So close, we can smell mortgage freedom!

themadvix

Morning all,

Yes, the pensions board is certainly interesting! They didn't actually ask me any additional questions @badmemory but I did offer them some more info. They confirmed what I thought though and I was surprised at how long it will take. I'll wait until things are slightly less turbulent in the markets (potentially good signs today, but hoping Truss goes, which will no doubt tip things a bit more, so will wait).

@savingholmes It definitely feels like the home stretch now and I'm thinking in terms of short-term pain for long-term gain - i.e. I'm always thinking can it wait for me to spend this money until we're mortgage free. Ultimately we're very fortunate that the mortgage interest rate increases won't have a huge effect on our payments when we come off the fix as we'll have such a small balance, but I don't want to spend more than necessary on interest and the sooner it's gone, the better! (Mr MV is already talking about a full EV, although this has been the case for the last several years anyway - he has to know about this for work, but it's definitely a personal obsession too!) and there's the bed situation, garden things, other stuff we've put off spending money on in order to get rid of the mortgage.

I never did make that card on Friday, but I may yet do it today - I can always blame the postal strikes for the delay! Also need to make one for a five-year-old too. Dad's fiancee's present all sorted though and I will drop round with it this evening.

A useful weekend all in all - Mr MV finally finished the allotment shed roof felting (started when I got the allotment), I planted garlic, we rearranged our bedroom furniture and discovered after 10 years that it fits another way round (and will rearrange it again soon!), Mr MV drafted ebay listings for his old phone (nothing to do with me - his new one is at least refurbed and he'll get decent money for the old one) and the old solar panel kit - which we will probably get considerably more for than we paid for it. I did some garden and allotment tidying (planted some bulbs mum gave me last year, whoops!) and cleaned out the old litter trays (ready for loft/Freegle) as cats are fully converted to the new ones (meaning less 'missing' from B&W cat, although still some protest wees!). Also deep cleaned one corner of the kitchen and hung a hook for our aprons (which have spent 5 years being draped over the towel rail) - very satisfying jobs! The cats also pulled the curtain rail in the dining room off the wall (it was glued on because at the time we didn't have an SDS drill for our super hard walls) - so Mr MV fixed that back up properly.

Socially, we saw our friends on Saturday night - dinner at theirs, for which we provided millionaire's cheesecake (by which I mean you have to be a millionaire to afford the ingredients! Butter now £1.99 in Aldi!! ). Sis and Niece called round on Saturday and we popped to Costco so she could be added to my membership (much cheaper for her than her own one) and Mum came round yesterday for a cuppa and a chat (and some cheesecake).

Today then, I have some work to do, but at the moment not too much (however, my European client is now back in Europe after spending the summer across the pond, so is more likely to send me work to do during the day). Also some Cambridge work. But really, I'd like to get down to the allotment and do some more clearing there. The shed is a tip and now we've finished the roof, I can get rid of some bits inside and get things a bit more sorted. Would like to paint outside (and inside) of shed at some point too, but there's also other jobs to do. Am limited by my back at the moment as it's still not great. However, problem I went to physio about does seem to be much better, so that's something.

MS things:
* Dessert ingredients for Saturday were still cheaper than a takeaway which had been original plan at friends' house (and cheesecake has provided snack with mum and more desserts)
* HW done over weekend, but not a lot of action there
* Olio collection of rolls, bananas and fruit loaf - Mr MV in office today and has taken lunch
* Cooked flapjack at same time as dinner last night, while oven was on
* Washing done at best time for solar, two loads dried on the line
* Shopped from home for hook for aprons and rawlplugs - getting very low on those, but avoided a trip out just to buy them!
* Free garlic from allotment friend should make us self-sufficient in it next year - about 60 cloves planted I think! (I really must get better at counting as I plant!)

Gratitudes:
* Gorgeous weather this weekend
* Beautiful leaves turning on the tree outside my office window - all the colours from green to yellow to orange and just a hint of red
* Lovely evening with friends (lots of laughs and no child interruptions!)
* Enjoyed film night last night with Mr MV; we watched Walk the Line (biopic about Johnny Cash) - was very good.

Have a good day all!

Karmacat

What a lovely review, madvix - I can so understand putting off a few things so that you can be MF asap, especially in the current climate.  The creativity of the allotment and the cards is a good counterpoint to that  

themadvix

I just need to persuade Mr MV about the putting things off -  problem is, he's worked everything out on the basis of what he can afford in terms of OPs, forgetting that if we're thrifty, he'll be able to pay more and I'll be able to help too - but that involves not spending on some things/being very mindful of expenditure.

