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redofromstart

I have been out on the bike but then got side lined by my ever erratic health.  Frustrating but it is what it is.

It is a lovely sunny day here with the autumn colours glowing and enticing me to go out, but I can't because I have (hurrah!) works in progress.  Not the major works, but a re-build of a dangerously leaning dry stone wall that would inevitably have been flagged up on a survey.  Very hard to find someone with the skill set so I am very pleased to get that sorted.  The main works have been put back again which is frustrating, hard to plan anything when I don't know my availability.

EssexHebridean

Good work on finding someone to deal with such a specialist task Redo - those are the sorts of jobs that hang over you aren't they! 

Hope you are feeling well enough to get back on the bike soon - you sound like you're enjoying it.

doingitanyway

Glad you got a worker for your wall. I absolutely love dry stone walls. They look beautiful

redofromstart

The wall work is done, and slightly under the budget so that is a good result.  The main works haven't actually started yet which is starting to worry me.  I don't want windows installing in December, and the damp stuff needs to go on while the house is relatively dry.  I must make myself chase that tomorrow.  A reminder to myself that this time last year the house was covered in scaffolding for the roof repairs and I can cope with this, however much I dislike it.

I am going to have a self imposed NOvember as the works will take the majority of my accessible savings and I have slid into that terrible habit of just adding a few things to my credit card which I then clear from savings.  V1nted in particular has been a fail (although a win in terms of improving my very capsule wardrobe!) and I need to get some things listed.  Groceries, also a fail - the single biggest waste is buying food that I then don't eat and I can't actually cram anything else in the freezer.  A really bad habit of just eating nuts/dried fruit and very little else.

The garden needs the autumn shut down jobs doing, and I want to pot up a couple of amaryllis with the aim of something flowering over the festive period when bought flowers are painfully expensive.  The sun is shining so I should crack on with that today.

First spends of the month, cheap fuel and £40 on food from Asd4, predictably half of that was nut based.  

The birds are going through feed at a great rate but that is money well spend as it makes me smile to see the little flock of finches arrive.



 

Sunshine_girl2

Oh Redo I have always read your diary but rarely commented , I have found you again just catching up on your new diary on page 5 . 

Watty1

So impressed with finding someone to fix a dry stone wall.  These are arts that are so hard to find.

greent

I also have a V1nted problem... I may be currently waiting for 7 items in the post..... 😳 (6 clothes items for me for work and 1 stocking filler for DD)
In my defence, I've lost over 3.5 stone this year, so needed some smaller clothes - and this is a far cheaper way than going to actual shops! I'm also feeling much happier about how I look and have smartened up my work wardrobe as a result- which also goes well with my v recent promotion, which means more 'public' contact than previously. (Me - justifying my actions? - Nooooooo 🤣🤣)

redofromstart

@greent that is exactly the same as my justification - and is entirely valid reasoning.  
Lovely to see you posting @Sunshine_girl2
@Watty1 I saw them working on someone else's wall and stopped to ask for contact details, I know several of my neighbours have now done the same as a result. The last 'known' one in the village retired some years ago so I was delighted.  

greenbee

I've got to sort out the plumber/electrician/carpenter on Monday (and book my car in for a manufacturer recall sensor fix). Like you I want the work done by the end of November. It's staying relatively warm for a week or so, which means now's the time to get your windows and damp proofing done - and you'll then get the benefit of them. 

ladybird1106

They are definitely dying arts. Luckily my OH learnt to dry stone wall about 30 years ago and regularly has to rebuild ones that cows and sheep knock over as part of his job. He also teaches people how to lay hedges which is also an old country craft. The local council run project that used to offer these course was shut recently. A community project is trying to take on the lease via crowdfunding. Sadly not many have contributed to it.
 It’s nice to hear so many people in your village have had it done.
love 🐞