So close, we can smell mortgage freedom!

themadvix

Just returned from a trip to 'my' zero-waste shop.... to discover that it is closing down! Absolutely gutted about this as I will have to find somewhere else to buy most of my groceries.... they had such a good range that most things came from there. And gutted for them too - I'll really miss the friendly chats in there, always cheered me up and so nice to talk to like-minded souls.

Will be returning to 'stock up', probably tomorrow... problem being that I'm already stocked up with 1) allotment preserved stuff, 2) supermarket organic September stuff and 3) random Olio stuff! Running out of random 'pantry' space around the house now, especially with the contents of the loft still being in our offices.

Also popped into Lidl and bought a few needed bits - cheese, fish portions, coconut milk being the main culprits.

themadvix

Have just opened my VG pension with some of my tax rebate money. I need to transfer my Nest pension across, but it's not in VG funds, so they'll have to be sold and then repurchased. Should I do this now (given the state of the markets), later (when things have rebounded) or does it not make much difference (because I'll be selling low and buying low)? 

badmemory

Why not pop over to the pensions thread & see what they have to say?  If you stick with the very regular posters you should get a very sensible answer.

Karmacat

What a shame about the zero waste shop!  But your own stuff is going brilliantly.  

For the pension selling/buying again - probably the important thing is for as little time as possible to elapse between the two transactions - I think that's the risk, with the volatility in the currency markets that could transfer to the stock markets at any time.  

As it's a pension, MV, which presumably you won't be taking for a minimum of 15-20 years, the current "dip" is possibly a good buying opportunity ... no one can say for sure, and certainly not me 😲

themadvix

Thanks Badmemory, that's a really good suggestion - I shall do that.

Karma - that's pretty much what I thought, but I have no control over how quickly stuff is sold/rebought in a transfer.... Will follow badmemory's suggestion. The zero-waste shop news is absolutely pants, but not surprising given the current  situation - they've avoided putting up their prices (which have always been pretty reasonable), but the shop has still got quieter and quieter and I guess they are now losing money on the stock or close to it. 

themadvix

Morning all,

Mr MV has come down with a cold (not mine!), so rather than being dropped at the station again early, he's at home - which is much more the sensible thing anyway, given that what he was meant to be doing was effectively a favour (albeit for someone senior to him and a friend) that allowed less time for his own work, which he has far too much of to keep up with anyway. Hopefully he'll be able to catch up a bit today instead. 

I have a long to-do list, including several bits of work for different clients (have cleared a few of those already though). I need to get back to the zero-waste shop (might take a card for the owners), need to pop to mum's for some Ebay packaging materials (she's away, so I'll just be popping in - she knows I'm going), cat sitting, posting RM survey item, getting floor oiling kit out and doing some research/prep, Cambridge work and a piece for my main client.

Dinner last night was our regular orzo oven bake thing (it's brilliant, you put the pasta in raw with enough liquid and leave it for 30 mins), and I made a focaccia while the oven was on too - so that's lunch, maybe with soup? Tonight's dinner will be a fish pilaf recipe, using some more of the bulgur wheat from the zero-waste shop (a freebie last time - it was going out of date). Evening class tonight. Still also need to get packing list together and start popping bits aside for packing.

MS things:
* HW - 40p won
* Clicks done
* PA surveys done - should tip over £20 cleared by end of week
* Oven full when on; dinner tonight will use IP

Gratitudes:
* Mr MV at home today - it's nice to have company
* Kitty cuddles - B&W cat is currently climbing onto my lap
* Cat sitting company - nearly had a heart attack yesterday afternoon when I went to visit the cats - the owner's mum and dad were there! The mum is one of my Brownie friends, so was really nice to see them both - just made me jump when a face appeared at the window by the front door!

Have a good day all - hope the weather is nice where you are - it's very grey here today. (Just checked forecast for Devon next week and it looks OK - warmer than here too!)

savingholmes

Shame about the shop. Good your allotment is still producing. Sounds good with the Cambridge work plugging a gap for you too. Hope Mr MV recovers quickly without passing his illness on to you!

themadvix

Afternoon all,

Thanks SH!

Absolute mayhem here today - solar fitters, both of us working from home. A million random jobs to do (only a little bit of work - for me - fortunately) and Olio collections, which are being left on the drive (away from the workmen). They are nearly done fortunately and power interruption was very brief. Also dealing with the fact that the client whose cats I'm looking after is stuck is Florida - fortunately the worst of the storm has missed her, but she won't be back until Saturday or Sunday now.

Need to do my accounts and pay myself before going away, but also need peace and quiet to concentrate on that - also not helped by files all over the place as laptop situation continues. Have booked its return for 10/10 - but need to find keyboard for other one by then (think mum has one I can borrow). Accounts a job for tomorrow I think. Running out of time to do everything, but think it'll all happen... probably... just! (Still need to get alliums in at the allotment - can see that being Sunday afternoon if we don't have a family gathering.)

Also arranging/unarranging to share lifts to a funeral tomorrow and making sure my clothes are presentable for it. 

With everything out of place - in the house with stuff from the loft everywhere, and virtually with laptop not set up properly etc. everything is more difficult than normal. Hopefully soon some semblance of normality is resumed.

In non-MSE news (although I think we got a bit of a discount and certainly early access), we've booked to go ice skating at Somerset House on Mr MV's birthday. And then we're having fondue there afterwards too - that bit I'm paying for for his birthday meal. Looking forward to it as it's one of those really lovely Christmassy things to do - very Love Actually! (Apologies for using the C word in September!)

MS things:
* Clicks and HW done - up a bit there
* Lunch was free Olio stuff
* Used my Sparks card discount to get 10% off bras (needed) and a free pastry. The other pastry cost (for Mr MV, it seemed a bit mean not to get him one too!) was covered by the bra discount. Hmm... not MSE is the fact I've bought the wrong ones (non-underwired) so will have to exchange - hope my 10% discount will still be applied.
* Not sure what we'll do about extra cat sitting, given that she's a friend, but I'm sure there'll be a thank you for doing the extra
* SOLAR! This will be very exciting - in fact, it probably already is as it's now wired in - the guys are just sorting out the monitors etc. I think (ETA: we have solar but no battery yet as they're out of stock.... bit ridiculous that the co couldn't have told us this beforehand, but it's also not entirely surprising given the state of the industry at the moment - my sis works for a solar company and I've heard all about the supply issues.
* Two loads of washing drying on the line

Gratitudes:
* Olio was fairly straightforward and I got rid of the rest of the bread at the charity shop (weird but apparently true!)
* The solar fitters have been very pleasant - came all the way from Middlesborough though, which seems a bit mad!
* Chocolate banana cake

Have a good evening all!

Karmacat

What a whirlwind!  You do so well, packing things in.  And the ice skating is a great idea

savingholmes

Ice skating plan sounds gorgeous.

Hope the funeral goes well