Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

GreyQueen

Snap! I went into the pyjama drawer and hestitated over the summery ones and then grabbed the brushed cotton snuggly ones. Plus had my furry blanket over my shoulders in bed, the season feels like it's changed, although there can be some phenomenally hot days in Sept and Oct some years.

GrannyKate

Vulpix - we were surprised a few years ago that we qualified for one of those green energy schemes and our bungalow had new loft and cavity wall insulation for free. It has made a real difference to the bedroom end of bungalow which used to get mould on end walls and need supplementary heating - neither of these problems now.
Just back from super holiday in Greece - no problems there at all and bought half the money we took back again. Need to get back on the weight loss, KM, NSI wagons but off for child sitting 3 days today so start again in earnest on Monday. Have started looking out for stocking fillers on offer 8DGCs now so need advance planning!

FairyPrincessk

I do hope we get a few more of those warm days. I remember one year in particular greeting the incoming Uni students in a lightweight summer dress with sleeves rolled up, all of us old fogies sweltering at the front of a lecture hall of fresh faces. That won't be for several weeks yet so there is sill a chance....

vulpix

Good morning all,
FPK sounds like you also have a wedding outfit for Viv's wedding too;).I presume you work at Manchester uni,my daughter works there too.Small world.

Lyn I did watch the sugar prog.I knew about sugar in processed food and it has been my crusade when I worked with children.Back in the day we had a very enlightened head teacher who gave me free rein with it.We did cooking for every subject.I think it is so important that children learn to cook and know what is in their food.The children loved cooking,we even won a national competition with the prize presented by Jamie Oliver.I hope this sugar tax takes off,some of the scenes and statistics in the prog were shocking.Saying all that of my 2 eldest children who have never had processed foods until they left home,my daughter does not have a sweet tooth,my son however eats well but also eats loads of chocolate.My youngest daughter lived only on processed food until she came to live with me.She hated my cooking because it was not bright enough or sweet or salty enough.She likes it now and prefers it but she ate like a mouse for about a year and she got used to it.

I lit a fire last night,burning all the wood waste from the building work.

Got loads on today must get a wriggle on.Vx

vhalla1478

Good Morning Everyone,

I was up late this morning so have been playing 'catch up' for the last hour or so and have just taken a breather with coffee to read everyone's lovely posts and to report on yesterday's exertions.

I managed to wrench open the drawers that were jammed - and guess what? I found a needlepoint rug that my DD started when she was 21 (she's now 47) plus all the necessary wool - so I guess I've a new project for the winter. I know why she abandoned it; it is worked with minute double cross stitches; I think I'll have to invest in one of those lights with an attached magnifying glass to do it - not yet though, I've started on a cushion cover so one thing at once!

I made salmon fishcakes yesterday, using a pile of leftover mash, and had one with my very FIRST in my life, home grown runner beans - better late than never - the rest are tucked away in the freezer. I also found a better home for all of my sandals in a polythene box under the spare bed rather than in the bottom drawer of the spare room's chest of drawers. Whilst sorting all the chest of drawers out (three) I also pulled them away from the walls and had a good vacuum in all those hidden places. On top of that, I sorted all my make up out and ditched the lipstick cases that really and truly had nothing left in them however assiduously I used my lipbrush; I also washed my make up bags and brushes as well as the hairbrushes and combs - what an exciting life!:D Actually, I hate to admit this but I rather enjoyed it. The only other thing I found, apart from the fabric that I tend to hoard and that was in any case at the back of my consciousness, was a light gauze bag which will do for washing my bras in in the future.

In the pantry, I had a pile of books which will go to my DDil who is, like me, an avid reader, so that is another small task for today. Why were they in the pantry? Because I had sorted my bookcases out a couple of month's ago and my pantry is just too convenient!

As the weather is turning, although I hope still, like GreyQueen, that we might have an Indian Summer, I really need to empty the wardrobe, clean it all out and rearrange my clothes so that the winter ones are to the fore. Although I didn't go as far as pyjamas, I did root out my slipper boots last night instead of the erstwhile flipflops!

MY DB rang yesterday to say he may have a few days work in Aberdeen from Monday onwards - not what he needs really, but better than nothing. Silva, if it comes to a hen night, believe you me, you will all be invited, and hats are not compulsory for the main event in any case, although I think you would look very fetching in a fedora, Lynn, and by the way, so pleased you are eating Lincolnshire Poacher! The last time I wore a hat was for my DS's wedding almost a year ago[ it was supposed to sit on the side of my head but it took the hairdresser forever to stop it slowly sliding out. I took it off as soon as decently possible. I had borrowed it, so I didn't waste any money there.

Goodness, I've written an epistle again, perhaps I better continue with my minimising here?

Have a great day, Folks.

Viv xx

Lynplatinum

Hey folk!

