Living on next to nought - is that the key?

EssexHebridean

What a lovely day Greying - but what a shame about the SB experience. It's such a shame when you go into somewhere like that expecting a treat and it's just a let-down.

Your 9p burgers look great - I definitely need to give those a try!

Having separate accounts for things like car maintenance has really helped us keep our finances organised - banking with Nationwide means we can have numerous savings accounts as offshoots of our current account -we've got them for the car, household contingency, presents and several other things. Things just trickle out on a monthly basis and redistribute into the appropriate savings account and when an insurance, Tax Disc or bottle of whisky for Dad's christmas present is required, the money is waiting.

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning :hello:

EssexHebridean wrote: »

What a lovely day Greying - but what a shame about the SB experience. It's such a shame when you go into somewhere like that expecting a treat and it's just a let-down. <That. That is it. We do these things so rarely - and yes, the 241 was a draw, but probably won't bother again. Plus DP was miffed at feeling so old due to the rest of the clientele :rotfl:

Your 9p burgers look great - I definitely need to give those a try! Great! - Jack really is a great source of new recipes isn't she?

Thanks for popping by EH - always a pleasure to have visitors

So today. We're going on a picnic :j And walking and visiting an NT attraction :j

Today may well be a spend day, because I'm pretty sure we will be within stroking distance of a MrS and I've a couple of 'basics' items to get (ever the big spender me ). However, if we don't I may well keep my purse firmly shut. Apparently there is a tea room where we're going, but we have HM cake today - foraged blackberry (circa 2012) and lemon. Plus a flask - can't decide whether to put coffee or hot choccy in it though We'll have cheese and beetroot baps - pumpkin seed ones made yesterday (last of the pesky blighters, but at least I can claim to of used everything but the 'squeak' of the pumpkin )

I've no idea what is for dinner - I've not long got up Hopefully I can concoct something to keep the wolf from the door

Do have a wonderful day, whatever you are up to - I fully intend to

Thank you so much for dropping in, reading and commenting. You know I appreciate it.

Right, domestic duties call, I've beetroot to grate

See y'all later.

Greying

Fortune_Smiles

Hope the weather holds for you Greying. A flask of hot chocolate sounds wonderful.

Fortune x

Piquant_2

Another vote for hot chocolate, 'tis raining lots here, hope it holds off in your part of the world. But wait, you have those stupendously bargainous waterproofs don't you? The weather will not matter one jot to you :rotfl:

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning :hello:

Fortune_Smiles wrote: »

Hope the weather holds for you Greying. A flask of hot chocolate sounds wonderful.
Fortune x

Thank you Fortune - unfortunately, the weather didn't, and I opted for coffee But we did have a hot chocolate - in front of the stove - on our return to Greying Towers

Piquant wrote: »

Another vote for hot chocolate, 'tis raining lots here, hope it holds off in your part of the world. But wait, you have those stupendously bargainous waterproofs don't you? The weather will not matter one jot to you :rotfl:

Actually, I can report that my new coat kept me dry and warm due to the 'quilt technology' (for want of a better description) lining. Unfortunately, my hands were freezing - luckily DP had grabbed my gloves off the side as we left the house, but I can't operate my camera with them on

So, we had a grand day out yesterday - despite the rain. As it was, we got a bit wet, but by the time we went walking, the sunshine had come out. It was still cold, but with moving about and trying to stay in the sunshine, we were ok and enjoyed our day. We managed to have our picnic lunch in a lovely little sheltered spot, which although was out of the sun, was also out of the cold breeze, so with a picnic blanket on the bench, we were warm and toasty

We saw some wonderful colours yesterday with the trees - the best I've seen this year. I'm sure if it hadn't been so wet and windy over the last week, they would of been even more spectacular. In fact, it we saw two lovely woods - beech I think - with the sunlight hitting them just at the right angle to make them glow. But of course, we were in the car both times, there were no safe parking places, and as per usual, a driver was right up our rear had we wanted to try to stop to take a photo Never mind. We've the memories and a few reminder photos.

I thought of Karmacat whenI found myself standing under a sweet chesnut tree that had shed a load of fruit. The nuts were the biggest I've seen this year. But I couldn't work out whether they were what was left after the squirrels/foragers had been around, or that was the size of nut it had produced this year. I would of expected slightly fuller nuts, but as I say, best I've seen yet.

I did spend yesterday. I bought a couple of bags of crisps for our picnic lunch - better planning would of avoided this, but our outing was something of a 'last minute' decision. I also threw in some £ into the donation box at the NT place. We were provided with entertainment and a picnic venue, so we thought a donation appropriate. DP decided to buy some beer from A1di on the way home, but it remains on the side untouched.

Dinner last night was ratatouille and pasta. I didn't want to insult your intelligence by photographing it. It was mostly store ingredients, but with aubergine (L*dl), onion, celery and garlic added.

Onto today - we've had a very slow start. I blame all the fresh air

We really need to do something constructive, and get out in the sunshine, but a cup of coffee and a surf of the web is very alluring.......:D DP is watching TV. I would like to try for a NSD today, but I know one of the things that we could have for dinner needs something 'green' - cabbagey/spinachey to accompany it, so....... I'll have to have a think.

