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

Frugaldom

Good afternoon

The rain has stayed away, the moles are still digging up the front lawn and the chickens are still playing 'whack-a-mole' whenever they see a hill appearing. I've managed to get another 2 sets of fleece blinds/curtains hung, I've got the lentil soup on and the ham is cooling now, ready to get chopped and maked in a pie for tonight's tea, with any extra going in the freezer. I also unblocked the bathroom sink, which has been really slow running for months. I suspect a build up of DS' hairgel or something like that! Anyhow, several doses of sodium bicarbonate & vinegar later, it flushed through no problem with a couple kettles of boiling water - good job done. And here's even better news! (Well, it is for me...) my blackberry champagne has decided to fizz up after all! :j I just checked the bottles and I see lots of bubbles! It's been much slower to start off than the elderflower so I had almost given up and had even considered tipping it all down the sink! By the looks of things now, I'll need to start releasing some of the pressure from the bottles! Will sample it then.

SM - I thought you liked your fire? I can see the landlord's point, solid fuel stoves are no good for elderly people if they're not fit enough to cart coal or chop logs and we know that's their primary concern, especially as the property is family business with each retiring generation needing accommodation within distance of the farm. I'm just hoping our cottages are for the next generation again. :rotfl:

SL glad the cake yurned out alright

Savvy_sewing

Hello, Bails i think that you are prbably right. I am trying to run before I can walk sometimes.
I had to run aroubnd after the kids, as grandson was taken into hospital on Friday. unfortunately what ever was making him ill made me ill on Saturday night/Sunday.
I am here at BF's in Oxford and so I stayed as my Physio appointment at JR hospital was today. This has meant, a couple of NSD's. That I havent run around after anyoneelse, and I have been able to just relax. (After I got over Sunday). I am going back to my cottage tomorrow, to gather my bags for a week away with BF and his kids. Which I really need.
DS is managing to get to college, is stopping with one of his sisters. I havent heard anything from twin2, mother of DGS that was taken into hospital, and later let out.
But twin1 has been on the phone a couple of times. No great problems just missing everyone I think. But they are all coping without me.
So I am hoping to come back to Oxford on Thursday or Friday instead of Saturday.!
Hoping to get some packing done. This will be the first time that I am going on holiday, and not been searching the shops for something new to wear (OK secondhand new!).BF said I dont need anything new!.

Talking of the paper bricks, I dry mine in the greenhouse. HAvent tried using them yet. But havent used the fires./ Just as well as the Chimney sweep found the woodburners chimney was full of birds nests and if I had we would have been smoked out. He amazed me with taking out 3 sacks full of sticks, twigs and even bits of rope!! He said if I had used it we would have been smoked out!.
Right better go, have taken the computer over for a bout an hour now.
Catch up when I can. Looking foreward to my holiday, even if it is selfcatering and ryAnair!.

taka

:hello:Hellooooooo folks! ((((Hugs)))) and congratulations as appropriate to everyone.

Its taken me ages to catch up - after my last post on the last 4k challenge (~2 weeks ago! :eek:) I've been ill then my home broadband has been on the blink (:mad:) so I've been hidiously (sp?) behind on everyones posts. Work has been mad too so no chance of a catch-up while waiting for timepoints either. :rolleyes:

Thanks for all your lovely comments on my jewellery everyone. I think I was a bit down (and grumpy ) when I last posted - PMT, an evil heavy cold, wanting to strangle my boss after a bad day and finding out the I'd not get to see the person who the pendant was made for before she left for the US was not the best of circumstances to post under. Sorry. Your kind words had me in tears!

I agree - everyone (with their myriad of skills, dreams, knowledge, ideas and goals) on this thread is lovely and each in their own way are helping to change and enriching my life no end. Thank-you all! :T

sophiesmum_2

nykmedia wrote: »

SM - I thought you liked your fire? I can see the landlord's point, solid fuel stoves are no good for elderly people if they're not fit enough to cart coal or chop logs and we know that's their primary concern, especially as the property is family business with each retiring generation needing accommodation within distance of the farm. /QUOTE]

I love watching flames but quite happily can watch them in a woodburner.:D I really don't see what the objection is for them to replace an open fire with a woodburner, you need to cart coal or wood for them both but the woodburner/multifuel stoves are around 60% more efficient at heating the property and retaining residual heat, which could only be better for their property, and themselves if they end up living there.The fire surround wouldn't even need to be removed one could be fitted onto the hearth with a flue going up the chimney so would even be easy to remove again.

grandma247

I just got an email from them to say they are online. Have had a look at the site. Ladybird stuff is still there plus a lot of other stuff.
Here it is.

Brighton_belle

hello all. I feel really behind on responding to everyone's posts and hope to back track and catch up soon. I've been busy focusing on getting a new lodger and it is proving more difficult than before & I have found it hard to settle to anything meanwhile. I think we are going to have to accept taking in someone who will be more hard work than we would like but needs must. I need to readvertise and get someone in very soon.

We have been resisting putting the heating on and sitting under a duvet on a few chilly evenings. We have certainly started pulling the curtains now for warmth (have wooden slat blinds for privacy once it gets dark in lighter /warmer months).
I've been trying to get my head round the problem of the standard metal bathroom selves that always go rusty (why do they only sell metal ones). I've suddenly remembered a wooden shelf in the attic that if I seal properly would look nice and not rust and do for over the bath for shampoos etc for us & lodger. I also need to get a rail put up in our walk in larder/bike shed/drying room aka former dining room, so I can hang a couple of radiator dryers above the radiator to catch the rising heat once the heating is put on.
Awaiting arrival of a couple of ebay bargains - orange cords and knee lenth black boots each under £7 including postage.

In the style of the forum, I have set myself a mini challenge - to spend time at home everyday for a week working on my mosaic projects. Today was day 3 and I have now finished a piece ready for grouting at class tomorrow. I then want to crack on with 2 more in the pipeline, now my creative corner is fully up and running. Must take photo of my workspace:D
Someone gave me a kn0rr honey & mustard sauce that went well with chicken. Rather than then buy it ourselves I had a go last night at a diy version and it was great(honey & mustard added to veg stock & 2 lge tbsp of creme freche.) Certainy worked out a lot cheaper than buying the bottle of sauce .
SM - you've reminded me to start making soft cheese again: we regularly use our yog maker but I had forgotten about the soft cheese idea I tried last year.
Right off to catch up good & proper...

2NDTIMEROUNDER

Bad news from this part of England. My mother has been taken to hospital last night with a severe viral attack of the central nervous system. I found her unconscious with barely any pulse lying in a pool of blood, she bruised herself on several parts of her face and body on falling.

She is currently in intensive care, we dont know whether she will make it. The next 48 hours are crucial, they say.Six hours later and doctors still dont know what virus hit her. She is 70 years old, has a very tiny frame but has the fighting spirit of 5 men combined. Always has but I dont feel she has any energy left after two recent operations (knee and hip replacements).

PLEASE send good energy her way and include her in your prayers for those of you who are religious. Her name is Nikki Philippa.

Thank you all.

DawnW

I am only really an occasional 'lurker' on this thread, but I couldn't just read and run. Sorry to hear about your Mother, 2ndtimerounder, hope she gets better very soon x

rachelhen

2NDTIMEROUNDER thinking of you and your mum and will say a prayer for her x

jtb2412

2ndtimerounder .......... will be sending a prayer your mum's way today ..... xxxxx :A