Put away your purse & become debt-averse

DawnW

Will you be having a cowl or similar put on your chimney so that you don't get a problem with nests once your heater is installed? Jackdaws are a real nuisance for that round here too. I don't know why, it seems a really unpleasant and difficult place to build a nest!

foxgloves

Hi Dawn, Yes  when the workmen come & finish the installation tomorrow, they will be going up onto the roof to drop a flue liner down the chimney & will be covering it while they are up there. Our work was originally scheduled for the day after Lockdown. The first pair of jackdaws arrived the very next day & wouldn't have been able to build their nest had the work been done. The chicks fledged & they left, but by the time builders were able to return to work, another pair of jackdaws had decided to purloin the 2nd-hand nest for their own brood. No wonder it was such a big stinky mess. I've had joss sticks going all evening! I do like the local jackdaws. They are clever, funny birds but they have been a bit of a nuisance this year for sure!
F x

Onebrokelady

I bet the sunrise at Stonehenge was weird with no people this year, I'm just glad there won't  be loads of photos all over Facebook this year  showing all the rubbish they leave behind 😟

Happy new chimney 😀 we have Jackdaws here and I do love them but I'm lucky I don't have a chimney for them to nest in 😊

marionmgcars

Hi, I have had a few industrious days after following your lead Foxgloves, and having my journal to note things in, and make lists of things that need done.  I was doing well at the beginning of lockdown, but have slowed down a little over the weeks.  Looking forward to starting my decluttering during July, repurposing or decluttering the same amount of things as the day number that month,  it sounds quite motivating. 

HairyHandofDartmoor

I hope your new woodburner type cooker installation has gone well today Foxgloves. It's lovely having home improvements done, it always feels like money well spent to me .

I can't believe it's the summer solstice already. This has been such an odd year and it's not over yet!

moving_forward

Hello Foxgloves and all.  I need to catch up on the diaries badly and it may take me a while to get through yours!  Looking forward to a nice leisurely read and seeing what "debtisodes" I've missed.

foxgloves

Marionmgcars - Goos luck wirh your decluttering challenge. As thw month progresses & the number of items to declutter increases, it makes you look at everyrhing with new eyes. Some of the stuff I decluttered..... well I'm not sure why I'd even kept it!
F x

foxgloves

HHoD - Yes, it does feel like money well spent. Most of the bigger jobs wouldn't have been possible had I not had an inheritance, but we do feel it is important to make good a number of significant problems with our house now we have the chance. For most of us, our home is our biggest investment & it feels sensible maintaining the value as far as we are able. It's the sort of sensible thinking that has eluded me most of my adult life, but I'm making up for it now.
F x

foxgloves

Moving_forward.... well if you are intending to have a diary catch-up, I feel duty bound to inform you that I don't think I've done anything of interest for months!
So you might be better starting 'War & Peace!'
F x

foxgloves

Hello Sunbeams, 
Oh my days, it's hot! Too, too hot. I feel very fortunate to be in the garden & not at work...most of my working life was spent in buildings without air conditioning. Sometimes, windows were nailed shut because of being in areas high in petty crime & anti-social behaviour. The heat was unbearable at times, so I know I am lucky to be able to sit outside where at least I can swelter uncomfortably in the fresh air. 
There was chimney progress yesterday. The stove/fire was installed & although I nearly melted into a human puddle while they were testing it, it does look really good. They couldn't finish the job though. Yes, again! Not Covid or naughty jackdaws this time, but the fact that the plasterer had not yet put in an appearance & they need the plastering completed before they can fit the beam.
Other progress.... I have successfully managed to re-cover my vintage armchair! I just need to put the braid on to finish it off. I have found some glue in the shed, which I am hoping will be a 'shop from home' solution, but I am unsure whether it is suitable for sticking fabric to fabric & need to test a small unobtrusive piece first. Today I'm too hot to do much more than read my library book in the garden. I did a big pile of ironing before the sun got too high & have done next week's meal plans, so will write a hopefully shortish shopping list this afternoon, as we could definitely do with our grocery spend falling back to pre-Covid levels.
Postie brought what looked like a dull official letter, but it turned out to be £25 John L*wis vouchers from my 'just for points' credit card. They will be very useful as I need to purchase a bedroom blind & I have seen one I like in JL.
Well, I think I will go & make a pint of squash & try not to feel like a melty puddle.
Cheers all.... stay safe & stay hydrated,
F xx