So close, we can smell mortgage freedom!

themadvix

Back home now and back to reality. The cats had a wonderful time while we were away, spoilt absolutely rotten by both sets of cat sitters and much happier than if we'd put them in a cattery (currently typing under cat influence with fingers being licked and lap being trampled). The allotment fared OK while we were away - another allotmentee watered for me, and my seedlings, left with a friend, have thrived (apart from a couple of slug casualties). There weren't too many weeds and those there were pulled out easily because of no-dig (just mare's tail - not the disaster I was worried it was going to be, couch grass and bindweed, none of which cardboard can easily kill). I've cleared up, cut the grass and planted the sweetcorn (full size and baby corn) out. (Cat now sitting on my wrist 🙄). Pulled plenty of rhubarb. My small order from rocket gardens arrived and was looked after by FIL for a few days - tomatoes, peppers and lettuces all planted in garden and I need to take the autumn fruiting raspberries down to plant at the allotment (along with everything else!).

Finances-wise, I'll need to dip into savings this month - both because holiday spending was higher than expected (e.g. $24 for two vodka and oranges! 😮) and because all the work I did for big US client hasn't been paid yet (their terms are 45 days, so to be expected). We definitely want to fly Upper Class again, so have switched back to my Virgin cc for all non-Amexable spends (was using an MBNA cashback card - but no more. Will retain as its a legacy one that's excellent for international spending).

Intending to keep grocery spends down as much as possible this month but it's a busy one. We're going to see Liam Gallagher on Friday (nearby, will top up the Uber account) and we've got family coming on Sunday afternoon - intending to do strawbs and cream, if I can get any at that point of the weekend (Dad has just been diagnosed with type two diabetes, so switching away from the sugary cakes we usually have for family get-togethers). We're away Mon-Tues as it's GMIL's 100th birthday and she's oop north - Travelodge already covered but will need dinner and breakfast (lunch will be party food) - hoping to catch up with a friend for dinner. And Mr MV and I have been invited to Wimbledon on 27th June through his work - hospitality, court 1 and hotel (all v. fancy, but cat care and train tix to sort/pay for).

We were also planning on going away for our wedding anniversary later in the month but not sure now - there's a concert in Scotland we'd like to go to in July - we may decide to put the money towards this instead. That said, we've got at least one Hotels.com reward night to use, plus 2 equivalent night's away with experience companies (buyagift and virgin) to use... I also need to apply for a passport....

Work-wise, I'm expecting some from my main (European) client, but it's been held up slightly. Also expecting stuff from American client, but it's Memorial Day weekend there so I won't hear from any of them until the end of tomorrow/Weds. Am cat sitting again currently though and have had several new bookings while away, including for 2 weeks in September. I've not told my clients about the jubilee holiday or that I won't be available Mon/Tues - I'll work as necessary (and take computer with me) - it's not fair on them to be unavailable again so soon!

On the laptop front, I sent it away while we were away but it can't be fixed. So for the moment, I'll carry on plugging in a mouse and keyboard but at some point I'll need to buy a new one - a laptop that isn't useable without a mouse and keyboard isn't a lot of use!


MS things:
* Transferred £5 from NW Rewards
* Made carrot top pesto from the veg box carrots - 3 lunches taken care of 
* Clicks done - registered for new Viewbank website, 3p won on HW
* PA surveys done
* Washing done overnight to save electricity costs
* Thank you beer from cupboard for allotment waterer (he got a squash and courgette too!)
* Cat sitting and more bookings
* Buffer fund moved from V Money back to Atom as they've increased the rate (I know, Chase is the best for rates, but not for the planet/people)

Gratitudes:
* A fantastic holiday that did not disappoint given the high expectations!
* All the help while we were away - cat sitters, plant carers, my mum who dealt with laptop dispatch and return
* Blue skies when we landed - it's definitely not as warm (even as SF), but at least it was cheerful! (I did however get soaked at the allotment earlier!)

