Simple living in the country - back to basics

Cheery_Daff

Morning chums 😊

Nice lie in for me this morning! Although that does mean I now have less time before visitors arrive...

In financial news, down £14 on the Happy Wheel this morning. Not put it into the main spreadsheet yet, but I've been down several days in a row so it's likely eroded my nice win from the first couple of days of August 🙄

I did manage to cash out £6.31 from Prolific last night though, so that's gone to the new car fund.

Work have confirmed a pay rise from 1st August, although it'll be backdated and paid in September pay. So I'll have a month at the increased rate of normal salary, before I go up to new promoted salary (which will have also been increased) from 1st Sept. We're paid in the middle of the month though, and I think it's two weeks behind, two ahead, so I think August's pay packet will be normal, then September the increase and the backdated bit for August. But I might have got that wrong, so will wait and see. They've also offered a bit of a bonus in the November pay.

At any rate, new car fund should be full in the next couple of months or so (I've only budgeted £1500 - we rarely pay more than that, and both are reasonably new to us so hopefully we'll get another few years from them).

I've started snowballing the larger savings pots, filling one completely before moving onto the next. I've usually added in dribs and drabs, but this seemed more appealing this time.

I still add stuff monthly for known annual bills, but this is longer terms stuff, so the stable block roof is funded (although not arranged as there are swallows nesting in it), car fund is nearly there, then next is a couple of replacement windows, plastering the stairs, bits and sundries for the new bathroom (which we're doing ourselves but will still need some supplies - probably won't happen for another 10 years though 😂), then we're on to much bigger stuff, like 6 months replacement income for me, and then the real biggie - replacing my income from age 50 until I can claim my works pension at 58 😂

Not as outlandish as it seems, as Mr Cheery will be claiming his state pension before I'm 50, so we won't need to cover all of my income - we'll just need to cover the rest of our spending, and also it's more likely I'll just go more part time rather than giving up entirely at that point, but it's nice to have something to aim for...

Right, first thing to aim for is getting ready for visitors!

Cheery_Daff

First round of visitors been and gone, helped with a spot of gardening so that was good. They brought me a sloe Bush which has been planted, and we got the final squashes out of their pots - they're unlikely to amount to much at this stage but better in the ground. We also had a bit of a tidy up of the front garden so that's looking a little better. 

I made a cake with some blackcurrants from the garden - it was pretty soggy and I've persuaded the visitors to take the remainder, as I know the second lot of visitors are bringing a better cake later 😂

Got an unexpected couple of hours between visitors now, as one lot left early and the others are arriving late, so I think I'm going to use it loafing around 😁

Cheery_Daff

Evening MSE chums 😊

Loafed and did a bit of scything, and then second lot of visitors arrived. They only left about an hour ago, we had a marvellous time just hanging around and eating and drinking 😊 Didn't get to bed til 2am though, and up again at 8, and we had a walk today too (not a long one). I tried to have a nap, but Mr Cheery woke me up to shut the chickens in, so I've had something to eat and now not really tired enough to go back to sleep 🙄

Fridge is full - need to get on the case eating down various leftovers (not complaining- that's a job I'm always happy to do! 😁)

Need to make some plans for this week! Got a phone appointment at the docs on Monday, a long dentist appointment on Wednesday, walking with a friend on Thursday, and it's Mr Cheery's birthday on Friday. Probably back to see his dad over the weekend, and another walk with a different friend the following Friday.

Other than that, I'm going to be concentrating on getting some things ticked off the list. The blithering ceiling for a start!! 🙄😂 And making some hay while the sun is shining, of course - that's a big priority. And a bit of secret birthday shopping for Mr Cheery. And trying not to lose all my money on the Happy Wheel, which is on a massive annoying downswing this week 🙄

Right, might declutter the last of the pancake mix and then do a bit more scything.

Cheery_Daff

Morning chums 😊

Back on the healthy eating wagon today. Been eating a random assortment of things since I got covid, and it's starting to undo all my good work! 

The sun is shining, the washing machine is on, the Happy Wheel has generated positive instead of negative numbers for the first time in 6 days (just £6.41 but better than minus figures). Mr Cheery's leg is playing up so he is confined to the sofa and will be no use to anyone but I suppose we can't have everything 🙄

I'm off out for a bit of scything, then I'll head off for some secret birthday shopping I think. Must set an alarm for my telephone docs appointment later (and turn the phone ringer up!)

