Living the Good Life - mortgage free and living in line with our values

themadvix · 4 September at 12:22PM

I agree EH - browsing a charity shop or a 'junk shop' (usually labelled antique, but let's be realistic about what a lot of the stuff is!) can provide plenty of entertainment!

Well a half-hour meeting turned into an hour and 20 minutes this morning - fortunately it was with someone I get on well with and while we got plenty of work done, we also had a good chat about wider work things (virtual water cooler!). Main client has sent something through, and the promise/threat of a return to the large, awful project next week (deep joy!).

I slept awfully last night, so am taking it relatively gently today. Suspect I'll get this bit of work done and pootle around in my Cambridge browser for a bit, but nothing too dramatic. Mum may call round later with my abovementioned charity shop purchase and I've told her to give me notice so I can get a slice of plum cake out of the freezer (I bet she'll remember given there's cake involved!). I'd like/need to get down to the allotment today if I can - probably more plums (the last?) to pick and I've got some tiny leeks that I never potted up, which I'm tempted to bung in and cross my fingers about. (I already have plenty growing well, so these would just be bonus leeks!)

MS things:
* Clicks and HW - £10 MS rewards voucher for WR claimed
* Eked out our dinner last night with plenty of garnish and then dessert
* FIL dropped round the apples from 'our' tree (we bought and planted it in our front garden where it had failed to thrive (probably due to the solid clay and concrete; we moved in in 2020 when we thought we were moving and had to declare we'd not planted anything over a sewer 😬 - it definitely hadn't put down the roots necessary to worry about it) - an amazing harvest - several kilos of lovely looking cooking apples. I intend to make Dorset apple cake and maybe a pie/turnovers (pie will involve a lot less pastry effort), rather than bottling these.
* S&S done (on supermarket and R'ford deliveries) - and transmitted
* Mr MV attended (virtually) the Kirk Hill general meeting (the wind farm that was formerly managed by Ripple). Sounds positive - money is safe and we are earning - they hope to get payments out by end of year. 🤞
Gratitudes:
* Sunshine - to say the weather has been variable over the last 24 hours would be an understatement, but it is currently sunny!
* It's officially 'not warm' - both cats enjoyed a lap session last night
* Good catch up (and moan) with colleague

Have a good afternoon all!

themadvix · 4 September at 6:09PM

Allotment visited, only three plums picked. That's pretty much it now, I think. Extra leeks popped in and the two PSB plants I bought at the weekend - they needed to go in, I hope they perk up. It sounds like a quick job, popping two plants in, but having to work out how to protect them with what I have to hand and then building a framework from bamboo canes and twine (thank you Guides for lashing knowledge), then adding wool pellets to deter slugs and finally watering them in took ages! Mum has been round, bringing a variety of items (I need to send her the money for the duvet set), including a jar of gooseberry jam from her friend. Mr MV home now and has just gone down to the other garage to do some teardrop work. I need to get on with the falafel and then maybe go and see to the tomatoes in the greenhouse - I think some plants may be done now.

Suffolk_lass · 5 September at 9:00AM

I am not to be trusted in a shop. Yesterday, I went to get the veg for the lunch for 20 I am doing today. I came home having spent 10% on the veg and the rest for us. Granted, I topped up cat litter so there is plenty when we are away and not here to look after stealth cat, but that was only £4.38. I avoid shops as much as possible, and aforementioned charity shops and Supermarkets more than any others, as they are definitely my weakness. £34.45 on treats!

edinburgher · 5 September at 12:06PM

Why is the wind farm no longer managed by Ripple, if you don't mind me asking? I got put off by Ripple by the fact that there would be tax to pay on the return.

I'm another "not a shopper" but I can appreciate the fun of it through 10-year-old DD2's eyes - you're only young once - eh?

themadvix · 5 September at 12:13PM

Afternoon all,

Oops @Suffolk_lass! I think my (many) self-imposed rules do help with temptation, so I'm usually in and out asap.

Have been to refill shop this morning and spent £24, which should see us through the month. £55 left in the grocery pot for milk, maybe some eggs... and whatever else we might need in the next 25 days. But our cupboards, fridge and freezer are full and the allotment is still providing, so I'm hopeful that this will be fine. Also picked up some bagels and pansies from an Olioer. Two large packs of pansies, which is more than I was expecting, and they're in pretty good shape, so they will provide plenty of autumn/winter colour in the garden and I think I'll have some spare to pass on to Mum and Sis too.

Have chased for asbestos quotation - he was planning on sending it yesterday and I'd really like to get it booked in, so we can then book the installation (and get some clarity on when things are happening - with the disruption expected we are in a kind of limbo at the moment).

Am finding work a bit quiet at the minute (barring all the boring Cambridge data entry - but in danger of hitting the limit on my contracted hours this month). Hoping main client sends something new this afternoon. Have finished the thing I was working on for UK client and she's warned me it'll be quiet for a couple of weeks now. I could do some report work for Cambridge, and may well do so, but it's not urgent....

MS things:
* Spun the Octo wheel for 32 pts
* Spun the Coop wheel (new? in the app) and 'won' 50p off my shopping, which is likely to get used, so that's good
* PA surveys
* 1P surveys
* Free bagels and pansies!

Gratitudes:
* Sunshine - it's lovely here today
* It's Friday - hoping BIL and SIL are up for the pub later as Mr MV is meeting (ex)work colleagues for dinner
* A delicious, very ripe plum for elevenses

Have a good afternoon all!

themadvix · 5 September at 4:03PM

Asbestos quote has arrived and I've agreed and asked for a date. Hopefully this will be within the next few weeks (it'll be a Saturday because otherwise it would be after end of October!) - although apparently the HSE need 14 days notice, so it won't be that soon.

Have been to the allotment, but plums are definitely now over. Prepped my entries for the allotment show tomorrow - some chutney and jam and potatoes and chillis - honestly, I checked on YT and then used an old toothbrush to brush my potatoes ready for the show.... ridiculous! The show is entirely for fun - there's no actual prizes for adults (a few trophies, but they have to be returned), but equally no entry costs (there's tea and cake and a tombola though). Will be heading down to help set up shortly and then to the pub afterwards (I hope - if BIL and SIL are going, or I'll be Billy-no-mates). In terms of work, I have done astonishingly little today... but I am not going to feel guilty - I worked very hard in August.

Have a lovely weekend all!