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

themadvix

greenbee said:

Good luck... I need to try ringing the plumber sometime as he's reading my messages but not responding. Mind you, I might walk round later and see whether he's moved in yet (he's moving into the village sometime this week or next, but didn't have a date as of last week).

Good luck with that Greenbee. So frustrating when trades don't respond - think it's even worse when you know they've read the message! At least he might have a slightly acceptable reason - moving is probably taking up most of his headspace (doesn't help you, I know).

themadvix

rtandon27 said:

themadvix said:

I think OH gets to have what he likes (as long as the combination doesn't produce awful side-effects)! Your winter warmer sounds much healthier than my vodka and orangina!

lol - I didn't mention the wine - think pub mulling wine - so the toss up is between orange & berry being healthier 🤣🤣🤣

Well I assumed there was alcohol in there somewhere! Still reckon cinnamon and the polyphenols in the berries probably win! I need to have a go at mulling cider - I've bought some 2% organic stuff from the hypermarket and I think it would be ideal (and by the time it's mulled, entirely non-alcoholic!).

ETA: I've entered two competitions and picked up a small platform job to keep me busy...

Baileys_Babe

Mulled cider sounds tasty 😋 let us know how you get on.

Watty1

I tried some mulled cider at an agricultural fair, a local producer was selling bottles of something one just heated up - omg delicious!

rtandon27

Mulled cider is lovely and I go for it if there is no wine!

My favorite way of having it is actually to mix a bit of cold cider or wine with the mulled stuff about 1:2 to reintroduce some actuall kick to it! Otherwise it is really just fruit juice once the alcohol as evaporated!

themadvix

rtandon27 said:

Mulled cider is lovely and I go for it if there is no wine!

My favorite way of having it is actually to mix a bit of cold cider or wine with the mulled stuff about 1:2 to reintroduce some actuall kick to it! Otherwise it is really just fruit juice once the alcohol as evaporated!

Good tip! 😂 I'm afraid I stuck with the vodka and orangina last night - partly because the vodka in question was stuff that didn't fit in the bottle (I think some transference when making the rhubarb and ginger liqueur, but I can't remember now) and was hanging around in a screw top kilner jar. So I was tidying up by having it (and saved on a glass and was proper hipster, drinking out of the kilner 😆). To be honest, strong spirits (not mulled apple juice) were needed - there are a couple of issues with how things have been done with the install that I am not happy with. One I was out when it was done - and it can be lived with, but will annoy me slightly (and it relates to the concrete slab, so I am not going to ask them to redo it at this point - it's a minor irritation, nothing more) and the other was a mix-up between Mr MV and the sparky, which I don't think I can fairly say anything about. Fortunately, we can do something about the second issue (the lack of logic in some people's minds is astounding though). The cumulative effect of these two things, on top of poor sleep, house invaders and the prospect of them being here today and tomorrow with no Mr MV was enough to make me fairly miserable!

In good news, I am now back in my office - albeit closer to the noise, the dining room is ours again (and I've put the furniture etc. back), the kitchen is mine again and the cats are behaving (although Ginger Cat has retreated under the sofa - he never goes under there because he doesn't really fit!). They reckon they'll be finished tomorrow, and just back for a snagging visit/check everything is working on Friday morning. And I think they've just (as I've been typing) turned the immersion on - hooray!

themadvix

In other news...

I have work from main client to do, a bit of admin for a US client and a Cambridge meeting if it's quiet enough for it.

Sis has said she might pop round later for a cuppa after work - she offered to come and keep me company while working all afternoon - I pointed out that this was definitely not an option! I normally quite enjoy my evenings to myself when Mr MV is away, but I think some company will be most appreciated later. I am pretty much abandoning my jacket potato tonight in favour of fish and chips - I think I'll have earned them! To be decided, depending on how I feel later.

I did manage to pop to the allotment for an hour yesterday - cleared and prepped a bed for the garlic (couldn't get to my allotment bag to take it with me to plant), and cleared/weeded a couple of other beds, cut some grass (although plenty more to do) and cleared another noticeable bit of new plot (as neighbours are the fussy site agents, I need to keep them happy). I think something has got to some of my leeks (hopefully not all) - likely allium leaf miner or leek miner. 😢 They are not thriving. So I pulled two and we had soupy leeky rice for dinner instead of the Tuscan bean stew. So we still have the beans ready. I'm intending to cook this tomorrow night, again to use the leeks, so will use the beans in that instead of white beans - I doubt it'll make much difference!

greenbee

I hope you manage to make it to the end of the week with your sanity mostly intact! I'm currently moving myself (slowly) back into the bedroom. Which smells of paint (not that much thankfully) and new underlay (quite strong). As it's raining I can't open the windows to let the smell out, and as I'm running the robot I can't open the door!

And I still haven't managed to get a response from the plumber... I tried calling rather than messaging this morning, at a time when I'm 90% sure he will have been in the van having just done the school run...

themadvix

Thanks greenbee. I hope your plumber gets back to you soon - or else you'll have to share his number here and we can all message him to tell him to ring you!

greenbee

themadvix said:

Thanks greenbee. I hope your plumber gets back to you soon - or else you'll have to share his number here and we can all message him to tell him to ring you!

That's a really good idea...

I've realised I also need to establish whether building control need to be involved in the blocking up of the garage doors. So more stuff to think about.