Phase 3

savingholmes

Hiya - just wondered how you were doing now... Still doing okay at my end

Octobergirl

Hi Savingholmes, not much to report here, I started stripping the hall bannister back to wood, seriously regret starting it now! Daughter is really struggling and having lots of meltdowns, children constantly eating and I’ve gone into sloth mode. I’m doing well at online shopping, so my bank account is taking a hammering. It’s all gone to pot basically!!
how are you and yours coping?

savingholmes

I too am a gifted online shopper - ooops! DH and I are transforming our garden by pruning it back, chopping down a couple of trees getting rid of a marsh weed grass type plant with really broad leaves that has rooted in great chunks across the garden - together with the neighbours bamboo. I have been buying seeds and trying to get them to germinate in any kind of veg plastic tray that arrives in the house with the groceries. Really making good progress though. Finished painting the shed - after doing 2 sides last August. Once we have finished weed clearance and cutting back - we want to empty the ex pond of crapola and then get new pond liner, piping etc and try to reconnect an old water feature. We will definitely have a muchetter garden at the end of it. We are both working from home too - so feel lucky to a) be in a low risk environment and b) still have good incomes. 

DD misses her friends but is using electronics to keep up with them. DS is getting out as often as he can - but is taking precautions as me and DH are both in high risk categories. A few meltdowns - but generally getting through.

Octobergirl

Glad you’re all keeping well. Your garden sounds like it will be a lovely haven.

April round up:
hall decorated.
bank acc £140 credit
gained 5lbs

may targets:
paint  ceiling and gloss landing
finish stripping banister
get financial order sent off
file paperwork

savingholmes

Ending the month in credit is great. You will get there with the rest. We can't be on it all the time. Our garden is still a work in progress - we were doing well until the heaven's opened and poured down rain. My potato plants seem to be doing really well and the beans. I even have lettuce sprouting now. 

Octobergirl

I admire anyone who can grow veggies (or any plants for that matter). I tried numerous times, it cost a fortune  to buy compost, seeds etc, I’ve now accepted it’s not my strength. I have managed to keep a cactus alive for a couple of months now......just!

savingholmes

I feel your pain. I have never been very good  with indoor plants - but ones planted in the ground they usually do okay.

Octobergirl

The continued lockdown has been a productive month for decorating /sorting the house out. Back to work this week after 12 weeks at home. Getting into clothes is going to be an issue.

May roundup
hall finished
new lampshades bought & put up
bannisters finished
2 x living room walls painted
bedroom & living room radiators painted
bedroom mirror up-cycled
photos for landing ordered and up
started decorating front room
Asd paperwork sent off
climbing frame sold and dismantled/gone
green house dismantled 
bank account in credit

targets for June:
Gloss bay window bedroom
finish painting front room
gloss living room
gloss front room
gloss landing
paint ceiling landing
replace garden fence
get quotes for sheds/ bases/ garden gate

savingholmes

Things are moving along. Hope things go well with the ASD side of things.

Octobergirl

Hi Savingholmes, how are things with you and your family? The kids and I have been back at work/ school for a few weeks now, it’s been lovely to have some structure back to our lives. However, We are back in isolation again today, waiting on COVID test results as DD was sent home with a non existent cough! 

Looking back, I’ve met the majority of my targets From jan - may. I went slightly off piste in June and totally refurbed my kitchen Cabinets/work surface and walls. I love my flooring and tiles, which were very expensive, so have kept those. I love the new kitchen, which came in at £150 and ALOT of hard work. It should do another 5-10 years with luck. Happy days.

As our holiday abroad is not going ahead now, we’re  trying to book a house for an extended family holiday for 14 of us in August.  Struggling to find somewhere available at this late date. Tbh, I’m more than happy staying at home, it feels like we’ve already had a long, hot summer. A couple of Xmas presents bought and put away. A good month for savings. X