So close, we can smell mortgage freedom!

themadvix

Have just ordered a phone.... £257.... Didn't really want to spend the money but my current one is already down to 75% battery from 100% first thing this morning and I've not used it much! Costs will come from business (savings), and hope to sell current one when I'm happy with what I've got (used Back Market, went for a 'fair' condition one - Mr MV has had excellent fair stuff from them, but also less so. It's going to have a case, so as lnog as the screen is OK that's fine. And you can return if not happy.)

EssexHebridean

That sounds like a cracking deal on the phone - and yes, exactly that about the size as I use mine one handed a LOT, and my hands aren't the biggest...It IS slightly bigger than my old SE, but not enough to be much of an issue, and I have a phone holder on the back now anyway which is a bit of added security at times! 

I agree that life is far too short to be constantly in search of phone charging facilities though - that was the eventual deciding factor on my old one being replaced though - it had a new battery at 2 years old (because it was badly affected by the old issues with iOs updates robbing battery power)on the discounted price deal, and that did another 2 years, but it was starting to be problematic again, and I felt I'd had my money's worth! 

themadvix

Glad you approve EH Yes, the battery life really was the deciding factor - especially now train tickets are often on there (as well as railcard) - before Christmas my friend and I had to have another drink in a bar so that I could charge my phone to get the train home (I mean, we could have had tea, but cocktails seemed like the better option!) - ridiculous!

I seem to have been running around like a blue-a***ed fly today - I cycled to cats and picked up some bananas from my Olio/cat friend (an extra couple of miles, but not too bad); dashed back as someone was coming for a chest of drawers from Freegle, had lunch, realised I needed to get ebay parcel away (should've gone yesterday) - which involved some elaborate packing as it was two plates; went to PO (also took RM survey item that should've gone this morning but I must've forgotten to put a diary reminder in; hoovered throughout downstairs and tidied ready for friend's visit (she's now coming later/possibly not today - but I knew this before the hoovering) and have just sat down with a cuppa and my work (which I also managed some of this morning and returned to client, so he's happy). 

Have also paid in my Y Live cheque that came this morning and booked another repeat client in for a short spell of cat sitting (and the dates for their longer holiday in June). Can I have another nap now? (It's definitely the cycling back uphill that's doing this to me!).

In good news, Mr MV and I are both stuff from huge lunch portions, so I think dinner will be minimal.

Oooh and I ran out and caught the window cleaner as he was passing - haven't seen him since I told him we were moving (for the second time, so Nov 2021) - think he thought I was trying to get rid of him! He'll come tomorrow if the weather is OK, but in any case, we are back on his round - hooray!

themadvix

Morning all,

As planned I had some porridge for tea last night; Mr MV elected not to have anything and then decided he was hungry at bedtime 🙄 He made do with a custard cream! Today's lunch will be panini (cheese). Not sure about dinner - it is our 20th anniversary of getting together (how? How is that even possible?!) so we might get takeaway or possibly go out. However, we're both exhausted after another poor night's sleep so takeaway is definitely more likely. Or we might postpone and celebrate another day. Mr MV is wfh today, so I will take the car to visit the cats and collect some hot x buns from an Olioer. Will also try to get to Costco as the cats need chicken.

Currently waiting for the second mattress assessor to arrive. We'll see what he says. I doubt there's been the significant deterioration required to meet their verdict of defective since October, but this was the course of action suggested by the mattress company. Maybe they have slightly different standards or something?

In the meantime, plenty more work from my client to keep me busy, plus a couple of other bits for other people. Ideally I need to plant my asparagus crowns that arrived yesterday, but I'm not seeing when that'll happen today. Also need to do some washing as weather is good (i.e. extra power available). My to-do list is long....

MS things:
* Cheap dinner last night
* Olio panini for lunch, hot x buns for treats
* YG survey
* HW and clicks done 
* Picked up key for cat sitting that starts tomorrow

Gratitudes:
* Lovely catch up with friend yesterday afternoon 
* Nearly did 10k steps yesterday as well as 5 miles cycling - glad I've got the car today though
* Hot x buns

Have a good day all!

themadvix

Not sure what to make of mattress assessor - more thorough than last time, but they seem to have this thing of empathising, acknowledging the issue and then towards the end of the assessment, saying 'Well this is natural and entirely expected'. Grr!

