So close, we can smell mortgage freedom!

themadvix · 6 January 2023 at 10:36AM

Morning all,

Self-build is definitely not guaranteed and more Mr MV's dream than mine. The thought of living in a static caravan for 2+ years and then having a huge mortgage at the end really does not appeal.

Interesting sleep technique Badmemory! I don't think it would work for us though as it would be too stimulating. I often tell myself tales of what us humans have been up to from the point of view of the cats - I'm sure they must wonder about some of the weird things we do (the fake tree going up in the house, covered in toys they aren't allowed to play with being one of them!).

I really like our house being (largely) finished - there's no 'shoulds' about doing stuff (or not as many) and we're able to do other things and relax more. That being said, I don't think I would necessarily want to move into somewhere that was very finished - we looked at a few of those last year and they just didn't feel like us! As I said, a modular thing (containers?) would be the option I'd most like, although this is at odds with Mr MV's ideas - something that's quick to build and relatively cheap, easily finished and looks good and allows lots of light in. (And that we are not building entirely ourselves - regardless of Mr MV's ideas, neither his back nor mine is up to that!)

The project I quoted for has come off - it's only 2-3 hours work mind you, but I'm holding off on starting just now at the client's request. I've also got Cambridge work and hopefully a meeting this morning (depending on my boss/friend's availability). However, the exciting news is that FIL is bringing up my birthday cake (made by MIL) at lunchtime and he's buying me chip shop chips for lunch (he owes me them from last summer and it's a bit of a tradition from when he used to come and decorate for us)! I suspect minimal work will get done this afternoon - I'll use the excuse of it being my birthday weekend to talk myself out of it! I would like to get down to the allotment (may suggest a walk to FIL). Dinner will either be a portion of curry from the freezer or something else relatively easy - I think there's some Quorn nuggets in there so potentially those and chips with some veg.

Mr MV has gone to a meeting a couple of hours away this morning, but he'll get fed lunch and be able to claim the mileage.

MS things:
* Clicks and HW done
* 1P surveys done - at £8 now
* RM survey prep done
* Santander have finally updated our mortgage balance
* £6 Santa 123 Lite money moved to savings
* £20 from evening class pot to savings

Gratitudes:
* Sunshine here today

* Picked Niece up from school yesterday (with Mum) and she's excited about ice skating on Sunday
* Feeling the benefits of my new stretching regime already
* Looking forward to cake - rarely have a birthday cake as it's so close to Christmas and there's still all the Christmas food around, but I love cake, so it's nice to have one! (I actually put the request in some time ago - MIL makes very good cake!)
* Chips with FIL - it's a tradition! (I did invite MIL btw, but she declined...🤷‍♀️)

Have a good day all!

themadvix · 6 January 2023 at 12:56PM

Popping in to say timesheets submitted for this week - nearly forgot as it's a four-day week! Meeting is now this afternoon at 3pm. FIL due shortly, so we should have time for lunch and a walk before I have to get back to it.

In the meantime, the other project is on.

Karmacat · 6 January 2023 at 1:01PM

That sounds like a great day, and a lovely birthday weekend. Fancy you and FiL having a birthday tradition, how blissful.

EssexHebridean · 6 January 2023 at 3:07PM

Yum to chippy chips - hope they were tasty! And happy birthday too!

themadvix · 6 January 2023 at 3:42PM

Thanks both! Chips are the tradition - not birthday chips (although that could work!). The chips were good, as was the birthday cake - I decided it would be rude not to try some!