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

themadvix

No, it's a casual, on-the-side thing to my self-employment. My Cambridge boss/friend has a habit of introducing me to her workplaces as a casual/temp staff member 😂 - this is the third time we've worked together in this sort of way. It works really well for me as self-employment can be very quiet at times, so it's a nice top-up/alternative income source. It's such a pity things have gone sour there though - I was really beginning to feel part of the team (which is tricky when you're 100% remote and very much part-time). Friend and I joke about where 'we'll' go next! 

themadvix

Morning all,

Well I underestimated the parsnips! There were nearly 3kg once they were washed, albeit I reckon I chucked a good 300g of woody bits when chopping - the downside to growing extra large 'snips. Still, I'm pleased with that quantity and it's just right for me. They are all part roasted (except a few which I left to cook all the way through for snacking enjoyment) and I need to get them in the freezer today. I may also freeze the remaining chickpeas - I hadn't factored in quite so many leftovers from the funeral or our plans for this week and we're not going to have the second dish I'd planned for them until tomorrow night at the soonest, so I think they need freezing (can't remember when I cooked them, but it wasn't yesterday or Sunday?). I have been through the oca and kept those that weren't squishy - not a lot. I'm not going to beat myself up about this - the weather, illness and Christmas conspired to keep me from harvesting them sooner (they have to have a frost and then a good couple of weeks in the ground, but I think 6 weeks and a lot of frost is probably too much). I'll keep a couple back for sowing next year and we'll eat the remainder fairly quickly (roasted I think, rather than raw, given the tendency to squishiness). Unfortunately the lump of stilton in the fridge had gone mouldy, so I won't be making Mr MV a stilton and broccoli soup. I can see some roasted veg and pasta for dinner in my future too...

I'm planning on having a jacket potato tonight - which will be particularly handy if I've got to go to in-person evening class (we'll decide today if it's in-person or on Zoom) - it's going to involve trains and buses and walking as Mr MV has the car. (Can't decide if I fancy the adventure or would rather stay at home - I could ask to Zoom, but prefer in-person and the whole deal with having one car was that it wouldn't stop me doing stuff - fares are all covered by 'travel fund' put aside every month for such contingencies).

In the meantime, UK client has sent me something for today, so that and Cambridge stuff will keep me busy.

MS things:
* Nice win on HW and withdrew £5 from one bookie - straight into heatpump savings (am still waiting to hear about final date for heatpump remedial works, so not paying yet!)
* VB poll done
* S&S submitted on time yesterday. We'd dearly love to get rid of the S&S TV and web monitor for privacy reasons, but we've added up how much it's worth (and the fact that it's governed by the Market Research Society, so should be anonymised) and it stays for now. 

Gratitudes:
* Mr MV's first meeting with new team seemed to go well (and he's been told current department can't actually stop him moving to new role on 2nd Feb, so looks like it's all happening then)
* Work from UK client - wasn't in the schedule but will keep me occupied today
* Cat sitting kitty is OK - my friend had a bit of a scare last night that she'd injured her leg (or worse), but it seems to have been a temporary issue (thankfully, as I don't have a car to take her to the vets today). Cat owner had asked to extend her stay away, which would have been a real pain, but after enquiries were made, it's too expensive to alter the flights - phew!

Have a good day all!

themadvix

Afternoon all,

I made the sweet potato and chickpea satay curry for dinner in the end last night - it does three portions, so dinner for me last night and for both of us tonight. So I've just had my jacket potato for lunch (and will have another with the other half of the beans tomorrow for lunch - Mr MV will be at work - and he can take rolls from the freezer). Dinner tomorrow night will be roasted veg, pesto and pasta to use up a variety of bits of veg. And then we need something with potatoes on Friday as I really need to finish the last of mine (small and v. sprouty) and some of the last R'ford bag (a bit sprouty).

