Mortgage Free now aiming for FIRE

TallGirl

Morning the kitchen did get fitted and it looks amazing however one small issue the worktop having spent a week on a floor with underfloor heating has bowed so it needs time to settle before it can be fixed in place. This means the dishwasher is lose so not great if we have to live with it for a week. Plumber is here to fit the new hot tap and the new sink and we are also getting a new u bend as it blocks so easily which is annoying. Then Monday is the electrician to put the new socket in for the coffee station and also wire up hot tap and fit the new dinning room lights which looks amazing I must say.

I did get DGs tax and registration sorted out so that is all done and I can wait for the answer which should take about 5 working days. She will have to pay some tax but we did need to get it sorted.

I did get the work done I needed but not a lot else. I still have the cough but it is getting better. Also got a message from my sister she was on her way to Germany so managed to get some peach liqueur we have been after to make sex on the beach for ages. No Archers over here but it was £5.70 for 1/2 which I thought was ok so we got 4 bottles. I do want to go to Germany myself soon and see all the goodies they have. There is also a normal Lidl and I am hoping to find things we cannot get here. Pepperami is a no go they do a salami version here that tastes rank but they should be in Germany.

Loads of rubbish outside now from the kitchen so might do a tip run later we also need ice. I cannot wait to reorganise all the cupboards. I also need to post a Vinted parcel I decided to lower the price of an expensive item and it is gone. So happy to get it out of the house. Just have not got the right tape to sort it out. Anyway onwards and upwards all my problems sounds really first world today.

TallGirl

Morning Monday again and another weekend feeling ill which is now really irritating. I put an e consultation ticket into my new doctors on Saturday and got a message first thing saying to call them. I called them and they said it is just a virus do not worry only if you have a temperature or you cannot breathe or it takes more than 4 weeks. Then I got a call back saying you need an appointment that is a note on the system from the econsult so now I am seeing them at 2pm. I got through straight away as well which even I was chocked at. I think it is just a virus but how annoying it has been this long.

I have put all my glass into the new cupboard and I still have loads of space space which is really nice as I will get my mums china over soon. We did not get around to sorting all the other cupboards out at the weekend as we both felt rough so actually had a pj day on Saturday. We did play golf yesterday well I mainly sat in the buggy and DG drove it. She actually played to her hcp which was really cool. Nice afternoon indeed.

Still more to take to the tip as the electrician is here to fit the lights and the shelve (we did ask him nicely). I do hope he sorts out the outside lights as well as they are so annoying.

Got a reply to DG tax and now we cannot log in and see it as the password does not work. I have no idea why but we cannot got in so Dg is quite annoying obviously.

Ordered a stand for the new freezer it is coming tomorrow or Weds I think so should be here in time. I have to swap my license tomorrow so that will be good to get done. I do also need to do some work for DG which again is good too.

I also need to vote on Weds must not forget to do that first time voting for a national election in 31 years.

Need to sort out the to do list again lots of bits to add to it.


Personal and finance

• Check tax return 2025 when it is ready add bill for tree cutting when I get it
• List my stuff on Vinted. 8 listed 3 to go
• Chase scammer bootcamp instructor
• Find out how to get the V5 on my dads car

House Stuff

• Pictures in main bedroom
• Sell dinning room table for sale but no takers
• Rehang dinning room pictures
• Sort all cupboards and draws
• Treat new table and chairs plus seat pads.

Garden

• Get second grow bag DONE
• Buy Alstroemeria bulbs for the front garden, Rosemary, parsley

TallGirl

Morning Gps office was great yesterday I got my infection numbers tested there and then and they were all good. My chest was listened to and it was also fine. She asked a few questions and said I could get antibiotics but it would not speed up healing so may as well continue as I am now getting better. She said any deterioration to come back. Very happy with that and I am finally feeling better.

My mum is now coming over on Friday so I need to pick her up and then we have my sister here Saturday for dinner (need to visit the neighbours as they are almost done in their build), then my nieces gymnastics on Sunday and then driving her back Monday and staying with her until Tuesday. DG wants me to do a full Sunday roast as we have a beef joint in the freezer but I am less keen would prefer to find something easier to cook. We do also have a few bits before that to do.

