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Watty's Awakening
Comments
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On line shop of cleaning stuff, tins etc came (I had no meal plan made) and I realised I've stopped "using up" and been adding to which means the cupboard is far to full once again so need to use up, which means no more recipe boxes for a few weeks. Grocery bill should now be very low as I've made a plan using things up. I fell into lazy ways whilst feeling so tired and food bills went up.
Slow cooker Chinese chicken on for tonight (should make 6 portions so lots to freezer), , large pot of lentil soup for lunches in the week ahead and some very old dates smashed up with cacao powder. nuts, water and a pinch of salt to then rolled into small truffle like balls. Might try similar with the dried apricots and freeze that as they need using up and I want to cut down on reaching for the chocolate as an energy fix when stressed.
Made it to mortgage free but what a muddle that became
In the event the proverbial hits the fan then co-habitees are better stashing their cash than being mortgage free !!8 -
Ended the day by painting the first coat to the market place garden bench I bought ages ago. Not to sure about the colour but it was a tin I had (no idea why) and at least it no longer looks rusty.More weeding also done. Sadly the lilac bush seems to be dying. The ground was so dry there I’m wondering about what to do. Plants survived before because there was an automatic watering system but that went with PPH.Made it to mortgage free but what a muddle that became
In the event the proverbial hits the fan then co-habitees are better stashing their cash than being mortgage free !!5 -
give it a prune?22: 3🏅 4⭐ 23: 5🏅 6 ⭐ 24 1🏅 2⭐ 25 🏅 🥈2⭐ Never save something for a special occasion. Every day is a special occasion. The diff between what you were yesterday and what you will be tomorrow is what you do today Well organised clutter is still clutter - Joshua Becker If you aren't already using something you won't start using it more by shoving it in a cupboard- AJMoney The barrier standing between you & what youre truly capable of isnt lack of info, ideas or techniques. The secret is 'do it'3
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Where ground is really dry, work plenty of organic matter into the planting hole (even though all the advice says not to - when the ground is that bad, I think you have to), commit to giving a watering can of water per week to any new shrubs or trees for their first season and mulch thickly.KKAs at 15.12.25:
- When bought house £315,995 mortgage debt and end date at start = October 2039 - now £227,385
- OPs to mortgage = £12,881 Estd. interest saved = £6,203 to date
c. 16 months reduction in term
Fixed rate 3.85% ends October 2030
Read 80 books of target 52 in 2025, as @ 25th December
Produce tracker: £457 of £300 in 2025
Watch your thoughts, they become your words.
Watch your words, they become your actions.Watch your actions, they become your reality.5 -
If it's a mature tree it might haver reached the end of it's life anyway. But it may also be that the automatic watering system was part of the problem. As KK says, you need a can/bucket of water a week for new shrubs or trees (I'm not as good about this as I should be), but it's deep watering once a week and then they have to get on with it. The idea is for them to have a good soak and develop deep roots so they become self-sufficient. If the lilac had constant surface water from an irrigation system, it may well not have developed deep roots.
So give the lilac a prune, mulch the area well with lots of organic matter, and keep adding to it, and plant some drought-tolerant planting for spring.6 -
Thanks for the thoughts on the lilac, I moved it to where it is sometime ago and that was clearly a mistake! Having read your thoughts and interviewed the GW website I understand it needs full sun and now the hedge the other side of the fence is overgrown up it is in shade. (cutting hedge back is on the garden chaps list, but I have insisted the job be done in the autumn after the birds have finished) The shade and the really dry soil is an issue (the garden is sand - not sandy - but sand mainly, there are quarries all around).
Looking at it in the morning light, that border needs a re-think. I will ask the garden what I should do. (And take the advice here re watering and mulch).
The ask the garden might sound odd, but I asked the house for help on where things should go and then waited and ideas came up on where to hang pictures and how to solve problems I was facing with what to do/where to put things. Maybe the ideas were there I just needed to free space for them, or maybe the universe/house really had an opinion. Whatever it is I've asked the garden what to do with that border as the house ideas worked and were all very budget friendly.Made it to mortgage free but what a muddle that became
In the event the proverbial hits the fan then co-habitees are better stashing their cash than being mortgage free !!7 -
dawnybabes said:What a fantastic prize, though at the last raffle I was at I was delighted to get 48 loo rolls !
how very MSE!
Save £12k in 2025 #2 I saved £14,660.97 of £6000 or 244.35% of my target. The 2026 Save £12k in 2026 thread is here
OS Grocery Challenge in 2025 I finished the year at £2880.99/£3000 or 96.03% of my annual spend so I am sticking with a £3000 annual budget for 2026
I also Reverse Meal Plan on that thread and grow much of our own premium price fruit and veg, joining in on the grow your own in 2026 discussion thread
My keep within our budget diary is here4 -
Re planting in dry soil. When you dig your holes, try inserting a length of plumbing pipe vertically, so you can water into that (with a hose or can of water) to get the moisture deeper into the ground and for the roots to spread out towards it. Lilac is relatively short-lived. Lots of drought tolerant shrubs will do better (and send up fewer suckers)Save £12k in 2025 #2 I saved £14,660.97 of £6000 or 244.35% of my target. The 2026 Save £12k in 2026 thread is here
OS Grocery Challenge in 2025 I finished the year at £2880.99/£3000 or 96.03% of my annual spend so I am sticking with a £3000 annual budget for 2026
I also Reverse Meal Plan on that thread and grow much of our own premium price fruit and veg, joining in on the grow your own in 2026 discussion thread
My keep within our budget diary is here4 -
I love the idea of asking the garden what it wants, what you should do. Respecting the 'sprit of the place' as Alexander Pope said
KKAs at 15.12.25:
- When bought house £315,995 mortgage debt and end date at start = October 2039 - now £227,385
- OPs to mortgage = £12,881 Estd. interest saved = £6,203 to date
c. 16 months reduction in term
Fixed rate 3.85% ends October 2030
Read 80 books of target 52 in 2025, as @ 25th December
Produce tracker: £457 of £300 in 2025
Watch your thoughts, they become your words.
Watch your words, they become your actions.Watch your actions, they become your reality.3 -
My garden wants dandelions, buttercups, hypericum, and creeping violets.7
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