Living on next to nought - is that the key?

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening :hello:

Visitors, how fabby!

Thanks Karma - yes, isn't it amazing how a tidy up, or a fresh lick of paint, or a wipe down can alter our perspective on things

dreaming -pea !!!!!! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: Poor EH will begin to feel we're ganging up on her aw - but still :rotfl:The jalfrezi is a good one to go for - plenty of taste, but won't blow yer socks off Thanks for popping in and leaving such a kind and supportive post - I appreciate it very much

Hey greenbee - lovely to *see* you

Pippi - NEEP! You sincerely would NOT of been for it if the cake recipe hadn't of worked - I mean where exactly is the hardship for DP in his role as official cake and baking tester No.1??????? :rotfl::rotfl:

Eeeeh, today has been great

Sorry for the no-show this morn, but we were caught out by a frost and I was on car de-frosting duties so that DP could get off to work on time - rather ate into my posting time I'm afraid Never mind, I'm back to [STRIKE]bore[/STRIKE] inform you all of my doings and froings.

I can however, legitimately claim a NSD today :j there was absolutely nothing that we needed, and even though I did actually have my purse with me, I wasn't even in the mind to buy, let alone be tempted by anything

We have just had sub-committee no.5 and there was a big long list. Nothing too *heavy*, but we've discussed quite a bit. Got a better understanding between us I think that we mustn't go too *hammer & tongs* at things this year, otherwise we'll end up frazzled or bored. We need to factor in fun time and money to keep us going with the DIY. And also - I know this sounds daft, but we realised this weekend that we should always have a plan b & c for the weekend. We couldn't do outside work on Sunday - because of the wet weather on Saturday night. But, despite the glorious sunshine on Sunday, we'd not considered saying *S0d it* let's get 1 last use out of our NT passes and head out to a local stately home (or whatever was open in January). Because we'd not discussed it, we both felt (independently) that we *should* be doing 'house' work - because that is what we said we were going to do.

What I was going to say, had I posted this morning, was that there are 2 weeks left of January, 2 weeks 'til payday too. Now I feel OK with this, because the month has panned out well in terms of food - Ald* super 6 have been good this month - keep up the good work mrAdiscounter I guess that the weather has been (on the whole) quite reasonable - which is helpful. I cannot imagine being positive about the next 2 weeks were we knee deep in snow Our 'dry' January has been going very well, and whilst I can't say that we've not thought about 'a beer', or 'a glass of red', it has been just that, a thought, and then it has passed. We still have our 2 bottles of stout in the house, should it all get too much But I'm also sniffing the *finishing line* and see the saved money winging into the holiday fund, so the incentive is still pretty strong

Dinner this evening was a substitute - not even on the planner for Jan! However, you may recall at the weekend, I said that I thought that we may well be in need of a Vit C top-up and I was looking for the l*dl oranges to provide this, well, then of course they had sold out (fair enough, no complaint from me), so instead I bought a butternut squash in the Ald* S6 for 49p - had a *rummage* and got a 'big un' (well, in relation to the size of most of the others.....) And tonight (matthew ), I turned that into Morrocan 'style' stew, with some sweet potatoes, carrots, chopped tomatoes, onions, garlic, celery and ginger with lashings of fresh lemon juice (L*dl have nets of 4 unwaxed lemons on offer for 50p). I served it with cous cous (actually fine bulghar in this instance, but they are near identical to look at) with mint and lemon zest mixed through it. And to top it off - and thanks to Tilly for the inspiration - I made a version of zaatar. I toasted the sesame seeds, then crumbled in some ajwain - again being careful to only put a little, as it is terrifically pungent stuff and some sumac. I put this in with the sesame seeds in the pan as it cooled down - and the residual warmth really brought out the thyme aroma of the ajwain this was sprinkled on top. Photo here;



So no recipe as such, but the principal spices in the stew were turmeric and allspice

There's plenty for snap and I have to say, the lemony hit was just what we both needed. It felt light (to eat) yet satisfying IYSWIM. Didn't break the bank either, as there is half a b'nut squash left, the bulghar was AF and the chopped toms were from HB, 33p a can, but really good quality

Oh, and I'm looking skywards as I type, as by some miracle, I didn't manage to booger up the yoghurt and so I had about 800ml of fresh yoghurt to put into the fridge this morning - after putting a bit inside meself first, natch

So today I am very grateful for these 3 things;

for more wonderful sunshine

for feeling satisfied and having our hands somewhere near - if not actually on - the 'control panel' for our lives.........:D

for the various shades of yellow, orange and red - HOW you have enriched my day

Thanks as ever for popping in, reading and commenting. You know that I continue to be blown away by your kindness

See y'all later.

Greying

Karmacat

Oh my word! The spices and intricacies of flavour in that post! Amazing, Greying, truly amazing. And very lovely.

Adapting to circumstance by having plan b and c over a weekend is also a stonking idea - thats one I'm going to be able to adapt myself - I do often fall into it by accident, but nothing like doing it mindfully

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning :hello:

Down side of sun-filled days at this time of year is a cold start I guess - brrr!

Aiming for a NSD today - nothing that we need and the TV listings guide can wait until we do

Not too sure what will be for dinner yet. As we've no mushrooms for what was on the planner, and I'd rather do a swap around than spoil a nsd for a punnet of mushrooms

Right, better get up and at 'em.

