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

newgirly

I can’t believe I’ve missed your new diary Vix! I’ve just caught up now,  Happy belated birthday 😊 the party sounds fantastic, what a lovely idea and it’s it sounds like it went perfectly. All the best for this year 🙂 

Cheery_Daff

I love a cosy brushed cotton sheet 😁😁 I agree about not mending sheets though.  Duvet covers,  yes,  although the one I sewed recently has now gone threadbare in another two places and it may be time to turn it into cleaning cloths... 

Suffolk_lass

I loathe brushed cotton sheets but I don't mind a long nightie, which probably has the same effect. I buy good quality cotton sheets (usually Egyptian now I understand the advantage of their longer fibres) from a hotel supplier with royalty in the name. I have bought cotton from both M&S and JL previously and been so disappointed when the fabric thinned and then tore/disintegrated much more quickly than an acceptable lifetime. 

I don't suppose many on here use fabric conditioner/softener but I am sure you know that you should not with cotton. It naturally softens over time and more chemicals just clogs of the weave

LadyWithAPlan

EssexHebridean said:

Oh Vix how brilliant that the party went off so well. You'd planned it so well, and worked hard to make it a success, so I'm not surprised to hear people had an amazing time, but the most important thing is the memories that you and MrMV had from it. as for the MSE aspects - it was well planned and thought through, and most importantly you had the funds to pay for it anyway. As it sounds like you most certainly got value for money from it, I'm going to say that to my mind that DOES make it a very MSE event! 

Yes I do agree - the YNAB people are rebranding their (amazing) app as not  a budget app  but a way to spend less on trivial things and become more  spendful - a silly made up word but basically to spend on things that give you great value and joy, as thats obviously different for everyone
There are some good videos on YT on it which are great even as a non YNABer 
The party sounds a very good use of money and celebrations, memories like that you will all cherish. Hopefully you got some pics too. Plus the spend wasnt too bad.

I have a friend on life support at present due to falling down the stairs and my phone once a week throws up photos  of some lovely nights we all had - the money spent is forgotten but the laughter we all had is never forgotten.

themadvix

Morning all,

Thanks all my lovely visitors for your comments. LaPlan, I read about your friend - so sad and such a reminder that life is so fragile. For this reason, it was definitely worth spending the money on our party. (Mr MV mentioned something about keeping the playlist for our 50th - which sent me on a middle-of-the-night spiral about who might not be there by then (only the cats hopefully! 😢).  I have been enjoying the emails from YNAB, despite having cancelled my trial - they definitely have reframed some things for me, so it was a worthwhile exercise in any case.

Lovely weekend - pub on Friday, cousin's nephew's party on Saturday (only an hour, saw some family) and then Niece-sitting on Saturday night. She is becoming such a wonderful, pleasant and intelligent human - it's so enjoyable to spend time with her. And she went to bed, no problem at all. Sunday morning Mum, Sis, Mr MV and I did an escape room and then had brunch.

Progress on planning happened too - we have booked 3 nights in Amsterdam in May, arranged to visit some friends in March, have booked the fortnight for our main holiday in our diaries (not the actual holiday as yet - more research needed) and started looking at the potential costs for Oktoberfest. Amsterdam will be paid for from our very generous birthday money. Currently Ireland is looking expensive for accommodation (and limited camping options where I've looked too, although I'm sure that's not the case everywhere), so will keep investigating. Sis and I have also booked the jewellery making class she got me for my birthday and we've enquired about booking Mr MV's woodworking workshop.

In the garden/allotment, I finally sorted my seeds and ordered what was needed. I've also ordered asparagus crowns - third time lucky and all that. Mr MV is taking responsibility for them, so he'll be helping to plant them next weekend. I did pop to the allotment yesterday - pruned raspberries, picked sprouts and broccoli, and planted 3 broad beans (need more copper tape collars for them, so have brought the rest home for now. (They desperately need to go in the ground though!).

Popped into town after the party on Saturday and ordered new lenses for my glasses - lady waived the reglazing fee as I'd only recently bought the frames. Mr MV went to the bookshop and this may have led to me spending on a book on slow travel in Norfolk.

Finally beginning to feel like we're on top of the year! Have a meal plan for this week. Veg box coming Thursday (we're pretty much out of fresh food) - as well as 2 marmalade kits.

