Horace's Biting the Bullet Diary

Horace

I havent switched the computer on for two days. On Sunday, I spent time sorting out my towels and teatowels and these have now gone into the airing cupboard (this is something that was created with the addition of some shelves to the cupboard where the water tank is). I stopped using the cupboard when skanky druggie was downstairs because the fumes would permeate up through the water tank area and into my flat (I wonder too if that stink of skunk has contributed to my depression?)

Yesterday, I got fuel (Millie - petrol is £1.32p a litre for unleaded at the BP Garage on Longbridge Lane), paid my HB cheque into the bank and did a bit of shopping in the village.

Spent £9.35 in the butcher on some pieces of brisket and a huge pack of stewing steak which has since been split and half frozen and half stewed, the brisket is in the freezer.

Spent 60p in the greengrocers on carrots and baking spuds

Spent £3.00 in charity shop buying a calendar (this is for a local garden centre who raises money for the charity, the calendar has coupons to use for things like coffee etc).

Spent £2.69 in the co-op - on jammy donuts from the whoopsie shelf, a bag of onions for £1 and a tin of Eazy Onions for my store cupboard

Spent £9.44 in Tesco getting things like ovaltine, sauce, cake from whoopsie shelf, vine tomatoes.

The day was too grey yesterday so I spent my time on the sofa. I was supposed to go out this morning to a networking event but I couldn't be bothered to go out in the rain and the greyness. Today, is application day which need to be submitted by email - I really must do this instead of procrastinating (my daylight lamp needs dusting off because this greyness is not helping my mood).

Horace

Another grey day today - I do wish we could have some wind to get rid of the greyness.

Decided to bite the bullet and attend this drop in centre for unemployed people today, it had been recommended by the jobcentre. As a result I am going back tomorrow and they are going to rejig my CV plus I have managed to get myself onto a Hospitality Course that they are running, they will provide me with daysaver bus tickets to get to the centre of town and may provide lunch too. This course runs for 2 weeks with modules every day and exams on Friday - I would get a recognised qualification at the end of it, this should ease my way into hotel jobs to go alongside my event management capabilities. The course is free..I think the people running it must have some government funding or something.

I know that I need to do my applications still but as some of these involve CVs, then I can do the CV thing tomorrow and then be able to send something off as the closing dates are 11 November.

Yesterday I recooked my beef stew and as I haven't been bothered to freeze it, will have stew again tonight (I don't mind stew three nights on the trot).

beanielou

That sounds good.

Horace

I found a fiver tucked in the bottom of another old purse last night,tucked away under some receipts..I shall put this in the credit union today and this will bring my total up to £36, not much I know but it is a start on my savings pot. I still have scrappy bits hanging around in change jars as well and when that has increased then I will add more to the credit union.

I have made a start on cleaning the bathroom too - lots to ditch, dust and wash:)

I shall also have another look at CashCowUK which is an auction site without the fees of Ebay - no listing or commission fees to pay.:cool:

Millie2008_2

thanks for the petrol tip-off, that must be the cheapest locally, yet again! Ze punto is looking a bit depleted, so I shall go and top up!

It has been really grey and dull hasn't it? We seem to have our own little micro-climate anyhow on top of the L Hills, but it has been foggy and bleugh! The sun was trying to come out at the yard this afternoon though

Yay for the £5!! And that auction site looks interesting!

cats_slave

Horace where are you? I've been a lurker on your diary since the beginning, and on the self-employed board before that.

You're doing brilliantly to manage on so little money. I really admire you for your tenacity on the job hunting and on taking up all the opportunities that come along.

chevalier

hi horace. glad to hear you are getting some food bargains, that is a relief.

Hope things pick up on the work front. The course sounds good, well done on going and seeing what the resource was like.
chev

Horace

Yay for a no spend weekend:cool: Will have to spend today though as I need milk.

I have the course this afternoon which will give me an EDL in Hospitality which is something to do with NVQs but I am not sure what. Bus ticket for that was free so that is £3.60 saved and a total of £14.40 saved this week:cool: The course runs Mon-Thurs from 1.30-4.30 and they have said they will rejig by CV too (I had to submit some applications the other day so tinkered with it myself), I eventually got round to submitting an application for the Stroke Association today and have asked that it be used for all their vacancies - you never know they may just offer me an interview.

I didnt switch the computer on at all this weekend and used my mobile to access twitter and do any google searches that I fancied. I have part cleaned the bathroom - I have gotten rid of so much junk. I have started working on housework in 15 minute bursts because anything longer then I lose the will to live (I have been such an untidy devil:o). I also emptied the window boxes and got rid of the dead tomato plants.

I ate from the freezer too - chicken breast on Saturday night with a few new spuds (I know from a tin), peas and gravy, yesterday I had a sausage sandwich for lunch and a spam one for tea (really couldn't be bothered yesterday). I shall cook up the rest of the sausages tonight and have them with a treat maybe chips from the chippy. Tatco sausages are really fatty:(

The weather has been particularly grey although yesterday was glorious today it is grey. The Lickeys have always had their own eco system because it is a hill - so you get all the fog and snow before me:rotfl: The BP Garage in Longbridge Lane always has the same price petrol as Morrisons but it is an easier garage to get into (whoever designed the Morrisons site needs shooting as it is really dire).

In my tidying efforts over the weekend (I even cut the pile of paper by my sofa by at least half) I found some vouchers that I had forgotten I had got so I have £70 of Waterstones vouchers plus a Waterstones gift card containing £1.52, a £10 Debenhams Voucher and a £10 Lakeland voucher.

I have seen some other jobs that I will be applying for - advertised on Caterer.com for some event management/sales jobs in Birmingham. I am determined to get a job - any job will do:D

Horace

The course was ok except for Sid Snot (a chap who can barely speak English who sat there and sniffed snotty sniffs all afternoon..bleurghh). The course includes food safety and it has been suggested that I get a food hygiene certificate too (I may well do especially as these courses are free).

Forgot to put slow cooker on yesterday so no sausage stew for me - found some oven chips and used the last of my eggs (must wander to Wildmoor to get more as they were yummy)...so fried egg & chips for tea. I did get milk and some reduced biccies (they taste like rusks with a choccie middle), some reduced chocolate fingers (since scoffed) and a box of biccies for £2.50 reduced from a fiver - then I got a box of biccies as a raffle prize for tonight because there was no way I was going to get a box of this size not be snaffled up - so a fiver saved on boxed biccies altogether:cool:

Tonight I am out so £10 saved as I get my dinner free due to skintarooniness and because I do so much for the club.

Oh well, time for lunch - I hate having lunch at 11.30 as I need to be out of the house at 12.30 to get to town for 1.30.

cats_slave

Pleased to hear the course is OK. Shame about Sid. The food hygiene certificate is probably worth going for. So many jobs ask for that these days. Hope the dinner is good.