We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
The Final Furlong
Options
Comments
-
I fell in love with Dahl when I went to Sri Lanka but never found a decent recipe. Would you share yours?
LTotal Debt Dec 07 £59875.83 Overdrafts £2900,New Debt Figure ZERO !!!!!!:j 08/06/2013
Lucielle's Daring Debt Free Journey
DFD Before we Die!!!! Long Haul Supporter #1242 -
Brilliant for your daughter Seasidegal, it's definitely a "build it and they will come"
Lucielle, I started out with a Madhur Jaffrey recipe for Tarka Dhal and now I sort of do my own thing. Basically fry some chopped onions and spices (turmeric, garic, garam masala or if you don't have those just use curry powder)add red lentils and stock and simmer until soft and cooked. If it is too wet I add more lentils and if too stiff add more stock. Most recipes will tell you to cook the lentils separately and add the onion and spices at the end but I quite like to cook them together. You sort of get an eye for how much to put in with practice. I will look for the link and post it.
Tuesday's afternoon tea was a roaring success and friend A felt spoilt which was the intention. She did turn up with a bag of corn cobs, onions and potatoes though but I didn't complain. Then yesterday I decided to tackle the cobwebs which seem to have taken over the house. If I say that I could have been a close relative of Miss Haversham you'll get the picture. After some time going up ad down the ladders with the hoover my 8 legged friends were banished and my levels of housework
shame have returned to normal.
This morning I went to meet DD1 and GD3 for a coffee at out local M&S. While there I picked up 2 new towels that I have been planning to buy for about a year, with the vouchers I had that came to £18 instead of £24 - bargain. I then went to Sm*ths were a book I have looked at several times was reduced to £4.99 and I happened to have £5 left on a gift card from my birthday so another bargain buy (well free actually). That was followed by a trip to next t buy some perfume requested by GD4 for her birthday in October, they no longer have the one she wanted but I did spy a multi pack of 3 perfumes and, you've guessed it, one of them was the one I was looking for. By buying the multi pack I got 3 for £18 instead of £24 and I can use the other two as Christmas gifts. So all in all a bargainous day was had.
The dreaded tax return has still not been done so it is first thing on my list tomorrow and I am not allowing myself to move from the lap top until it is completed !! I don't know why it is such a chore but I do this every year.
Well I'm getting low battery messages so I will sign off and put it n charge.
Speak tomorrow
Take care
Dottles xCC1 Aug19 [STRIKE]£7587.85[/STRIKE] Aug 20 £0
CC2 Aug 19 [STRIKE]£1185.58[/STRIKE] Aug 20 £0
CC3 Aug 19 [STRIKE]£544.95[/STRIKE] Aug 20 £0
O/D Aug [STRIKE]£20[/STRIKE] Sept [STRIKE] £100[/STRIKE] Oct £0
CC4 Aug 2020 £0
Total debt Aug 2019[STRIKE]£9318.38[/STRIKE] Aug 20 £04 -
Well done on all the bargain buys - especially the perfumes.What a great friend to have - all those lovely free vegetables!Finally Debt Free! - July 2016 🌟
Finished Emergency Fund- £10,000 April 2017
🌟
RETIRED: MAY 2021!!!!😀🎆
My diary: “Seasidegal's Scrimpy Retirement Diary!”1 -
I couldn't find the recipe that I originally used Lucielle, but it was from an old book that I no longer have so maybe not now available. However, this is a good one that I've used before, it's easy too.
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/tarka-dhal
She is Seasidegal, I forgot that she brought a couple of leeks too.CC1 Aug19 [STRIKE]£7587.85[/STRIKE] Aug 20 £0
CC2 Aug 19 [STRIKE]£1185.58[/STRIKE] Aug 20 £0
CC3 Aug 19 [STRIKE]£544.95[/STRIKE] Aug 20 £0
O/D Aug [STRIKE]£20[/STRIKE] Sept [STRIKE] £100[/STRIKE] Oct £0
CC4 Aug 2020 £0
Total debt Aug 2019[STRIKE]£9318.38[/STRIKE] Aug 20 £03 -
I woke early this morning with the sun shining through the windows even though it is wet outside. The strong winds of yesterday have dropped and it looks like it could be a lovely day though more rain is forecast for this afternoon. I'm meeting friend P for coffee this morning. She is coming here and then we will stroll into the village to get our steps up for the day. Later GD4 is coming round to hang out for the afternoon which will be fun, I'll have to sort out a project for us to do.
Well my friends....I have eaten that frog.... the tax return is now completed !! I have put it off for so long and it only took me an hour and a half when I got down to it. My next task is to sort out a system for compiling everything as I go for next year's return then it won't be such a pain to collate.
I had some private work yesterday morning and then I tackled the conservatory as it has become a bit of a dumping ground and not put to good use. The idea was always to eat in there but it's too cold in the winter as it is unheated though the sun (it's south facing) makes it warm in the morning. I moved the dining table into the living room then moved in a cane chair with cushions and a throw from my bedroom. the plan is to get a second chair and a coffee table and a rug and use the room as a place to sit and read or to have a coffee with friends. I now need to take down the vertical blinds as they are broken, clean the windows and put way the last remaining clutter.
I'm still waiting for the quote for the roof work and french doors but my garden parasol and base were delivered yesterday after a coupe of weeks delay. Here's hoping that we still have one or two sunny days to come so that I get to use them before the autumn sets in. I suppose that at least I now have them ready for next year as it does get unbearably hot in the garden and there is no real shade to speak of.
