So close, we can smell mortgage freedom!

Suffolk_lass

We haven't had any (hot cross buns) this year. I could make some I guess. The SM had none when I went and so we went without. That's the other thing about saving money I think. We are just missing out things not on the shelves. 

themadvix

Morning all,

What a weekend! I feel I spent most of it moving compost/soil....

On Friday I spent the morning at the allotment (Mr MV was away Thursday night with work - back about midday Friday) - I finished shifting the remaining half tonne of compost as I now have neighbours on the adjacent plot (and the bag was blocking the path between the plots). I also planted potatoes. Friday PM, Mr MV and I worked in the garden - dismantling the old raised bed (including emptying it) and moving the soil from there into an empty 1 tonne bag from the allotment (the other bag is still there with some compost in it ready for earthing aforementioned potatoes up).

Saturday, the earth moving continued - we moved my redcurrant bush - not far, but it had to be resituated for garden changes. I also sanded and painted the folding wooden chair I'd picked up on Freegle. In the afternoon/evening we went to my aunt's for her 60th birthday party - a welcome respite from manual labour.

Sunday - more earth moving.... and seed sowing and I pressure washed the outside of the fence and painted it. Mr MV, alongside earth shifting, was cutting the sleepers to size for the new raised bed and various other things. I went to the allotment later on to collect a tomato plant left for me by someone and water the potatoes. Also noticed the broad beans I'd given up on had started to germinate, so covered them up before something ate them.

Monday - cleaning and tidying garden (as much as possible when patio is covered in a literal two tonnes of soil) and house as it was MIL's birthday and we hosted PIL and B and SIL for a BBQ. I made creme brulees for dessert, which were a success - a new recipe for me. Then ginger cat decided to disappear - both of them had been around in the garden while we were out there and every five mins or so I'd shake the treats and they'd come back (standard practice for us). Except he didn't. We spent all of yesterday evening searching for him to no avail. Left his food, a litter tray and some bedding out in the hope it would help him find his way back. Worried sick and feeling terrible we went to bed.... no sleep... at 3 am, there's a miaow in the garden and I open the door and naughty, naughty ginger cat shoots in (he ate his dinner in the garden before calling us, of course!).

Tuesday - back at work for a rest!!

MS things:
* Seeds sown and beginning to germinate!
* Clicks done  - nearly back to pay out on HW
* One of my work projects that has been on hold since January is back - with a decent backlog to deal with as well as ongoing updates - hooray!
* Cat sitting - am now back to two clients to visit twice a day - 3 cats in all, including  a ragdoll kitten - he is stunning and so friendly
* ETA: Discovered 10% off voucher for Rocket Gardens on the catalogue after I placed the order - emailed them and they have honoured it - excellent customer service!

Gratitudes:
* Ginger cat is home safe and sound. That is all.

Have a good day all!

Karmacat

Wow!  What a weekend/Easter Monday you had of it!  Norty ginger cat!  But I'm glad they're safe and sound.

Huge amounts of envy here that you get to meet a ragdoll kitten!  I've just done an image search - oh my word, they're adorable!

themadvix

Thanks Karma.... Norty, norty ginger cat indeed. He's now sleeping off his exciting night on the tiles in the sunshine in the dining room - never mind that the rest of us were up half the night (and the rest as the adrenaline kicked back in when he returned) and have a full day's work to do today too!

Yes, the ragdoll is soooo pretty! And very chatty too. His miaow sounds like 'Hey'! 🥰

QueenJess

Wow, just reading all of that made me tired! Glad naughty ginger cat is back safe and sound.

themadvix

Morning all,

Thanks Jess. Yes, it was all very exhausting, especially given I'd not slept properly in at least a week. I missed my evening class last night (in the end it was cancelled as no one could attend), and was asleep by 9.15. I did sleep well but am still tired! 

Popped to allotment yesterday and discovered something had moved fleece to get to broad bean seedlings - so now have hooped and netted that raised bed - Fort Knox is the only way!

This morning I've fed 5 cats (including my own) and been to Tesco. They'd found me 'extra' stuff this morning, so my kitchen looks even more like a bakery than usual! Have also collected some hot x buns and flowers from another Olioer (as I didn't have any in my collection).

Have finally sat down for work now. It's nice to back on the project that was suspended in January - it's easy, simple work and I'd missed it!

MS things:
* Free bread for the freezer/lunch, hot x buns and flowers
* Making quiche this evening to use up egg whites from creme brulees and will use free pastry (downside, oven on again)
* Stewed rhubarb in microwave for first time yesterday - simple! Cut down on washing up too as used same dish to bake the crumble (we had a surfeit of milk, so needed something with custard!)
* Clicks done 
* Couple of tiny PA surveys yesterday
* Mr MV and I are trying not to use buy more petrol before we go away - both our cars are pretty much empty, but the mini has a fairly full tank and we have 20 miles daily on the hybrid (and Mr MV charges at work, so he can get there and back - today and tomorrow - just on electric!). We're self-isolating from next Tuesday, so hopefully shouldn't need any from then.

Gratitudes:
* Sunshine
* Seeds germinating
* Hot x buns

Have a good day all!

themadvix

Morning all,

Just waiting for my meeting about new project to start. It's at times like these that I realise why I prefer working on my own and communicating almost entirely by email with clients! The lady I have the meeting with is perfectly lovely (if a little tardy), but I'm still stressed about it! And the work is just slightly outside of my comfort zone and I'm stressing before we've even agreed on it!

I have cat sat this morning - the ragdoll kitty is such a delight and my Olio friend is coming for cat sitting instructions later today for when we go away - so I need to get the house looking presentable. Also a walk to the in-laws to drop off some flowers and the ramekins I borrowed at the weekend, and down to the pharmacy as they only had half my prescription in the other day 🙄. I need to finish up two work projects too - the backlog for my US client and another project for a European client. I'm expecting the nightmare project from my main client back today, so want to get these out of the way. It's beginning to feel like work might be returning to closer to pre-pandemic levels at last. It would be so lovely if that was the case!

MS things:
* Clicks done and £5 cashed out of HW
* Dinner last night was quiche, to use egg whites, made with free pastry and chard from the garden. The leftover bits of pastry I turned into mini apple pies using some Olio apples.
* Mr MV has taken leftover quiche and a cheese straw (Olio) for lunch. I've got leftover baguette for my lunch.
* Dinner tonight will probably be pasta with wild garlic pesto (wg in veg box last week)

Gratitudes:
* Sunshine
* More germinating seeds, including squash and courgette!
* Work

Have a good day all!

themadvix

Very quick meeting in the end, as she's pausing the work as they may be recruiting sooner than expected for the role I'd have been doing some work for. She may still need me and if this doesn't pan out, there may be other projects in the future. In some respects, it's a bit of a relief, but I know I probably would have benefited from the work (more than financially).

Karmacat

Wow, you're juggling a lot!  And your trip must be pretty close if you're starting to self isolate from next Tuesday.  Our just-arranged trip to Dorset isn't quite in the same league, and my sister and I are both carrying on as normal (mine is covid safe anyway, hers is offspring and food shopping (some of it for me).  

Your trip is going to be *so* wonderful!

earthgirl2

Sorry to hear about the pausing of the work, I've also had a few things paused. 

Love the word surfeit 😀