Champagne Lifestyle on a Lemonade Budget.

sugarbaby125

My Champagne moments over the weekend were due to the celebrations in Birmingham for my sister R's 60th birthday. It was so great being with my 4 adult children and my 3 granddaughters and so many other members of my family

My Champagne moment today is that the weather has changed for today and it is dry and sunny

Siebrie

My garden is coming along nicely, after 8 years on a shoestring. The only work we paid someone for, is taking up the old cement path and 'terrace', putting in a side-to-side lawn, and a new terrace. Over the years, we have put in two end-of-season discounted cherry trees, several seed packets, seeds from my parents' and friends, free village in bloom plants from the council, discount bulbs from a1di, and not too much work. The lawn is now a grass-dandelion-clover-daisy mix Any nice flowering plants that selfseed are allowed to stay, so we now have aquilegia, love in a mist, foxglove, forgetmenots, gladioli, lamb's lettuce (which I grow for the pale purple flowers). In between the flowers, I have rhubarb, four different strawberries, a kiwiberry, a mess of spreading raspberries, a red grape (leaves also used for bunches of flowers). Last weekend I put in a new flowerbed with discounted plugplants from a diy centre. Unfortunately, I overstretched and did my back in, so I am on the sofa with a hotwaterbottle against my back. Still, I am counting my blessings that we can afford for me not to work for so long, for a sofa, easy hot water, a lovely garden, cheap afterschool care for both dds, the performance from dd2's recorder club I will go to in half an hour.

Bluesindy

Hi Lessonlearned, I might be being a bit thick here but would you know how I can subscribe to your diary, your posts are so positive and inspirational, many thanks in advance x

lessonlearned

Hi Bluesindy. What a nice thing to say. Glad you enjoy reading.

I'm sorry but I am such a technophobe so can't help, but I'm sure someone will be along later to point you in the right direction. I think you need to go into the User CP section but not quite sure after that.

Siebre....your garden sounds lovely. I love all the old fashioned flowers you mention. I have planted a few of the ones you have and I'm hoping they will produce lots of seeds. And you're right it does take time for a garden to develop.

I was out weeding yesterday and one of my neighbours came over and complimented me on the front garden saying it was starting to look pretty. I showed her the back where I have had the conifers removed and the new trees that I have planted in their stead and she said it looked really good.

My big expense was getting the professionals in to remove the conifers and the new fencing but I am managing to do everything else myself. I shopped around for the trees and my son helped plant those. Luckily they have all taken well and are growing nicely.

I have managed to get rid of the black fly from the new cherry tree but I will continue to Keep a close eye on all of them and nurse them along until I know they are all well established and thriving.

Builder coming later today to do a bit more in the kitchen. I have also discovered there's a bit of damp on one wall in the dining area which will need to be dealt with before I can get the paint rollers out. Hey ho, that's old houses for you. Always something.

Spoke to my plumber yesterday and picked his brains about getting a new gas fire in my sitting room. The old one is so inefficient I may as well set fire to £5 notes to keep warm. It's pretty but it has to go. The fireplace itself is far too big for the room anyway and has to go too. It's very grandiose and completely out of scale. If we can get it out without damaging it I might try and sell it. It would look lovely in a big Victorian house.

Going to get that done soon because I want to try and get all the nasty dirty jobs done over the summer so I can get everywhere clean and comfortable for next winter.

It's all coming together. It's like a military operation ......so I'm taking my time, one stage at a time, thinking things through carefully, trying to shop around for the best deals etc.

Worked myself to a standstill yesterday and was too tired to go out in the evening as planned. Pretty daft thing to do. :rotfl: I was a bit cross with myself for overdoing it but never mind, another lesson learned. I won't make the same mistake again.

dan958

Bluesindy wrote: »

Hi Lessonlearned, I might be being a bit thick here but would you know how I can subscribe to your diary, your posts are so positive and inspirational, many thanks in advance x

I don't think you can subscribe to a user, but you can subscribe to threads by clicking the 'Subscribe to thread' button at the top of the thread. This way you will be notified whenever a reply happens.

lessonlearned

Thanks Dan....that's very kind. I knew there would be a helpful soul out there.

I meant to say I have been reviewing my budget.....again. :rotfl:

I have managed to reduce my PHI by tweaking the policy. I have also made a note in my diary to look at energy providers when my current fixed rate deal ends in August. I am sure I can find something better. I am currently with OVO. In my old house we had TADO (similar to Hive). I might look into that as well.

Car insurance and house insurance both fall due in September and October so again I'll shop around nearer the time.

Fridge is almost empty so will be doing a shop tomorrow but hopefully won't need to go mad, mainly f&v. There's still plenty of meat and fish in the freezer. Trying very hard to be canny with the food shopping but it has been creeping up a bit. Need to trim where I can if I am to continue with my Champagne lifestyle experiment.....

As you know I have joined our local meet up group. I'm very impressed so far, many of the suggested outings are very reasonably priced and some are even free entrance.

Definitely one of my better decisions.

Siebrie

Lessonlearned, some flowers are hard to persuade, though! The aquilegia is from seeds from my parents' front yard, and took four years to actually start! Now, every year when the seedheads are ripe, I walk around the garden with them, spreading the seeds in all the flower beds.

janb5

Bluesindy wrote: »

Hi Lessonlearned, I might be being a bit thick here but would you know how I can subscribe to your diary, your posts are so positive and inspirational, many thanks in advance x

Go to the strip in green where it says Thread tools:

It says : show printable version
Subscribe to this thread......click on here HTH



Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Show Printable Version
Subscription Subscribe to this Thread

sugarbaby125

My Champagne moment yesterday was using my Odeon Limitless card to go and watch the film Late Night at Odeon Covent Garden. The film was laugh out loud fun all the way through. :T The 2 female leads Mindy Kaling (who also wrote the screenplay) and Emma Thompson were a joy to watch. :j Both of their characters were believable, strong women while the male characters were foils for their wit and wonderful one liners. I would give this film 9.5/10

chanie

I had a couple of champagne moments today, when I went shopping after work.

I have been stalking a travel wallet on eBay for a few months now and I found one in the shops today in the sales, saving £60. I also picked up a bracelet saving £20 and some clothes for thr childre, saving £40