In any case, apart from milk, I flatly refuse to buy any food this week. We may go out for dinner on Thursday as I have that Zizzi's voucher to use by 7 Nov (and I don't want to go in half term) and I'll need milk as we're not having a R'ford delivery this week, but otherwise we have plenty of stuff in, I just have to work with what we've got, rather than deciding we're going to have something and then finding we're missing ingredients for it. It shouldn't be too hard.
M - orzo pasta bake (I'm going to attempt this in the IP - hoping it doesn't burn...
T - quorn (stove-top) casserole  - we have the ingredients for this
W - curry of some sort (if I'm free in the day, I may cook at lunchtime for solar gain) (sweet potato/squash/spinach/chickpea - something along those lines) (stove-top)
T - out? Or more of the curry? (also stove-top/microwave)
F - Masala carrots and dahl (oven required)
S - we're definitely out for dinner - using the Amex dining credit to take in-laws out for FIL's birthday
S - will see where we're at by then!

We have plenty of cereal for breakfast; lunches will be the Olio ryvitas for me, possibly some hm soup or leftovers (tonight's dinner does a good portion of leftovers). Mr MV took rolls today, is lunching out on Wednesday, may have some ryvita things tomorrow. Thursday is usually whatever Olio provides and Friday might be Olio-based too.

themadvix

Allotment visited - some pruning done, some weeding done, started on tidying the shed (including taking a photo of the rotorvator I acquired with the allotment to sell on Ebay - looks like it could fetch £85!), and onions planted. Still plenty of tidying/pruning to do before winter and I need to get and spread some compost too really, but that's going to have to wait until my back is stronger.

Also dealt with the dried herbs hanging in the cupboard, sorted out my wardrobe (discovered I need some jumpers!), bought a shrug on Vinted (have been meaning to get rid of the one I have for years - v. tatty, from Primark, in excess of 10 yrs old. The event I normally wear it to is coming up, so hopefully new one will be lovely), stuff taken to charity shop - both from wardrobe and a bag that's been loitering in my car. It's good to get some of these jobs ticked off. Washing washed in the sunshine and now out on the line drying in the sun too.

Lunch was some ryvita with the leftover cream cheese and cucumber (I felt like I was in a Philly advert) and the last of the strawberries from Olio... and some fruit loaf - apart from the plastic there's a reason I don't buy this - I have *no* self control with it! Mr MV unexpectedly came home early from work (still WFH), so that was nice. 

Now back at my desk with some work from my main client and a bit of Cambridge stuff to do. Another job has arrived for the morning too.

themadvix

Morning all,

Visited Dad and his fiancee yesterday and gave her her present, which unfortunately wasn't right (Kindle case that didn't fit her Kindle), so I need to initiate an Amazon return for that. Joy. And try to get the right one, but we couldn't work out where I/the vendor had gone wrong, so that's going to be fun.

Dinner was orzo bake, but I was ravenous and tired by the time I got back, so rather than attempting it in the IP (adjustments to recipes can be tricky and it can go wrong, as I've mentioned before), I just bunged it in the oven. I did weigh out the quorn pieces used and will have the leftover portion for lunch (unless Mr MV wants some - he's in office this morning but coming home again at lunchtime). 

Today I have a piece of work for my main client to finish, another one from him lined up, another small one for the Americans and a Cambridge meeting and work. I did my evening class hw last night, so feeling rather virtuous and it's one less thing to have hanging over me today!

MS things:
* HW spun and a few pence earned. No luck with L4dbrooks though as it doesn't appear to be working at the moment.
* 1P surveys done 
* Sis has sent me money for Costco membership - and we've arranged a swap - she has a lovely bay bush in her garden, so I'm going to have some leaves off of that in exchange for some dried sage
* Have sold an item on FB pending collection - £20
* Have added 20p off milk voucher to Coop card ready for the milk I'll need to buy - better to walk over the road for it - no driving needed and less temptation than a supermarket.

Gratitudes:
* Mr MV did some good looking after me last night when my back was really bad - I am seeing physio tomorrow so this will be addressed then!
* Sunshine and gorgeous leaves again today
* Work - after a quieter day yesterday, it's good to have plenty today

It's a bit late, but I did promise a Frugal September update.... coming up!

ETA: Have just been into RM survey platform and noticed I've not been given my reward for posting a parcel - have chased this up and asked about stamps - think some were probably sent out during first week of Oct, when I was away.

themadvix

So....

