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

taka

Brighton_belle wrote: »

Taka - "rottnest" island has a certain romantic ring about it... not:rotfl:. The quakkers do however: are they ever kept as domestic pets?

I doubt it - they are protected as they are pretty rare! I think Rottnest refers to "rats nest" as the Quokkas were mistaken for hopping rats by early european sailors! :rotfl: The island is really beautiful and doesn't really have land predators that are found on mainland Australia so the Quokkas flourish but the island has a rather depressing history - essentially a penal colony for aborigional people in the 1800s. It was used for internments in WW2 as well I think. These days its a holiday island, lots of wildlife, beautiful beaches, reefs and shipwrecks!

I had a rather entertaining half day attempting to cycle around it and avoid hitting quokka - my cycling skills are poor at the best of times but with hopping obstacles to avoid - not falling of my bike was difficult! I gave up after a couple of hours and several bruises later (it was too hot anyway :whistle:) and got the bus for the rest of the day - much safer! :rotfl:

I'm game for some cycling at FrugalMeet but you may not want me after reading the above... :rotfl:

shaz_mum_of__2

OOh i am in no way a cyclist so count me out for that particular activity ..............walking on the other hand is much safer

New bird sightings would be a bonus (is it osprey nearby nyk?)

Shaz

bails

Ha ha, sorry I was thinking that OH and I could also meet up with our biking mates up there, not that the entire Frugal community should be forced to partake :rotfl:Quokkas sound cute, that island sounds great!

Buzzbox

.... still waiting for the LETS people to acknowledge my application, can't wait to see what other folks in the area are doing. Anyone here made their own homemade relish yet? I've started collecting bottles to make my own as soon as the sweet chilli peppers are ready!

Blairweech

Hi folks :wave:

Ram - congrats on the job!! Hope it is worth the drive
Nyk - Smashing cauliflower
Shaz - Like your pantry. I had a pantry in my old house, I miss it now

Well, have made a yummy sausage and bean casserole, plus lentil dhal in the slowcooker - I was particularly pleased with the dhal, I figured I have to have the s/c on high for a bit to make the lentils smushy, so that will be a slowcooked meal from now on, making it even cheaper to make :j

My Pigsback points have been trebled...but so have their redemption values, so not worth anymore.

Things have started growing at the lottie I got beans

Not sure if this is of interest to anyone but have been readin Eating Organic on a Food Stamp Budget. American of course, and no competition to our Weezl, but still worth a look

Kittikins

Hi BrightonBelle - could you tell me which garden you went to with the wallabies? DD would lurve to see some I'm sure and as I'm just up the road from Brighton, am guessing it's not too far...

Hello to one and all, I've been lurking and trying not to spend too much (apart from on my diet, doing L1ghterl1fe which is so not MS/OS/money-friendly it's not true, but on the other hand, my health has improved no end by having lost a huge amount of weight in 3 months....so I'm calling it an investment in my future....or something like that!

Frugaldom

I'm beginning to think that a frugathering is in the offing for 2010, or might I be mistaken? :rotfl:Don't forget there's also a youth hostel, frugaller and frugaller!

Shaz, yes, we have ospreys and red kites. The buzzards are the ones that circle above the farm, they are plentiful, and we also have a pair of hen harriers, although I think I have only spotted them once. I can't tell anyone exactly where the Ospreys are nesting, but you can watch them via the CCTV, which is far better than actually being there.

For anyone not wanting to do mountain biking, there's so much to do here that I'd need to plan a frugal itinerary months in advance and round up all my LETS buddies with spare rooms! Should I start saving? It could be my next mini-challenge! :j

Can I have Quokkas for my mini-animal park?

Buzz, you might be better phoning your local LETS group because a lot of them are so frugal that they don't have Internet. I waited ages for a response via the LETSLinkUK site and it was just by luck that I got talking to someone about it and then spotted a card in a local shop window. That was before I found out that I actually knew the person setting it all up here, but that's part of another story that will not be told on here! :rotfl:

Going for a quick look at Blairweech's link then time to chase hens and ducks to bed, I think, or they'll be out there until it's dark! :rolleyes:

Brighton_belle

Kittikins wrote: »

Hi BrightonBelle - could you tell me which garden you went to with the wallabies? DD would lurve to see some I'm sure and as I'm just up the road from Brighton, am guessing it's not too far...

QUOTE]
Hi Kittikins: good to hear from you. You will love this place : Le0nardslEe Gardens (not far from Horsham) They are in an enclosed area and some freerange. There is also a brilliant dolls house display you and dd will love I'm sure and well as lots of other bits and pieces. Not cheap to get in (my friend paid for me) £6.50 I think for adults and 4.00 for children (over 5), but you could take a picnic and make quite a day of it. Lots of cute paths to explore, beautiful scenery (and ducks). If you google them you'll get their website.

I've found losing weight is not easily combatable with frugal living and sometimes, you do need to see it as investing in your future. Maximising your health is important, so well done for losing it.

Skint_Lynne

Evening everyone,

I'm in from the Slimming W0rld meeting, it was quite good, they had a tasting night tonight, I didn't taste anything but got a lot of good ideas. My dad tasted enough for all of us:rotfl:.

It seems quite easy to follow, red or green day or the easy extra plan, I think I'll go for that one most of the time. There's quite a lot I make just now that will fit right in, like all the home made soups etc, I just need to bin the whole crusty loaf with butter that I eat alongside the soup.:p

Don't be shy Shaz, do tell the nice recipies you use for it, I know that they will be yummy,:drool: (I'll give you some tablet in exchange).:D

I actually got a request for slimming world tablet when I was there, my dad told a lady at it that I was great at making the tablet, so that is my challenge.:rotfl:

The good thing is that the sister was interested in it and I am really there to help her out. If I can lose a wee bit while I'm there, then all the better. It was moneysaving too cause dad paid.;)

Morecambe tomorrow and the sisters are coming along as the shop is closed.

Nite everyone. xx

Kittikins

Thanks BB - I've just had a look at the L'lee Gdns website and think we'll take a trip out on Sunday, they've got a contemporary and traditional crafts fair this weekend which sounds great. Here's hoping the sunshine will be back with a vengeance. Got caught out today, popped home at lunchtime to peg up some washing and had I not had to go to my diet group, would have got home in time to bring it in before the heavens opened....*sigh*

On a cheapy front, I made 2 lovely smelling wholemeal loaves today - bread is something that I usually crave and toy with abandoning my diet for, but maybe kneading the dough killed any lingering cravings as I'm proud of the bread rather than wanting to eat it. Hope DD likes it (if not the birds will be very well fed tomorrow, lol). It does smell a bit 'yeasty'...hmm...

Blimey, when I stop lurking, I certainly know how to waffle on, don't I?!....