To new beginnings. To the pursuit of...somethingness.

MrsMoo2U

“It is better to be prepared for an opportunity and not have one than to have an opportunity and not be prepared.”

So I am into the second week of my staycation (as named by KC) and what have I done for myself?

• decluttered and set up a new filing system for austria
• mindmapped my life plan (as per FW)
• studied some German
• read a few books
• sat on the prom several times
• walked Moo lots
• Baked to my hearts content
• Applied for jobs in Austria - not what I want to do long term but a stepping stone.

So from that list above has come an opportunity for me. Hmmm am I prepared - maybe. More questions to ask before taking up the invitation I think.

Still to do before returning to work (in the hopes I manage it)

• clean and declutter office and desk
• haircut
• hair colour
• more walks to the beach.
• check out the blackberries at the hillfort and if ready make some jam.

MrsMoo2U

Wages received on 31st July. All major bills have been paid and CC bills overpaid by small amounts.

No rent yet received in Austria so things a bit tight for a few more weeks but getting there slowly.

This months budget/challenge for food I think I will set at £100 (for 2 so that should be easily doable) (I am feeling frugal). So I have found the thread with the menu plan and some of the things on there look really scrumptious and inventive. Wish me luck.

I was supposed to be going to do the storecupboard shop today but I have been very poorly with some kind of stomach bug. Pains have been very bad and only just got myself out of bed Building up to a bubble bath I think.

youareallhelpingme

Take it easy, look after yourself, you have so much going on that any illness will hit harder than normal.

Your staycation sounds wonderful as did Mr C's birthday.

I hope whatever offer you have received moves you a step closer to your dream, or should I say reality .

Karmacat

I lifted the word from the recession - its not mine, honest!

Sorry you're feeling so bad, Cheri - a bubble bath is indeed a good idea. I'm amazed you can manage £100 for a month between two of you, do you have a lot already in? To be honest, I seem to go to that just for me .... tho I know there are some things I've chosen not to give up, like ground coffee (one strong one a day, but its only Sainsbo Basic) and organic free range eggs - I just don't like the sound of what they do to battery hens. What would you say your shop consists of?

niccatw

Wie is deine Deutsch Cheri? (Mein ist nicht so gut. )

£50 is doable if you've got a lot of the staples in and are very organised with the planning. (That's always where I fall down.) It's also a bit easier when you're veggie. I think pine nuts are what puts up the price of my shopping :rotfl::rotfl:. And wild rice. But I mix it with brown so it goes further.

I made my own red pesto to mix with the wils rice the other day and had it with roasted cauliflower. It was delish! I don't do proper quantities ans technically it wasn't a pesto as I left out parmasan and added red onion, but essentially I sauteed 2 wee red onions and 2 cloves of garlic, added in a half a wee jar of sun dried tomatoes, scattered over pine nuts and wilted in a couple of handfuls of basils (and added in my flaxseed mix) then blitzed it with the blender and mixed into the rice and flung the cauli on top. Mmmmmmm! It's my new favourite dish. I also stuffed pepers with the mixture and took them to my friend's BBQ.

Cheri, you are the second person to mention blackcurrant jam today. If you happen to know of a sugar free recipe, do let me know. I have been tasked with finding out if such a recipe exists! (I'm not sure why said person thought I'd be the person to ask, but hey, I'll rise to the challenge. )

I hope your tummy has settled down and you are feeling better. You must stop eating all you are baking . Send it to me, I'll happily eat it to save your stomach. Take care.


This is every cook's opinion -
no savory dish without an onion,
but lest your kissing should be spoiled
your onions must be fully boiled.
~Jonathan Swift

:rotfl:

se999

Hope you're feeling better by now.

Bubble baths are always a good idea

youareallhelpingme

niccatw wrote: »

This is every cook's opinion -
no savory dish without an onion,
but lest your kissing should be spoiled
your onions must be fully boiled.
~Jonathan Swift

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

MrsMoo2U

Karmacat wrote: »

I lifted the word from the recession - its not mine, honest!

Sorry you're feeling so bad, Cheri - a bubble bath is indeed a good idea. I'm amazed you can manage £100 for a month between two of you, do you have a lot already in? To be honest, I seem to go to that just for me .... tho I know there are some things I've chosen not to give up, like ground coffee (one strong one a day, but its only Sainsbo Basic) and organic free range eggs - I just don't like the sound of what they do to battery hens. What would you say your shop consists of?

I do have a lot in already such as rice,pasta,lentils (puy,red), bulgar wheat,couscous,pearl barley, flour, baking bits, spices. I also refuse to stop buying fresh coffee.... although I get a fairtrade from the local small sm for about £1.85 when on offer and I wont have anything other than organic eggs but I do try to keep dairy to a minimum. Most of the money will go on fresh fruit and veg (I have just found a small community garden that sells fruit and veg boxes so I am going to investigate that) but I also need to buy some tinned and frozen stuff as it is good to keep the freezer full for emergencies

niccatw wrote: »

Wie is deine Deutsch Cheri? (Mein ist nicht so gut. )
Ah Nic, mein Deutsch ist taglich zu verbessen!
£50 is doable if you've got a lot of the staples in and are very organised with the planning. (That's always where I fall down.) I have sat and done a meal plan for the month - whether I stick to it is to be seen;) It's also a bit easier when you're veggie. I think pine nuts are what puts up the price of my shopping :rotfl::rotfl:. And wild rice. But I mix it with brown so it goes further. Hmm nuts - forgot those, I need brazil and walnuts, dont buy pine nuts but I do buy a fair bit of pesto.

