+++ Whoops! Here comes the cheese! +++

redofromstart

Final payslip has landed - and there are pension deductions (good!) so it will be late Feb before I need to make a decision on where that goes.  It's finally showing some recovery actually so I might check mr redo pots of gold later.  A few hundred in tax refund paid out via payslip and the small refund from my tax return has hit the bank.  

I still need to think about the mechanics of paying myself from savings, and moving mr redo pension income around to cover DDs

no council tax this month hurrah, but also my car insurance paid in full so they offset each other.  

EssexHebridean

Ooh yes - you've reminded me about the zero council tax months - that's a bit of a win isn't it! (And here is me now hoping that when we moved they didn't set it up for payment over the whole remainder of the year...Hmmm!)

redofromstart

I think when we moved they put us in a 12 month for the first year and then a 10 month from the new year (which was a shock in itself as the CT doubled compared to the old house, as did the water) 

We want to make the most of my time off and last week we signed up for membership of the local wildlife trust with the aim of visiting all of their reserves. First visit yesterday to some lovely snowdrop filled woodlands. Really pleased that the ankle of doom coped, and all of that expensive physio and occasional tracing of the alphabet with my toes in the bath is working. 

Sunshine and a (cold) breeze this afternoon meant it was worth washing knitwear - although it came in from the line not much dyer than it went out. Wood burners on and it is drying on hangers now. 

debtfreewannabe321

"Sunshine and a (cold) breeze this afternoon meant it was worth washing knitwear - although it came in from the line not much dyer than it went out. Wood burners on and it is drying on hangers now. " This is why I haven't bothered yet with line drying, I remember years ago when I was new on here and trying every single MS tip I came across and line drying all year was one, I was super motivated to do my washing and have it dry outside...haha, I recall hanging it out and leaving it all day, no rain, but cold and grey and windy, it came in stiff as cardboard and soaking wet LOL I tried a few more failed attempts before giving up on that particular one, I think it probably helps if you're not in a north facing garden shadowed by lots of buildings though. 

Talking about bulk bags of rice, I use whatever is on offer tbh, I have a 10kg bag of one called salaam (think spelling is right) at the mo, I do definitely prefer other brands to this one but it's okay. I soak all my rice before cooking as was told it has arsenic in which is released as it cooks if not soaked and then boil for about 7  minutes then steam for several minutes more and i've not had a single brand be too sticky doing it this way, but some brands are better than others I agree. 

KajiKita

@debtfreewannabe321, my garden doesn’t get much sun (east facing) so I don’t bother putting my washing outside unless the temperature is in double digits. It doesn’t come in dry-dry but it comes in with a lot less moisture in it. I always appreciate how having a good flap about in a breeze knocks the majority of the creases out of the fabric, even if it’s not fully dry.  

KK

debtfreewannabe321

@KajiKita I am going to wait until double digits too and start putting it out. I've got lazy with the bother of it last year. But I did buy myself a nice new rotary line last summer so started it up again till we had wet weather ...my aim is to get the washing out before summer 🤣 I was really lazy before and never took the risk lol

redofromstart

The washing line is at the north side of the house so it really only gets any sun from midday onwards, I rarely bother drying anything outside in winter as a result but I have more jumpers than radiators that work, and they can't go in the TD. 

I hate line dried towels, crispy horridness. 

I bought a 5kg bag of rice in the end, seduced by the basmati price wars. Azn price matched the offers I think and they at least had stock unlike MrT. 

RosaBernicia

I think it's more about breeze and movement than sun - my garden is both north facing and in Scotland!  So long as it's not actually damp or raining outside I generally find it's worth line drying, even if things have to be finished off in the tumble dryer.  I just wouldn't want to be without the dryer for the days when it's actually raining.  

Totally agree re towels, though chucking them in the dryer when they come off the line works to make them fluffy again and still reduce use of electric. 

beanielou

RosaBernicia said:

I think it's more about breeze and movement than sun - my garden is both north facing and in Scotland!  So long as it's not actually damp or raining outside I generally find it's worth line drying, even if things have to be finished off in the tumble dryer.  I just wouldn't want to be without the dryer for the days when it's actually raining.  

Totally agree re towels, though chucking them in the dryer when they come off the line works to make them fluffy again and still reduce use of electric. 

The only thing I miss the tumble dryer for is towels. 

debtfreewannabe321

The next wash I do, I am challenging myself to put it outside now, reading everyone's comments. Unless of course it is obviously raining then maybe not