So close, we can smell mortgage freedom!

themadvix

Morning all,

Heating is still working Problem solved, so it clearly was what Mr MV thought it was. Now it's warm again I can get my focus back on the money saving (i.e. not spending to be somewhere warm/eat something warm without moving - full confession we had takeaway subway yesterday for lunch. Only my second ever and I'm still not that impressed!).

Lunch for me only today as Mr MV is in the office (and will use accumulated points to buy in canteen). I have some baguette and will add an egg or PB&J. Also, scones! (Also Olio.). Dinner will be masala carrots and I need to make some garlic flatbreads.

We really *really* need some actual shopping now though, so after work I will head to Lidl and hopefully use that £20 voucher that has supposedly been added to my Lidl plus app. No way of knowing, and I asked on the shopping forum how I can tell if it's been added and literally no one has replied to my question - I think the first time ever MSE has failed me. I will get various bits there that I need that are non-branded (dairy, veggie protein, fish, meat) and will use Trolley to check for other bits. Also need oats, but will get them from zero-waste shop on Monday as I'm Niece-sitting then and we're heading that way. Also need to order some cat stuff, which is always an opportunity for TCB, points and free stuff (and already budgeted for).

Workwise, today I've got a piece from my main client (and probably more - he's drip-feeding them at the moment) and quite a bit of Cambridge work to get through, but I did make a good start on this late yesterday, so things are progressing. I have skipped my Olio collection tonight (wasn't sure at the time if we'd have heating, and best to give as much notice as possible), but I really could do with a 'night off'. Just about managed to stay awake through evening class last night, but was yawning at the end!

Ginger cat is currently trying to stop me growing hot veg this summer - he's laid out full length along the top of my heated propagator - front paws out in front of him at one end and tail draped over the other (it's a full-length windowsill design one), so no light is getting to my seeds whatsoever! Fortunately it does seem to be able to take his weight! 

MS things:
* HW & clicks done - small win
* Dinner last night was homecooked and used Olio ingredients
* £10 transferred from bills to savings (I think somehow I've ended up transferring my phone bill twice due to DD shifts to qualify for accounts)

Gratitudes:
* We have heating
* Ideal boiler servicing, for their excellent customer service
* Some good giggles with my evening class pals last night and prospect of a dinner with them too as we've got a two-week half term as teacher is away

Have a good day all!

QueenJess

I’m with you on Subway. It ranks as the second worst place to eat (in my mind). It’s on my list of “rather go hungry than eat there” places. The bread is just horrible and I’ve never understood why it’s so popular.

In case you wondered, that doughnut place is the worst. I know people love them, but I think they taste horrible! Give me a supermarket one with jam in any day!

themadvix

We have very similar tastes then QJ! I hate the smell of Subway - just walking past one makes my stomach turn. I think it's the herby bread.... eurgh! Have to say though the bread was the best bit of mine yesterday - it was really seedy and soft (and naturally not herby!). But yes, it's not something I would ever choose myself (but I was being offered free, warm lunch that I didn't have to make myself!).

And totally with you on the doughnuts place - they're horrible and I would much prefer a soft jammy one (preferably from our local chain of bakeries - they're the best - light and fluffy and filled with raspberry jam!).

Karmacat

Subway!  Ug.  I tried one when I lived in the city by the sea, and it was disgusting - the bread smells like its off, I don't know what they use that makes it smell so different, but it smells rancid.  I actually ended up walking on the other side of the road for a while, because of the way the smell spread out from the place 😲

So glad you have heating again!  I wonder if the cat spread out over the propagator is a hint of disapproval 🤣😾 

themadvix

Yes, I don't know what it is in the smell that makes it so unappetising - I do know that you can't smell it on the individual rolls though.

Cat spread on propagator is just being a cat - the propagator is actually on the back edge of my desk, right next to the radiator, so it's ridiculously toasty on top of it! Said cat was persuaded off of it (it took a few goes to get the message) and is now curled up in cat bed underneath my desk, right next to a radiator. Fortunately his brother doesn't seem so bothered about sitting on top of it (he's just jumped up onto the windowsill above!

Baileys_Babe

I thought that was just my opinion of Subway, I can not understand how they are so successful.

SusieT

Baileys_Babe said:

I thought that was just my opinion of Subway, I can not understand how they are so successful.

Probably they are seen to be more trendy than a sandwich or baguette from a supermarket, so people sound more affluent if they eat there rather than other options? All part of their advertising and how they want to be seen to the general public 

themadvix

Interesting Susie, as I would not have considered them to be anything other than fast food - more akin to McD's, BK or KFC. I guess their USP is the fact that their rolls are very personalisable (which isn't the right word, but my brain is not cooperating) - there must be thousands of combination possibilities from their ingredients list. Which you can get from any local bakery of course, but there always has to be a national chain that tries to edge in on the market.

Still don't see the appeal though (what my roll looked like, compared to the advertisements was rather disappointing, and we'd both asked for cheese and neither of us got any), and I'm glad I'm not alone in not rating them. (FTR, Mr MV isn't a big fan either - I think the thought of something warm appealed to him! I think he occasionally had them when he worked at the previous office as it was nearby, but not regularly).

QueenJess

Ugh. Just noticed that my phone automatically “corrected” the spelling to the American one. Is it just me, or does the iPhone seem to have really basic words missing? It doesn’t even recognise “ill” on mine as a word.  I get it at least twice a week where it claims the word I am typing doesn’t exist.

Yes, I agree the doughnut place tastes heavy, dense and a bit stale. Someone brought them into work as a treat once and everyone was excited. I tried to eat one out of politeness, but I couldn’t manage more than two bites!

I think the Subway bread is American bread which is quite different to our bread?

badmemory

I think it's the flour.  I know Nigella Lawson doesn't like their self raising flour & converts plain flour to make it.  I've converted all my normal recipes too, after the conversation about the chicken & what they do to that I started to wonder how long it would be before we got stuck with their flour.  Paranoia here we come.