Keep warm y'all and have a great day.

Thanks for popping by, reading and commenting. I appreciate it. A lot.

Greying

Pippilongstocking

I'm liking the 'meetings' DP and the realisation that you need some fun in the workload too.

Oop north, were I live, weather can dictate just about everything - so on days which are calm and !!!!ly tools are downed and the day is (where it can be) seized. Sounds like you've got it sussed with you plans b,c,d etc OK we can't always skip off and enjoy the day when its nice but knowing that this is OK is quite nice to remember

Remind me of this when I'm 'doon sooth' and helping rennovate RG's flat and going crackers.

Embrace the day and goodluck on the NSD I'm trying to snag one myself.

Karmacat

!!!!ly to embrace the day (and the no-spend-day ).

I think I know whats happened with all these unusual sets of exclamation marks - they must've tweaked the censor. I'm sure these words would've passed before.

Anyway, hope your day goes well, Greying

beanielou

What the bleep is this latest thing that means LOVE is blocked by the filter?

EssexHebridean

I think they might have fixed it....lovely!

Greying there has been much defrosting & scraping of cars going on with us these last two mornings today - although this morning even once scraped we still couldn't see much, but that was to do with the fog outside, instead!

Stoo looks glorious - was your AF Bulghar the stuff they had for next to nothing a few months back? I got a pack of fine and one of rergular if so but haven't started either yet.

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening :hello:

How lovely of you Pippi, Karma, Beanie and EH to drop in - Thank you

Pippilongstocking wrote: »

Sounds like you've got it sussed with you plans b,c,d etc OK we can't always skip off and enjoy the day when its nice but knowing that this is OK is quite nice to remember

That's it entirely Pippi! It's almost like if we've written it down, then we've somehow given ourselves permission - and you're right, it's remembering that we have that permission.

EssexHebridean wrote: »

Stoo looks glorious - was your AF Bulghar the stuff they had for next to nothing a few months back? I got a pack of fine and one of rergular if so but haven't started either yet.

I'm not sure EH - I haven't ordered from AF since about March??? last year, but it is the one in the green package - a Turkish brand I think, the name begins with 'A' (sorry, haven't got a pack to hand, or I'd look). Works a treat

In fact, I have been so long without ordering, AF (co-incidently) sent me a free shipping code today. To be used before the 28th January..... OK chaps, what is the likelihood of them getting a load of lentilles vertes in 3 for £1 before then then? With no silly restrictions like 'limited to 3 packs per customer'.....

Well, today has been brill

Amongst other things, I can claim a NSD today :j The mushroom crisis was averted But I will need to get some before the end of the month, as they are the main ingredient for our dinner for Chinese New Year (31st Jan if you're interested )

In addition, as I was over that side of town today, I took 2 carrier bags of textiles to the 'we give you pennies for your pant1es' shop....... It cost me nothing in fuel to get there (I was on foot anyway), I purposely took only what I could carry, as if they played silly b's then I could pack me bags up and flounce out of the shop and I went with a totally open mind as to what the experience would be like, as I have never sold my clothes before...... I have to say, the chap behind the counter was lovely and cheery. You could see the weight scales and the bags being weighed in front of you. I was glad that I had noticed that they price clothes higher per kilo than eg curtains, as I had separated the items accordingly. I was, therefore, delighted to be handed, in cash and with a receipt, the princely sum of £1.83 I know what you are thinking Dear Reader, 'why is Greying so pleased with that?' Well, tis easy, I only took clothes that really were good for nothing. Single socks, very saggy underwear - not mine :A and a couple of tops that were so holey they looked like a moth's teething ring and a pair of gardening trousers, so worn and faded, that it was difficult to distinguish the original colour. They really were only fit for industrial rags. But I got £1.83 for them. That is £1.83 more than the local recycling centre would give me, and I'd have to go there in the car (you are not allowed pedestrian access!)

*smug*

The money has been 'topped up' and £2 has winged into the holiday fund Eeeeh, how we'll enjoy an ice on the prom....

Dinner this evening was out of the freezer - sorry no pic - it was HM spicy shepherd's pie (made with green lentils), with broccoli and green beans. Very much a study in cream and green. But yummy

So today, I am grateful for these 3 things;

for getting paid to recycle - works for me (even though I've been doing it for yonks fer nowt )

for being planning and organised minded - helps when folks 'drop in' on you for information and you've it to hand

for free firewood - a small branch had fallen onto the pavement a few streets from home. So I re-homed it

Thank you so very much for popping by, reading and commenting. I greatly appreciate it.

See y'all later.

Greying

Pippilongstocking

Sneaks in and finds a used envelope and forages for a pencil......

The book of face A*di page has this to report......


Our Quids In vouchers will appear in Thursday’s Daily Mirror (England and Wales), and Daily Record (Scotland). Who else will be picking one up?

(I think its for a £5 money off voucher)

With thanks to those lovely folks at small things - -this was alerted to the group.

Whilst MR A is no use to me - I know some of you are a fan of it, for the price of the paper I guess its probably a good investment.

Slopes off quietly, puts the lamp back out, pencil back in pot, props envelope up by the kettle and the snap boxes.

Karmacat

<puts the lamp back on, admires the empty space created by being paid to recycle>

How wonderful! That and free firewood, absolutely

I'm glad to hear things are good