The Frugal Hearth: Stories of Simple Living and Living Well

Elisheba

Thanks @KajiKita, @themadvix and @lucielle. I have looked into converting it to an e-bike before, but the range for conversions isn't great, and of course you have to be very careful with the battery. I doubt I'd get much for it on a part exchange now as it's probably 10 years old. Still, it's something to think about.

Other things to make decisions on -

* The 3m x 4m gazebo I bought for my garden a couple of years ago but never got much use of because I neighbour said it was blocking her view. It's folded up in the garage just now. Don't know if I'll need it or not. I also have a parasol now, which saw a lot of use this summer. But at 1300 ft I'm not sure how much I'll need either other than to block the rain 🤣. The parasol is definitely coming with me. The gazebo might be one for my Mum's box room until I can decide what I want to do with it.

* Garden egg chair someone gave me. I never found it very comfy but it might be better now I've lost some weight. I suppose it can just sit out on the patio like it does here so wouldn't take room up in the shed, and if it's surplus to requirements I can give it away at a later date.

* I have 2 garden seats with cushions I got free, and a garden recliner and a lounger, both with cushions, that I bought a couple of years ago. Loathe to get rid of them as they are all very useful, but will take up a lot of room in a currently very damp shed. 

Anyway, that's me walked silly dog. Got a few bits and pieces at the C00p, including some low carb wraps reduced to £1, which I'm quite excited about. Not had wraps since last March.

The bins are all out for collection tomorrow as well, so my shoes are off and my slippers on. Got a cuppa on the go, and not sure I can face hoover and cleaning now.

I decided to finish a murder mystery I started before Xmas. It's part of a series, and they are all on Kindle Unlimited (which I have a 3 month reduced subscription to at the moment). I'm not finding this one as good as some of the others, but I feel invested in the series now as this is about the 12th or 13th 🤣. So I might read for a bit as I'm tired.

Cheery_Daff

Good sorting going on! 

Speaking (again, sorry 😂) from 1300ft, we bought a gazebo last year 😂 Borrowed one from the Library of Things for my birthday in case of showers, and it was ace, then we found one in a sale. It has been used as shelter in blistering heat (when putting up a fence) but has also been used in cold and autumnal weather woth tarps pinned round the sides so we could still sit 'outside' 😂 So don't be too quick to get rid if you think you might need it, the weather's not ALWAYS super grim at this height 😂

Elisheba

Cheery_Daff said:

Good sorting going on! 

Speaking (again, sorry 😂) from 1300ft, we bought a gazebo last year 😂 Borrowed one from the Library of Things for my birthday in case of showers, and it was ace, then we found one in a sale. It has been used as shelter in blistering heat (when putting up a fence) but has also been used in cold and autumnal weather woth tarps pinned round the sides so we could still sit 'outside' 😂 So don't be too quick to get rid if you think you might need it, the weather's not ALWAYS super grim at this height 😂

That is helpful to know - thanks Cheery! I might be using you as my font of all knowledge with 'what to expect when you are at 1300' feet going forward 😁.

I asked on a local FB about growing foot last night, as I had heard the ground might be contaminated by old mining. They said that was a bit of a red herring, and the main issue is the short growing season which is quite challenging. I've never been much of a gardener, but I'm definitely going to give it a go, so will need to add raised beds to my budget s/s - hopefully for next year. 

Elisheba

Morning, all!

My head is more in work mode than home mode this morning as I have lots to get done this week. 

However, rough plan for today -
🪷 Finish coffee, shower, get dressed, make bed. Wipe down sink, bath, and rest of bathroom.
🪷Start work
🪷 Brunch at 11.30. put a washing on.
🪷 Dog walk at 12.30 - go to garage for diesel at the same time. Hang up washing when back.
🪷 Feed monkeys at 5pm
🪷 Finish work at 6pm
🪷 Make vegetable curry, and hoover upstairs while it's cooking.
🪷 Do Murdle puzzles for an hour
🪷 Read
🪷 9pm - Make coffee for morning, put out monkey bowls for morning, put on dishwasher, clean toilet, go to bed.

It seems to be much warmer today - the house has certainly kept most of the heat from having the heating on yesterday, so hopefully the big freeze is over for now.

This week I'm hoping the mortgage stuff will move forward, and what ever the house buying stuff the conveyancers need will move forward as well. I'd like to have put in notice on my current house by the end of the week, but don't feel like I can do that until there is a bit more certainty with dates etc. 

Money wise, I think I have everything I need in food wise, but I need pet food. Might see if I can get a Tesco delivery soon to save me hauling heavy things from the car. 

Hope everyone is refreshed from the weekend, and starting the week feeling optimistic and fresh 😊.

Jellytotts

I think it’s worth talking to your landlord and saying you’d like to give notice as you’re buying somewhere, I think most are quite accommodating of rolling the contract over for a few weeks if necessary.  

