tag:1111days.blog.co.uk,2009-11-09:/We're planning on paying off all our debts and saving enough money so that in 1111 days we can buy a property with a bit of land and start living the life we currently dream of. Are we mad? Maybe, but we want somewhere that we can grow some vegetables and concentrate on our craftwork and on each other. Share our journey as we work our way towards our dreams.MokoFeed2009-11-09T13:18:12+01:00tag:1111days.blog.co.uk,2006-05-11:/2006/05/11/899_days_to_go~790713/1111days2006-05-11T06:29:06+02:002006-05-11T06:29:06+02:00 <p>how odd, I posted yesterday, as 900 days seeme d a good time to do so, but the post has vanished. Ah well, if it re-appears and I'm repeating myself I do apologise.</p> <p>Its very busy here, we are still on track we think, have just paid off the Ikea card so thats one more small debt out of the way, but I suspect I'm over working a bit. We have a wool festival coming up and I'm spending every hour I'm not at work knitting and generally preparing, and I don't feel very ready yet.</p> <p>I really need to swap my mobile contract to a PAYG which will save us £25 a month, (and believe me its amazing how much time that would take off the mortgage), but I just havent found time to pick up a cheap sim card, and I'm so clueless about what needs doing. I think that can wait until after the show, though its money down the drain in teh meantime. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://1111days.blog.co.uk/2006/05/11/899_days_to_go~790713/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:1111days.blog.co.uk,2006-03-13:/2006/03/13/958_days_to_go~639923/1111days2006-03-13T17:49:19+01:002006-03-13T17:49:19+01:00 <p>and things are looking good. Just done my accounts to date so the end of year panic won't be too bad, and it looks as if we'll have turned a £500 profit this year on the craftwork. Doesnt sound much, but we also have a lot of materials and stock in hand, so letting the taxman near £500 is plenty thank-you-very much.</p> <p>Also looks as though, just maybe, a circular sock machine is coming my way. Wanted on of these for ages and I want to start making socks with local, organically produced wool rather than having the family running round in cheap nasty socks that were probably made by child labour in a sweatshop. Course, these machines are antique and will take a bit of getting used to, but I reckon that once I'm through my current wool stash I should be about ready to send some fleeces off for commercial spinning tomy specifications.</p> <p>Knitted a sheep shaped hat today, which was fun! Back to work tomorrow, not so much fun! I achieve so much when I'm not at work <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://1111days.blog.co.uk/2006/03/13/958_days_to_go~639923/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:1111days.blog.co.uk,2006-02-23:/2006/02/23/day~587476/1111days2006-02-23T19:54:31+01:002006-02-23T19:54:31+01:00 <p>Not posted for a while, mostly cos we've been up to our ears doing the living history fair again, which went very well indeed. I'm fairly certain that I can now expect a certain basic level of sales at those which we can write into the Grand Plan. I do however have a stinking cold, and its half term, so nothing new there. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://1111days.blog.co.uk/2006/02/23/day~587476/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:1111days.blog.co.uk,2006-01-30:/2006/01/30/day~518535/1111days2006-01-30T10:20:46+01:002006-01-30T10:20:46+01:00 <p>Day 1000! Started with a nasty shock letter from the bank telling us the mortgage had bounced, but a frantic phone call later revealed that they had taken it the same day as my wages went in, and of course they take money out first thing and credit us last thing. All sorted now, but I bet they slap us a fee for the letter. <img src="/img/smilies/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>But all in all, we are 1/11 of the way through the 1111 day plan and we have paid off one of the debts and are chipping away at the others steadily. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://1111days.blog.co.uk/2006/01/30/day~518535/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:1111days.blog.co.uk,2006-01-19:/2006/01/19/one_debt_down~486889/1111days2006-01-19T19:34:52+01:002006-01-19T19:34:52+01:00 <p>Day 1011, and the first debt has been paid off! Had a letter from the bank today to say that a loan that seems to have been around 'forever' is now clear! YAY!!! So, that means £170 a month more to pay into the mortgage. Freedom here we come... </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://1111days.blog.co.uk/2006/01/19/one_debt_down~486889/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:1111days.blog.co.uk,2006-01-14:/2006/01/14/title~470820/1111days2006-01-14T19:09:45+01:002006-01-14T19:09:45+01:00 <p>Had an unexpected boost on the way to clearing things today, read the gas meter and found the gas people owed us £250 approx! So that pays the next couple of bills. Very pleased about that. 1016 days to go by the way. