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

themadvix

Afternoon all,

RT, I usually have several two-portion, goes-with-rice meals in the freezer for Friday nights after the pub - it avoids temptation of takeaway if the rice is cooking in the IP and there's a tasty curry sat there (the pub is in the town centre and the curry smells and lovely restaurants nearby make it very tempting!). I sacrificed one of these, and I'll need to make some more as there's no two-portion meals left (just two random, unlabelled bolognese-looking dishes 🙄), but as we won't be going to the pub on a Friday for a couple of weeks now, I think we're safe!

The theatre yesterday was excellent - anyone in or near London, I'd highly recommend Operation Mincemeat - a cast of 5 and my goodness did they work hard. It was very funny, exceptionally well done and very enjoyable. Apart from contribution to ticket and train fare, I didn't spend any money while I was out, either. Mum and I both took a snack to share and I didn't fancy a drink. Managed to get back, wolf down some egg and beans on toast and head out to my evening class with minutes to spare.

Have felt pretty lousy all day today - just very low energy and a bit achy - I hope it'll pass! Cancelled both my Cambridge meetings and have mostly read a book. Had a nap this afternoon and have felt a bit better. Main client has been quiet until late this afternoon (he's sent me something for the morning) but I have picked up a couple of platform jobs, which, very satisfyingly, should take me over the minimum earning threshold to be paid next month. Haven't done any of these in ages, but they were right up my street and have made me feel that I've not been a complete failure today!

Dinner tonight will be Delia's tomato risotto, which will finish the jar of sundried tomatoes and use most of the R'ford bought ones. I did blanch and freeze a whole load of French beans and baby corn this morning - will probably use both in the near future, but not before they're past their best if I leave them in the fridge. Also took a bag to the CS and two bags to the clothes/shoes recycling bins (not MS, but better to get stuff out of the house - especially with the disruption of workmen arriving). Had intended to get stuff together for a dump run (and did start this), but I'm not going now - I still don't have the energy and it's chucking it down.

MS things:
* PA surveys
* Saving veg for later
* Platform jobs
* Mr MV took a sandwich and I had leftover baked beans on a jacket

Gratitudes:
* A couple of platform jobs to improve my productivity
* A lovely afternoon out with Mum yesterday
* An in-person evening class and a chance to catch up with everyone

Have a good evening all!

themadvix

Morning all,

I'm feeling much better today, thankfully. I'd forgotten how long the tomato risotto takes - not one to be repeated generally, even if it is delicious. There's lunch portion left over, but we're having the courgette pasta recipe for dinner tonight, which will also produce a lunch portion, so we'll save the risotto until tomorrow and we can both have a yummy lunch (or mix and match).

I have a Cambridge meeting at 11.30, so I'm cracking on with main client's work now. I'd also like to get down to the allotment before then too, as it's due to rain later. Planning on charging car/having it plugged in (we get credit either way with Intelligent Go) 12-1, but this will depend on whether the service it is having has finished - there's a company that do pre-warranty-expiry checks so you can book any necessary work in with Tesla before the warranty ends. If we get the free leccy (dependent on car being plugged in - I think, I'm not entirely clear), I'll have a free shower (otherwise I'll have a paid one as I need to wash my hair!). Not sure if I need to cook anything then though...

MS things:
* Clicks and HW
* PA survey
* A good night's sleep - guaranteed to have knock-on money saving effects

Gratitudes:
* Feeling much better this morning
* Lovely kitty cuddles - the summer is definitely over as far as the cats are concerned!
* Sunshine this morning

Have a good day all!

themadvix

Afternoon all,

Car service highlighted various things that we hope to book in to get looked at under warranty, so that was worthwhile. I did get down to the allotment but only picked a few beans (which I really ought to do something with - they're still in my allotment bag in the kitchen). I went to the dump in the afternoon, which was very satisfying - various containers of small bits of scrap metal and WEEE stuff removed from the house and an old mattress (felt terrible but no longer needed here and impossible to get rid of on Freegle - people just don't want them.) Main client sent through more work yesterday afternoon, so I was kept busy most of the day.

Had a morning of getting random jobs done - bottled my rhubarb vodka and lemon verbena liqueur, popped to mum's for a couple of bits (getting an old duvet out of our house being one prime example) and when I came back it was to our new house battery being fitted! Man had messaged Mr MV last night and despite it not being booked in at all, they (battery man and Mr MV) decided to get on with it today! So we now have a total usable battery of 14 kWs, which is rather handy. This is to reduce the costs of running the heat pump while remaining on Intelligent Go, but will have several benefits - during the summer we'll probably cover a lot more of our usage from our solar as we'll be able to use a bit more battery output to cover oven/hob/shower usage (and car charging, but it's still small compared to the car battery). Cost of battery coming from Mr MV's savings.

In less good money news, there has been an email at work circulated (to which I wasn't included - shows how much the big boss values me) about restructuring coming up. I don't think my chances of being retained are great tbh. As a casual worker I am easy to get rid of. Apparently announcements will be made in October, with a 3-month consultation period... but given I'm casual, I don't think the 3-months would necessarily apply to me. We shall see. I think I plug a gap that needs plugging in both my roles, but I suspect that won't be the view taken. So I intend to ensure I claim as many of my allocated hours as possible this month and next! It's not great timing with our possible future plans. (We'll gloss over the absolutely terrible management that thought it would be a good idea to worry everyone and refuse to answer any questions until the announcements are made.... 😡).

We're off to a quiz night tonight and dinner is included (and I've already paid for it). Planning on sticking to water to drink, so hopefully a cheap night.