Some financial things for later, prompted by a post on shanghai Jimmy's diary

* work out current mortgage LTV
* update FIRE spreadsheet

My FIRE spreadsheet is based on a series of pensions rather than any kind of 'savings'- our 18 year age difference means Mr Cheery is already claiming works pension, and will get state pension before I'm 50 (obviously the age difference will also have its downsides, especially as we both get older... but financially it's played in our favour - he worked 25 years and paid off the last mortgage, and now I get to work the next 25 years to pay off this one, and I can gradually go more part time as his pensions kick in)

Anyway, one of my scenarios is already out of date, as I've already dropped to part time. Mr Cheery's monthly pension amount has increased, so that needs updating, and my wages will go up soon too. 

Baseline monthly costs figure probably needs to increase a bit too in the light of energy bills etc, and all the scenarios are based on us overpaying the mortgage, which we're not currently doing.

Anyway, a job for later I think. Scything first!

Cheery_Daff

Scyrhing done - it was difficult this morning, and I couldn't put my finger on why - I even got the peening jig out to hammer the blade again, and refitted it, but it was just not feeling right. 

Still, another hour done. Been out birthday shopping, and did get a couple of presents, but mostly managed to buy things for myself - a charity shop cardi and some unopened body lotion, for example... 🙄

I've set up the pay as you go system at the gym, and have booked swimming for later in the week, and I'm on the waiting list for an aquarobics class tomorrow. It feels expensive when you each time, but given that for the last few months of gym membership it was costing about £18 a swim on average, this is definitely the best way! 

Bizarrely just had a text from the LPG people saying they'll deliver tomorrow. Not sure why now, but the same thing happened last year I think, and they tend to come to us when they're in the area with the small tanker. Oddly enough I did check the tank yesterday and we have 45% left - will check whether that's what their website says in a bit. 

Right, hopping back out in half an hour, and I need to get the chickens in before then as Mr Cheery can't walk far 🙄 I, on the other hand, have done nearly 12,000 steps today, which is a lot for me at the minute, and there will be more to come this evening 🙄

themadvix

Sounds like you had a more successful CS visit than I did Cheery! Even if they were things for yourself instead. 

Take care - it sounds like you've used a lot of energy today. I know I'm flagging and I've only done 5,000 steps,  but the heat is very tiring.

Lauraebrad

I love your tester well-dressing @Cheery_Daff !  I grew up in a village with well dressings so was well trained from about age 6!  My dad used to draw the main one until he tried to retire from it, then covid hit and sadly he died last year so there hasn't been a main one this summer - although the school and scouts did theirs still.  
My undergrad dissertation was about how the well dressing / village fair brought people together and created a sense of identity, community and place ......
Hope you manage to get involved!

Lauraebrad

Lauraebrad said:

I love your tester well-dressing @Cheery_Daff !  I grew up in a village with well dressings so was well trained from about age 6!  My dad used to draw the main one until he tried to retire from it, then covid hit and sadly he died last year so there hasn't been a main one this summer - although the school and scouts did theirs still.  
My undergrad dissertation was about how the well dressing / village fair brought people together and created a sense of identity, community and place ......
Hope you manage to get involved!

One of my favourites here:  https://chesterfield-canal-trust.org.uk/pilsley-well-dressing/
and this one http://www.cheshirenow.co.uk/pilsley.html

themadvix

Oh that sounds like a fascinating dissertation @Lauraebrad!

Cheery_Daff

Ooh, it does certainly sound interesting! I've never got involved here, but it's usually mostly 2 people who make it (after a local artist has designed it) and they decided to have a push to get more people involved this year. I think they usually mention it, but this year they did a training session too. I'm excited! 

Those are lovely examples 😊 We don't have our picture yet- all we know is it's not going to involve the Queen 😂 I'll try to get some progress pictures - not sure I'll post the whole thing as it'll reveal exactly where I live! 😂

I have indeed used a fair bit of energy today TMV 🙄 an hour of scything, and I'm up to 13500 steps now 🙄 I was going to attempt a bit more scything tonight but perhaps not...