My Off-grid and need to be frugal diary

AnimalTribe

Daisy_1571 I'm sorry I didn't notice the message pending icon. I would have been in Berwick or Morpeth. I have been to Kelso though - It's a lovely place.

It’s been beautifully sunny here today, so 2 loads of laundry were done with solar energy and hung on the line to dry.

DH went to a car boot sale this morning. He bought some DIY things, a picture he liked, a cake, and loads of cross-stitch magazines with the give-away cross-stitch kits still attached (27 in total). It was a great bargain and I really appreciate it. He also did some grocery shopping and bought two reduced price pizzas, and a bunch of flowers for me “just because”. I am definitely keeping him.

AnimalTribe

The weather was dull and still yesterday so the batteries didn’t get a chance to recharge. DH put the freezer and the fridge on portable power packs to see us through the night. Today, there was no wind and very little sun. Instead of turning on the main, big generator, DH linked the small, backup generator to the house system as he checks that it is still in working condition every now and then. DH and I both enjoy living off grid but it does mean that you have to balance your own power supply and it takes some effort.

AnimalTribe

DH did some more heavy digging for me today so I’ve been out sowing some more seeds – lettuce, chard, sorrel, spinach and rocket. It’s been sunny all day so the batteries are all topped up and so are the portable power stations.

Tonight DH and I have been out to an Italian restaurant – just the two of us – it was lovely.

AnimalTribe

It’s been a magnificently sunny day. The solar panels have generated enough electricity to fill the battery bank, fully charge all the portable power packs and to do 5 loads of laundry.

I’ve been for a couple of walks and the grass verges are full of daisies, dandelions and for the first time, violets. I think the reason that I’ve never seen violets before is that the previous shepherd had the sheep out on the moors by now, but the new shepherd has the sheep elsewhere this year.

I will take the same walking route tomorrow as I saw a few bits of discarded rubbish, mainly drinks cans, so I need to take a carrier bag with me to collect the waste. It’s not often that people toss their rubbish here, but it does happen.

I’ve also spent a bit of time in the garden doing more weeding.

in_need_of_direction

maybe bring some gloves too

AnimalTribe

in_need_of_direction good idea I hadn't thought of that and who knows what's on the bottles and cans. I did a couple of short walks yesterday, but forgot to take a carrier bag with me to pick up the discarded rubbish. Never mind it will still be there tomorrow.

It’s been an eventful couple of days.

The weather yesterday was glorious. DH went to the village to post an eBay sale. He took one of the dogs who loves being in the car. On the way back he decided to go for a walk on the moor. DH had just got back to the car and opened the hatch when a car came flying past and the dog decided to play chase and managed to snap the dog lead. Fortunately, the driver saw the dog on the loose and stopped. The dog is very poor at retrieve, but loves being in the car. Fortunately, as the hatch was open, she was more interested in going for another ride, rather than running of on the moor – DH came back quite shaken.

My wrist is taking longer than expected to get back to fully functional so I went to see the GP on Wednesday and they referred me to the cottage hospital for an x-ray. I had an x-ray this morning and it turns out I have broken a bone, but it seems to be healing fairly well on its own. I was surprised with such a quick turnaround. I’m hoping that the final stiffness in my wrist will resolve itself given a bit more time, it hasn’t really been too much of a problem so far.

Yesterday there was loads of energy generated. Today, unfortunately it’s been foggy all day so the generator has been on.

liselle

Living near Salisbury, the warning not to pick anything up outside without wearing the recommended glove wear, stays with us…

AnimalTribe

Liselle I'm just wondering why it especially important to use gloves in Salisbury?

I remembered gloves and a carrier bag today, so 2 bottles, 3 cans and a cigarette packet properly disposed of. Another day that has been overcast so the generator has been on again. Since the generator was on I microwaved some jacket potatoes for today, and some for tomorrow. Topped with lightly fried onion, mushroom and red peppers they make an easy meal.

teapot2

I imagine its due to the poisoning a few years ago? Some was discarded in a perfume bottle which was found by a passer by with a resulting death.

liselle

Yes the Novichok poisoning