Living on next to nought - is that the key?

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning :hello:

I woke up earlier and couldn't get comfortable to get back to sleep, so I decided to get up instead.... *sigh* - even though I know that I could have used the extra ZZZzzz's.

Gosh this week has whizzed. I can't believe that we are on Friday already.

INOD - you are always so supportive and kind in your comments - thank you so much

supersaver - glad all well, so nice of you to pop by

Busymumofthreeplusdog - You were right! The bike ain't nowt special though, just more of a mountain bike 'style', that should be a little bit better able to cope with trails/tracks than my other secondhand bike which only has 7 gears and road tyres. It's great on tarmac, but not so positive on gravel or mud. Still, for £35 5 or 6 years ago, it's done sterling service, and I'm keeping it. I hope the new (to me) one will do as good a job. It was hardly used, but not the 'latest' model, so not 'appealing' I guess. But it's got more gears and MTB tyres/wheels, so hopefully it'll do what I need it to do As I won't actually be going anywhere near any 'proper' MTB trails, nor hurling meself down shear rock faces in the name of 'leisure activity' anytime soon....... :rotfl:

I need to get some 'bits' today, so I'm not even going to think about NSD's........ The only positive is that I am only buying 'needed' stuff off the list, so my budget is in check

I'll have to have a think about what is for dinner tonight, as I'll need to make dinner in advance for tomorrow too - don't want to be slaving over a stove after a day out I'll have a look at the planner just now and start some prep.

Right, I'd better shift a tail-feather and make use of this *extra* time at my disposal......... :rotfl:

Thanks for popping by, reading and surveying the small print........:rotfl: Always appreciated. Greatly

See y'all later.

Greying

wishus

I love seeing all the photos!

I'm getting too bogged down by train journeys and house repairs to do many NSDs this month.

The more veggie meals plan is going well - for me at least. OH is still sneaking some meaty eats in. I've had chicken once and liver once, and this week have had chicken and tuna sandwiches at work. But everything else has been veggie. The grocery budget is looking good.

supersaver1000

Ooh second hand bike. I'd love a bike. £35 sounds ideal. :T

Pippilongstocking

You grab the bike, I'll manage some scrumpy and by the time you get there *that* anniversary might be actually on the cusp eh?

Thanks for the input guys.

First batch is cordial.



Will of course endeavour to do cider at some point.

Happy Friday folks.

Enjoy your bargainous bike Greying.

Remember and find a nice cushion for the next day..........;)

Shortie

Evening all.

I'm still stuck in work (hoping to leave soon!) but have just been sent a piccie of the lopsided kitten that we took on today. Aawww... that brightened my evening

Inspired by the veggie meals on here I went off googling earlier for Jack Monroe things and went wandering further field with a lovely sounding chickpea enchillada dish to try. If I have the ingredients in I might try it this weekend - and excuse to make some hm tortillas again :rotfl:

Oh, and I have purchased a phone battery, coming tomorrow in the desperate hope that I can rescue my phone. I really do hope so as I like this phone and I don't want to fork out for another. Fingers crossed it's just the battery that gone and not other connections and bits. I can live with a cracked screen if the phone would just stop crashing / freezing / staying dead when it has full battery every time I try and browse the 'net when I'm using my data


Am off to have a nose back at your recipies Greying...

OOohhh... also... it's my birthday coming up - I was thinking of asking for Jack's book 'A Girl Called Jack' - would you guys recomend it?? I'm not one for wanting books just to collect dust...

Shortie

Aahh pants.. I forgot that piccies on here don't display at work

Hopefuljoy

Hello shorter! Totally recommend Jack's book. It's totally worth it! Try the lemon and chocolate version of her ice cream. Delicious and only costs 89p to make!!

supersaver1000

Hello Shortstuff! Definitely recommend Jacks book. I'm not big on buying cook books but that is one I think is worth it. There are so many good recipes. Did lentil burgers again tonight and going to try her hummus tomorrow. She doesn't seem to use salt in any recipe but that could be a good thing, but you may wish to season to your own taste.

Her story is also very moving and she has great ideas.

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening :hello:

Well today has been full on and no mistake.

I spent a few pennies, nothing that wasn't on the list today, so within budget

wishus - that is all sounding good - a reducing budget whilst still partaking of the foodstuffs that you like

supersaver - yep, it had a rack thrown in for good measure too :T Pity DP nicked it for his bike though, when I gave the allotment up

Pippi - I am clearly no stranger to hardship - the last 12 miler had no lasting effects on my, *ahem* undercarriage, in the area of........ :rotfl:

Shortie - I see the river of A has Jack's book for around the £6 mark, depending on book/electronic version. I borrowed my copy from the library and I guess I copied out about....... 10? recipes - all veggie - from that perspective, Jack gave me a large proportion of *keeper* recipes - certainly a larger proportion than most new cookbook releases..... add in her meat recipes, which may also interest your household, and I would say that it would be a pretty good buy. Having said that I have already seen a copy in our local Oxford Famine bookshop.......


It's getting late, and I am already keeping my eyelids open with cocktail sticks, so i'll press on to details of 'us tea'.....

Tonight we went with Dear Leanne Brown once more and had a bash at 'Vegetable Quiche, Hold the crust' from Good and Cheap pg 114. I thought that this recipe was OK. DP liked it. I think my issue was that it was *too* eggy - ie quite boingy on the tooth as there was so much egg in it..... Having made Kuku and Chickpea Flour Quiche, I think I prefer something a little less boingy and with a little more *wobble*..... However, I followed the recipe and we got 6 slices (BIG slices) out of the dish. If you have access to top quality freshly laid organic/free range eggs, that would be awesome. But any eggs will make this dish for you. In terms of veggies, I used 2 out of 3 of my 25p for 3 M&$ YS'd bell peppers, a red onion, a yellow onion, a courgette and some of my mrM 50p a kilo broccoli. I think that it can be quite a frugal dish - had I been feeding 6 for supper, this would have done perfectly well I'm not sure I'll keep the recipe, as I have (better) alternatives. But frankly, if you've a half dozen eggs that you need to use and you've some veggies - then make this dish, it'll make a filling meal for a family.

I was able to use some (gifted) HG potatoes (I wish I could remember the variety, they were lush and tasted buttery, even before any butter was put near them ), some (gifted) HG carrots and a handful of frozen green beans. Made quite a plateful;



I'm not going to do my usual '3 things' tonight. I came across a quote on Shelagh Fogarty's twitter a/c (blame :money:) and it sums up where I am headed.

There comes a time in life,
When you walk away from all the drama
and people who create it.
Surround yourself with people who make you laugh,
forget the bad, and focus on the good.
Love the people who treat you right.
Pray for the ones that don't.
Life is too short to be anything but happy.
Falling down is part of life, getting back up is living.

Jose N. Harris

OK, maybe a little simplistic, but the essence is certainly something that I am increasingly trying to embrace.

Thank you for popping by, reading and joining in. Very much appreciated by me.

See y'all later.

Greying

Greying_Pilgrim

supersaver1000 wrote: »

She doesn't seem to use salt in any recipe but that could be a good thing, but you may wish to season to your own taste.

That I heartily concur with - I found I needed to season......

Thanks for your input supersaver - and for your ringing endorsement too Hopefuljoy

Greying