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

slowlyfading

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news again, but we've just found out that a family friend of ours who was diagnosed with prostate cancer a couple of months ago has the most agressive form, and it has spread to other areas, so there is nothing they can do life seems so unfair at the moment.

Hope everyone else is having a good evening. x x

savingfortravel

sf-what sad news. thinking of you. x sft

Skint_Lynne

Hi everyone,

I am really beginning to notice that summer (if it ever arrived), is now leaving and the nights are getting darker, it was really dusky around 8 tonight, and I've had to put the heating on for the first time in ages.:rolleyes:

I've been quite good this week, there has been no takeaways for 1 week, we had been slipping back into our old ways, but are back on track now.:A

It has been a busy time as my mum wasn't well, but she seems to be getting better, which is good.

This is the time where I usually begin to think about Christmas, I will really need to try and get the prezzies looked out to see what's needed. I've got some money put aside so that will ease the blow a bit if anything big is needed. I would also like to try and make everyone 1 homemade gift whether it be a box of sweeties or a cake etc.

Fingers crossed for you on Tuesday aeb, you seem to have everything under control. I can't wait to hear what the babies are, do you know already, ie, how many boys/girls.

I hope everyone is well and hope you are keeping calm mother of the bride, I'm sure it will all run smoothly, just keep the guests away from the elderflower champagne until it is well into the evening.:beer:

Skint_Lynne

slowlyfading wrote: »

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news again, but we've just found out that a family friend of ours who was diagnosed with prostate cancer a couple of months ago has the most agressive form, and it has spread to other areas, so there is nothing they can do life seems so unfair at the moment.

Hope everyone else is having a good evening. x x

you are getting a hard time of it at the moment wee pal, keep your chin up, things will get better. xx

Brighton_belle

sf - that's rough news, so lots of hugs to you. Life just isn't fair I'm afraid. And non of us escape the death of those we love. It is an inevitable part of living. It's the flip side of love really isn't it: the more we love some one, the more painful the loss is...and sometimes, with the complexity of life and relationships, it can raise a 1000 other feelings too.
I think going through these things just reminds you to hold closer those you cherish and reminds you to live the life you want and to the fullest you can, for who knows what tomorrow brings (which can be great things too).

sft you made me blush:o:D. Got somebody fooled then:D.

Yes Lynne - we are noticing the darker evenings and we're right down in the south.

jbt - ah - for some reason something you said made me think you were a little more local. I'll wave next time I am off to Chi.
Very happy to pass on bails news when she can't always get on line a lot. If anyone still wants access to her blog, do feel free to PM me your email addy and I'll pass it on so she can send an invite. Otherwise I'll update you.

aeb_2

savingfortravel wrote: »

aeb-will be thinking of you next Tuesday. You are such an inspiration. Not reaaly but thank you, I'm just taking life as it comes. 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. I've got a duvet on

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?

Have a look at these (nice website to browse too)
http://www.cottagesmallholder.com/?p=432

Going into school tomorrow morning then a bit of foraging tomorrow afternoon (and hopefully a quick trip down to the local pub).
Memories - I used to pick cherries, plumbs, elderberries, eating apples and bllackberries from my school car park. I used to park in different spots depending on the time of year. Amazing that no one else seemed to bother.

Have a great evening all.

SFT

NYK - a wedding in two days? I had missed the timing of that, I thought it was a while away. Now please don't tell me the cost is coming out of your £6000:D

lyndasharp

aeb, good luck for Tuesday!

Sorry to hear about your friends blairweech and sf. Hugs to you both, and to anyone else who needs it.

I had a nice chat yesterday with one of my friends from uni. She's making my wedding cake, and instead of a present (we'd decided to risk offending people and just asked for money for the honeymoon) her and some of my other friends will pay for the cake :-)

thriftylass

Hugs for everyone to whom life seems really unfair just now, believe me I know how you feel :grouphug:.

Picked more blackberries last night before the rain and took berry samples home from the park I walk through from work. Apparently we have rowan berries (back home we believe they're poisonous ), crab apple (thought crap apples were dodgy apples but they're more like large berries ) and more blackberries. And maybe hawthorn and whitebeam, but have to double check the leave shapes (although they don't sound that tasty). Maybe I'll get to make jellies and jams after all despite having no garden :j:j.

cw18

Good luck for Tuesday Aeb - hope you've plenty of family lined up to come stay and help out

More ((hugs)) for all those going through a rough time




Just got my 6 monthly water bill...... I've been paying £25/month, and owed them £8.11 on my last bill (end Feb, but issued just before they took the Feb payment). Am now (after August payment, so they've had 7 over this statement period) £53.38 in credit :T

As a result they've dropped my payments - don't know why they can't balance it out nicely, but they've set it to just under £12 for September and then just under £17 a month from there on in. So that's £38 off my budget for that category (which will be added to my 'anything else' to maintain my £8k bottom line)

chika

Sorry to hear about all the sad news. Hugs for everyone that needs it.

Aeb - I was wondering about you. Glad that all is well and Good luck for Tuesday. have you thought of some good names?!

I'm finally back in Manchester and ready to settle down and start studying again. I got my student loan statement in the post and its £26k already So I'm determined to make this last year count and get a 1st so i have something to show for all of that cash.

I think I'm going to go to London when I finish uni and I'd really like to do it with no financial woes so I'm having a big push to stick within budget. My food bills are massive at the moment. I can easily spend £50 a week on food without takeaways or eating out which must stop. I read on oldstyle that some people feed families of four for £20 so I need to get my head in the game. I also have piles and piles of clutter that I need to get rid of. There is no way that i will be able to afford to live in a house this big in London so I'm going to start the big declutter now to save me the pain of doing it in one big go! Wish me luck!