Get a grip woman!

Suffolk_lass

Thank you both, we have just got back. The usual range of minor niggles with the van to sort out after any trip and time to have a sort out and remove some of the things we never use.
This time, DH crashed into the door-mounted bin by pulling the door shut onto his achilles and tore it off the door. In so doing he ripped the fly-mesh behind it. To be honest, we could do without the bin. We have a wee desk tidy swing top bin in the bathroom, so small a (scented) nappy sack doubles as a bin liner and a 4L bin on the worktop for veg peelings and anything else we generate. We don't need 12l of rubbish in the van or it will start to smell.

I do need to do a meal plan and be a tiny bit more methodical about prep. We ended up with emergency pasta, half a jar of sauce and some grated cheese on top (yum, by the way) as none of the meat was defrosted. I used a tin of soup and a tin of baked beans that need replenishing too. We go away with friends on Thursday so mostly laundry and stores to resolve!

Suffolk_lass

Our next trip is from tomorrow, so starting to get it together. DH managed to get three bottles of propane yesterday - a 19kg for the house, plus a 13kg and a 6 kg for the van. A bit of a relief after all the shortages and especially so as our former (local hardware shop) supplier has closed down. I have started a chilli on the hob and now transferred it to the slow cooker. I have yet to add chick peas, borlotti beans and baked beans (the latter a tin) - our preferred alternatives to any kidney type beans. I also have sausages, chipolatas and mince, and I may take some chicken (frozen) or a bit of bacon, for a carbonara in case we don't do a pub outing, while we are away.

The way money is going we will be having a bit more of a cut price festive period this year. I have a large piece of pork, a piece of beef and a turkey crown in the freezer. Do I also get a whole turkey from the butcher (usually about £75) or shall I use what I have? I desperately want to support local traders so this might be the one extravagance. In other grocery type news, my coffee arrived from big river company and it is not the dark one, it is the gold, and annoyingly I cut open the plastic wrap and put two jars on the shelf before I realised. I may have to keep it to restock my community lunch club and as a reserve. In the meantime I have ordered a replacement without changing the subscription. I also received toothpaste, tea, personal care items, puppy food, and a big bag of those chocolate balls (ready for the C-word). Once a year and cheaper than the smaller boxes, even when they are on the best offer. Now to hide them so they don't get raided early...

The garden is winding down big time, with mildew spots appearing on squash leaves and chilli plants suddenly looking sorry and leaves starting to drop. I have trimmed dead leaves off cucumbers in the greenhouse, and tomatoes to get more light in to ripen them before the mice get in there and start feasting. Bees need attention today, to take the mite treatments off and make sure they all have plenty of food

Money is tight and next month will be worse, with DH's car service (and DS's) hitting one of the credit cards, that account will need a big top up. We are off to Scotland for two weeks so at least three tanks of fuel to add in. The cottage is paid for but that is all, and a week at my Mum's will involve jobs, by the sound of things.

Resisting the urge to turn on the heating, despite the autumnal mornings and evenings here. We are also going to carry on with no aga until we get back from Scotland unless DS is mad keen to turn it on while he is cat sitting.

That reminds me, I must call the boiler man to get that serviced and a valve replaced. I snapped the plastic lug on a pressure valve and cannot re-pressurise the boiler at the moment and it is too low to be happy.

I also have the chimney sweep coming today as I offered for him to rearrange from Monday.

Yesterday I was meant to get my eyes tested at 09.00. I had just parked the car when the opticians phoned to say he was ill. I suggested telling me eight minutes before the appointment was due, was about as much use as a chocolate teapot. Surely he knew he was not well earlier than that!

foxgloves

Tighter month ahead here, too, @Suffolk_lass, as it's impossible not to feel the effects of inflation biting & until tonight, when I'll hopefully get at least a ballpark quote, we've no idea how much the emergency tree removal will cost.
Re turkey. We intend to buy a whole turkey -costly I know, but we are hosting my family this year & I always use every scrap of turkey leftovers for making meals for the freezer - including turkey stock, of course, which I always think is the best stock of the year & makes yum soup.
My thinking is that we will support local butcher for all our other meat needs over the winter months but that we will order a turkey from W*itr*se. I'm saving up loyalty vouchers from my CC & also a couple of survey sites to offset the cost. If I hammer the surveys & maximise use of my card for planned expenditure, I'm hoping that we won't have too much turkey balance to pay. That's the plan, anyway.
Our veg plot also looking very end of season. Just about to get my boots on & am heading out there to take down the beans & renovate the chard. Determined not to waste a scrap of our harvest.
F

Karmacat

Have a lovely time away, SL, I hope there aren't *too* many jobs to do.  And pooh to the optician - yes, 8 minutes notice of cancellation is not helpful!

beanielou

Enjoy your break in currently sunny Scotland 

Suffolk_lass

Roadworks outside so no Chimney sweep and no big river deliveries yesterday. We hope to set off by lunch time today. The boiler man is coming Tuesday (the roadworks will be done by then). Off to cook some apples now...

themadvix

How frustrating about the roadworks. 🙄

Hope you manage to get away ok, in spite of them, and have a fantastic time.

Humdinger1

@Suffolk_lass wishing you bon voyage! Gosh yes C discussions are starting to  assume uncomfortably defined proportions, aren't they?!  We have gammon (sole red meat of the year, done in the slow cooker) and a turkey crown.  Lots of luscious leftovers to eat with pickles etc....agree re stock which I make a couple of times a month year-round.  Transforms soup! I have a soup-making book (L*nds*y B*r*h*m) with a huge chapter about stock that is my bible and it's just so cosy and fulfilling. Onwards and upwards love Humdinger xx 

Suffolk_lass

We are in our van, in Essex, in the rain this morning. I brought some chilli from home for last night (slow cooker, of course) but I'm regretting not having brought soup. There is an emergency tin of H, cream of tomato in the van larder drawer, which may be deployed today. All good fun! 

I'm loving the low-key preparations people are doing for the (less than 100 days away) forthcoming celebrations. It will be all about spending time together as family with some special food and tiny tokens.

Right, I really must get dressed. It's almost 9.00 ( even if I am on holiday! Have a good day everyone x

Karmacat

My C preparations have only just started, and they're even more low-key than usual, absolutely.  A £12 off a big spend at Waitrose has helped  

It's lovely to think of you snug with a HM meal in your camper, especially in the rain, weirdly - have a lovely time today.