I really need a hand -my day has just slid by without achieving anything major! Am getting annoyed with me self now! :mad:

So I got up late - switched the repeat alarm off @ 8am and rolled over, got out of bed, genuinely thinking it was about 8.15 - it was 10.15!!!! :eek:

So put out washing as sun was shining. Then brekkie and exercises and moisturiser and brush hair etc. So now its 11.30 Sorted out paperwork that came thro door - preped for student - made some business phone calls and its 2.30! Lunch. 3pm walk down the town to put money in bank and buy batteries (daily exercise). 5pm back home. Student due 5.30 so quick cuppa - student delayed until 6 so tilly tidied some monies and got washing in and put to air. Student til 7. Cooked tea, ate it, washed up. 8pm cuppa while watching 'star trek' for an hour (too dark to paint) - then did nails while watching 'bake off extra slice' and here I am again - busy all day but no BIG goals achieved!

How do you get BIG stuff done - in my case get this flippin bathroom painted!!! (wont take long just never seem to have the chunks of time!) Advice please!!! What are your tricks??

Batteries came out of food fund but entertainment fund still intact :-)

FP - you must be v clever with a needle - I can do the basics but I admire anyone that good!!

Vulpix - yep my boys would rather eat savoury - sushi being regarded as a big treat! Neither are an ounce over weight and neither has a filling or tooth decay (one has a false tooth due to an accident tho!) ! I am convinced that all this sugar and fat are bad for you. I seem to recall a book in the 70s tho called 'pure white and deadly' all about how bad for you sugar was. IF we all ate protein and veg and little fruit and fat we would all be slim (says she who is over weight, has issues with her teeth (partially due to physical damage to them) and is addicted to chocolate! If I let myself eat what I was conditioned to eat as a child I would be huge and toothless!! Also ran Playgroups and was a teacher - the effect of food on children's ability to concentrate was amazing - from those who had sugary snacks at playtime and then could not sit and work to those from a very deprived school I taught at where their previous school meal was the last thing they had eaten and us teachers, out of our own pockets, used to bring in packs of plain biscuits for the class morning break so that the poor little things would have something in their bellies before school lunch. The later kids could not concentrate either and would listlessly fall asleep until their playtime plain biscuits (we were not allowed to bring in bread/cereals). I was also on Benefits for a time after my divorce (4 years - my ex insured that I could not go to work as he turned up and harassed colleagues and children) but my kids never went hungry, unclothed and never missed a school trip (i.e. I payed for them to go on them all). I know I had a good brain and education on my side but it does make you think......

Sorry rant over!

So, not being superwoman, folks - tell me how to get BIG stuff done! ta :A

silvasava

Afternoon All.
Upstairs hoovered & dusted, bathroom floors washed, 1 load of washing in the machine - got my CS case down from the loft only to find it wasn't the bargain I thought. It rattled & I thought it was the straps inside - when I unzipped the lining it was the plastic inner of the case that had been smashed! The case looks OK on the outside so I may use it anyway & just make sure I have a large polybag under my stuff in case it gets left in the rain at the airport!!
DH is away until Monday as he's doing a charity motorbike (trike) run tomorrow so hope the weather stays dry in Essex!!I'm having a girly night tonight with a couple of friends & i'm using my uninterrupted time for a clear out!!
Have a good day all x

FairyPrincessk

Afternoon all,

Vulpix--yes, although only for part time and temporary stuff. I do most of my work from home so I don't really know that many people.

Lyn--I'm not that good, but my mum who is very good taught me a few things growing up so I manage when I want to.

Well the wedding was lovely. Friend was packed off this morning to head home and I got a line of washing out, put away the futon and OH tidied the kitchen. We've been and ordered my new specs--£55 which I'm very pleased with as I was dreading the cost and now I'm going to sit with a coffee and work on the menu plan until around 4:00 when I need to get some beef into a stew for tea.

Feeling quite tired today--we got home just after midnight but sat up with my homemade peppermint tea chatting a bit later.

[Deleted User]

Hi chums rather cross today as yesterday I did my good deed and took my DGS Ben and his G/F to Standstead Airport and dropped them off outside the terminal then found that to get back onto the road to go home back to Kent you now have to pay £2 50 for the priviledge Grr highway robbery I think as I was 2 minutes letting them out of the car.So my Happy Cash Stash is £2.50 light.

No way around it there are barriers across the road. It seems if you have more than 10 minutes unloading your passengers luggage etc then you are charged 10p per minute !!!

No warning at all until you are outside the terminal that you will be charged. Very !!!!!! Turpin I feel, certainly made me quite cross, not so much the cash, as the high-handed way you are expected to cough up regardless

Been sitting knitting this afternoon, I've started on DDs 'Christmas blankey' whilst watching catch-up t.v.

Dinner tonight is a chicken breast wrapped in a slice of bacon and baked in my Remoska with cajun wedges and salad to accompany it. All from stocks indoors, not broken into my food purse as yet :)

Have got a slab of mincemeat out to make a big lasagne tomorrow for Monday when my friend is coming for the day

Weather isn't brilliant at the moment ,although its dry, so I put my small wash out on the line for bit of a blow

Hope you all have a good week-end
JackieO xx

FairyPrincessk

JackieO--I've not done car pick up/drop off at that airport but I know at ours there is one terminal where you're charged for going through arrivals but not departures. I've no idea why, but when we order a cab we always ask them to meet us in departures so we don't have to pay the fee on top of the fare. A nice cabby told us about that trick. Might be worth checking into if you're going to collect them when they return?