The Simple Bare Necessities feat. Gratitude & Recipes

UncannyScot

I admit that I am biased, cannae beat a Scottish strawberry...

Mmmmm going to get some to have wi some ice cream tonight

Greying_Pilgrim

Funnily enough EH the strawberries did have that 'aroma' - not punch you in the face intoxicating, but definitely there. But the actual berries themselves didn't live up to the billing - should have been in the beauty aisle, labelled as 'damp cotton wool' The spanish and belgium strawberries (the latter were a gift, I didn't buy) did have aroma, colour and taste. I try and purchase British produce where I can, but it has to be 'good' - especially as we can grow; asparagus, beetroot, strawberries, raspberries, apples, etc etc etc. There were boxes and boxes of rasps (country of origin unknown) ys'd in mrM yesterday. I didn't investigate, as they were piled on trolley, and the YS'd collecting operative was dilly-dallying about, rather than picking stuff up and taking it to the 'reduced' section. I don't know why - surely once it is YS'd - it is YS'd. Get it put out and potentially sold. Still, mrM isn't one of my favourite places to shop, for a wide-variety of reasons.......


Uncanny Scot - how come I was the inspiration for the 'ice-cream' bit of your tea????? :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:



BG is currently snoozing. We're trying to determine if they have a summer cold, or have some sort of allergy/hay fever. The pharmacist has plumped for hayfever/allergy. So we've bought the medicine....... .... It is supposed to make you drowsy, so it is working on that score. But since BG had a bad night's sleep - as did mumma - I'm not surprised they are tired


I'm no fan of 'allmark holidaze' and of course there is one just around the corner. But i must admit that this consumer-fest need to celebrate everything actually worked in my favour today. We need a new road map for the car, and i went into the w0rk$ today to get one. I always buy the large print one...... *ahem* and there was the 2018 edition for *ouch* £7. Needs must thought I, and manoeuvred me way to the till. I wondered why the till operative scanned a copy from behind the desk, rather than mine - but it is big and bulky, so..... - but then I noticed that they were on offer for half-price........ because of 'Fathers Day' :j Result And for anyone shouting 'getta sat-nav' at the screen at this very moment in time - I haven't yet felt the need for one, and haven't got totally lost, yet............


Right, I've a cake to bake and a bake to make, amongst other things, so best vamoose.


Lovely to *see* y'all.


Greying X

UncannyScot

Greying_Pilgrim wrote: »

Uncanny Scot - how come I was the inspiration for the 'ice-cream' bit of your tea????? :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

I'm no fan of 'allmark holidaze' and of course there is one just around the corner. But i must admit that this consumer-fest need to celebrate everything actually worked in my favour today. We need a new road map for the car, and i went into the w0rk$ today to get one. I always buy the large print one...... *ahem* and there was the 2018 edition for *ouch* £7. Needs must thought I, and manoeuvred me way to the till. I wondered why the till operative scanned a copy from behind the desk, rather than mine - but it is big and bulky, so..... - but then I noticed that they were on offer for half-price........ because of 'Fathers Day' :j Result And for anyone shouting 'getta sat-nav' at the screen at this very moment in time - I haven't yet felt the need for one, and haven't got totally lost, yet............

The strawberries wi ice cream was just a natural connection for me... cos, well... I like strawberries wi ice cream

Totally agree with you on the sat-nav nonsense... friend of mine has one of them all singing all dancing Garmin things that cost a bleedin fortune. He was very miffed that I got to a place we we're looking for quicker than him by using google maps on my phone :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Also, I'm one of the dying breed who can use map n compass and pinpoint a location using grid co-ordinates love the OS maps me

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening :hello:


Well the Greying clan have out and abroad and seeing about city high living



All went well


We mooched about, checking out the sort of shops that fill my heart with joy - food shops, greengrocers and world food shops. Spiffing Some shops were plain and simple over-priced, some had unusual 'stuff' at reasonable prices, some had everyday things at reasonable prices. The world was my mollusc


We stopped over in one of those - designed for business people, but we'll take the great unwashed at the weekend - places. And it was great. Quiet, cool - despite no in-room air conditioning, and had everything that we needed for an overnight stay. The lass on reception was just all-round lovely too :T


Today was spent in an English Country Garden. Enjoying The Space. The Sights. The Smells and The Sounds.