Got up early this morning and at my desk by 7.30. Did a piece of work for a US client and some Cambridge work (including meetings and getting a report off my desk to others for feedback). Now dealing with something larger for main client. Felt rather rough yesterday afternoon, so didn't achieve a huge amount, so feeling better for getting stuff done today. Did manage a walk around the block yesterday (hoped it would make me feel better  - it didn't) and have done the same today - it's gorgeous sunshine here today. Am having my hair cut later (£20 - SIL does it).
MS things:
* Clicks and HW
* Reached payout on 1P and have done so! Hoping it comes through asap.
* Have chased an overdue payment with a client - and have chased about not being able to add POs to invoice on new system
* £1 YLive survey done - first one in aaages
* Opened a jar of stewed apple to have on my porridge. I am terrible for not wanting to use up the food I have stored, because then I'll run out.... which doesn't happen! 
Gratitudes:
* Sunshine!
* A short meeting with Cambridge boss/friend - we both had other stuff to be getting on with
* A good evening class last night (on Zoom!)

Have a good afternoon all!

rtandon27

Yes the sunshine was indeed lovely today! 

Did you get the spooky mist when the ice evaporated?  It was such a lovely sight one I'd figured out that the neighbour didn't have something in his burner! 🤪

themadvix

We did - lots of steam off the fence!

 Chasing the owed payment worked - the accounts payable lady had been on holiday for three weeks (why she didn’t pay before/no one else is capable is another question!). Payment has been received.

themadvix

Morning all,

What a grey and miserable day - quite a contrast to yesterday. We've got a weather warning for heavy rain, although it seems OK at the moment. Hoping to walk to see cat later and pop to library, so hopefully it's not as bad as forecast. I might arrange for Mr MV to pick me up from town on his way home. Was up at 6.15 this morning to use the car for today's first visit - wasn't impressed that Mr MV had fallen back to sleep while I was out, so I didn't need to go quite so early (I was expecting him to be heading straight off to work!). 🙄

We needed milk this morning, so I popped to the Coop and have cancelled tomorrow's milk. Got 20p off with my Coop card and found some reduced tofu, so bagged that too (works out at 35p/protein portion, so pretty good going). Will need to chop and freeze that (and the two packs I got on offer from the supermarket) at some point today.

Two projects arrived overnight from one US client, so I'm finishing up what I'm working on for main client and then will make a start on those. Have 'popped in' to Cambridge and all is quiet there - doubt I'll get to any report writing today. 

Have tried ringing the heat pump area manager but no answer. I'll try again later and if I don't get a response contact the (not-very-helpful) install coordinator to see if she knows where he is.

MS things:
* YS tofu
* Dad sent me the £18 he got for the scrap copper we found in the loft (the original heat pump installers took most of it with them, but we found a load of bits in the loft) - now in the heat pump savings fund. 
* Cambridge pay has arrived and tax money been transferred.

* Clicks and HW - small wins with one bookie
* 1P surveys

Gratitudes:
* Lovely cuddles with the ginger beast while I've been typing this
* Last night's dinner being pre-cooked - it was late by the time I'd been to see cat charge, as Mr MV didn't get home until 7.30, so it only needing reheating was definitely a good thing
* Nice chat with SIL while she was cutting my hair

Have a good day all!

EssexHebridean

themadvix said:

* Opened a jar of stewed apple to have on my porridge. I am terrible for not wanting to use up the food I have stored, because then I'll run out.... which doesn't happen! 

This is SO me! It's something I am actively trying to tackle because it is entirely ludicrous - "but if we use that then we won't have it" in essence. Barmy isn't it! 

themadvix

I'm so glad I'm not the only one - even if it is barmy! 😂

rtandon27

Vix - when you say 'transfer the tax money' - do you actually mean to HMRC or to a separate bank account?  The reason I ask is that I currently owe them a wodge, which I kept aside knowing I'd owe, but would have loved to transfer it to them bit by bit over the months when received the extra money that caused me to owe them iyswim!

themadvix

Ah no, just transferred it across to premium bonds, where it will sit until I have to pay them. (Most of it is in an interest bearing account, but I ended up paying tax on savings interest last year, so thought I might as well put some back into PBs.)