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://1111days.blog.co.uk/2006/01/14/title~470820/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:1111days.blog.co.uk,2006-01-13:/2006/01/13/title~468529/1111days2006-01-13T22:15:52+01:002006-01-13T22:15:52+01:00 <p>1017 days to go, has been a tiring week. A house we really fancied came on the market, but at twice what we could possibly afford or would have expected, so that was a bit of a disappointment. I suppose the plus side is that we really are not quite at the stage to be thinking of moving, but the house was perfect in so many ways. Ah well. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://1111days.blog.co.uk/2006/01/13/title~468529/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:1111days.blog.co.uk,2005-12-28:/2005/12/28/title~422289/1111days2005-12-28T17:35:06+01:002005-12-28T17:35:06+01:00 <p>Been back at work for 2 days now, Yule is already fading into a pleasant memory! The hand knitted socks and scarves and the homebrew went down well as presents, so that was a huge relief. Hoping to spend very little money this january and I must get the garden dug or there wil be no veg later this year.<br> 1033 days to go, and I feel as if we're doing ok </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://1111days.blog.co.uk/2005/12/28/title~422289/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:1111days.blog.co.uk,2005-12-20:/2005/12/20/title~401180/1111days2005-12-20T09:11:36+01:002005-12-20T09:11:36+01:00 <p>Well, its Yule eve, and the house is almost tidy. Got up in a rush to get the binbags out as the bin men rattled down the street, so haveing a quick cuppa and will then get on with sorting out the last of the laundry. Think I may have drunk one whisly too many last night, which was my own silly fault really... </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://1111days.blog.co.uk/2005/12/20/title~401180/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:1111days.blog.co.uk,2005-12-18:/2005/12/18/peak_oil~396833/1111days2005-12-18T18:54:14+01:002005-12-18T18:54:14+01:00 <p><a href="http://www.downsizer.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=191">http://www.downsizer.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=191</a></p> <p>This is the most concise overview I have seen to a very worrying fact that many of our governments seem to be ignoring. We are now at the midpoint where we are halfway through the oil reserves on earth, it can only get 'worse' as we continue to use up this finite resource.</p> <p>However, its also an opportunity. One of my goals on my 1111 day oddysey is to learn to be less reliant on the 'commercial norm', so, if I can conciously choose not to use my car on my days off, or if I can choose to eat food that hasnt travelled halfway round the earth, then I am making personal choices that perpare me for the day, about 30years hence, when there is no oil left. Hopefully, almost everyone else will do the same and the current 30 year supply will be eked out to 300 or so as we gradually become less reliant on it. But I have to make that first step, becaiuse no-one else can make it for me.<br> Sobering stuff. Am I equal to the challenge? </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://1111days.blog.co.uk/2005/12/18/peak_oil~396833/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:1111days.blog.co.uk,2005-12-18:/2005/12/18/title~395784/1111days2005-12-18T12:10:57+01:002005-12-18T12:10:57+01:00 <p>1043 days to go, and today is starting very slowly. I deliberately didnt set the alarm clock as its been a busy few weeks and it is the first day of our Yule break. But I woke up with a nosebleed so ended up staying in bed much longer than I anticipated to give everything a chance to settle down.</p> <p>Currently still sitting in bed with the laptop and the cat, but I really will get up in a second.</p> <p>Anyway, today is housework and last orders day so I can get all the business type things finished up tomorrow morning and concentrate on the festive season. I'm hoping for time to get on with knitting mums scarf as well.</p> <p>As far as the Grand Plan goes, the tidying down for Yule is our way of starting to declutter again, once we are back from visting relatives at Xmas I'm going to start doing Flylady again, because I know that annoying though some of the reminders can be, it does help me to get the necessary jobs done and I really do want next year to be the major decluttering year. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://1111days.blog.co.uk/2005/12/18/title~395784/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:1111days.blog.co.uk,2005-12-17:/2005/12/17/title~394546/1111days2005-12-17T19:21:46+01:002005-12-17T19:21:46+01:00 <p>Whew, just did my last day at work before Yule! Absolutely shattered, and still got orders to fill and stuff to knit before the various festivities. Have also got a new laptop (xmas present!) so I need to transfer all sorts of stuff over including my count down software cos I have no idea what day I'm on right now.<br> More soon! