Living on next to nought - is that the key?

Greying_Pilgrim

Good morning folks :hello:

Goodness, so many visitors, how lovely.

Sorry I went AWOL last night, but I had a numbum and cramp from sitting on the *norty* step on Pippi's thread (I quite rightly got sent there by Lucielle for food wastage ) and then I actually treated myself to an earlish night (to sleep ) as I've had too many broken night's sleep lately.

It worked, 9 hours straight, no interruptions and we were up and at 'em down the launderette first thing. Definitely an autumnal nippiness in the air today. Still, lovely sunshine burning it off now.

So to 'celebrate', moving towards autumn and everything else, on our return to the homestead, DP was 'despatched' to harvest a massive haul of our own blueberries.......... 2 minutes later, DP returned with all 17 of them......:rotfl:

Anyway, a batch of Nigella's American pancake batter was whipped up and a few Mr M's YS'd blueberries were dug from the depths of the freezer and breakfast was a go-go. Picture, hopefully here;



The HG blueberries are in the top two (small) pancakes, I made 4 all together. Surprising the difference in taste - down to variety and growing conditions I guess. Our blueberries definitely thrive on neglect - but tasted very 'fruity' - I'm not sure you'd identify them in a blind taste test, but definitely nice. Whereas Mr M berries, definitely tasted of the blueberry taste we all know - from yoghurt, muffins, jam etc etc.

Got to do something active to work all that off now!

Today will be about sorting out stuff for hols, returning library books and hopefully shoehorning in a visit to open afternoon at the local allotments to catch up with some friends and maybe buy a spot of produce if they have some for sale

Dinner last night was all about thrift. We had Scheherazade casserole from the freezer, runner beans (donated from a friend), carrots (MrT EDV) and baked beans from our 'food parcel'. As the beans had no salt, no sugar, no additives etc etc, we could also probably claim a virtuous dinner :A :rotfl:So, a nice dinner, for little outlay and not much washing up

I shall be back in a minute to respond to all the nice comments that people have thoughtfully left.

Thank you for reading this thread, for commenting and joining in. I do appreciate it.

See y'all a bit.

Greying

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning version II :T

Igamogam - I'm not sure how you'll get your expenses claim form, with till receipt from L*dl for gin purchases, past the bursar.....

miss empty piggy - :rotfl:about licking the board perhaps being a step too far.......:rotfl:

7 Week Wonder - :T:T congrats to your hubbikins - super effort. Enjoy your jelly and ice-cream - I agree, we all only do it for the children don't we.......:rotfl::rotfl:

Victoria Plum = YUM!

Piquant - I'm delighted that you even have time to read this thread you are so busy. mmm, comedy carrots were provided by the gardening parental. No further carrots - equity card carrying or otherwise - have been forthcoming, so there hasn't been any photo posting dilemma as to, 'what the hickey will Piquant see in this.....' at Greying Towers for quite a while :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Anyway Piq I'm greatly enjoying reading all the good news that is forthcoming on your thread.

Mmm, it's interesting what you say Igamogam about a 'mast' year. I was thinking last week, when we were out blackberrying, that there were loads of rosehips and some of them (and this may be down to variety, Pippi would know), were absolutely huge - and yes, we saw rowan trees absolutely laden too. It crossed my mind that it may indicate a hard winter - I do hope not.

I forgot to say, I must of got to the post office at the optimum time yesterday as there was no queue :T I got served by ever such a nice girl, we had a chat about air mail/surface mail to the relevant destination and she was telling me that it was only 10p cheaper to send the mail by boat. Ain't that mad? I mean, half the time it takes months for the post to reach the destination, versus days by plane. Plus, it wasn't until I got home, it dawned on me that I had spelt the name of the relevant country incorrectly - Doh!!! Hope it gets there anyway.......:o

Anyway, I best love ya and leave ya, as DP is anxious to get on the computer. Not that I agree with folks having to do work-related training on their own computer, in their own time, on a Sunday :mad: but still.........

Have a good day - we'll be trying our best at Greying Towers to do the same.

Cheers for reading - I'm still appreciating it

See y'all later.

Greying

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening :hello:

What a lovely day!

Twill be but a quick note from me this eve. I'm absolutely jiggered (technical term), we got soaked this arvo at the open allotments and I've not even started on dinner. I feel it is a pasta and sauce evening

We've set the log burner going, partly because it was cold, partly because there are clothes that need drying out

Today was a low spend day (for DP's wallet, no money left my vice-like grip ) - £1 for 2 coffees and 2 buns, v good value there was no produce on sale Edit: ach I'm talking cobblers! The day has been so long, I forgot the 'investment' I handed over in the launderette earlier this morning. Dear, dear. Sorry, absolutely not my intention to mislead


However, I am today, grateful for these 3 things;

volunteers - this afternoon's event was a last minute (well, couple a' weeks, but you get the drift) event. There were a core of folk who made it happen - and made it happen well. Thank you.

mother nature - I know we humans think that we are all masters and mistresses of the universe, but by golly, we ain't. I have seen such wonderful flowers, fruits and vegetables today - some of which are clearly thriving on neglect - which leads me to think that someone/thing else is directing proceedings ......:D

for family - the wood currently burning on the log burner was provided by a sibling. Whilst we had to chop it up (no easy task, 'horse chesnut' - need one elaborate....) it has kept us warm for 1 winter and the remainder is so dry that it is burning like the kiln dried stuff they use in all the stove showrooms..........:rotfl:

Thanks for popping by, reading and commenting. If you contribute and join in, all the better. I appreciate it.

See y'all later.

