Champagne Lifestyle on a Lemonade Budget.

Onebrokelady

Wednesday2000 said:

mrs_slapshot said:

Wednesday - what did you think of the book? 

I haven't finished it yet. You jogged my memory and I was only 20% into it. I have an annoying habit of starting a few books and then not finishing them!

I did read Dr Rangan Chatterjee's newest book about 5 minute health habits and I did finish that!

I bought this at the beginning of lockdown when I was full of plans to improve my life, I haven't got halfway through it yet, I've even left in on the coffee table so it's right in front of me 😀

Onebrokelady

mrs_slapshot said:

Morning all. Well this weekend isn’t as expected - I thought we wouldn’t have any rain and so my garden sofa cushions are very soggy. I’d just bought a cover for it too but it wasn’t on.....

I’ve bought so much garden stuff lately - all moveable so it can come with me if I move house. Shrubs and pots, vegetables (tomatoes, cucumber, courgette and strawberries). Not a champagne moment but most definitely a feel good investment. 

Actual champagne moments were a garden catchup with two friends (even though we got wet!) , a decision to colour my own hair from now on which should save a fair bit, and a couple of Bookbub bargains (The organised mum a couple of weeks ago and Derren Brown Happy this morning). Bookbub was recommended by someone on here last year, and I have had so much value from it! Basically it’s kindle books for .99 or 1.99. You get a weekly newsletter and there are loads of good quality books. So thank you whoever you were!! 

Can’t remember if I updated about my garage clear out last week - I had a carful of junk which was very satisfying. I’ve now got a garage which is relatively tidy! More to do but baby steps!

might try and post some photos of my gardening efforts....Phoebe I absolutely love your garden!

Thanks for the info about Bookbub. I got a Kindle for my birthday so I'm going to check it out ASAP 😊

phoebe1989seb

Hi all!

I hope everyone is managing to enjoy the sunshine and not suffer too much from the associated lethargy, lol!

Currently I'm sitting in the shade beneath our very old apple tree - we were supposed to be replacing our garden parasols this year but haven't managed to get round to it! 

After last week's deluge, there's been lots of tidying to do in the garden - fortunately I staked lots of taller plants ahead of the weekend...because they were right for once and it was pretty windy here - sadly many of the large rose buds that were about to open got completely waterlogged, but the last few days have brought many more buds to replace those lost......

LL, I feel your pain having to dig out that builder's rubble you mentioned a while back as I've been doing similar this week. It's a royal PITA but will be so worth it when done - and essential if you want your plants to thrive. Here things weren't helped by the (somewhat hard to believe, possibly apocryphal - aka bull****) story of the first owner after the *big house* sold off our former estate cottage in 1999. Apparently, she sold the beautiful, ancient stone roof to fund her *renovations*, replacing it with brand spanking slate! Our two nearest neighbours do still have their stone
roofs, so perhaps the story is true? Anyway we keep finding shards of what could be stone tiles as well as loads of brick and rubble stone buried just below the surface. 

During our first spring here (2018), we gave the flowerbed nearest the front door a cursory weeding session before planting loads of alliums, box cones and lavender before cracking on with the building work. Most failed to thrive and later when digging them out we investigated further, finding that the plants' roots were thwarted at every turn. 

There's only one thing for it and that's to remove all soil/stone from the sloping site and start again with fresh top soil.....a job for the autumn, according to DH, although I think we've other, more pressing tasks. For now it's a rather shameful corner, home to some straggly perennials, one large box cone and ground elder galore!

Anyway, champagne moments over the past few days have included cooking some delicious (but not always 100% healthy) meals, seeing the first bud appear on one of my bare root David Austins and finding some nearly new Voyage curtains I made for the last house that work beautifully in the hall. I'd completely forgotten about them - so no need to buy more fabric 

Last weekend DH built the courtyard gate which we're both so pleased with - I can't believe we waited over two years to do it. Just a few finishing touches required - including that decorative grille!

After much searching both online and locally we managed to find the plant we'd been looking for (Astilbe Visions in Pink) at a nearby independent and supposedly high end *home* store that's been re-opened six weeks now. We were appalled and saddened at the condition of most of the plants available - it looked positively apocalyptic in their garden area - but amongst the dead specimens (none of which were reduced, btw!!!) we found the exact plant we wanted....for considerably less than I was going to pay online....and it was one of the very few healthy ones! Hurrah!

I've also been trying to find time to create some *art* for the snug, using up some of my stash of tester pots and DS's old school art equipment.....I can't guarantee it'll be any good, but it saves a few more £££ 

Of course, the most positive thing of all is that we soon we *may* be able to venture across the border to England to see our family at last. When it happens, that'll be the best ever champagne moment    

sugarbaby125

Phoebe, I must say your garden is looking fantastic and that gate is fabulous. 