Right, well. Better get up and do something.

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

See y'all later.

Greying

Karmacat

How exciting to be referenced (for sweet chestnuts!) :j I've never foraged them before, so I've no idea how big they should be, but most of them aren't far off what I buy dried in health food stores, so I'm pretty pleased - I'll be off there again tomorrow. Today, ta-da, I think I have to actually buy an unusual purchase - my trolley luggage bag collapsed on the way home from Stonehenge, and I need one for Christmas, so I think I'll be going out in a few minutes; I'll try to be :money: but I went overboard with :money::money::money:ness last time, it was too cheap to last, so I'm going for quality.

As for SB ... I've often found they're dirty too, in fact the only use I have for them is well in the past, when I've been on long trips abroad - they're roughly the same everywhere, so its quite relaxing - you don't have to be stared at, or avoid staring at, the men with hubble bubble pipes, you can just have a coffee of some sort and stare at a newspaper instead, even if you can't read the language I intend to be going on trips that are long enough to need this service, in the near future

Patchwork_Girl

I'm still playing catch-up on this thread but just wanted to say thank you for sharing the the lemon cake recipe - I tried it this weekend and it was gorgeous, and so simple to make! I did splash out 62p on the lemon curd though (the 'savers' brand was 22p but I just couldn't buy lemon curd with no actual lemon in it - are the other bargain brands the same?!). Also made a batch of savoury muffins with carrot, sweet potato and curry powder - yum!

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning :hello:

Hi Patchwork Girl - ah, you tried Shaz's recipe did you? That's the good thing about MSE recipes really, they can be made with the basics brands - right through to the finest range - useful for when the soopermarkets are shelf clearing for 10p a pop!

So dark this morning!?!

I'd love to say that I'm going for a NSD, but we need milk and bananas, so there will be pennies spent. DP just hasn't 'got' NSD at all

Dinner this evening will be Cocido. I soaked the chickpeas overnight, they are in the PC now, so it can all be put together this evening.

Right, better get up and at 'em. Seize the day and all that

Thanks for popping in, reading and commenting. It is appreciated very much, by me.

See y'all later.

Greying

Karmacat

Ahem ... please note on the sweet chestnuts - I was going through them this morning, checking how they were drying out, and put my fingers straight onto a couple of maggots :eek: I thought I'd been really careful about only picking up really good ones, but obviously not quite careful enough :eek:

You sound busy, Greying - seize the day, indeed

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening :hello:

Gosh, I am half asleep - early night for me once I finish here I think. Why is it LBM or worries, or ideas or thoughts or whatever always hit you in the wee small hours of the morning?? Somebody pass me the matchsticks.......

Ay KC - them there be organick chesnuts they be...... :rotfl:You're not going for 'pre-flavoured whatchety grubs' to add to your pre-flavoured snail empire are you???? :rotfl:Be very careful fellow consumers when MrW starts its advertising campaign next year, with the strapline...'a little taste of autumn...' - bleurk! :rotfl:

Patchwork Girl - you have reminded me to have a bash at the chocolate and orange (marmalade) version of Shaz's recipe - thanks

Anyway, I am glad that I have had a 'LBM' - it proves if nothing else - 'you're all rubbing off on me' :rotfl::rotfl:

Needless to say, sub-committee No 5 met for a little longer this evening, as there was so much to discuss...... however, both parties are in agreement, it was all positive and DP even made notes.... gasp Mind you, I thought DP was going to blow a gasket, as I had decided, as part of my LBM that the project we started on Friday is a complete and utter waste of time and resources (even if they are recycled ) and we shouldn't proceed down that route. Actually, I was met with an 'OK' <faints>

Dinner this evening was a veggie version of 'Cocido'. We have it reasonably regularly, although it was a pared down version tonight, as I had no turnip, cabbage or leek that are usual ingredients. However, it still tasted good - I put extra chickpeas in, so it was still filling and substantial I made a link to Ms Elliot's recipe (written out on a blog) in THIS post should you be interested to have a go yourself.

DP bought milk today, but Ald* had no bananas, when the assistant tried to palm off 'funsize' produce on DP, they were met with a firm, 'they're far too dear, I'm not buying them' :T Still, it's the grocery budget, so I can't claim a NSD - although DP has graciously said I don't owe him any £ for the choccy bars he bought due to the lack of bananas.......?????....... :T

Oh, I found no *roadkill* either today

So, before I slip into a somnolent stupor... 3 things for which I am grateful today;

for inspirers - there are many folk who inspire me. But today, I shall namecheck; Piq, shortie and ninjasavingkat, as being 'responsible' for a penny dropping somewhere, in the vast cavernous space between my ears, in the wee small hours of the morning. Thank you. (but if you could limit inspiration to office hours, Mon-Fri in future, that'd be grand...... ta :rotfl:)

that I can admit I am wrong and perform a U turn. Nuff said

for what I have - and the fact that a little chocolate bar is sufficient 'icing on the cake' of a fabulous day

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

See y'all later.

Greying