So close, we can smell mortgage freedom!

themadvix

Morning all,

Thanks KC and Cheery - I'm still feeling smug about sorting my bike out! Not that I've used it yet as Mr MV drove to the pub on Friday.

Yesterday was mostly spent spinning.... @South_coast posted something right back at the beginning of the year about going deeper, not wider with things and this reminded me that I needed to actually get to grips with the drop spindle kit I bought in June 2021 on holiday. It has sat in the way in my pantry cupboard for the last two years, looking at me accusingly. So last weekend I got it out and had another go... not very successfully, but I watched several YT videos and had a better idea of what I was doing. And then yesterday I watched the video (newly created since I bought the kit) by the lady who sold it to me. And I finally got the hang of it (I suspect all is not helped by being left-handed when all the videos are by right-handed people)! So I span some of my own wool yesterday, which was very exciting. I still have a lot to do and then I have to ply it (spinning two strands together, which is done in the opposite direction), before it's even nearly ready to use. But I've started and know what I'm doing now.

In the evening we went to Dad's for tea and fireworks - we met soon-to-be stepsister and her fiance, so that was really nice.

The sun is shining here today as forecast, so we're going to make the most of it. I'm making bread and Mr MV is currently prepping to brew some beer, so lots of power will be used. I'm also planning on getting some compost down to the allotment - in a very Good Life-y way - with the wheelbarrow as I doubt Mr MV wants an opened bag of it in his car. That'll go on one of the empty beds (not that there are many) and be covered over for the winter.

MS things:
* Clicks and HW done
* Dinner tonight will use some of the tempeh collected from Olio last weekend - in a sweet chilli tempeh recipe
* Lunch yesterday used some Olio pittas from the freezer - but frankly they were disgusting... Not sure what I'll do with the rest!

Gratitudes:
* Great fireworks
* Lovely to meet the 'in-laws' - they seem really nice
* Good to see family (Niece and Sis were there too)

Have a good day all, I hope there's sunshine with you too!

themadvix

@earthgirl2 I hope it wasn't too boring/you skim read it! Olio helps, if you can get the fresh stuff - definitely knowing about ultra-processed food put me right off the pastries - I'll just have to make my own now, which is so much hassle I doubt it'll happen very often!

rtandon27

Vix - try toasting and then blitzing the pitas for breadcrumbs - they can be stored in an airtight jar at room temp or in zippy bags in the freezer - we routinely do this with heals of good loaves and crusts of the bog standard ones!  I've also rescued slightly soft crackers this way - the toasting makes all the difference!

themadvix

The thing is, we had them toasted yesterday RT! They just tasted very fake and artificial - I think probably my taste buds have adjusted to non-processed bread. We have rather a lot of breadcrumbs from nicer bread already. They'll probably stay in the freezer as is until another point at which we just need something and we don't have any bread... but I won't be looking forward to them!

themadvix

Well bread is baked and the beer is on its 'cold break' (sitting in cold water in the garden, prior to adding yeast), so I've picked up 40 euros worth of work on the work platform I use - it was easy and quick, so not too strenuous for a Sunday.

Might get the spindle out again when I've had this cup of (lemon verbena - eking out the proper stuff) tea. We're now out of eggs, which is likely to be an issue sooner rather than later, but I have a plan - I'll get them at the Coop, where I am likely to have a 25p off voucher, will get the 'member price' for them and will then use some of my reward credit to pay for them. In any case, we don't need them today.

themadvix

Morning all,

Well, I've just lost what I was saying so in summary: no Coop voucher for eggs this week 🙄 but probably still a good price. Have claimed £5 WR voucher from MS Rewards (not that it's arrived yet). Need tea, bananas, milk and cheese. Going to WR as popping to Mum's this am and that's the best option in her town. 

Battery didn't charge overnight - not sure why (Mr MV in a meeting currently). Not helpful, but at least it's sunny here so it's charging (albeit slowly) now. Shouldn't need too much power today - dinner is going to be an IP special, so nothing else needed.

My work is quiet, so going to pop out this morning and then I'll crack on with Cambridge work later (have popped in briefly there to do triage).

MS things:
*£3 PA survey
* Interest from NS&I bond received and sent to savings
* Hg fruit compote on my porridge (every little helps)

Gratitudes:
* Sunshine
* Car access combines with time to go out
* Our beautiful fuschia that we can see through the window in our living room - still going strong and will probably continue through the winter unless it's particularly cold - it's a lovely burst of colour!

Have a good day all!

rtandon27

Vix - do you have a method/recipe for compote?  I have some grapes and plums that need using up & this might be the way to go

themadvix

Afternoon all,

Sorry RT, it's a case of chucking some frozen berries/currants and a couple of teaspoons (for the quantity I make) of sugar into a saucepan and heating it through - it's nothing complicated at all! The plums would work well as they'll mush down, but I'm not sure about grapes.

Frustratingly my voucher for WR has still not arrived. Needless to say I went to WR hours ago! However, Mum had half a box of loose tea which she wanted used up, so I've solved that issue. I spent the rest of my Smarty referral voucher (£2.92) and 63p on some cheese (a tiny amount - definite shrinkflation there!) and bananas. I'll get milk and eggs at the Coop shortly (milk needed because no R'ford delivery this week + milkman extortionate + I want to make yoghurt and need to strain kefir). At least I'll have the voucher for a top up later in the month, I guess.

Have done a fair bit of Cambridge work this afternoon, but am calling it a day now. I need to pop to allotment before it gets dark to pick some spinach.

Solar has done well today - from 12% this morning the battery has charged up to 63%, although it's now only generating enough to cover the background usage, rather than top up any further. Hopefully though that'll be enough for dinner and most of a dishwasher cycle (I could change to a shorter cycle possibly too...).

I need to look at eating options (i.e. S&S vouchers) for when we're in Manchester in a couple of weeks - we'll be spending some money as there's a particular restaurant we want to go to (probably with friends), but we should be able to keep costs down somehow... We'll take lunch for the Saturday with us... and maybe an NT lunch (I've got a £20 voucher knocking around somewhere) on the Monday...

Anyway, to the allotment now before I'm picking spinach in the dark!

Have a good evening all!

ETA: Voucher has just arrived. 🙄

Suffolk_lass

Just catching up and on the bread issue, I only buy H0vis wheatgerm now, to have a back up in the freezer. It might have a degree of processing but it contains the wheatgerm. I'm a fan of this element, having read the Doris Grant books; especially "Our Daily Bread". A woman ahead of her time!

rtandon27

Thanks for the method Vix - didn't realise it was as easy as that! I have a fine mesh strainer and spatula that could work for removing peels after cooking - must do a bit of reading to understand how coulis is made - I always thought it was one of those difficult kitchen crafts!