Prosperous soul embraces creativity & mortgage neutrality

try_harder

Sounds like you are having a great weekend .I hope you are feeling better too 

Sunshine_girl2

SH your trip out sounds ideal, enjoy the rest of your day . 

savingholmes

Thanks TH and Sunshine_girl2

I made banana bread and then went back to bed for a nap. I did 3500 steps - a shock after a week of mainly huddling inside trying to get well. Was good though. 

I didn't get any of my second lot of 0li0 requests - so I decided to get a TGTG m@gic bag from a local carvery. Looking forward to that. Just don't fancy my own cooking today although I still have leftovers.

MF - to be clear I didn't 'magic' up the extra CC £ - I just transferred money from my debit card to cover things I'd bought on my CC that I should have used a debit card for really. Things in budget.

beanielou

Aye, ex's & their toys!!

MovingForwards

Looks like DD may not be moving soon then.

I know everything is budgeted for, it's all about moving money at the right moment and you've nailed it.

Bread sounds wonderful and I must make a banana and nut cake soon, belly rumbles when you mention yours.

savingholmes

Thanks Beanie and MF

The TGTG carvery bag I picked up from the pub was lovely. I have enough for today too. It was a little light on meat but there was enough. Cost £4. Would do that again.

Alchemilla

Glad you enjoyed the grub x

Blackcats

Just done a mega catch up on your diary - holiday cottage sounds wonderful - refreshing and restorative.  I agree it's never as easy to properly relax at home - there's always something that we think we need to do.  A few gentle walks in that glorious scenery will be perfect for you.
glad you've had some success with olio - now I've got my head around the concept of reducing food waste I feel pleased doing it rather than awkward.  I've become quite evangelical about using everything I collect.  In fact OH has just come into the lounge brandishing a butternut squash with a quizzical look on his face 🤨.  Little does he know that Iranian vegetable stew is going on this week's meal plan 🤣 (using a simply cook spice kit that's been languishing in the cupboard).  I'm using up a tomato and chilli cous cous I found in the cupboard too.  He will enjoy it when it's made but it certainly wouldn't be his first choice.  However what it means the meal is all from stock or using free food.

hope you are feeling better and taking care of yourself, 

powerspowers

Glad you are feeling better and the holiday cottage sounds lovely!! 

savingholmes

Thanks Alchemilla, @Blackcats and Powers

I got another carvery on TGTG last night - and again made it last 2 meals so worked out at £2 a time. 

Finished work early today and met a friend. It was sunshine-y so we sat outside to have coffee and some food. It was nice. We've agreed to set up a grp for writers which should be good. She's agreed to run it with me - starting once a month from perhaps May. She knows some people we could invite - so hopefully have a core group and see where it goes. We'd potentially meet here unless/until the group got too big. Potentially ask for £1 a head towards food and drink and make sure we have cake/nibbles. The group would encourage both of us to write more - and increase our social network - so win-win without it being too big a commitment.

DD is now thinking she may stay here longer so I need to think through the financial and other implications of that. Ex's new house (/life) may not be suitable for her or the dog and DD is desperate for it back here - but that would impact our cat - and increase costs. I do a lot less walking without the dog though - particularly in winter - so need to give it serious consideration. Without naming any contribution needed figures - we've had an honest conversation about cost of living. Tried to sow seeds rather than request a set amount at this stage. I'll talk about it with a few people before deciding my next steps.

It's difficult as a parent to find the right balance between supporting your kids to become independent and not encouraging 'freeloading'. I want to support her into independence at the right pace for her and her needs rather than her leaving the nest too early and it resulting in catastrophic failure. I had always assumed my kids would leave the nest around 18 via uni etc and am struggling to adjust my expectations. Ah well such are the challenges of life. There are far worse problems. 

I've had my refund of the elec blanket - but am now chasing my postage.