Coffee and chocolate

miggy

Thanks Ani . Earl Grey at 4am actually sounds a very civilised thing although I ought to confess I (drops voice to a confidential whisper) prefer coffee. Oops. Hope that doesn't constitute too big a faux pas.

miggy

There was a Very Big Birthday here today (not mine) - I am exhausted and a bit down through lack of sleep but what a gorgeous day it's been, weatherwise. Also the start of my beloved car boot season: everyone seemed to have been turfing out their wardrobes prior to this one so for a total of £7 I came away with three tee-shirts, a hoodie, a scarf, a summer skirt and some dressing-up sandals! For me to dress up, that is: when it comes to going out, it's always my footwear that restricts my style as I'm an awkward fit and shoes are costly. This is a new pair of tasteful but party-ish sandals. Now all I need is somewhere to wear them!
Money-wise, of course this has been a cheap way to buy clothes (and they are nice, and good labels too), but it's an expensive weekend what with one thing and another. We have some concerns about one of the animals and the vet has asked us to bring him in for treatment under sedation during the week, which isn't brilliant but at least they think they can help him. Vet bills will turn up eventualy, of course.
Other than that: I've sorted the laundry (a perpetual battle), washed heaps of stuff including winter things to be put away, made a start on packing up the winter clothing, watered a few plants and sorted a few papers. The state of the house leaves a lot to be desired even after my onslaught on the papers, but it's a little better than it was. Must stop wasting so much time online and face the dreaded mess! At least avoidance techniques can also mean other jobs get done.
DH is trying to use cash when shopping: he says it's made him aware how much things cost. He wants to get us on to a cash system shortly (a result of the stewardship course) which I can tell already is going to be a discipline that won't come easily to me. I shall have to have a practice and turn it into a challenge if I can.

miggy

Following hot on the heels of yesterday'spost, I have subscribed to the Crazy 2011 Clothes Challenge!

I don't think I spend much on clothes as I'm a dab hand at bargain-spotting, though of course that can still mean unwise buys. Yesterday's were lovely but helped me realise I'm overweight again and need to lose it. I'm one of those people who can lose most of what I need to then shy away from actually getting there. I haven't worked out why this is, though I heard Jillian Michaels refer to it once so I know I'm not the only one.

There are therefore two things I need to do: lose the weight so I will be able to buy size 10 jeans and 12 tops without having to fight to get into anything (!) and assess my wardrobe so that I can make better use of what I've got.

I made a very sensible and helpful Ebay purchase recently: a new pair of smart black trousers to replace my ancient pair. Now the ancient pair really has to get to the charity shop if still in good enough condition: I just know I'm not at ease with them. I also now have summer and winter formal black footwear so I can go to dressing-up type events without panicing. It is, in fact my lack of footwear that's been one of the biggest restrictions on what I wear.

I need to look at work-wear but if I stay on nights I won't have to do much with this. The nature of my job means it is comfortable and practical clothing only, which suits me fine. I would love another pair of black jeans - haven't had any for years. Do I have too many tee-shirts and are they good enough? I should be strict about getting rid of ones that don't do me any favours.

If I don't lose the weight I will need more underwear, but if I do, I'm fine for a while apart from wanting some summery socks and a waist slip (last one succumbed to a careless ironing and I think they help dresses 'sit' better).

I def need new trainers and for next winter I want to raid Primark for some navy ugg-type boots. I had some (bought from a car boot sale for all of 50p) which I liked very much but have just binned them as I wrecked them. I need to go through my comfy old sandals and get rid of the ones that are too worn or too heavy for comfort. Today I'm wearing Josef Seibels which cost me about a fiver (at the carboot, where else) and which I love. I might get some pretty but cheapy plimsolls too: I bought a checked pair a couple of years ago which have been very useful but I really want flowers!

New winter coat... I can dream! I have a smartish one but it's starting to look not-so-new, a very battered one which I haven't worn this year and another very battered one which is cosy and suits me but alas I am not a genius so I can't make it last much longer. If you look closely at the wrists they are in holes! I'm okay for summer casual jackets though if I see a pastel tailored jacket I might just be tempted.. it would have to be a bargain though!

There's probably a need for some work on my summer wardrobe but it's still in the attic so I won't think about it yet. The collection of coldest-weather things to go up is still growing: another load in the machine tomorrow...

Enough for now: there isn't the money to hit the shops but that's what Ebay and car boots are there for. Besides it's fun.

ani_26

miggy wrote: »

Thanks Ani . Earl Grey at 4am actually sounds a very civilised thing although I ought to confess I (drops voice to a confidential whisper) prefer coffee. Oops. Hope that doesn't constitute too big a faux pas.

