NST February 2020

Toni'sfriend

NSD No 11

Been quite productive today. Defrosted and tidied both freezers. Always an adventure. So I have a plan for the next couple of weeks to use up what's in there. Might be some quite odd combinations. The problem is Himself has bought so many bread, scone type things whilst they were reduced that they are taking up half the freezer space. He will eat all those butteries even if I have to force feed him.

We've had a bit of a chat this afternoon and decided that we really have to attack the clutter that we have and organise our space a bit better. So first point of action I have asked my lovely neighbour (she knows millions of people) if she knows anybody who would like eight rolls of free unopened wallpaper. Very neutral so might be useful to someone just moving into a new place on a limited budget. Point two - Two pairs of curtains (still in their packaging) to go to the charity shop. Point three - When we come back from holiday look for a small bookcase for living room to tidy some of the many books. Other plans to be discussed whilst we're away.

Still a bit windy here but only a little rain. When I see the devastation everywhere else I am so very grateful. We have a friend in Northern England who lost just about everything in the floods in 2015. I sent her a message last night to see that she was OK. Slightly concerned and fingers crossed was the reply. I guess when that happens to you once you always worry that it might happen again. I think she is OK though.

So take care, everyone. I hope you are all OK.

Deni_debt-free_dreamer

Afternoon everyone
Today has been an unexpected NSD.  Set off to meet friend at a mid point on a journey that should've taken less than an hour.  After 1.45 hours of roadworks, diversions, road closures and a fallen tree blocking the way, I gave up and came home   Anyway I've been productive and tried to make some progress with my qualification.  I'm not very motivated but I've started so I would like to finish.... It would be useful and give me future employment options.    
Yesterday I did a small shop in Mr T - i try to support the local greengrocers etc but it was so cold i didn't want to trail round a load of shops.  I made soup and hotpot so I have tea for today sorted and 3 portions of soup in the freezer.  I only have about £10 left before payday on Thursday but I think I can manage with what I have in and could use Mr C loyalty points if needed.  
My garden is flooded but if that's the only damage I am not complaining.
Gratitudes
DD1 safely in Yorks for hen do !
DD2 made it back to uni travelling from south-west to north by train without any weather disruptions, unlike the first journey down there!
A warm home with enough food, milk and tea bags
Deni x 

BadBookkeeper

Evening everyone!
Just checking in with my daily update:
Clothes - not really anything here today
Music & Dance - no not today but we did watch an old boxset on dvd only a couple of episodes but enjoyed it especially after watching DS play footy in the cold!
3 Dates - all organised
Self care - Wore my ‘save for best’ perfume for my lunch date with hubby.
Planning - Updated our ‘what’s on this week’ wipe board so we all know what’s going on especially as it’s half term! Also paid £4 off gas bill via zipzero and will then pay that £4 to cc (can’t seem to pay directly).
NSDs - 2/8, no butter in the house but we survived!
Gratitudes - DS match going ahead so he had a good run around & fresh air, a nice lunch date whilst DS at his friends, only spilling a bit of wine when I just knocked my glass!
Takeaways - no wasteful spending even got my dessert boxed up to enjoy and share at home rather than both ordering one & only having a bit!

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for my lovely dh sorting out the overflowing water container that collects the water in the loft from the hole in the roof (only know it's overfilled when 'my' wardrobe gets all wet) and sorting out the water dripping through the boiler and unblocking the blocked drainage tube on the shared flat roof at the front, for my sister not travelling today, for my needlefelting squirrel attempts getting better, for catching up with a couple of friends, for recordings of Strongman Champions League (or suchlike), for my young sherlock book to read, for still being able to access mse on my tablet most of the time.

PurpleFairy26

Not a NSD but a lovely ‘date’ with smallest small. Very rarely do we have time just the two of us and it was good and not pricy. could have saved some with a voucher but it wasn’t working which was annoying, I have now resolved for future. 

Lots of washing done and ready for week ahead with meal plan on fridge and shopping done. Plan to further attack freezer this week. Cupboards aren’t excessively full anyway. 

I juice everyday and today made 3 days worth as the thing is a bit of a nightmare to clean. Hoping this will make it easier. 

Grateful for : time with small, my juicer, fence not breaking further. 

misstara

NSD today taking me to 7   Grateful for earning a little extra cash, a good workout at the gym and spending time with OH.

dolly84

Spent the day at home yesterday apart from half an hour out with the dog.  Made vegan coleslaw for lunch and had it with hm spicy potato wedges and it was gorgeous, DH has taken the rest for lunch so I will wip up another batch today.  I've been saving all my veg peelings and trimmings in a bag in the freezer and yesterday I made them into stock which I am freezing in ice cube trays then bagging up, I'm making a veg stew and dumplings today so I will need some of it for that.  The strained veg can go on the compost heap so no waste at all with this, I wish I'd done this before.

First day of half term today, still very windy and both kids still in bed.

Siebrie

I've completely lost track of my NSD's! Friday was the Cheese-and-Wine Evening at the Church, and we had some cancellations on the night (for proper reasons, it's not that they didn't just show up), so we didn't make the budget, and we had a lot of leftovers. I decided to not hand in my €55 receipts and just take home anything I had bought that hadn't been eaten or drunk. In addition to that, I was given a lot of cheese and cold cuts, and some bottles of wine, so in fact, I think I came out with an unintentional profit I'm not sure how I feel about that. If I hadn't taken the leftovers, they would have been thrown out (not the wine, though. I may still donate that to the next Church event).

With the leftover (salted and unsalted) butter I have been baking on Sunday: about 40 choc chip cookies (4 inches across ), 20 angel cakes (chocolate and vanille), and 36 small angel cakes (1 inch across) (vanilla and chocolate). All angel cakes are now in the freezer. Any advice on how to preserve the choc chip cookies? I don't really want to finish them all this week...

With the leftover cherry tomatoes (almost all of the 500g bag) I made a delicious tomato soup. I have been eating cheese everyday, and some of the coldcuts (I'm not sure about the tongue in aspic.... the meat melts in your mouth, it's just the idea...). I've been finishing the decorative kiwis in my breakfast yoghurt; I've separated the nuts and raisins into: raisins - edible nuts (for me; cashews, Brazil nuts) - nonedible nuts (for the rest of the family: almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts); I've taken a small container with them to work to snack on, and I've been trickle feeding the nuts to my family members.

Grateful for:

- good school fete, dds performing confidently

- good Cheese-and-Wine night

- lovely breezy weather: warm wind, nice to walk in and test yourself against, not overwhelming

apple_muncher

Siebrie - glad the evening went well. It's a tough one, balancing not putting in your expenses vs taking away the leftovers. 55 is quite a considerable sum, so please don't feel guilty.

f0xh0les

Siebrie- uncooked cookie dough keeps for about a week in the fridge (make into fat sausage shapes in clingfilm or greaseproof paper and slice straight onto a baking sheet as nec- ) or you can freeze it too, just put in the right shape, and defrost or slice from frozen. About 3 months I think.   Not sure what to do if you have cooked them already - cookie party at Siebrie's house?

Took my 2 smallest  kids to f/b with me this morning.  They had a whale of a time, I got less done, but they will no longer whinge about me going as they think it is great fun, plus they met my over-70s gentlemen friends.   Then they spent their pocket money in Aldi on crisps so they are happily eating tat in front of the PS4 with their half term heads on.  The eldest 2 came down for lunch (still in their PJs).  So they are all fed, and happy, and relaxing today.