Seasidegal's Scrimpy Retirement Diary!

redofromstart

Bear 1 made me laugh, our lurcher refuses to go out in the garden even when it snows. 

dawnybabes

I loved the film too, thought Anthony Hopkins was fab, not convinced about his wife though - she just didn’t seem right 

dawnybabes

Just googled her and she’s 68, omg she looks amazing for that age. 

Seasidegal58

That's so bang on the nose @EssexHebridean!

@redofromstart - he was out there all day apart from when he came in for his dinner then he went out again!  A bit like a teenager (which I think he still is in dog ages!)😀

@dawnybabes - I thought she was supposed to be his daughter at first!😂. I like Lena Olin when I've seen her in films over the years. She played quite sultry parts when younger. Apparently she going to be starring in a new Scandi Noir (she's Swedish). 

YESTERDAY
I went to London for my hair appointment. I had an afternoon slot and didn't get back till early evening. I feel much better now it's been done. 

Eats wise during the day I only had a couple of Rich Tea type finger biscuits at the hairdressers so had two helpings of the frittata when I got home, plus salad, and fruit, yoghurt and Brazil nuts for dessert.   was still within my SW allowance for the day though. 

MSE SCRIMPY THINGS

Spends were:

• Hairdressers plus tips;
• Taxi fare home from station. 

TODAY
Got on with my Friday house chores today - dusted, vacuumed and mopped, took the waste and recycling out to the bins, washed and dried the towels, tea towels, dish cloths and bath mat. I only use the tumble dryer once a week, and for these as they dry like emery boards if I don't as the water's so hard around here. I don't use fabric conditioner, only white vinegar and have four little woollen tennis-sized balls that I put in with the towels in the dryer to help soften. I got these for a Christmas present - they have cute little Shawn the Sheep faces and you sprinkle a fragrance oil over them which makes the towels smell rather nice. 

I only went out today to walk to the Post Office to pick up my Beauty Pie parcel containing my face serum drops. 

MSE SCRIMPY THINGS 
A NSD today. 

I did receive an email from Rightmove informing me my flat's valuation had increased this month!  This is after the value had gone down the two months before. It's swings and roundabouts!🤷‍♀️

redofromstart

I have woollen balls for the TD, hadn't thought of using oils on them. I also use it for towels, hate the line dried crispy sandpaper result.

Seasidegal58

I should have typed essential oil rather than fragrance oil @redofromstartif you are using pure woollen balls.  The oil I use came as a small bottle along with the woollen balls, but you can buy essential oils separately online for balls, or use your own essential oils if you have these to hand. 

YESTERDAY
Not an especially exciting day. I needed a new case and screen film for my iPhone as the case is looking rather scruffy and the film is beginning to bubble.  We have a new phone shop opened not far from me that repairs phones and tablets, plus has an extensive range of cases and accessories. I picked out a good tough plastic case for my phone and the phone guy took off the old film and fitted the new one for me. He was very careful on fitting it and also cleaned up the screen and its edges before fitting. Now it looks as if l have a brand new iPhone!
I was pleased to see that this shop had opened as it's nice to have a proper 'shop' in the street rather than one of the numerous cafes/ restaurants that have seemed to appear over the last couple of years. I do feel lucky in that I have an excellent range of eateries within walking distance of my home, but it's still good to see a 'shop.'😀. I asked him how business had been since he opened. He said it had been slow at first but was beginning to pick up now as the word had got round. 
Afterwards I bought some more yoghurt, apples and Oatly semi in the Co-op. The price of Oatly has really shot up over the last few months - it's currently around the £2.10 mark or higher. The Co-op had an offer of £1.55 so I snapped up two cartons instead of the one I was planning on buying. 

I then went home changed into my flip flops and toddled down the road for the monthly pedicure. Freezing toes!😳

And I subscribed to Disney+ for £4.99 per month. I really wanted to see their new drama 'Christobel Balenciaga' about the fashion designer. I'm just into the third episode. It's absolutely beautiful - great drama and the way the fashions have been shot is gorgeous!😍. They have some good programmes so I'll see how I go with it as I can always cancel.

MSE SCRIMPY THINGS

I paid off my monthly bill for my M&S credit card (in full of course!)

Other spends were:

• The phone case and screen film - £20
• Co-op - £7.60
• Pedicure with tip - £28
• Disney+ - £4.99

TODAY
I had Sunday brunch earlier with two of my friends. Came back and stripped and remade the bed. Then a quick vacuum round. 

Diarying now then will watch some more Balenciaga. Vera tonight!  I know how to live!😆

MSE SCRIMPY THINGS
Only my share of brunch. Didn't win the lottery last night. 

beanielou

Looking forward to Vera tonight. 

Hopefully it is not the last one ever. 

Seasidegal58

Oh @beanielou, I do hope not!  Love Vera!

amber03

Sorry guys, it is the last one ever of Vera tonight.x

Seasidegal58

ITV announced over the final credits of the programme that there'd be a new series in 2025 @amber03!  They seem to have reconsidered - I know there was a question mark over whether Brenda Blethyn wanted to continue in the role - she is 77!  The oldest DCI in the U.K. police force!😂😂😂. I wonder if they'll do a Taggart style series if she does decide to bow out. When Mark McManus died STV kept Taggart going for years using the supporting actors and new ones. I still enjoyed Taggart, but I don't know if it would work the same with Vera without the actual Vera!

Today was another quiet day. I've decided to start my old periodic routine of 30 Days to a Clean and Organised Home - which if you have followed my diaries in the past I have carried out from the book of the same name. 

It's not a bad thing to do if you feel like kick-starting yourself into the New Year getting your home in order. It's based on a daily routine of clearing up messes and clutter, swish and swiping the bathroom, making the bed, vacuuming high traffic areas and spot cleaning any floor stains in kitchen and bathroom etc. You also get daily tasks forming of three different areas:Cleaning, Organising and Maintaining concentrating on mainly on one room at a time. 

Day 1 Tasks:
Cleaning:  This is actually starting the Daily Cleaning Routine - I do this any way so bed made, bathroom swished and swiped, everything tidy and clean on all surfaces throughout the flat, and hard floors and carpet vacuumed in high traffic areas. 

Organising:  This begins in the kitchen so today's task was sort out your Spices!  This wasn't too onerous as I'd checked these a couple of months ago. I took them out of the boxes I keep them in and wiped down the jars, the boxes and the cupboard shelf where they live. 

Maintaining:  This was catching up with Laundry. I do keep up with this but Monday is the day I wash the duvet cover etc so this was done and hung on the clothes horse. 

All finished so this afternoon caught up with some TV. Brunch was poached eggs on toast with tomatoes. Dinner is jacket potato with beans and low fat cheddar with a big salad. Fruit and yoghurt to follow. 

MSE SCRIMPY THINGS
Nothing actually spent today. 

My four weekly State Pension and monthly DCB pension amounts were credited to my bank account today. My DCB pension has increased slightly this January which was welcome.