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://1111days.blog.co.uk/2005/12/17/title~394546/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:1111days.blog.co.uk,2005-12-10:/2005/12/10/title~375025/1111days2005-12-10T10:03:15+01:002005-12-10T10:03:15+01:00 <p>1052 days to go, and I have the most stinking cold. I had to miss a day at work yeasterday, which I always feel really guilty for doing, and I'm trying to be constructive today but its all taking sooo long!<br> Trying to do housework for an hour now, then will make some soap then settle down to put stuff on ebay as its a 5p listing day today. Have done really well with some items this year, but need to step up the selling if I want to start showing a small profit to go towards the Grand Plan. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://1111days.blog.co.uk/2005/12/10/title~375025/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:1111days.blog.co.uk,2005-12-03:/2005/12/03/title~357918/1111days2005-12-03T18:17:40+01:002005-12-03T18:19:10+01:00 <p>Spent the afternoon ordering pretty much all of the midwinter presents. As well as the knitted socks and scarves, I've got in a wholesale batch of bathbombs (yes, I know you're meant to make your own, but I'm running out of time), some unscented incense sticks, some pretty little cloth bags to fill with lavender and I'm going to do little goodie assortments to accompany the knitted stuff. Hopefully that should do the trick quite nicely. Have also ordered himself some wood turning chisels and some Yew logs, he particularly likes turning yew, and it is such a beautiful wood. Also ordered a few supplies towards the next re-enactors fair in February. So, the credit card is looking sick this month, but all in all Yule/Xmas/Midwinter (spot the multifaith household here!) is looking moderately economical.<br> We're starting the major pre-Yule house blitz tomorrow,and also making the winter Salami(the mixture is making the fridge small amazing as we speak) and I'm halfway down a gin and tonic. So all is well with my world, and I must get on with knitting the current pair of socks! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://1111days.blog.co.uk/2005/12/03/title~357918/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:1111days.blog.co.uk,2005-11-29:/2005/11/29/title~348048/1111days2005-11-29T21:50:54+01:002005-11-29T21:50:54+01:00 <p>The banquet was fantastic! Serious food, paddling in the sea at midnight, mead, party games and more curtain fabric (the costumes) than should decently be seen in public. Roads were very snowy getting there, but we had borrowed a 4wd from my MiL so that was all ok.<br> 1063 days to go, and the xmas orders are still coming in fairly steadily. We seem to be creeping towards being a bit more financially settled!</p> <p>So far have knitted 3 pairs of socks and half a scarf towards xmas prezzies, only half a scarf and 3 more pairs of socks to go! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://1111days.blog.co.uk/2005/11/29/title~348048/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:1111days.blog.co.uk,2005-11-23:/2005/11/23/title~332577/1111days2005-11-23T22:01:04+01:002005-11-23T22:01:04+01:00 <p>The dress is nearly done- starting to look a bit better, though I need to wear nice slimming undies underneath. What d'ya think? Will the fattest elf in history pass muster??<a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/1/1111days/img/galadrial-nearlyfinished.jpg" title="Galadrial dress nearly-finished"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/1/1111days/img/galadrial-nearlyfinished_small.jpg" border="0" alt="Galadrial dress nearly-finished"></a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://1111days.blog.co.uk/2005/11/23/title~332577/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:1111days.blog.co.uk,2005-11-20:/2005/11/20/title~324082/1111days2005-11-20T22:09:23+01:002005-11-20T22:09:23+01:00 <p>1072 days to go. Have had a busy weekend, went home to my parents for Das birthday yesterday, had a nice morning dragging him round the bookshelves in the charity shops then a steak lunch, gave mum a lesson in how to use Ebay in the evening. Had to be up at 6am this morning to get back to work by 10, and the fog on the M4 was hideous. Got to the toll booths on the Severn bridge and nearly drove right into a bollard, couldnt even see the kiosk coming up. Anyway, got back safely, did my day at work, got home, ate dinner and have cut out a cloak that I'll hopefully sew tomorrow (banquet stuff again)<br> Its nice to be home, the cat says he's been horribly neglected in the 2 days I've been away (don't believe a word of it myself!) </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://1111days.blog.co.uk/2005/11/20/title~324082/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:1111days.blog.co.uk,2005-11-16:/2005/11/16/title~312976/1111days2005-11-16T18:19:47+01:002005-11-16T18:19:47+01:00 <p>Just been to get a whole new set of tyres for the car. Went to Kwikfit, and to be fair they were very nice to me and did the car in less that half an hour. Just settling down with a well earned gin and tonic now after a long day at work, must knit at least one sock tonight as well. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://1111days.blog.co.uk/2005/11/16/title~312976/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:1111days.blog.co.uk,2005-11-14:/2005/11/14/title~306508/1111days2005-11-14T11:41:58+01:002005-11-14T11:41:58+01:00 <p>Heres the really rough first image of the dress, got loads of embroidery to do on it, plus obviously I look like a hag at the moment (will need industrial make-up to pull this one off I suspect), but I think it has potential<img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/1/1111days/img/gladdyrough.jpg" border="0" alt="Unfinished Galadrial costume"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://1111days.blog.co.uk/2005/11/14/title~306508/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:1111days.blog.co.uk,2005-11-14:/2005/11/14/title~306279/1111days2005-11-14T09:47:00+01:002005-11-14T09:47:00+01:00 <p>1078 days to go, and things are looking good this morning. Had a lovely nights sleep, and yesterday I started working on my Galadrial costume for a banquet in a couple of weeks. Will post a pic later, its modelled on the film version, but with a 'winter' twist, as this banquet is in a hall in West Wales in November! So, all cream wool with an ice white voile overlay with a snowflake detail done in beads. So far I'm very pleased with it.</p> <p>On the financial front, we had a fantastic run of auctions on ebay, items going for far more than we anticipated, so that helps, and we have just checked our oldest loan and it has only two months left to run. Will be a relief when that is out of the way as we'll then put the money that was going on it straight into reducing the mortgage, and we should see things really start to improve.</p> <p>Off to the post office with parcels in a moment, will try to get that picture loaded this afternoon <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://1111days.blog.co.uk/2005/11/14/title~306279/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:1111days.blog.co.uk,2005-11-11:/2005/11/11/title~300795/1111days2005-11-11T21:36:37+01:002005-11-11T21:36:37+01:00 <p>So tired tonight. I should be embroidering a dress but after a day at work I'm just schlumped on the sofa playing with the computer. I did finish the tasteless socks today, and started knitting a pair for a friends baby, and put some wool in teh machine to dye it dark madder brown for a cloak, but nothing at all constuctive beyond that. Have to work tomorrow as well, which is a bit of a pain, but at least Sunday is free, so I can finish the dress and start my banquet costume.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://1111days.blog.co.uk/2005/11/11/title~300795/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:1111days.blog.co.uk,2005-11-08:/2005/11/08/title~292243/1111days2005-11-08T19:39:54+01:002005-11-08T19:39:54+01:00 <p>Got the house to myself this evening, himself is out roleplaying and I'm torn between finishing that dress, finishing knitting a pair of socks, starting my Galadrial costume for a banquet in a couple of weeks or having a long bath and an early night!<br> Spent the day working on a strategy document at work, which was a bit mind numbing, so maybe a first draft of the Galadrial costume will provide a little light relief. Not convinced its going to be that successful, I'm not fat, but neither am I willowy and straight up and down. oh well... </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://1111days.blog.co.uk/2005/11/08/title~292243/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:1111days.blog.co.uk,2005-11-07:/2005/11/07/title~288732/1111days2005-11-07T09:54:40+01:002005-11-07T09:54:40+01:00 <p>1085 days to go, and the snot fairy seems to be paying me a visit! I feel perfectly ok, but my nose is streaming (makes the rain-leak in the bathroom seem positively mild by comparison)<br> Did well yesterday though, got a dress made apart from the hemming, also started the second of a pair of socks as a present for MILs birthday next month.<br> Himself is just wandering out to the kitchen to cook breakfast, we're having the first of this years home cured wild boar bacon this morning, with eggs and waffles, yummy! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://1111days.blog.co.uk/2005/11/07/title~288732/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:1111days.blog.co.uk,2005-11-06:/2005/11/06/title~286464/1111days2005-11-06T09:36:15+01:002005-11-06T09:36:15+01:00 <p>I'm fed up with this rain. The house is leaking, and whilst its not so bad that a couple of buckets won't deal with it, the leaks are in areas that we can't do much about, and seem to be caused by driving rain getting up under gutters and eaves rather than any basic lack of repair. Its all a bit tedious.</p> <p>I think I'm going to have a sewing day today, I have a dress that needs making, so I'm going to spend half an hour tidying the lounge so I can get the fabric out, then settle down and get that out of the way. Its a commission that I'd been putting off, and I know it will be perfectly nice to work on when I get going. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://1111days.blog.co.uk/2005/11/06/title~286464/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:1111days.blog.co.uk,2005-11-05:/2005/11/05/title~284575/1111days2005-11-05T11:55:18+01:002005-11-05T11:55:18+01:00 <p>Morning everyone. Hooray for days off <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"><br> I've been really good today and have done the laundry, the dishes and started tidying away the stock left over from the fair. Now its all tidily boxed up I can see that I really did sell lots of stuff, which is a great feeling. </p> <p>I've decided that everyone is getting hand knitted socks this xmas, so I splurged yesterday and ordered a complete new set of double pointed knitting needles and I'm hoping they come next week so I can get cracking in the evenings.</p> <p>Today though, its housework, housework housework, but I'm quite enjoying seeing the floor emerge from under the wreckage!</p> <p>We had a fab evening last night, no TV, lots of candles and wine and a tidy lounge, we just sat and talked and played old LPs. Wouldnt mind doing that more often, it was so civilized. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://1111days.blog.co.uk/2005/11/05/title~284575/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:1111days.blog.co.uk,2005-11-02:/2005/11/02/title~279036/1111days2005-11-02T20:29:13+01:002005-11-02T20:29:13+01:00 <p>Another busy day, was at work by 7.20 and didnt get home until 6. Still getting nosebleeds so skipped dance class tonight, so I'm languishing with the computer for a few minutes before I get on with sorting out an order and photographing some stuff for ebay. Really ought to put some laundry on as well, but I'm feeling a bit lazy, so might try to persuade himself to do that <img src="/img/smilies/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://1111days.blog.co.uk/2005/11/02/title~279036/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:1111days.blog.co.uk,2005-11-01:/2005/11/01/title~276236/1111days2005-11-01T18:46:51+01:002005-11-01T18:46:51+01:00 <p>Don't know whats wrong with me today, keep getting nosebleeds. Had a phase of these years ago, but nothing for ages. All very annoying.</p> <p>Anyway, 1091 days to go, got a few orders to fill this evening, otherwise going to take it easy </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://1111days.blog.co.uk/2005/11/01/title~276236/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:1111days.blog.co.uk,2005-10-31:/2005/10/31/title~273700/1111days2005-10-31T17:42:20+01:002005-10-31T17:42:20+01:00 <p>BLOODY KNITTING MACHINES! I cant work the damn thing, it keeps going pearshaped. And all my nice calm has gone out the window. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://1111days.blog.co.uk/2005/10/31/title~273700/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:1111days.blog.co.uk,2005-10-31:/2005/10/31/title~272532/1111days2005-10-31T09:07:15+01:002005-10-31T09:07:15+01:00 <p>Feel much more refreshed this morning, and looking at my little count-down calender on my desktop I have 1092 days to go of the 1111, and whats more, we are out of the 3 yrs something or other, and into 2 yrs something or other, so that feels good.</p> <p>I know I can't hope to make the sort of money I made at the fair over the weekend all the time, but if I can work out how to do that three or four times a year with some reliability it would make a valuable part of the long term plan.</p> <p>Having got that out of teh way for the moment, the next step is to start shifting some of the clutter on Ebay, in the hope of making more space in the house.(better for my overall sanity plus more chance of finishing projects if they don't immediately get buried!)</p> <p>First though, I have to sort out some parcels, and bank the takings from yesterday and pay some bills. Its a nice feeling knowing that I can pay the car tax today in cash rather than having to brandish the plastic again <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>Plus, my new knitting machine turned up whilst I was away, its a Bond Classic, so very basic, manual machine, but if it lets me knit up some of the yarn stash into xmas presents without too much pain it will have been well worth it. I have no idea how to use it, but I'm planning on getting the jobs done this morning so I can settle down with it and experiment this afternoon.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://1111days.blog.co.uk/2005/10/31/title~272532/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:1111days.blog.co.uk,2005-10-30:/2005/10/30/title~271986/1111days2005-10-30T21:52:21+01:002005-10-31T09:01:14+01:00 <p>Back from the show, did REALLY WELL! Quite scarily good, though I am totally knackered now. Well worth doing again next year, and now a definate part of the Grand Plan. Sold lots of everything, had a great time with nice people, and want to sleep for a week now. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://1111days.blog.co.uk/2005/10/30/title~271986/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>