It's been ages since I wrote but I'm quietly reading blogs and taking it all in.
Hubby was back for a week and it always gets a bit chaotic,trying to do 101 things in a few days.But...we now have a container to store all the tools etc that have come out of a very,very,large shed.So I may eventually get my porch back and we can stop using the kitchen door.
I'm trying to take on board a few Frugalling tips : menu planning-giving it another try-can see the sense in it but it never seems to quite work so I'm going to stick at it this time.
I've read my meter and I think my next bill may be quite scary-these wet,windy days are rubbish for solar gain and solar panels.
Sold a few things on our local selling page and am planning a saltire rag rug for youngest sons bedroom-but that may take some time.Have a few crafting swaps on the go so that's keeping me busy as well.
Went into town this morning to pick up a few supplies as the weather report isn't too good for the next few days and it was really busy - think everyone else had the same idea.It was a quick in and out howeverand it started snowing/sleeting on the way home but it's back to rain again now.
I'm supposed to be peeling potatoes etc tomorrow for the Burns Supper in the Village but last heard the village had no water and there's supposed to be snow in the night so....watch this space.
Friday 31 January 2014
Saturday 18 January 2014
It's easy to drown...
Yes I meant DROWN..as in the water.Not under paperwork or debt really drown.
On Thursday I went along to help at the monthly over 60s Lunch Club.I'd spent most of the afternoon before making Chocolate Brownies for the desert,I was grateful for this as the Oven warmed the kitchen up-I had no heating-but that's another story!
I nipped back home to collect Mum and Dad as the road was flooded and the Heating Engineer had finished so I decided just to stay in the Village and carry on helping. I'd just got into the kitchen when one of the ladies(who'd just nipped out for a smoke!!) came in shouting 'someones in the water'.We couldn't see anyone but could hear desperate cries for help. It all happened very quickly but it turned out the lady had been boarding her boat in the Bay and had slipped into the icy water.She was wearing a lifejacket and wasn't that far from shore but had become very disorientated and was hyperventilating badly. She made it into the shallows and someone went in and pulled her out. I drove round the tracks to get to her and she was very cold and shaken but fine. Idon't like to think what so very nearly happened.
To show her gratitude she gave us a Hamper which were are having a draw for to raise money for the R.N.L.I and we hate to admit it but in this instance F's smoking probably saved a life.
Just makes you think....
On Thursday I went along to help at the monthly over 60s Lunch Club.I'd spent most of the afternoon before making Chocolate Brownies for the desert,I was grateful for this as the Oven warmed the kitchen up-I had no heating-but that's another story!
I nipped back home to collect Mum and Dad as the road was flooded and the Heating Engineer had finished so I decided just to stay in the Village and carry on helping. I'd just got into the kitchen when one of the ladies(who'd just nipped out for a smoke!!) came in shouting 'someones in the water'.We couldn't see anyone but could hear desperate cries for help. It all happened very quickly but it turned out the lady had been boarding her boat in the Bay and had slipped into the icy water.She was wearing a lifejacket and wasn't that far from shore but had become very disorientated and was hyperventilating badly. She made it into the shallows and someone went in and pulled her out. I drove round the tracks to get to her and she was very cold and shaken but fine. Idon't like to think what so very nearly happened.
To show her gratitude she gave us a Hamper which were are having a draw for to raise money for the R.N.L.I and we hate to admit it but in this instance F's smoking probably saved a life.
Just makes you think....
Saturday 11 January 2014
IBS is a pain ...FODMAP anyone?
My IBS which I seemed to have got a handle on has been at it again this week.
I have gone GF which seemed to really,really help and I'm quite good about forward planning.I knew we would be eating out Monday,when we were travelling,so I did my research and found a GF dish.However as I was eating I realised it had quite a lot of onions-I'll be fine I thought-MISTAKE. I managed but I've not been right since and I seem to be hypersensitive again. Fed up last night I found the FODMAP diet which seems to make a lot of sense-how some days some food is ok and others not.This is something it's really hard to get your head around. I downloaded a book onto my Kindle and have started to read. I really wanted fruit and veg lists as it's hard trying to eat healthily when I don't know which are 'safe' to eat.
