Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

Lynplatinum

Mornin All

Yep it is me at this time of day!! :rotfl:

Am still in Cornwall - tho I go home on Monday

I havent had time to catch up past couple of days because I went to collect DS and GF from ex's. We spent day at Necturn's Glen - fabulous and beautiful - and somewhere I had never been before. A fabulous waterfall tumbles water through spectacular rock formations and then it forms a cool, clear stream which bubbles and girggles over more rocks for about 1/2 mile forming pools and rapids! The little dog loved it! My DS and GF loved it too - so much so they want to hold their Hand Fastening ceremony there (if allowed). It makes you realise that LOTOR and GOT places still do exist in this wonderful country of ours - if only you bother to look for them! We are just so fortunate!

DS and GF are staying with me for a couple of days cos mean ex wouldn't give them the train fare home!! He is rolling in it! Has boxes all over his flat stashed with thousands of £ and tells me he can't spend his pension (has company one + state one) each week if he tries! Takes himself on flying lessons as well each week!! GRRRR! :mad: SO I am gonna have to drive to Hastings (7/8ish hours) tomorrow and then next day to MK (2-3 hours M25 willing ). All costing me petrol and stress! He gave DS £100 and said that it was a long term loan! He will ask for it back - has done so before! Selfish man! :eek: Rant over!

Anywhoooo deep breath!!! He has fed em for 2 weeks :rotfl: that must have cost him! LOL

Another deep breath
Love the suggestions for courgette lasagne! Also love the phrase 'penny foolish - pound wise' i had forgotten that one! Thanks Fairyprincess! :A It is a very good lesson to keep in mind!

MM&M even on hols - Am currently using up fruit and veg that my friend left behind - including rather withered apples so have made some apple and cinnamon muffins from recipe in back of sultanas packet. Now I ve been baking for years but strangely never with yogurt before!! So we'll see how they turn out!! (bought my own flour and butter so will take those home with me).
I have now bought replacements for most of the veg; eggs; fruit I have used up for my friend so it is all fresh for her return. Oh but I shall miss this place - and my furry personal trainer!! :rotfl:

More probably when I get home now i.e. Tues - when i shall make plans for a)food using up + slimming b) house decorating c) selling on e-b!y/fbook (anyone know where to go on here for tips?)
Cheers folks!

FairyPrincessk

Oh yes, I might do with some tips for selling on fleabay...I have a few things and I've never been quite sure how much you need to make it 'worth the effort'

Baking with yogurt has always turned out well for me--tends to make denser cakes iyswim.

vulpix

Just a quickie,I sell loads on faceache and eebay.With eeeebay I start everything at 99p.I want to get rid of it and I think it will find it's own price.If I want more for it I put it on face.... same there,I just ask what I would pay for it.My local selling page is really good.Where my son was in Oxfordshire was dire.I have also sold some furniture to a local secondhand shop and got more than I expected for it.Good luck Vx

camelot1001

Lyn, your 'holiday' sounds like luxury, grr to ex, what a mean man.
I use Gumtr££ for items I think will sell on there, never tried selling on fleabay but have bought plenty!

I've finished the mirror I was painting for DD, what a pain that turned out to be! Anyway, I have wrapped it in cling film - no mean feat on my own and the mirror is 5'x3'! That's another thing ready for when she gets the keys for the flat. This morning I have sanded and washed down a little chest of drawers she wants painting white, she bought some little pink and white pebble type knobs so it should look good. Stupidly left it out to dry and of course it poured down, it's in the conservatory now, may have chance to give it a coat tomorrow, may leave it till I come back from Copenhagen.

Made some oaty biscuits and scotch pancakes for friends son's birthday tea this afternoon so better get a shower and get ready. Enjoy your Sundays.

candlelight_2013

I have just seen that Cilla Black has died. She was part of my youth and I copied her hairstyles whenever I could.

My sympathies to her boys, but she is now back with her beloved Bobby.

Candlelightx

zaxdog

The rain here helped to make it a NSD.

Mr Zaxdog works silly hours as a chef so today he was woken from his afternoon nap with French toast (stirred some local-ish smoked cheese in with the beaten egg).

After he headed off I made spicy carrots & courgette rice for dinner which was filling, very tasty and all except the courgette came from the press :j

Laundry all caught up now and a pile of dog toys that need attention are in my sewing basket :rotfl:

FairyPrincessk

Morning all,

Thanks vulpix! The things I have to sell are primarily clothes. A few nice suits from my twenties that my more mature figure will never be able to use again. I'm actually wondering if consignment might not be a better option. I'll have to research it.

Today is my first day back at work, although as I've eyed up September and November I've decided to keep my work minimal in August. At the moment I have three conferences and the start of term in those two months.:eek:

On the MMM front I'll be finishing off the last three loads of laundry today as there is supposed to be rain for the rest of the week. Does anyone else find that they do laundry differently based on the season? I do a small load almost daily in winter as that is the best way to get it dry indoors but I tend to save it up and have big washing days in summer when I can get it all out on the line in clear weather.

Dinner last night was a real success--Delia's Chilladas although I added about 3 times the seasoning she did. I also make a chili tomato sauce, tzatziki and salad. We'll have the leftovers for lunch today and then OH is making tea tonight. The cinnamon cake is still going strong and I think I've managed to create yet another day where we don't need to pop to the shop for anything.

My knitting is going backwards again. I've found THE mistake, but I haven't yet worked out what I'm doing wrong. I will get out my book and take it step by step again, perhaps I've been doing some of the decrease stitches a bit wrong and need to remind myself. There are only about 14-16 rows left on the back of the cardigan and I'm anxious to move on! I'd like to be able to wear it sometime this winter.

I've also cleared out some socks that are coming unraveled since I've replaced them with better quality ones on deep discount at Ald!.

Right, time for me to get a bit of work done.

Happy_Home

Coming out of lurking to see if any of you thrifty people can help me.

At the weekend I spent ages cleaning between the cracks in our block paving. I cleared out 99% of moss, weeds & grass but is there anything I could use to kill the last tiny bits of grass and roots? I was thinking maybe something HM I could mix in an old watering can?

Thanks in advance. HHx

MyHappinessProject

The old way used to be to strain the boiling water off your cooked potatoes over the weeds outside the kitchen door to kill them...so I guess boiling water or salt would work too. It will grow again as soil and seed re colonise the cracks...ongoing job, so better to use something non toxic if you can for the safety of animals/children etc

Happy_Home

Thank you I will have a go at water from potatoes/salt water Yes I am sure it's now going to be a constant job, but really don't want it to get as bad as before as it was a massive job.
Thanks HHx