My Busy Life

sidneysmum

Today has been dreadful weather wise. Loads of storms with thunder and lightening. Anyway..........I still got up early and took her ladyship to the park. Next thing was the gym. I had my daily exercise fix - 40 minutes on the treadmill then my usual Monday morning zumba class. I had lots of bits of shopping to do on the way home so i combined it all so I don't have much to get this week. Asda - I bought milk and some bargain tins of spaghetti bolognese which are perfect for my lunch at work and are 19p !!!! Next was Morrisons which had some bargain veg for my guinea pigs and tortoise. Also got some tinned custard at 17p per tin. I called at Wickes to get some paint charts for some of my future projects. Lastly I went to the discount bakery and spent £4 on sweet stuff (Swiss rolls, mini rolls, chocolate brownies, chocolate covered crispie cakes, flapjacks, stollen.... the list goes on)
This afternoon after I had got my breath back I decided to take a leaf out of Elaine Colliars book (mortgage free in three) and have a bit of an afternoon doing some orgainsing and having a bit of a chuck out. Firstly I bagged up all the goodies I had bought and put them into smaller bags to give to my sons and also put some in the freezer. I then decided to clear a shelf in my pantry. I am going to have this as my "to do" shelf instead of having things on the dining table waiting to be sorted out. Hopefully things will look a bit tidier from now on. I have got a few bits and pieces on it at the moment - letter that needs writing, hospital appointment letter and a few other things.
I had made plans for my friend who is a gas engineer / plumber to call at tea time to discuss having a gas fire fitted in the breakfast room. I am trying to save money over the winter by only heating the room that I live in. Basically I live in what was my family home and whilst it was perfect for bringing up a large family, its not the perfect size for me now. Anyway as I don't particularly want to downsize at the moment, I need to make this house more suitable for one person. The problem is that my gas boiler powers 18 radiators. I do not have the money to run 18 radiators. My friend has suggested that having a gas fire in the breakfast room is not the best option. He has said that I should have thermostatic valves fitted on all the radiators and only run a couple of them.........so that's the plan now. He has gone away and is going to get back to me with a price. He thinks the job will be cheaper than a new gas fire and the running costs will be cheaper too. Hopefully this can be done over the next few weeks so I am ready for when the colder weather arrives.
I am still waiting for the plasterer to skim the walls in the old playroom but hopefully that will be done in the next couple of weeks as well.
Anyway I am off to put my feet up and to eat some cake.
I hope everyone has had a great moneysaving day x

girlatplay

I follow Elaine's blog too. It is brilliant. I have used so many of her recipes.

When Little Miss and I first moved into our current home the boiler was an ancient old back boiler which didn't work properly. We used a small oil heater/radiator which someone gave us and that worked really well to heat the one room. Our financial position improves as the years go by and in 2010 I forked out for a nice shiny new combi boiler and it was so worth it. It was a friend of a friend who fitted it so I didn't get ripped off. I do have thermostatic valves on all of the radiators, very handy.

sidneysmum

girlatplay - Hi. Elaine is brilliant isn't she ? It just shows that women can have great lives without a man !! She is so inventive. Thanks for your comments about the heating and valves. I cant wait to get them done so I am sorted for winter x

Today has pretty much flown by. I was at work at the crack of dawn and things went OK thankfully. I called at the gym on my way home and did 40 minutes on the treadmill. When I got home Sidney wasn't in the wash house but with my next door neighbour doing the garden with her. Apparently Sidney had been with her for 5 hours. Not much I can say except i have a brilliant neighbour. I didn't even need to take Sid to the park as she had already been taken. What a spoilt dog !!
I have had a message from the plasterer today and he is hoping to plaster the old playroom on either Friday or Saturday. Great stuff. I will just have to get his money out of the bank over the next day or so.
Nothing much planned for tonight except getting my feet up with the GP`s and Sidney and having a bit more of a read.
I hope everyone has had a great moneysaving day x

