We seem to be the last place to get snow which is good because it doesn't take much to snow us in.Our house is at the end of a track up a steep hill and then down a small hill which means to get out the reverse-of course!The small hill always catches the snow and although at the moment it's not lying everywhere the track here is white.Not that I was planning on going out in my car anyway-trying to minimize the mileage this year.
I have my meals planned out for the week
Monday-tuna pasta
Tues-tuna sauce pizza
Wed-ham soup made tues as I'm going to light the kitchen stove
Thurs-salmon fillets mini roasts and veg
Fri-I'm out so other half will have something and mash
Sat-all here haggis mash and neeps
Sun-roast
My lovely local butcher is going to make gluten free haggis :) and sausages so I'll get some for the freezer.
I'm due to go to Oban on Wed weather permitting so I'll see if I get anyhing reduced for the freezer for Fri and the roast when I visit Mr Tesco.My mum will come as well so that's 2 households shopping and a trip to the dentist,but it is a 70 mile round trip!
Atleast my cupboard will be full of Value tins once more...
By the way it's still snowing......
Monday 21 January 2013
Sunday 20 January 2013
Frugal update
All going to plan so far but it's quite weird having my money in an envelope not my purse.
However,itwas nice filling my car up with fuel and knowing Ihad the money saved already!
However,itwas nice filling my car up with fuel and knowing Ihad the money saved already!
No snow here
It's been a while but I'm back.We've had no snow here-well a couple of flakes a couple of days but that's about it.I'm sure this is because this year I have long life milk and plenty of plans of what to do when snowed in.
Last year due to high winds we were without power for 60 hours-and no phone either.When you see it on the news 60 hours doesn't seem to be a long time but it is.The phone came back on and we kept being told we would be reconnected shortly-but we weren't!I bought a lantern this year as reading by headtorch is certainly a skill...The worst thing about no power here is no water as it's pumped into the house so every time the weather is bad I fill the kettle ,pans and my 5l container just to be sure.
The deer were very near the house yesterday,always a sign it's very cold and unless I make a move towards them they just carry on grazing.They make me want to be vegetarian again :)..perhaps I'll give it some thought-gluten free and vegetarian now that might be challenging!
Last year due to high winds we were without power for 60 hours-and no phone either.When you see it on the news 60 hours doesn't seem to be a long time but it is.The phone came back on and we kept being told we would be reconnected shortly-but we weren't!I bought a lantern this year as reading by headtorch is certainly a skill...The worst thing about no power here is no water as it's pumped into the house so every time the weather is bad I fill the kettle ,pans and my 5l container just to be sure.
The deer were very near the house yesterday,always a sign it's very cold and unless I make a move towards them they just carry on grazing.They make me want to be vegetarian again :)..perhaps I'll give it some thought-gluten free and vegetarian now that might be challenging!
Wednesday 9 January 2013
Travel envelope started
I am very pleased to now have £20 in my 'travel' envelope.I sold some of the boys old clothes on'Things for Sale in........' after a request I saw AND they were collected so that was really good.This has nearly paid for my first night away in a couple of weeks as I got a deal and room for £25.
The less for trips that gets put on plastic the better-it'll be nice to have cash for spending money.
I did a little bit outside today but it was a bit chilly and the ground still wet,even in the yard but I reckon a little is better than nothing.There are lots of things need doing but overhauling the water supply and building a woodstore are top of the list-that'll keep other half busy ......
The less for trips that gets put on plastic the better-it'll be nice to have cash for spending money.
Tuesday 8 January 2013
back to normal
Life is slowly returnung back to normal after the holidays.Everyone is in the right place and for the next couple of weeks it's just me and the dog again.
I've managed to stick to the meal plan,so far which is a miracle in itself but otherwise if I don't I end up with too much of some stuff and running out of other things.
Just before Christmas I bought a mini sewing machine on a deall at Tesco Direct and actually managed to get it working-at first try!!I'm going to try and make some scenty things for the boys trainers-anything will help the smell.....
