The Simple Bare Necessities feat. Gratitude & Recipes

Greying_Pilgrim

Thank you all - I've decided to stop being angry and take action and have constructed a letter to the manager.

Silver Queen - I would take your viewpoint too if there was a long queue of people behind us. But there was no-one. The assistant opened the till, served 3 people and then closed it again and went, presumably, back to stacking onions on the shelf. The assistant was not concentrating on the job in hand - which is what was so vexing.

On this occasion, I do think the assistant was at fault. But as regards my change - I am at fault for not checking it. I accept that my mind was on helping my Dad out.

Greying X

beanielou

Sorry I have no idea what happened in bannagate but hope you get a good outcome.

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening :hello:

beanielou wrote: »

Sorry I have no idea what happened in bannagate but hope you get a good outcome.

My dearest beanie - thank you for making me laugh out loud You have just written the perfect line from a 'Minions' movie and popped the preposterous bubble that was me getting all hot and boffered about crAp customer service

If I've read and understood reports on the internet correctly, my pictures of 'us tea' will be coming to an abrupt end. It would appear that P bucket are now charging for hosting. My pictures are as yet in situ, but they are breaking links from their site to other sites, so it is possibly only a matter of time. I cannot afford to pay the $400 per annum they are asking, although now it has been explained, I can see why they need to charge. As it happens, I can't log onto Pbucket tonight anyway (nowt new there), so I can't say whether my account is one that they deem chargeable - I would think I fall into the category.

Tea this evening was curry - a 'new' to me Sweet Potato and Green Bean Lemak, with l/o dhal/, l/o aduki bean curry and l/o peach and chickpea curry, with a small portion of rice each. Made up quite a plate. I substituted soy sauce and miso in place of the shrimp paste in the lembak recipe. I think it's a keeper. It could do with a few extra spice flavours for my taste - but I'm not a chilli fan, so...... - but as a curry on a curry plate, it was OK, and used ingredients that I am likely to have in the house at any one time.

Today I am grateful for these 3 things;

that I was able to lend a hand when needed.

for BG's health

that I've still achieved some of my challenge targets today - despite being a strop-diva :rotfl:

Ta for popping by, reading and reminding me that it is entirely human to louse up when distracted. Just wish it hadn't involved money though.....

Greying X

Cheery_Daff

Ooh, how very vexing about the photographs! :eek: Most displeasing ^o) I do hope either you fall into the 'non paying' category or you can find somewhere else - I do like to see pictures of your tea Quite understand if it becomes a complete palaver though!

Right, I must get back to lugging things up and downstairs. As I traipse between four floors (from attic to cellar) I very much wish I could turn my house sideways and make it into a bungalow Not complaining (Well, maybe a tiny bit ) - as you so often remind us, we are grateful to have *any* roof over our heads, let alone a luxurious one with hot running water and electricity and three whole flights of stairs!

[Cheery disappears to count her blessings rather than her stairs]

Greying_Pilgrim

Ha ha Cheery - count our blessings rather than our stairs But just think on, it is because of all the hard work and effort that you and Mr Cheery have put in over the years, that means if a bungalow was your preferred type of residence, well, you could just go out and jolly well bag yourselves one And think of the gym membership you are saving I was thinking that to myself today, as I quickened my step and then lugged BG and their perambulator up a flight of steps :eek::rotfl:

I've been doing some more 'homework' on the UFM/THT crossover-hybrid-lovechild I'm finding it very valuable actually - something must have clicked in my brain or summat I've been seeing goals and targets more clearly than I have in a vare, vare long time

There are other picture free-hosting sites, but it did say in the article that I was reading, that if PB was having problems - and they've been doing it a loooonnnnngggg time, then it would most likely mean that other providers would follow suit. There may not be anywhere left to go.

Right, it's 10pm. i'm gonna get me some shut eye.

Ta for popping by.

See y'all in the morning.

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning :hello:

Well, I've just been checking and most of my linked pics have disappeared from all 3 of my diaries, so we're at the end of an era I guess. I can't access my current account with p bucket, and if I've understood their terms of service correctly, I would need to pay $400 to get the service that would allow me to link to here and for them to maintain the link permanently. I'm afraid that I cannot afford that $400 now. Knowing p bucket, the price will rise - they'll always have you by the short & curlies - and there is always the pov that this isn't my own personal blog, this is a site owned by someone else, who immediately gets the copyright on anything written/posted...................