If you were in an English country garden today, listening to a local Wind Ensemble pump out the Allegretto from Karl Jenkins' 'Palladio', then you may well have been where I was. And frankly, weren't it grand?????



We spent a heap of money - but supported a brilliant charity, and frankly got mucho bang for us buck. In addition, we packed a picnic and harmed no-one, sitting on a bench, munching in glorious sunshine.


I also have some wonderful pictures and video of moments of the day.


It possbily constitutes our summer holiday - city-centre living ain't cheap But it was definitely worth it


Today I am grateful for these 3 things;


volunteers


Glorious Gardens Gushing w. Grandiflora - see wot I did there???? :rotfl:


time for toddler watching - when a gifted balloon and a huge lawn to run around on is like the best thing evaaa.........


Ta for popping in. Appreciated.


Greying X

Fortune_Smiles

Greying_Pilgrim wrote: »

UncannyScot - you are too kind But you have reminded me about something that I had forgotten.


I had meant to say yesterday - but forgot - that I had had a reflective moment on just how much help, support and thoughtfulness had been flowing our way just recently. I mean, oodles and oodles. People looking out for us, people looking out for things for us, people giving us gifts of immense use and practicality, people undertaking the equivalent of 'project management' roles for us, people doing what they said they would do, when they said they would do it etc etc etc


I mean, the list is endless, and it's been wonderful and over-whelming in equal measure, because it has all come from the root of love/kindness; no-one has gained financially in any of this!



So having forgotten yesterday, to put out into the ether how utterly, utterly grateful I was to receive all this kindness, I forgot to mention it in my post, again, this morning! :wall::doh:


I then promptly knocked over the jug of herbs that I'd put fresh water into, moments before, and flooded the countertop. And then BG managed to slip and fall against a chair, and bash their face.



Connected?



Can I just put it out there that I am very, very grateful for the help and assistance I and my family have had, just of late, and am trying to use any and every opportunity to pay-it-forward.


Thanks everyone and the universe


Phew!


Greying X

Morning Greying. I've just got round to a proper catch up on your diary having managed to pull myself away from the black hole that is my annex.

I think that you are reaping what you've sowed here. You sound as though you are a thoughtful, kind, considerate person and what you have sent out into the universe, the universe is sending back to you. It's Karma my lovely and only what you deserve.

How lovely to have a little treat of perfume. We should fill our lives with the the things that bring us happiness and joy - that's money well spent.

Fortune x

starnac

Greying_Pilgrim wrote: »

time for toddler watching - when a gifted balloon and a huge lawn to run around on is like the best thing evaaa.........

Greying X

Greying how lovely. I love this kind of family time. No fuss, no expense (the playing part I mean not all your purchases ) And if BG enjoys a balloon, maybe try them with a cardboard box! :rotfl:

I may have put the laughing smiley but boy do my two love a cardboard box!!

If you can get one big enough, strip BG down to just a nappy (or old clothes if they don't like that), sit them in the box, hand them some colouring pencils/felt pens (or a small amount of paint if you/they don't mind a mess) and let them go! My two used to sit for ages colouring in a box! Contains the mess too

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning :hello:


Ay up starnac, our BG does luuurrrve a decent cardboard box But I hadn't thought of the crayoning/pencils idea - ta! Good for when chums visit on a rainy day too (BG's chums, not mine, natch :rotfl:)


Well, ain't the week whizzing!


We actually went out for lunch on Wednesday. Went to a local adult training establishment. It was OK, but since we've started going, they have suffered cuts to their funding. And what was once a reasonably priced cafe, serving mostly prepped-on-the-premises-by-students fare, has now become a glorified sausage-flipping joint. Which is a great shame. But, having said that, there were takers for the 'all day english breakfast' offering, soooooooo.....


