Living on next to nought - is that the key?

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning :hello:

Karma - I meant MG's blog - sorry.

BoB - thanks for popping by - lovely to *see* you, and the 'wouldn't wish on worst enemy thing' - I'm pretty sure SammyKaye said the same. It must be awful, and very difficult to understand until you've experienced it. But good that you are recovering

Well, today shouldn't hold any surprises - hopefully I shall be aiming for a NSD - milk purchase can wait until at least Saturday I think. And we'll be AF, coz I haven't any money for wine and I'm determined to get to my 'no buying' target now

Dinner this evening will be HM pizza and potato wedges. Not sure what 'flavour' to do the pizza yet.... hmmm, will have a ponder on that. In addition, to make use of the oven effectively I will be making apple crumble and maybe some sort of cake, although thinking about it, I am very low on 'marg/baking fat' so may have to rethink that......mmm.

The yoghurt turned out well - actually, I am using 'starter' from a left over batch of yoghurt that I then froze. Dare I suggest that it is actually making 'nicer' yoghurt than freezing tablespoons of the original shop bought yoghurt? It is certainly a smother texture (yet still a thick yoghurt as I like). I wonder how long I could keep the starter going? I think we've had this debate before. Mmm, time for experimentation me thinks The bread dough has risen spectacularly so I'm thinking that mrM yeast is as good as any other

Well, better love ya and leave ya, to seize the day. Have a good one - I will

Thanks for swinging by, reading and commenting. It is greatly appreciated by me.

See y'all later.

Greying

Karmacat

Bob, glad to hear you're at the back end of it now ... I'd no idea it was this bad, quite a sobering experience, even though I think mine must be very mild compared to yours, as I already feel better. Or the doc has hit on the right medication straight away (she was very sweet that it was trial and error).

Greying, love the idea of hm pizza and wedges - I saw a demo on tv of pizza throwing, and for the first time I understood its not just showing off, its actually achieving something in relation to the base and its crust. Tell me you throw your pizza base, please please pretty please :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

boredofbeingathome

It's a funny condition really. I had a few periodic episodes of it in the run up to May. Tablets sorted it out quickly, then i had a prolonged bout of flu and the rest is history. Can't complain so much though as i have had to rest and recouperate-so swings and roundabouts really.

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening :hello:

No, funnily enough Karma, I was 'dragged up proper' and taught not to throw food It wouldn't work for me anyway, as I always make a rectangular pizza and - this would make Papa Giuseppe turn in his tomb - I always use a rolling pin :shhh:

BoB - really hope that you beat this awful condition, getting rid of it once and for all

Well, Dear Reader, went the day well for you?

I've had a super day. It was a NSD and AFD. Must update siggie. I also found 5p *roadkill* today :j Roadkill is getting rare around here!

Whilst I was waiting for the dinner to cook, I did make some mulled apple juice. All I did was to boil up some mulling spices in a sugar solution, let that reduce. Then strained it, added in a quantity of cloudy apple juice (bought on offer 2l for £2 in mrT at the start of the month) and then warmed the juice through gently (no where near a simmer, let alone a boil). The result was good. Nice and warming, without any alcohol or bad heads in the morning to contend with. I used a YS'd bag of mulled wine spices that I got from a local co-op when it closed. However, I was expecting something like a tea bag or muslin wrap. But it was just loose spices in a foil bag! Too much for the quantity of juice I was going to use. So I've some spices left over, but I'll have to use them up, as now the seal is broken..... The spices were ginger, clove and cinnamon (stick) I added in a star anise from my own stores too. If I was making the drink again, I would go to the trouble of making up my own spice blend. This was ok, but it could of had more flavour. DP liked it and thought it a pleasant change Although I wonder how much his taste buds are functioning, given his [STRIKE]horrendous man-flu[/STRIKE] ongoing, slight head cold

Dinner was red pepper pizza and HM wedges, hopefully photo here;



The pizza made 8 pieces, we ate 4. 2 will be for lunch tomorrow, and 2 will be frozen for 'future' snap bags. The wedges were the very last of the maris peer potatoes that we bought on holiday. That 5kg bag seemed to last well. And at 40p a kilo represented good value for money. I haven't made cake, as I really hadn't enough fat, and couldn't be bothered to look up fatless cake mixes - I know, so unlike me But I did make some bread baps (from last night's dough), so the oven was full most of the 50 minutes it was on.

We watched an edition of gard3ners w0rld from a couple of weeks ago whilst we ate dinner. Don't know why they don't just rename it the 'Nige' show. By the time MD has said 'what's coming up', taken Nige on a tour of the garden and then played catch with Nige and the tennis ball, it's time for the end credits to roll :rotfl:No wonder I'm finding that I watch less and less TV these days.

Do you know what, I'm starting to look forward to Christmas this year. I'm sorry to mention the 'C' word, as I know it strikes terror into the hearts of some. But we celebrate quietly and simply. This year, I think that I would like to make a new yuletide decoration. I have a feeling it is going to be really simple, but I fancy making some yuletide bunting.......

I actually popped into one of those 'really posh' gift shops today - the type that is all scented candles and throws and makes it feel like you've just stepped into a C0untri L1vin photoshoot. I did have a little gasp (very quietly) at some of the prices of things, and of course, the shops advantage is staging a 'mass' of goods together. You buy one item take it home and it looks mean and pathetic stuck in the middle of a bare expanse of wall - 'but it looked lovely in the shop......' :rotfl:

Anyway, I did only spent 10 minutes in there - I've not turned into a rampant consumerist or anything (didn't have my purse with me anyway ). The really funny thing about the store is that it used to be an office (many, many moons ago) - and I did actually work there for a while, my first job in fact. I can never wander around without thinking - 'I'd be standing at A's desk', or 'I'm in the manager's office' :rotfl:

Right, enough wittering from me.

Today I am grateful for these 3 things;

good memories - better than 'things' and 'stuff'.

for a fabric stash - I can make some bunting with repurposed material that I have, so no additional expense needed

for 'fakeaways' - tasty, you know what's in it and there is plenty for another day.......and best of all, you don't need to tip ........:D

Thank you so much for dropping by today. For reading and commenting on this diary. It is appreciated by me.

See y'all later.

Greying

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning :hello:

Arrghhh! Am I being the *Queen Bee* of procrastination land or what this morning? I don't know if it will elicit sympathy, Dear Reader, but I'm only trying to avoid hoovering....... :rotfl:

Mind you, in order to avoid that, I did [STRIKE]resort to [/STRIKE] undertook to file some paperwork, which in turn led me to discovering some paperwork from employment alllllooooonnnng time since. I don't even recall receiving this paperwork, let alone why I kept it. But the funny coincidence was that one letter was a 'thank you' from a colleague for a role I undertook 'gratis' alongside this particular job. Reading through, the comments in the letter mirrored some comments that folk have been kind enough to leave on this diary. Now, lest you think *bof - Greying's getting reet big-headed these days* I only mention it, as I don't necessarily see myself as others do. But if several unconnected people have been kind enough to pay me a similar compliment, then there must be a level of truth to what they say. Mmmm, perhaps I need to ponder that a little more......


I am pondering - however - about bringing along DP along on this journey. When we embarked on it, you could liken my position to a 'woman of a certain age', probably located in a rural, low wage economy area of southern Europe, having to use her shoulder to push against the rump of a donkey (or envisage a mule if you've cast me as a bit taller ), trying to push said 'beast of burden' along - probably a dusty track and undoubtedly up a very steep hill. Flash forward to this morning, and I, Dear Reader, am getting a lecture off said 'beast' (very sweet he is too, with long eye lashes ) as to why we cannot spend money on milk until the start of the new month and we'll have to use powdered milk instead! I did reply that the £3.40 grocery money that was in my purse was actually, technically October's budget, but as I don't really drink milk, and it is no skin off my nose, I put the £1 coin back and snapped the purse tight shut :DI've a notion how those Zen Masters feel now when their pupil's get the hang of levitation :rotfl:

Mind you, it does mean that if I bought baking fat today, I'd break an otherwise NSD, so the apples will have to await their transformation a while longer.....:rotfl:

Dinner this evening will be mixed bean chilli and rice. Nice and frugal, the beans have already been cooked (and frozen) as I cook them in the pressure cooker in 500g (pre soak weight)batches. The rice works out at 10p per portion as I buy basmati when on offer (usually in 5kg bags).

