My Mortgage Free Mountain - A 7 year expedition to climb to the top

craftingmad

Baileys_Babe said:

Your hubby needs to contact the garage about the car. Is he able to communicate why he is so reluctant? I know when my OH gets like this he isn't able to explain it. Would you be willing to talk to the garage on his behalf? Would he be open to returning the car for a refund?

I have no clue. Unfortunately my hubby is quite secretive and I do not know the garage who bought it from. He would not have even told me he was buying it unless I asked why money had been moved out if an investment account into our bank account. 

He says he has spoken to them now and they agree for the fault to be investigated and fixed but he also says that he has bought the part and will fix it himself which worries me will void the warranty. 

Honestly once he gets an idea in his head he wont veer off course so to save all the arguments I'm just going to have to let him carry on. I don't have any fight left in me  

craftingmad

LadyWithAPlan said:

craftingmad said:

LadyWithAPlan said:......

Thank you. I shall persevere until I love it. 
I actually have a halogen oven too which I very rarely use so maybe I need to get that off the top of the kitchen cupboards and use that too. Any recipes for either would be gratefully received. 

On the halogen  with an uncooked chicken - I  stuff  the breasts  with lemon quadrants and garlic pieces  under the skin and then roast the chicken upside down at 230 for 20 mins. (Using the extra high collar to get the halogen higher up so no fat can splash back). I then flip the chicken over so it starts cooking right side up - add herbs, salt pepper and some oil and then roast at 200 for another 35-40 mins - often adding a sweet potato or large onion to roast along side..
I then check chicken but it is generally ready to rest then for 5 min then serve. So it quicks much quicker and moister than in an oven.  If it needs more time then just cook in 5 min surges.
You dont need to cook upside down first for a while but it ensures the fat goes to the breast following gravity and held in by the skin so it does seem more moist to me.

On halogen for a pork crackling joint  also I pre heat it to 230 and having rubbed salt into the skin (and sometimes a bit of balsamic)  i then blast the top for 10 mins then turn down to 200, I often end up turning the joint all 4 sides over. I tried this with some rose harissa paste rubbed in everywhere but the crackling skin side  the other day it was wonderful - again you can roast potatoes in there alongside.

I dont have an airfryer so ..

Thank you so much.
We cook whole chickens what feels like every other day as our dog has it with her biscuits so I'm going to get my halogen oven down and start using it more I think.

It sounds delicious so may try one for us first  

craftingmad

Morning.

I'm going to try and be kind to myself today and not pile on much pressure as I've been feeling quite down and teary the last couple of days and I'm not really sure why. I guess its grief and peri-menopause related but I just don't feel like I am in a good place at the moment so I'm going to prioritise me a bit more and hope that helps.

I've had the rotas through for the chippy and I'm working lots over the festive period including Christmas Eve and New Year's Day (2pm - 9pm on that day when I really cannot see anyone coming in). Its made me feel a bit annoyed as they are the two days I said I did not want to work but apparently the other lady who serves wanted them off as well so it seems she takes priority over me. I'm not going to lie I feel a little disappointed and overwhelmed and actually questioning whether I want to carry on working there as I will be on minimum wage and after everything which has happened this year I feel the time with my family is more important. I'm going to try and not rush into a decision and mull it over for a few days I think.

Hubby has ordered the bit to mend his car - don't even go there. I cannot change his mind so I'm not even going to try!!!

I am thinking I might pop into the City today to try and grab a few more little bits before son breaks up from college. Hopefully that will make me feel a little happier and a bit more festive and make me panic not as much about not being ready for the big day.   

So I'm going to try and keep my list quite short for today. I WILL:-

1. Make pack of plantable shapes for Etsy order just received and post off - DONE
2. Promote business in three different places for hopefully some last minute Christmas sales
3. Comment on in search of posts to hopefully get some new orders 
4. Make plantable shapes stock for farm shop and deliver
5. Raise invoice for farmshop for plantable heart packs sold 
6. Check to see if invoice has been paid for Christmas envelopes - DONE not paid so chased lady up. Only a £4.25 order but at it all helps so fingers crossed she pays soon  
7. Start making holiday countdown calendar xmas present for boss and then decide if I need to order something instead  
8. Play on Mistplay (aiming to cash out a £25 voucher next month) - 2 points so far  
9. Meet person at local shop to hand over DVD from FB Marketplace as they could not find house yesterday - DONE £2 added to OP savings account  
10. Take a survey on Prime Opinion
11. Find proof of postings for two parcels which have not yet been delivered when they should have been ready to claim when 10 days has passed - DONE I can claim for two from tomorrow so I shall make the claims asap  
12. List car on Autotrader as having no luck with FB
13. Sort out upstairs spare bedroom
14. Sort out downstairs bedroom 
15. No heating on other than the times it is set for - DONE just turned on at 4.15pm so it will be nice and warm for when son and hubby get back
16. List another item on FB Marketplace 
17. Cancel Canva pro trial subscription - DONE
18. Wrap some Christmas presents - DONE 6 gifts wrapped but more importantly I can say I have started now  