I made my own red pesto to mix with the wils rice the other day and had it with roasted cauliflower. Souds fab, will have to have a go at making my own pesto, like the sound of roasted cauli never done that It was delish! I don't do proper quantities ans technically it wasn't a pesto as I left out parmasan and added red onion, but essentially I sauteed 2 wee red onions and 2 cloves of garlic, added in a half a wee jar of sun dried tomatoes, scattered over pine nuts and wilted in a couple of handfuls of basils (and added in my flaxseed mix) then blitzed it with the blender and mixed into the rice and flung the cauli on top. Mmmmmmm! It's my new favourite dish. I also stuffed pepers with the mixture and took them to my friend's BBQ.

Cheri, you are the second person to mention blackcurrant jam today. If you happen to know of a sugar free recipe, do let me know. I have been tasked with finding out if such a recipe exists! (I'm not sure why said person thought I'd be the person to ask, but hey, I'll rise to the challenge. ) Well, I have actually made sugar free jam for MIL who is diabetic. I just used blackcurrants and apple as they are high in sugar content already. I dont do measurements I am afraid but I used apple, blackberries, apple juice, rind and juice of lemons and water. You could add pectin or agar agar if you want it to last longer. I dont use either for my own jam as it doent last long enough. If making for other people I hope that the sugar preserves it long enough.

I hope your tummy has settled down and you are feeling better. You must stop eating all you are baking . Send it to me, I'll happily eat it to save your stomach. Take care.I wish that I could blame it on the baking. That was done for my meal plans (quiche, tomatoe scones, fruit scones, twinks hobnobs,ginger cake and bread) Feeling a little better - pain has subsided but I swear that at this time yesterday I was looking up symptoms of appendicitis I was in so much pain.


This is every cook's opinion -
no savory dish without an onion,
but lest your kissing should be spoiled
your onions must be fully boiled.
~Jonathan Swift

:rotfl:

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

se999 wrote: »

Hope you're feeling better by now.

Bubble baths are always a good idea

Yes a bubble bath was just what the Dr ordered. Felt a little better after that.

Pippilongstocking

Glad you feel better after the bubbles

I need to meal plan for the month too and shove ALL my money at debt like you I only buy local when I can and fresh coffee is a lovely treat here too! Have you tried that new range of a certain brand that is quite dear but instant that DOES taste like real coffee.

I'll keep you company on the meal plan, you fancy putting yours up and I'll do one today?

I have to say I buy co-op or sainsbugs coffee (co-op usually fair trade when on bogoff) I'm afraid sainsbugs is value, but says its fair trade and lovely. The swedish shop coffee is good too and often a good price

Proper loo roll, mayonaise and nice coffee are my little non mse treats, oh and butter, um, cheese um, I'll stop now!

MrsMoo2U

Hey Pippi, my meal plan will be nowhere as nice as yours but I might try linking it on here somehow. Loo roll, now that is something that I refuse to compromise on. Butter and Cheese are also staples in this house. Moo wont eat his toast unless it has butter on it;) . Haven't had mayonnaise for ages but whenever I am away in Cardiff I "acquire" several packets from the breakfast buffet. I also buy coop coffee fair trade on bogoff.

Now can somebody please advise how I can train Mr C. Last night because I was poorly and he was heading out for a run to the prom I sent him off with £20. £10 for diesel and £10 with a list of food stuffs needed. Normal bread, milk, cheese (not very MSE dog food but as I couldnt get to the country shop yesterday we had none and Moo was not happy) and last on the list - any whoopsies that are on offer (it was 9pm and often get good stuff in Co Op in town at that time). He came home having only been able to put in £8 diesel because he had spent £12 in the Coop. Great I thought - food for the week. NO we had bread, milk, cheese, dog food, - a packet of reduced bagels and 2x 4 Bottles of Grolsch because it was on offer!!!!!!!!!!!!! Aaarrrgggghhhhh - what to do? Well I was supposed to be going to the shops today to buy the monthly shop. I am not going because I will have to put it on the CC and I refuse to go down that road. He hasnt been paid by the company he is contracting to for 6 weeks so I told him that he has to ask to be paid today (have been gently nudging him to ask for weeks but he doesnt like to mither them !!!!!!) or we wont be eating anything other than lentils and rice for the rest of the month.
Do you think it might work? Am I being mean? I feel quite determined to teach him how to budget. I have insisted that he doesn't ask Mr Senior for help and he "gets" that now when I insisted on putting the money back into Mr Seniors bank account that he lent him last month - thus leaving us short again this month.