My Champagne moment yesterday was receiving my Marks and Spencer order, so now I have plenty of casual T-shirts to wear at home when I am relaxing. As 6 of the t-shirts in the order were on 3 for 2 offer saving me £13 and the other 5 short sleeved t-shirts were reduced from £6.50 each to £3 each saving me £17.50. I also bought 4 long sleeved t-shirts that were reduced from £8.50 each to £3 each saving me £22. I also got free delivery worth £3.95. I was extremely pleased with the quality of the materials and the finish of each t-shirt. I saved a total of £56.45 

My Champagne moment today was receiving the items I bought to put down for my son's Christmas presents and 2 t-shirts for my grandson and 1 t-shirt for my older son from JD Sports online. I bought everything on sale and saved myself £152.95 including free delivery. 

needmoney

Wow amazing savings @sugarbaby125

helensbiggestfan

Hello my lovely friends......

phoebe your garden is looking so pretty.  You're right digging out builders rubble is a right royal pita.  The soil is also very heavy clay. After clearing all the rubble (just got a couple of small areas left to do) I tipped a whole box of something called Claybreaker all over it......it comes in granules so easy enough. Now I have to leave it for 4 weeks before I can plant up.  I'll see how it has worked, Then I  was also thinking I might "plant" some worms. I think I will try some climbing roses against the fence, apparently they don't mind clay and they would look pretty.  I tried Several clematis and Passion flowers but they all perished.  I have a load of shrubs in pots waiting to go in, hopefully some will make it. If not it will have to roses all the way.   😉

Some great bargains there SUgarbaby.  We have a M&S outlet store not a million miles from here and I often stock up on their T shirts.  I really like their long sleeved ones, great for layering. They are great quality and keep their shape nicely when washed.  

Well some lovely champagne moments.  One of the nicer effects of lockdown is that because DIL and DS have been shielding and working from Home and GS hasn't been able to go to nursery I am spending lots of time with them.  And my GS and I are getting really close now.  I get smothered with hugs and kisses. 😍.  We had a lovely BBQ at their house today.  Won't do my waistline much good. One of the less pleasing aspects of lockdown is I have put some of the weight I lost back on.😂🤣.  Feel lumpy and lethargic.  Never mind I'll tackle it after our little holiday.  I'm not going to let it spoil things. And I'm still 2 stones lighter than I was so all is not lost.

Whilst I love warm sunshine, I'm glad it's going to cool down a bit tomorrow. It's just been too hot here to do much. I have felt really sluggish. The new awning has been a godsend. Not only giving me some much needed shade to sit in but also keeping the kitchen/diner a lot cooler.  Hopefully by next year the trees I planted last year will start providing some shade too.  Progress is slow but steady.   

missychrissy

I had my first glass of homemade apple wine sitting in the garden today. It’s lovely! I’ve made 5 galls and after the wastage of racking off I think it will be the equivalent of 30 bottles and all for under £10. I don’t bottle, my fermenters have taps.

phoebe1989seb

Amazing, champagne moment savings, sugarbaby! Thanks for your compliments on the gate - I passed them on to DH, whose head has grown so big he can no longer pass through it, lol!

LL, that clay breaker stuff sounds just what you need - hope it's a success and you can soon get on with planting those shrubs etc 

missychrissy, I'm envious of your homemade apple wine - we should look into doing something similar here. Our first summer (2018) we had more apples than we knew what to do with from our ancient tree, being too busy restoring the cottage. In the end we handed them over to a guy with pigs, but that felt rather a waste. Last year we had far less, but currently we're back to mega loads.....just spotted a squirrel munching on one, high in the branches. Really need to look into this......

sugarbaby125

Phoebe your husband is justified in being swollen headed about my compliment about the 2nd gate. He has managed to make 2 fantastic looking gates for your garden which complements your beautiful garden perfectly. 

My Champagne leisure moment yesterday was watching The National Theatre production of Small Island for free via You Tube. It was fabulous. I had adored the book and the BBC adaption on the small screen, so I had high hopes of this theatre production and they exceeded. It is a long production at 2 hours and 55 minutes long, but I was enthralled by every single minute of it. For me this was a 10/10   

helensbiggestfan

Hello my lovely friends 

Have spent a nice day pottering about, thoroughly enjoying the cooler weather.  Much more my kind of temperatures. Lots of lovely champagne moments and little indulgences.  

I've had a productive day, sorting out my finances, tidying cupboards, deep cleaning the kitchen, And repotting all the baby shrubs, will finish off tomorrow.  I have now got 10 healthy lavender plants in pots, so the beginnings of a nice lavender hedge for the front garden.  I will take some cuttings too and see if I can get some more plants going for the back garden.   Currently cooking a small roast pork joint which I will thoroughly enjoy with all the trimmings and will have a nice relaxing evening with a film.  I've done enough for one day.  

Need to rest a bit now, my neck and shoulders are still playing up.  TBH I have been in quite of lot of pain recently because during lockdown I haven't been able to have any of my usual "maintenance" physio or massages. I am pleased to say I have managed to book an appointment with my physio.  She's brilliant, she really sorted me out after I had a bad car crash a few years ago.  She has now also qualified as a chiropractioner so I'm looking forward to her straightening me out because I can feel that my body is out of alignment 😂 my hips and shoulders are not level and apparently  I have started limping again sometimes so everything needs readjusting again.  

Sometimes I feel like I'm shuffling around like Quasimodo .....not a good look. 😱🤣. Anyway now that her practice is open again for non emergencies I've made an appointment for the week after next, after my holiday.  Now that will be a champagne moment......the treatments themselves are rough but well worth it. 

I have also booked eye tests, one ordinary optician and one at the hospital.  Need to sort out some other bits and pieces too, time for some maintenance......

I feel like I need a full body MOT. Problem is I'd probably fail......ha ha.  

Anyway once the holiday is over and I've had some physio it will be back to healthy eating, weight loss and getting back to better levels of fitness.  

It's the big 70 next year.

 I have set myself a target......"Sensational at Seventy".