Life in our forever family home and the mortgage that came with it

LadyWithAPlan

Very impressed with you running in the cold, though when the sun is out it is beautiful

MissRikkiC

Thank you both. The running was actually much easier than anticipated but was a lot. That said, it is in training for a marathon later this year so I’d better get used to it 🤣 

I did start making up the fences but got off to a bad start. I measured 6ft of a 12ft rail to cut it down, marked it, cut it and then used said cut to size the next rail. 2x12ft rails are now 4x 6ft rails. Only they’re not. They’re about 5ft 8 and 6ft 2!! DOH! So annoyed with myself. Never mind, I think I can still make it work using the smaller rails but will have to move the fence posts. Double DOH. 

Caught up on a bit of shopping today. £25 in Aldi including the right size nappies for my boy (I think because the last time I got hi tab sided nappies he was in a 4+ size and then we switched to pull up types, my brain broke and 12 months later I still got him the 4+ size in tab nappies instead of 6 which is the size he needs!) then a further 3.65 in Sainsburys on 1kg of margarine that my boy isn’t allergic too. I also bought some AF beer but that’s from my spends not the grocery pot. 

Lunch was actually my breakfast on account of working flat out all morning, a warm bowl or porridge and 2 slices of toast. Dinner was sausages with baked potato and beans and I made a pineapple upside down cake too. 

Rest of the pineapple is for a salsa tomorrow to have Greek pittas with feta cheese dip. 

MS things today - I’ve been making my own fence instead of having purchased one pre made… does that count.  Dinner from the freezer or mostly stores, cake baked with a plan for more baking to last the week tomorrow. 

Slowness/mindful- left with plenty of time for the school run today. A nice easy drive to school without having to race there as fast as possible. Played very silly games with the children this evening which made me laugh so much. I also paused just for a split second to take it in, take them in and enjoy the sound of the moment we were in. 

KajiKita

Yes, making your own fence definitely counts! As does all the cooking 😊

Awww … to the laughter moment 😊❤️

KK

MissRikkiC

One step forwards and 3 steps backwards. Honestly. I have to laugh at myself as I think otherwise I’ll cry. 

First the lengths of rails weren’t right. I did mark them but obviously cut at a different ‘scratch’. Then attached them today to the posts and decided they were on the wrong side so removed them and flipped them to the other side. Attached all of the pales to realise it was in fact right the first time. Unattached and reattached them (there’s a few nails been used here!!) and then now just this minute realised that I’ve still done it wrong as I’ve not staggered the rails and the joins are now both top and bottom and it’s a weak point. 

To top it off I padlocked the workshop with the keys inside. Double triple bl**dy DOH! 

KajiKita

Tbh, all of this reads of being tired, head too full … maybe slow down a touch? The garden won’t wake up at all until March which is still 6 weeks away! 😊

KK

MissRikkiC

Thanks KK. You’re right, I was rushing but mostly because I was squeezing it in every half hour here and there that I had spare. 

Yep, spring is 6 weeks away but when I only usually have a few hours each weekend because the children are too little and get bored after that (understandable) I really don’t have that much time. I’ve probably got in all seriousness, about 20 hours until spring in terms of what I can work and given that I’ve not built the green house yet which will probably take half of that, I do feel it’s quite tight. 

That said, those hours are of no use if I keep having to redo what I’ve done so I need to slow down with what I’m doing but maybe only a touch 🤣 

rtandon27

...just a touch...

...and breathe...

❤️ 

MissRikkiC

Happy Sunday. My week has been pretty hectic with work but it’s all over now, next years budget is submitted (£44m) and I can breath a sigh of relief. 

I didn’t get much time Friday to do the fence but it’s almost finished now as we spent a few hours on it yesterday. I have still got to build the gate and fix a few more pales as I must have mismeasured and so I ran out but it’s 90% there. I’ll attached some before and after pictures. 

We are really on the bare minimum of food in whilst doing our January low cost challenge. We cooked for 8 yesterday and still managed to use what we had it but everywhere is bare. I shopped this morning with a list and used the last £20, as well as arranging for a TGTG bag (which i subsequently forgot about!) but did feel like I got a lot for my money. 

3 types of bowl fruit 
Penne pasta
Spaghetti 
Rice 
Milk 
Butter 
Cheese 
Eggs
Frozen fruit 
Carrots 
Yoghurt

There was more things but the budget really seemed to stretch today considering I didn’t buy small bags/items of any of the above really. I did specifically look out for club card prices I guess. Has to make up for the money I lost on the TGTG bag. 

Currently there are 3 jacket potatoes in the log burner so I will see how they do. A bit annoying that the oven has gone on anyway for the lamb leg for tonight’s dinner (and leftovers) but it’s worth a try to see if it’s an option for days when we don’t want to turn the oven on. Practicing that nomad life  

In other cost saving news, I had an octopus engineer out Friday to install a smart meter for the electricity. I drive an EV so going to use their EV tariff and hopefully save a few £. Our current useage is costing between £250-£300 a month with the car so it makes sense. I’ve also figured out how to time delay the DW and WM to come on during the cheap rates! It does mean I’ll have to quickly get on top of the washing to then ensure that we only have 1 load a night going on (and then stay on top of it!) but regardless it will be saving a fair amount by the calculations I did. 

I signed up to YNAB and think I’m slowly getting to grips with it. I have found that initially it’s helping to not assign the money we have but instead do so when the bills come out. The Monzo pots are still confusing things but it’s definitely a useful tool to have. I don’t suppose anyone reading has a referral code for when I sign up do they? 

Another 16k run in the bag today with my friend. I was coaching again today so I didn’t get back until lunch time and then it was time to go out but it was a good run all the same. Next Sunday I have 19k but I’m not coaching so I’m praying for dry weather and not too cold so that it’s enjoyable. I’ll head out about 730am so that I’m done and dusted by mid morning, although I’ll probably want to come and go back to bed after that. Saying that, I’m considering taking annual leave Thursday and making it a long weekend so I could do my long run Thursday and then actually get home and go back to bed 🤣 all that around the school run of course. 

This week I’ve struggled to ‘be slow’ but work has been challenging (working until 7pm some nights) and I’ve managed okay. I don’t feel like it’s been a race against time all week but the fence being on my mind did cause a few problems. I’ll enjoy this week before starting on building the greenhouse next. Must order some chicken wire for the bottom of the compost bins though! 

MissRikkiC

I didn’t see this before but just look at the seasons change in that picture. Now baron winter trees were only 3 months back, full of colour and life. I’m going to pay more attention to the seasons from this year on in. 

beanielou

Fence looks great.