Have a good day y'all!

themadvix

I remembered the one thing that was very cheap in America - Levis!! We bought 3 pairs - two for me and one for Mr MV at an outlet, where they were $69 each, buy 2 get 3rd free and then 20% off at the till.... worked out at £35/pair - bargain! 

Karmacat

You've really got stuck in to catching up!  And it sounds like it's already paying dividends.  It's also good to have things to look forward to when you get home from a trip as big as this one - things can feel quite flat otherwise.  But between the allotment, the work gigs and the social life, it's going to be a whirlwind  

try_harder

Pleased to see you back after your wonderful holiday ,sounds amazing !

themadvix

Morning all,

Thanks Karma and TH. It has to be said, there's so much going on that it doesn't feel flat at the moment Karma, you're right. And, tbh, I think we're still recovering physically - we made the most of every day while we were out there and it has resulted in a bit of exhaustion (especially for Mr MV). And we've got stories to tell and photos to sort and a canvas or two to order and frames for a couple of things to buy - so it's still all very much alive in our minds at the moment, IYSWIM. I sent off my passport application yesterday - all online, except sending back the old one, so fingers crossed that will go through smoothly. The system kept saying it didn't like the photo, but I think that may have been the system. Worst case, they'll ask for another one.

Off out shortly to collect some new potatoes and rolls from an Olioer. I plan on going to the allotment this morning while the weather is (marginally) better to get some more plants in the ground. Have just been plotting where they should all go and hoping they'll all fit! I might take a tape measure as I think I'm inclined to misjudge spacings! The forecast is for rain this afternoon (from 11 actually) and it's already cold and damp, so I'm not feeling very enthused! But I know a) the stuff needs to get in asap and b) I'm likely to have work from tomorrow, so I need to get on with it. I also need to get to Aldi or Lidl for some bits - am trying to reduce grocery costs without impacting ethics... we'll see how that goes. 

No work arrived overnight, as expected, and my European client is now across the pond for the summer - we must have crossed over mid-air, so won't hear from him until later today at the earliest.

MS things:
* Clicks done
* YG survey
* MM surveys
* 1P surveys 
* Washing machine on overnight
* Cats sat

Gratitudes:
* Friendly Olio chat
* A surprise visit from Dad and fiancee at the allotment yesterday afternoon
* A better night's sleep (for me, not so much for Mr MV)

Have a good day all!

themadvix

Morning all,

I timed my visit to the allotment terribly yesterday - it took a long time to get plants in the ground because I kept having to take shelter in the shed! However, courgettes, squash, autumn fruiting raspberries, dwarf beans (for drying) and sunflowers (for cutting) now in the ground. I need to sow some edamame beans today and some more PSB and romanesco - they have had poor germination rates. I'd also like to buy some radish, carrot and parsnip seeds (and maybe Brussels sprouts - I have this vision of providing Christmas dinner) - Mr MV likes radishes and I think I can grow them around the squash and courgette as they are quick, and the carrots and parsnips would be for Christmas - they're generally cheap to buy, so not too worried about growing our own. Also something leafy - spinach or chard (I grew both in the garden last year and was a bit sick of them when I started planning for this year, but now beginning to miss them!)

Work arrived as expected yesterday evening from America, so I'm procrastinating away about doing it (mainly because I have to complete a more difficult task before I start the easy bit!). I also need to do/finish invoicing, paying myself and money shuffles.... I started yesterday but then Mum, Niece and Sis popped round and then I had a nap (bad for jet lag, but I felt so much better for it!).

I did also pop to Aldi yesterday morning, which was great - managed to get coconut milk there for the first time in ages - so much cheaper than anywhere else (69p cf. £1). Also bought some tinned peaches (also cheaper than elsewhere), olive oil spread, lacto-free milk as we're investigating whether Mr MV is lactose intolerant.

Have cat sat and Olioed this morning - the bread and pastries are moving out quickly this morning. Have kept a few rolls and a pastry each for Mr MV and I.

