The Final Furlong

cathybird

Dottles1 wrote: »

I'm off tomorrow and as it is pay day I will be sorting the finances and setting the budgets for December.

Dottles1, I've always found this weirdly enjoyable, it feels good to take control of these things! Back in the day I would have just thought that was strange but not now. x

Dottles1

Hi Beanie thanks for popping in. Today I woke to a beautiful sunny morning and dry !! By that I mean not raining as the ground is anything but dry. Tilly is insisting on walking on the wall to reach the garden as the lawn by the path is so spongy. I don't blame her and did the same to get to the bird feeder.
I've cleaned the house and sorted all the recycling that was building up in the conservatory and the freezer is defrosting so all jobs are up to date, just the present wrapping to do. I'm meeting DD2 on Monday and want to take her birthday present with me.
I know what you mean Cathybird, I feel more "sorted" when it's done.With payday being a little early due to the weekend, the DD's won't go out until Monday so I will update my figures then. I've decided to cut both the grocery and petrol budget this month as I'll be going away on the 23rd however, I'll be needing more in the spending budget as I'm taking the kids to the panto so will need a little for that. I'll probably take sweets and drinks with us but always get ice creams and allow for a sparkly thing if wanted. I'm also going to the Country Living Christmas Fayre but plan that any purchases will be to finish off any remaining gifts.
I have managed another NSD today so just one more to go to target. There may be some strange meals tomorrow
I'm going to make a coffee then I'll make a start on the present wrapping. It's one of those jobs I enjoy when I start but quickly get bored with, I really should do it as I buy them.
This evening it will be a couple of hours of marking.
have a lovely weekend all
Dottles x

beanielou

Have a lovely weekend too

Honeysucklelou2

Hope the marking goes more quickly than you think. Always satisfying to return a set of book completed...shame they don't stay that way!!

Enjoy the Country Living Fayre...

cathybird

Dottles1, I have birdfeeders. What birds do you get? ... I get lots of sparrows, starlings and blue and great tits, plus the odd goldfinch. I don't mind this mix of birds because sparrows and starlings have been struggling in recent years. We get a sparrowhawk that comes most days but I have only once seen it have any luck.

Dottles1

Hi Cathybird. I moved here a year ago to a garden that was just grass and slate chippings, the saving grace being a small hedge. I have gradually been trying to encourage wildlife to venture in. Butterflies came first followed by dunnocks, magpies, a jackdaw (I think) and a shy little robin. I have put a fat ball out which seems to be going down well and every morning I put out a little meal worm and suet pellets which disappear quickly via the magpie, I think.
What would you put out to encourage blue and great tits? I had them in my last garden using the birdbox, it was wonderful to see them going in and out feeding their young.
I'm keen to encourage as many varieties as possible so would welcome any suggestions
Dottles x

doingitanyway

Glad you enjoyed your London trip. The museums and galleries are one of the best things about London .

cathybird

Dottles1, I have seed feeders and fat ball feeders, all supposedly squirrel proof but there is a pesky squirrel that has chewed some of them quite badly! The blue tits are usually the boldest with any feeders. I keep the feeders away from fences/any spot where a neighbourhood cat might sit and stare at them. My garden is pretty overgrown and does need some tidying up but the advantage of it is it gives lots of shelter, so perhaps if you've got the room a small tree, or bushes? If they can hide/hang out they stay in the garden much more readily, I find. I love the bird feeders - it's so good for the brain watching small birds flitting about

Dottles1

Thanks Doingitanyway, I try to do a coupe of different things each time I go. I'd really like to go to the Charles Dickens museum but at Christmas. We didn't have time this trip so we've put it on the list for next year. We are also planning to go in early summer too as I'd like to see Kew at that time of year and the parks are beautiful then. My London friend L likes to go with us a she says she doesn't really do those kind of things by herself. I guess it's always the same when you live somewhere isn't it?
I don't think I told you about my disaster on the London trip did I?
Got on the train - check, tickets for Kew - check, rail card - check. We found our seats and sat down then, just as the train pulled out of the station, my friend said (with just a little panic) "where's your suitcase?" Well, after some thought and looking around for it, I remembered that I'd left it on the driveway at home!! Frantic phone call to friend A to put it behind the gate followed by text to DGS as he has a key to put it in the house followed by large coffee and a think. When I got to friend L's flat she had deodorant, toothbrush and nightie for me and then we went to M&S and bought pants, socks and a jumper with what was left on the gift card so no impact on spending money. So all well in the end though I must say I think my trousers could have walked back to the north east by Monday I think I might have to tape a check list to the front door befor I leave for the US.
Hi Cathybird, I love watching the birds going about their business but I'm not sure what to do while I'm away. I'll leave plenty of fat balls and seed feeders I suppose but should I just put out a large amount of mealworms and suet pellets or will they jus get snaffled in the first day?
This morning I've been to a local Christmas festival/farmers market to pick up a gift for a friend and dragged DIL & DGD with me. It was frosty and icy underfoot but we had some hot chocolate and bought some locally made bread, butter and cheese as a treat. Now I'm working up the motivation to go grocery shopping.
I have only budgeted £50 for groceries this month as I have some items in that I can use and it will be a shorter month for me. I also allocated the same for petrol. I'm going to meet DD2 at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park tomorrow so I can give her birthday present to her before the day. We can have lunch and a bit of a walk in the afternoon. I'm making the time whilst she is not working to spend some time with her. Hopefully the weather will hold.
Well the groceries won't buy themselves so I'm off to shop with trusty list in my hand.
Speak soon my lovelies
Dottles x

Broke_Bear

Hi Dottles
I love the Yorkshire Sculpture Park it’s so lovely there. I went to uni there when it was Breton Hall - it has a special place in my heart xx