MG - The Matrix Re-wired

savingforarainyday

Love the clementine Christmas marmalde idea MG.

Hopefully your two boys will be well on the road to recovery by the weekend. Its really strange but sometime when they are in full flow you think it would be nice if they could be quiet just for a bit, but then when they are poorly and they are quiet you wish they were up and runnning around and being their usual noisy selves:) iyswim

I have just recovered from the coughity cough thing that was doing the rounds here felt fine but wasn't getting any sleep and I am like a bear with a sore head if I am tired.


Going to investigate the veggie situation in the porch at the back think I will make casserole as my lot are dripping in and out today and I am off out for lunch with SIL think this will be my treat as she often helps me out with lifts on our days out

and (((((hugs))))) to those who are feeling a little sad for whatever reason.

Dorastar

Back on the 15 mins around the house today as dh has been called into work, but on double time so not complaining too much.

Boot is full of stuff to go to tip, recycle, post, etc and got a retirement do to go to later - just loving the fact I don't have to rush anywhere for the next 2 weeks.

Memory_Girl

I have just asked the kids if they would like anything special made for the holidays .............. DS2 has requested black pepper oatcakes - that can't be normal surely???

I mean the house is full of mince pies, tablet, clootie dumpling and cake - and he wants oatcakes!!

Strange wee soul.

MG

Horace

I have been reading the thread with interest this weekend and would like to say that I have never thought that the Matrix was about one person nor these threads about one person. I still have much to learn as I strive to improve myself, get some savings behind me and start re-building my life again all on a shoestring budget. I would like to thank MG for providing yummy recipes and inspiration.

I know that I shall be needing the Matrix more than ever now as yesterday I went to see my husband and we both agreed on an amicable divorce after 25 years' of marriage. We even swapped books because we both know what we like to read. It was depressing going back because the house is a state - it hasn't been decorated for years and the wooden window frames have rotted. I will have my furniture which consists of a 1960's chair, 1 oak dressing table and matching tall chest of drawers made for my grandma when she and poppa (my grandad) got married, I will also have the coffee table made for me by poppa when I was small, an octagonal table that has been in my family for yonks (that might be a french polishing project for me) and the drop leaf dining table that has been in the family since around 1700:eek: I will also be having my painting, 1st birthday cards, various CDs and my record collection - he will have everything else.

I feel sad yet happy at the same time - sad that it is over but happy that I am getting my life back and moving forwards. It has been over for a very long time but neither of us would end it - now I have instructions from my parents to end it and eventually I took the bull by the horns. Hopefully, he can now move on and do his thing.

Yesterday I came away with a jar of coffee (expiry date Sept 11 but still edible), a tube of my toothpaste (won't need to buy any for several months as I have 3 tubes in the store cupboard), a pack of cotton wool pads that must have been in his store for yonks. I came away with a gas bottle and my camping stove too and instructions on how to use it because I had forgotten.

I have also felt some Matrix love today too which made me cry - good job I wasnt wearing my warpaint for the interview this afternoon.

I went out on Friday night - I did buy drinks which cost me just over £4. How I wish I had asked for the spare dinner to be boxed up for me to bring home (someone didnt turn up). I had a very good meal but the entertainment was dreadful - her only volume was loud - so loud that you could not hear the fire alarm that she set off with her smoke machine. Lady, if you are going to sing and play music please use a reasonable volume so that people don't have to shout to make themselves heard and that our ears don't bleed. Saturday was spent mainly feeling sorry for myself because my head was ringing.

Have a good day Matrixettes.. MG I hope you little 'uns get better soon.

vandanfc

Memory_Girl wrote: »

I have just asked the kids if they would like anything special made for the holidays .............. DS2 has requested black pepper oatcakes - that can't be normal surely???

I mean the house is full of mince pies, tablet, clootie dumpling and cake - and he wants oatcakes!!

Strange wee soul.

