in our lounge, which doesn't cover all the floor since we had the hearth stripped back. There are pretty dark red tiles visible now but they have been under other tiles since the 1930s and are quite damaged so they need to go back under new flooring and once that's done we will have moved a big step forward. Which is longhand for saying ' You will love it when it's done'.

Well done on the savings account too. It's really progressing, isn't it. And I can just picture the chickens discvering nectarines! When (not 'if') I finally get my chickens, I shall enjoy finding what they like. I'm hoping it will be goosegrass and ground elder, but I won't deny them the occasional treat.

My terraces are the patio which is outside the back door then up the steps there is a rockery and slightly above that is the largest terrace which used to be my lawn before I had chickens,now it's just a barren waste land full of holes where they dust bath ,the shed is also on this level,then the next terrace is a smaller one where the washing line lives,there is a tall shrubby hedge here and behind that is another shed on a slabbed base that could be used at a second patio if the shed wasn't there

When we moved in the garden was an overgrown jungle and I spent months sorting it out,I never really appreciated it at the time and then I got the chickens and it all went down hill from there, I saw some pre chicken photos of if a while ago and god it was a lovely garden,I never realised how nice it was before I got the chickens, all I knew is that it was a lot of hard work to keep it looking tidy, this is partly why I can't make up my mind on whether to get any more chickens,because you can't have a nice garden and keep hens in it,they literally dig everything up and grass lasts minutes before it is scratched away,I did toy with the idea of getting fake grass and just hosing it off but I think they who rip it,i suppose I could just lay it down and then roll it up when they are out :rotfl::rotfl:

Onebrokelady

HairyHandofDartmoor wrote: »

Well done on all your gardening yesterday :T. I love the chats you have with the boys next door . And I have a lovely image of your chickens having dust baths now .

The older boy is ok to chat with and quite funny ,he has no filter so will just come out and say what is on his mind which I like, he's also quite respectful when he is in my garden,the younger one is another kettle of fish entirely and seems to delight in causing trouble,he was up the garden swinging a big stick around at my plants and just seems to like destroying things
They have shown lots of interest in my chickens and while I don't mind them coming in the garden while I'm not here I wouldn't trust the younger one not to let the chickens out so I'm going to get a padlock for the run

Since I've sort of made friends with them I don't feel so annoyed by them all the time so that's a bonus, but they are still a bit of a pain to live next to

Onebrokelady

I am now on holiday for 8 days and boy do it need it,I am sooooo tired,
Friday at work was an ok day but something very distressing happened the day before that all the staff were talking about,I couldn't stop thinking about it all day, I wanted to talk to DD when I got home last night but I can't because of confidentiality and it was so distressing I don't think she would cope with hearing about it,I've just had to make myself put it out of my mind😢😢sometimes I don't know how we do the job we do 😢

This morning I had a lie in so that was nice,we had to go into town for food because stocks were running low,my freezer drawer was empty:eek: I was also a bit naughty and bought two books,they were buy one get one half price but still,I haven't rebelled like that for ages:eek:

I hadn't done anything else today apart from relax, it's my birthday tomorrow and DD wanted to know if I wanted to go out but I said no because I really can't be bothered,I would rather just stay at home and potter about here,so we have decided on a compromise, we aren't doing anything tomorrow but tonight we are ordering Greek food from this fantastic little Greek cafe/takeaway that is local to us and we are going to stay at home and watch a film:beer:
I am sooooo happy with this plan because it means I don't have to dress up and go out and I can lounge around in my pjs:D

HairyHandofDartmoor

Sorry about what happened at work OBL, that must be so hard not to bring home with you .

Your plans for tonight sound lovely, enjoy your Greek meal and film with DD and happy birthday for tomorrow .

Cherryfudge

It's hard when something distressing happens at work: you can't get away from it and confidentiality gets in the way of instinctive talking therapy. Does your work have a staff support system that could listen when you need it?

I think the book buying was a great idea: a small treat can help a bit when you're down and it IS nearly your birthday after all.

Hope you have a lovely day tomorrow! x

Honeysucklelou2

Would bark chippings be any good for a chicken pen? I guess you'd need sanitising powder though for long term use.

Hope you have a lovely few days off work.