Looking at it now that list is not that short!! 

Baileys_Babe

Sorry to hear your husbands actions and secretiveness is causing you stress.

Please look after yourself.

craftingmad

Baileys_Babe said:

Sorry to hear your husbands actions and secretiveness is causing you stress.

Please look after yourself.

Thank you. In fairness although he is certainly contributing to it, I think that a few different things are weighing on my mind at the moment but I do feel a bit better having spent the day in the local City and found some lovely presents for everyone who is going to with us on the day itself.

Thank you for caring. It really means a lot x 

craftingmad

Good morning.

I'm feeling in a lot better frame of mind today and have decided to celebrate the things which are good rather than the things which are not.

I picked up the trousers son wanted from UO yesterday whilst in the City and was delighted to find out they had £10 off so I'm really glad they were not in stock online or else I would have had to have paid more (even with using the discount code). I did muck up though and thought a hanging planter he wanted included a plant but it didn't so I now have to find a plant to go in it. there is a local lady selling spider plants though for £3 I think (and all the money goes to charity) so I'll pop and see her next week and hopefully pick one up.  

I'm in the chippy tonight but other than that no not really have any plans other than to wrap some presents and hopefully finish off the downstairs bedroom so it is ready for my parents coming next week. 

So today I WILL:-

1. Make two lucky gnomes for Etsy order and post off - made just need to post off on my way to work to save petrol making a special trip  
2. Contact Etsy customer in America and advise her that her sewing planner will not now arrive until after Christmas and see if she wants to cancel (I really hope not but its better to give her the choice than spend the money making and posting it only for her to want a refund) - DONE now just to hope she still wants to go ahead  
3. Promote business in three different places for hopefully some last minute Christmas sales - DONE posted in three FB groups
4. Comment on in search of posts to hopefully get some new orders - commented on two so far - thats all I could fine  
5. Make plantable shapes stock for farm shop and deliver
6. Raise invoice for farmshop for plantable heart packs sold 
7. Check to see if invoice has been paid for Christmas envelopes - DONE still not paid so I am going to assume that she no longer wants them as she has not answered my message either  
8. Start making holiday countdown calendar xmas present for boss and then decide if I need to order something instead - started now just waiting for a bit of blackboard vinyl to finish off the heart so he can write his countdown on it. It cost just under £8 but I will have loads left for other projects and is still much cheaper than the £18 I was going to pay for an actual countdown I found online which was much smaller and did not have room for as many photos or come personalised. I'm quite proud of this make actually but really hope he will like it too  
9. Download some items I purchased earlier in the year ready to use to make new products for 2024 - DONE lots morte to download still though. Determined to get a return on my investment  
10. Play on Mistplay (aiming to cash out a £25 voucher next month) - DONE 117 points today
11. Take a survey on Prime Opinion
12. Raise claims with Royal Mail for two parcels which should have arrived and have not - DONE fingers crossed they pay out the £17.55 I am owed as they lost them  
13. Pay in cheque received from Royal Mail using banking app - DONE only for £6.70 but every penny helps  Will transfer to savings when cleared  
14. List car on Autotrader as having no luck with FB
15. Sort out upstairs spare bedroom
16. Sort out downstairs bedroom 
17. No heating on other than the times it is set for - DONE sitting in my Oodie thingy and slippers and lovely and warm Not sure the dog is though as she is snuggled in her blanket
18. List another item on FB Marketplace - DONE Totes slipper sox listed (daughter bought them a few months ago thinking they were adult sized but actually kids). Fingers crossed they sell  
19. Wrap some Christmas presents
20. NSD - did buy the chalkboard vinyl but that is classed as a Christmas present which in my eyes is allowed so counting today as a NSD  
21. Chip Shop Shift

Baileys_Babe

Well done on the savings on the trousers.