Anyway,here goes with it.I'm not going the whole hog with the elimination,at the moment ,as I'm halfway there myself, but I'm hoping by using it i'll be able to get some fruit and veg down without.... I bought some lactose free milk to try when my milk runs out but my consumption is fairly low anyway so not expecting a difference there. Will also give the yoghurt a break in the morning at the same time just to see.
I had 2 celery sticks at lunch and I'm making ham soup for tea with carrots,celery and potatoes.Should be fine....I think :)
I have gone GF which seemed to really,really help and I'm quite good about forward planning.I knew we would be eating out Monday,when we were travelling,so I did my research and found a GF dish.However as I was eating I realised it had quite a lot of onions-I'll be fine I thought-MISTAKE. I managed but I've not been right since and I seem to be hypersensitive again. Fed up last night I found the FODMAP diet which seems to make a lot of sense-how some days some food is ok and others not.This is something it's really hard to get your head around. I downloaded a book onto my Kindle and have started to read. I really wanted fruit and veg lists as it's hard trying to eat healthily when I don't know which are 'safe' to eat.
Anyway,here goes with it.I'm not going the whole hog with the elimination,at the moment ,as I'm halfway there myself, but I'm hoping by using it i'll be able to get some fruit and veg down without.... I bought some lactose free milk to try when my milk runs out but my consumption is fairly low anyway so not expecting a difference there. Will also give the yoghurt a break in the morning at the same time just to see.
I had 2 celery sticks at lunch and I'm making ham soup for tea with carrots,celery and potatoes.Should be fine....I think :)
Friday 10 January 2014
Spending money!!!
It's been a week - time seems to have gone by really quickly.
Boys back to school in Edinburgh on Monday so it's just me and the dog again trying to gain some semblance of normality once again.I started crafting again yesterday-I have an order and a swap to be getting on with and a few new ideas to get on with.
My car was due for a service so Mum and I stayed overnight in Stirling,once the dropping off had been done,took the car in and headed for the shops!! This is quite a change for us so we made the most of it.Being well after New Year we managed to bag ourselves a few bargains but by lunch we had ,had it.Shopping overload and we were ready to get home-luckily the car was ready and we were on our way.We couldn't believe that when we lived in the South (or the North if you are south of Birmingham) we used to go shopping nearly every Saturday!!
Yesterday I took Mum into town to the dentist and we managed to fit in petrol,banks,butchers and the co-op as well.They have a good deal at the co-op at the moment-spend £20 get a voucher for £5 so we were really careful and will send Dad with a £20 shopping list tomorrow when he goes for the Saturday Papers.I can easily make it up with cat/dog food if we are short.
Boys back to school in Edinburgh on Monday so it's just me and the dog again trying to gain some semblance of normality once again.I started crafting again yesterday-I have an order and a swap to be getting on with and a few new ideas to get on with.
My car was due for a service so Mum and I stayed overnight in Stirling,once the dropping off had been done,took the car in and headed for the shops!! This is quite a change for us so we made the most of it.Being well after New Year we managed to bag ourselves a few bargains but by lunch we had ,had it.Shopping overload and we were ready to get home-luckily the car was ready and we were on our way.We couldn't believe that when we lived in the South (or the North if you are south of Birmingham) we used to go shopping nearly every Saturday!!
Yesterday I took Mum into town to the dentist and we managed to fit in petrol,banks,butchers and the co-op as well.They have a good deal at the co-op at the moment-spend £20 get a voucher for £5 so we were really careful and will send Dad with a £20 shopping list tomorrow when he goes for the Saturday Papers.I can easily make it up with cat/dog food if we are short.
Friday 3 January 2014
Preparing for a power cut
The weather report was right.It's horrible wet and windy with some gusts that today have taken my breath away. Skipper hasn't been on her usual forestry walk just round and about here today.We got barked at last night by a ,far too close for comfort, deer. She barked at it a couple of times but we could here it around and about for ages.