Main client has just sent something else through, but I'm going to assume he's not expecting anything back today... I might take a wander to the allotment shortly. And Mr MV is going to do some teardrop varnishing, ahead of more gluing this weekend.

MS things:
* Battery??! It's cost rather a lot today, but it's good future-proofing!
* Lunch was our two lots of leftovers, as planned, and was as enjoyable as expected
* Clicks and HW
* Alcoholic drinks made - the verbena at least is for gifts (likely the rhubarb will be drunk by me!)

Gratitudes:
* A quick cuppa with mum (and loan of some stuff)
* Decluttering - lots of stuff out of the house this week, which makes it a calmer place to be
* Team solidarity at Cambridge
* Quiz tonight with cat/Olio friends 😊

Have a good evening all!

Cheery_Daff

Excellent battery news, but less good about work  So sorry to hear that, there's so much uncertainty around at the minute. Sadly you're probably right about casual workers being the first to go - understandable, but still distressing to those in that position - as you say, you're plugging a gap! All fingers crossed that it doesn't happen, and that if it does, you find something else quickly and cheerfully x

beanielou

Sorry to hear about the work uncertainty.

TallGirl

Sorry about the work situation restructures are really hard but do not give up yet they usually take months and you never know might even give you more work than less if there are options such as voluntary redundancy. Sounds cool with the battery will be interesting to see how much you can save with that. Sounds like the tear drop is coming along nicely. 

rtandon27

Arrrgh to the work news Vix - hope there is a silver lining when it all comes out in the wash!

themadvix

Morning all,

Thanks for the work sympathy. All I can really do is wait and see with everyone else. In the meantime, I'll make sure I'm maximising my hours worked/money earned.

Weekend update: Quiz on Friday night was great fun, but sadly we didn't win. On Saturday, I started to build a new veg cage for the allotment from scrap wood and some metal mesh I'd acquired from a donation to the allotment shop. Only needed three new pieces of wood - for the long sides, so £9 spent on that. Am pleased with the frame, but haven't got the wire on yet because.... Ended up driving to Peterboro' to pick up a FBMP purchase of a hotbin composter. Have long thought about getting one (initially prompted when we were moving to Norfolk and there'd be no food waste collection). Recently met an allotmenteer who has one and was singing their praises. Didn't want to pay the £200 (!) for a new one (and it's not made from recycled plastic either), but several on FBMP, including the one I bought. Knocked £20 off the price (would have been happy with just £10 off, but people don't remember to haggle?), so was £90. Not a planned spend or cheap, but with allotment pot, remaining cash from summer cat sitting and some judicious skimming from bike maintenance and insurance which were both looking healthy, I found the money. In the medium term this should save me quite a bit in compost - cold compost is just so weedy that I don't get on with it (and we have limited space, so a larger set-up isn't an option). And I use a lot of compost - particularly at the allotment. I've resisted buying one before because they get mixed reviews, but if we don't get on with it, we'll switch back to imperfect cold compost and sell the hotbin. But I'm hopeful - I think the key is in preparation and good mixing.

The in-laws came for Sunday lunch as planned, which was lovely and most of the food was homegrown, which was even lovelier. Mr MV made lots of progress with the teardrop this weekend - by the end of Sunday, we'll hopefully have most of the inner structure put together! (We did a trial (no-glue) run of putting the inner sides on last night and it's looking good!)

Main client and I are still awaiting expected large project, but there have been bits to do in the meantime. We're also expecting two other projects to arrive too, so I could be very busy indeed this week. Am planning on stopping at lunchtime on Friday though (which main client knows) as we're off to Kent ahead of our day trip to France on Saturday. 

MS things:
* 1P surveys
* PA surveys - at £15 with £10 pending. Don't know when I last did so well. And I've avoided all AI surveys!
* Clicks and HW
* Bread baked this morning
* New veg cage made from old stuff (by and large)
* £1.90 spent on some cream for Sunday lunch - and that was it (there were other sunk costs (the pork, some carrots), but I'm ignoring them)
* Sweetcorn dhansak last night to use the corn on the cobs - two portions left for the freezer for some delicious summer flavours in the middle of autumn/winter 🌽
* I am expecting another delivery of apples from my apple donor! 🍏
* Battery is already making a difference to grid usage 😊
* Used the mad weather yesterday to get two loads of washing almost dry (and then it started raining when I was getting it in) - fortunately I didn't lose anything, but there were 50mph gusts!
* Hotbin should save me money

Gratitudes:
* A lovely evening on Friday with friends
* Satisfaction of making something - woodwork is not my strong point, but I can do it
* Nice time with the in-laws

Have a good afternoon all!

rtandon27

@themadvix - well impressed with your list of MS things! - I really do like when you spell it out, makes me realize much of how OH & I approach spends is cost saving as well!

themadvix

rtandon27 said:

@themadvix - well impressed with your list of MS things! - I really do like when you spell it out, makes me realize much of how OH & I approach spends is cost saving as well!

I'm sure it's quite a selective list - I think we all just do these things on autopilot around here! I could add others (and sometimes when the list is looking short, I do) - e.g. didn't mention S&S transmission or submitting 'Nothing bought' for FoodontheGo - but I do these every week and just forget about them. Similarly, I didn't have enough tomatoes for the dhansak, so chucked in a few very tiny cherry ones and added a dollop of (frozen, because I buy it in a jar and freeze it in portions) tomato puree; also didn't have spinach, so used hg kale. A non-MSEr might go out and buy tomatoes and spinach. I reckon if we've been here a while, doing these things is just second nature!