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

Greying_Pilgrim

tmv - I'm right alongside you with using lentils and beans this month.  I'm hopeful it will help in at least making everything affordable, even if I don't have money left over in the pot - although you're inspiring me to try harder - so thank you 😁 

Speaking entirely personally - YAY! to curries and stews being back in season.  Definitely my preferred type of food to cook.  Salady type things are OK, but actually more of a challenge for me to put together - and the salad season has been toooooo long this year!

Greying X

themadvix

Thanks Cheery - yes, it was indeed as lovely as I'd been hoping all week, which was really nice! Pity I didn't sleep as well as I could have, as I think we'd have made more of being away yesterday and gone for another walk, but you can't have everything

I am totally with you GP on stews and curries being a Yay! I am not a huge salad fan - far prefer my food cooked, and so happy from a personal point of view. They are also cheaper/easier (my salad growing is patchy - probably related to lack of enthusiasm - and buying salad bits is expensive!).

EssexHebridean

A decent hotel room makes such a difference doesn't it! After a night with drinks, and in a strange bed too, I know I'll never get a "good" might's sleep as such, but there is a difference between that and having a "bad" one due to circumstances we can't control like room comfort! 

themadvix

EssexHebridean said:

A decent hotel room makes such a difference doesn't it! After a night with drinks, and in a strange bed too, I know I'll never get a "good" might's sleep as such, but there is a difference between that and having a "bad" one due to circumstances we can't control like room comfort! 

This, absolutely! And despite feeling rather full and uncomfortable in the night, there weren't then other issues to keep me awake/make me grumpy - I was remarkably chipper yesterday morning! 

themadvix

Popped to the allotment for an hour or so this afternoon - seems silly not to make the most of this gorgeous sunshine (and warmth). Cleared a bed and have covered it with a mix of compost and manure and put some cover over it. It will be the one I use for garlic/shallots/some onions, so won't be covered for long. Also did a bit more clearing at plot 2. Have picked some kale for tomorrow's dinner and picked the verbena bonariensis flowers before pulling up most of the plants (they were self-seeded and now in the way - I've kept the actual one I planted). The flowers are now in vases with some lemon verbena stems adorning the hall and the dining table 😊

Have done a meal plan for the week:

- Mon - Mac and cheese tonight (and soak chickpeas)
- Tues - Carrot, spinach and chickpea pilaf (IP book recipe)

- Weds - Pizza (also bake bread)
- Thurs - eggs and beans on toast or similar - we will both have had long days (just realised Mr MV is likely to have had a cooked breakfast that morning, so maybe not eggs again... will think on that - fish finger sandwiches?)

- Fri - daal (and make some flatbreads) - this may be an IP recipe for a change from the usual

Currently, apart from a possible college visit to learn more about the course Mr MV might do next year (I think he thinks I'm pushing him into this, which I definitely don't want to do - but I think he's liable to end up stuck where he is (and miserable) forever, if he doesn't make the leap into the unknown), we don't have any plans. So will consider meals nearer the time - we have lots in, so should be able to make something nice. (May also pop to WR on Friday for 10% off at their fish counter).

Have received paperwork from asbestos company - waste note and analysis - so have paid them (£1500; when you realise that £500 goes to the separate analysis co, and then there's the HSE fee and a fee to the waste company, you realise that they were very good value for money - all the gear, all the set-up and three guys for most of a Saturday). This leaves £1000 (and 52p) in the heat pump fund. Cambridge pay will top this up a bit in a few days, but I also want to top up the cat fund too.

Need to get the washing in now, before it starts to get damp.

Fortune_Smiles

Oooh - fish fingers sandwiches 😋

Fortune x