Simple living in the country - back to basics

themadvix

I can't really complain about my commute 😂 or, generally speaking, my hours! But the ability to firmly say 'no, I'm not working on that day of the week' would be lovely.

I'd definitely opt for your version Cheery and get it all out of the way and have a Friday off.

starnac

I mainly work from home and only leave the house when I'm actually running sessions, clubs or lessons so I can't really complain about my commute. I have to admit that I detest a commute though. I do not have patience to sit in traffic twice a day. I absolutely would turn down a job that had a long or difficult commute.

Merlin's_Beard

If I had my way my four day week would definitely have the three days off together - it lets you fully decompress and have one glorious day in the middle when you are not working, not thinking about being at work yesterday, and not thinking about work tomorrow.

Tescodealqueen

Not exactly money saving but we use something called wet and forget on the stone patio and stone furniture. You literally spray it on and leave  it and miraculously all sorts of stuff comes off. Not sure if it would work on ingrained stuff but might be worth a pop

beanielou

I don't miss commuting at all!!

redofromstart

I love the stones too. We have a local granite to work with and mr redo bought a set of stone carving chisels for this purpose. 

I had reasonable success cleaning the ancient quarry tiles with HG products - acid soak and then alkaline rinse. 

EssexHebridean

I promise I won't take you for some sort of perfectionist Cheery...

The stones are fab - brilliant to have your own resources to use for the task too.

When my Mum worked a 4 day week she also took her day off on the Wednesday on the "never having to work more than 2 days at a time" thing - meanwhile my Fridays off definitely suit me better as they work far better for reducing amount of holiday days I have to take to do various things. 

Cheery_Daff

Thanks all 😊

Just a quick one - happy wheel all done and dusted this morning, £15 today, bringing August's total slightly back up to £130, and 2023 total to 290. The annual memberships have been taken off this figure - can't remember the exact figures without looking but it's around £250 I think, and this £290 is on top of those being made back as well. So it's easily paid for itself, but skews negatively at the start of the year as I take those off first and always start in negative figures 🙄

Which reminds me, I haven't got a separate pot put aside for those memberships which I really should have!

Prolific STILL standing at £27.44 - now waiting for £6.40 to be approved but I'll withdraw at the end of today regardless.

1P is at £9.60 - hoping for payout next month.

So not quite £170, but £130 + £27.44 = £157.44 which isn't bad as extra - Mr Cheery is up to £10 in Prolific too I think.

Went to the cinema last night for the first time since we moved house, and the first time ever at the local cinema, which only shows one film a week. £7, but we forgot about the extortionate nature of drinks and innocently ordered a cup of tea/coffee each and a single packet of crisps - £6! Which is probably cheap for a cinema  but didn't feel very cheap for instant coffee and plastic pots of milk 😂

Mr Cheery's friend arrive after midnight (I was in bed) - they were still up at 3am so I can't imagine much will happen today. He's trying to fix Mr Cheery's fried laptop. They're also planning a trip to the tip, and I hope they make it, because Mr Cheery moved a load of rubbish into the front garden ready the other day and we have other visitors tomorrow! 🙄

Right - I'm heading to the office for a day of peace and quiet 😂

rtandon27

Cheery - I love that I'm not the only one to shift to work mode for peace and quiet!
Will soon have to tidy the inside desk and dining table though as both currently covered in paperwork and it was just a bit to nippy yesterday to be comfortable working in the summerhouse!

starnac

Cheery_Daff said:

Right - I'm heading to the office for a day of peace and quiet 😂

I am also in the office for peace and quiet! Home office though. Downstairs has been taken over by a group of teenagers who are being loud.