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

xnatalie81x

£8 a bag!!! WOW - our local pet place (jollyes) is around £11 - i wouldn't know where to look for agricultural merchant or something????

In regards to EXOH Situation, it was my decision and i asked him to leave so i am fine. Dealing ok at the moment - with him spending a spell in HMP a few mths ago for 4mths the kids are sort of used to him going away although no better for them. I think him going away for that time showed me how much EASIER it was without him and how strong i was and being able to cope without him. In the end i was dreading him coming back so fought hard for oct/nov with him home I feel a bit cold hearted saying all that but there is soooooo much more that i don't want to go into on here that would have you all shouting 'why did you put up with him for so long!!!!!!!!!!!'

Chickens are much much easier to live with lol. I love my girls and they are still laying me 3 eggs a day so they are my bestest fwends lol - i have half filled their house with sawdust to keep them warm and it is still not freezing cold here. Their house is a n old guinea pig cage too so small and snuggly

Went out last night to perfume/flower party at my sisters bf's mums and it was brilliant!!!!! I signed up to the perfume co. as an extra sideline last week (sold 15bottles already ) and added the fragrances to one of my lil websites. Profit margins are high so made £18 out of that and got 3 bottles for myself - another self-emloyed income to add - that totals 3 now lol. I also bought a large false orchid to add to my sticks/twig decoration in the front room and my aunt gave me 3 bendable and pretty big santa/snowman and teddy decorations. They are like stand up figures..... and soooo cute! Also bought a little topiary tree - spent total of £2 and met some lovely people.

Am currently sitting in bed with my 2 boys (daughter stayed at mums) on the laptop - just one of the lovely things i can do now exOH is not here monopolisig the bed till midday!

FrankieM

Morning,
Kinders putting the Christmas tree together this morning. I think the plan is to decorate it this afternoon when DH gets in.
Other than that it's a quiet one here, well, until the arguments start or my 15yr old daughter opens her mouth...I think they become horrible so that you can't wait for them to leave at 18!
I'm doing Shepherdless pie for tea tonight..another veggie meal...;) That's 4 days in a row

shaz I was reading weezl's first thread yesterday and I'm pretty sure you posted a recipe for ciabatta? that didn't need a breadmaker...gosh I hope it was you! I was wondering if you would be able to post it again?

shaz_mum_of__2

FrankieM wrote: »

Morning,
Kinders putting the Christmas tree together this morning. I think the plan is to decorate it this afternoon when DH gets in.
Other than that it's a quiet one here, well, until the arguments start or my 15yr old daughter opens her mouth...I think they become horrible so that you can't wait for them to leave at 18!
I'm doing Shepherdless pie for tea tonight..another veggie meal...;) That's 4 days in a row

shaz I was reading weezl's first thread yesterday and I'm pretty sure you posted a recipe for ciabatta? that didn't need a breadmaker...gosh I hope it was you! I was wondering if you would be able to post it again?

Not me i am afraid it might have been Mrs Mc (wo i have not seen for ages) or ISOM though but i think the shepherdless pie was mine:D hope you enjoyed it


Shaz

edited in

is it this :http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=11988665&postcount=1359

sorry for giving credit where it wasn't due Softsuff

FrankieM

oh, ok, sorry...It doesn't seem to be linked from the recipes on the first page...and it doesn't come up in a search either.
I'm doing soup on Monday and thought rather than buy some nice bread, I'd try to make some..I don't suppose you know any easy, basic, non machine recipes?

shaz_mum_of__2

Its ok

It was in the old style vs USDA thread theres also weezls no knead bread and Mrs Mc on the grocery thread has loads of bread recipes inc tortillas i think recipes are on first page ?

try freecycle for a breadmaker they come up often and go quick so well worth a wanted ad

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=13164787&postcount=1082

Shaz

mama67

jtb2412 wrote: »

Oh my lordy! It was nearly a disaster ! The mix was far too crumbly and I couldn't roll it out for love nor money ! :eek: I was just about to come on here and cry but googled it and found the answer - more water :rolleyes:. Mix was fine after that (phew !)

50 made, another 50 to go but I'm thinking I might do plain biscuits cut into stars, xmas trees etc as not everyone likes gingerbread (she says rather hoping that there'll be a few left over she can buy as they are rather scrummy - cooks perogative to test her wares ! )Just the one had mind, don't want to be ruining my diet .

Tea break at the moment (much needed, I know what you mean by production line now kitti :rotfl:.)

mama67 I was wondering what a 'maid of honour' is? Never heard of them before - can you enlighten me please? :beer:

Hi it is like a jam tart with fariy cake mix on top then cooked as a whole.

listed in my bero recipe book

grandma247

mama67 wrote: »

Hi it is like a jam tart with fariy cake mix on top then cooked as a whole.

listed in my bero recipe book

I never knew what they were called but I have made them for years and so did my mum and grandma. They are nice with mincemeat instead of jam too.

bails

Natalie, having read your recent post, I'd say congratulations is the right thing to say re OH. Well done for making such a difficult decision and give your kids some extra hugs from me xx

The outlaws are here...and it is everything I expected. No need to say any more :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

The puppy is with a friend and I am missing her very much

Had a chat with the head yesterday and I don't think the job I've been offered is the right one to take. Nothing to do with the pay, which is almost the same as the teaching salary would've been (10k less than my pay scale) but the 14 hour shifts aren't the best way to return to work me thinks. Shame as would've been interesting.... It does mean I can lead an expedition again next summer hopefully :j so will be applying for that tomorrow. I'll figure something out til the right job comes up (did briefly toy with trying to start the family early instead...;))

Have a lovely day everyone xx

lyndasharp

Bails - I don't think I'd like the idea of 14 hour shifts either!

We got two Christmas presents early - a Key Lime tree and a Greengage tree, yay! Finally the weather is decent enough to do a few jobs outside, so have got a few gardening jobs done today. I think tomorrow I'll be making marzipan and doing lots of house cleaning. It's amazing how quickly this place seems to get into a state (though H2B and the cat aren't a lot of help when it comes to cleaning, so maybe I shouldn't be so surprised).

BigMummaF

I don't suppose anyone saw the 'Tonight' programme last night, about the increase of budget-price stores? It is of no concern or interest to me what folk spend their money on, but I do loathe a brand snob The family doing the challenge last night were very good at dropping 'names' & she took delight in showing the £300 tree from a newer type of department store--guess you could say the 'next' generation but he was even worse!
Yes £land etc sell tat but they also have some good bits & in my book, you can say that about every other shop in the world. You buy the bits you like & leave the ones you don't, but you do not have to make such a big deal out of it.
Wonder what they would make of this particular little band of travellers :rolleyes: with associated bartering & make do & mending