Spending for brunch, beers and book all from personal spends; lenses from my glasses/health fund; allotment pot covered plants and Amsterdam from birthday funds, so all covered.

Aviva have finally booked the car in for repairs, so Mr MV just needs to arrange this (I can't remember how much of this saga I have shared, but suffice to say their communication has been appalling).

MS things:
* MM survey
* 1P surveys
* NV survey
* Pizza dough proving for dinner tonight
* Rest of week's meals from freezer (Mr MV away Wed/Thurs night, so that makes it easier)

Gratitudes:
* Nice to catch up with some extended family on Saturday
* Lovely evening with Niece - I'm so proud of the person she's becoming
* Lots to look forward to in diary
* Broccoli was disappointing to harvest, but more sprouts (and of a good size) than expected!

Have a lovely Monday everyone! (Don't believe the nonsense about Blue Monday!)

greenbee

All travel is slow in Norfolk  

themadvix

greenbee said:

All travel is slow in Norfolk  

Too true! But that’s what makes it lovely. Hoping the book will get us to explore more places than our usual haunts.

EssexHebridean

greenbee said:

All travel is slow in Norfolk  

"Slow you down"! 

How lovely to be feeling on top of things Vix - and that sounds like good allotment progress as well. I've current got something noshing not only my chard, but more annoyingly my sorrel as well - and that in turn has also reminded me I want to build some kind of frame to cover over herbs etc this year to avoid them getting eaten or just dug up by birds and squirrels! 

The WF dresses sound lovely - I've had a couple of theirs and liked them in the past (pockets!) - which ones is it you have? 

themadvix

Evening all,

The 'Slow you down' sign (assuming there's just the one, like 'Tek care, lambs on t'road') features in the book EH 😊 The WF dresses are the simple jersey ones with pockets on the front. Very comfortable and as the lady in the shop said, not meant to make you feel 'like you have a dress on and must behave accordingly'! They will make excellent office wear too, which will surprise my Cambridge colleagues, as I've admitted I only have one office outfit (when I was wearing a smart t-shirt (with cardigan) in November!).

Have been out to a garden centre this afternoon to get seed potatoes. I wanted somewhere I could get them loose (to avoid the nasty plastic bags) and with Mr Foxgloves' careful stashing of bulbs in mind, I think I did very well with potatoes - medium-sized ones carefully selected and stacked in the bag, two varieties - first earlies (white skin) and main crop (red skins) all for £8.49 - definitely better value than the bags. I am kind of relying on having that second plot to fit them all in though, else we'll just be eating potatoes this year! Also bought some copper tape while I was there, so I can make bottle collars for the remaining broad beans and get them in the ground. And some bird seed - was delighted to find it in a paper bag in a small quantity, although much less happy to discover it was product of Westland. Think it'll be back to Jollyes for their loose stuff in future

Mr MV has been to Blackburn today and is currently on the way home - ETA 8pm-ish? Thinking that this might be the case, dinner tonight will be bean burgers, rice, broccoli and baked beans - quick and easy once I know he's on the home straight.

MS things:
* Friday's milk cancelled - we'll have plenty with Mr MV being away
* HW - a few small wins
* Saved 50p on the bird seed (which already seemed good value and had 20% extra included) by signing up to garden centre's mailing list (easy enough to unsubscribe should I want to)
* Have started the process of moving password management from lastpass to Keeper as Mr MV gets it free with work  (for family too) - will save me £30/year (including this year's which is due soon and already saved up for)
* Mr MV's breakfast and lunch covered today by colleague and supplier
* Attempted to line dry a wash - think they came in wetter than they went out!
* Ordered a £10 Sains voucher from PC - for Feb's grocery shopping
* Couple of PA surveys

Gratitudes:
* Took Mum to garden centre - was nice to spend some time with her as I didn't see her yesterday for her birthday
* Working meeting this morning gave positive feedback
* Have started making plans for taking Niece to see school friend and her children during half term

Have a good evening all!

themadvix

Mr MV rang a few mins ago - stuck in traffic so won't be home until 9.30... suggested he should get something en route to eat, but apparently he's looking forward to his bean burger! Mine is in the oven now - will cook for him in a bit. In the meantime, I'm making good progress with work (am desperately trying to save Call the Midwife for tomorrow when he won't be home at all!).