We dropped off a load of good stuff at our favoured local chazzer. It was mostly baby stuff; clothes and equipment. 2 big bags of things outta the house, and support for a charity that does lots of good things, and which is close to my heart for a number of reasons.


We were in the nearby market town, and I like their shops there - they have most of the offering that is available in Greying Town, but the staff are generally more pleasant. I picked up some blueberries from h0m3 barg1ns, only to then find that mrL had them on special for 10p cheaper for a slightly bigger punnet. Greying towers is now awash with blueberries :rotfl: I did also get 2 punnets of British strawberries for £2. They definitely passed the 'attractive aroma test', were labelled up as british produce, although the location wasn't specified, and whilst I was fussy and picked through the punnets a little, they were mostly well presented, ripe, edible berries. When I got home, I weighed the punnets (wish greengrocers would specify weights!), and they were 400g+. So I thought a £1 a punnet for British strawberries wasn't too bad - cheapest (with nice berries) I've found thus far. We had the first lot with ice-cream (Wa11s, not mack13s I'm afraid, Uncanny ) and then had them with greek yoghurt last night. BG loves strawberries, although for some reason, they requested to be sat on my knee to eat their stawberries up. No idea why, but I have to say, I cherished these 'seasonal' moments, as they are unlikely to occur very often in my lifetime


We've been heavy on the salad-type eating - with halloumi on Wednesday, and a single egg omlette last night.


I've finished the book that I got from the charity stall at our day out on Sunday. Not too bad - 479 pager! easy-reading holiday type genre, but I don't often read fiction these days, so it made a nice change. I'll pass it on for someone else to read, it's in really good nick, and will doubtless find it's way into a suitcase and onto a beach somewhere


I've moved money about for BG and sorted out the financials for this month. Will just have to keep an eye out for a cheque going out of my account, so that I don't go overdrawn again!


Tea this evening may well be pizza, although that may change. I want to do a new (salad) recipe that involves avocados, but I haven't got 2 fully ripe yet - they may well be by tomorrow, so some switching around may occur.



Oh, I forgot to say, I didn't get chance to seek out the MrT avocado offering, that WannabeFree mentioned. Would you believe, I did not spot a MrT whilst we were away on the weekend??? I used mrS in two different locations. Boy, I couldn't afford to shop there for everything we need, routinely...................


Right, best crack on. Daylight is burning!


Ta for popping in. Appreciated. Greatly.


Greying X

rtandon27

Greying_Pilgrim wrote: »

...BG loves strawberries, although for some reason, they requested to be sat on my knee to eat their stawberries up...

Strawberries with cuddles - best kind of strawberries there are!:D;)

Greying_Pilgrim wrote: »

...Tea this evening may well be pizza, although that may change...

Tricky that - lull us all into a sense of normality and then mention CHANGE? - oh my - just might need a little lie down to cope...:rotfl:

We've been having simpler meals since the weather heated up - no one (including OH) wants to fuss around in a kitchen when a cool cross breeze can be had in the living room!

Thanks for the website link a while back GP - I had a lovely trawl around & gleaned some sneaky ideas - OH was scared off by the name alone, so I'm not sure we've progressed far enough for him to rummage through the site on his own!:o He did however offer to cook up a couple of spicy lentil & veg based dishes that had me salivating so perhaps baby steps are still the way to go!

Greying_Pilgrim

rtandon27 wrote: »

Tricky that - lull us all into a sense of normality and then mention CHANGE? - oh my - just might need a little lie down to cope...:rotfl:

rtandon - we had pizza - black olive. With sweet potato fries


Off to keep an eye on BG who has a slight raised temperature - they cannot get rid of their current sniffles And to catch up on the time-delay, recorded footy match.


Grateful for life today. Full-stop :D


Greying X

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Morning Greying, just thought I’d chip in on the blueberry front. Miss Tilly has frozen blueberries with Greek yoghurt and chia seeds often for breakfast. Helpful if you can find them at the right price and freeze them. I buy them from Mr L but do grow our own too but have to do battle to beat the birds to it:rotfl:

Could BG have hay fever maybe?

Best wishes Tilly xx