Today is election day no idea how I got it so wrong. I also need to swap my license and I have a full days work for DG. Tomorrow is freezer delivery day which is fab and Thursday evening we have the cinema volunteering.

The kitchen is done now and the lights all went up yesterday and they look amazing just as I had hoped for money well spent on having the kitchen dinner of my dreams quite frankly. I do need to oil all the wood so that is a big job but has to be done before we use it that much more or there could be damage which would not be good. The worktop has corrected itself a bit but not 100%. It is really irritating to have to be so careful with the dishwasher but at least we can use it.

We got another load of cardboard to the tip yesterday which was helpful. There is still more to go but I wont take it today too busy. I do hope there are no issues with my license but I have the email they sent me so should be ok. Still nothing about DGs tax.

The pictures still needs to be rehung and I think they are too far apart now as that wall is super busy. Might take a bit of getting use to.

Still that is the inside pretty much done which is nice and no more major expenses I should think only outside now as and when. I might try and get to the big garden centre at my sisters this weekend we need a plant to take as a housewarming present.

Right bit of a rambled list for myself.

Driving license swap

Vote

Buy plant for present

Plan meals for weekend

Food shop

Oil work tops

Oil table and chairs

Hang pictures again.

daisy_1571

Roast beef is soooo easy tg. Beef in slow cooker, cornflour and bisto into the liquid at last minute and there's your gravy. Do potato in advance and freeze them then defrost on day, roll about in flour and chuck them in airfyer for about 20 mins i think. Frozen veg in micro for a minute or so. Frozen yorkies into air fryer whilst dishing everything up and you're done. Meat, roast pots, sweetcorn, peas, yorkies, gravy. Yummmmmmm

Dxx

Watty1

oh I've never tried roast beef in a slow cooker. Will try that next time.

I usually just bung mine in the oven after interviewing Delia Smith on how long it will need (Delia has never let me down!) For gravy - totally cheat - buy ready made but pop the carton in the bin outside so no one knows and won't find out if they help tidy the kitchen afterwards.

daisy_1571

In slow cooker, bit water, beef stock cube (or half depending how big joint/how big slow cooker), same of veg stock cube, onion, splash red wine vinegar if you have it. We've added some peas, corn, cauliflower etc occasionally if you want but its fine just with some onion sliced up. We slice ours and keep them in freezer so I just grab some frozen clumps, it might add up to about half an onion

Can put it on high couple of hours to start if you like, low for at least 6 hours. Stew id always reckon was an afternoon, joint is a full day morning till eating at your tea time.

Lovely tender, doesn't need to be the best joint, a rolled brisket is great done this way.

Slice any leftovers and put them in freezer with the gravy or with gravy frozen separate.

TallGirl

Thanks Watty and Daisy_1571 I do love a slowcooked joint as well and totally agree about cheating and getting ready made gravy and yorkshires. There is just this slight issue that I am now in Denmark and they do not eat Yorkshires and their gravy is more creamy than ours and usually has some sort of flavour. The joint I have is filet so needs to be cooked rare which is easy I agree. I have been unwell for 3 weeks now and I just want to spend time with the family when they come over to see the kitchen rather than do the timing fun of a roast dinner. I could skip some elements but DG has already moaned so I need to find something else to cook. I am actually thinking of doing an Irish stew or something like that and serve it with mash or add potatoes. The joint I have is 800grams so I think it is a bit small for 6 people anyway or that is my excuse. I will cook it some other time when I do not have to worry about timing everything as I am so out of practise too lol. Edit DG has just told me she hates stew so back to the drawing board. She was even suggesting I cooked her some chicken so the beef would stretch. Honestly how is that going to make it easier to cook a meal for 6.