MG

You want normal MG how about this one for you. I went to the Farmer's Market on Sunday and saw Lamb's Heart, so I bought one as a treat for my diabetic puddy tat. My 13 year old daughter discovered this purchase and she wants to have some, oh and some of the Lamb's Liver that I had defrosted for him too.

Horace

I was watching a programme on Home channel last night called The New Reclaimers. It was about people who wanted their homes done up and had £5K or whatever to spend and two folks came and did building work - last night someone wanted a kitchen diner and these folks went out and got stuff for free or at bargain price. Eg. visiting building sites and speaking to site manager to get RSJs and flooring. They got a free kitchen too because a social housing project had leftovers, a posh kitchen shop sold a discounted sink and cooker hood. The best was the tile shop where they got boxes of white square tiles for the kitchen for free as it was old stock. Lessons to be learnt here I think.

Time for lunch and get my slap on - now I know to get the 63 to Selly Oak and from Selly Oak get the 11 to Cadbury World and walk from there. - All for £3.60 day saver.

tenmah

Thanks all. Ecchinaccea (really must learn how to spell it!) and Manuka honey taken along with a flu strength Beechams drink, and I do feel a bit better. Whether it will stop anything I am not sure, but just need to get through the week as I have a busy week with meetings etc at work.

Sadly no Calpol in the house. No littlies in the house, so no need for it, although my daughter often says I wish we had some in as she used to like it......

Hope your two are not too bad MG. When are they due to finish school for the Christmas holiday?

Good luck for this afernoon Horace x

Memory_Girl

You win vanda - cross my heart :rotfl:

There is an art to scrounging - and when you have it sussed you can get some amazing stuff. I mean, look at all the sheet insulation for DS2's bedroom - they were glad for me to take it off their hands My last but one kitchen was picked up off the street and handpainted.

When people being to realise that you appreciate being offered their "old tat" they really do turn up trumps. It does mean that everything in your house has a story attached.

Marmalade is a triumph - brilliant clear amber colour and spicy smell.

Has anyone noticed that oatcakes have gone trendy this year? And how expensive they are? So today I have done cracked pepper ones and sunflower/ pumpkin seeds ones. When I get out to the shops I might buy some Parmesan and make Parmesan ones too.

But first - a cup of tea

MG

Dorastar

Officially soaked and cold - tis pouring down and I had to get a retirement card for a friend who is leaving this week. Had to take kids with me so we are now snuggled up in a complete change of clothes and under stripey blankets! Progress on the house is minimal and the tip is closed due to flooding.

Picked up a copy of Radio Times for Christmas and dd spotted a voucher for a free gruffalo colouring book, so we went to pick one up straight away and ds is very happy. Dd is also proud of herself for getting us a freebie.

Tonight is popcorn and Take That from last night - is actually the one dd and I went to see so looking forward to going over our memories.

Tescodealqueen

Just back from a night away to see the wonderful Alfie Boe, as a special birthday treat. Matt Lucas came on stage too, surprise guest. Had a lovely time.

Decided to pop into IKEA on the wway home, as they do a 99p breakfast and free coffee if you have one of their family cards, much cheaper than the Travelodge breakfast.

Now last time we went to Ikea for breakfast we picked up a bathroom sink and vanity unit, which made the bathroom much more organised and with a lick of paint, bright and cheerful for quite low cost.

OH as been mentioning redoing the kitchen, but way too expensive atm after the cost of replacing all the windows which really had to be done, if only to save on the heating bills.

Anyway, we picked up a kitchen sink, tap and cabinet. Getting to be a habit now.

We are going to replace the whole lot as the current taps are past it and the Belfast sink really needed replacing when we moved in 9 years ago:rotfl:

We painted the other kitchen units in the summer, so I am hoping that this will make the kitchen ok for a while yet.

OH has been telling his friend that he will be in trouble because he has bought his GF a George Foreman grill for Xmas and he has now bought me a kitchen sink:rotfl: