So close, we can smell mortgage freedom!

Suffolk_lass

South_coast said:

themadvix said:

No petrol used to feed cats this morning

Good lord, I hope not! It's far too precious to give to cats 😳

🤣🤣🤣🤣! Made me smile this morning, thank you

savingholmes

Suffolk_lass said:

South_coast said:

themadvix said:

No petrol used to feed cats this morning

Good lord, I hope not! It's far too precious to give to cats 😳

🤣🤣🤣🤣! Made me smile this morning, thank you

Me too. 

Bike options sound interesting. 

Enjoy your new temp job.

killerpeaty

E bikes sound interesting. I'm not sure what you guys mean by the sit up but but I'll have a Google in a bit. I was considering an e scooter, but decided against as the law was ambiguous about whether or not they are actually legal. I think things have changed a bit in the nearly 3 years but are there any issues with ebikes around that kind of thing? 

Baileys_Babe

https://www.eta.co.uk/2021/10/13/e-scooters-and-uk-law/ this article might answer some of your questions @killerpeaty

themadvix

Morning all,

KP, an e-bike is legal wherever bikes are legal as they have to be pedalled for the battery assist to operate and at speeds of over 15mph the battery will cut out (i.e. you have to be pedalling that fast, or going downhill). As Bailey's Babe's article points out privately owned e-scooters are still illegal on public land here - the only way to use one legally is to hire from one of the trial schemes in various cities. That said, it does not stop people using them here on our very excellent cycle path network. While they need to be made legal, protections are also needed - I've seen at least two in my local area which would never be legal as they must have been travelling in excess of 30mph. Sit up and beg refers to the cycling position - upright and back-protecting - think Dutch cyclists.

Another busy weekend! Mr MV took Friday afternoon off, so we convened (I was elsewhere for an appointment) at his parents and got the rear subframe off the mini (Mr MV and his Dad did - it was too hot for me and I wasn't dressed suitably!). We stayed for takeaway, although not very much for either of us and his parents insisted on paying. Saturday we went to a local car event and took a picnic, so £8 on food (which did for dinner too) and £5 on entry. It was very wet and cold and we had to eat our picnic under a tree. We went on to a local taproom/brewery that has just started opening twice a month on a Saturday. Given the weather and the off-the-beaten-track-ness of the place we expected to be the only people there, but it was heaving and we had to stand outside to enjoy our drinks... in the rain. We will definitely return though and it's within cycling distance from our house, which is even better. Yesterday we visited the in-laws again, stripped the subframe (I assisted this time) and did more clearing of the loft - so I have a load more items on ebay (funds towards mini restoration, postage costs notwithstanding - I get them!). Stayed for dinner again (my Dad was out of the country, so couldn't see him for Fathers' Day).

Work continues to be really busy and I'm also still cat sitting (two lots this morning, although only one this eve). I feel there may be some late nights working this week. Fortunately life is quieter this week, although I'm meeting friends for a cuppa on Wednesday afternoon (the place closes an hour after we get there though, so not all afternoon) and it's our 10th wedding anniversary on Thursday. Trying to make the most of every minute and keep on top of housework, allotment (I need to visit, but thankfully the rain on Saturday saved a trip then!) and garden. 

MS things:
* Surveys done over weekend
* Clicks done this morning
* Cat sitting
* Used Sains smartshop to save on loo roll!
* Have cancelled veg box for this week as we're not going to be in at times

Gratitudes:
* Friday was a lovely day, and enjoyed the sunshine and in-laws' company
* Cats I am looking after are all total cuddle puddles and love a fuss (and owners all happy with my services)
* Chat with Sis while cat sitting yesterday

Have a good day all!

try_harder

We both have e-bikes .My husband uses his every day for work ,it has saved us a fortune in diesel .

Karmacat

Your ten year anniversary this week!  Congratulations to come 🎈🏆🎼🍨🍷

themadvix

@try_harderI think it would save me money on fuel to be honest (and potentially we could go down to two cars - although let's see how I like cycling when it's colder first!) - our town is quite hilly but superbly provided for in terms of a cycle network. I'm quite happy to cycle into town and to cat sitting assignments, except for the hills! (And we are at the top of the hill so pretty much every way I might go, I'd have to cycle back up again - the old town is a 5 minute cycle away.... but half an hour to get back. In the US I found that the battery assistance meant that I wasn't fazed by any hill (and we were in SF, so they were *hills*!) and wasn't a danger to myself or others by wobbling around because I was going so slowly. I think if I had an e-bike we'd also cycle a lot more for pleasure (when not spending every weekend fixing up a mini). Mr MV has suggested (especially given the fact that my bike is too small) that he could lend me the money to buy the bike (in reality I have the cash in my buffer fund, but I just don't want to touch it) so I could be getting use out of it straight away. I've said I'll think about it and see what things are looking like finance-wise at the end of the month - I should be in for a few juicy pay days, so it might be an option, but a new laptop comes first and I need to know that my main US client is going to pay up (no reason to think otherwise, but they owe me a large chunk of money, so it needs to be paid!).

I know @Karmacat - hard to believe really, 10 years has flown by!

Today has been fairly productive - I've completed one assignment for my main client, done a quick job for another one and have started on the next bit for main client. But I haven't touched the Cambridge work yet. It's top priority for tomorrow morning (it's a faff because it'll take a few minutes to get everything open, logged in and set up, so I don't want to do that and then have to change tack again soon after). Fortunately main client has just said that there's no rush now with what I'm doing for him (although he's said there's still more available when it's done), so I'm happy to spend a while on the Cambridge stuff tomorrow.

Dinner is going to be the very unseasonal mac and cheese... After I've been to the allotment and the cats - on my bike. Followed by raspberries and leftover cream... oh and maybe strawberries if there's some ready at the allotment!

killerpeaty

Very interesting about the e-everything. I totally understand why you don't want to spend from your buffer.

Hope it's not too too busy!

savingholmes

Sounds very productive. 

Raspberries sound lush or strawberries