With the weather forecast everyone around here thinks 'power cut' so I try to plan ahead through the hours of daylight. It's just a bonus then if it stays on. Last night I charged up my phone and Kindle.We often lose our phone signal and landline as well although waving the mobile around in the air upstairs often enables a text to be sent-if nothing else.
This morning I lit the stove in the kitchen-it takes about 4 hours to get hot enough for cooking so I've a lovely warm kitchen and a big pan of homemade and liquidised pasta sauce ready for tea.I've managed to do a couple of loads of washing-the second lot is just waiting to go on the airer in the utility room.I've filled the water container and kept up with the washing up as no electric=no pump=no water.
Lots of the roads about seem to have been flooded but we didn't have to go anywhere so we didn't! I really wanted to nip into town but didn't so that's the first £1 for my jar.Last night I did a bit of online shopping and managed to get my son some really nice walking boots half price in a sale. I was tempted by all sorts of things for myself but just tagged on some half price thick socks for me onto the order.
With the weather forecast everyone around here thinks 'power cut' so I try to plan ahead through the hours of daylight. It's just a bonus then if it stays on. Last night I charged up my phone and Kindle.We often lose our phone signal and landline as well although waving the mobile around in the air upstairs often enables a text to be sent-if nothing else.
This morning I lit the stove in the kitchen-it takes about 4 hours to get hot enough for cooking so I've a lovely warm kitchen and a big pan of homemade and liquidised pasta sauce ready for tea.I've managed to do a couple of loads of washing-the second lot is just waiting to go on the airer in the utility room.I've filled the water container and kept up with the washing up as no electric=no pump=no water.
Lots of the roads about seem to have been flooded but we didn't have to go anywhere so we didn't! I really wanted to nip into town but didn't so that's the first £1 for my jar.Last night I did a bit of online shopping and managed to get my son some really nice walking boots half price in a sale. I was tempted by all sorts of things for myself but just tagged on some half price thick socks for me onto the order.
Wednesday 1 January 2014
It's here - time to be thrifty
Well the New Year has arrived.
A nice fairly quiet evening was had here with a few games on the wii and me being thrashed at ten pin bowling by my mum! A few games of dominoes for those not playing and then a bit of Gary Barlow for us oldies - relative oldies!! A few drinks and a bit of a buffet.
Youngest brought me a cuppa and yoghurt in bed this morning-then he went to bed. Think Minecraft got a hammering in the night.
Anice doggy walk for me and mum.It was still and quite bright then but it's getting duller now and the wind is getting up again.Hopefully not to the power cut levels this time but we've plenty of wood ready.
Back to make bacon,egg,fried potatoes lovely after a late night.I'm making shepherds pie and sweet potato chips for us all tonight followed by 'offee' pie which is like banoffee but without the banana.I've got raspberries to put on the side this time but it varies.It also means you don't get soggy fruit on top/in it if there happens to be any left over. I've got gluten free digestives as well so it means I can partake of this one :)
January is always a fairly thrifty month for a lot of people so here goes.....
A nice fairly quiet evening was had here with a few games on the wii and me being thrashed at ten pin bowling by my mum! A few games of dominoes for those not playing and then a bit of Gary Barlow for us oldies - relative oldies!! A few drinks and a bit of a buffet.
Youngest brought me a cuppa and yoghurt in bed this morning-then he went to bed. Think Minecraft got a hammering in the night.
Anice doggy walk for me and mum.It was still and quite bright then but it's getting duller now and the wind is getting up again.Hopefully not to the power cut levels this time but we've plenty of wood ready.
Back to make bacon,egg,fried potatoes lovely after a late night.I'm making shepherds pie and sweet potato chips for us all tonight followed by 'offee' pie which is like banoffee but without the banana.I've got raspberries to put on the side this time but it varies.It also means you don't get soggy fruit on top/in it if there happens to be any left over. I've got gluten free digestives as well so it means I can partake of this one :)
January is always a fairly thrifty month for a lot of people so here goes.....
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