Live on £4,000 for a year - 2009, Part 3

grandma247

Mama67 thanks for that. we have been going the last few years to ingoldmels in March so I have an idea what its like. We really just need a quiet break. We usually take hot water bottles and ds1 took his electric blanket so will probably again. We like to walk on the beach or in the countryside.
:j:j:j great news on the allotment jtb

Frugaldom

That's brilliant news about the allotment, JTB! It'll be homegrown veg all the way for next year and what a great time to get one - tail end of year to sort it all out and then the full of next year to tackle the growing plans.

CW, that's interesting about Co-0p. When they bought S0merfields, ours got closed and sold to reopen as Sa!nsbury's and there were rumours at that time about the Co-0p moving out. I wonder if it'll happen here, too?

On the frugal hairdressing front, just had an emergency, last minute cut & blow dry from mobile hairdresser, she asked for £8 but I left her £10 as she'd had to fit me in at the last minute when I decided only this week that I wanted my hair shorter for DD's wedding so it didn't need to be tied up all the time. Being my other next door neighbour just across the field, I walked there and back and said hello to the 'Warhammer' and 'Mr White' (they're chickens, just in case there are newcomers reading this thread) on the way in her drive. :rotfl:

Now I have the blackberry champagne filtering for bottling, but have only got 3 bottles strong enough to take the fizz. It'll do as a sampler, I guess, as I've never tried making this before now. Still looks like R!bena!

The bathroom is finished, just need stuff putting back on the shelves. Rail and net now hanging up, as are the curtains and a new blind on the door. (Our bathroom door has a glass panel in it.) '€asy Hem' is fantastic stuff! HS found some for me in our local post office/general store, so it saved loads of time just ironing the hems into the curtains! :T 99p per pack and no needle damage to my fingers - well worth it.

SFT_2

Nyk-blackberry champagne recipe please! SFT

Don't start drinking it like ribena will you!

Frugaldom

Nice signature, SFT :rotfl: I thought you'd left that username in South America nd here you are home again and looking for an extremely extravagant recipe for champagne. OK, here goes...

When you make your jelly from freebie fruit picked (blackberries with a couple of apples thrown in) don't discard the pulp after straining it, throw the entire net full into a bucket and pour several pints of boiling water over it all. Next up, add a bag of sugar and some lemons or lemon juice, stir then leave in the bucket for a few days. Strain off into sterilised fizzy drinks bottles, place into cool storage (like in a garage in a box surrounded by straw) and leave to ferment. I cannot guarantee that this will work but, so far, it has worked with rhubarb, red clover and elderflowers and they each taste delicious. Will tell you after the weekend how potent the elderflower one is. :rotfl:I won't know if the blackberry one is working for another week or 2 until I see it getting fizzy.

aeb_2

Hi there, I have just caught up. SFT - the roof will be worth it for keeping the whole house dry, that's one thing that I was lucky with. Windows and doors can be taped up and patched but the roof needs to be water tight.

I've been [STRIKE]batch cooking and freezing[/STRIKE] resting as ordered by the midwife and doctor for the last 10 days, (I really have). Hopefully when I was cooking, not too many maggots:eek: Think of them as extra protein.:rotfl:

Frugal 'eco' babies:-
Terry nappies ready
Cots from car boot/neighbours - with new matresses
Bedding cut down from old stuff
reusable wipes
a freezer full of ready meals in the freezer

I am now booked in to have them on TUESDAY!!:j:eek:: This is three weeks early so I'm happy enough with that. My DS1 was 5lb 12oz, DD1 was 5lb 10oz, DD2 was 2lb 10oz (didn't make it) and DS2 was 4lb 12oz so I don't carry big babies but these three feel hugh :eek::eek::eek:

Happy preserving everyone.

jtb2412

Hi all

aeb how exciting :j! Really hope everything goes well for you on Tuesday. You've done amazingly over the past few months - you're certainly one very special lady ! Will be thinking of you xx :A

Nyk - I can't believe I threw all the elderberry pulp away !! :eek: :eek: Good news though, our new plot is backed onto hedgerow that is full of elderberries and blackberries so plenty of free foraging next year :T. How are the wedding preps coming along? You must be really excited now .

