plodding along one step at a time

the_cross_rabbit

Very busy day yesterday,pretty much spent the day tidying and cleaning the house, roped the hubbster and dd2 into helping when he came in from work. Had chance to declutter as well (lots of dust gathers) and managed to get that to a local charity shop. I have a large box of chargers and small electrical items that no longer work, are now in the car to take to the tip today. The house was in desperate need of a deep clean as I've not done it since DD2 broke up from college. Just need to keep on top of it. Managed to get the marks of the carpet more importantly with a bit of elbow grease. Trimmed up several plants that were a bit parched and gave them a good water. Made (and the froze) tomatoe soup ready for when the hubbster and DD1 who are going camping next week and roasted the small ones to put on salads. Walked \miss Giddychops for 45 minutes and called at the local book swap on my walk and picked up several books for me and mum, one I've wanted to read for some time. No nap yesterday but I was asleep by 930pm.
We're off to dad's today to try and rectify the pond situation, fingers crossed it won't take all day.Right best go help the hubbster get the tools ready.
CRx

savingholmes

Good luck with the pond. 

Well done on sorting the house... 

the_cross_rabbit

Thanks SAVINGHOLMES we needed it. The pond was an absolute nightmare, not only is it not put in level, holes had appeared where there had been air pockets that the soil had settled into, they buried the stone chippings and weed suspressant. We also noticed that on one side the pond has buckled slightly hopefully it won't get any worse. The hubbster is not a happy bunny as it took all day to try and rectify the problem, we ended up going back yesterday and we will need to go back again on Saturday. Whilst he did the heavy work, I cleared and decluttered the summerhouse to make room for my sister to put boxes of dust gathers in (she putting her house on the market), but they did't turn up all weekend so I could of done it another day. However, we've seen a silk purse starting to emerge from the pig ear as we started planting up late yesterday and dad is pleased with it so far which is the main thing.
Anyway off to tackle the room of doom (kitchen)
CRx

savingholmes

Well you both sounds really kind. Sounds like it was frustrating though but hopefully worth it in the end.

the_cross_rabbit

Not done a great deal over the last couple of days other than relax as I've been exhausted after the weekend. I finally got on the scales this morning and since doing my knee in I've put on 5lbs, I have lots of readily available reasons, but they are just excuses when all said and done.Oh tell a lie I have done something today, I went swimming (15 mins) today to see if my knee would cope. Now I just need to weigh up the cost versus the benefit as I will need to find the money from somewherei. I think that I should be able to trim the food budget to accommadate it as I've really planned ahead allotment wise this year. I think 3 months of water therapy twice a week should get me to where I need to be physically. I just need to do a cupboard, freezer and allotment inventory and plan a 3 month meal plan to see if its possible. I need to build in flexability as we can't necessarily predict yeilds and when stuff will be ready from the allotment. I like a challenge.
DD1 and the hubbster are camping in the dales at the moment at a very basic but more importantly cheap campsite. Apparently they've climbed one mountain today and plan to climb another tomorrow before they head home.
Right time for bed
CRx

Merlin's_Beard

Hope you feel less tired soon! If you can fit swimming into the budget at all I would - we all need something like that to keep us going.

savingholmes

Swimming is good low impact exercise. A great start.

the_cross_rabbit

Yesterday I decided to up the direct debit again to the energy bill by £20 which after today is a tiny droplet in the ocean. After sitting and working out with the new price cap for electric and gas and what it will mean to us using figures from last year I feel sick. Although I'm glad I did it, I wish I hadn't also. If our energy company choose to charge us the maximum then by December we will be paying more for our energy than our mortgage. Thats providing we don't have a harsh winter!!! Taking into account the money we will get from the government, we will just manage on our current budget, providing nothing and I mean nothing else goes up. Come january though I'm not sure what we will choose to do. We could stop the overpayments but that will put us in a worse position come the end of our fixed deal. The plan was to overpay as much as possible and then when certain bit of income stop in 3 years time we could afford to live here just on the hubbster's wages. However if we don't over pay then we will have to move and DD2 doesn't cope well with change and moving is an up heavel that can go on for months. Plus I suspect interest rates will be more in 2 years when our fixed rate comes to an end.We are lucky that we have room to manoverve in our budget and I know others aren't. Oh well the best laid plans and all!
Saving energy has become number one priority on DD2 learning programme, she has a habit of leaving things switched on in her room, but after constant reminders she is switching stuff off if we leave the house, its a start.Just need to think of a way she can switch off the tv at the mains as its difficult to get to due to her mobility issues. I'm constantly checking stuff is switched off at the mains and now has become a habit. The only stuff we can't switch off at the mains is the washing machine and dishwasher as their plugs are behind them so we can't reach them. I'm not sure what else we can cut as turning the heating down to 18 is not an option due to DD2 condition. We did try it once but she put a photo off herself on facebook wrapped up in her clothes, hat, scarf, dressing gown and duvet saying she was frozen and then phoned her grandparents to complain she was cold. They then phoned us offering us a room to stay in until our boiler was fixed!!! There was nothing wrong with it, so the heating went back up. I have investigated hayboxes and that could be an option as I have cast iron pans that will keep the food hot. However I need to look at how much it would save in comparison to using the slow cooker and I suspect the math might be abit complicated for me. 
I'm glad I spent a couple of hours listing whats in the cupboards and freezer and meal planning for the next 3 months yesterday as that highlighted what we have available and what I need to buy. I think we need to look at portion sizes from a health point of view as we have all put on weight this year, some more than others. This will also save money as the food will last longer.
Just got the last of the seat covers that I rescued from dad's the other day washed. He had 2 large recliner garden seats that he was getting rid of. So I've stripped the seating pads off, sent the metal to the tip to be recycled, washed them and then I'm going to make a new seat cushion for my bench. I just need to get an old duvet cover to recover them as they are abit shabby at the moment. Think we have a spare one upstairs, need to check before I buy one from a charity shop.
On the positive front I've lost 1lb. Still ummming and ahhing over swimming. I think this weekend the hubbster and I need to sit down and work out a new budget taking into account the energy price rises.
Ok best get my butt into gear and get the day underway. 
CRx

savingholmes

Well done on the weight loss.

On DD - could she manage with an elec blanket. I drastically scaled back my heating earlier this year (post divorce) and used an elec blanket as much as possible instead... 

Viking_mfw

Good recycling of seat cushions. If you don't have a spare duvet cover yourself I recommend trying fre3cycle or fb local groups or olio first as they are they kind of things people often have but others are not interested in. 

With you on the energy/ mortgage dilemma.