I'm up and down the hill with wheely bins at the moment.Paper Tues,Rubbish Wed.That's all they collect here unfortunately we have to take the rest into town or the village(glass only).As a result I don't wash out dog food tins because even after washing they stink-now if I had a bin or container outside......
It's very quiet here now but I managed a nice walk this afternoon to the sight of an old Dun.The Forestry were working below so it looks like they are set to take some more trees out.That'll be that walk off the list then.
I've managed to stick to the meal plan,so far which is a miracle in itself but otherwise if I don't I end up with too much of some stuff and running out of other things.
Just before Christmas I bought a mini sewing machine on a deall at Tesco Direct and actually managed to get it working-at first try!!I'm going to try and make some scenty things for the boys trainers-anything will help the smell.....
I'm up and down the hill with wheely bins at the moment.Paper Tues,Rubbish Wed.That's all they collect here unfortunately we have to take the rest into town or the village(glass only).As a result I don't wash out dog food tins because even after washing they stink-now if I had a bin or container outside......
It's very quiet here now but I managed a nice walk this afternoon to the sight of an old Dun.The Forestry were working below so it looks like they are set to take some more trees out.That'll be that walk off the list then.
Sunday 6 January 2013
End of holidays
Was beginning to feel a bit fed up earlier-that end of holiday feeling-but we had a lovely treat and were taken out to the local for tea.I had cajun salmon with salad and chips followed by creme brulee-Yum.
I cooked the pork steaks I had taken out of the freezer in the woodburner and will now freeze those for when other half returns in a couple of weeks.
I have no excuse come tomorrow to put off certain jobs any longer :( .Paperwork is the bane of my life.I am hopeless at keeping on top of it .Bills etc are always dealt with straight away but after that I tend to have things in relevant piles...
Perhaps I'll just break myself in gently....there are a few crafty jobs that need doing....
I cooked the pork steaks I had taken out of the freezer in the woodburner and will now freeze those for when other half returns in a couple of weeks.
I have no excuse come tomorrow to put off certain jobs any longer :( .Paperwork is the bane of my life.I am hopeless at keeping on top of it .Bills etc are always dealt with straight away but after that I tend to have things in relevant piles...
Perhaps I'll just break myself in gently....there are a few crafty jobs that need doing....
Saturday 5 January 2013
Washing
Why do teenage boys have a reluctance to put their washing in a basket?
2 loads today found in various corners in bedrooms.....
I try and leave it until it makes it's way to the basket or there's a cry 'I've no boxers' but in order to avoid many loads tomorrow I just did it...
The Christmas decs came down today ,we chopped the branches off and put them in the wood basket,swept up the needles and made little packages to light the fire with and got the rest of the tree out without too much kerfuffle.
We were at Mums for Lunch so it was just sandwiches for tea :)
So far I've stuck to the menu plan-see how long I can keep it going in 2013.
2 loads today found in various corners in bedrooms.....
I try and leave it until it makes it's way to the basket or there's a cry 'I've no boxers' but in order to avoid many loads tomorrow I just did it...
The Christmas decs came down today ,we chopped the branches off and put them in the wood basket,swept up the needles and made little packages to light the fire with and got the rest of the tree out without too much kerfuffle.
We were at Mums for Lunch so it was just sandwiches for tea :)
So far I've stuck to the menu plan-see how long I can keep it going in 2013.
Friday 4 January 2013
Fuel in the country
I was going to post yesterday about petrol prices but the day seemed to go quickly and I just ran out of time.
Today I needed to go into town for my weekly shop,drop off the recycling ,call at the bank etc.We only get paper and cardboard collected by the council here,It's a 20 mile round trip and only has a co-op even then.It's a 70 mile round trip to a more major supermarket so Itry and combine that with other things and usually take my mum as well.The co-op looks good on paper but this one is a bit of a nightmare for a weekly shop-you have to be very flexible with your list and it's quite expensive.
I'm trying to cut down on my car use but if I need anything I have to drive.The village shop is a 7 mile round trip but it's a single track road which is quite a 'hairy' experience to cycle.
I've tried Approved Foods etc but delivery companies regard us as Highlands although we aren't really and so delivery costs are astronomical-this is why we all use Amazon and Tesco Direct!!