If anyone is interested, here's the link to my thread - has pics of the old plot and the new one on (didn't want to take over this one with all my ramblings - which I tend to do when I'm excited :rotfl:). http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=24799967&postcount=386

Right off to find a pen and paper and do some planning for the new allotment - might be a few domestics during the planning process though (there were with the last one ! lol) :rotfl:

Brighton_belle

Gosh aeb: how exciting and wow making at the same time. Thanks for continuing to share your story with us.
sft - a life revue sounds really good. I give myself one every so often to check I'm still spending my time in the most effective way for my happiness. I'm sure you will come to the right decision for you in time. Hope the roofing went well today so you are all snug for the forth coming autumn.

jbt:j:j Great news on the allotment. Wonder if it is anywhere near us? And the fplajack was great thanks - all moist an far too morish: took me a while to get it right - started off hard as nails.I do prefer baking in my remoska, somehow I feel more in control.

Nyk - lol to hear you extol the virtues of easy hem. Love the stuff myself:D

I've been waitng for a knock the door by a couple of nice people from the premium bonds telling me I've won this months million. They seem to be a little late...

Had a great 'live online' chat with bails yesterday after catching up on her blog. She is having a brilliant time and has just started teaching at the orphanage. Her OH is working on trying to provide cheaper electricity through using water energy. Piccie of baby goats, ducks etc.

Spent my birthday money in an art supplies shop yesterday: felt very self indulgent but I had a great time and didn't want to spend the money on essentials. Now have a selection of things to play with creatively:D, which will be used to make and save money this coming year (making cards, selling clocks/mosaics)

jtb2412

BB we're between Worthing and Bognor - begins with an 'L'

Great to hear how Bails is getting on - maybe you could be her 'medium' lol - Do keep us posted though, love to hear everyone's adventures.

Blairweech

Hi all

aeb - Goodness, I really cannot believe how quickly that has come around! Glad that you are setting the beans up the 'eco' way. Everytime I go to a carboot, there is just extraordinary amounts of kids stuff being sold, no need to buy any toys new!

BB - What bails is doing sounds absolutely fabulous, really worthwhile. Not surprised she is having an amazing time!

JTB - Yay on the lottie :j _party_. Your children sound lovely, and well versed in frugality already!

I have had an awful day - why do bad things always happen in three's???? One friend lost his job today, another has split from his wife and a third had a miscarriage (at 3 months) does not even come remotely close, I am distraught for all of them.

Spent £20 on electric. Sorry to bring the mood down.

savingfortravel

aeb-will be thinking of you next Tuesday. You are such an inspiration. Can't believe you have time to worry about the rest of us. The lower pitch roof is off and all we have for that part of the roof now is plasterboard and a waterproof covering. Will actually be putting the heating on in a mo as its a bit chilly.

Blairweech-sorry to hear about your friends. Big hugs to you.

jtb-Great news about the allotment.

Nyk-Not long now until the big day! Thanks for the blackberry champagne recipe, I'll pass it on to my sister.

BB-You are one of our wise sages on the forum. Always read your posts with interest. Life balance is my goal at the moment.

Got lots of school work done today. Stopped at midday to go foraging with my sister. Collected blackberries and elderberries. Saw lots of sloes-what can we use these for except sloe gin? Any ideas? Picked up some eating apple windfalls from a tree. So quite a productive day.
My sister and her friend are not sure what we have foraged today..damsons or a small plumS. They tasted delicious and both of them are coming back tomorrow to collect more from next door's garden.
Any ideas?

Going into school tomorrow morning then a bit of foraging tomorrow afternoon (and hopefully a quick trip down to the local pub).

Have a great evening all.

SFT