Lots more Sneaky Ways to save the pennies

Brie

Primrose said:

I love hearing these stories of simple holidays  enjoyed in times past.  How precious those times were - no queueing for hours at airports for cancelled flights etc, and no grandiose expectations.
If these current harsh economic times bring any benefits I hope it will be that many people find delights in simple pleasures again. It seems that the more wealthy a nation becomes, the further it risks straying from all the core values which keep it on the right track.

I think some of our simplest holidays were some of our happiest although I won't include one in a damp Welsh holiday cottage which had no heating where it rained every day for a fortnight and even the bed sheets were so damp that after the first half hour they had condensation rising from them and the heat of the hot water bottles we'd bought to try and dry them out!   I think half our outings were spent deep in slate mines trying to escape the downpours!

I understand what you're saying although I must admit I don't have much of a sense of nostalgia. 

I have dim recollections of going on long road trips with my family - memorable was one around Lake Ontario visiting every single historic fort en route.  I think my dad enjoyed it as he was a munitions buff.  And my mom would have been visiting every antique shop.  But not much fun for a 5 year old!  Of course it didn't help that in those days I would always get car sick so dreaded any holidays that involved more than about 30 minutes in the car. 

And then there was the time when heading home the traffic was so completely jammed (probably a big accident somewhere but with only the news on the radio we likely didn't know for sure what) that it got so late my dad had to pull over to stop and rest.  (don't recall mom ever drove on those trips, no idea why).  So we stopped a motel in the middle of no where, all climbed into bed and lasted about 15 minutes before we were all itching like crazy.  Bed bugs!  Mom insisted we have refund for the rooms and got us all back in the car.

London_1

I'm off to Porthcawl in October for a week,I'd better take a mac and a brolly with me Primrose I haven't been to Wales for over 70 years and what I remember of it from back then was it seemed to rain all the time we were there, and most of the shops were shut and absolutely nothing open at all on a Sunday  

But I'm doing my good deed for my eldest DD as her ma-in-law hasn't had a break this year and I promised I would go with her to keep her company .Bless her she's 85 and has had a rotten past year with a flooded kitchen and bathroom and two cataract operations, so I'm going with her to cheer her up  

JackieO xx

JinJinBlue

I live in North Wales and it doesn't rain all the time really and truly 🌧️😊☔only sometimes. It's a lovely part of the world and I hope you and your friend enjoy your visit. The shops are open on Sundays and it's pretty much the same as anywhere else really. Mind you, having said that, in October you'd be wise to bring a brolly. 

wondercollie

Brie said:

Primrose said:

I love hearing these stories of simple holidays  enjoyed in times past.  How precious those times were - no queueing for hours at airports for cancelled flights etc, and no grandiose expectations.
If these current harsh economic times bring any benefits I hope it will be that many people find delights in simple pleasures again. It seems that the more wealthy a nation becomes, the further it risks straying from all the core values which keep it on the right track.

I think some of our simplest holidays were some of our happiest although I won't include one in a damp Welsh holiday cottage which had no heating where it rained every day for a fortnight and even the bed sheets were so damp that after the first half hour they had condensation rising from them and the heat of the hot water bottles we'd bought to try and dry them out!   I think half our outings were spent deep in slate mines trying to escape the downpours!

I understand what you're saying although I must admit I don't have much of a sense of nostalgia. 

I have dim recollections of going on long road trips with my family - memorable was one around Lake Ontario visiting every single historic fort en route.  I think my dad enjoyed it as he was a munitions buff.  And my mom would have been visiting every antique shop.  But not much fun for a 5 year old!  Of course it didn't help that in those days I would always get car sick so dreaded any holidays that involved more than about 30 minutes in the car. 

And then there was the time when heading home the traffic was so completely jammed (probably a big accident somewhere but with only the news on the radio we likely didn't know for sure what) that it got so late my dad had to pull over to stop and rest.  (don't recall mom ever drove on those trips, no idea why).  So we stopped a motel in the middle of no where, all climbed into bed and lasted about 15 minutes before we were all itching like crazy.  Bed bugs!  Mom insisted we have refund for the rooms and got us all back in the car.

Sounds like my childhood in BC.   Up to the Okanagan with a tent trailer.  

The only one that stands out in memory was the year the car kept breaking down.   Saw every small town gas station north of Kamloops.

My Mum didn't drive, still doesn't.   but she held a record for back seat driving.

My sons have memories of me packing them into a station wagon and driving them to BC.  It was like something out a National Lampoons Vacation.  Station Wagon, two kids, and a dog.  There are some good memories there.  Different when their Dad came on the trips, not so much laughter and singing.

Primrose

I,ve read that fsoft fruit like raspberries and strawberries will  remain fresher for longer if stored in a sealed container like a glass jar.
Can anybody confirm this?  They generally never hang around that long in our house!

London_1

I saw a nice recipe in the newspaper yesterday I was wondering if it could be adapted a bit .

2 ripe bananas peeled and mashed (ideal if they are going a bit softer)
150gms porridge oats
2 tablespoons of ground almonds
1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
100gms raspberries ( I would be inclined to use softer diced strawberries as I prefer them , and they are cheaper )

Heat the oven to180c fan 200c ordinary/gas mark 4
in a bowl , mix banana, oatserries,almonds and cinnamon with a pinch of salt to a sticky dough

Stir throught the chopped raspberries/strawberries

Roll a tablespoon of the mixture into balls and arrange on baking trays, and flatten with your hand

Bake for 15 minutes until firm at the edges until firm at the edges and golden brown 
Leave to cool. Will keep in an airtight container for 3-4 days.

Sounds like a good way to use up slightly softer friut to make some healthy cookies  rather than binning them. I am on my holidays at the moment but will try these when I get home as a nice summer change

JackieO xx

MrsCD

Sound very nice, JackieO! It looks like the mashed banana takes the place of butter and sugar, but much more healthy.

Brie

MrsCD said:

Sound very nice, JackieO! It looks like the mashed banana takes the place of butter and sugar, but much more healthy.

makes them vegan too!  (I believe - I know some fruit actually isn't oddly)

Elisheba

Primrose said:

I,ve read that fsoft fruit like raspberries and strawberries will  remain fresher for longer if stored in a sealed container like a glass jar.
Can anybody confirm this?  They generally never hang around that long in our house!

No idea about this but Nancy Birtwhistle recommends rinsing them in a bowls of water with a few teaspoons of citric acid in there, and having a damp cloth from the citric acid solution in the bottom of the strawberry/raspberry container, then put them in the fridge  I tried it and can confirm it works.

Sallygirl

This is a heads up for those who like to grow a few veg etc. I went to Wilco yesterday and they have reduced their veg and flower seeds dramatically. They are now priced between 4p and 25p presumably because they don't want to store them until next year. They are in a box next to the tills rather than in their normal place in the shop. the seeds are dated 2024 and 2025. They won't last long at those prices : )