sidneysmum

Oh I am glad today is almost over with. An old boyfriend shall we say reared his head and wasnt over impressed that i didn't want to see him again. Oh dear !! Anyway works over with and I am not back for almost 2 weeks as next week I am having some hospital treatment and work is not happening !! I managed to get to the early afternoon zumba class and have a good dance about. I spent the rest of the afternoon doing a few bits of shopping. I only spent a bit of money but I bought some more pink spray paint so i can finish my Lloyd loom bedding box I have started. I also bought a new dustpan and brush from the pound shop which will be perfect for cleaning the GPs cage out. Anyway I have just got back from the tea time zumba class. I had felt a bit upset at the old boyfriend contacting me and another dose of exercise is good to blow the cobwebs away. I didn't need to take Sidney out to the park as she had gone again with my next door neighbour !!!
Anyway I hope everyone has had a great moneysaving day x

sidneysmum

Today the weather has turned out to be really good. I got up as usual.....early, and took Sid to the park. Did a few chores when I got back then walked to town to the gym and did 50 minutes on the treadmill then my usual dance aerobics class. Had a couple of very small spends - beetroot 29p, dog poo bags 29p, and some spring greens at 17p. I have found a really nice fruit and vegetable market stall just outside the town centre gym and I am going to buy small amounts of different fruit and veg for the GP`s to try out. They liked spring greens and are not too sure about beetroot. I have also taken money out of the bank for a couple of major purchases. £100 to give to one of my sons for his birthday. He wants money to put to a new saxophone. Also £140 to pay the plasterer as the job is being done on Saturday. Progress.
When I got home one of my sons arrived and we sat down at the computer and sorted out his home contents renewal and saved about £30. Very pleasing. This afternoon I have been at the cinema and watched "The Heat" which is a comedy with Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy. It was very funny but not for people who are offended at the f word. I bet there was plenty of laughing as the film was being made.
Not sure what my plan is for tonight. Did toy with going to another zumba class but think its unlikely as the weather is nice and i can be pottering out and about in my garden. Think I will be having a read of my Goldie Hawn book.
I have heard of "shared ownership housing"......but i think i have joined a "shared ownership dog scheme". Sidney is in my next door neighbours house and garden a lot and went to the park with them again this afternoon!!! She is loving it so I am happy too. My neighbours Ray and Irene are enjoying her company too !!
Anyway I hope everyone has had a great moneysaving day x

sidneysmum

I have had a nice day today. Up at the usual stupid o'clock. Never mind.......at least i make some good use of my time when i wake up early. Took Sid to the park and i came across (shall we say) a large piece of wood which will be ideal for an extra shelf in either my pantry or my wash house. I will have to wait for my handyman neighbour getting back from his holiday then i shall be speaking to him about sorting some shelves out.
Walked to town and went to the gym and did 50 minutes on the treadmill. Called at the town centre library and ordered a book and took another 3 home with me. One is about GP`s so I can learn a bit more about them. I did look through the book and couldn't for the life of me see any pictures of 2 GP`s and a dog sat on the sofa like happens at my house !!!
I was meeting my friend at the local carvery for lunch and on the way I called at Tesco. They had got some new clothes stock in and I did a bit of investing in myself for the autumn. I bought some grey jeggins and a mock leather biker jacket which will look great when the weather starts to get cooler in the autumn. Had a great afternoon with my friend just chatting and putting the world to rights. Spent £8.50 on my carvery meal and a refillable coke.
I haven't sat down yet since being home as I have emptied the old playroom of all the furniture etc all ready for the plasterer in the morning. Think this evening will involve a bit of reading and a bit of a cuddle with the GPs.
I hope everyone has had a great moneysaving day x

