MF by Christmas 2024 - let's do this!

Suffolk_lass

All sounds good.

Leaf mould is marvellous as a top dressing soil conditioner. If you can buy hessian sacks (there are plenty of pieces around this month and in sales as lots use them round the Christmas tree base) they are ideal for stuffing with leaves and putting in a (compost) corner for a year or two. The bags decompose more slowly than the leaves but definitely a wheelbarrow and shovel to shift and deploy at that point. My Mum uses old compost bags that she forks before filling, so the air helps. The advantage with these is she can move them more easily and tip them out where she wants them and reuse the bags. These things are important to a 95 year old!

Coxy11

Ooh love the sound of hessian sacks for the leaf mould - thanks for the tip @Suffolk_lass

Since last posting we have:

• Attended to the roofline gutters (on Friday 13th.....) and fixed a couple of bits that had come loose
• Had a man round to quote for soft cleaning the moss off and treating the roof - quote still outstanding (and methinks he doesn't want the job)
• Cleared the drains AGAIN as I asked DH to check under the manhole cover and it was once again a foot deep in water and gubbins. Definitely think a tree root has interfered with the drain further down under our drive, so will get someone out in the new year to look at it.
• Have put up two trees and trimmed up. The picture hooks from previous owners are all over the place which makes for some interesting displays.
• Sorted out more of the garage and put together a two-door wardrobe (not needed in the house as ours are fitted) so DH can store his camping gear and clothing.
• Have also sorted out a 3-door wardrobe in the garage and filled with Ebay stock for charity fundraising.

SIL is out of her coma and has been moved onto a respiratory ward. She is now lucid after a week of post-anaesthetic delirium. DH has gone to BIL’s tonight for a curry and to stay over, so will get an update tomorrow.

Have wrapped the majority of non-household people’s Christmas gifts (we still buy for everyone and this will need to change next year). Still have our own adult children’s gifts to wrap but I ran out of steam today.

Suffolk_lass

Blimey, I'm not surprised you ran out of steam, you did loads! Good news that SIL is lucid and out of the coma. I suspect she might be some time recovering though. Poor woman, eating disorders are far less elective then people think and can be triggered and return even when overcome. Often so deep-seated that they remain destructive forever (this is not advice, just my empathy). Take care and give your BIL a big hug when you see him

Coxy11

So clearly the title of this diary is now untrue as Christmas has been and gone and we still have a mortgage albeit much much smaller than before. I’m going to continue to update here as we can potentially make another OP in May depending on circumstances. 

Christmas here has been good-ish. Still a bit discombobulated and trying to find places for things. Christmas lunch was a bit delayed as I messed up the oven setting and had the turkey crown on defrost for the first 1.5 hours - tbf the symbols for defrost and fan are very similar (and I was sober as was driving to collect and drop off Mum). 

We entertained on CE and have another gathering of ILs on Sunday. Other than that, zero sales shopping and we only popped out today to get fresh milk and fruit. We will drastically trim back present buying from next year as currently buy for everyone still and it gets ridiculous handing over gift cards only to receive cash in an envelope in return!

We have taken stuff up to the loft so no boxes now randomly left in the house or garage. A couple of boxes to get down and go through in the new year, but feeling a lot more organised. 

I’ve previously taken part in the 365 1p challenge and finished 2024’s today. Won’t be able to do it for 2025 due to not currently working, but will try for £5 Friday and have started a thread to keep myself accountable. If anyone wants to join me then feel free! 

beanielou

Can you please post a wee link? Thanks. 

LadyWithAPlan

Glad you had a good Xmas and such a relief your SIL is out the coma - hopefully her recovery will be swift 

great news on the OPs!

Coxy11

Here it is!:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6576847/fiver-friday-challenge-2025#latest

Coxy11

Happy New Year to anyone still following me here! 

We are going to friends this evening back in our old town. I will be driving back so have a bottle of Schl0er and some Pepsi Max. They offered for us to stay over but tbh I'd rather be in my own bed and not have a hangover and lose a day tomorrow! DD, DS1 and DIL may well be at ours tonight along with a couple of friends. DS2 is working and staying at a friends afterwards. 

We used every last inch of the turkey crown and gammon joint. Made a leftover pie on Friday and have enough filling for another, so got some more ready made pastry at A!di yesterday (life is too short to make my own pastry given I only have it twice a year). We did a 'normal' shop yesterday to see us through to Sunday and have a healthy £384 still left in the food budget which runs until 21st (CC cut off date). Doubt we will spend all of that (hope not anyway) as the Christmas food has stretched really well.

The roof moss-cleaning guy has ghosted us, so we will be looking again for someone to do that horrible job in the new year. DH got a new pressure washer for Christmas so will be cleaning the patio on Thursday when I'm out meeting a friend and he is carless for the day. The first real decorating will be DD's bedroom so once DS2 goes back to uni mid-month we will make a start. First thing will be to remove the sink (urggh) and the border and chintzy curtains. 

Mortgage is now just below £30k. We had ear-marked some funds for an overpayment in May but this very much depends on whether we are working then. I also need to find £2.4k tax payment as I received income from our rental property during 23-24 tax year (now sold). I always paid around £800 so unsure why the huge leap - need to take another look at the figures with DH at some point soon. 

Hope whatever you are doing this evening you stay safe and enjoy. See you next year!

Jessy103

Happy New Year, all the best for 2025! 🎉

Suffolk_lass

Happy New year Coxy!