So close, we can smell mortgage freedom!

themadvix

That’s what I’m after SL, or similar. But because I need it for curry pastes, I don’t want to use my existing cupcake cases in case it taints them.

 Loved the list of things you’re going to sell on your bee stall the other day - got me quite enthused about Mr MV’s interest in bee keeping! 

Suffolk_lass

He could sign up to do a beginners course next year (dare I suggest membership of a local beek association as a Christmas present?) - the courses usually get organised by local beekeeper associations to run Jan-Mar or April and only involve one or two trips to an apiary to handle bees. Joining a local beekeepers association will get him in there, at least to learn some theory before plunging in with livestock. The association should result in support and discounts (eg 10% off a good beesuit). It is one area where buying a good one is worth it for the hopefully rare occasions when bees are not good tempered. A training apiary to see which hive system works for him and is popular locally is good too, and would allow local support.

You should check what your allotment society position is re bees too. Two hives located there would really increase the productivity. 

I warn you though, it is very time absorbing, and you have to be ruthless to make money (speaking as the woman who has just ordered £200 worth of jars and lids!). We don't. The sales just help a bit. It is an expensive hobby!

themadvix

I’m booking him on a taster experience for his birthday but it won’t be until May (it also involves gin at the end!). No bees allowed at the allotment though, so we would have to find somewhere as we don’t have space here - mid-terrace council estate isn’t really big enough and I don’t want to upset the neighbours, many of whom have small children. Thanks for the info about society etc, will definitely bear it in mind. And, no, I can’t see it being a money maker, but a different hobby and furthering our self-sufficiency (even if it costs iyswim!).

themadvix

Morning all,

 We had a nice mooch around market town yesterday with a free cuppa (me) and free sausage roll (Mr MV) from Greggs (via two separate offers Mr MV had). Suit shop visited and lovely - wooden shelving, proper old fashioned and an owner who could look at Mr MV and measure him - but unfortunately rather expensive. We’re both keen on ‘buy one, buy well’, but the budget isn’t there at the moment for it. Mr MV has decided that he’ll probably hire a suit for Dad’s wedding and save for either one from that shop or (more likely/cheaper) one of a couple he’s found online - possibly the one he hires.

 While we were out, we popped into the refill shop there for a few bits (£6) and WR for a couple of things (£5, but all on my Smarty referral gift card). I didn’t find anything suitable for freezing the sauce, so I’ve sacrificed my older silicone cupcake cases.

 The rest of the day was spent prepping food and house for visitors, but in a leisurely way, which was nice (I read quite a bit of my book too). Dinner was a big success and I’m glad we’ve got plenty of the base sauce in the freezer - making the rest of the curries with these was quick and easy. It was lovely to see our friends and we had a great time. 

Today will involve some form of exercise, but how much is undecided as yet. Not huge amounts of leftover from last night, but we may reuse the frying oil for some chips with dinner tonight. Beyond that, we’ll see where the day takes us. I may pop to see mum at some point too.

MS things:
* YG survey
* TV survey
* all veggie curries, so low-cost entertaining
* freebie snacks in town
* used my voucher for groceries

 Gratitudes:
* lovely time with friends
* enjoyed cooking with Mr MV
* nice trip into town (it’s so hard to get Mr MV to go shopping but it’s nice when it does happen!)

themadvix

Forgot to mention in our spends yesterday that we’ve booked a day trip on Eurostar to Brussels for the Christmas markets. We’ll get the first train out of St P’s and last train back and should get 10 hours in the city. Train tickets work out at £100 each, but that’s less than a hotel would cost. Hopefully will be able to meet my main client as he’s based in Belgium (after 12 years of working for him!), see the city and enjoy the Christmas markets. We’ll have a lovely meal at a nice restaurant for lunch using Mr MV’s platinum Amex dining credit (£150) and his card will mean we can use the lounges at Eurostar (for breakfast and dinner, although suspect market fayre will be enjoyed too).

QueenJess

Ooh - sounds lovely

Cheery_Daff

Ooh, what an exciting trip!

newgirly

That’s a great idea for a Xmas market trip Vix, very reasonable cost wise 🙂

Suffolk_lass

Ooh, that sounds lovely, I used to do quite a lot of work in Brussels. I loved it. I often walked about on my own in the evenings.

My favourite restaurant was Le Marmiton (named after the cast iron pot) - it is at the intersection of the covered gallery shopping mall Gallerie de la Reine (in itself worth a visit), and Rue Des Bouchers; which runs vaguely parallel with one side of the Grand Place. It has been a while but I don't believe they were big on vegetarian food - more like we were in the UK, maybe fifteen years ago, with one or two options for each course. The opposite end of the covered gallery is the Haagan Dazs shop, but we are simple souls and when DH came with me (which he did whenever the schools were off) it was always a Dame Blanche for dessert. I bought several bags from the Longchamps shop in the mall. That was where I went wearing my £5 charity shop bag, to be told it was a genuine €800 bag. Happy memories and I still have my navy Le Pliage bag, albeit it has holes in the corners from use, and of course, the leather charity shop bag

themadvix

Morning all,

Thanks - after posting I did think it wasn't a very MSE thing to post about, but perhaps I'm wrong! Thanks for the insights SL. We've booked a restaurant as there's a limited number of options that you can use the credit at - and finding one that wasn't all veal and foie gras was tricky, you are quite right there. Suspect the markets would be easier in that respect, but we wanted to use the credit (or at least some of it). A very nice find with your £5 CS bag! I should point out that the tickets would have been better value had we got on and booked it a bit earlier, but we were undecided about whether to go at all. 🙄

I have a day clear of my work, so planning on getting really stuck in to the updates for my friend - but I need to use the other laptop, so I thought I'd just pop on here first. Bread is on its final prove and a load of washing sounds like it might have just finished - the sun is out here, so I'll get that out and probably another lot on while the solar power is there. Forecast isn't great for the rest of the week though with Storm Ciaran arriving. Dinner tonight will be carrot tarte tatin, using some of the rough puff I made yesterday (the other lot is in the fridge).

MS things:
* Dinner last night reused the frying oil - we had hg/hm chips (yum!) with spicy beanburgers, hg french beans and the tiny bit of cauliflower left over from last week
* PA surveys - have blitzed a few this morning - when clear, I'll be over £30 for the month
* YG surveys - 3 - and I'm now certain I should get my £50 before the end of the year - at £46.xx at the moment
* Clicks and HW done
* Utilising the sunshine with electricity and washing
* Heating has been on this morning to take the chill off, but we've been managing without it still in the evenings (even if I'm freezing, it's me, not the house!)
* Yesterday was a NSD. Today might well be too - only possibility is I need more milk if I make yoghurt, but I'm debating whether to or not at the moment.

Gratitudes:
* A lovely squelchy wander in the woods yesterday
* Sunshine this morning
* Happy cat sitting client

Have a good day all!