Oops I Did It Again

WinterWarrior

I love all the bartering, it’s so old school. Not much of that happens here, although I am hoping to share Victoria plums with the neighbours if I get another bumper crop this year. 

CRANKY40

Good morning. Ooh, victoria plums @WinterWarrior, I'd love some of those. My plum tree is still just a baby. 

Spendy day today - I need to take the HT for passport photos as he needs a photo for college enrollment. His passport also needs renewing so I can do that too. At least he's old enough for it to last for 10 years now instead of the previous 5 year childrens one. 

Front and back fences are being replaced today. I've paid a deposit etc so that will leave me with £450 in my emergency fund. No more planned maintenance will be done until that is built up again but I wanted the fences done before winter because I don't think that they'll last another storm. 

WinterWarrior

Shamefully we’ve been here 10 yrs and only discovered the huge plum tree last year in the little wood we have. It was heaving with them, so maybe it just hadn’t had good years before? I had to sample one carefully at first as they looked like plums, but as I hadn’t planted it, it could have been some weird poisonous pretend plum tree 😂 I’m used to buying these things in punnets 😬

jokono

Mmmm, would love a plum tree, my grandmother has loads, all different kinds. My summer diet as a child mainly consisted of plums

I made the brownies this weekend, they were delicious and got eaten very fast (mostly by me). They were very crumbly, is that how they're supposed to be? 

CRANKY40

@jokono I don't know. I usually leave ours to cool for quite a while and they seem ok. We did the same at work too - they seem to slice much better when left to cool....if you can wait that long. @WinterWarrior my dad's cousin has a plum tree and it seems to only have plums every other year so maybe yours was just being a bit mean. 

Fences were done today and paid for. They look so much better and I'm pleased with them. The small window in the living room that had blown was also replaced by the same person. The HT's passport has been applied for and paid for (sob). 

I've made 3 small and 1 large jars of gooseberry jam for the cost of half of a bag of sugar so definitely a saving there. I've never made or eaten it before but it tastes lovely. The first two tomatoes are starting to turn red so give it a week or so and I will be whinging about all the tomatoes. Nothing has eaten my one cucumber that is still growing (yet) but a baby courgette has mysteriously vanished overnight. 

Blackcats

glad you are pleased with the fences.  

CRANKY40

Thanks @Blackcats. It was good to have the money saved. A real turn around from the time I had to borrow the money from my son's savings to have the toilet fixed. That was a total "never again" moment. 

Kakiste

I've got a little plant trade going with some people in the area- last year I traded peas for tomatoes. It appeals to the historian in me.  

CRANKY40

I like swapping things @Kakiste - it means that nothing is wasted. 

Oof, the HT and I took all of the old wood from the front fence and half of the wood from the back fence (longer so we couldn't fit it all in the car) to the tip this morning. when we came back I had a brief coffee break then made brownies (again!) and Rhubarb and Stem Ginger scones (from the National Trust book of Scones). After lunch I went to the supermarket for bread and fruit and then I did the ironing so that we can get dressed tomorrow. Half an hour break then work.....dinner when I came home after dropping LaP off. It's been a busy day - I've watered the garden and had a bath to offset any aches from lifting the wood this morning. No spends other than food shopping but I did buy some sweets for me and the HT's partner that weren't on the list. 

I was quoted £55 for someone to move the old wood off the front. The HT helped me do it using my car for £10 that he didn't ask for but I gave him anyway because he offered to help. 

Sun_Addict

Saved yourself £45 there - result 👏 A few weeks ago I was trying to get a quote for putting up a curtain rail and TV bracket, the bloke never got back to me so DS did it for free, apart from Mr SA having to part with 2 cans of beer 😆 The rhubarb and ginger scones sound delicious 😋