Window cleaner has been - £13 paid (he asked if it was OK that it had gone up £3. I told him I still think he undercharges! It takes him a half hour, I should think - hard to tell as he does one side and comes round the other a couple of hours later, and he has running costs etc. on top of his wage.) Windows look *so* much better - now I just need to do the insides!

Have been to cats, returned key for last week's cat sitting and picked up (and eaten half of) the hot x buns. Have also returned one piece of work to client and am onto the second. Really, really struggling with energy and focus today though. 

Post brought the correct sign for my allotment, so really I should get down there and plant my asparagus and pop the sign in..... just need to find the energy/time.

Have booked cats in for their boosters - due next week but can't get an appointment until beginning of April! Ridiculous! Still, it gives the cat pot a bit longer to recover from some expensive outgoings.

Y Live survey cheque has cleared and money less tax moved to savings (it came in my married name, business account is in maiden name).

Cat booking for April (for cat I've just returned keys for) has been made.

badmemory

It sounds like it is getting as bad for vets appts as it is for GPs.  I suppose that is about the extra pets taken on during covid lockdown.  I know a friend who bred dogs couldn't breed enough for the demand.  Not that she minded actually because she could be extra choosy about who got them.  I remember her saying she thought a lot of people were selling with paperwork that was not true.

themadvix

I think it’s partially that and partially that there was a huge backlog during lockdown due to supply chain issues with vaccines - the vials were being used elsewhere! I think this is still having an impact. And then, from reading Merlin’s Beard’s diary, it’s clear that there are shortages in the profession too. It is what it is, but I’m annoyed I put off calling when I got the message last week as I didn’t think I’d have time to get in this week! If only I’d known!

themadvix

So, Morning all,

Lovely weekend - tried out e-bike, very happy so will order. Enjoyed walks and exploring two market towns in our county where the bike shops were - amazing how little of our own county we know really. Supermarket picnic lunch then and leftover takeaway from Friday night for dinner. Yesterday we went to Coventry to see the Lionesses. Wetherspoons lunch and another £10 in the stadium on snacks/drinks.

 Mega busy today, but mostly socialising - combining three social things during trip to another town shortly - Trefoil guild lunch (ex guiders), ex-Brownie leaders catch up (Just the usual three of us) and then visiting cousins flat and puppy.

 Currently at PO to post some eBay bits, have done some work and visited one lot of cats. Another lot on the way and I’m free. 

Lunch cost £10, paid a while ago. Nothing else should cost and I’ll be using the electric so minimal costs.

themadvix

Morning all,

It has been a very hectic and exhausting few days. Work is really busy, I've had to take long-term cat sitting cat to the vets again (always when I'm at my busiest), there's been socialising, money spent (including on lazy food/takeaway) and a lot of tiredness.

My bike will be ready to collect at the weekend, and I was able to get a good discount on the price (being deliberately vague here). Very excited about this. Once I'm happy with it there will then be my old bike to sell and then my car (which I am sad about, but it's not needed and costs a lot just to tax (£300), let alone insure etc.

Had a lovely day on Monday - lots of chatting and catching up. Saw my evening class pals on Tuesday evening (as evening class teacher is away) - also lovely. One friend and I split the bill as last time the other one paid for all of us, which neither of us was happy about. So slightly more expensive (£34) than if it had just been for me, but nice not to have that debt in the back of my mind.

I am now out of pocket for the cat-sitting expenses and will be until the client returns (3rd/4th March). Which is rather annoying as there's been food, litter, more food and now a vet's bill. However, I'm sure she'll settle up when she returns. And I'll be charging a little bit extra for this week too as I'm having to go twice a day to give antibiotics.

MS things:
* Clicks and HW most days - has been a bit erratic though
* Saving on bike
* Lots and lots of work!
* Free lunch for me from my Olio collection last night - nothing suitable for Mr MV though (although he's taken very unhealthy snacks, which I also have too)

Gratitudes
* Lick-e-lix - they make the medicine go down.... (wish they'd work as well for my cat as he's refusing his worming tablet, even crushed up in the food/lick-e-lix
* Catch ups with lots of people
* Some yummy treats in the Olio collection (and very grateful Olioers)

Have a good day all!

Baileys_Babe

Regarding the additional cat-sitting duties I think you should be charging:

• extra for the additional visits (not a little bit as you said)
• time and fuel for the visit to the vet
• the cost of the vets
• plus any additional costs you have incurred

I do not understand why you are having to wait until the owner returns before they reimburse you as it is easy to do PayPal and bank transfers online.

What would the owner have done if you hadn't had the money to pay for the vets?