From debt to freedom...

lucielle

Hope the car bill is bearable.

L

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Lucielle.

I had got myself into quite an angst worrying about this garage bill. I went up yesterday and amazingly the bill came to just under £60, which is the amount I had taken out from my EF. Bizarrely they couldn't find anything wrong with the tyres or suspension, so I have no idea what the noise was that I heard on the drive home a couple of weeks ago. DD5 heard it too, so I know I wasn't imagining it . I couldn't hear the noise on the drive home though, so somehow it must have got sorted out in the checking process. The relief of realising that I could afford to get some Christmas presents was immense .

I've spent time last night and this morning sorting out gifts online for my nephews and friends' children that I buy for. I've sorted out most of my children and my parents so hopefully I'm almost done.

DS1 finished work yesterday for the Christmas break. His boss was really kind and sent some chocolates for us all and had bought him a gift.

I discovered yesterday, that because I pay for swimming lessons by direct debit for the youngest 2, I could get a card for each of them which allows free swimming during non-lesson sessions. This means it's a low cost activity that I could now do with them during holiday times .

I must get ploughing through today's to do list! I'm hoping that in the midst of getting the last couple of presents and delivering cards/ wrapping gifts, I might be able to get a much needed walk in.

Cherryfudge

A couple of pieces of good financial news! Just what is needed so close to Christmas!

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Cherryfudge.

Thanks to the less than anticipated garage bill, I could pay the water bill today and was able to go to our nearest big town to get chocolate type gifts for friends that I'll see later today. DS2 and DD3 offered their help in wrapping presents which was gratefully received...DD3 is quite particular about wrapping so everything looks lovely whereas I tend to be in more of a rush!

The best news of yesterday was discovering that DD1 is coming home for the New Year. She is away for Christmas, which I confess I was really struggling with as I wasn't sure when I was next likely to see her. Coupled with feeling the loss of my grandmother as she always came for Christmas has meant I've struggled to feel Christmassy but I found out yesterday DD1 is home soon .


For the third or fourth time, I found the ex filling up a large camping style water container as he was leaving ( after seeing the children). I don't know where he lives other than he does live somewhere, but not in the other house that he owns but quite bizarre that this is happening. We are on a water meter...

Later in the afternoon I was able to crack on with some baking. Mr T's locally seems to have run out of marzipan so I popped into A*di and although they too had run out of marzipan, I discovered that their baking section is very reasonably priced so I bought some cocoa powder for half the Mr T price and got some chocolate chips which I never usually bother with due to cost. Back home I was able to make chocolate brownies, a couple of lemon drizzle cakes and 50 meringue topped mince pies. Some will be taken to friends this morning and some of the baking is for home.

In my searching for the mince pie recipe, I discovered a recipe for Winter pudding...a blackberry, apple and cranberry alternative to the more well known summer pudding. I thought I might try that this year. It sounded refreshing and perhaps not quite as rich as Christmas pudding. I still have half a freezer drawer full of blackberries .

The weather remained very wet yesterday, so I didn't get my walk in but hope to do so today.

crazy_cat_lady

Winter pudding sounds amazing!
So pleased that your DD will be home for NY - that's great news. I am a bit lacking in festive feeling as well this year so pleased that you're feeling a bit Christmassy now. Enjoy the time away from work.

Spendless

They're some good and very appropriate to you early Xmas presents to you HSL, with the car, swimming and news about DD1.

I hope ex taking water is for a reason other than you fund the bill!

I've shopped in Aldi for several years now. You can't get absolutely everything, but I can get most and then do an occassional top up for additional items. It now stresses me if I ever have to do a full shop at a mainstream.:rotfl: I'd always thought due to your location you were limited in what supermarkets you had nearby. If you've got a budget grocery store close enough, give it a go in the New Year.

Havea lovely christmas x

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you CCL and Spendless. The A*di is a relatively new store...for many years the Mr T's has been the only one. I will have to try again there. I tried when it first opened but found that some of the meat was either the same price or more expensive than Mr T's but I was pleasantly surprised by the baking session so will have to look again.

I was able to get out for a walk this afternoon :j. Just round the woods but so felt so much better for chance to get out and get some fresh air. DD3 and I took the elderly lurcher and my mum's dog with us. Both dogs enjoy the woods, especially the stream that runs between the woods and the fields.

It's been a NSD and I'm now enjoying the chance to sit by the fire and relax. I've made carrot and ginger soup for tea which was delicious and warming. I have so much to be thankful for. The news that DD1 is home for New Year has lifted me considerably and I feel content.

janb5

Honeysucklelou2 wrote: »

Thank you Cherryfudge.



Later in the afternoon I was able to crack on with some baking. Mr T's locally seems to have run out of marzipan so I popped into A*di and although they too had run out of marzipan, I discovered that their baking section is very reasonably priced so I bought some cocoa powder for half the Mr T price and got some chocolate chips which I never usually bother with due to cost. Back home I was able to make chocolate brownies, a couple of lemon drizzle cakes and 50 meringue topped mince pies. Some will be taken to friends this morning and some of the baking is for home.

In my searching for the mince pie recipe, I discovered a recipe for Winter pudding...a blackberry, apple and cranberry alternative to the more well known summer pudding. I thought I might try that this year. It sounded refreshing and perhaps not quite as rich as Christmas pudding. I still have half a freezer drawer full of blackberries .

The weather remained very wet yesterday, so I didn't get my walk in but hope to do so today.

The meringue topped mince pies sounds inspired..how much meringue mixture do you add it at the same time you cook the mince pies?

I used a mini muffin tin today as I had a small amount of mincemeat pastry left and my son loved it. Basically a bite sized mince pie.

Honeysucklelou2

The baking is in 2 parts. I make the pastry ( 10 oz flour, 6 oz butter, 1 tbsp icing sugar, 2 egg yolks), cut into rounds, fill with mincemeat then bake for 8 mins ish. I get the pies out, then put 1 tsp of meringue mixture ( 2 egg whites / 4 oz sugar) on top and return to the oven for another 10-15 mins. Sorry to be vague on timings, I tend to go by sight and smell ! These are very moreish !

savingholmes

HI Honeysucklelou - I hadn't realised I had missed your diary for so long. You are doing really well keep bobbing along despite life's challenge. Glad the car bill turned out to be nothing serious and you were able to fund xmas presents. Do you use your gingerbread forest for presents too? Non-crafty people and others tend to appreciate the personal touch...