Morning folks and thanks for new thread NMLC. It looks a bit damp outside but forecast to improve.

The girlies are still fast asleep so just time for another coffee before I wake them up. Once they have gone to school it's the brought forward Friday clean and then we can set off for the wedding tomorrow leaving all looking decent.

My best friend had her appointment yesterday for her scan result. Her doctor had already told her there was something seen on one lung. So this was an urgent referral. We were all fearing the worst (as you do) but it was better news than hoped. He thinks it's just a nodule and nothing sinister but will do quarterly ct scans to keep a check. We were all so relieved.

Dear HILSTEP have a wonderful week with your DS, making even more lovely memories for your family. Big (((HUG))) for you and all else in need, especially LAINEY and her DM. POLLYANNA keep popping in when you have time. Have a good day all if you can and take care xxx

Good morning everyone.

Thanks for the thread nmlc.

It's so foggy outside I can hardly see more than 100 yards. Sadly my early morning view of the sea is missing.

Yesterday my IT job took bloomin' ages as they have a Mac so all the functions I'm used to didn't work with it. I was only doing a job with email so I thought it'd be half an hour tops, it took two hours. I wasn't too chuffed but at least it's done.

I did a small wash but had to hang it on the airer in the spare bedroom, dehumidifier on and door shut. The rain just poured down most of the afternoon and all evening.

Today will have a slow start and a rush end. Teaching from two till four, being loaded up with stuff for a neighbour's son and driving down to Glasgow. Will have to find him, in the East end and then get back across to my mums.

Tomorrow I'm going to the Glasgow Pavilion to see Prof Brian Cox and Robin Ince. I've had the ticket for months, thought I'd lost it in one of my occasional decluttering sprees but I'd only put it somew safe (and completely the wrong place).

Hugs to those who need them.

Happy Tbursday.

Morning All

Looks like it's drying up outside, last night was wet and miserable. I lit the stove for a while to make it feel better.

Slept for a full 8 hours last night but still feel so tired, still, I'm off tomorrow and Monday so will have a good rest, bet I wake up early!

Enjoy having your DS with you hilstep.

Not going to hospice tonight as I don't want to pass on my germs, must catch up on some sewing. Busy day Gers, have a good weekend, hope your DM is ok.

Take care. XX

Morning all

NMLC thank for the thread, hugs to Lainey and Hilstep.

My L&M isn't well, I'm hoping to persuade him to take a couple of days off and I'll try to get him a Dr's appointment. He now has 2 bosses instead of one, they keep contradicting each other and he's run ragged trying to keep both of them happy.

I've tightened up our budget, no more haircuts or dye for me, I have £10 a week to cover all my spends, that includes my writers circle which I will stop after next week and any treats for the DGC, I will save as much as possible out of it so the DGC can have Christmas/birthday gifts.

The food budget is set at £30 a week for the 2 of us, I've stocked up at the butchers, £46 the freezer now has lots of meat in.

Have a good day everyone.
Hugs Hester

Morning all,


Looks to be nice day here cooler this morning but will brighten up later, off to work for me which has been very quiet this week.


DD has been sent straight to second interview for the job they asked her to apply for, they said they knew her so no need for a first one, its next Tuesday so not too long to wait.


Dinner tonight will be something and chips, I think there are some fish fingers or chicken nugget type things in there with peas.


Need to do a wash tonight and hoover round.


Have good days all xxx

Good morning all, I was MIA yesterday through busyness. Had a hospital appointment in the morning and got on with some work in the afternoon, then made a pasta bake, plus some chicken for the DS and then flopped, went to bed.

I am so glad to read that the news was a lot less sinister than feared TA and that others too have had a positive day. Hope today is good, I have to get to work quick

Morning everyone,

Just back in from walking the girls, dry and reasonably bright day.

