So close, we can smell mortgage freedom!

Suffolk_lass

My list today has some big things and some small

1. Elderflower cordial (for example, includes picking the flowers, finding bottles and making it)
2. Inspect garden bees (there are five colonies and I need to write up what I find, and clean and wash equipment)
3. Vacuum - 2 rooms
4. Shower - means me and the dog needs a bath so he is having one too
5. Read book - I haven't finished the book club book and now with DH away for three days, I won't, and will miss book club too
6. Animals - means don't forget to walk the dog and feed both of them
7. Greenhouse - watering and any potting on. I know I want to get a window box in to plant up peppers and chillies in there

I know, seven; sometimes the list is a lot longer but if I achieve five things, even partially, I am doing well

Karmacat

Sometimes I need to have lots and lots on my list, because they're nearly all things I hate, so I have to choose the one I hate the least at any one time 🤣 and I really wish I was kidding!

themadvix

I know exactly what you mean!

Bluegreen143

@themadvix I have one list for regular daily tasks (dishes, washing, tidying etc) - I don’t exactly refer to it much now but I used it as a routine when I first jotted it down. Then a second lost for the one off things I want to do that day. 

themadvix

Afternoon all,

Thanks for the list contributions - I think mine often looks like yours SL, with the added work jobs on it. @Bluegreen143 - it's not so much the daily stuff - I have a fairly good routine that gets those bits done, but the more infrequent but regular ones. I guess maybe I have a list and ignore those things that don't apply that day?

In any case, I've just reviewed the huge list from last week and actually, most things have got done. Which is just as well really as this week is looking rather busy with various appointments and etc. so random jaunts to a shop are not going to be ideal. 

Weekend was good, if a bit too hot. We decided against drinks in the taproom on Friday - I'd had enough of being outside in the pollen-laden air, so we invited BIL and SIL round for a drink in the garden (where I could slink off indoors). Dinner was cereal as that's all we really fancied! Saturday we (en-masse - with BIL, SIL and FIL and MIL) visited the GMIL who was 101 this week and then popped to the pub afterwards - drinks kindly paid for by parents-in-law). They also made us a sandwich when we got back to theirs (it's a walk to the home from their house) - in exchange Mr MV did some Music Magpie/Ziffiting of books for them. I went to the zero-waste shop and stocked up - the bill was £60! I haven't done a big stock up since the other zero-waste shop closed, so it was always going to be a bit higher and I bought nuts (we're eating a lot now as part of the Med diet), which were expensive! Dinner was broad bean and hot smoked salmon risotto - very nice, followed by Olio blackberries and some yoghurt. Sunday we slowly cracked on with some garden jobs, but it was both polleny and hot, so I also made flapjacks (an inside job). Sis and I took Mum out for a belated Mothers' Day afternoon tea - it was nice but not the best and one of the cakes was so sweet I couldn't eat it. Dinner was a pasta bake to use up some grated mozarella. Apart from the necessary food shopping, it was a pretty low cost weekend.

We're still waiting for Audi to get their act together (i.e. dealership and Audi UK to talk to each other) before we can have an update on the car situation. Mr MV is frustrated as once we get a clearer idea of things he'll happily try and source the part, but in the meantime we're in limbo rather.

Money from cat insurance still hasn't arrived. Slightly concerned by this but was assured on live chat on Friday that it was on its way. If it's not there tomorrow I'll go back to them. Have cat appointment and boiler service booked tomorrow. Cat appointment will be another £60 (plus the £12 spent on the chill pill in advance of it), but worth it to check if ginger cat needs to have special food or not.

Today has been a very busy one - popped to allotment to water first thing (and harvested some radishes), various small jobs for the Americans done, two Cambridge meetings (and subsequent follow-up), cat sitting (by bike), collected a Vinted parcel from another direction (also by bike), and some work for my main client. Tired now, which isn't helped by B&W cat waking us up at 5.30 (we have been experimenting with allowing them in with us overnight - it was fine on Friday and Saturday night, but not so much last night). However, lots of work is definitely a good thing!

MS things:
* Clicks and HW - another £5 withdrawn from one bookie
* I won! A night out for 4 people at a farm - it's an adult's night, with drinks, music and a chance to play on the kids' toys!
* 1P survey
* Milk order was cancelled - annoying, but cheaper to buy from the Coop, which is where I'm headed when I've posted this.

Gratitudes:
* Nice time at pub with in-laws
* A win!
* Nice time with Mum and Sis yesterday

Have a good evening all!

rtandon27

Lovely update Vix! - and hooray for the win!

themadvix

Morning all,

Thanks RT. 