Greying

Karmacat

Hi there :hello:
Well, you were right about the Animal Wall! Splendiferous! I spent ages at the castle, such a great motte and bailey example, and one of the attendants described the castle itself as a holiday home ... with the brochure describing it as a fantasy castle, well, it was wonderful! And just outside there's a button shop and they were giving a free lottery ticket for little items from the shop, offering me one even though they knew I wasn't a returning customer, they were lovely. Food was very bargainous, though, I had mostly room picnics, except immediately after my arrival.

Greying_Pilgrim wrote: »

Today I am grateful for these 3 things;
...

communication - today has been a day of notes, phone messages, birthday cards (sending not receiving) and 'oooh, I must write and tell H about that...' and 'I'll give you their address just in case you need to contact them', (which is code for, please can you drop them a line to let them know they're thought about). Keep in touch people, keep in touch

Absolutely ... after the Cardiff trip, I went to Stonehenge, a friend of mine had arranged one of those all-access visits there. It was wonderful, and 'communication' was the message we all received. Wonderful.

Greying_Pilgrim wrote: »

Pippi - I'm assuming that you want to know why I started including the '3 things' in my post most days, ...

Um, well, it is purely because, in the grand scheme of things and in relation to a lot of the problems that good folk on DFW/DFD boards are facing, my probs are pretty minor. And as it is all too easy for us humans to descend into a pity party over a chipped fingernail , I decided that it was important to remember the 'good' or 'great' bits of each day to remain grounded and on task. And of course, the most interesting bit is, I have never really had a problem with coming up with those 3 things. Sure, there has been some repetition, but that is because it is worth repeating, or I continue to be grateful that folk have been kind to me/that I've seen wonderful things etc/that someone has 'shared their last rolo' with me etc etc

Your reasoning is so beautiful, Greying, thank you for writing it out. I'm doing it too now ... I think I'll write about it on the blog - I'll put a linkie on my profile on here, not on individual people's threads..

Hope you slept well after being so jiggered :A (if you hover over the angel, y'know, it says "you are wonderful") and don't get drenched today. :j

Greying_Pilgrim

Good evening :hello:

Well, the word of the day has to be 'Splendiferous' - does it not??:D Well done Karmacat :D

Mmmm, thank you for your very kind comments KC. I'm glad you loved the castle. Top knotch city Cardiff. Actually, I didn't realise that you could get 'in' to Stonehenge. I've only seen it from afar - whatever the 'A' road is that skirts to the south of it. Still, it was pretty impressive from there - even in this day and age, so goodness only knows what folk thought on encountering it back in the day.

Greying Towers is now in possession of a washing tub again. DP is currently putting 'Flange C to wingnut A' and 'crosshair thread bolt 9 into slot II via plastic threaded locator N.....' :rotfl::rotfl:

I can't hear much cussing, so it might be going well........

Hey, guess what, the bank have finally woken up and the 0% cc paperwork came through today..... 'Dear Greying, you are now only a signature away from being allowed to have one of our credit cards'.....sheesh - oh, providing you read the 23 - yes, 23 pages of accompanying terms and conditions!

Only expenditure today was on some bananas (DP picked them up from Ald*) and I got some YS'd K*ngsmill loaves in W*lks, for 40p each :T so they've gone straight in the freezer.

Soo, dinner tonight is going to be a selection of curries from the freezer with rice. It's all defrosting/steaming, so we'll be ready to eat once DP has finished and showered etc. We can stand transfixed and watch the 'test wash' together - probably better than the telly :rotfl:

Right, sounds like things have gone well in the fitting department, so I'd better go and make suitably impressed sounding ooo's and ahhs :rotfl:

Today I am grateful for these 3 things;

delivery service - especially when it is in the time-slot ordered, you get a courtesy call before-hand and your delivery team are polite and suitably impressed when you start talking about 'transit bolts' with them, when they haven't mentioned that term.......:rotfl:

manners - a lovely lady - advanced in 'wisdomness' (ie alot 'greyer' than Greying), held a door open for me today. I was going to write some profound piece about never being to able to accept help, and never being too old to prove useful, but I couldn't come up with any words........

Literacy - terms and conditions or washing machine installation documents, rely on the written word. Yet it all started with Janet & John. Thank you Janet. Thank you John.

If you've perused through my witterings today, I thank you. I appreciate folk taking the time to contribute and join in with this thread.

See y'all later.

Greying

7_week_wonder

Evening all,

Three cheers for the new washing maching at Greying Towers :beer:, and two cheers (they dropped a point for taking so bloomi' long) for the bank finally get themselves into gear.

Yesterday's 4th birthday party was very good fun. Although we could have done without the impromptu game of "Hunt the wedding ring" when Mr 7ww's wedding ring went flying off his finger during a rather energetic game of keepy-uppy with some balloons :eek: Thankfully a rather eagle-eyed 10 year-old managed to track it down in the corner of the lawn. Let's just say I did not begrudge the amount I spent on chocolate for the said young lady today!

Hope the first episode of the new "soap": episode 1 - the test wash goes well;)

Have a good evening all.

Fortune_Smiles

That's 2 pieces of good news Greying - there must be a third yet to come. I'll watch this space

Fortune x

carolbee

I always read your thread, I love your writing style and have an image of you as a Vanessa Redgrave type, tall and willowy.

I just had to respond at the Janet and John comment, what memories they conjure up!

Keep up your wondrous writing, you really paint a picture with words and you are of MY three things to be grateful for today and for that I and many others thank you. (Scuttles off at being thought a bit of a weird stalker)

beanielou

Happy new washing machine
Hurrah for 0% card :j :j

Chrysalis1976

Janet and John brought back memories for me too, now they read about Biff and Chip and that's a girl and boy!

Love your thread and food piccys.

C x