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A Better View 🌄
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'Summer afternoon - summer afternoon; to me these have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.' Henry James
It's a glorious day here in the Shire. Mr F and I have spent the day in the garden. The veg patch is weeded, another bed dug over and all manner of small, outstanding, outside jobs completed. We had a cheese salad sandwich for lunch and ate at our little bistro table in the veg patch under the weeping willow. Our view took in the orchard, the meadow and the Shire hills beyond rolling towards the horizon. Days like these fill life with joy ❤ There was even a little home-made banoffee ice cream left in the freezer for desert. Perfect 😁
I took a break from the sun to do a couple of hour's ironing. Mr F is away on business this week so will need suitable attire. He's away next week too. We booked work for May and June before Christmas, not realising a long-term contract was coming our way. Consequently we've had/have too much on and have been really busy. Things should slow down towards the end of this month though and we're not taking anything more on until November. We are supposed to be part-time now after all 😆
I've been avoiding watching the television and trying to spend my evenings more actively and productively instead. As a result, I've made a summer dress, a pair of shorts and 24 lavender bags for a market stall my WI are running soon. Actually, the lavender bags aren't finished yet as I realised I didn't have any lavender to put in them 😊 So they still need filling and hand-finishing.
In financial news:- I had my car air-con repaired at which point the air-con in Mr F's car failed 🙁
- the ground works for our new boiler were completed
- I found two fabulous, large planters in an antiques shop which will look lovely either side of the new back door when it is installed (which reminds me, I must chase them up on an installation date)
- in general spends we're within budget
- we've had a couple of meals out on the entertainment pot.
I hope all is well with everyone and the sun has shined on you today too ☀
Fortune x
Mortgage: 100% paid Emergency Fund: 100%
A Better View 🌄 'Being on the edge isn't as safe, but the view is better' - Ricky Gervais13 -
It has been a glorious day for us as well Fortune! It has seemed for some time that here in the very western part of the Southeast, summer had forgotten all about us!
A touch of weeding in the garden today and a whole lot of laundry drying in the sunshine. OH has been busy pickling radish slices and chargrilling peppers and eggplant. I'll be putting the last load of washing in and then tending to a baba ghanoush and red pepper houmous to go along with our roasted meat & salady bits this evening. I think there may even been one more glass of italian cider lurking to be had over ice!4 YEARS 10 MONTHS DEBT FREE!!! (24 OCT 2016)(With heartfelt thanks to those who have gone before us & their indubitable generosity.)...and now I have a mortgage! (23 AUG 2021)New projection - 14 YEARS 10 MONTHS LEFT OF 20 YEARS (reduced by 15 mths)Psst...I may have started a diary!7 -
It's been lovely here too 😊 I've almost finished my patio, although annoyingly run out of sand so I can't do the final row of tiles. No matter, plenty of other pottering to do. The sun has gone in now though so I'm contemplating moving indoors and doing a bit of holiday unpacking.
Glad you have plenty of work on, even if it's a bit annoying for a few weeks!6 -
Sounds idyllic at your little bistro table - I'm just imagining the waiter with his white cloth over his arm. I love salad sandwiches - its definitely that time of year. Thanks for the link to your evening meal - I also spotted the Szechaun-style smashed cucumber salad - one to make soon methinks. Deadheading and watering has happened here, as well as sitting out in the sun with a cup of tea and a cheese scone, and then a second cup of tea - definitely enjoying life and very thankful."Think of many things, do one"
Mortgage 30 Jul'25 est. £209,749 £309,749 (aiming for sub-£200k next)
Seven Goals; 12.5lbs lost in 4 months (5.5lbs to go); walk/run/exercising/weights/yoga4 -
Thats a tale I wont soon forget! OuchCheery_Daff said:Ooh, good work with getting some help in the garden
I do keep pondering it myself, but am trying an attitude change first 
My ex boyfriend was struck by lightning
He was cycling in a hail storm, got off and sheltered under a (very long!) row of trees. They reckon his cycle helmet saved him - it went in through his shoulder and out through his, er - well let's just say there were lots of burn marks in his underpants
Fortunately he lived to tell the tale, but I certainly wouldn't advise it!
Great news on the gardenerDON'T BUY STUFF (from Frugalwoods)
No seriously, just don’t buy things. 99% of our success with our savings rate is attributed to the fact that we don’t buy things... You can and should take advantage of discounts.... But at the end of the day, the only way to truly save money is to not buy stuff. Money doesn’t walk out of your wallet on its own accord.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6289577/future-proofing-my-life-deposit-saving-then-mfw-journey-in-under-13-years#latest5 -
rtandon27 said:It has been a glorious day for us as well Fortune! It has seemed for some time that here in the very western part of the Southeast, summer had forgotten all about us!