Ginger cat is at the vets - his bladder was too small and he was too wriggly to get a sample during the consultation, so they're waiting until the bladder is fuller. Boiler engineer has just left - £95 (from the boiler service pot). Between vet and engineer, I popped to visit my current cat client and whizzed into Costco for granola, tonic water and prawns (the necessities! 😂).

Not really feeling like I've managed much work yet today, but hopefully that will improve (although as the sun comes round my office becomes rather warm). I have continuing stuff from main client, a follow-up from my UK client and, excitement of excitement, the US tourism project from a US client that has been on hold since the pandemic! I was so pleased to see that in my inbox this morning - not only was it a good contributor to the coffers, but it was interesting (and largely responsible for the California portion of our holiday last year)! Problem is, I just want to have a nap at the moment!

Dinner last night was bean burgers, rice and frozen veg - we were working in the garden relatively late for us and it was a nice easy option. Not a clue what we'll have tonight, although I'm tempted to make a chilli (despite the heat). Need to sort veg delivery for Thursday as cut off is today. Also haven't done evening class homework yet, although that feels like the least of my worries currently (it may be a case of winging it).

MS things:
* YG survey done (while waiting for vet to return during consult)
* Y Live survey done (also at vets)
* Cat sitting
* Clicks, comps and HW
* Planted up tomato plants at last

Gratitudes:
* Red kite flying over the house - looked up a minute ago and saw it through the window 😊
* Appreciative cat client 
* I have an uninterrupted afternoon to get on with work

Have a good day all!

badmemory

Maybe your desire for chilli is like having a hot drink on a hot day instead of a cold one.  The hot drink is supposed to be better.

themadvix

Morning all,

Haha Badmemory... I wish it was. In the end I'd had enough by the end of the day and we got takeaway. It was a conscious decision and we'd not had one for ages, so it was worth it. Also it was Tuesday, so got 20% off, which made the cost slightly more palatable.

Crazy busy week continues though. Yesterday I took the Mini for its MOT (it passed). On way back I popped to allotment and planted a cucumber (it may not thrive there but am out of space in the garden as B&W cat is using raised bed as outdoor litter tray (for wees only, but even so). Courgettes, while not yet producing have grown massively - so it won't be long until we're eating courgette in everything. Chard is also doing well, as are the three remaining sweetcorn seedlings (I've also spotted that the replacement seeds are beginning to germinate, so there'll be some more to join them soon). Beans doing well too. I spent an hour or so down there, removing huge quantities of weeds, feeding everything and harvesting some rhubarb, the first three strawberries, a garlic and a couple of onions (now drying in the garden). The potatoes are flowering too, so it won't be too long until they need harvesting. I've even got some broad beans coming at last. Redcurrants will need picking soon too. After allotment, I came back and baked a focaccia (from a packet - added some fresher yeast as it was BBE Oct 22), did three loads of washing did some work, had meeting with Cambridge boss and then collected car. Mr MV had called me from King's Cross in the morning and suggested I joined him in the evening if the car was done in time, so as it was, I did! We had a lovely wander around Coal Drops Yard and Granary Square, which were packed with people enjoying the sunshine and then headed to Harvey Nick's as we had our £50 Amex credit to spend there - so we ate on the rooftop terrace and then wandered back through Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. It was a lovely evening!

I did have to miss my Olio collection (someone covered for me), but it was worth it to do something spontaneous! Did 20k steps yesterday and a cycle to/from the station, so feeling very healthy!

Today I supposedly have someone coming to do a home energy efficiency survey as part of a focus group thing, but they've not confirmed as they were supposed to. I also need to go and visit the cat I'm looking after - by bike today, although I have the car as Mr MV has taken the Mini to work. Mum should be popping up for a quick cuppa at some point too.

MS things:
* Used up the bread mix
* Oven drew only 0.04kW from the grid when baking the bread - all the rest was covered by the battery and solar!
* Clicks, comps and HW done
* Cycling to station saved on parking cost (also, cycling in a skirt - very tricky!)
* Sold a dress I've been trying to sell for ages on Ebay - £20 in!
* Nationwide profit share credited

Gratitudes:
* Lovely unexpected evening out yesterday
* Mini passed its MOT - we now have two usable cars again!
* Things coming on at allotment!

Have a good day all!

ETA: The post has just come and brought a prize in the form of a £10 cheque!

rtandon27

Another prize!  Hooray & well done

A spontaneous summer evening out sounds lovely 🌞