An exciting move for you.  We moved a big distance a few years back and it was so hard not being able to pop over to measure rooms etc.  I opted for the “if in doubt, sell it” rather than move it and use the money the other end to replace what was needed.  Always nice to live in the house for a few weeks to work out exactly where things need to go for flow.  I have a big Welsh dresser that I was certain was going to go against one wall but after 3 weeks of constantly having to step round it and be able to open one of the doors properly I realised it would be far better elsewhere.   

daisy_1571

Afternoon elisheba, I've read your old and new diaries after your comment on another thread.  Lovely to follow it through.  Congratulations on the weight loss, congratulations on the house purchase.    It should go smoothly but I know its an anxious time.  Usually the entry date is part of the offer up here but I hope you get that sorted soon so you know what you are doing and when.

Dxx

Elisheba

Evening, folks,

My goodness @daisy_1571, can't believe you managed to trawl through 6 years worth of my diaries! Hope they weren't too repetitive! Daily life often feels like it's the same old same old, so sometimes it's hard to remember that things were very different 6 years ago!

Well, I am on a flying visit to Scotland for my Aunt's funeral, and staying at my Mum's. Funeral went as well at these things can, very simple but lovely. Drive up here yesterday was fine, if long due to congestion/roadworks/fog/whatever the issues of the day were with the M5/M6/M74 🙄.

Mum treated my brother and I to lunch after the funeral as my cousin couldn't face a gathering, so that was very nice of her. I'm exhausted now though. Didn't get in until close to midnight last night, took ages to get to sleep, silly dog was up and down all night, and then more driving to the funeral and back today. So I'm in bed now with hot milk, and will be going to sleep after posting this.

So house move news first - I now have a firm mortgage offer, and have received something from my solicitor I need to read through properly and agree to. All looks set for getting the keys if 27th March, so I contacted my landlord to let him know the news. Looking at my lease I might only have to give one months notice, rather than the 3 months I thought, but he knows now and I said I'd firm up the date with him when I could.

Life wise, I've ordered flea treatment for silly dog as he has little spots under his fur (although he doesn't seem to be scratching), so hopefully that's what it is. I'm driving back tomorrow, and have a big T£sco delivery coming on Sunday. I've stocked up on quite a bit of the fake meat as it's all on sale in January, and usual bits and pieces, and pet food. Spent money on diesel obviously, but had a packed lunch and coffee with me for the journey so didn't need to buy food. I did treat myself to a bag of sweets at a service station though 😳.

Think that's all for today. Time for sleep! Hope you all have a wonderful weekend 😁.

Elisheba

Evening, frugalistas,

That's me back in Wales from my flying trip to Alba. I'm actually less tired today than I was yesterday, even after the drive weirdly enough. Journey was fine, just a half hour with no movement at one point due to a bad accident and fire further along the motorway. Listen to all of Atomic Habits, and finished another audiobook I had started sometimes ago as well, so fairly productive all in all 😁.

Bought £40 in diesel towards the end of the journey once I was passing petrol stations with normal prices. I don't think I have much driving to do for the rest of the month so that might last me until February now. Didn't buy anything at service stations as had my flask and a packed lunch, so a little bit saved there as well.

Having listened to Atomic Habits I'm now of a mind to try and start improving my life a bit. Got to start small so I think the first thing I'll try will be to change my morning routine up a bit. Currently I'm all too prone to feed the monkeys, make coffee and take it back to bed with me and then stay there for far too long. So I'm going to change that first, and start getting up and showered straight away. Then I'll have a think about what habits I want to stack onto that once it's bedded in, and see how it goes.

Plan for tomorrow is -
🪷Up and shower straight away
🪷 Take silly dog a short walk
🪷 Coffee, breakfast and read the paper 
🪷Put clothes away 
🪷 Chapel and coffee afterwards
🪷Take silly dog a proper walk
🪷T£sco delivery at some point in the afternoon
🪷Look at IKEA website for the storage I want
🪷 Change the cat litter 
🪷 Hoover the house
🪷 Do a bit of dusting and tidying where necessary as the landlord has someone out to do a valuation during the week

Optional extras
🪷Take the bookshelves to the bus stop, and take books there as well
🪷 Put some furniture on the FB freecycle group 
🪷 Watch some TV
🪷 Do some washing and hang it up
🪷 Put stuff in the car for either the charity shop or the tip

There is more I could add, but that's enough to be getting on with and I want a rest tomorrow after all the travelling. I'm not going to run myself ragged.

Oh and I discovered the other day that I'll be paying more income tax when I move to Scotland 🙄. I had thought since I earned in England I would pay English rates but it turns out not, and Scotland just put Income tax up over a certain level. I think it'll work out at about £40 - 50 a month for me although it's hard to be certain. It is what it is I suppose, and I do believe those who can afford it should pay more tax, so I guess I'm putting my money where my mouth is now 🤣. 

Right, going to read a bit before bed so hope everyone had a great Saturday and got lots done.

fionaandphil

Hi Elisheba, glad to hear you are back safely, lucky it wasn't yesterday as the motorway was shut most of the day due to a fatality.

For the IKEA stuff, don't forget you may be able to get a discount on cashback site or buying a discounted gift card. Top cashback top giftcards has 3.25% reduction in price and you may get lower prices if you join the IKEA family loyalty scheme which is free.

Have a good day tomorrow.

Elisheba

Thanks, @fionaandphil, that's a good point. I'll have a look. I know my work has a scheme where you buy cards and get a certain percentage extra in the card for loads of shops so I'll check for IKEA.