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

themadvix

Suffolk_lass said:

greenbee said:

I dry lemon verbena in the airing cupboard and have it in bowls around the house. Stir it as you go past!

Definitely need to emulate that with other herbs on hand.

We use used roof tiles to edge beds - we replaced the concrete tiles on the kitchen roof with used slate and kept the tiles (fell into the one-day they will be useful for something) and now all the scaffold wood bed-edging has rotted and the sleepers are slowly being consumed by wood-eating critters, they are coming into their own here

Excellent reuse there SL. I am generally not a fan of raised beds - in no-dig they are considered more places for slugs to hide, but I will stick with what I've got (for the time being at least, this plot is having minimal financial input) (Not saying that I don't like a raised bed for certain things!). If I was redoing the plot, the raised beds would go on the principle that they're tiny and not much use for anything anyway! This plot has a lot of wasted space - massive paths (and massive beds that are inaccessible in the middle), it's not developed right to the edge of the plot (?!) and it has a large area of woodchip with a couple of pallets laying flat on it - I'm not sure what they're in aid of really either (there isn't much in the way of storage, so maybe intended for keeping things off the ground?). But for now, I'm going to clear what's there to be used. I'll put down groundcover material over the winter, plant squashes into slits in some of it in the spring and I'm sure I'll get carried away with seedlings then too, but I won't be making big changes (ever hopeful that my neighbouring plot will become available).

themadvix

Afternoon all,

It's been grey and rather damp here this morning, but has brightened up a bit now. I've just been for a wander around the block to get some fresh air and steps in. Cancelled my morning Cambridge meeting (nothing to discuss and I'll see them tomorrow anyway). Meeting with boss has been moved back an hour as other Cambridge boss, who is on mat leave, has taken baby daughter into office (am gutted I am missing them - if only I'd known, I'd have gone in today instead of tomorrow! Have sent my regards instead (and to make the point we're missing her!)). Haven't done much Cambridge stuff anyway as am trying to ensure I've got plenty to do tomorrow - normally I go in on a Tuesday and there's another meeting to fill the time, but tomorrow there's only a 2 hour lunch/meeting to occupy me. (There's also going to be some training and probably dealing with IT support!).

Work for main client is moving along. I was beating myself up for not getting through it quicker, but I've realised how large the project is and how much it'll pay and realised I can't be expecting myself to get in all done in a couple of days. Have also done a tiny bit for US client and another piece for a European client - it's quite nice having a bit more variety, it's been a while.

Dinner last night was as planned, although I actually didn't have enough basmati rice for the recipe - just about enough to do half, which was fine for two of us (recipe serves 4). Will pick some basmati up on Friday from the refill shop. I think I decided against buying any because we've got really good at having brown rice, but for IP recipes that call for basmati it's not possible to substitute! Tonight we're having pizza - the dough is proving on a long slow rise. I also baked bread this morning. Mr MV has had a free breakfast at work and took some snacks, so hopefully won't have needed to buy anything (and he's got loyalty points that would get him a small something I think anyway). Don't think I can be bothered making tomato sauce (and opening a whole jar of passata), so we'll have a pesto based pizza - will just need to defrost some pesto.

Addition to the meal plan:

- Sat - soup du poisson and galettes. I still have buckwheat flour in the cupboard from pandemic flour shortage substitutes and I'd really like it finished as it's taking up space/a kilner jar. The soup we bought last month on our day trip (and we might get some more next weekend when we're back in France).

MS things:
* Clicks and HW done
* 1P finally cashed out!
* Using the batteries wisely today

On gratitudes, I read this, this morning (in the EncounterNature app, which I can highly recommend - a bit like a digital almanac): https://findingnature.org.uk/2025/10/06/improving-connections-to-nature-life-and-people/. With it in mind, my gratitudes are:
* Watching a magpie walking along our picket fence this morning and pecking underneath for some tasty snacks
* The gorgeous red tints to the leaves around here at the moment
* The crunch of the leaves underfoot

Have a good afternoon all!