ZC's Aim for a little independence

zcrat41

Well yesterday was a diet disaster! I got through the day but only by consuming two cheese wraps, 3 packets of crisps and 3 cornetto on top of my normal food. I’m not the greatest at controlling myself when tired and stressed and both of those happened yesterday! Also spent £32 in Lidl on picnic bits for a few days. Also £20 on repairing two items of clothing. Trying to get back on track today:

B - overnight oats
L - broccoli, green bean salad, one cheese wrap, two mini scotch eggs and strawberries 
T - tuna nicoise

aim is to do a strength workout tonight. 

Taking the kids and two friends to a local pool with slides.  £31 on swimming and have taken a picnic. Will probably give in to an ice cream soon as well. Just in the park at the moment trying to burn off the final bits of energy! 

zcrat41

Well yesterday’s diet went much much better. I think I’m a bit under the weather as nit feeling great this morning either. Ended up spending another £35 on crazy golf for the kids yesterday. It was from a holiday spends budget and happy to do it as the kids had a good time but crikey, best part of £70 for swimming and crazy golf! 

Have done a Tesco shop today that’s £100. I’ve got a bit sucked into their boost your points thing. We will eat and drink it all but it is stuff I wouldn’t normally have bought in one go. Will have to make sure I ration it! 

Today should be a NSD as just at home. Food plan:

B - egg & spinach on toast

L - ham and cream cheese bagels

T - sausages in a bun with sweetcorn and home made coleslaw. 

Picked loads of cultivated blackberries yesterday with more to come. The Vic plums also need picking and freezing. 

zcrat41

Morning all. 

Still feeling dodgy so went to the doctors yesterday. She was about to write me off (went in with dizziness) but when I happened to mentioned I’m a farmer she changed completely and has booked me in for lots of blood tests. She had me a bit worried and I asked what she was concerned about. Her answer was nothing in particular but a lifetime of doctoring and at medical school had taught her that farmers don’t complain so when you come across one take them seriously!!! Could be iron related as I’m hitting the peri stage I think. 

Not a great day yesterday. Lost my shizzle with the kids as seemed to spend most of my day picking up after them, answering no to the question can I go on a screen and trying to get some very frustrating work done. Failed at all 3!! Had an early night and will try again today. Still feeling not myself so maybe need to be a bit kinder to myself with resting today. 

£9.72 spent yesterday on croissants and ok for a breakfast meeting this morning. Could claim back but will probably forget! 

Meals:
B - croissants
L tuna nicoise
T tomato pasta and broccoli. 

Will maybe go and do the school stationary shop. Last year we went to a local independent stationers and although it’s nice to support them it cost a fortune! They have closed now so will probably just try Tesco 

zcrat41

Breakfast meeting went well. School supply shopping done - we ended up at WH smith with a £103 spend. The things I’ll buy to encourage dyslexic children to read and write 🤣🤣. All budgeted for and less than last year. 

Yesterday had a lovely day at the beach with Granny and cousins. I’m so glad we are past the toddler stage, they are hard work!! Very cute though. Only £15 on coffees as Granny treated us. Best fish and chips I think I’ve ever eaten at a  place in Norfolk. I drove but our diesel is taking out of the business account as a personal cost so I don’t see it out of my account. Obviously it is a spend but I don’t have to account for it as such. 

Today I’m hoping to have a day of resting and getting back on track with healthy eating etc. I’ve not been right all week. 

zcrat41

Morning all. I must have needed the rest as I slept for 3 hours yesterday afternoon then went to bed at 9pm! Still couldn’t quite control my eating as I devoured two packets of crisps and two cookies. I can do better than that! Feeling a lot more rested today so hopefully a fresh start. Two weeks till the kids go back to school so I’m setting myself a mini goal of 4lb off. I was 11st this morning so would like to be 10.10 in two weeks. NSD yesterday. 

Todays plan:
B avocado on toast
L lentil salad
T roast chicken,
roasted new pots and veg. (Should have had yesterday but too tired to cook!)

should be a NSD as working this morning and taking the dog for a long walk somewhere different this afternoon. 