We are still waiting on news from the hospice, typical as last week there was room but not this. Quite rightly those people already in the community get priority over those in hospital, could just do with getting everything sorted. Mum did seem brighter yesterday and we had a good visit, there had been another black-out in the morning mind and no-one seems to understand why as her BP etc is fine. It's weird as she seems to go really rigid first rather than just dropping so it seems more like a fit, who knows.
She has friends going this afternoon and my SIL in the evening so am having a day off, eldest SS is coming over to show us the pictures from his recent travels in the US so will do some baking this morning. Yesterday was a fab drying day so hope to finish up the coats etc today and then that will be done.
Glad your friends news was better than expected TA
Hope your L&M feels better soon Hester
Have a grand visit with your son Hillstep

Take care folks x

Morning all
Flying visit from me as I have loads to do again.
FIL now is living 25 years ago in his mind and no improvement health wise.
DD2 gone to work and DH as well even though he is full of cold.
Dinner last night was leek and pot soup with bacon lardons. Tonight will be pork and apple in slow cooker.
Made golden syrup cake yesterday so that with custard will be pudding.
Anyhoo must get on.
Hugs to all in need. Xx

Morning, thanks for the thread nmlc x

MrsTA - good news about your friend. Enjoy the wedding x
Hester - that's a tight budget - make sure you have a little bit for a treat every now and then x
redruby - good news about DDs interview, fingers crossed for her x
Lainey - sending hugs xx

I am off to the gym shortly. DH has to sign on this morning. His usual chap is on holiday so his appointment is at 8.20. Still no movement on the job front but we live in hope....I still need to finish off my two applications (deadline is Monday). Need to get a wiggle on.

Dinner tonight is chicken risotto - new recipe, so we shall see what reception that gets lol.

Have a good day all,
Coxy

Morning all
Hester hope you get your L&M sorted
Lainey hope you have a restful day
Hillstep hugs
Well up early again as dog woke up so i did too will take him out in a bit just been juggling finances as DH is weekly paid which makes it a bit difficult sometimes
House is clean as DS is away so just a swish round
Dinner tonight freezer roulette
Have a great day whatever you are up to x

Morning ((((((((((hugs)))))))))) if you need one.

Another hospital visit today, they rang yesterday to see of OH could go for an echocardiogram, so we will be off shortly, at least we will not be sitting around for hours like we were yesterday.

Its dry, not quite as cold as it was yesterday, we are out tomorrow afternoon as well.

We had an invite to go to the harvest supper at the little chapel yesterday, we will go, OH rang the pastor to let him know. When I go shopping I will get some tins and packets, they support a scheme to provide food to disadvantaged people.

I read a death notice in the paper yesterday. My 2nd cousin has died, we were the only two children of our generation so spent a lot of time together as youngsters. He did not approve of me leaving my first husband, so I have not spoken to him for over 25 years. My youngest daughter and ex will go to the funeral.

When we got back from the hospital yesterday we had some soup and crackers and I decided to clean the kitchen floor, boy it was mucky. The Friday clean will get done on Saturday.

Hester I am sorry to hear that your L & M is not well, I hope you can get an appointment for him at the Doctors, he does work so hard.

Good Morning all and <<hugs>> to those who need one.So many of our friends are having a hard time at the moment aren't they,but we are all here for 'virtual' support for you xx

H/H I manage OK on the £15.00 budget, its a case of fewer trips to the shops which I don't mind, and literally only buying what you need or have run out of.Since I came home from my holiday on 26th August I have only been to the shops three times and still have over £18.00 in my 'food' purse. But I am reasonably good at 'frugalling' which helps.Plus I am shopping from my existing food stock and freezer.Only fresh fruit and veg and essentials are being bought.
Its surprising what you can find to make stuff out of, last night I had a Y/S fishcake with a cheesy filling that I found in the freezer with a few new spuds and some sugar snap peas that I bought and froze ages ago. I had a banana that was getting ripe so I knocked up some custard from some evaporated milk and had a banana custard for pud and I have some custard left in the fridge still so I will make up a jelly from one in the cupboard and that will be at least another two days pudding.
Lunch will be a small salad made up with grated cheese,lettuce tomato and diced cucumber and beetroot and the rest of the left over new potatoes from last night, I may even hard boil an egg (I always have ex-large eggs from my local butcher) and use half in with the salad and the other half tomorrow as a spread with some mayo and a dash of curry powder on some crackers for lunch with some sliced cucumber on top.I usually have a few left over bits from my evening meal which I use next day for lunch. helps to extend my meals a bit.
Breakfast is usually HM granola, bran flakes or porridge as I don't eat bread anymore. yesterday I had porridge with some sultana's in it and it was quite nice and very filling.

