Building The Burrow!

Pearla*Merle

Very strange day. We'd planned to go to Costko early this morning, but Mr M was ill during the night, and didn't sleep much. Upsetting to hear about Paris too.

Mr M has contacts who live in the area (thankfully they're all ok) and he also knows someone who had planned to go to that concert but decided against it in the end. Just shocking. And brings up so many memories.... I had close friends who were severly affected by 9/11... just all so sad.

But, it again brings things into sharp focus, namely 'be the change you want to see in the world'. It's so easy to think you're powerless but many people making small changes towards peace, friendliness, helpfulness, simplicity.... and so many other things can ripple out a long way.

So, it was a slow morning and then our power went off for an hour or so. We had to hang around in case caused any problems with the fridge etc, and by the time it came back on the rain was tipping down and we couldn't be bothered to head out.

A bit of an unsettled day, but dabbled with odds and ends and managed to get some bits done. Onto silly films now and trying to resist putting the heating on but it's flipping cold.

:www: MFW Wonderment: OnePolled, YouGovved, did self-employment bits and some more research. Thinking about starting up that blog project I'd put on the backburner... the universe keeps sending me signs to do it but I'm still nervous about taking on too much.. hmmm.

In awesometastic and much more cheery news, I have quite a grocery story to tell! We ordered our shop online and it was delivered midweek. They accidentally sent along a £15 bottle of wine and two multipacks of crisps. Mr M, being honest, let them know. They wanted to send someone round for the wine (I know! I was gutted!) but no one showed up. Now they've sent Mr M £5 for the bother and we can keep everything. :rotfl:

Mr M reckons it's his best grocery win ever. Complain about free food then get paid to keep it. :rotfl:

Tonights tea was a serious win as well - odds & ends of pasta, mixed with a tin of salad beans, olive oil, garlic paste, kale and spring onions along with a kale pesto from the freezer. All bits that were either serious storecupboard fare or was on its way out. And I made double the amount so pasta salad for lunch tomorrow! :T

:coffee: Simple Pleasures: surprise tea coming together like a dream, loosing myself in a book, tidy surfaces (hard won!)

:heartsmil Burrow Building: we've been doing more pondering about future plans/places of residence. Always nice to chat about this stuff to keep on track. :T

Pearla*Merle

Dashing on again... mad few days after feeling so out of it last week. I crammed in loads, will have to post properly tomorrow, but some highlights:

• 1p found while out and about, added to the Kitty Bank.
• H**C card FINALLY sorted after muchos nonsense. £1k @ 0% transferred, huzzah! I'll cancel the old cards asap and get a new 0% for some serious stoozing.
• YouGovved, OnePolled,
• Mr M bought a cheap printer (and got a serious amount of airmiles from the purchase), but we needed one anyway, so I'll put that into action with Music Magpie-ing and eBaying soon! :j
• Looks like I definitely might be Go! with the RM surveys, cross all your fingers & toes!
• did lots of house organising and have another bag to go to a charity shop. Decluttered: dressing gown (may have already said this?), old tray, set of cups... I forget what else.
• Used up random bits in the freezer and fridge for lunches/teas. Very impressed with myself (see below)
• Had to buy some bits in Boots, remembered to check app & got 100 extra points for my trouble :T
• Ticked off more self-employed stuff.

Favourite new recipe: Staffordshire oatcakes (despited major freezer burn, mine tasted great, lol). Fried in non-stick pan with no oil or fat (though gosh they do taste nice with butter but I'm being good). Flip when one side done, spread half with artichoke pat! (could use chutney or anything really), add ham & spring onions, fold and fry both sides till crispy et voila! So nice. And the variations are endless.

:coffee: Simple Pleasures: apart from being tucked up inside out of this awful gale? Ummm... tea and toast after rainy, wintry walks. A freshly made bed. Organised bookcases!

Hollyboll

Good reminder about B00ts points, I always forget to check when I'm in there - thank you:T:T

Pearla*Merle

Hollybol! Finally a reply

I ramble pretty seriously in here, gold star for making it through You're making me want to go back and see how times have changed - maybe one to keep for the New Year holiday (talking of the which, I've started working on my budget/ideas for next year. Go me.)

OH EM GEE on the theatrical tips. I thank you kindly I'm looking forward to upping my culture vulture activities markedly over the coming weeks and months :dance:

Hollyboll wrote: »

Hello P*M :wave::wave:
So inspiring, so many changes over the last 52 pages, and all related in a fab entertaining way. I particularly love the purpling of lists, am in awe of your bargainous food finds, and the simple pleasures / mf wonderment / burrow building - great title and concept by the way, until only a few pages ago I was thinking oooooo how exciting, they must now be in spitting distance of the HP studio tour … and now you've done it! I haven't yet, definitely on my list. Sorry 'twas so expensive though but I'm sure you have some fab memories from the day to sustain you.

but . Lol. I was just thinking about the HP tour the other day - that was another day where I had a funny turn (obviously all that makes sense as to why now). And it's easy to forget that part and just think of the charming bits (don't know if I said that I'd splashed out on a ridiculous Professor Umbridge teacup & saucer? Well I did. It makes me laugh every time I see it, money well spent methinks).

I can't wait to read along in realtime :T:T:T:T Thanks to you over the last couple of days I've not only been walking round piles of leaves but also scouring the pavement for gold-finds

Ooh, I hope you've found some coinage - keep us posted!

haircut … I've gone for 15 odd years to a great academy, you'd need to do it on a non-office day (and take your themed book of the day), but sooooo good and mse :A. Will PM you ...