Ooops sorry, i forgot your diary is called coffee and chocolate


Never mind. I thought of you at 4 am this morning, whilst having the usual

miggy

An expensive day today: went to Wilko's for an assortment of necessary things like paper towels, tissues and loo rolls, and ended up with toilet duck, bottled water, seed trays and a bag of hay as well! In my defence, though, the hay in our local Wilkos is particularly good and the animals love it.
On to Tesco via the hole in the wall, where I got £10 for tomorrow's piano lesson, £10 for DD's allowance, £25 to pay back the holiday savings which were depleted when I didn't otherwise have cash for the milk bill and the window cleaner and another £5 to add to holiday savings. Then into the shop for a few groceries. I am experimenting by trying their 10p shower gel, and I also got some of their 17p toothpaste which I've bought before and I like it. It reminds me of 'Signal' which we had when we were kids (possibly because it was cheaper than most?). I did spend a bit more on biscuits as I had friends coming round this evening, and some reduced-price fruit but this late at night I can't think what else.
All in all there is around £80 less in our account than there was this morning, and I'm still feeling guilty as I haven't practiced my piano much which means I'm wasting money on the lessons, but it's been a life-line when I've felt very down and I'm reluctant to give it up. I've recently been feeling I don't have dreams or aims any more, (impending empty nest plus mum's illness) and this has been something that distracts me and stops me worrying. It's also something to aim for.
Oh, and DD and her b/f breezed in for lunch (not a problem, it's lovely to have them) and DD used a couple of tins of tuna to make them a pasta dish. Okay so they are both super-fit and probably need lots of protein and more than the usual amount of calories as his work and leisure all involves sports, but I can make a single tin of tuna go round several people!

Maybe I shouldn't be stingy?! :rotfl:

I tidied out a shelf in the kitchen, rescued an assortment of potatoes which were lurking in there (we have loads so didn't need to buy any for tea), found the remains of three bags of sugar which I've combined into one, assembled tins of tuna which had been in four-packs and were scattered, and generally made sense of the place. I also remembered to defrost sausages for tea, so at least I haven't spent unnecessarily on food even if I've not be absolutely careful elsewhere.

miggy

Forgot to say: guilt trip yesterday as the chicken carcass from last Sunday was still in the fridge and had to be chucked out. What a waste. The week before I turned the chicken into four meals: roast, soup, sandwiches and pie if I remember rightly.
Am getting sick of chicken, LOL.
This week's chicken has been roasted so maybe pie tomorrow. Mmm!

ani_26

Did'nt realise you are having joanna lessons. Keep up the good work


I sold my piano 13 years ago, although i think i salvaged my piano music , from the move, although i've no idea where it is. I know i had the comlpete works of Chopin and Beethoven piano sonatas. I don't think i'd be able to play the joanna, now. Still, is'nt it like riding a bike? :rotfl:

miggy

I think you must be way ahead of me with the piano Ani! I only tackled my first-ever serious foray into a simplified Chopin last week!

I have to confess I'm not a naturally musical person - I had to give up the violin after a number of years of trying really hard because my sense of pitch isn't good enough. Once I drift slightly out of tune I can't get back. Sad because I really adored playing. I also struggle with rhythm, for instance I can't clap on the off-beat unless I don't do anything else.

HOWEVER... I always wanted to be musical and I'm testament to the fact that hard work and patience can sometimes, at least to some extent, fill the gap where talent is missing. It would undoubtedly help if I practiced more though.

My husband and one of the children both have a good ear and can play without music - shame we can't add my head-knowledge to their abilities.

As to riding a bike... I thought I had remembered quite a lot from piano lessons as a teenager (I taught myself up to Grade 1 on a piano that hadn't been tuned in many years: maybe that's why I can't carry a tune!) (Oh, and F sharp and B flat stuck :eek:)... then when my son had lessons I came along to encourage him and realised I had forgotten sooo much. I had actually been studying Grade 4 with a teacher when I was a teenager and it took me ages to get back there as an adult. But you don't really forget, I could still read music and my fingers still worked.

Interestingly about Chopin - my mum used to play Chopin to me before I was born and when my teacher gave me that piece to sight-read last week, I impressed myself: it came much more easily than any other composer. I honestly believe I memorised a lot from my early 'lessons'!

Sorry to waffle on... can you tell my first instrument is the Word Processor?!

Other than that - am between waking nights at work so the head isn't in gear...

The Tesco 10p shower gel isn't bad...

DH cooking tonight so no culinary savings for me to attempt though I need to make a foray into town and buy some cheapy food bags, thus stopping the family using the posh ones.

miggy

miggy wrote: »

As to riding a bike... I thought I had remembered quite a lot from piano lessons as a teenager

Amazing what teens get from piano lessons.

miggy

And some sad news... we've said goodbye to one of the rabbits. He was old and unwell and the vet couldn't do anything more to help him. He was a real character, though, and will be missed. R.I.P.

For reference - we have a rabbit, a guinea pig, three goldfish (though one isn't looking too good) and three newts.