It is a shame we don't live closer I would have happily given you a spider plant for your son, I have quite a few and I need to pot up some more.

craftingmad

Baileys_Babe said:

Well done on the savings on the trousers.

It is a shame we don't live closer I would have happily given you a spider plant for your son, I have quite a few and I need to pot up some more.

Oh that is so kind of you and it is a shame as I think we would get on like a house on fire too x
Maybe you could pot some up and sell them as well in true MSE money making style  

craftingmad

Morning all.

Well it appears that all chip shop bosses have the same training in how to be a t*t. I really struggled not to tell him to shove his job yesterday and am dreading today's shift! I've also been told to go in an hour earlier today so I've picked up OT but not sure at the moment whether that is a blessing or a curse. Only time will tell! 

I've had a last minute flurry of 3 orders so my plan is to get those made today and then focus fully on Christmas next week.

So today I WILL:-

1. Make sewing planner proof for USA customer who still wants to go ahead - DONE now awaiting approval before I can print and post  
2. Make sewing planner proof for Etsy order for UK customer - DONE now awaiting approval before I can print and post  
3. Make mini seed packs and plantable shapes for Etsy order - plantable hearts made  
4. Promote business in three different places for hopefully some last minute Christmas sales 
5. Comment on in search of posts to hopefully get some new orders - commented on two so far - commented on one so far
6. Make plantable shapes stock for farm shop and deliver
7. Raise invoice for farmshop for plantable heart packs sold 
8. Check to see if invoice has been paid for Christmas envelopes (last chance) - DONE not paid so will cancel it tomorrow
9. Finish holiday countdown calendar xmas present for boss when blackboard vinyl arrives - blackboard vinyl did not arrive in time  
10. Download some items I purchased earlier in the year ready to use to make new products for 2024
11. Play on Mistplay (aiming to cash out a £25 voucher next month) - DONE 107 points today
12. Take a survey on Prime Opinion
13. List car on Autotrader as having no luck with FB
14. Sort out upstairs spare bedroom
15. Sort out downstairs bedroom 
16. No heating on other than the times it is set for - DONE  
17. List another item on FB Marketplace
18. Wrap some Christmas presents
19. Chip Shop Shift - DONE 4 hours wages to add to pot at end of the month

craftingmad

Good morning.

I cannot believe we are at the end of another week already. Time seems to be flying by doesn't it  

My chippy shift was not much fun yesterday again due to boss constantly telling me that the other counter assistant is so much better than me (I never knew until yesterday how many different ways you could say one thing) but it has heightened my resolve to see if I can find a different job so that is what my list is mainly focused on today  

Our daughter phoned yesterday as well which was a much needed boost for my mood so I'm ready to face today head on and get lots done.

 So today I WILL:-

1. Make mini seed packs ready to go with plantable hearts made yesterday so I can post them off tomorrow 
2. Apply for sales assistant job going at local shop (15 hours a week) - DONE cross your fingers for me  
3. Prepare CV for local garage who are looking for a receptionist/admin assistant - DONE CV written and email sent to boss of the garage. I really hope I get a response as I really fancy something new  
4. Promote business in three different places for hopefully some last minute Christmas sales - DONE posted in 3 different FB groups hoping for a last minute sale  
5. Comment on in search of posts to hopefully get some new orders
6. Cancel invoice for Christmas envelopes as she has not paid and I don't now want to accept the order as I have a feeling she will just say they did not arrive in time if she does go ahead and order and I will have wasted time and money - DONE
7. Finish holiday countdown calendar Xmas present for boss - DONE not going to lie didn't feel like making the effort but it is done now and I shall give him it today (as I unwrapped my present from him yesterday)
8. Download some items I purchased earlier in the year ready to use to make new products for 2024
9. Play on Mistplay (aiming to cash out a £25 voucher next month) - DONE 117 points today
10. Take a survey on Prime Opinion
11. List car on Autotrader as having no luck with FB
12. Sort out upstairs spare bedroom
13. Sort out downstairs bedroom - I can see the floor and it has been hoovered so is nice and clean. I'm almost there now. Just need to sort all the Christmas presents/goodies which are in the room and wash the last few clothes lying around and then it will be done  
14. No heating on other than the times it is set for - DONE I'm actually feeling quite warm today  
15. List another item on FB Marketplace
16. Wrap some Christmas presents - DONE another 7 wrapped from me and son wrapped 4 for me  
17. Chip Shop Shift - DONE ended up being only 2 and a half hours but was still awful because of boss