Simple living in the country - back to basics

Cheery_Daff

Ok. Mr Cheery went back to bed, friend hasn't appeared at all, and I am removing the rights of breakfast decisions from them and am going to make some scones.

Banks/YNAB checked and all in order. Premium bonds transfer and winnings have arrived, and I've transferred the £300 I pilfered from the MB account back there, so everything is in order. 

Pleased to report that the cashback on the credit card is now up to £98.95, so it should be over £100 by the time we get it (which I think will be July, the anniversary of opening the card). At that point I might see about moving to a different one - we had 5% cashback on this for the first 3 months (which was nicely timed, as that was when we were buying the new fridge/oven/cooker) but only get 1% now. It still adds up though! But there might be something better by then.  

Karmacat

Scones and cashback sound good - and, oh my, sitting in a sunbeam sounds utterly idyllic 🌞🌈 I didn't have a sunbeam effect, but there you go  

Cheery_Daff

No sunbeams here any more either, but it was lovely while it lasted! Streams into the living room in the morning, just where my chaise longue (I can never spell that!) sits by the window

Dropped friend off for the bus in a nearby market town, and had a bit of a bimble round the charity shops with Mr Cheery while we were there. No purchases, and we didn't even pop into the co-op for a treat either. 

Got a bit grumpy, and realised I hadn't eaten anything since breakfast - 3 small scones at 11.30. Raided the fridge for things that needed using up, and I've got brown rice (which we defrosted yesterday but didn't use all of), fried up broccoli (going slightly yellow), black beans, and a bit of halloumi (which I'd already cooked). Pretty tasty. There's probably a little bit much but it's going to count as dinner and tea since breakfast was so late. 

Some good financial news! I'd gone peeking at Martin's article on credit cards (not that I'm planning a new one until at least July and probably not even then considering the dire state of the available offers) - anyway, he mentioned cashback, and I got thinking I should probably check Quidco, just in case, when lo and behold, an email pops up - from Quidco! Informing me that my cashback for the fridge we bought last August has finally tracked

I've withdrawn that now, so that's another £10.08 to add to the extra dosh signature - I'll add it now and try to remember not to add it again when it arrives! April's total is £100.98 now. 

Cheery_Daff

Oh, and I've done a couple of Prolific studies this afternoon - now standing at £6.33 + £1.33 pending. I usually cash out at £10 so should get one fairly quickly I hope - might even get two, or even three cash outs this afternoon! 

Goodness knows what I'm doing with greetings cards. I bought one for my cousin last week, and put it somewhere - can I find it?! No (fortunately it's a moving house card, not a birthday card, so doesn't matter if it's not on time). I've also got a generic card box and was going to use one from there for a birthday, but I can't even find the box, so I've had to pick up a new card today (that's already gone in the post). 

Anyway, that's all reminded me that I need to parcel up these books and print out the labels... Good job I fixed the printer!

greenbee

Given that you're the one working (almost) full time, I think maybe Mr Cheery needs to move during the night if his sleep is being disturbed, rather than you.

Maybe you should have separate beds? Or even separate bedrooms? Turns out that sharing a bed isn't great for your sleep (and face it, even a kingsize bed provides less space per person than a single bed ... personally I take a whole kingsize all by myself...)

Cheery_Daff

I've always slept really well, and he's always had trouble sleeping, which is why I've always been the one to move. He's also had dreadful trouble with his back, and I'm much shorter so fit much better on the sofa 😂 But that's all open to change in the future, especially as I'm starting to generally sleep less well as I get older anyway 🙄 And once all the rooms are sorted out, we'll have a proper decent spare bed that one of us can use regularly if necessary, rather than sofa/sofa bed.

Anyway, we do mostly manage most nights in the same bed! I'm just sniffling and snuffling at the minute.

Just had a tedious hour experimenting with Qmee - nicely unenergetic. Never used it before. Exactly an hour, and I've made £2.13 from 5 surveys - got screened out of approximately 857 😂 can't imagine I'll be spending an hour a day on it, but I'll keep hold of it as an extra occasional thing while I'm on hold or whatever, these things add up I suppose...

beanielou

Have a happy weekend 

Cheery_Daff

Thanks beanie, you too

Popped out this morning. Picked up some compost in B&Q as I should probably start planting seeds soon, everyone else seems to be way ahead (but it's so cold and exposed up here I always end up planting out later than everyone else anyway). Picked up a couple of tops in the charity shop, although annoyingly I didn't realise one had a non-stretchy band near the bottom which won't go round my hips! Oh dear!! Stupidly I took the label off as well... What a plonker. Still, I think if I unpick and re-sew a little of the side seam I'll get away with it (and I'm on a bit of a mission to lose some weight anyway...) Didn't really want to add to the 'clothes I don't quite fit into' pile though...  

Mr Cheery lost a large filling last night, so we ended up in Mr M spending some of our vouchers on soft food (plus several other bits and pieces). Gosh it's shocking how it adds up, isn't it??

Home now. Another negative test this morning, but I still feel pretty rough, so not much activity on the cards for today. I've taken some cold & flu tablets though as I'd like to get SOMETHING done today rather than just lying around like I did yesterday. Won't be more than light pottering and a bit of batch cooking though. 

Might spin the happy wheel over a cuppa first. 

Karmacat

I'm glad you're still testing negative at least, Cheery, but with you and Mr Cheery both being in the wars, so to speak, yes, a very light day is called for.  Even the daily stuff can take all your energy.  

Planting - I haven't done anything yet.  I follow a very over-eager novice online, and she's continually getting told off by the old hands for planting too early - her first seedlings to survive are now 5 days old, I'm sure you're not too late where you are.  

Have a restful day  

Cheery_Daff

Thanks KC.

We've had a power cut! Goodness me. Fortunately I'd not long filled my hot water bottle 😂😂

Ooh, as I'm typing it looks like the power might have returned... hooray! Good job, as I was planning an afternoon of batch cooking! Might take advantage and have a cuppa and some dinner first though 😁 My favourite power cuts are ones that last about 10 minutes!