With that in mind aims for September:
* Ensure all produce is harvested, used or preserved  Yes, managed this I think. A few wilted chard leaves and the tiniest leftover bit of cabbage thrown away having gone mouldy, but otherwise things eaten, preserved. Tomatoes are still ripening in the house (Olio bananas helping). Grade A- (ooh channelling SC there!)
* No takeaways at home (this said no takeaways originally, but not sure if grabbing food while at the football might count - we're going twice this month, once with Niece and Sis and once just the two of us, so might be nice to get snacks) This was a bit of a failure, but only on two occasions - both floor oiling related - the night before when we washed it and the night we were away - both times we used a 40% off voucher and the food was really tasty. On the Friday it was really late by the time we started the washing of the floor, so don't think we'd have eaten until 9 had we then had to cook; the Saturday we were at the in-laws and we could have bought stuff in to cook, but we were a bit lazy. We did enjoy food out at the football. (Grade C)
* Make sure Mr MV has something to take for lunch on Wednesdays and Thursdays. However, he did remind me (when I asked if pesto pasta salad would be good for tomorrow's lunch) that he has a large number of loyalty points with the canteen scheme at work and they might be changing the system, so he needs to use them up too. I'm not sure we managed this every time, but Mr MV has been taking lunch a lot more recently (and he's only usually in a couple of days anyway) - so I'm giving us a B for this. 
* Prepare for winter - make sure we have matches and candles in (done), get blankets out (done), work out how to insulate our hall windows without ruining the view/light (done, but not actioned!) and line the curtains in Mr MV's office (easy) (not done) and dining room (harder, as nicer curtains!) (not done). Grade D. Measuring up and ordering the thermal fabric is something I *must* do today.
* Book in our outstanding experience vouchers for the rest of the year - we've decided on (not yet booked) one night away, but we have a £100 VED voucher to use, plus an afternoon tea in London and a Go Ape (but we'll probably switch this for something else). Night away booked, Go Ape voucher exchanged for Zizzi's voucher - to be used this week or the week after half term. Still have afternoon tea - that's getting tight on time, must sort - and Virgin voucher.... Grade B-. Weekends are filling up though between now and Christmas - have booked other fun things!

Overall, I think a B- for these goals. But with roofing work, mattress follow-ups, laptop problems, floor oiling and solar panels, September was a very busy month (and quite stressful) and quite a bit got done in any case. It is of course, more than halfway through October now and no goals set! I'll have a think and be setting some for November (they'll no doubt involve the 'C' word!).

Karmacat

You've done loads of your list, and you've had lots of extra things pop up, as you say.  I think that's pretty good going - I never got round to an October list either 😁

themadvix

Morning all,

Thanks KC - it did feel like a very busy month. So glad to be rid of the scaffolding now.

Not a lot to report today. Mr MV came home for lunch yesterday, so we split the leftovers and had a bit of flapjack for afters. Dinner was as planned - quorn casserole and dumplings. Tonight is meant to be a curry, but it might morph into chilli or become dahl yet. I've got a physio appointment at 11 and meetings this afternoon (Cambridge work), so I'll see how I get on with my work in between as to how much time I have (would prefer to do prep/cooking in daylight really - for solar and energy saving). I should be Olioing tonight, but am going to have to see how my back is after physio. At least I think I slept better last night!

Heating is still off here because the temperature hasn't dropped below 17. If there's one silver lining at the moment, it's that the weather has been remarkably warm for the time of year. However, it is definitely getting cooler slowly - Mr MV finally appreciated the electric blanket last night when he got into bed (I've been appreciating it for a while, but he's complained that it's just too warm!). I still haven't ordered the thermal fabric - I'm so done in and uncomfortable by the evenings recently (and yesterday I was just downright miserable) that doing anything other than managing to cook has been beyond me. Maybe tonight, expecially if Olio isn't on the cards...

MS things:
* Clicks done - up 90p on HW this morning 
* MM survey done
* 1P survey done
* YG direct surveys done
* No heating
* Cooking to plan (and measuring portions of Quorn used)

Gratitudes:
* Physio appointment today
* It's hump day (this week is feeling super long)
* Work

Have a good day all!

Baileys_Babe

I hope the physio has the desired effect and your energy levels return.

Currently, I'm finding time very peculiar it seems ages since the weekend yet at the same time how can it be Wednesday already?

We have an electric blanket where you can independently control the left and right sides, which helps each of us be comfortable.

It is cooler where we are, around 12 C, which has resulted in us putting our heating on. We can program it to meet our requirements as we can set the time and temperature for each room separately and not heat parts of the house that are empty, which helps enormously. The office (where OH wfh) and the dining room where we do most of our Home Educating are set to 18 C 9 am to 4 pm, we have set our bedroom to 15 C as we both find this conducive to sleep and no need of using the electric blanket.

themadvix

Hi @Baileys_Babe The physio has definitely helped today - it was my usual one but she did an excellent job and I feel much better for it. £37 very well spent!

I thought about the dual control electric blanket when I bought it, but I'm not sure why I didn't go for it in the end!

We don't have the heating on at all overnight as we're fine without it - if it's on, it goes off about 9, which is why the electric blanket is great in winter as it just means you can get into a warm bed (I tend to find my legs get cold on the surface regardless of how warm I feel otherwise) and relax, which just means we get to sleep sooner. We have TRVs in most rooms, but we also have cats who think doors should always be open and a very light hall due to a lot of double-glazing, which doesn't help with the insulation! Hence the thermal fabric that's needed, as I'm going to produce some sort of window coverings for the hall. Temps outside are still a sunny 15 degrees here at the moment, but I think you're further north than me.

I am sitting with both wheat sheep and hot water bottle shoved behind me at the moment for medical reasons (apply heat to stop tightening up what physio has just undone), so am fairly toasty. Have Crank's lentil and tomato soup (as per Foxgloves recommendation) in the IP, so that will help too.