Anyway petrol last week was 8p a litre cheaper in Glasgow than here and we are only 90 miles away-how does that work??
Today I needed to go into town for my weekly shop,drop off the recycling ,call at the bank etc.We only get paper and cardboard collected by the council here,It's a 20 mile round trip and only has a co-op even then.It's a 70 mile round trip to a more major supermarket so Itry and combine that with other things and usually take my mum as well.The co-op looks good on paper but this one is a bit of a nightmare for a weekly shop-you have to be very flexible with your list and it's quite expensive.
I'm trying to cut down on my car use but if I need anything I have to drive.The village shop is a 7 mile round trip but it's a single track road which is quite a 'hairy' experience to cycle.
I've tried Approved Foods etc but delivery companies regard us as Highlands although we aren't really and so delivery costs are astronomical-this is why we all use Amazon and Tesco Direct!!
Anyway petrol last week was 8p a litre cheaper in Glasgow than here and we are only 90 miles away-how does that work??
Wednesday 2 January 2013
Trying to be frugal
Most people are getting back to 'normal' but, this being Scotland things haven't got going again after New Year or Hogmany.In fact,my local butchers isn't open again until Friday!
I'm going to try and be a bit more frugal this year and stick to a budget I've booked a short holiday for us in the summer holidays,at a destination to keep all happy,and we have a family wedding across the Irish Sea in July so it would be nice to have a bit of money saved for these instead of putting everything on Mr Plastic.
I've been following some frugal blogs but I don't reckon I'll be as disciplined or organised as some.However I do plan to make more myself and I've got a mini sewing machine to get the hang of.There's a whole under the stairs to sort out and stuff to donate/sell.If I get any money from anything that will go into the 'trips fund'.
Other half will be back tomorrow until school returns so we may get in some different walks with dog.That's if it ever stops raining....
I'm going to try and be a bit more frugal this year and stick to a budget I've booked a short holiday for us in the summer holidays,at a destination to keep all happy,and we have a family wedding across the Irish Sea in July so it would be nice to have a bit of money saved for these instead of putting everything on Mr Plastic.
I've been following some frugal blogs but I don't reckon I'll be as disciplined or organised as some.However I do plan to make more myself and I've got a mini sewing machine to get the hang of.There's a whole under the stairs to sort out and stuff to donate/sell.If I get any money from anything that will go into the 'trips fund'.
Other half will be back tomorrow until school returns so we may get in some different walks with dog.That's if it ever stops raining....
Tuesday 1 January 2013
Happy New Year
I've decided not to put 'be more organised' on my resolutions or aims for this New year.I've finally come to the realisation that,in general,being organised just isn't me.I can be organised in small areas such as menu planning but if I try to organise everything life seems to intervene and it all goes wrong.
Living out in the sticks means some things take a lot longer than in town and shopping for bargains at the end of the day is just impossible.I try and combine trips for shopping with lots of other things otherwise it feels like a bit of a waste of fuel these days.
There was a dance in the Village Hall last night but other half is away working so we just had the evening here-mum and dad, me and the boys and dog(oh and cat but he didn't join in!) eating,drinking and playing Wii and Twister.
We have an easy day as just walking along to M&D later for a late lunch but I've a bit of washing up to sort before then-that's the trouble with nice glasses they don't go in the dishwasher!!
Before we head down the hill I'll take dog the other way up the hill for a stretch of legs and a bit of fresh air and later hopefully persuade the boys it's time they had an earlier night....
Living out in the sticks means some things take a lot longer than in town and shopping for bargains at the end of the day is just impossible.I try and combine trips for shopping with lots of other things otherwise it feels like a bit of a waste of fuel these days.
There was a dance in the Village Hall last night but other half is away working so we just had the evening here-mum and dad, me and the boys and dog(oh and cat but he didn't join in!) eating,drinking and playing Wii and Twister.
We have an easy day as just walking along to M&D later for a late lunch but I've a bit of washing up to sort before then-that's the trouble with nice glasses they don't go in the dishwasher!!
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