Coffee and chocolate

miggy

Can't say I've noticed any difference in the hair yet.

Good news! Have just had a couple of letters following on ones I wrote a few weeks ago, and mum's Council Tax status is up to date and what's more a refund is headed her way! :):)

I'm pleased about this not only because it's WONDERFUL to know I've actually tackled a Very ImportantThing and it's done and dusted and what's more she gets money (back) out of it, but because her house repairs will cost £??? and this will be a real contribution to that.

The next stage for Mum is to try to reduce the big bills she's still paying for utilities etc. One of these is now in credit so we could be looking at cutting back there but the other is STILL paying back after winter. Largeish house and lots of heating was on. Now of course it's all turned off but the freezer is still running adn there are od bits of other electrical use such as I've asked the cleaner to leave different lights on to give the impression of occupancy, and there is the hoovering to do and the washing machine is run sometimes so it doesn't get smelly. Her BT line is still in use so I intend to replace that with a mobile. Some sort of phone connection's necessary so the cleaner and her neighbour can contact me when necessary, but I have to get a special handset as her neighbour has very limited vision and needs one of those with large keys. Must remember to research this.

Sorry, that turned into a list.

I got paid the other day and was amazed to see our balance is better than usual. Then I realised a good bit of this was the money we had saved for hols and which had been transferred in and which will now have gone out again as the currency has been bought. Even so I think there has been some improvement, though whether this is a blip or longer term I haven't yet worked out. Dh gets paid today so things will look better again. However this afternoon I have both the 'boys' at home (them as is bigger than me - oh hang on, that's everyone round here ) and they have made a strong case to me that all the bedding for their room is childish. As it's sale time I think now might be a good opportunity to get something more suitable.

Other than that - well I've been asleep - but I need to get down to the chemist and see if my prescription has come in, and I need to sort dinner - preferraly using something from the freezers. The other day we had some defrosted fruit which must have been safe but was def past its best - what other joys await?!

miggy

I nipped down to town to get £2 worth of pizzas, some sausage meat and washing powder. Not enough in my purse for the usual combination of laundry powders (for different washes) so I got the £1.60 cheapest biological liquid which will at least last the weekend and we'll see how it goes. :money:

Picked up some receipts with nealrly £1's worth of points on and some vouchers as Mt. T has an e-code for £5 off a £50 spend in certain departments (not groceries so I probably won't use them). Must remember to check if anyone's put them on the vouchers boards.

I have been explaining about tax to DS2 but his brother is taking him to a football match so he is still happy.

Me, I'm happy about pizza and points. Off to work in a hour and a half... got to stay awake... urgh.

miggy

Despite being half awake today I took the opportunity to go to the retail park... and exercise self-restraint. The bank balance is actually looking better than it's done for years though I still haven't worked out why. Maybe I can put a little bit towards the mortgage again. Not till after the holiday, though.

I got some bargains in the big M*rrisons: 19p sausages, 50p butter and 29p teacakes, yum. The sausages were the cheapest, then reduced, so I think they may be a bit less yummy and end up with a sauce on but that's okay.

I also went into the huge craft store. I spent £1.99 on a gift and 49p on some craft foam to go at the bottom of a couple of pots of kithen utensils to stop them getting chipped. Oh, I am so restrained. I did look twice at quite a lot of stuff but I'm always so overwhelmed by it that I don't really know where to start and I haven't the space for all the pretty things even if I had the money.

So the bank balance is still okay though we have scraped together the last of this week's money to get a chicken for tomorrow. "Annual expenditure nineteen pounds nineteen and six, result happiness" as Mr Micawber would have it. I wonder how long it took for his figures to get out of date?

And talking of money - what's all this with America?! :eek: How close to the wind do they want to sail? Part of me is saying they need to allow themselves to borrow more because otherwise their economy will go belly-up, an dpart is saying 'but... but... but... borrowing your way out of debt?!'

Closer to home: I gave the garden some TLC. I was watering a pot of chives when I took a closer look and realised I never did anything with the baby leeks! They are now divided up and watered but time will tell if they forgive me!

Work tonight. If I have time - and I probably will - I have taken a bread mix to bake. It will feed me in the middle of the night and help me keep awake, and what's more it saves buying bread. I've added a bit to it to use up stuff and make it more interesting: anyone for granary bread with linseeds, apricots and sultanas?

miggy

This is one of the things that caught my eye in the craft shop:

http://www.dollshouse.com/dhe/product-details.aspx?code=5582&ref=search

They are about half the height they seem in the photo. If I keep a note maybe they will be in my Christmas stocking. No earthly (or heavenly) use of course, but I do like Doll's House stuff and oneday I will have space to doup th house my Dad made me.

Hovel_lady

I love craft shops too. I've always wanted a dolls house but we don't have the space or money for one at the moment. Probably not an essential for our hovel in the hills either :rotfl:
Yes, what is going on with America? Maybe they just like worrying the rest of the world.
We have a M*rrisons and there are some really good bargains some nights. It's quite a walk from here so I don't get there that much but I have come home with 4 loaves of bread at 9p each before now. And yes, teacakes. They are often reduced.
Loving the sound of the granary bread

ani_26

You're still thinking about xmas Miggy?


Morries seems to be the best for reduced items. They have kept me going over the last few years, all their reductions to 2p, 5p, 9p and so on. Unfortunately i've moved away from this morries, now, and there aren't as many bargains to be had, around here. Bargains these days seem to be items priced at £1. Times are a changing.


Re America, who cares? To me it doesn't tell me anything i don't already forsee. The economic climate isn't going to change anytime soon, and i'm not even an economist. Sorry for the cynicism.

miggy

NSD.

Have had an hour and a half's sleep in 48, probably about 14 hours over the last three and a half days - and I wonder why I'm making typos! Still, the uber-short sleep was intentional: it means a lot to me to be at church and I made it.:) Then I didn't feel sleepy this afternoon so I didn't bother going to bed.

A colleague offered me a long shift with an early start tomorrow but I didn't want it. While I was wondering what I could offer, I had another text to say she had it covered, so tomorrow remains a day off, and also a visit to Mum.

Just been watching Dragons' Den and am wondering if I could get Mum's house a solar cell to generate leccy and power the National Grid and make her some income... Daren't make any big moves though till I know what the building work will come to. I opened a couple of very official-looking letters on her behalf today which I'd been avoiding, and they were nothing. :)

Oh... started learning German again for hols in 11 days' time! :rotfl:DH says he must start some time. :rotfl:Good job we are geniuses.

Off to bed soon, for some reason I'm getting tired.

ani_26

It just goes to show, avoiding letters can be bad for your health.

Just having my cuppa

miggy

• bring accounts up to date
• Arrange builder to view the house Wednesday
• Check where we're up to with other potential builders
• get all shares documents together to wave at poor bank person who may not know any more about them than I do.
• (The dreaded one) Get the uncashed cheques together, compose lettes to the issuers and get sent off. Doesn't have to be perfect; the aim is to set the ball rolling. If they need moredetails they can ask me.
• Order the two items of clothing she asked me to get
• Buy her a puzzle book
• Pay her cleaner.

By the way, I spoke to the other attorney today and agreed how I will record certain items: I want to leave a 'paper trail' so everything is not only honest but seen to be honest. It would be so easy to forget something![/QUOTE]

MissShoes

Your diary always makes me motivated Miggy- I must try harder!