It has given me a great deal more pleasure than I had ever thought possible to share pictures of 'us tea'. I'm sure that it has made me a better home cook - and believe it or not, I have consistently worked hard on my presentation skills! You have seen things in the pictures that I have not - thinking about Piq and the 'norty' carrots there - and it has added an extra dimension to searching out value/frugal/economical recipes and trying them out. So, I have to say 'thank you' to p bucket for that - it is just a shame that use of the site has got progressively more difficult for the last year or so, and that this new format has been introduced with no warning.

I recognise that lack of pics may well devalue my diary greatly, and so it may well be timely to wrap it all up at the end of the challenge - successful or no. We'll see. I'm always concious that the DFD space is actually for folk documenting their journeys to getting free of debt, rather than for me to wiffle on about how I try to stay out of debt. At the moment, though, I want to keep going with this diary to see how I do trying to run with 2 challenges on the go

We've pootling about planned for today. Some minor chores and hopefully, a bit of family time

It struck me last night that we've a bigger percentage of Greying Towers 'in use' than at virtually any other time since I bought the place. Whilst BG's arrival hastened some of that, we've stepped up a gear in the last month, and it has made a difference. Is everything perfect - heck no - but have we more space? Yes. Does it look more apparent what we need (ie pertinent bits of furniture/storage)? Yes. Have we got rid of a load of crAp? Yes. Do we still have crAp on the premises? Yes. Is it informing future purchasing decisions? Yes.

Well chuffed

It does also prove my point that we don't actually need a 'bigger' house - even now 'us two' are 3. What we need is a nicer location for a better configured living space; that is as damp/draught and mould free as we can keep it.

Mmmmmm.

Tea this evening may well be freezer Fush & Chups - as I have some ready 'in stock'. However, I'm pondering whether i want to eat fish twice in 3 days, so it'll depend on what we end up doing with the minutes in the day, as to whether I concoct summat else.

I was just pondering - where does P bucket's decision, (and assuming other free hosting sites follow their lead) leave 1nstagram? Or do you already have to pay to have an 1'gram a/c? I assume you have to have a certain fruity phone/tablet/pad to use 1/gram? Not a generic steam-driven thing?

Anyhoo, my coffee cup is nearly drained. DH has been looking after BG so I had better go see what's occuring, and what'll be on t'agenda for the rest of today

Ta for popping in, reading and joining in.

Appreciated. Greatly.

Greying X

Cheery_Daff

Aw, so sorry about your pictures - but while they are indeed Exceedingly Cheery, your diary has LOTS of value beyond them lovely Greying so please don't leave us just yet if you can bear it! It always inspired me to hear tales of people who had managed to get themselves out of debt and were now staying out :j there's always something we can all learn

(Although I do understand your feeligs about the dfw board - I too feel like a slight imposter over here now I am debt free and will be starting a new mortgage free wanabee diary just as soon as I have a mortgage...)

Excellent progress with your challenges :j :j :j so glad you've got more apace in your house, most impressive!

in_need_of_direction

Cheery, I'm here because if I don't see my mortgage as a debt, I won't even dream of overpaying. Also, it was fuelled by two personal debt consolidations.

EssexHebridean

Oh dear - not sure where this leaves me then with no debt, no mortgage and no immediate plans to reinstate either?

I only crept in to say "Photos - Flickr" And that no, instagram is totally free to use and can be used from the majority of Smartphones or tablets as I understand it - it's certainly not an Apple "thing".

*slinks off before anyone notices I'm here*

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening :hello:

Well, I'm busy with my challenges. I shall be honest and say that in the past couple of days, not too much 'concrete' stuff has been done - in terms of physical 'stuff' - being moved, dispensed with, re-homed, chucked or whatever. But there has been alot of planning, researching and cogitation going on! I mentioned on Cheery's thread this morning that taking part in the UFM July isn't going the way that I though it would. I shall be honest, and thus far, some of the 'things to ponder' are things that I've been immersed in for some time - or 'know' from reading MMM, ERE and other such blogs. HOWEVER, I'm still reading it all, and approaching it with an open mind, as it is making me think about things - not necessarily the 'topic of the day'. It is just making me stop and think, and a few 'left-field' ideas have presented themselves as a result. OK, they might not work, but I'm not sure that I would have even thought of them if I hadn't let my mind freely wander over the whole concept of 'frugality'. Which, as we all know, ain't all about de-Nile!

