So close, we can smell mortgage freedom!

Karmacat

How lovely, madvix!  Have a great visit - I know it's work, but there's good relationships there too, brilliant stuff  

EssexHebridean

We were most impressed with how fancy it is around Cambridge station when we were up there a few months ago - first time we'd been on the train for a long while, very impressive! 

A shame I missed the patio picture but understand completely why you took it down again - it sounds like a lovely spot anyway! well done for getting it all done yourselves too!

themadvix

Morning all,

Thanks Karma. It was good to go and show my face - and while the laptop isn't sorted, I've found a workaround for the issue I was having and have made a start, plus I've got a Dell engineer coming to my house tomorrow to hopefully fix the camera issue (IT guy thought it may be a hardware problem as he couldn't fix it with a driver update).

EH, it is very fancy and modern around the station, isn't it? It was rather a flying visit past all of that though as the office is 20 mins walk away... I'd planned on getting my free drink on the way back, but ended up catching a slow train that left just after I got there - it still got me back sooner than the fast train half an hour later. 

It wasn't a particularly long day, but I was absolutely exhausted by my evening class. I don't think being nearly out of battery (bike, but I was pretty hungry too!) on the way back from the station helped. But I did meet a man with the same bike as me, which was nice!

Off out for the day with ex-Brownie friends... Am getting them both into an RHS garden for free and have vouchers for money off in cafe and shop. Need to be back at the station at 9.30 for train to meet them - but I charged my bike last night, so fully intend to take advantage of that!

Have done a couple of worky bits this morning and clicks and HW. And updated YG Safe for 3 things - 75 points, which puts me at £43.60, so nearly there! And election year next year, so plenty of points on offer soon.

Have just submitted an offer on Ebay for a jumper - I really need some new ones but when they're natural fibres they're not cheap! This one is BNWOT and only £20, so it would be a start. I have my eye on a really nice cowl neck from Woolovers (such an older person's brand, but at least it's all actual wool) but it's £72!!

Better crack on and get ready. Have a good day all!

themadvix

Evening all,

 Had a lovely day today and relatively cheap: £8.50 train (which is a lot for the distance covered, but…), £5~ for lunch (used my £5 off voucher) and bought something in the shop that we actually needed more of, thereby saving postage (not plant related!). Friend didn’t want any petrol money and other friend bought coffee. Amazingly the traffic round the m25 was fine and trains were running more or less on time. Weather was dry while we were there, but Storm Bahbet had arrived by the time I was cycling home from the station!

 Main client sent me some work this morning, but fortunately it wasn’t a quick bit, so he won’t have expected it back today. So that’s top priority for tomorrow. And there’s Cambridge work too (did a bit of this when I got in).

 Had a simple dinner of pesto pasta using some of the carrot top pesto from the freezer - and I added a few cherry toms and French beans for interest (both hg). Will have some yoghurt and jam for dessert in a bit.

MS things:
* 1P survey
 * offer was accepted on the eBay jumper, £18 posted (saved £3 on listing price) for a new jumper
 * cheap and easy dinner

 Gratitudes
 * Mostly good weather
 * Lovely time catching up with friends
 * Mr MV is practicing his guitar - which I enjoy listening to, even if it’s not very polished

 Have a good evening all!

Karmacat

themadvix said:

 Gratitudes
 * Mr MV is practicing his guitar - which I enjoy listening to, even if it’s not very polished

It was obviously a brilliant day, but this stood out even in that post, how lovely is that!  

themadvix

Morning all,

Thanks Karma - he's a beginner, but it's nice to have real music in the house and I enjoy listening to him improve.

An inside day today, mostly. I do have a cat to feed, but I'm waiting on the man from Dell, who helpfully could turn up any time between 8am and 6pm. 🙄 Am also short on milk until my R'ford delivery arrives - scheduled for about 11. In any case, I have plenty of work to be getting on with, which is nice and I'm toasty and warm in two jumpers and two pairs of socks - and it's obviously not that cold as the heating would come on if it dropped below 17 (it's not been on so far today - other mornings it has kicked in first thing for a bit). Mum is popping round later, so I may have to put it on for a little bit then - she's of the opinion that we're far too tight with the heating and our house is always freezing...

Apart from the piece of work for my main client and a bit of Cambridge work, I have a fairly clear day, which is lovely. If I get the chance later, I may get the sloe gin underway. And I may also do some washing, which will need to dried on the heated airer (so my office will be toasty!) - but it's not yet a priority. Grey and miserable here, so unlikely to be making much solar power today.

MS things:
* Clicks and HW - 20p won
* PA surveys
* 1P survey
* Cat sitting - and the Christmas booking has been confirmed now too

Gratitudes:
* Snuggly cats - they are excellent hot water bottles at this time of year
* Extra woolly socks
* Riverford delivery - lovely veg arriving, including leeks, so we'll have soupy leek rice for dinner... yum!

Have a good day all!

themadvix

Dell man rang a few minutes ago - he was checking address, so I assume he's on his way (it was a terrible line!). Then I'll be able to go and see the kitty cat at last. She has an automated feeder, so it's not like she's not eaten since yesterday or anything awful. Sun is even attempting to come out, so hopefully a reasonable cycle and some power into our battery this afternoon.

Work is going slowly....just because it's complicated and I have to concentrate. I was hoping to finish it today, but this isn't looking too likely at this point. I have a meeting with Cambridge boss/friend at 4pm - missed our usual meeting yesterday as I was out and she was meant to be off today, so we didn't have anything scheduled. Will probably clash with Mum getting here, but Mum can always make herself a cuppa (she's got a hospital appointment beforehand has to fast for it, so she'll need something!). 

themadvix

Well man never turned up - I rang him back after waiting about 2 hours after his call and he’d been in a car accident. Fortunately he was fine, but Dell hadn’t bothered to tell me. So saw mum, had quick meeting and have got wet cycling down to cat, who has greeted me as per usual with spicy dislike! Currently hanging around to see if she wants to be friendly, but will give up on that soon. At least she’s fed, watered and has a clean litter tray now.

 Work for main client didn’t quite get finished, but it can wait until the morning now. 

Have a good evening all!

Karmacat

Spicy dislike!  What a cat!  .😾

themadvix

She’s the only one I have like her, but she was the cat of the fire alarm shenanigans a couple of years ago, so I wonder if she associates me with that. That being said, she’s a bit like it with the owners too.