sidneysmum

Today has been one of activity but also progress !! Up nice and early as usual and took her ladyship to the park. The plasterer arrived to skim the old playroom before I went to my zumba class so I didn't have to miss anything. Zumba was great and on the way home i called at one of the markets greengrocers and I came away with a huge bag of cauli leaves at no cost !! I think I will have to start to buy my fruit and veg there if I am going to get free stuff for my GP`s. When I got home, I just had time to get a quick shower before i went to pick my grandson up. We paid a short visit to my aunty in the home before we went to the park where he proceeded to alternate between the paddling pool and the sand pit. He had a great time. We then came back to my house for an hour on the sofa with Sidney, the GPs and loads of laughing !!. Anyway my most favourite person has had to go home now.
The plasterer has done a great job and I think i need to go and buy some paint over the next day or two as the walls will be dried out in no time at all. Also a friend has just dropped off a huge length of kitchen worktop which will be perfect for the extra shelf in my wash house. so....a day of progress.
I am just going to chill out tonight and have another look at the playroom. I want to come up with some ideas now the plastering is done. Anyway I hope everyone has had a great moneysaving day x

sidneysmum

I had a nice surprise last night after writing up my ramblings. My lovely Asian neighbour arrived bringing me 2 dishes of food she had made. Very nice !!
Today has been a good day, most enjoyable. I was up early and walked to the town centre car boot sale where I spent £15 or thereabouts. I bought loads of bits a pieces. My star bargain was an almost new Enny leather black shoulder bag which I paid £5 for. It must have been £150 when it was new and it has had very light use. I also bought some brand new boots (only Matalan) for £1. They still had the original elastic holding them together. I bought a beautiful vintage teddy for 50p, new shampoo and FCUK body lotion for 70p, 6 monthly magazines for £1.50, a Denby dish 50p, Wicker magazine rack £1, turquoise chandelier light fitting £2.50, 3 wooden painted coat hooks and a wooden bathroom door sign £1 and a beautiful vintage boys adventure stories book which will look fantastic on a coffee table or similar £1. I was delighted with my purchases. I managed to stuff them in a locker at the gym whilst i did an hour on the treadmill then I had to carry the lot home !! Most of the items will be used in the old playroom which is now coming along wonderfully as the newly plastered walls are quickly drying out.
I took Sid a quick walk to the park before I had a shower and got ready to go out. My friend called for me and we went for a meal. I only spent £7.50 and that included a couple of lime and sodas. We stayed out a couple of hours then we came back to my house to drink loads of coffee, eat loads of cake and admire the GP`s !!!
Did my British Gas readings and payment this morning so i know i am up to date with that !!!
Anyway I hope everyone has had a great moneysaving day x

sidneysmum

Although I was up early this morning I decided not to take Sid out first thing as it was raining so hard. I did a few chores then went to the gym. I had 60 minutes on the treadmill then my usual Monday zumba class. On my way home I stopped off at Aldi and bought a few basics - fruit, eggs, yoghurt, bread. I also bought a tin of satinwood paint from B&M bargains. I just need to buy some new paint brushes and a roller and I will be ready to start painting the playroom as soon as the plaster is dry.
After a spot of lunch my friend called round. I have decided to give my last remaining chicken Audrey to my friends son and today was the day to say goodbye to Audrey. Since my other chickens were eaten by the fox a couple of months ago, Audrey has been really miserable. I did persevere with her but she definitely needed some company. Anyway she has gone to a big chicken enclosure and if first impressions are anything to go off, she is really happy with the other chickens. As a little aside, I am a great believer in karma. The fox was found dead in the road outside my house last Friday. It had been run over by the bus !!! :rotfl:
Later this afternoon another friend came round and did my nails for me. They look lovely again now. The plan for tonight is to get my feet up and have a read and an early night as i have a very early hospital appointment in the morning.:)
Anyway I hope everyone has had a great moneysaving day x

sidneysmum

It will be a short post from me today. I was in hospital first thing having day surgery. I was home before lunch time and have spent the afternoon on the sofa, having had a few visitors. I will be in bed very early tonight but as i have day surgery about 4 times a year (on my shoulder and arm), I am expecting to be fighting fit tomorrow as I usually am.
Anyway i hope everyone has had a great moneysaving day x