So close, we can smell mortgage freedom!

Baileys_Babe

Lots of good things happening for you at the moment @themadvix but I am sorry to read the news about your friend 

try_harder

Definitely puts things in to perspective 

QueenJess

I'm sorry to hear about your friend.

Fortune_Smiles

Very sad news about your friend MV.

Fortune x

Karmacat

It suddenly hits you all over again when a friend gets a diagnosis like that, doesn't it   I'm sorry to hear of it.  

I couldn't help notice, also, that you're harvesting your rhubarb?  I never harvest early enough ... this is going to be good!  Couple of sticks a week of rhubarb for a looong time.  

And there's lots of progress too - enjoy your home grown food and your cat sitting  

badmemory

Oh I miss real rhubarb.  The supermarket stuff is pretty much tasteless.  A friend's son had a load growing in his garden that went to waste until I found out.  Unfortunately he now rents that house out & it probably still goes to waste.

newgirly

So sorry to hear about your friend Vix x

Suffolk_lass

I think the diagnosis bombshell sorts of things really makes us all reflect on our own mortality and that of our nearest and dearest. My Dad's diagnosis was 6 weeks to the day before he died. The first GP suggested it was an ulcer. It would not have made any difference but the dismissive nature of the diagnosis still rankles

themadvix

Morning all,

Thanks everyone for your thoughts. @Suffolk_lass, unfortunately the delays in diagnosis (to the extent that they actually don't know where the cancer started because it took them so long to look properly) haven't helped here, either, although I suspect that the outcome may have been the same, albeit with hope that treatment might have prolonged his life. I can't say that I've changed my thoughts on how to live my life as a result of this news, but it certainly makes me want to hug everyone closer. We're generally fairly determined to enjoy the present as well as safeguard the future, so that won't change - and we know that having fun doesn't rely on spending money either.

@Karmacat, the rhubarb depends on the variety and its prolificness I think! Mine is Timperley Early and it's very much ahead of mine on the allotment, which are only just poking out the first leaves. The one in the garden is also notoriously prolific and has a particularly long season, being quite sheltered where it is. Someone said to me the other day that they'd heard rhubarb needed a lot of muck regularly - I said mine thrives on neglect - it's never been fed or mulched.... although it is relatively near the compost heap, so maybe it has roots over there! I've only pulled a half a dozen stems so far (off of what is probably 5 intertwined crowns) and will only pull a few more on Saturday for the crumble - the discovery of redcurrants in the freezer has helped!

I have a couple of bits of work to do today. I'm collecting some apples and daffodils from a nearby Olioer at 10 and meeting a friend for lunch at 12.30. Currently at the beginning of an Octopus turn down (9-11) so working on laptop battery and pond pump turned off! If it was sunny, we'd sail through but there's no sun here at the moment, so not sure if we'll manage (target to reduce by 40%, which is about 0.5 kW). I am savouring my pre-9am tea!

MS things:
* Collected burger buns to go with dinner last night (bean burgers) - collected on foot at same time as key for cat sitting
* Hair cut was £15 and I came back with some frozen wedding cake and another pair of flip flops (supplied at wedding for sore feet, but clearly quite a few pairs left over!)
* Clicks done
* MM surveys - nearly halfway to another £25 voucher
* Chased up the missing asparagus crown and have been credited with £2.99 - unfortunately they couldn't send it out as they were out of stock... which is a real pain as I suspect finding 1 will be tricky and I really wanted 6 crowns.
* £1.09 withdrawn from Qmee and app deleted (account remains though) - life is too short for this!
* PA surveys done

Gratitudes:
* The little b***ers that had had a dig in my allotment beds didn't like the shallot they pulled out, so I was able to just replant (and net!)
* Allotment neighbour was there yesterday and seems friendly 
* Free food and flowers to brighten the day

Have a good day all!

themadvix

I nearly popped back to say that friend's daughter was off sick, so we'd be eating at hers (saving money), but then her husband had come home from work (he's a builder and it was raining), so we got to go to the pub after all! It was more expensive than intended as they didn't do sandwiches, but it was excellent and we had a very looong chat (arrived at 12.30, didn't leave till gone 3!), so well worth the £23. And I won't need dinner! (Mr MV can have a turkey curry from the freezer, maybe?)