So close, we can smell mortgage freedom!

themadvix

Pollie said:

You may already know but it is recommended that cashew nuts are frozen, if not being used immediately. 

Ooh, I did not know that! Thank you for delurking to share 😁 I’ll pop them in the freezer (as the other side of my smugness was that i got back to my veg box and it didn’t have carrots with tops on, so no pesto to make today!).

Bluegreen143

I didn’t know you had a diary 🤦‍♀️ have subscribed now! You’re so close to paying off your mortgage, that’s amazing! 

themadvix

Bluegreen143 said:

I didn’t know you had a diary 🤦‍♀️ have subscribed now! You’re so close to paying off your mortgage, that’s amazing! 

Sadly I’ve been hanging around here for more than 10 years Bluegreen! 😁 And just because the mortgage will soon be paid off, I doubt I’ll be disappearing any time soon. It’s very exciting being this close!

themadvix

Morning all,

Just a quick one from me this morning as about to head to station to go to friend’s house for her charity open day (for a group I’m a member of) - there’ll be homemade biscuits, scones, lunch - and a lot of laughter I expect. I could drive (my car is still here), but it’s an opportunity to get my head round the navigation of the station and bike on/of train without pressure (or Mr MV doing the thinking for me), so I’ve decided to go that way. Wish train tickets were cheaper though! (It’ll be fine when I’m not running the car too though). I’ve bought a return in the expectation that I’ll go back the way I came, but there’sa possibility of a lift - I’ll have to see how I get on.

 Was up early and have done Cambridge work (it’s max hour a day at the moment, depending on what’s there) and made good progress with next project for main client, so feeling justified in escaping for a bit.

 Clicks done, compost entered and HW done. And I’ve just got back from collecting 2 punnets of strawbs, one of rasps, a cucumber and some jersey royals from a local olioer.

 Happy Friday all!

Suffolk_lass

You can store cashew nuts for up to 6 months in a cool dark place in a sealed jar. They will last a year in the freezer, which is why many recommend this. Epicurious.com's blog might be the originator as the editor recommends freezing them straight away because you don't know how old they are, when you buy them. As with many things, I use the sniff test as a rancid nut is pretty obvious. I also buy mine from two reputable nut and seed suppliers (in what I would call domestic bulk, per kilo or even 2.5k) so I do have some long stock experience with them.

themadvix

Thanks SL. My issue is I’ll buy them with the best intentions and then forget I’ve got them. So the freezer is probably the best place for them in our house. I also only bought enough for what I needed (or thought I needed) this time - I think last time I got over enthusiastic!

 Made it to the station platform with half an hour to spare, whoops! But at least I know now how to do it and am not stressed about it. Managed to give myself a blood blister when folding my bike though 🙄

Karmacat

That sounds like its going to be a lovely day!  Though yuck to the blood blister does that hurt?  

Mmmmm, home made scones **slurp**

themadvix

Thanks Karma, it was a lovely day - scones, shortbread, soup, rolls and cheese consumed and lots of laughs had. Home again now - train successfully negotiated although there’s quite a bit of bike grease on my jeans from lifting into and out of train 🙄 Good job they are dark!

Blood blister is rather sore and right in the middle of my left hand index finger and of course I’m left handed 🙄 Tried to pump bike tyres up when I got back but because of finger soreness and difficulty of twiddling the pump valve on and off, I’ve managed to let more out than I’ve put in! 😂 That’s a job for Mr MV when he gets home, before we go to the pub (bet he uses the car powered pump and not the hand pump!).

themadvix

Morning all,

Well we had a rather busy and exhausting weekend of jobs. Drinks on Friday turned into tapas with both Italian friends and BIL and SIL. It wasn't particularly cheap, but I'm using the excuse of the unexpected £100 from Nw to justify it. It was bound to happen eventually and we had a lovely time.

Saturday was spent potting seedlings on and doing various other gardeny jobs for me. Mr MV did the shocks on his car ready for its MOT and service tomorrow and started digging out a bush in the front garden. He also sorted something on my bike out for me, which has been hugely helpful. Dinner was the pasta we didn't have on Friday night and lunch was rolls with lots of (Olio/Riverford) salad.

Yesterday I visited a nursery with Mum and we got a lot of plants for very little money. £17.25 spent and all but one thing bought that was on my list (and I'd given myself a £20 budget, so very pleased to come in under that). Home again and after some lunch (Olio pittas, Olio tuna and salady bits), I potted those up/planted them. I now have dill, lemon verbena, rosemary (had tried to grow from a cutting, but they didn't work) and apple mint as well as chives, sage and thyme. I bought a few bedding plants too and was thrilled to discover that there were three alyssums in the pot that I paid 60p for - so they have been split and will go further.

Mr MV continued with the digging and I repaired the camping mats (hopefully) in preparation for our holiday. Also lots of houseworky bits got done. Dinner was a spring greens curry, but tbh I don't think I'd make it again. It did, however, use some spring greens and some tamarind paste that has been lurking in the fridge for ages. I also collected satsumas, bananas, radishes, a loaf, some burger buns and a whole tray of pepper plants (long story, but I was only expecting one!) from two Olioers.

This morning I've caught up on Cambridge work, am just finishing one of the projects for main client, have another quick job to do for another client and then stuff has come back again from main client. I've also been out and collected lettuces (to eat) and lobelia (to plant - looking very sad, but they are perking up with a good drink) from another Olioer. And collecting some pittas for the freezer later on from another one... It's an odd way to 'shop' but it's very affordable and I get lots of exercise! 🤣 I really need to get to the allotment, if only briefly today.

In other news, Dad and fiancee have set a November date for their wedding, so I will have to think about what I'm going to wear to that. Also heard that the last of Mr MV's uni friends to get married has popped the question, so rather excitingly we've got a couple of weddings to look forward to after a bit of a wedding drought!

MS things:
* Clicks, HW and comps done
* Have been selected for a home energy assessment, for a market research co, which I'll get paid £30 for (and get the results of the assessment too)
* PA surveys
* YG survey
* Still using things up from freezer
* Olio items

Gratitudes:
* Lovely evening on Friday with friends and family
* Starling family in the front garden this morning - babies following parents round and getting fed
* Lots of work

Have a good day all!

Karmacat

What a brilliant mix of friends, family and activities, and very mse as well.  You're doing sterling work there!