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"The Diary & Teacake" - DFW'ers Virtual cafe-in-a-crisis

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  • Toni'sfriend
    Toni'sfriend Posts: 4,056 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts
    One of my neighbours was so bored today he cleaned everyone's outside windows. From a safe distance, of course. No contact with anyone. I am constantly amazed with the kind ideas that people are coming up with.
    Have adventures. laugh a lot and always be kind.
  • One of my neighbours was so bored today he cleaned everyone's outside windows. From a safe distance, of course. No contact with anyone. I am constantly amazed with the kind ideas that people are coming up with.
    Oh wow how kind xx
    slowly working towards being MF one small over payment at a time :T
  • You're all more charitable than I am - I'm on the verge of telling my neighbours off!  I've had three bits of paper shoved through my letter-box this afternoon asking if I need help. All very sweet if I was in need of assistance, but they should really all be staying inside too...  I might go out and dettol the stairwell later - it's definitely been busier than usual! :lol: 
  • savingholmes
    savingholmes Posts: 28,323 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    My parents had their medication delivered by a volunteer this week. We are too far away to see them or really help them so grateful for the new volunteer community springing up. 

    It's surreal doing my job from home but hearing of work colleagues who stayed in the office longer going down with what appears to be the virus. I think some of us currently sheltering at home may end up being called back into the office to help keep essential services going. This last few weeks as well as talking to people by phone in the office and at home, I've been talking to a variety of people all in different industries all adjusting to more home working. There is definitely a need for more virtual cake to go around. I think it has made people friendlier and more connected though. I've been re-connecting with people on FB and vice versa. 
    Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality by mid 2030
    1) MFW Nov 21 £201,999 with 232 payments to go - now £179,153 Equity 28.33%
    2) Spend on handyman, external building works & new patio door £13.6K
    3) CC £7.8K on 0% spends card offset by £31.3K savings (part EF, part future home improvement/large purchases)
    4) Mortgage neutral by June 2030 (AVC £13.6K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + SiPP 1K) 19.2/£127.5K target 15.05% value at 15/10/24
    5) FI Age 60 annual income target £13.7/30K 45.7%
    6) SIPP £4.4K at 15/9/24
  • piquant
    piquant Posts: 32 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 10 Posts Photogenic
    Wow I wish someone would come and clean my windows, how kind of your neighbour. I think the current circumstances are showing peoples true colours by and large.

    I am experimenting with some pears and making pear upside down cake in the slow cooker, I've never used it for cakes before. If it turns out okay I'll donate it to the oldies. Later I'll use up a cauliflower and bake cauliflower cheese with slow roasted tomatoes. In the meantime, it's toast all the way!

    Hoping to get some gardening done later, if I wrap up I may survive.....
  • EssexHebridean
    EssexHebridean Posts: 22,704 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Love the window cleaning thing - such a small thing but makes such a difference, what a kind neighbour! 

    We also had a slip through the door last week I think it was from the local volunteers who are helping people get shopping etc. One of the local district newletters has helped to pull it together I think - such a fantastic idea. I'm going to be doing my Mum & Dad's shopping for the next little while - so will continue to do ours as I have been, just popping to the shop on foot when we need something - but I'll do theirs in one go using the car as they are too far from both the supermarkets and here for me to be able to realistically do theirs in the same way as ours I think. 

    Piq - you've made me want both cauliflower cheese AND toast now!  :)  Fish pie here this evening as I had some fish fillets in the freezer to use, and also some nearly past their best tatties. Also got some packs of "fish pie sauce" Y/S'd to 15p each the other week so thought it was about time to drag one of those out of the freezer as well! I'll chuck some grated cheese and breadcrumbs on the top as well - yum! 
    🎉 MORTGAGE FREE (First time!) 30/09/2016 🎉 And now we go again…New mortgage taken 01/09/23 🏡
    Balance as at 01/09/23 = £115,000.00
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  • Hiya, hope you don't mind me dropping in!  I bring lemon drizzle cake and victoria sponge.

    How are you all getting on?  Have any of you joined in the rainbow and bear hunt?  I'm tempted to but we don't have children so I don't know if that's a bit weird?

    I think I will be spending a lot more time on here over the next few weeks, both Mr FTD and I have been furloughed from tomorrow, I'm the type of person who struggles to leave work at work and will often work evenings/weekends and when I'm on annual leave....this will be a challenge especially given the restrictions on going out.

    To start our free time, I have to go to the GP for a blood test first thing tomorrow - I am terrified.  We have been so strict on not going out unless we really have to, however I cannot delay the blood test so I will have to go through with it.  Luckily I know there won't be many people in the surgery so hopefully I can do this safely.
    Then I need to start making an action plan of what I am actually going to do with this time.
    Wobbling my way out of debt one month at a time

    Credit Card £0/£3,161 0% interest PAID IN FULL 29/01/2021
    Loan £0/£23,179 5.4% PAID IN FULL 31/08/2020
    Total £0/£26,340 100%
    DEBT FREE AS OF 29/01/2021

    wobbling-my-way-out-of-debt

  • piquant
    piquant Posts: 32 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 10 Posts Photogenic
    Hello findingthisdifficult! Welcome and thanks for the cakes - yum. I'm on my second week of furloughment and the action plan is still non-existent. I think about things a lot though! The anxiety of the situation is getting to me a bit as I keep waking up just after I've dozed off with a horrible heart jumping start, my mind is full of worries but I don't know what they are, make of that what you will!

    Slow cooker cake was disastrous, not bothering with that again, it was a sticky brick. As someone who makes cakes for a living it was a huge embarrassment :/ 

    EssexHebridean: how kind of you to get your parent's shopping and to cope with two lists! Impressive! My sister is getting my mum's shopping as they live in the same house (and she's scarily organised too) All I can do is phone mum daily. Strange times.


  • Evening all X 
    Am ok so long as I don't think too much. Findingthisdifficult, i was worried about about shopping today but it was ok really, just exceptionally weird. Takes some getting used to. 
    XXX
    Nevertheless she persisted.
  • bd80s
    bd80s Posts: 368 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper
    Good Morning all, I guess i'm a little early but did help myself to a cuppa...….all cups and mugs left ready for use as you all pop in, i'll try and come back later.
    I think this was a great idea @EssexHebridean, thank you :smile:
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