The weather is still looking promising so I think I will get up and take Tilly for an early walk.
Have a fun/relaxing/productive (delete as appropriate) day whatever you are all doing.
Speak son
Dottles xCC1 Aug19 [STRIKE]£7587.85[/STRIKE] Aug 20 £0
CC2 Aug 19 [STRIKE]£1185.58[/STRIKE] Aug 20 £0
CC3 Aug 19 [STRIKE]£544.95[/STRIKE] Aug 20 £0
O/D Aug [STRIKE]£20[/STRIKE] Sept [STRIKE] £100[/STRIKE] Oct £0
CC4 Aug 2020 £0
Total debt Aug 2019[STRIKE]£9318.38[/STRIKE] Aug 20 £02 -
Yay for getting the tax return done. Enjoy your walk.If you have built castles in the air, your work should not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them
Emergency fund 100/1000
Buffer fund 0/100
Debt Free (again) 25/0720251 -
Well done eating the tax return frog!Your 'parlour' sounds like it will be very nice. 😀Finally Debt Free! - July 2016 🌟
Finished Emergency Fund- £10,000 April 2017
🌟
RETIRED: MAY 2021!!!!😀🎆
My diary: “Seasidegal's Scrimpy Retirement Diary!”1 -
You seem to have had lots of shopping bargains - always nice. Well done on the tax return too.Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £174.8K Equity 32.77%
2) £3K Net savings after CCs 6/7/25
3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £22.5K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.1K) = 28.2/£127.5K target 22;12% updated 6/7
4) FI Age 60 income target £16.5/30K 55.1%
5) SIPP £4.6K updated 6/7/251 -
Well I don't know where the days have gone. I used to laugh when people said " I don't know how I found the tie to work" and now I'm wondering the same thing.
Saturday afternoon with GD4 was lovely. I went to her house and we we watched a few cooking videos on you tube and tik tok (you can probably tell that this was teenager led) and then cooked cheesy pasta and dough balls for tea followed by strawberries dipped in chocolate. We work well together when cooking, doing a sort of dance around each other in the kitchen. Lots of chatting was done, I love to catch up on what is happening in her world.
On Monday I met with someone to discuss possible arranging workshops. She has been asking me for a while but it didn't seem right when I was teaching and anyway I would never have been able to find the time to plan them. Anyway I now have 2 booked in, one in November and one in late January if Covid doesn't mess things up again. I watched a programme this evening and the scientists all seemed to believe that a second wave is inevitable.
In the afternoon I went to a couple of second hand furniture shops to look for a coffee table but the only one suitable was already sold so the search continues. Tilly and I went for a long walk in the sunshine when I got home followed by reading my book in the garden with her curled up on my knee. Such loves a cuddle so long as it is on he terms. I have been searching for a drop leaf dining table that I can upcycle for the living room. The idea is that it can be flat against the wall when not in use, one leaf up for me to use and pulled out with both leaves when family come for lunch. Well I found the perfect one on FB yesterday for £30 and it came with 2 chairs that I can paint and recover. Friend A came over with her car to help me bring them back to mine where they are installed in the garage ready to be sanded and painted. I am so pleased with them and can now sell my existing table and chairs which are too big.
I'm taking GS to the station at 7:00 tomorrow as he is going to London to work for a couple of weeks but it will be good to be up early as I have a few jobs I want to get done tomorrow. I'm hoping the weather won't be too bad as we seem to have got off lightly here today. It was windy with some heavy showers but also some dry spells and quite warm too. If I can I want to do some weeding and I have a couple of plants that I want to put in the front garden to give their roots chance to settle before winter. I also have some admin to do and a couple of phone calls to make and then I have an hour of private work at 6:00.
The quote for the french doors came today and was surprisingly reasonable so I rang him to accept. Apparently he spends a lot of time waiting for supplies to arrive at the moment but he thought he should be able to get the items needed to sort the soffits easily enough so he should be able to get that job done quite quickly. Luckily I can be quite flexible with days and times so can arrange at short notice if needed.
Anyway I'd better get some sleep if I'm to be up sharp in the morning.
Speak soon
Dottles x
CC1 Aug19 [STRIKE]£7587.85[/STRIKE] Aug 20 £0
CC2 Aug 19 [STRIKE]£1185.58[/STRIKE] Aug 20 £0
CC3 Aug 19 [STRIKE]£544.95[/STRIKE] Aug 20 £0
O/D Aug [STRIKE]£20[/STRIKE] Sept [STRIKE] £100[/STRIKE] Oct £0
CC4 Aug 2020 £0
Total debt Aug 2019[STRIKE]£9318.38[/STRIKE] Aug 20 £02 -
All good in your world then.I am a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Mortgage Free Wannabe & Local Money Saving Scotland & Disability Money Matters. If you need any help on those boards, do let me know.Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any post you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button , or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own & not the official line of Money Saving Expert.
Lou~ Debt free Wanabe No 55 DF 03/14.**Credit card debt free 30/06/10~** MFW. Finally mortgage free O2/ 2021****
"A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of" Jane Austen in Mansfield Park.
***Fall down seven times,stand up eight*** ~~Japanese proverb. ***Keep plodding*** Out of debt, out of danger. ***Be the difference.***
One debt remaining. Home improvement loan.1
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 351K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 453.6K Spending & Discounts
- 244K Work, Benefits & Business
- 598.9K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 176.9K Life & Family
- 257.3K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards