So close, we can smell mortgage freedom!

themadvix

Morning all,

Hi @Busy_Mee1! Feel free to read the saga on my old diary, but the summary is: Norfolk sellers lied to us one too many times, had neglected old building, potentially leading to dry rot. By this point my trust in them had broken to the extent that I didn't want to move there, regardless of how many additional surveys they paid for. Withdrew from purchase, kept looking for a bit, failed to find anything, neighbours' house valued at £45k more than we sold ours for 5 months later, decided to stay put, pay off mortgage and open up other opportunities (more travel, investment property/holiday property, who knows!). I now have an allotment just down the road (applied for 2 years ago) and we're hoping to get the council garage at the end of our garden - which partially solves Mr MV's desire for workshop space and our parking issues. Mr MV still hung up on dream of Norfolk house, but accepts that it was right decision. I am glad we dodged a massive bullet. We are looking at getting solar panels here, so sticking around for a good while yet (we may even extend the kitchen). Equally, Mr MV is kind of looking forward to not having to work in his fairly stressful job forever more. Think that sums it up! (Location in terms of ex-council terrace and outlook hasn't been addressed, but we've also come to appreciate the benefits of living where we do in terms of facilities, transport and access to countryside. It's probably not our forever house, but for now we're happy here.)

Moving on....

Back at work today, trying to get ahead on this big project - the deadline is EOD Wednesday, but I know I'll need to go back and make changes/finish bits off once I've heard back from client. I also know that another project manager at the same company has plenty for me this week too - great in terms of earnings for May. Just need to keep on top of all the holiday prep/invoicing and work simultaneously. Feeling much better having done a dry-run of packing though.

Mr MV is also doing some work, although with longer, more fun breaks than me. I may try to pop to the allotment later, but apart from popping some netting over fruit bushes, there's not a lot to do there at the minute... it'll be all go when we get back though! Mum was threatening to pop up this way later when I spoke to her this morning - if so she'll bring me some plant pot to pot on some of my seedlings (and stay in the garden). I've tested this morning and still all clear (was a bit sniffly and headachy), so 🤞 that remains the case until Saturday. It's so close now!

MS things:
* Clicks done (£1 on HW)
* PC survey done
* Dinner last night was cauliflower laksa, with enough for dinner today (and more cauli left over!); lunch will be galettes (trying to use up some random cupboard stuff
* Work

Gratitudes:
* A quiet day yesterday
* A negative test
* Birdsong - something is singing away out there, blackbird, I think?

Have a good day all!

QueenJess

How exciting that it's so close!  I hope you have someone to water your allotment whilst you are gone?!  I hope you have a brilliant time

themadvix

Thanks Jess - I am beginning to get quite excited now!

I haven't asked anyone to water - although I may ask the man who borrowed my rotavator. But currently there's really only potatoes and onions in (and a few peas/broad beans, but not many), and they shouldn't need watering, unless it's really dry and really hot. I'm going to be late getting everything else in (but hopefully not too late), but that's why most are still in my greenhouse and will be staying with my friend while we're away. I'll earth up potatoes next Saturday, and they'll have to make the most of it. A three-week holiday having just taken on an allotment isn't ideal, but it's not the end of the world - there's always next year! I'm more worried about the mare's tail taking over while we're away, but I can't do anything about it, so I'm not going to worry.

Have just repotted the squash and courgettes into their own pots as Mum brought up her spare flower pots. Managed to offload some rhubarb onto her for her friend too (I had to put it on Saturday for it's own sake, but there was rather a lot - we have a crumble and I still have 4 sticks left over - they may go into the freezer).

killerpeaty

What is a mares tail? Some kind of weed?

themadvix

killerpeaty said:

What is a mares tail? Some kind of weed?

Spot on KP. I had no idea about it until I started reading about allotment stuff either. It’s pernicious, impossible to get rid of and very invasive…. You just have to keep on top of it.

Busy_Mee

Thanks for the summary Vix. It sounds like a bit of a nightmare and that you made the right decision. I am sure if it is right for you to move in the future, then the right thing will come up ( I'm a big fan of "it's meant to be, it will be 🤣)

We recently had a weekend break in Norfolk and had forgotten how pretty it is, although we also commented on how affluent it had become (Joules shop at the beach at Wells next to Sea). 

I hope you have a fantastic holiday. We have just come back from the States and we loved it. It was so great to be back. 

The airports were a bit of a nightmare though both here and in Miami . They all seem to have had the same problem recruiting staff and the queues for security and passport control were long. There were literally no baggage handlers at Heathrow so we didn't get our bags back for three days after we got home. Worth thinking about when you are packing, put anything you will need immediately in your hand luggage. We did travel at the start of the Easter/Spring break period though so hopefully things might be quieter now. 
I don't regret going though. It was brilliant to be travelling long haul again.

themadvix

Morning all,

Thanks Busy Mee - I'm a great believer in what will be, will be too - and like you say, if/when the stars align, it will be the right decision. I feel calmer and less stressed than I have done in a couple of years though, knowing we are staying put (and also not caring what others think - I think we'd put ourselves under pressure to 'move up' as a lot of our peers have, but we bought bigger than them in the first place and haven't expanded our family either, so actually we don't need to move - and have mentioned to a few that we'll be mortgage-free shortly and they're rightly jealous!).

Thanks for the tips about travel. We're flying out Virgin UC, so I'm hopeful we won't be too affected - I'll be disappointed if we are! Flying back PE though (all with miles earned), so will bear that in mind. Not planning on taking much hand luggage on the way out, but will be strategically packing to fit purchases in on the way back! - will make sure important stuff is in hand luggage. Glad you had a great time in spite of the airport issues - travel is certainly something we've missed too, and it's great to feel it's an option again....

On that note though, we'd planned to grab a last minute break for our 10th anniversary at the end of June, but we've realised that our options may be limited as I'll reach the 10-year validity period on my passport on our anniversary (had it changed for name change as we were going to Dubai for honeymoon). The passport is valid until next March, just stupid EU games.... will apply for  a new one as soon as we get back and by the sound of it, Peterborough (our passport office) isn't affected by the delays, but it'll be tight regardless! So we may have to celebrate here (or Morocco?!); looked at Dublin but it's so expensive at short notice. 

Anyway, today is more of the same project - hopefully finishing all but the bits I'm waiting on the client for. I need to chase that though as they're running out of my availability! And I'd like to get down to the allotment too - weeding and netting stuff and maybe just chilling out there for a bit! I also have evening class homework to do and need to order some currency - realised that the money we have already will only just cover the horse riding we're doing on the second day (which we have to pay cash for).

MS things:
* S&S submitted yesterday
* Dinner yesterday was leftover laksa followed by crumble - all just reheating, so low energy day (car didn't need charging either)
* Clicks done
* Fish daal for dinner tonight I think - need to get the cod out of the freezer


Gratitudes:
* All my squash and courgette seedlings have perked up after being repotted, despite spending their first night in the greenhouse, not on the windowsill
* A quick visit from mum yesterday - was nice to see her
* I should get the bulk of this project finished today, hurrah!

Have a good day all!

Karmacat

Vix, this is wonderful, it's all really happening - work is good, you're training your allotment, you're happy where you are, and you and Mr Vix have a long haul holiday!  Fantastic!  You've worked so hard for this, you deserve it - especially the fun parts  

themadvix

Thanks Karma, that's really lovely of you to say. It feels a bit awkward spending so much when I know others are struggling at the moment (I'm mindful of the fact that Fortune has stopped her diary for similar reasons), but we have worked hard to get here and with recent events (my friend's situation is constantly in my mind) it feels right to be making the most of life, while also trying to get rid of the pesky mortgage. 

Unlike Fortune, I am going to stay here - I need the accountability and the ins and outs of how to make the most of my money (I always feel the forum is *so* much better than the main website for this). Hopefully no one is offended - I feel that this board is probably OK with that, as we're MFWs rather than DFWs. Of course, there's no guarantee that my increased earnings this month will continue when we get back either, so I may *need* to be here too! In any case, it's the accountability and looking after the pennies that enables us to afford the bigger spends, and without you lot I imagine I'd succumb to far more takeaways! (I know we're probably going to have one this week, but am determined to wait until we've actually run out of food to make a meal from, even though the temptation is constantly there!)

Obviously, if my earnings continue to be higher, I'll also be looking to help others out (my Sis comes to mind, as well as charities) in a more regular way - although I do feel my Olioing helps in this respect too.

Karmacat

Vix, those of us who are retired and able to live fairly well - and I've just spent £300 on a 5 day holiday, after all - are in exactly the same bind.  We're not crowing, after all, not at all - accountability and detail, they're the important things, if I didn't have them here, it would all be ridiculous notes on my phone or something.  Here, the single place, the feedback, the awareness of others, are all fantastic.  I love it.  I need it, too!  

I'm glad you're staying.  I think you're right about your Olio work helping others.  As to doing more - if someone you want to help has space, you could make cuttings for them - edible plants like herbs, or bee friendly flowers (that are also edible).  

I haven't read Fortune's diary recently so I just hopped over to read the last few pages (still on My Favourites!).  Why on earth did I stop?  I see it was started in July 2017, when I was still dealing with the badness-for-me that was 2016, maybe I couldn't hack it.  Never mind, that's all gone now.  I'll post over there now.  

Sending yet more positive vibes 🌈