Struggling along as best I can

Baileys_Babe

I'm pleased to read you are ok. Well done on the weight loss, that is an impressive achievement. I always enjoy reading your diary so I am very pleased you have returned.

CRANKY40

I'm happy that you're back. I like reading about your allotment and what you have grown to eat. We've finally got some of my best friend's garden into some sort of order this year so hopefully we'll be growing some food too. 

kayannie

Glad to see you back, and by the way, I think we'll both be receiving a payment very soon from DWP, as we get the pension savings credit. Thought I'd mention it, just in case you were unaware.
KA

Yankee24

I never post, but I am glad we will know when the canopy comes,,,,  I was missing the updates

cbsexec

Glad you are back 👍

nannygladys

Thank you all for your lovely comments, it was nice reading them 

So today I have been very lazy I haven’t really done much at all. Yesterday I looked after dgs and although the most energetic thing I did whilst there was to walk with him (pushing him in a pushchair) to town and playing with cars, trains and trucks I was worn out😀. Wouldn’t have it any other way besides which come September dd receives some free hours for nursery care so his days there will be increasing, so I have to make the most of it whilst I can. 

Over the weekend I will be doing some paperwork as my house and contents insurance is due so I will be trying to get a cheaper quote as the renewal has gone up by a ridiculous amount, I don’t know how they dare do it, they must realise people are going to shop around in this day and age to keep costs as low as the can, so I might as well look at the budgets etc and start doing some meal planning.

I have been dehydrating some fruit and veg, some things are turning out well but I have had a couple of fails namely kiwis, the first  batch I did turned out really well but the second batch no! I think it was my fault though as I think I left them them in the dehydrator too long 🙂 I’m hoping to use it to dry some veggies and fruit from the Lottie later on, the herbs I’ve done (ys from the sm) have dried really well and I’ll be doing loads more to supply the family! 

My seed growing is going slowly, I think it’s the cold as they were all new seeds this year, I’ve had to re sow quite a lot, even my cucumbers look pathetic and the melons …..  they’ll catch up when the sun has some heat in it - I hope.

right I’m off to bed now even though I had a nanna nap this afternoon, told you I’ve been lazy today 🤣

nannyg

Madusa

Hi Nanny,

Sorry I don't normally comment but thank you for coming back I really relate to your situation and find your posts useful as well as enjoyable and I appreciate you describing the downs as well as the ups.  It helps a lot.  Mxx

CRANKY40

Hi nannyG, I think you're right about the cold. My courgettes weren't germinating until I put them on the spare room radiator (and forgot about them but it was a nice surprise when I spotted them). Even the couple of times that I've had the heating on seems to have been enough to start them off. The cucumbers are ok but they're also in the spare room, just not on the radiator. Best friend has poached egg plants in his cold frame as foxgloves recommended those for encouraging pollinators which friend has plenty of but seem to be less frequent in my garden - there was a definite courgette pollination problem last year. Someone local used to have beehives but I think they've moved as their dovecot has gone from their garden so that could be the reason for fewer bees last year.

My rhubarb is halfway up the back fence so I need to pick more of that soon. BF now has an extra fridge freezer in his garage due to his house repairs and kitchen refit so I can use that for spare fruit and veg instead of trying to fit it all in my freezer. I've also encouraged BF to grow things that he will eat this year instead of just things that are easy to grow but then nobody particularly wants them (I'm thinking last years broad beans here). We have onions and garlic planted too but there have been a few of those reloacated by squirrels.  

Take care and good luck with your seeds 😊

nannygladys

Cranky40 - my courgettes haven’t germinated yet! and my cucumbers look the same as my melons so not sure if my dgs  has been messing about with the labels as he did last year with my tomatoes 😀

nannygladys

Today I have been potting up some seedlings, broccoli, cosmos and marigolds and the other day I planted out some spinach in the garden. I have three smallish raised beds in the back garden this year and an arch over the garden path for beans as well as the Lottie. And I’ve been buying a few more fruit bushes for the garden as well, it will all help feed the 5000! Namely dds and families.

This morning I walked down to the post office and library, I only had a card to post to Cyprus and it cost £2.20!! I asked the counter assistant if it was right and all he said was that it had gone up, well the card only cost 69p so I’ll be telling my daughter I won’t be sending her or hubby anymore just my dgs! I just couldn’t believe it. 

It was pay day for me yesterday and all monies allocated and transferred to pots. I received the col payment so the majority of that has be saved for winter heating unless it’s needed before then. Sometimes I wish I could just blow the whole amount on something but them common sense takes over 😀. I reckon I’m getting tighter than frugal these days and really begrudge spending anything unless it’s on food, I definitely haven’t always been like this and really it’s at the wrong end of my life as it would have helped me more when my dds were young🙂 ah well, better late than never!!!

it’s been so windy today and quite chilly so a bean casserole went in the sc, it was alright but t there’s enough for about three days and I’ll get fed up of it but I’ve no room in the freezer so it’s my own fault. Anyway off to bed, I’m trying to get into bed before midnight these days and I must admit I’m feeling better for it.

nite nite
nannyg