Have a good day MSE’rs 

zcrat41

Morning all. 

I actually stuck to my plan yesterday!! Ate well and had an early night. Go me!! Also better than a NSD - I have a paper subscription and claimed for the two weeks holiday you’re allowed a year. We were away for a week anyway and I thought I’d skip another week and see if I miss it as the subscription is £65 a month. Interestingly I did really miss it so will hang onto it for now. It’s about the only reading children see us do! 

Todays plan:
B - avo on toast
L - cheese sandwiches or eggs and soldiers
T - pesto pasta with leftover chicken. 

Plus and apples from the orchard as a snack. Should be a NSD today. 

Have a good day all 

zcrat41

Morning all. 

Good couple of days on the money front. Granny took the kids to an aqua park as her summer treat. I stumped up for coffee and cake as thought Granny deserved her own treat for getting in the water! Hope I’m still as fun when I’m in my 70’s. 

Autumn feels like it’s here today. Rainy and windy. Typical August bank holiday really! I’d like to batch a lot of plum things today - jam and crumble. Make some hummus for school. dad and I are going to attempt a crispy chilli chicken takeaway tonight whilst DD is at a sleepover. 

I’m shattered this morning as I had a text
msg from Microsoft noting unauthorized activity. Lo and behold someone in Turkey was trying to access my account. I have two factor authentication so changed my password and hope all is ok. I don’t think there’s much more can be done. 

zcrat41

Morning all. Well, DS and I made the chicken and it was delicious. He also helped make a pasta recipe last night which had a lot of spinach in but because he was sous chef he ate it! Quite the win for an 11 year old that normally likes plain food. 

I got a lot of cooking done the last two days. My jam hasn’t set very well, not sure if I can be bothered to reboil or if I should just leave it as runny jam! 

Today’s plan is farm work this morning and then the in laws are here for lunch. HM quiche with homegrown tomatoes then HM plum and blackberry crumble. Hopefully also picking more fruit from the orchard and getting some outdoor spaces cleaned up. 

Need to have a wee look at the budget as there will need to be another food shop this week and there’s no money left in groceries. Will need to readjust some other categories. 

zcrat41

Morning all. 

Well, that was a manic two weeks. We had a weekend away in our van just before the kids went back to school. Twas lovely and peaceful (we went to Sandringham and I adore the woodland walks there) but it made the back to school quite the rush. 

DS, who had new shoes two weeks before the end of school last year was complaining his shoes were tight. Remeasured yesterday and he’s got wider so that’s £50 done. I did have Quidco saved up but he needed them quick so I didn’t have time to get the voucher. 

I’m trying to have a reset day today as I’ve been chasing my tail for two weeks now. Todays jobs-
1) go for a run
2) go to church
3) give kids pocket money and assess september budget
4) pack away caravan bedding
5) plan kids schedules for the week
6) try and get some rest in 

Todays meals:
B - nothing as I had a naughty 10pm cheese sandwich last night 
L - cottage pie with veg followed by apple and blackberry crumble. 

Our bramley tree has produced its first fruit. It looked like there weren’t that many but actually when picked I’ve got two massive bowl fulls. I’m going to make another crumble or two today for the freezer but open to recipes if anyone has any suggestions! 

zcrat41

Morning all. Finally feel on top of things. Not rested but on top of things!! 

Made a total of 7 Apple crumble Ms for the freezer yesterday! That’s Sunday dinner puddings sorted till nearly Xmas. 

£20 spend on donation to the church collection yesterday. And £20 on a set of switch headphones for DS. He’s discovered playing online with his friends and was ringing them which we could all hear so much happier with the headphones. Trying hard not to eat out in September for both the waist and the budget. Even a McDonald’s or a chippy tea is the best part of £40 for us these days. 

Todays plan:
b - scrambled egg
L - leftover cottage pie
T - sandwiches 

have a good day all