The Simple Bare Necessities feat. Gratitude & Recipes

amber03

Think the weather doesn't help, miserable and gloomy. If we had the odd decent day where it's blue skies it picks me up, just feel like staying in my pj's and watching tv eating rubbish food.xx

beanielou

Hope today was a good day.

mcculloch29

Hope all is as well as it can be, Greying. Here the sky is the most glorious blue. Normally I would be out on the trike, but the wind is evil. My lovely neighbour just brought my bin into the garden for me. Bless him.

beanielou

Very cold here.
Hope that you are keeping cosy.

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning :hello:

Thanks for keeping the thread warm lovely peeps I don't feel I've much to add at present. We're bobbling along happily, for the most part healthily, and sometimes with moments of lucid wisdom........ :rotfl:

I am guilty of not recording my spends in December - as the end of November - which is remiss of me, and would have provided a record of 1 year of spending. Yes, i'm foolish, but it's gone beyond recovery now, so I'll press on. In some ways, I've changed enough that it is 'easier' to stick within budget (or only go over slightly), but the discipline of writing it down does make a difference and I am kicking myself for not maintaining it.

I've been keeping out of mischief by taking any spare moment to do some crafting. Most of it currently is Christmas related, although I promise I'm not making any 'lime green with tangerine highlights' jumpers, hats nor scarves for anyone........ :rotfl::rotfl: As much as anything, I am enjoying learning new techniques or using new materials - keeps the brain sharp! Some of my money has been spent getting bits and bobs, but it's like most things hobby related, the initial outlay seems 'big' but when you split it across a number of projects....... But I am also using bits from my material and yarn stash too - swings and roundabouts......

I am getting slightly concerned about the cost of heating the house. Tariffs aside for one moment; our house is in the 'hard to heat' housing stock category. Fitting DG throughout (over the course of some years) has helped, but not absolutely 'transformed' things, as the heat still escapes through the walls. Although our loft is insulated to the max. We're not at the stage of deciding between 'heat or eat', and i'm not for one moment trying to imply that we are. I take responsibility for prioritising heating over other expenditure, as we've a baby to keep warm. Although if BG would wriggle less and keep their bedclothes about them of a night, it would help matters, enormously! Still, it's an expense that varies from winter to winter, so lets hope that we're not in for a long cold spell, like in 2010.

I'm disappointed that h3r0n f00ds have dispensed with their 2 for £1 frozen veg bags. Whilst the weight of the bags didn't always make them the absolute 'best value for money to the penny option', it was convenient to get them from there. In fairness, h3ron have increased the pack sizes of some of the veg, so it is a little bit 'swings and roundabouts'. Perhaps it is just our branch, but I find less 'bargains' there, these days

I have made the lasagne 'filling' and put it in the freezer for our Chrimbob eve lasagne with baked tattie. I took advantage of some courgettes on special offer in mrA (75p for 3 - a week later, I saw some YS'd down to...... 85p!!!!), the aubergine in the mrL PotW, and some mushrooms that were either PotW or S6 - can't recall now. Now all i need to do is dig out the oven instruction manual, so that I can put it on the timer to cook, whilst I let my christmas begin, listening to the 9 lessons & carols :j

I'm organised - but in a disorganised way - for Christmas. I'm rather glad that we don't do the trekking around family for meet ups (listening to R2 on Friday nights, hearing the epic travels folks are undertaking makes me shudder ), and I'm definitely glad that we ditched the 'feast' many, many years ago. Curry all the way for the Greying household I just need to get my act together with packing presents that we have got for BG and sorting out the last few bits and bobs. Like finish making their stocking to put stuff in :rotfl:

Right, I best go and make my meal plan for the week. Use up and storecupboard are the key ingredients - everything else will be (hidden under) gravy!!!! :rotfl::rotfl:

Ta for popping in and wishing us well. It is appreciated. Greatly.

Greying XX

System

With regards to BG is he too old for the sleeping bags , my 2 DGC have had them , keeps them warm even when wriggling .

Have a good day .

Greying_Pilgrim

Cumbria lass - BG had a sleeping bag last year, it was one that we were given s/h. It worked perfectly fine until BG worked out how to use zips, and then they were apt to half wriggle out of it. I am paranoid that they would end up garotting themselves somehow, as the bag was fixed to one bit of them (shoulders) but their legs and torso became free.

They don't half move alot during the night.

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Well, I'm pleased to report that I have actually done something that is a nod towards money-saving :jHaving finally got around to fitting the door curtain :jAlthough it's on a new-ish (external) door, it does seem to have made a difference immediately (wishful thinking on Greying's part??).

We've just had soup for cups, in a bowl for us lunch :rotfl:They were 3 boxes (of 3 sachets) for £1 in h3r0n, which was only a saving of something like tuppence from the HB price, but at least h3r0n had the tomato version in stock, our nearest HB doesn't. I put a pinch of dried basil in and a spoonful of yoghurt to ring the changes a bit. Cheap and cheerful, with a bit of bread & marg.

I need to pay the CC bill today. Must get onto that soonest.

Right, best toddle orf and do summat else. The Christmas cards are beckoning.

Greying X

System

Clever BG working out the zip , we have been lucky with DGC they have not done that. I understand your issue , safety first. They do move about though, I agree .

beanielou

I think sadly that there are less & less bargains about.Full stop.
Or maybe just too many people chasing them.