Planning Ahead

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90/365: the patio after the first wash ... I'd forgotten how much colour there is in the paving

R arrived bright and early to start on the patio. We'd originally planned that, with neighbour S's help, he'd move the rest of the pots out of the garden and then pressure wash and repoint the entire patio in one go but that was changed. R decided to tackle the bigger, empty, area nearest the house first and when that's completely finished they'll move the pots back to their proper places and then sort out the bottom area. That way, the pots only have to be moved once. 

I've revised my budget for the next year. There's lots I need to do with any spare cash and lots that I'd like to do, and it looks like I'll be able to do most of it if I compromise on the holiday side of things. I'll still be able to afford some day trips but my priority is to sort out the more expensive purchases for home and garden - if prices continue to rise I may not be able to afford them next year!

Plans for the garden include purchasing the arches, water butt(s), metal trellising, hanging basket brackets, the annual plants, and sorting out the water pressure to the external tap on the back wall of the house. S has generously offered to fit everything for me which will help to keep the costs down, and I've already agreed the price with M (plumber, not gardener) for the tap, etc. Plans for the home include a new hoover, moving a radiator, a ceiling fan for the bedroom, picture frames, smaller dining table (but I am selling the current one) and, a pull out larder unit. I'll ask my nephew to fit the ceiling fan but will have to find a tradesman for the pull out larder unit as that may involve changing the existing arch between the dining room and the kitchen. 

I'm hoping to begin some of this in April, starting with the new trellis and hanging basket brackets, and then in early May ask M to return to move the radiator in the dining room and sort out the external tap. We haven't measured up for the arches yet so I'm not sure of the total cost but am hoping that I can afford to get those in place in late May/early June as well as installing the ceiling fan in the bedroom.

The garden purchases are all part of my long term plan for the garden and the home ones are related to my 2022 goals, i.e. to address the things I've been tolerating. It does mean that there won't be enough free cash for the holidays I was sort of planning just yet, as I don't want to dip into my savings, but I'm okay with that decision. For one thing I want to see what happens to the Covid numbers now that LFT are no longer free or compulsory, although I haven't quite got my head round how they'll keep an accurate count when people stop testing and reporting. I know that the home and garden changes combined with several day trips will make a big difference to my emotional well being. However, I also think my OLW for 2022, "adventure", needs to be saved for next year so instead I'll be revisiting the one from 2018 ... fulfil.