So close, we can smell mortgage freedom!

Karmacat

30 hours!  No, I wouldn't do that either!  When Diana died, I went to my local town hall to sign the book of condolence, and I was the only one there, so I was in an out in about 3 minutes.  The news at the time was all about queues, so I felt quite unsettled by the speed at which I was able to sign, it was odd.

themadvix

I can't quite work out how they're working timings out tbh. We'll see - I think we'll go into London anyway and have dinner and go to Buck House, and then see how the queue is. I feel a desire to 'be there' in some way, but I don't feel the desire to be exhausted, cold and miserable - if it's that long I'll be all those things and it will negate the point of going. If I can only go to Buckingham Palace, then that'll have to do. I'd be tempted to try to find a spot on the route from Northolt, but that's Wednesday evening instead, so I'd have to drop my Olio and I've already dropped the one I was covering on Friday in anticipation that that might be when we go to London.

It's going to be a very odd bank holiday with shops all shut and everybody watching the TV. But then, I guess it would be - it's only that we've never done one of these before in most people's lifetimes.

I have chucked some soup ingredients in the IP and it's making lovely smells, so hopefully lunch will be OK. And work is progressing... mood will improve substantially when I have some food in me! And it's use-it-up soup as I chucked the last of the beany/pulsey soup mix in and used some passata that has definitely been open longer than it should, as well as two tiny shallots from the allotment. Much better than a mediocre toastie from M&S.

themadvix

Distinctly mediocre lunch consumed and it's given me the energy to remember to say

* £10 NT voucher claimed from RM survey for our Devon trip (did I mention I'd booked us lunch at the Riverford Field Kitchen? Very not MSE as it costs about the same as our accommodation! However something I've long wanted to experience.) Devon fund now has enough in it to cover aforementioned lunch and some groceries (and has already paid for accommodation). Not bad for some mini HW, TTs, a couple of Ebay sales and stamp>cash conversions from Ebay.
* My free wine from BAG arrived (packaging promptly reused for an ebay sale!). Might add this to the holiday stash.

(Have just finished big project and sent it back to client, wohoo!)

savingholmes

Well done on the work progress despite all the distractions. 

How long until the roofers are expected to be finished?

themadvix

They’ve finished! (Apart from clearing up as skip didn’t arrive - I’m to text to let them know when it does arrive)

South_coast

When do you go on your trip?

themadvix

First week of October - just Monday to Friday. Really looking forward to it, but not sure how I’ll balance work and fun (will be taking my laptop as work is busy now and has been so dire this year - especially with no WiFi in the caravan).

themadvix

Morning all,

Still grumpy this morning, but not really sure why... oh, except the absence of the skip. And the laptop manufacturers want to take my laptop back in for repair... 

If the skip hasn't arrived by lunchtime then I'm going to have to cancel my Olio collection tonight - the garden is far too dangerous for people to come into in the dark and I'm not traipsing round the massive pile of stuff (under scaffolding) to the drive to put stuff out there. 

Evening class went well last night and it certainly shows that a bit of prep and focus beforehand can make all the difference. 

More work from my main client today, as well as a quick bit for my UK-based client and an hour or so for Cambridge. They've written to me to say that I'll get BH pay for the Queen's funeral at an average of 20% of my last four weeks work - loving this 'being employed' (in the public sector) thing! 

MS things:
* Clicks done and 40p won on HW
* Ebay sale to post
* YG survey
* MM surveys (screened out but 5pts for each)
* Dinner (for me, Mr MV wasn't feeling well) was fried potatoes and fried eggs and tomatoes - so only the eggs were bought
* RM survey stuff done

Gratitudes:
* Roof was finished before it rained last night
* Sunshine - I think I probably need to get out in it for a walk!
* Yummy fried potatoes
* Good evening class

Have a good day all!

themadvix

Still no skip, but we also now have to get the scaffolding down as the solar company want to come next week and won't use it without a whole bunch of paperwork. Have contacted our roofer, who has had to change his plans as a result and will be trying to get the scaffolders back asap. Have just been to apologise to our neighbour for the past and future disruption.

Olio cancelled as it's increasingly unlikely all the rubbish is going to have gone by this evening.

I need to get to Curry's and JL to see what the laptop options look like before I make a decision about whether to repair or get a refund for my laptop. It's all such a pain!!

themadvix

Skip here, roofing company owner appeared from nowhere and filled skip and tidied garden. I couldn’t be happier with the service we’ve received - if anyone wants a roofing recommendation for north Herts/south Beds, I’m happy to give you their details.

 Hopefully skip will go today or early tomorrow and scaffolding asap.