Learn to control money but do not allow it to control you

Firewalker

We are home and this is nice as well; we had wonderful time away – it was a nice part of the country, loads to see and experience. It was very nice to see our friend and her family and on top of everything she is a good cook. Interestingly, although I ate rather a lot I didn’t feel full and uncomfortable even once. This probably means that we should have another look at our diet; in any case I may need to start eating mainly what the rest of the family considers the salad again.

Today has been sunny and hot everywhere – we are all sunburned.

Gosh, I am feeling really tired; relaxed but tired. Will write more tomorrow – now a movie and rest. Tomorrow the frog eating will continue – main focus will need to be getting rid of the clutter; material and mental. Minimalists we are unlikely to become but worth a jolly good go.

Firewalker

Karmacat

I thought I was completely minimalist - but I dug out my bedroom curtains and blackout blinds from where they'd been stored since the house move, because of how bright the sun is at 4.30am, and it turned out I liked the *look* of the curtains, as well as the job they do!

Firewalker

Oh dear, I missed a day of posting! Since starting this diary I have missed only a handful of days and usually I did the writing; just could not post. Yesterday, however, was rather exceptional on three other counts as well: one, I did tackle my shoe situation; two, OH built a store cupboard; and three, our first order with AF has been placed.

My big frog for yesterday was to sort out my shoes. After about a year of delaying this I finally approached is and the result was that I threw away two pairs of leakey boots, one pair of red ankle boots that I love but was about 12 years old and always drank water like anything and a pair of black shoes that looked a bit worn. The rest of the shoes were organised in ‘summer – winter’, and ‘will wear – will not be seen dead in’ groups. Now I have out only ‘summer and will wear’. Decision has to be taken about the ‘will not be seen dead in’ category but suspect these will go to a charity shop or an agency.

We have space for our store cupboard; well more like store shelves, really. It was rather unbelievable that OH figured out where to have it and how to build it yesterday morning and by the evening we had the construction completed: floor to ceiling, fifty centimetres deep shelves that are ready to accept whatever we put on them.

And talking about putting stuff on the shelves we made our first ever AF order – ordered stuff for £44 which otherwise would have been over £70. Main purchase was olive oil – we bought 8 litres of extra virgin olive oil that was half price.

So, you probably can see now that in all this excitement there was no opportunity to post. Today I’ll post twice – now back to writing.

Firewalker

Cheery_Daff

Exciting stuff FW! :T Well done! :T (although why did you get rid of your winter shoes?? Or were they all the broken ones?)

Firewalker

Cheery, this were the broken ones. Also I am still left with three pairs of boots (one brand new), two pairs of ankle boots and three pairs of black conservative shoes for going to Brussels (although I have made it my mission to wear colourful stuff when there and I am not going to be in Brussels often during the next 12 months). This is loads of shoes...

FW

Cheery_Daff

I see...

I daren't count mine! Rather than throwing away the ones that I love but don't wear, I'm making it a mission to wear them more often so they justify their existence

(but I'm still not going to count... )

thriftyscotslass

Glad you had a nice few days break FW. Well done on decluttering the shoes and well done to MR F on building your store cupboard :T.

Shoes - I'm getting better. I am working my way through my shoes by wearing a pair to death, throwing them out and not replacing them :j.

Karmacat

Thrifty, thats what I do! Hurray!

Firewalker

Exactly eighteen years ago OH and I became a husband and wife. Yes, for that long I have lawfully put up with his bad jokes and his absent mindedness but have also accepted his care and his love. It was good to have our anniversary when all sons are here – cooked a really nice dinner. Well, we ended up with roast chicken – but not because we had to but because we really like it. Free range chicken roasted with olive oil rubbed in it and lemon wedges in its bottom. Tastes divine; there were also roast potatoes and sliced Tomatoes. Lovely! All cooked by Mr F and cleaning done by grown up sons.

I promised to make chocolate mousse – went and got all the ingredients...well got dark chocolate we already had fresh eggs. Then promptly forgot to make mousse; this is exactly how bad a mother and wife I am.

Most of today was spent writing – have not even run which is very naughty. Writing without running will finish me quickly; or I will start looking like A. Dumas who was a great writer and a very round man. All my writing was for the blog: re-wrote the home post; have written an ‘about’ page; wrote a post for today (if you really like a peak at some fancy shoes...this is the place) and have written Monday posts for three weeks. Altogether a productive day – no wonder I forgot to make chocolate mousse.

I also have all my frogs for the week in line; I also have tomorrow’s frogs on a small piece of paper. Early waking up will be implemented again – let me see whether I can make a habit of it. To form a habit I need 14 days in a row...we shall see.

Now bed – 10.30 latest I have to be horizontal.

Till tomorrow!

Firewalker

savingwannabe

Happy Anniversary. Now go and be horizontal you have had a looong week.:j