Debt Reset....

CRANKY40

Thanks @Sun_Addict. We're trying to redistribute as much as possible and I think we've done an OK job of it. 

Blackcats

Nice to hear from you.
well done on getting into the 1's on your debt.

happy belated birthday to the HT.  celebrations sound good and MSE.

WinterWarrior

Well done on being in the ones ⭐️
I inherited a shedload of soaps when my grandad died (over 20 yrs ago). They lasted a long, long time 😁

EssexHebridean

Oh Cranky sorry to hear about your friend and the house clearance necessity - 25 bars of soap made me laugh though I confess!! 

Happy 18th to the HT - glad that all went well! 

CRANKY40

Good morning all, 

I've just peeled and diced half of the apples that we liberated from next doors tree in September so I'm sitting with a coffee whilst I wait for them to cook. I'll try and do the rest of them tomorrow then they can be stashed in the freezer ready for apple pies or apple crumble. Yesterday I cleaned the house from top to bottom (with a lot of rests) to remove the final traces of the HT's 18th birthday celebrations. I also managed most of the ironing before I had to start work, also with a lot of rests. 

It's pouring with rain here which is no surprise as by 1:30pm yesterday I had to switch lights on as it was dark. We're managing with just having the heating come on for half an hour in the morning which seems odd as it's almost half way through November.  Best friend and I have almost finished clearing out late friend's house ready for the executors to begin the sale. The final tally was 27 bars of soap, mostly fancy patterned slices or body shop bars. I wouldn't have paid for them myself but I'll use them all. It'll be interesting to see how long it is before I have to buy any. 

I've also acquired 3 bags of books (including Enid Blyton hardbacks) which I need to try and make room for. I'll probably manage that by taking our dvds to the charity shop. We haven't watched any of them in the last three or so years. I also need to remove the junk from the living room bookcase that doesn't need to be there but it is such a handy place to keep things (it has doors so it's cat proof). 

Money wise I haven't paid any more off the debt yet but I have paid £400 to have the chimney stack and back and front of our house pointed and the man recemented all of the ridge tiles too. It was amazing to be able to pay from savings and the thought of parting with the savings made me pull a face when he gave me the price so he knocked £100 off his quote and did more work than he originally quoted for. 

Apples are done so I'm going to tidy the HT's bedroom as a nice surprise for him when he comes in later. It also means that the wet towel that he will have left on the bed will be hung up (I haven't looked but you just know this sort of thing) and his bed will be made. 

Take care all of you 😊

Baileys_Babe

it must have felt fantastic to pay for the reporting without increasing your debt 🎉

EssexHebridean

It is SUCH a good feeling to be able to pay for work like that from saved money isn't it - I'm right there with you! 

Blackcats

I agree with @Baileys_Babe and @EssexHebridean - having a savings pot to use for spending is such a good feeling, although as a former spender (who never saved up for anything) I now find it hard to dip into my savings pots and use them even for their designated purpose.

well done for processing the apples - I'm still working through my bumper crop.  Making overnight oats with apple and cinnamon later for Thursday and Friday's breakfast.

CRANKY40

Thanks both of you. I'm happy that the repairs and also the HT's birthday celebrations (and presents) were also paid for from savings. He won't be getting as much for Christmas. He kept saying "but I'm only 18 once". Too right matey, you're an adult now - time to join the real world. 

Today I made an apple pie for best friend with the liberated apples providing the filling (see previous post), brownies for the HT and a lasagne which will do the HT and I for dinner and leave 4 portions for the freezer. I'm going to have a glass of red wine with my dinner. The wine was donated by best friend who bought it to put a little bit in some bolognese sauce. I was asked if I wanted the rest of the bottle ("oooh, yes please"). There was also a pies worth af apple filling that went in the freezer.

Tomorrow is tomato processing day, third round.  Best friend and I grew way too many tomatoes for eating in the summer. I have discovered that if you freeze the tomatoes then the excess water that they hold is dumped during defrosting and also there is no need to skin them as you can just squeeze the tomato middles into a pan once defrosted. You're left with the skin in your hand which can be chucked. I then boil up the tomatoes, strain them through a sieve and put the tomato pulp through the magic bullet. The puree generated by the liquidiser can be added back to the tomato juice and the whole concoction can be bottled as pasta sauce. It tastes amazing and we are also able to add home grown garlic which I peeled and stored in small bottles of oil in the summer. I added basil to some of the earlier jars but I think the cold and wet has finished off the home grown stuff. 

Best friend and I collected two blanket boxes and a couple of computer monitors from home of friend that we are clearing. Some of the clearing has been hard going but it's the last thing that I can do as a friend and there are parts of it that I'd rather I did anyway - everyone has been glad to hand it over to me too. Best friend has been a fabulous help and he bagged the blanket boxes. I have mostly brought books home and the soap. Lots and lots of soap 

Take care all of you 😊

CRANKY40

Good morning all, 

I've done very little so far today. The HT has gone on a college field trip so we didn't have to be up early. His friend called for him so they went 40 minutes ago. I've ordered a game that the HT wanted to buy with his birthday money and some new ear buds for him that he has also paid for. He's now down to one ear bud from two sets although he did point out that it's taken him 3 years to lose the other three. 

Time to go tomato wrangling and to portion up the leftover lasagne. One of the HT's friends is coming over later. I have no idea if they are having dinner with us but as usual there is plenty in the freezer and friend can cook so they can sort themselves out. I need to go out a bit later as I put the recycling bin out for late friend's house and I'll need to go and bring it back in. That won't take long but I leave it until later as I'm not sure what time the bin men come. 

Take care everyone 😊