Friday Five!

Friday again!

1) The neon has finally gone to fish Valhalla. The corys are thriving and will need a tank in about a month. Hopefully I'll have one set up and cycled enough for them, by the time they need to come out of the nursery.

2) We are going out for tea in a bit. It's a nice walk, and the weather seems ok - sunny and breezy. Although the last time I was out it was sunny and started hailing on us at the same time when we were about a mile from the house....

3) Our upstairs neighbors had several large boxes from Amazon, and the driver left them with us as they were not home. It's been two days and they are still in my front hallway. I have Ikea delivering modular shelving tomorrow and need the space. I guess I'll go stick a note through their door, upstairs, to come get the darned boxes. I have heard people moving around up there, so I know someone is home. The boxes are too big for me to lift, so they're just going to have to come get them. (I would ordinarily not accepted packages for them, as I would the other neighbors, but the Daughter answered the door and signed for them.) The last time they left a box here for a week before sending the teenager down to get it.

4) Cancelling our "shipped direct to you from the farm" veggie box because we simply don't use up all that veg before it goes off.  It's a really good deal, and a larger family or one that eats more potatoes might do extremely well by the service. All organic, too. Lovely veg.

5) I have received my April pension after there was a problem (systemwide with the Uni) about getting direct deposit made. Gave me quite a scare to look in my bank account on the 1st and expect to see it there, only to not see it there! Have also got my SS direct deposit in my UK bank, so I can now file my UK self-assessment as soon as it's time to do so and get it out of the way. My IRS forms have been sitting here, filled out, for two months, waiting for the Daughter to do hers. (She wants to send hers in the same FedEx as mine.) She's got one more week, then I'm sending mine, as the refund will be paying for my new fishtank and stuff....

I am still very tired. Taking my vitamins seems to be making no difference. Perhaps it's stress? The only things - other than my washing machine going out again yesterday - I have to stress about are aphids on my plants and Brexit. And, of course, the Daughter. I don't seem to be very resiliant these days. (Or capable of spelling properly.). Maybe it's just old age?

I'm never first either! haha and I usually don't even have a full quality 5 to give (and still don't really!)

I'm surprised you keep using Tesco JF! haha  I would've lost my patience with them ages ago! I could go for an espresso right now....An espresso martini..... mmmm

I'm never first either! haha and I usually don't even have a full quality 5 to give (and still don't really!)

I'm surprised you keep using Tesco JF! haha  I would've lost my patience with them ages ago! I could go for an espresso right now....An espresso martini..... mmmm

I like the sound of the potatoes and eggs!

XoD - so much exciting stuff
JF - woo hoo!  Hubby at home.  Sorry about the Bristol trip.  But as you say, I'm sure it'll be nice once there.
Nan - so many fishies!

FRIDAY!  FRIDAY!  FRIDAY!

1.  I have ZERO plans for the weekend.  We had plans every single weekend day in March and it was exhausting.  Really looking forward to a bit of home time this weekend.

2.  Met up with some friends last night and parked in the Waitrose car park in town.  They've changed it and I'm pretty certain I'll be receiving a parking ticket in the post soon.  Boo.   

3.  Having a dilemma on holidays.  I'll post elsewhere as it's long.   

4.  Two weeks until our stay at a working farm for Easter weekend.  Really looking forward to it!

5.  Had my verruca treated again yesterday with a new treatment.  Hurts like a mo-fo today.  Not nice.  Would be fine if I didn't need to stand or walk ever.   

I like the sound of the potatoes and eggs!

Now I'm craving home fries....

I'm never first either! haha and I usually don't even have a full quality 5 to give (and still don't really!)

I'm surprised you keep using Tesco JF! haha  I would've lost my patience with them ages ago! I could go for an espresso right now....An espresso martini..... mmmm

It was my first Tesco shop in months (since well before Christmas).  We did lose our patience, but there are some things we can't get locally, and they started to add up, so I did a Tesco shop to stock up on those.  (We were out of port for our cheeeeese platter, and Aldi hasn't been stocking it lately.   )  Decided to take a chance, and it worked out.  We should be good for a while again.

I like the sound of the potatoes and eggs!

Now I'm craving home fries....

The potatoes, eggs and toast were excellent (eggsellent?), as was the coffee (double espresso with two sugars). Today is a good day. 

Seems like I might be first again this week!....Odd...hah

1. Definitely need to get a move on packing this weekend. Not that we are moving in the next few weeks (that we know of yet) but we got the paperwork back from the solicitors where they sellers have stated they want to move by the BEGINNING of May 2019. We were told their retirement home was aiming for end of May so we may end up somewhere in the middle... Don't want to leave it all to the last minute.

2. Hopefully completely finishing the kitchen this weekend. Husband reckons one more long day should get almost everything out of the way (will just leave the lights needing to be wired in for under the counter.

3. With the packing will (hopefully) come a lot of binge-ing. We need to de-clutter and this is the best time to do it.

4. Had some EXCELLENT pie last night at a work do to celebrate accomplishments of the programme I'm currently on. Mmmmm

5. Pizza Friday! (the end of the day cannot come soon enough...)

Ugh... packing.  The tedious part of getting a new house.  BUT it is an opportunity to sift through all your stuff and get rid of things you don't need.  Pizza sounds wonderful!  We had amazing weather yesterday and I sat out in the garden in the sun for about an hour after I put the shopping away... summer is coming, and pizza oven will be in use soon.  YAY!

