So close, we can smell mortgage freedom!

themadvix

Coriander plant collected (it was a lovely one, not sure why Tesco didn't want it) and accompanied friend to Costco for petrol (she doesn't have a membership but is considering one). In exchange, a jar of pickled gherkins, which Mr MV will enjoy, even if they're not really my thing.

Work is going well, so I may yet get the other things on my list done (obviously cat sitting isn't an option, but a lot of the other bits are).

My arm is still unpleasant. I had to flick the wasp off as he was stuck, so I think he had ample opportunity to get a lot of poison in. The nurse was happy that it doesn't look infected currently, so I'm just keeping an eye on it, slathering bite cream on (the whole area itches) and taking antihistamines. Wish it would improve though!

Forgot to say earlier, finally tipped over to payout with 1P! Also well over payout with VB, so should receive a payment from them next Tuesday too.

Suffolk_lass

Why not make/buy  some meringues and make mini pavlovas or Eton mess? We occasionally have either with Greek style yogurt to counteract the sweetness of the meringue.

Also, a bit of vinegar will help with your wasp sting. Mostly anti-histamines help reduce the itchy swollen pits and you can take more than one cetirizine 10mg if you need to (advice from our A&E)

rtandon27

themadvix said:

Morning all,

...for fermenting you can't beat a glass Gu dish...

What a brilliant idea Vix - We had a couple of dozen of these floating around after we moved, and I couldn't find the time to list them on the bay-of-e so they went into the glass recycle at the bottle bank - we still have a dozen or so doing various duties around the house but will have to try this out in our next pickled (fermented) onions batch!

themadvix

@rtandon27 I definitely can't take credit for the idea - it's the most popular solution on the fermenting group I'm part of on FB!

@Suffolk_lass I was saved from the pudding scenario by Sis ringing to say she actually has a freezer full of ice cream, so that solved that problem. I'm taking Benadryl (recommend by NHS as you can take more than one a day too) for my arm. I don't think the vinegar would help as it's the skin  that is itchy - can't even see the wound. Hydrocortisone cream and arnica gel (for the swelling) are helping though.

Have finished my work, had lunch and been down to town. Only purchases were some onions (as we're down to the last of mine ) and bird seed. Otherwise, cheque paid in, cats fed and library books returned. It is *hot* out there - lots of electric assistance was used!

Karmacat

The fermenting weights thing is interesting - they're *so* expensive, I've been wondering about flat pieces of gardening slate, all cleaned up and disinfected and whatnot - what do people think about them?

Your wasp sting sounds horrible, MV - I really hope it improves soon.

Fortune_Smiles

Horrid to have a wasp sting @themadvix.  They are such a pest at the moment.  Ours have mastered pole dancing!  We have an old-fashioned, butcher's shop chain curtain at our back door.  It's been brilliant at keeping the flies out of the house.  The wasps, however, are able to get through it and, watching them the other day, I realised that they are landing on the chain, shimmying around to the inside and flying in 😲  They don't, however, seem to be able to do this in reverse and get out again 😂

Hope you feel better soon.

Fortune x

Swayingseaweed

We have discovered 2 wasp nests on the allotment the other day. Giving them a wide berth as they get aggressive if disturbed. Even worse will be when they get drunk on rotten fruit, at least their mates won't have to hold up their hair if they're sick.
Seaweed x 

themadvix

Morning all,

Thanks Fortune - it's definitely improved today (she says, scratching!). Clever wasps you've got, although clearly not clever enough to leave again!

Swaying, I don't envy you having wasps nests at the allotment. I know we received an email about one at mine, but it was far enough away that I didn't have to worry at all. I do always wear gloves when picking plums in case I actually grab a wasp by mistake, but so far, I've not seen too many on the ones on the tree - they're usually on the windfalls.

Speaking of allotments, I've already been down there already this morning, to avoid the heat. A decent number of strawberries and raspberries picked, along with loads more French beans and another batch of spinach. I will be blanching and freezing both of the latter I think, as we have meals for this week in hand. It's a lovely feeling to be putting away veg for the winter - just have to ensure there's room in the freezer! (Or make some redcurrant jelly - that would free up some space, but at the moment I'm concentrating on doing stuff that needs dealing with immediately - jam/jellying can wait for a rainy day.)

I think the damp has got to the courgettes. I've trimmed a load of mildewy leaves this morning, but the fruits that were coming look like they've rotted too. I'll give it this week, and then they may come out. I also cut down the smaller of the two self-set sunflowers and have brought its enormous head back - will see if I can harvest the seeds later. Weeded the strawberries and the spinach while I was there too - it's so much easier to keep on top of things a little at a time.

Home now and I'll do some Cambridge work when I finish this post. Nothing in terms of my work though. I have a Cambridge meeting later though, so that will fill a couple of hours (the meeting and the actions, not just the meeting!).

Bread is in progress and I'm making two loaves this time to save on electricity - in this weather and when I'm baking at midday-ish, I won't use any grid power, but soon it won't be sunny enough, so combining two loaves (another thing for the freezer 😬) will be good. I've also got half a squash I'll roast at the same time (and the seeds for snacking). It's apparently zero-waste week this week and I'm really feeling on top of this (not intentionally!) - the worms, the compost heap and generally being back to using minimally wrapped stuff (i.e. not Tesco/Olio bread) are all making a difference. I also plan to get some handwashing done (bits from holiday) to make the most of the sunshine. I will probably place a supermarket delivery order for tomorrow as we're running out of bread flour - and it appears that the hoped for Organic September offers are not appearing.

Last day of long-term cats today (hooray!!) and a new client from this evening (for about a week). And then a break (also hooray!).

MS things:
* £2000 of EF transferred to an NS&I bond at 6.2% (there's still plenty of it available, esp given the lack of mortgage)
* PA survey
* Diverted on way home from Sis's last night to get dishwasher salt in Lidl (cardboard box) - saving on a specific trip as there isn't one in our town
* Allotment bounty
* Good use of oven

Gratitudes:
* Lovely dinner at Sis's last night
* Allotment bounty
* Last visit to flea-y cats

Have a good day all!

EssexHebridean

Thank goodness for the flea-ridden cats being finished with! Not surprised that was a gratitude! 

Noted that Lidl do dishwasher salt in a box - although right now we still have about a third of a large plastic sack from when my parents and I used to buy in bulk and share a few years back - plus there was the end of a standard bag of the stuff in the undersink cupboard in the new house - sellers left it as won't immediately have a dishwasher in their new house! (See also the last of their DW tablets, plus two different DW cleaners - I am, needless to say, complaining about none of these!) Buying in cardboard is definitely something I'm keen to move towards though. 

themadvix

Definitely using up what they left behind is the MSE and eco-friendly way to go EH! If you're interested, we use Ecozone dishwasher tablets - come in cardboard and plastic-free (cornstarch or similar dissolvable wrapper). We feel they give pretty good results. No idea about price compared to premium brands, but image they are slightly more expensive than Aldi/Lidl. We usually buy in bulk when they are on offer from Ocado. And Minimal rinse aid from the refill shop - also v good.

I forgot to mention earlier that neither Mr MV nor I slept much past 2am, so really beginning to struggle now. At least I can go for a nap (and may well do) - poor Mr MV doesn't have that option as its one of his days at the office! I have cancelled my Olio collection tonight - I don't think we'll be functional by 8.30 which is when I have to go and get the stuff, let alone distribute it.