The Crumpet family's journey to Mortgage Freedom:-)

Hazelnutty

Agree on the sleep thing - it can change everything. As OH doesn't sleep easily or well with her condition she notices when I have a bad night even if I don't. There is a definite correlation with funks, grumps and slumps the next day!

Crumpets

I definitely haven't been sleeping well, so that was not helping my mood. As I hoped though, the change of scenery and lovely baby cuddles helped lift me out of my funk so I'm pretty much back to normal now :j Saying that, I didn't sleep well last night due to ds having horrific toothache Fingers crossed all is calm tonight.

DH is off this week, which will be lovely, we had a nice day today, carving pumpkins and doing craft with the dc and generally pottering in the house. This afternoon we took the little ones to a NT property and did the hallowe'en trail. £4 for them both but it was worth it to see them running around looking for the clues. DH and I took coffee with us too so it was a pretty low spend day :T

Heating has been switched on today, it has gone so cold! There was a hard frost this morning on the ground and the guinea pigs water had ice in it :eek: I still put the washing on the line though :rotfl: it part dried and is finishing off on the airer now.

It's my dads birthday tomorrow so I'm making him a food parcel, I've included locally made pork pie, scotch egg, cheese, pork scratchings and a bottle of wine. Very healthy...NOT :rotfl:

themadvix

Sorry to hear that the lack of sleep has been getting you down. I use Boots own Sleepeaze Herbal. They have valerian, hop strobile and something else in them ('based on traditional usage', as they have to say). I don't struggle with getting off to sleep initially, but it's when I wake up in the night (for the loo), my brain is then rested and wakes up and gets going. I find the tablets just keep me chilled enough that my brain goes back to sleep. (Just realised you asked about this on my thread, so it looks a bit random here!)

It sounds like you had a lovely day yesterday - I do love an NT place, there's something very calming and wholesome about them!

I put washing out yesterday too (two loads!) and got it in dry, just very cold!

Hope DS's toothache was better last night.

Crumpets

Hi MV,

Thanks for the sleeping tablet recommendation, That is exactly my problem, I can fall asleep no problem, but then I wake at about 2-3am and I can be awake for hours with my mind whirring :mad:

It's been a lovely half term week, I'm sad it's over. We had lots of frugal fun with friends at Halloween, and the kids have enough treats to last them until Christmas now! DH and I also took dd1 to London to see H a m i l t o n which was amazing! We drove half way and tubed it the rest of the way which I think worked out well both economically and stress related We spent on food and drink but it wasn't too bad all things considered.

Yesterday we visited the new zero waste shop, I wasn't sure what sort of things they sold but I took some containers along anyway. We bought freshly ground peanut butter (I was very excited about this ) cacao powder, dried mango and dates and some metal straws for the children. It was fairly pricey so I'm not sure how much I'll buy from there realistically. I usually go into the city once a month so I'd like to try getting rice and pasta from there for the month. I'll see how it goes.:)

It's been such a busy week that I totally forgot it was mortgage and OP day!! :eek: I checked the balance this morning and the OP's aren't showing yet so I'll update my totals on Monday.

It's such a warm day again today, my washing is blowing merrily on the line ( this makes me very happy :cool:) I've done a few chores in the garden and I need to do a tip run today. I'm also sorting out old wood (absolutely loads in the shed left by the previous owners :mad:) for us to have a little bonfire on Monday. The kids don't like fireworks so we won't go out. Ill buy a packet of sparklers and we'll go in the garden :T I'm sure there will be plenty of fireworks going off that we can see anyway

We're off to mil's for a visit today too and she is providing food - one less thing for us to worry about and one meal in the bank for next week :T

the_cross_rabbit

I wish we had a zero waste shop near us, are they similar to the shops that were around years ago? Huge tubs of flour etc? Have a fab time at MIL.
CRx

Hazelnutty

CR Yes we had a Weigh n Save in my town in the early 90s - my first job and I got banned from 'looking after' the sweets tubs

Crumpets

the_cross_rabbit wrote: »

I wish we had a zero waste shop near us, are they similar to the shops that were around years ago? Huge tubs of flour etc? Have a fab time at MIL.
CRx

Hazelnutty wrote: »

CR Yes we had a Weigh n Save in my town in the early 90s - my first job and I got banned from 'looking after' the sweets tubs

Kind of like that CR (sadly no tubs of sweets hazelnutty :rotfl:) it had loads of dispensers of dried goods, plus big jars of herbs and spices and tins of loose tea etc. It had a nice feel, and there were samples to try, which helps :T Ours was really good with the kids too, showing them how to weigh the tubs and letting them use the scoops etc. Al in all a good thing to have locally.

Last day of the holidays today dd2 wanted to 'make the most of it' so she managed to wangle a trip to the trampoline park out of us Dh took them, so I'm not sure how much it cost, but I doubt there was much change from £30 :eek: we have money in the holiday fund to cover it though.

Should be a much cheaper week next week, although I do need to get packed lunch stuff. I should have gone today but I was getting on with my college work and missed the shops being open. Tomorrow dd1, ds and I are going alpaca walking which should be awesome!:D It's already paid for and it's not over a meal time so it should be a spend free activity.

the_cross_rabbit

Alpaca walking sounds interesting.
CRx

Crumpets

Alpaca walking was amazing, they are such lovely animals. DD1 and I also got a kiss from a llama, great day

Mortgage OPs are now showing, and we're not far away from being under the £80k mark, hopefully in the new year we'll be there :T

I've also requested £36 from TCB in Amaz0n vouchers. This will go towards DD1's Christmas present. I feel like I'm getting more organised for Christmas, although I still haven't solved the stocking fillers [STRIKE]tat[/STRIKE] problem yet. I also need to come up with a few gift ideas for myself for the family secret santa - budget is £30. So far I've thought of a mug and some gloves...how exciting :rotfl:

I've felt a bit under the weather today, stomach ache and head ache. Hope I'm not coming down with something

the_cross_rabbit

sending virtual hugs (the emoji on here looks abit weird) and hot water bottle. A kiss from an llama is pretty special at least it didn't spit at you or is that camels?
CRx