I did get most things done yesterday and sorted my license. I had to pay for a new photo as they were not happy with the one I brought. Fair enough it was not that much to get a new one taken there and then. I oiled the worktops and the top of the chairs too. As I was doing the table I noticed it has a crack in it. Now it is meant to be rustic but this is all the way through and could spread. I had to put in a ticket to the shop so we shall see. So annoying as if I do not have enough issues with the bloody kitchen table. I did also have to moan about that yesterday as they sent me a reminder and a £12 late fee for missed payment. I am not paying the last 10% until it is fitted properly. I did speak to someone at the shop who was apologetic but you have to be so careful as over here they have a central register for all bad payers and I would not like to end up in that!

Anyway more to do today:

Finish off work for DG

Clear patios (being cleaned tomorrow I cannot wait)

Buy plant for present

Plan meals for weekend

Food shop

Hang pictures again.

TallGirl

Morning so we now have 3 out of 3 as the freezer arrived with dents in it as we asked them to change the door direction so they opened the box at some point and did not bother putting it back together properly. One is on the side and you will never see but the other is on the side of the door and is annoying. I want some serious money off from them so sent off photos etc. I still need to build the stand for it but it should be able to go on today can be used as the other freezer is totally rammed.

Things have changed again and now my mum is coming over on Saturday and staying until Thursday so my sister can drive her back as she was planning to go over for Easter to help with unpacking the garden. That means I do not have to go over right now which is cool.

Still got a cold but it is getting better but now I have some sort of knot between my shoulder blades. I am sure it is because of the Jumping class and moving all the stuff off the patio as it is being cleaned today. So annoying.

Now mum is coming Saturday I can do the main shop in Friday for the weekend so that is cool. After much deliberation we are having Dgs BBQ chicken jackets and I will make some nice salads for it. Then we can have cheesecake ice cream with strawberry sauce for dessert.

It is still freezing cold outside at least it is not raining but I do miss early Spring in the UK here the daffs are not even out yet.

We worked on some stuff for DG last night and it was almost 7pm before we stopped so I did not go to the AGM at the land union as I should have done. I was just too tired. DGs paid job might well have to stop as they cannot get insurance for her working over here. I think it is the right thing as it was becoming too stressful. She will need to find something else but her skillset is actually quite in demand even if we have not got as many clients as we had wished on the side I am trying to market.

I have already stripped the bed I do need to hang up a load of washing too. DG has some work for me in 1 hour so best get on with it.

TallGirl

Morning the patio got cleaned yesterday and I cannot believe the difference they are like new tiles honestly. A lot of them needs relaying but they are only on sand so it should be quite easy to fix and they are small so no mortar etc to mess around with. He might come back today to do the sanding and then hopefully spray for algae on the roof. He was unsure if he was allowed but last night at the cinema we met our neighbour and his dad (the guy who sold off all the plots) and they both confirmed it is ok where we are but not where the persons family was which has created the confusion.

We got the work completed and sent off for DG so that is a relief. We then went to the cinema and all was fine but we were the only two people there so we could have gone home but we decided to stay anyway. It was actually a really good movie Cold Storage I thought it would be pants but it was not. We have two more shifts coming up both English speaking films so all good. We did sneak a can of beer in and I tipped mine over so made a right mess. Not ideal. It was fun having a 100 seater cinema to yourself though.

Kitchen fitter is here now sorting the worktop out it is a lot better so we are going for it now. It does tip a bit down but it might still correct itself who knows. They have just offered £58 off the freezer for the two dents so I will take that. The dinning room table they want more pictures so just about to send them off. At least it is 2 out of 3 sorted. I still need to buy a bloody plant as a present for Saturday. There are so so many nurseries around here but I do not really have time to drive out to any of those so I might cheat and get one at the supermarket. They do do good plants.

I am feeling better less chesty so maybe i have finally got rid of that bug. Anyway have a lovely Friday and weekend when it gets here.

daisy_1571

I LOVE when you go to the pictures and no one else is there 😀, on tenter hooks till the film starts hoping no one else comes in 😆 🤣 We saw one of the men in black films with no one else, another picture there was us and just one other person

Dxx