Dusty's Frugal Fortnights

dustydigger

Nothing like staying in - and not eating - to save money. £28.35 for the saving pots today when I emptied my purse for end of the fortnight :j:j
On the reading front I managed to complete my planned 15 books for February,and have already ticked off 3 books for March. I have 4 books in progress and am struggling to resist starting even more. I love to vary what I am reading according to mood etc.Some people are surprised that I can have as many as 6-7 books in progress at the same time,but I dont find it difficult at all,nor do I get confused between books.To me each book has its own little world each very distinctive

dustydigger

redofromstart wrote: »

I've read (regularly) all of the Allingham and Marsh ones.I also like Patricia Wentworth, Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie for the reasons you say. The Georgette Heyer crime ones are good too.

Josephine Tey wrote some great books. I'd struggle to pick my favourite of hers too.

lonelyrat I don't think I could pin it down to one either, every now and then I try and do a top ten of books but really struggle. I'm a Terry Pratchett fan and he would be in my top authors but not necessarily in my top ten books.

Redo,I am in the process of filling any gaps in my Ngaio Marsh Alleyn series I hadnt read. A few months ago I read ''The Nursing Home Murders',in January I read ''A Wreath for Rivera'' and this week its going to be ''Overture in Death'':) Then I still have to locate ''A Grave Mistake'' ,''Photo Finish'' and ''Black as He's Painted'' to finish all 32 of her books,according to my records on Librarything.
In the case of Margery Allingham I've read 16/19 of the Campion books,will be reading ''The China Governess''this year then will only need to locate ''The Mind Readers'' and ''Cargo of Eagles'' to complete the se of full length novels. Dont think I'll bother with the short storiesI mostly find short stories a bit unsatisfying
I've read all six of Josephine Tey's Inspector Grant books,as well as the brilliant ''Brat Farrar''

Oh,and I too am a Pratchett fan,I've read about 15 of his books. On the list this year is ''Lords and Ladies''. I particularly love the character Death, WHO ALWAYS TALKS LIKE THAT,Lord Vetenari and of course The Luggage:rotfl:How sad that Alzheimer's cut Terry's brilliant career off so prematurely.

beanielou

Wow, I only usually have a couple on the go at a time.

dustydigger

beanielou wrote: »

Wow, I only usually have a couple on the go at a time.

:rotfl: It doesnt bother me and I am going to be extending from 4 to 6 in progress books after all,since my quota for this fortnight is to complete 6 books,so Ineed to start those last two!:D
I have 2 weeks with lots of reading time(if my stupid headaches allows me of course). Once Mr Dusty is back he will be wanting my undivided attention probably,and wouldnt appreciate me having my head stuck in a book,or me clutching a kindle at all times.After almost 48 years of marriage you'd think he would get used to it,but he NEVER reads a book,only newspapers so he cant see the attraction.:)
Will have to cut down on the time online too. Mr Dusty only uses the internet for his emails or checking the footie results,and just cant see how on earth I can spend 5 hours a day online if I have the chance! I'm sure MSE folks understand:rotfl:

dustydigger

Cant believe how quickly the snow has gone.6 inches mostly gone in a day,amazing.. And my bluebells look as if they grew another inch while under the snow. And my neighbour's snowdrops are as defiant as ever!.
Nice to see the birds back in the garden,all the nuts are gone,will put out more tomorrow . But I still havent seen the tiny birds that live in my hedge

dustydigger

New fortnight starts today. Checking out the finances I realized I forgot to post that recently I started using my Tesc* clubcard for Xmas savings.Normally I only buy potatoes or veg at the little Express store 10 minutes walk away. They are the only shop in the area that sell Mr Dusty's fave Maris Piper potatoes,he refuses to eat the ordinary (much cheaper!) white potatoes.Its just a nice distance for my knees to manage for an outing,and so far I have made a princely 29p from buying there.:j But I will save about £3 a fortnight and when I reach £25 I get a bonus of a £1.50 voucher. So I will save up for the Xmas alcohol there.Saving and exercise combined,win-win!:D My son lives 5 mins walk past there,so at Xmas he can hump the bottles for me.
Long way ahead? New MSE me has to plan ahead,and actually its only 8 months till the vouchers will arrive,not as long as it may seem.
And life flashes by at a frightening speed when you get older :rotfl:

Sayschezza

dustydigger wrote: »

And life flashes by at a frightening speed when you get older :rotfl:

You are so right it's frightening.

dustydigger

Morning! A balmy 4C and its chucking it down, and every speck of snow has gone,so situation back to normal.
Healthwise some improvement,pain almost gone from ear,its itching instead so I must be healing.Headache almost gone but still slight blurred vision and sickliness from the vertigo. If I walk very slowly,keeping my head as still as possible,I can move about.
I am going to make my ubiquitous porridge,and then when some of the dizziness has receded I need to post my budget for this new fortnight.
........Oh boy,I am feeling really dizzy,so I am going to lie down for a while then get back to you.

beanielou

Snowing again here but hopefully wont lie.
Glad that you are feeeling a wee bit better today.

dustydigger

beanielou wrote: »

Snowing again here but hopefully wont lie.
Glad that you are feeeling a wee bit better today.

Wow,beanie lou. I spoke too soon,its been quite a day. I felt sick,and then surely was,and also had loose stools to put it politely (sorry,TMI:D) But that was all to the good in my view as that is nature's way of cleaning out the bad stuff. I felt a bit better for a while,but stayed in bed part of the day and then slept deeply. At 5.50 I was pulled together enough that I was ready to come back on here.There I was logging in when suddenly I had an epistaxis attack,more commonly known as a nosebleed!It started spraying all over the laptop,down my T shirt,and by time I grabbed some tissues was all over my hands. At first I just used tissue after tissue,then grabbed a little bowl and watched as blood poured out filling about 2 inches deep!Never had a nosebleed like that before. What a day. Dusty's head has not had a very good time lately!
And I am def going to do a good clean of this laptop,as I can see specks of blood here and there so I am going to check out my computer cleaning kit and clean it off.
I'll get back tomorrow to posting my frugal fortnight budget if nothing else goes wrong.
Its all go,isnt it:rotfl: