So close, we can smell mortgage freedom!

themadvix

Afternoon all,

Thanks for the further comments on private healthcare - you've made me feel better about considering it!

Busy day today - loads of my work arrived overnight, plus some progress with Cambridge stuff means things are back on my desk. Have made good progress this morning with much of it and glad to have some of my own work as it had been quite quiet. I am heading out this afternoon though - I need to get to a zero-waste shop and ideally a sheet music shop too, although that might be pushing it. 

Car passed its MOT retest last night, so will be celebrating with my free Costa hot drink (not sure why I've got one, but I won't say no!). Will be Olioing later.

MS things:
* Clicks and HW done - nothing on HW today
* RM survey item posted
* OCtopus saving session smashed last night  - we went for a walk and everything (almost everything) was turned off. These should be a cinch now we have our battery.
* Battery and car charged overnight (now car is back on drive as mine is off it), so we're on target for minimal expensive grid use now
* Made big batch of curry last night using the leftover passata (by some miracle it still looked fine). Will be having this for dinner probably tonight, although I may freeze it (I may also have some shortly for lunch)
* Fridge is looking very under control, which is great as it definitely wasn't a few days ago. R'ford delivery of a few bits tomorrow, but as we're eating out over the weekend and away next weekend I don't want too much in there - currently just sprouts and some celery!

Gratitudes:
* Nice man at the garage who likes my car (he had one)
* Walk in the dark with Mr MV last night
* An MOT and a free hot drink!

Have a good afternoon all!

savingholmes

Normally on the healthcare - if you buy into it through employment and then leave - you get a brief window to take it on privately after leaving. Worth investigating.

themadvix

Afternoon all (evening? I've just been round shutting curtains as the sun has set! Less than a month until the days start getting longer again!),

Thanks SH - if he decides to jump ship, we'll bear that in mind. Hopefully he'd be jumping to an employer with similar cover though.

Another really busy work day today - I think the Americans decided to leave me with plenty to do over Thanksgiving! In any case, it feels like all 'my' work has come at once! I have done any Cambridge work yet today and I'm still working on a piece for an American client (deadline Tuesday). At least I know tomorrow will be quiet from across the pond. Mr MV has taken Monday off (his birthday is Sunday), so ideally I'd like not to have to do loads of work then so the more I can get out of the way/make progress on today/tomorrow, the better. I don't think we have any plans for Monday though, so I can probably squeeze some work in.

Picked up the keys for the marathon cat sitting this morning - that begins on Tuesday, but my friend is taking the first stint (as I've got to cover Christmas as she's away). 

Was a good Olio collection last night in that we kept some pork medallions (in the freezer) - pack of four, so they will do for a nice dinner when we have people round, a pastry each, a pack of yoghurts, a punnet of blackberries and some paninis for the freezer. And then quite a bit of the use by stuff didn't get claimed last night - not sure why as it wasn't raining - so I've had a cheese sandwich for lunch. There's another sandwich in the fridge that Mr MV forgot to take this morning-  he may have it this evening, but then again he might not. He's also got a second portion of leftover special fried rice from my Mum (she doesn't have a microwave to reheat it) - again not sure if he'll want that. There is a point at which eating all the leftovers (especially when they're not actually ours) gets a bit much.

I did get out yesterday afternoon and Mum and I visited my 'new' zero-waste shop. It's near my in-laws, so sometimes convenient. The lady was very friendly there and they had a couple of things my old one couldn't get. Prices seemed acceptable (higher than my old one, but part of the reason they went bust was because they'd not increased prices since 2018!). We also popped to Costa where I treated mum to my free drink as the Christmas ones weren't included and I'd set my heart on a chocolate orange hot chocolate. I've nearly got another free drink (1 bean away) apparently, but no doubt i won't be able to use that for a Christmas drink either. 

Aside from the random leftovers, I'm not sure what we'll have for dinner - will wait and see what Mr MV says when he gets in. I didn't sleep well last night so it may be something simple as I'm quite tired.

