So close, we can smell mortgage freedom!

rtandon27

themadvix said:

...Dinner was lentil bolognese (with a bit of courgette in, of course) ...

shhhhhhh - hidden veg needs to remain a secret!

themadvix

rtandon27 said:

themadvix said:

...Dinner was lentil bolognese (with a bit of courgette in, of course) ...

shhhhhhh - hidden veg needs to remain a secret!

Nah, it wasn't hidden - just necessary to keep using it! 😂 I've just given a large one away to one of my regular Olioers and I must remember to take one to my friend when I see her later.

Karmacat

Lovely stuff!

themadvix

Morning all,

Just accidentally clicked on the first page of this diary - mostly we're on target with what I'd written (i.e. mortgage paid off) and allotment (I'd just picked up the keys!). Didn't get the garage we'd hoped for, but that seems to be working OK (and we only have two cars now 🙄) and we *still* have the grotty plastic garden furniture! 😂 

Anyway, it's very quiet round here at the moment isn't it? And what happened to the weather?

Dinner last night was courgette fritters (from the R'ford book I got at the weekend - I don't think the recipe is on their website, unusually). They were quite nice and used courgette, onion, chilli (first of the year) and mint from garden/allotment, plus cucumber from allotment friend, so pretty good on food miles. No idea about tonight's dinner - I do have an open jar of passata to use though.

We've got Niece coming for the day tomorrow, so will need to do a little bit of baking (bread) and shopping (tuna for her sandwiches) today. Weather is looking pretty rubbish for the day, so I think we'll probably hang out at home.  We might make crispy cakes with the rice crispies I saved from Olio and I also thought she'd enjoy making (and eating!) ice cream. If the weather is better than forecast/brightens up, we might go to the RSPB reserve instead - it's apparently free (non-members have to pay to park) - Niece loves wildlife, so it would definitely keep her entertained (and there's a play area too).

Today though, I'm trying to get caught up on work for main client - the long project that keeps getting put off as more urgent things come in. I am determined to get this part of it back to him today, and maybe even make progress on the next bit too. It's such an irritating project that it'll be so nice to see the back of it! However, I'm likely to get some other (nicer) stuff back from him before I get through all of it... 🙄

MS things:
* Clicks, comps and HW done
* Haven't heard back from competition provider, but did realise I have the number of the woman who called me, so have saved that and will try ringing it today.
* PA survey quiz done
* £2 YLive survey done (£39 there)
* YG survey done

Gratitudes:
* Very cuddly cats - I think they're wondering about the weather too!
* Quick chat with friend as I picked up key for cat sitting (she's meant to be helping me with cat sitting later in the summer, but I think I'll see how she's doing - she's got a lot on at the moment and I don't want to add to the pressure - she's someone who won't say no, but needs to sometimes)
* Lots of work from main client - it's usually not the case at this time of year and as the Americans are still pretty quiet, it's much appreciated.

Have a good day all!

Karmacat

I noticed how quiet it is too, thought it might just be me because I don't follow huge numbers of people.  I so enjoy the nitty gritty of making things work, it's a shame.

As for the weather - gentle drizzle here for about 3 hours, we *really* need it, so I'll forgive the weather gods.  But I'm feeling envious of your cuddly cats 😺🤗

themadvix

Karmacat said:

I noticed how quiet it is too, thought it might just be me because I don't follow huge numbers of people.  I so enjoy the nitty gritty of making things work, it's a shame.

I'm glad it's not just me - and you're right, I enjoy reading about the nitty gritty too. Drizzle here too and Dad has just told me they've cancelled their village's fete tomorrow because of the forecast high winds! 😔

Concerned and frustrated to see that strikes at Gatwick have been announced by baggage handlers and ground staff for both the outward and return journeys for our cruise. And somewhat peeved to discover that unless I have a very short question for Virgin Voyages, I have to ring them - their 'email us' box was ridiculously short. Not sure entirely how our connection is covered by travel insurance - might have to ring them too. The cruise upgrade (which we haven't got) probably wouldn't cover it - it certainly doesn't say it would explicitly, but it might cover connections under the main bit, but I'm not sure. But Virgin have our flight details, so I'm wondering if they'll wait if they've got a certain number of people on the plane and they know its delayed. I don't know how that works. I don't have time to ring them at the moment though...

Karmacat

That sounds bad about Gatwick and the strikes - I do understand about the strikes, but struggling through a normal life and subject to work to rules and strikes just gives me the shivers, I really don't want to do it As for Virgin ... I've had problems whenever I've had anything to do with them, whether finances or broadband provision.  I hope their travel arm ends up being better - good luck with it.

As for the quietness - I think it often goes quiet around summer and in the runup to Christmas, especially from people who have kids, they regularly have so many more demands on their time, it just doesn't work.  Speaking of which - good luck with your niece tomorrow!  You'll have a blast  

themadvix

Thanks KC, I think we will, even if the weather is going to prevent us doing much outside.

Virgin travel stuff is usually excellent. And I've not had any issues with the financial side of things either. But I know about Media - horrendous! My Mum was considering going back to them at one point, but she just couldn't bring herself to do it. I wouldn't touch them with a bargepole.

themadvix

Morning all,

Had a lovely day yesterday with Niece - we played games, went to the park, made chocolate ice cream and just generally had fun. I also managed to pop to PO to return some items and Sains for a few bits (where I went round twice to get two lots of the 200 bonus nectar points 😂). In fact, I earned in excess of 500 Nectar points yesterday, which will convert nicely into Avios. For dinner we had the leftovers of the courgette lasagne from the nice before (which in turn had leftovers of the two previous nights' dinners in). 

Today will be a quiet one. Housework and jobs this morning and then later this afternoon we'll go for a walk at the RSPB place.

MS things:
* Clicks, comps and HW done
* Had a response from the competition provider - just an acknowledgement that she'd got my message and will respond on Monday
* Took bike to cat sit this morning (non-financial, returning a favour cat sitting)
* Used voucher received ages ago for some slug wool pellets needed for order of cabbage plants ordered with 20% off code (due this week).
* PA survey
* Claimed £1.49 TCB

Gratitudes:
* Lovely time with Niece
* Sis took a large courgette away with her
* Chilled day today

Have a good day all!

themadvix

Morning all,

Had a super-productive, but exhausting day yesterday (on another night of poor sleep). Picked up various bits needed in town (made use of 5% cashback offer on my cc at Card Factory), did three loads of washing (and dried and put away), baked bread, popped to allotment, did some work etc. etc. This morning I was meant to be walking with my ex-Brownie friends for our monthly catch-up (and popping to refill shop and in-laws), but B&W cat has an upset stomach, I didn't get any sleep last night and various urgent bits of work have arrived, so I've sadly had to cancel.

I'm covering my friend's Olio tonight, so with that and the work and popping to the vets to get some binding paste for B&W cat, I think that's enough to be going on with. Sis should be popping round for part of her birthday present after work too.

MS things:
* Dinner last night was all from the allotment except the Goodlife bean burgers (which were on offer in Asda and are our favourite)
* PA surveys
* Added a few bits to MIL's supermarket delivery rather than reach minimum spend for one of our own - I would have collected today, but Mr MV will swing by tomorrow after work instead. Also there was a 10% cashback offer on cc for supermarket, so I've opted in for that and paid for the delivery on my card this week - should net around £10 cashback! 😊

Gratitudes:
* Friends were entirely understanding about me pulling out of today's catch-up
* Allotment bounty (homegrown peas with our dinner last night 😊
* Catch-up on the phone with Dad and fiancee

Have a good day all!