In fact, in order to let the flavours *meld* I think I'll away and cook the chilli............

Thank you for popping in, reading and commenting. I greatly appreciate it.

See y'all later.

Greying

Karmacat

Greying_Pilgrim wrote: »

... But if several unconnected people have been kind enough to pay me a similar compliment, then there must be a level of truth to what they say....

Yes there is! I use that eternal truth in my work all the time - see what an Advanced Being you are, you know it perfectly well on your own
:j

:DI've a notion how those Zen Masters feel now when their pupil's get the hang of levitation :rotfl:

That made me laugh out loud :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Have a good'un, you :kisses3:

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening :hello:

Karmacat wrote: »

see what an Advanced Being you are

You calling me names again KC?............:p.......:rotfl:

Well, today has been pretty good. I haven't achieved as much as I wanted, but I had intended to do some things outside. The weather would be great, then the moment I thought 'right' I'll go and do...., it would go awful grey and the wind would pick up. So I'd [STRIKE]procrastinate further [/STRIKE] do a bit more inside and then the sun would return :doh:

DP requested a cheese bap for lunch, so all 4 pieces of pizza from last night were, in fact, put in the freezer for another day. There are 2 baps in there too. But sadly we ate the last of the cheese

At least I can claim a NSD and an AFD :j The NSD was unexpected, as described earlier, but I'll claim it none-the-less! We had some mulled cloudy apple juice to accompany dinner again. I added in some lightly crushed coriander seeds as well as the star anise this time - in addition to a couple of slices of orange out of the depths of the freezer. Yum, the ginger in the mulling spices really complemented the chilli in the ...um... chilli Definite keeper the mulled fruit juice, so prepare to become bored of me mentioning it over the next few months 'Coz it will also be so suited to being popped into a flask and taken on a walk about

Speaking of which, DP has requested we go for a walk tomorrow - with a flask. Where's a 'knock me over with a feather' smilie when you need one???

So, dinner this evening. As described earlier - plus I followed Piq's advice (:eek:) and popped some of the 'special offer' dark choccy from L*dl into the chilli. I usually use cocoa powder. Actually choc was more subtle, I could probably of put more in, but the rest managed to find it's way into a professional tasting panel.........:p Pic of dinner, complete with mulled juice, hopefully here;



So, today I am grateful for these 3 things;

serendipity - and how it causes you to ponder things and maybe change direction...............

for help - our car is now mended, it was mended with the help of others - thank you :kisses3:

for extra time - if you're able to benefit tomorrow, enjoy a lie-in 'coz the clocks go backwards 1 hr tonight

Well, I've been *told off* for spending time on the computer of an evening, and somebody stomped their foot and said they wanted to watch TV with me.......... So, on that note folks, I'm away to pat my donkey ...........:rotfl::rotfl:

Thank you so very much for popping by, reading and commenting. It is greatly appreciated. By me.

See y'all later,

Greying

Upsidedown_Bear

Greying_Pilgrim wrote: »

Speaking of which, DP has requested we go for a walk tomorrow - with a flask. Where's a 'knock me over with a feather' smilie when you need one???

Will this one do even if it's minus a feather?


Hope you enjoyed patting your donkey :rotfl:

Karmacat

Enjoy the walk, Greying!

Can I ask - how do you use those coriander seeds? I have a *lot*, from AF, and they've been sitting in the freezer because I've never got round to paying attention to them ... lightly crush and then chuck them in whatever you're cooking? Crush into a paste? I have a shiny granite mortar and pestle - £5 from Lidl ages ago - its mega-brilliant quality, but I've never actually used it wonder if coriander goes with chocolate in a meal?

Pippilongstocking

I'm slowly catching up but dear greying I have to say you need to write for a national paper or something.

Your turn of phrases have me chuckling all to myself.

'Dear Greying' would be a good tag line - like the prob page in the Jackie.

You could answer all those questions for us on how to make your partner see x, y, z



With that I'm off to enjoy some time with dd and a walk myself after a bit of work.

Heading for an early night tonight and some catch up reading - amazing what you miss in a couple of weeks.

x