Verrrr excited to get my tresses sorted, looking forward to getting myself down there

PS Also sorry to hear about the insurance / holiday shenanigans. Which airline are you booked? It might be worth calling their press office and telling them your sad story and asking for some mercy and let you change dates - I'd give it a go, nothing to lose ... but maybe that's just me being overly naive / stroppy …

What a good idea....! Will definitely keep this in mind, it's for Mr M's big birthday as well, so we've got a good tale to tell indeed :cool:

Thank you kindly for all the tips! :T

Pearla*Merle

Work's been all over the place this week with people needing time off/being sick. One good thing is that it's distracting me from thinking about upcoming surgery which now looks like it'll happen sooner rather than later...

I've done some serious pottering about the house and it's looking not half-bad. Well, lets say that the amount of decluttering I've done has meant that it's far easier to tidy up these days, I've really noticed a difference. I still have odd moments of holding things and feeling stressed about where to put things, but it's a much more unusual experience these days.

Still need to sort out the spare room... reorganised the bookcases though and freed up quite a chunk of space. Loads more to do though. :eek:

In awesometastic news, I came across Bullet Journal, more specifically THIS blog post. This is basically my Life Folder but much pretty and with copious use of felt tip pens! Oh god, I'm excited. And you can use any sort of notebook for these shenanigans. So I'm going to put something similar into action.

The one great part of this is that the constant re-writing of tasks really does make you consider whether they're even worth doing (something I definitely need to keep on top of). I also use the 'Clear' list app, but now I'm just going to use that on my phone for time-sensitive tasks, or to brain-dump tasks. I also have a little list of 'activities I want to do each day' i.e. yoga, meditate, contact a friend, do x, y or z on my business. Oh, I can also take my little notebook everywhere, whereas my folder stays at home and occasionally gets forgotten about. But just so happy about an excuse to use colourful pens. :j

Oh lord, didn't relay my story of the other day. Must write it here for prosperity. Hugh FW would be SO proud of me. I decided to take glass & textiles to the recycling bank. Walked across the park and thought - ooh, I'll just take that shortcut up there, it looks a little Somme-like but I'm sure it'll be fine. Cue feet sinking ENTIRELY into the mud, almost lost my shoes, had to jump out of them into the mud IN MY TIGHTS to rescue BOTH my shoes all the while flailing about with two heavy bags of recycling plus handbag trying not to topple over in my best cost head first into the dirt. :eek: OMFG. Had to walk through town with feet caked in mud (still haven't got it all out of my shoes). Oh yes, only to get to the recycling bank for the textile bins to be full. :doh: But I think you'll find I was not to be defeated and got that darn bag into the bin (had to wait for glass recycling truck guy to go - he seemed to think I should walk about mile or so down the road with it, flipping heck).

Annoyingly busy day at work today, was hoping it would be quiet and I could do some of my online course but it was nonstop. Must try and blast through it over the next few days.


:www: MFW Wonderment: YouGovved, RM surveys on their way, £1.8something TCB claimed, started budget/money thinking for next year (looked at spending diary from this year, all works out pretty well so not much will change but I've written up a list of probably spends for next year to think about). Freezers reorganised, food being eaten!

:coffee: Simple Pleasures: soft morning light playing across the river, fresh air, the last leaves dancing on the trees.

:heartsmil Burrow Building: silly fun practising German together; board games unearthed ready to be played!

apple_muncher

Love them ud story! Reminds me of when I used to do cross country - the muddier, the better!

Hollyboll

I'm particularly impressed at thinking about next year's budget / spends ... am still struggling with this year's!
xx

apple_muncher

Thank you for the walking tube map link. Have saved it and printed it for perusal. x

Pearla*Merle

You're welcome, apple And lol, I did want to have a lovely, muddy, wintry walk this year but maybe not one where I ended up thinking a bunch of firemen might have to come and rescue me.... :eek: :rotfl:

Holly, lol, it's more to do with the fact that I've given up on this year. :rotfl: Yay for sickpay but also darn, darn, darn.

Pearla*Merle

Made the most amazing storecupboard tea this eve! :j

Pasta with an impromptu 'inspired by (but differed wildly from) recipe on butter bean can' sauce. Was actually looking for canellini beans but those were all I had.

Said sauce had onions, peppers (both freezer cheats) and garlic paste softened for a few mins then I added Italian herb mix, butter beans, black olives (must remember to buy pitted ones in future omg!) and a little boiling water on top with a crumble of veg stock. Simmered away for a little while et voilà! Eaten with kale on the side.

It was the most wintry pasta dish I've ever eaten, quite intense but yummy - must remember it for future.

Really not much other news, apart from plotting some cultural excursions for next year. Yesterday was a write off (body playing up, alas, which continued into today but feeling miles better now). I've managed to get my yoga and meditating going again which is a huge plus though.

About to do an online shop, we have Sainsbobs vouchers, hurrah! Wonder what we'll get free this week...

:www: MFW Wonderment: finding tea in the cupboard so no last minute buying; RM surveys are go! go! go!;

:coffee: Simple Pleasures: it's true what they're saying - snow is on the way! I saw some looks-like-snow clouds drifting by as the sun was setting on my way home from work, so beautiful.

:heartsmil Burrow Building: dinner at the table continues apace. Some more random housey bits have been organised that'll make life easier.

So looking forward to a lie in tomorrow...!