MS things:
* Used £5 PC credit to order something for Mr MV's birthday present from the evil Big River company - I wanted to find a shop, but wasn't going to get there between now and then and couldn't order from Hive.co.uk as it wouldn't have arrived in time (thanks RM).
* RM survey item posted (hah!)
* Clicks and HW done
* Loads of work done - it's like every client has found something for me!
* Olio food
* Battery almost last until the end of the day yesterday (i.e. no electricity used), but it won't today as I washed my hair this morning and then it's been so dark all day - and I've got to cook yet (yesterday was only reheating, so low on power)

Gratitudes:
* Gratitude from my client who I've been helping with the course she's selling
* Very cuddly cats
* Fingerless gloves

Have a good evening all!

themadvix

Afternoon all (already?!), 

I spoke too soon yesterday - the battery did an excellent job and kept us going until 12.30am, so the only electricity used yesterday was for the shower (battery can only discharge at 2.4 kW and shower is 8kW) and to top up battery and charge car overnight (7p/kWh) - total spend on electricity yesterday was 87p! So to anyone thinking about getting solar, I'd say 'Do it!'. When Ripple comes online next year, we'll be susidising our gas use with the money from that I think (obviously if we get a fully electric car in the future (if? I mean when!), this will help with that).

Had wm and dw on at the same time this morning and the battery + plus sunshine coped with this entirely. Heated airer is on now which will be taking most of the sun's power away from charging the battery

Dinner last night was the last of the special fried rice for Mr MV and beans on toast for me. I was exhausted and cold by the time Mr MV got in and couldn't be bothered at all with cooking, so the sudden inspiration that I had an unloved loaf in the kitchen and could combine this with baked beans was a revelation that probably saved a takeaway (for which there'd have been no excuse as we're eating out for the next three days!). I think lunch is likely to be cheese on toast for both of us and then we're out for an Indian tonight with friends.

Am finally getting down to some work on the Cambridge reports I'm writing - it's the bitty stage now where I have to incorporate changes and feedback and am waiting on others for things, but I am getting there. I still have some of my work to do, but as the cut off for the Cambridge timesheet is 3pm, I thought it could wait until later!

MS things:
* Have been given a free £1 bet for tonight's match - duly placed
* Clicks and HW done - 52p won today
* Leftovers for dinner and hob and microwave only briefly used
* Heated airer is warming my office as well as drying clothes - I did check outside as sun is shining but it's not warm and there's no breeze and I'd like to wear some of the clothes tonight! It is being dried by solar power.... just slightly more complexly!

Gratitudes:
* Looking forward to seeing our friends this weekend and celebrating Mr MV's birthday
* Supportive Cambridge colleagues who provide the assistance I need
* Beans on toast - it was lovely 

Have a good afternoon/evening/weekend all!

badmemory

You are definitely making me consider solar, but I have a nasty feeling that the roof doesn't get enough sun exposure.  I wonder if they can be put on the garage flat roof?  I have also considered having this separate garage rebuilt as it is leaking under the walls, in which case if solar needs a tilted roof maybe I should have it rebuilt like that, but the neighbours may not like it.  Money, money money, worry, worry, worry.  It is no longer just the money though it is the continuity of supply that also worries me.  I also worry because I don't know too much about it & wonder how likely I am to get conned into something that will actually be less than useful in our circumstances.  Decision - I need to find someone who can give info without being biased - give me the real truth.

Well that's me - born worrying.

newgirly

Fascinating to know how much of a difference solar is making, I think it’s one of the first things we will think about when mf 🙂

Karmacat

I have a little Anker 14W solar panel (my phone needs 15W) - I checked my upper hall window, and it gets sun long enough to make it worthwhile, though I'd probably need to move it later.  I find solar absolutely fascinating  

Jellytotts

Glad you’re enjoying your panels. We love ours.  We didn’t get a battery installed as we were mid Reno on the whole house and money needed diverting elsewhere but we still manage to use as much free stuff as we can (being home during the day helps us lots).  As soon as I see we are generating enough the washing machine goes on, when that’s done the dishwasher is on and then after that the car goes on charge.  

savingholmes

Solar panels do sound interesting. I'd want a battery to store any excess. If I was sure I was staying here I'd be more tempted but as it is I am unsure.

Cheery_Daff

I don't know whether we'd be allowed solar panels being in a national park, but I've never checked as we're not really in a position to pay for set up at the minute anyway. We do have a lot of south facing roof though!