Today I am going to finish off my ironing left from yesterday and probably swoosh through my bathroom as its in need of a good clean, its a downstairs one near to the back door so gets a bit dusty when the back door is open to the garden
Then its off to Dds this afternoon for the DGS coming home from school. Last night DD told me that she has booked a weekend away for us all at the end of November for my son-in-laws birthday, on the Isle of Wight !!. She decided that instead of just her and her OH going away for the weekend we will all be going .She has an unexpected windfall at work and said its a treat for us all and DGS Ben is coming down from Norwich with his G/F to go with us all.Fingers crossed the weather will be kind,although we aren't too bothered really as the IoW is home from home for us all. Nine weeks tomorrow we will be off again , She loves it down there and once the children are older its where she will probably end up

Right time for some coffee I think

Have a good day everyone what ever you are doing

Cheers chums
JackieO xx

Morning chums,

Woke up this morning feeling much better. No more sniffing and sneezing, just a bit of a cough. I'm looking out the window in the office which overlooks Glasgow city centre and I see nothing but blue skies, yet had a bit of a chill in the air - I love those mornings. Reminds me of the days I played football early Saturday morning.

Yesterday I had a moment of feeling grateful. My GF and I decided on pizza and pasta last night and we've grown fond of the pizza that you 'build' yourself in Asda. It was after I had finished work and there was a man my age, if not younger, behind the counter. He opened up a conversation with me about how my day has been, what my plan is tonight etc, the usual small talk. He then went on to say he had been working in Asda for 8 years at this pizza counter and he loves it. He waxed lyrical about all the benefits and how much he enjoys it, despite finishing at 11pm that night: a time which I'd have ate the pizza and be in bed sleeping.

I, like many other students, had a part-time job in a SM and didn't enjoy it - long hours for poor pay - and now that I've started my journey in my career and have a comfortable job I still find time to complain about this or that which is terrible really. I put my pizza in my basket, wished him an enjoyable shift and turned with a grateful smile. Note to self: be more grateful.

TA - Enjoy the wedding.
Hester - Sounds like your batten down the hatches. Hope it all works out.
Ruby - Fingers crossed for your DD.
Hilstep - Thinking of you.

Hester

Hope you can get a doctor's appointment quickly for l and m. Have you had a look at the "freebies "sites ? It does not cost anything and feels like a present when something arrives.

Disappointed as when I got weighed last night I had maintained so I need to be more careful in food choices. DD was not amused to find the kitchen cluttered so am going to sort that out today with a clear out of boxes for recycling etc.

jackieO

Your description of frugalling has helped me get my mind in gear and instead of going shopping I am going to use what I have in the fridge and have a search of the freezer. If I do go out it will be late afternoon for ys stuff and veg to make home made soups.

Hugs to all.

I just got round to investigating online shopping for groceries. I ordered a pack of low fat meat which arrives next week and then looked at a supermarket for grocery deliveries.

If I have done things right then a lot of fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables should arrive on Sunday afternoon. Daughters should be pleased as they have been suggesting for months that I consider online shopping at a supermarket so I do not have to carry heavy stuff home and can be independent.

Some cardboard boxes are flattened for recycling and I hope to get rid of some more empty boxes from the garage. I even wrapped a couple of birthday presents for a dd for October.

Afternoon all
Csarina, sorry to hear about your cousin.
My L&M has been signed off sick for 2 week with Work Related Stress on his certificate.
Hopefully he will feel better soon.
Hester

GWS wishes to HH's L&M

Flippin' 'eck, that was a lot of abbreviations!

Been foraging today - and as a result have just put the 4th plastic tub of blackberries in the freezer.

We were out of bananas - this is not an acceptable situation, as Mr LW has taken to bran flakes and a sliced banana for brekkie, so we went into town, and I managed to get

• 16 bananas
• 9 pears
• 12 parsnips
• 2 pineapples
• a 1lb 4oz pack of baby plum tomatoes

for the princely sum of £5 for the lot. Not bad, eh?

Mabon Blessings for anyone who, like me, is celebrating it.

Got a load of washing done - once the mist lifted it was lovely and sunny here. I really wanted to get the kitchen cupboards sorted and figure out what we need to stock up on and it wasn't as bad as I thought since they were already pretty tidy.

I have so much craft stuff which is good and bad. I have a double wardrobe to store it all in but am struggling ...... mainly because there is all sorts (fabric / paints / card making / sewing / wool) and I can't figure out how best to use the space, how to organise everything and how to have it easily accessible.

I have been watching Frontier Life on DVD and in it they are excited to get letters and news from home. Got me thinking that it would be lovely to have an old style pen pal - you know handwritten letters with little life updates and simple daily things.

I was only thinking that today, re penpals. PM me if you want me as one, and I'll PM my address to you. I always write to my granddaughters who live abroad.