Put away your purse & become debt-averse

moving_forward

foxgloves said:

Moving_forward.... well if you are intending to have a diary catch-up, I feel duty bound to inform you that I don't think I've done anything of interest for months!
So you might be better starting 'War & Peace!'
F x

Just caught up Foxgloves, ok so it was a skim through but condolences on your Puss Cat.  
No time for War & Peace as someone who's being lucky enough to keep working through lockdown I haven't had a minute to spare but I count my blessings for being in a secure job along with Mr M_F.  Can't say we have saved much -(OK anything you've seen my poor neglected diary) but its all been self inflicted apart from the silly CV19 grocery prices.

foxgloves

Moving_forward, glad to hear you have both remained in employment as these have been crazy times for sure. Mr F has been working too, a combination of from home & at his workplace, but he has been at the latter most of the time this last 2 or 3 weeks.
Yes, there are some silly grocery prices. Also I am conscious that now Mr F is mixing with a lot more people, we could get a 'Track & Trace' call telling us to stay home for 14 days. So we are making sure we maintain two weeks of extra groceries just in case that happens.
F x

foxgloves

Well, Mr F phoned to say he was on his way home & by then I was feeling I'd done nothing all afternoon except eat an ice cream & moan about being too hot. He has a 45 min journey so I decided to challenge myself to see what I could do in that time. It's surprising how easy it is to waste 45 mins, but used well, you can do loads! I washed up a sinkful of pots, rubbed two jacket potatoes with oil & a bit of salt & popped them in the oven, pulled up a dead conifer ready for garden waste bin collection tomorrow, washed my hair, emptied out a vase of old flowers & picked a bunch of new ones & made tomorrow's packed lunch! Mr F has volunteered for watering the veg plot tonight so I will tidy up the kitchen while listening to my audiobook. Then it should be cooler & I feel sure I will fancy a nice ice cold gin out on our courtyard while enjoying the dusk chorus.
Hope everyone else not too wilty in this heat. Storms forecast for Fri. Looking forward to those already! 
F x

moving_forward

Bring on the rain! Easy garden watering

PurpleFairy26

I shall keep an eye out for the ‘letter that looks like postal spam’ foxgloves for the vouchers. I remember the first time we had them I thought it was just some advertising letter (not from JL as there is no branding on it) but soo glad I opened it up when I found the vouchers inside. I wonder if it’s a ploy that some people don’t happen upon them? 

It’s going to be another warm one today, so enjoy it. 

foxgloves

Yes, it's odd that there's no branding on that mail-out, Purps, because when we get the M&S ones, it is quite a jolly looking envelope.... "Your rewards are here!", etc, etc. It would be quite easy for someone who'd already received their JL statement for the month to assume they'd just received a mailshot offering a balance tranafer or credit limit change. So m'duck..... the vouchers are out there! Hope you get yours today!
F x

Kantankrus_Mare

A good morning to you all on this (too) hot day. I dont cope well with the heat and am just grateful on days like this that Im still being furloughed. Its the one major problem of the restaurant I work in. When the sun is shining....its like an oven and makes me hot and niggly.
Sounds like you are making progress with your chimney work Foxgloves!! Yay.
I have sad new to share........my attempts at Elderflower Fizz was a massive failure.  Really disappointed as was looking forward to drinking it but its a flavourless, gloopy disaster. Not sure what I did wrong as I followed the recipe I had to the letter. Todays job will be pouring it down the sink. Ah well.........will wait for the elderberries and brambles and make some syrup/wine which I know works.
Debating buying some cheap Lidl Gin and having a go at infusing with raspberries and brambles. Hmmm.

marionmgcars

Hi everyone, great to read everyone's posts and pick up a few gardening tips.  I tried to be thrifty by pulling out a little cardigan for my GS and knitting the next size, this meant playing "yarn chicken" as was using a different wool to the recommended one in the pattern.  Well I knit the two sleeves, then the back and weighed the wool I had left - boo hoo I lost.  However there is a lovely little sleeveless top in the same pattern, so will pull out the sleeves, half of the back and bash on with it again - determined to try to put yarn stash to good use.  

foxgloves

Hi Kantankrus, Yes it's far too hot. I am enjoying the early mornings & evenings when it's cooler, but the rest of the day has been ridiculously hot.
Shame about the elderflowers. Fruit gins are very easy & make great gifts. I've made fruit vodkas sometimes too for a change. I mostly do blackberry & apple or blackberry & pear, but have also used raspberries, a spicy cranberry recipe & more recently gingerbread gin. I've also made blackberry whisky for Mr F who wasn't sure he'd like it but pronounced it 'lush'. 
It's nice to experiment. I keep meaning to have a go at limoncello but haven't got round to it yet.
F x

foxgloves

Marionmgcars - Oh how infuriating 'yarn chicken' didn't work out. I find it quite stressful not knowing if I'll have enough yarn left to finish.
I've also been stashbusting rather thn buying new yarn.
F x