MS things:
* Clicks done  - 13p on HW
* Free food from Olio
* Allotment plantings done (for now)
* Aldi savings

Gratitudes:
* Company of friendly allotment neighbour while we were both getting rained on!
* Sweetcorn survived it's first night - there's so many things that can eat my plants that I take a very pessimistic view, so it's a nice surprise when things are OK!
* A really good evening class (partly because I was awake due to nap!)

Have a good day y'all!

savingholmes

Sounds like an amazing time and lots of positives planned too

newgirly

I’m glad the holiday went so well 🙂

Suffolk_lass

Welcome back and the holiday sounds amazing.

I just wanted to mention our trusty plank! We use it to space rows of seeds - it is 15cm wide so with a bit of a drill which is made with the edge of the plank, slid along. Plus we stand on it, if we need to reach something in the middle of a too-wide bed (our raised beds are all too wide at 180cm but we put them in before I read how wide to make them!) - we also mark the edge of the long side with a little notch, so that 25-27cm can be judged (obv 30 cm is one, 180 degree rotation, including the 2.7cm edge). I have also been known to kneel or sit on it too, to stop the ground getting too compacted. And we held down netting with it, back when we were still competing with pigeons and cabbage white butterflies for brassicas. Anyway, it is one of our favourite garden tools and I recommend it

themadvix

Morning all,

Thanks SL, the plank sounds great - I may have to do something similar. TBH, at this point I've not worried too much - I can't decide if I'm spreading things out too much or if I'm putting them in too close together, so who knows!

Have done invoicing, paid myself and paid off the giant CC bill this morning. There's still a bit on it to pay from holiday next month, but it can wait until then - pay day next month should be a lot less squeaky due to invoices due. In any case, I managed to only take a couple of hundred out of non-holiday savings for the holiday. And there'll be a little bit more back too as we've got $50 to exchange (there's an appropriate bureau in Manchester when we're there on Monday). Holiday fund, clothes fund (was only small, for Levi's) and cat holiday fund have all been wiped out now. And I didn't put any money aside for tax/pension (but as I only actually paid myself £700, I don't think it matters!). It's a good job most of the money was for holiday spends and therefore budgeted for.

We booked to go to a concert in Glasgow in July last night. Mr MV managed to get the train tickets down to £120 for both of us, we used a Hotels. com free night's stay and we used some of my anniversary fund money and some of Mr MV's post-COVID fun money to pay for it (I had to battle to pay!). I've kept £100 for our actual anniversary (10th) which is later this month. Suspect we'll just go for a nice meal, but it can cover that and a cab and maybe it'll be fancier than normal.  With everything else that is going on, going away at the end of the month just seemed a bit much - we've only been to Glasgow briefly once, so it's almost a new place to explore, we've never seen Brad Paisley live before (and really want to), so it kind of ticks the boxes. Maybe we'll have to go to a new restaurant for our anniversary meal?? (That seems iffy!)

Popped to the allotment yesterday and chucked some very old carrot seeds in a spare spot - not sure if they'll do anything, I think carrots are seeds that need to be fresh. Also chucked some similarly old chard seeds in a pot too. I may buy fresh of both later today - need to buy radish/Brussels seeds and might have a look for a sad chilli plant at B&Q (my mum is an expert with 'sad' plants, even though she kills houseplants regularly!). Was pleased to discover nothing had been eaten overnight.

MS things:
* Completed the cat sitting this morning
* Another cat sitting enquiry (for anniversary week, so had to make a decision)
* Will make GMIL some biscuits for her birthday - probably cheaper than chocolates and feels a bit nicer. She doesn't need anything and won't use it if we do buy her anything, so chocs were the recommendation from FIL.
* Clicks done. I won a free bet on the HW, so hoping Cyprus beat North Macedonia!

Gratitudes:
* Nice chat with Olioer this morning
* Sunshine!
* I've more or less finished my work/invoicing so the rest of the day is free!

Have a good day all!