Steadily climbing the mountain, enjoying the view along the way

Merlin's_Beard

I'm glad I'm not the only one that saw that knitting and thought string bikini 🤣

Urgh I hope the work things settle down soon, and the washing machine! It would be impossible to live without one (even if I am as bad as Mr KK for leaving things in pockets that I shouldn't)

KajiKita

I have good news to report! 🎊🎉🤩 The washing machine liveth!! Phew … I did a test this morning with it empty (so it wouldn’t be sat festering needing to be manually drained, for too long before Mr KK got home) and it worked. 😊
I chucked Mr KK’s wash on (after checking every pocket - which was quite a lot in 4 pairs of pockety work shorts … 🙄😂) and Mr KK’s wash is now on the line, which is a relief all round 😊

I also got out early this morning and finished clearing the bit of bed under the contorted hazel I wanted to do and got three dahlias and a hyssop in the ground, well watered and well mulched 😊 I also undercovered, well watered and mulched some other little shrubs I have under there as well. I will have some before and after pics but need to do a bit more pulling of dead stuff and dead heading before I can take an after 😊

I’m now trying to psych myself up to go and make soup for work lunches …

KK

beanielou

Woohoo on WM.

KajiKita

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82074191#Comment_82074191

Just a bit!! Such a relief both for the hassle factor and potential costs … 😊

Two batches of soup made - leek and yellow split pea and a red lentil and carrot one. The lentil one is supposed to be made with gammon stock so I think making it with veggie stock might mean it’s a bit insipid … I’m wondering if there is anything I could add to perk it up a bit … 🤔
EDIT: Added a goodly dose of chopped rosemary to the just taken off the heat soup - should still be bit enough to ‘steep’ the rosemary and then I can blend it in later 😊 The rosemary is sooooo spicy and oily atm with all the sun, it’s off the charts! 🤩

KK

Cheery_Daff

Excellent washing machine news, hooray! 🥳

SandyShores

I have a lentil and tomato soup that uses cumin, so maybe a bit of spice paste? You've reminded me to start making soups for lunch too. Do you batch them up in individual portions for the freezer? I think I may need to buy a few more containers.

ps - great news about the washing machine. Ours is 6 years old (which feels quite new as our old one was ancient), but it has a few tantrums about spinning randomly. I've emptied out paperclips and a screw etc. on occasion.

KajiKita

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82074698#Comment_82074698

I bought a couple of different types of container from land of lake or big river - one is a push down lid and the other is screw top. Both work well and across two batches of soup (so I’m not eating the same thing EVERY day) I use them all. 😊 They are easier to fill (jam funnel), store in the freezer and devant into my soup mug than the flatter takeaway containers. I was worried about the upfront cost if I didn’t use them, but I think I have already had my money’s worth out of them 😊

KK

KajiKita

I have been running some numbers this morning … as you do when procrastinating …. (I'm bored! 😉) and I have deduced that:

- With my steady OPs of £210 pcm that I am managing atm, they will take another year and 9 months off the term
- If I manage an extra £10 pcm OP'd regularly, it would take another month off the term (I need to get back into surveys etc ….!)
- By the time we get to re-mortgaging in late 2030 (I will be just coming up to 60, Mr KK will be 65.5), we will be down to a balance of c. £125K
- It looks like I could potentially take that mortgage on by myself if Mr KK needs to stop working or work less by then - he doesn't get his state pension until 67, but is already starting to creak / slow down.

The above is still a little depressing but juuuuuust starting to feel doable 😊 and it has stopped me reacting to an offer from Tr0p1c that came through this morning - I shall wait a while longer! 😉

Right, time to do some actual work …. 🤣

KK

Brie

60 in 2030? My! You are a spring chicken!!!

Inspired by comments here I cleaned our washing machine a bit and came up with a missing button from a duvet cover and one of those collar stiffeners from one of the OH's good shirts.

KajiKita

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82075162#Comment_82075162

It's only 4 years from now!! 🤣🤣😉

It's amazing what our washing machines put up with from us …. 😊

KK