I was also thinking just now about the events of the day - I won't bore you - and about how I'd started my THT challenge, thinking, 'If I always do, what I have always done, I'll always get, what I've always got'. Now, if I'm honest, again, I couldn't really see 'wriggle room' with this one - per se. I mean, if I was blowing money I couldn't afford on fags, and it was harming my health, then the answer is 'quit' - right? If I was treating my nearest and dearest to meals out and buying them 'stuff', all of which my income couldn't sustain, then I'd have to reel in my generosity, right? Those are 'big' things, you can see them - doesn't mean they are easy to 'correct', but you've some idea where you're going off course. Maybe I'm being disingenuous (hope not), but I can't see any 'huge' elephants in the room in behavioural terms; and yet...... It occured to me today, that maybe my 'loyalty' is 'costing' us. If not money, then in time and inconvenience. Costs of time and incovenience often result in me being tired - which stops me doing other things. I'd never thought about it like that before. I admit I'm a luddite - i'm not a 'Proud' luddite, I'm a bit of an embarrased one tbh. And I was thinking today how my ludditeness and loyalty are, in fact, causing us a great deal of hassle each month. i won't go into detail, as it's all toooooo boring, but I've recognised today that certain organisations are on the decline because they are not really bothered in keeping up with all the customer services they are supposed to offer, they are just interested in the 'bottom line' activities. And whilst it's actually nice to want to keep your (for example), local mail-delivery, milk round delivery, local Post Office, local bank or corner shop, and it could help others in your community, those organisation have got to try to meet you half way, and provide the services you need. The corner shop, can't really close at 5pm - when mrT's up the road is open until 11.30pm; the milko can't deliver at 11.30am, ignore the coolbox provided and to leave your milk in full sunlight, and wonder why you cancel your order.......etc. It probably boils down to a dollop of inconsistent customer 'service' encountered lately. But as a luddite loyal customer, I ain't doing Family Greying any favours. Things are gonna change. And I'm putting me and my family first. If an activity (financial, purchasing, owning, renting, leisure - matters not, it's all up for grabs) doesn't dovetail into the priorities that I'm establishing moving forward, then it'll get ditched. End of. And I'll pursue the version that does work with us towards our goals.

I recognise that I might be talking a bucket of hogwash. But it's been a bit of a revelation to me. I'm thinking about all the energy I'll save, not getting hot under the collar! :rotfl::D I'm certainly going to give it a go - oh, and if your local bank/PO/corner shop or milko delivery closes down/ceases to trade or retires - BLAME ME! :rotfl: Because I was probably the only sukka left using them, anyway! :rotfl:

I've been 'walking the walk' with my grocery budget though, so far this month. We've been having some frugal meals - I have spent money from the budget already, but have been using things up and trying new recipes etc.

Sunday night we had HM black olive pizza with oven chips. Last night we had Bozena Shiro (scroll down to reach recipe) which is an Eithiopian split pea dish. I made millet flatbreads to go with. The millet makes the dough incredibly 'short'. If I was any good at making pastry (I'm not) I would experiment using millet flour if I had to make the shortest, flakiest pastry for a WI judged pie competition Anyway, it was all simple food and I'd make it again. It also used up the last of the yellow split peas that were in the cupboard. The flatbreads weren't coducive to 'scooping up' mounds of the split pea puree, but we muddled through and it filled our tummies. Tea tonight was Fakes - Greek lentil soup (can you spot a trend developing?) I also made flat-breads again (one-trick pony ), but using plain flour as normal.

I promise that tomorrow night's tea won't contain lentils! :rotfl:

Today I am grateful for these 3 things;

play-time with BG - they are such a cheery companion

time to think

divesting ourselves of 'stuff' - physical, mental and emotional. All good.

Ta for popping by and reading my wiffle - hopefully it is preferable to ranting, and I'm hopeful it'll get interesting too, one of these days :rotfl:

Greying X