A touch of weeding in the garden today and a whole lot of laundry drying in the sunshine. OH has been busy pickling radish slices and chargrilling peppers and eggplant. I'll be putting the last load of washing in and then tending to a baba ghanoush and red pepper houmous to go along with our roasted meat & salady bits this evening. I think there may even been one more glass of italian cider lurking to be had over ice!
Your supper sounds perfect for a summer's evening - especially with a glass of italian cider 🥂Cheery_Daff said:It's been lovely here too 😊 I've almost finished my patio, although annoyingly run out of sand so I can't do the final row of tiles. No matter, plenty of other pottering to do. The sun has gone in now though so I'm contemplating moving indoors and doing a bit of holiday unpacking.
Glad you have plenty of work on, even if it's a bit annoying for a few weeks!
A little sunshine always seems to make us more productive doesn't it. Your patio will be a wonderful, little sun trap. Yes, we are very fortunate to have plenty of work - I remember being worried we wouldn't have enough at the start of this journey. It's good to know it's there if we need it.SandyShores said:Sounds idyllic at your little bistro table - I'm just imagining the waiter with his white cloth over his arm. I love salad sandwiches - its definitely that time of year. Thanks for the link to your evening meal - I also spotted the Szechaun-style smashed cucumber salad - one to make soon methinks. Deadheading and watering has happened here, as well as sitting out in the sun with a cup of tea and a cheese scone, and then a second cup of tea - definitely enjoying life and very thankful.
Oooh - a waiter would have completed the dream 😂 Cheese scones.... nom, nom 😋
Fortune x
Mortgage: 100% paid Emergency Fund: 100%
A Better View 🌄 'Being on the edge isn't as safe, but the view is better' - Ricky Gervais6 -
Sleepy Head 😴
I managed to complete nine lavender bags yesterday although I had to intersperse sewing with other chores as I kept feeling really sleepy 😂
Some frogs were eaten: I've booked in for the filling I need and arranged for our septic tank to be emptied (it's not always a bucolic idyll in the Shire 😆). Also raised last month's invoice for the long term contract.
Mr F left for his business trip. Just a few days this week and in the UK so not so bad.
We had Chestnut, Hazelnut & Summer Green Pasta for lunch and I had a baked potato with cottage cheese, smoked mackerel and salad for supper.
Today's intention is to finish the lavender bags (without falling asleep 😂) and to have a good wardrobe sort out. I've no room for my new makes so out with the old 👖👕👗.
Have a great day all.
Fortune x
Mortgage: 100% paid Emergency Fund: 100%
A Better View 🌄 'Being on the edge isn't as safe, but the view is better' - Ricky Gervais10 -
Glad things are going well with you.Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £174.8K Equity 32.77%
2) £3K Net savings after CCs 6/7/25
3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £22.5K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.1K) = 28.2/£127.5K target 22;12% updated 6/7
4) FI Age 60 income target £16.5/30K 55.1%
5) SIPP £4.6K updated 6/7/254 -
Running away 🏃♀️
Time is running away from me again. I can't believe we're half way through the year already. I always neglect my diary when I'm busy but that's when I need it most - it acts as an anchor, slowing me down just enough to think straight. So here I am dropping anchor ⚓
Mr F is overseas on business at the moment but he'll be home Friday afternoon and then our workload will be much lighter for the next few months. Although, he has been asked to take on a new, big consultancy project and I think he's tempted to say yes 😲 I don't think he's got the knack of this semi-retirement thing yet 😂
As well as the usual chores, I have been keeping myself busy making a new top. It's a pattern I've used before and loved but in a tricky linen-look viscose fabric. I'm hoping to have it finished by the weekend as I've an event to go to.
I've also got a few social things on this week. Yesterday, our WI meeting was at a local charity providing work for adults with learning difficulties. We had a tour of the workshop and a cream tea and I won a prize in the raffle. Tomorrow I have a publishing group meeting and book club in the evening.
I'm not feeling very productive at the moment so my first job this morning (after updating my diary) is to write down some intentions for the day. I have a notebook specifically for this but I don't use it when I'm not busy and then forget about it when things pick up and it would be useful 🙄 I always find I get more done if I've written things down.
Best get started...
Fortune x
Mortgage: 100% paid Emergency Fund: 100%
A Better View 🌄 'Being on the edge isn't as safe, but the view is better' - Ricky Gervais12 -
We've still got a couple of weeks before the half way point of 2024 Fortune so you have a little time in hand! 😊 sounds like you are making good use of the time you have but I do understand the need to be a bit more intentional. I agree, Mr F does sound like he needs lessons in semi retirement! 😂4
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