My five:

1. We have a toaster!  Amazon had one on offer that looked pretty good, so we bought it.  I love "skillet toast", but popping a slice of bread or two into the toaster and having toast a short time later cannot be beat.  (We had a toaster when I first came to the UK, but it broke before we moved... since we knew we were going to buy a house and move, we've put off buying a replacement 'til we saw our new kitchen... and then we didn't end up having a kitchen, so we put it off even longer.  But we wait no longer!)

2.  I have "invested" in premium bonds.  I told my husband about it when he got home from work, and he laughed and said, "That's what old people like to get!"  I explained it all, and pointed out that interest in banks is practically nill, anyway, and then he said, "Maybe I should put some of my money there, too..."  Proselytizing for NSandI is what I do.  *strut*

3.  I have officially caught up with buying the car, paying for insurance, paying last year's and this year's council tax, last year's and this year's water rates, and the last of my visa applications and citizenship.  I have no more tight budgeting.  My accounts are all in the black, and the only thing I have looming is £30 of road tax and whatever my second year of car insurance is going to be.  My first year was only £500-something, so it won't be as much as that.  Yay!  (This is why I've been looking for places to put my money.  Lloyd's monthly saver accounts aren't going to cut it anymore.)

4.  I had to replenish Booze Corner.  That's helping with my "where do I put my savings?" issues.

5.  My inlaws served ham with tan gravy again.  I didn't notice it the first time, but it was overwhelming and clashy this time... they cooked the ham with orange, then served it with gravy!  I want to go all John Torode on them and scream, "You have too many things going on in this plate!  These flavours do not belong together."  Other than that, it was a very nice visit.  Oh, and my MIL gave me an oregano* in a little pot from her garden, and now it is in my garden.  Yay!  (My husband did not go home empty-handed... his dad gave him an old hand plane from his workshop.)

* She has herbs in her garden, but I think they are for decoration.

Ham with tan gravy? especially when there are hints of orange? THAT is a bold choice! lol

Definitely loving how sunny it's getting and that it's staying lighter for longer out now I wish it were this way year round!

Definitely loving how sunny it's getting and that it's staying lighter for longer out now I wish it were this way year round!

Me too! The garden is starting to look lovely now! 

Me too! The garden is starting to look lovely now!

Having a south-facing garden is a bit of a sun trap....but I absolutely LOVE it. Means we get to make the absolute most with our outside time during this time of year.

FRIDAY!  FRIDAY!  FRIDAY!

1.  Trying to search for a summer holiday and just got an infuriating email from an agency that books a home.  They stated they would reply via a different address.  The different address stated to look at their website.  I replied that I was still trying to determine if the home had air conditioning and a baby cot.  They replied stating:

"Does the home have air conditioning?"  No - if it did it would be stated on the website

"Are you able to provide a baby cot?"  No - if it did it would be stated on the website.

   There goes my business - not because they don't have the things but the rudeness.  A LOT of homes don't have every little thing listed....  Nothing wrong with enquiring. 

2.  People at work in high places who don't have a donkeys about how to do business.  I mean shocking.  SHOCKING.  These people should not be allowed to be in their positions.

3.  Yesterday I learned about a mustard we are marketing.  Two varieties.  One is £20 a bottle (125 grams) the other is £30 a bottle (also 125 grams).  FOR MUSTARD.

4.  Looking forward to the Great Clearout of 2019 with the delivery of the 8 yard skip.

5.  Baby boy is ill once again.  Had a fever since Monday.   

OH NO KF! I hope he gets over this one much quicker! Poor baby!

That price for mustard is absolutely outrageous.....I don't like any type of mustard enough to pay that much! Also, yes. Totally agree that the approach from the holiday home people was just beyond rude. Definitely not somebody you want to give your custom to.

3.  Yesterday I learned about a mustard we are marketing.  Two varieties.  One is £20 a bottle (125 grams) the other is £30 a bottle (also 125 grams).  FOR MUSTARD.

4.  Looking forward to the Great Clearout of 2019 with the delivery of the 8 yard skip.

5.  Baby boy is ill once again.  Had a fever since Monday.   

If you get more free samples of those mustards than you need, I'm happy to take one of each off your hands.  Or either one.

Monday was a long time ago... he's been sick all week?!  The poor thing...!  I hope he perks up soon.

Ham with tan gravy? especially when there are hints of orange? THAT is a bold choice! lol

Bold was the word I was thinking, totally.  Bold.  *headshake*

Me too! The garden is starting to look lovely now! 

My garden is full of dandelions and daisies.  And some horsetail, just to make it fun.  One day, we'll get it all under control.

Yup, took him to the docs today just due to his recent issues and hospitalisations.  Got the "it's the virus" stamp that has always been administered.... 

No free mustard samples floating around.  I'm intrigued to try it.  After all, pound for pound it's far more expensive than the best tequilas out there (probably not, but you know what I mean - for those members who can't take a joke).  How good can this mustard possibly be?