Get a grip !

Skint_yet_Again

Thanks MF. The forecast doesn’t look too bad for tomorrow. Plans are fish & chips Friday, indian takeaway Saturday and a roast on Sunday with the pork I bought. 

I will make some meals over the weekend in the slow cooker and freeze in portions for next week. Bought a pack of 12 chipolatas & will use 6 in a pasta bake. The other 6 will go in a sausage casserole, plus making a beef stew with the rest of the swede, carrots and potatoes and a beef mince chilli with peppers and courgettes & various beans. I got a couple of packs of black bean sauce in the aisles of aldee (similar to the one-off middle of lidll 😂) so I will make a couple of portions of chicken and peppers in black bean sauce too. That should be enough meals for 2 weeks. 

MovingForwards

Sounds great!
I do like the fresh bread in L1DL and hoping they build / open the one they've been on about since before I moved to the flat.

Skint_yet_Again

Walked the dog this morning then went with DF to b n q for a large 55L grow bag to top up emptied planters, reduced from £5.78 to £3. Also got some plants for the tubs, total spend £25 and used the £3 off voucher emailed from their club, total spend £22.  Moved the planters onto the new slate border & they look great. 

Had a lovely lunch by the sea and an ice cream. Gotta have fish and chips and ice cream at the sea side 😁 DF insisted on paying. I paid for parking £4.10. Would normally have parked further away in the free area but neither of us felt up to walking that far. The sun kept breaking through the cloud and it stayed warm and dry right up until we got back to the car, even then it was just a few spots on the windscreen. 

It has been such a lovely relaxing week and great to see DF. It’s a bonus that we have had lovely weather and managed to get some essential jobs done and some gardening jobs to make ongoing garden maintenance easier for me. 

Weather forecast has improved for tomorrow and a warm 17 degrees is expected ☀️ We are planning a fry up for breakfast, followed by a walk on the common, calling off at a pub on the coastal path for a drink. Then Indian takeaway for dinner as DF enjoyed the one we had last weekend so much. 

savingwannabe

How wonderful I am so chuffed at the time you spent with your DF and the amount of things you have done is amazing. What a lift for us all. We are lucky to have a parent that care so  much and it cheers us all up. 

Glad the weather is good by you. It is distinctly cloudy here I hope it clears up later. 

Skint_yet_Again

It has been a great week SW, my lovely DM has never been far from our thoughts. 

Cloudy today but warm. Have walked the dog. There was a few spots of rain but not enough to even wet the path. It is forecast to brighten up this afternoon. 

We are having a fry up a bit later. I’m just prepping the veg to go in the slow cooker to make a beef stew & will portion up for the freezer. 

MovingForwards

Great sale items and what a transformation in such a short space of time.
Fish lunch sounds fab as does your curry and fry up yummy.
Enjoy your weekend.

savingwannabe

I'm hungry!!! Well done. 

Skint_yet_Again

Can’t get to sleep. It’s been an emotional day today. Walked with DF to a favourite spot where he & DM used to sit. Feeling sad that DF is going home on Monday. 

Had a text from my house selling friend and we are going out next Saturday shopping and lunch and a few drinks so that made me feel happier. DF is going to visit an old friend too when he gets home & going to stay with my sister and her family over half term so I feel happier knowing he will not be alone when he gets back. 

Credit card bill currently stands at £162. This is mainly diy and will be covered by savings for annual bills. 

Skint_yet_Again

So, I’ve been doing some prepping for winter. Yesterday DF helped me put draught excluder round the rear bedroom windows. Both windows need replacing but I will not recoup the money from selling so DF brought me some leftover seal he had. That should keep the cold out and the heating in. 

Speaking of heating I haven’t had mine on yet. We are so lucky it has been so mild that I may make it to my aim of end of October before it has to come on. I will wear a jumper and use a throw in the evening when it’s cool but not cold enough for heating. 

Today we are having a roast so the oven will be on. I will fill the oven with the joint of pork and roast potatoes with extra for freezing. Plus a sausage pasta bake can go in which will be portioned up and frozen. 

I will cook the remaining half a cabbage & whole broccoli, plus carrots and freeze any leftovers with the extra leftover pork and roast potatoes. The remaining swede and carrots will be used in a sausage casserole in the slow cooker. 

When I go into town next weekend I will look for a new pair of winter boots as the soles have almost worn through on mine. 

My winter coat will last another year. I repaired a small tear which is not very noticeable. My dog walking winter coat has been washed and rewaterproofed. The woolly hat I bought in a charity shop last year for dog walking (£1) is a bit too small and I had to keep pulling it down, so I will wash & redonate it. It may be a child’s as I don’t think I have a big head 😆 I will check charity shops for a larger one and if I can’t get one I will check if primarni have any in yet. 

My scarf will last another year as will my waterproof / thermal gloves which I am already wearing on cold mornings for dog walking. I bought the gloves cheap in aldee a couple of years ago, they are “cycling” gloves but they do the job. I will also buy some thermal insoles at the weekend for my wellies if they have any in £ shop. 

savingwannabe

I can understand what an emotional day it has been for you. All those memories I am so glad you spent valuable time with your father and of course, he is so kind and helpful. Sending my love and hugs. It's good that you can pay your credit card bill. Your post on the coats is motivating me to not buy a new coat (and will focus on saving next month's salary) as i have one I can use.