Struggling along as best I can

Sun_Addict

Good to hear from you again. All sounding pretty good apart from waiting outside Maccy Ds at that ungodly hour. You’ve definitely earned your nanny stripes on that. 

nannygladys

Hello all, I was waiting until 3am!!! Then I went in as the sliding door manually opened (I didn't realize it opened until I tried it 😀) and then I had to call out for someone!! I could have been an armed robber for they knew, anyway I was ignored when I pointed out the open door but at least dgd was allowed to finish!!, I wouldn't have minded so much but 1. on her schedule she was working to 2am, which I had a copy of from their HR and 2. she's quite timid and although she knew what time she finished she wouldn't say anything!!! Me telling her that she had to grow  'some' didn't go down very well, but it was late!!! apparently my DD had the same problem a couple of nights before with the same young shift manager! A little power soon goes to their heads I think. 🤣 Anyway tomorrow she is again staying with me and is on strict instructions to finish on time at 8pm (as per schedule) as her two younger sisters are staying as well. 

Other news is the canopy (window) man bought his quote today so hopefully in about 4weeks next door and me will be proud owners of new 'posh' canopy's. I will have enough leftover for the bit of plastering I want and new carpet but I may have to save a bit for new curtains and definitely for my dream sofa I've been ogling over for months 🤣. I might forgo the settee altogether but it won't stop me 'wanting' it 🤣

I'm getting more veggies/fruit from the garden/Lottie. Yesterday I made some strawberry jam, picked kale, mange tout and some raspberries. I'm freezing the raspberries until I have enough for a good jam making session but I do eat a few before they get to the freezer 🤣 Im also growing radishes for the first time - I don't like them but sil does, well - DD has been looking up radish recipes and who would have thought there were so many 🤣🤣🤣 not sure I'll try any but if she cooks one and offers me a portion, it would be rude not to accept! 

On the money front I get paid next week, I'll still put the same amount of savings into the canopy fund to use for different projects that will need doing, boring stuff like paint for the bathroom, mending a couple of leaky washers in the bathroom etc, I've been putting the same amount away each month for so long I'm just going to carry on. I do have another project that's going to cost quite a lot but over the next 12 months  and I want to pay for that by being cash 'neutral' so I need to rejig everything again so I can put that into action. I do enjoy having little challenges on the go! As I can't really shave much of other areas it means not so much will be spent on food and I'll be eating a few 'different' dinners 😀 
Anyway I'll get to bed, I didn't realise the time and I'm trying to get in bed a wee bit earlier!
Nannyg

Thank you to everyone that's left comments, I haven't caught up with everyone yet but I intend doing some this week as I'm not so busy with family bits and pieces. Thank youx

warby68

You are a lovely nanny, looking out for your granddaughter and keeping her safe and growing things to feed everyone.

nannygladys

I try to do my bit 'warby68' but it doesn't always work out.

I've had a bit of a lie in today, I had 3 grandchildren stay over the weekend whilst mum & dad went to to a concert and had the night away 🙂, they are growing up quickly now and seem so grown up, the youngest is nearly six now (she keeps telling me in case I forget🙂) so had a 'full on' one.

Last night I was looking through a notebook that I started when the col crisis really began in 2022 and I don't realise how worried I was about it all back then. I put all my ideas for a frugal/simple life down and then how I got on implementing them, how I managed last winter with little or no heating on etc I still write in it now, but it's made me realise how most days I managed but also how much I gave up especially during the winter months and I think the saddest thing is I'll probably have to do it all again this winter😕 still the greatest thing is that I did manage and I'll carry on doing it. I feel in a better position this year though, I've learnt how to stretch money until it squeaks! How to make meals stretch like elastic and how little money I really need! Mind you ive taken my foot off the pedal a bit at the moment so besides trying to reorganize my time better, preserving food off the Lottie and garden and living quite simply and all the little money pots I have going, I'm going to put my £1 - £3 away that I use to buy tins etc with for my stock cupboard so I have a small pot of cash for food price hikes in the future. 

Right better get going, it's cleaning upstairs today and feeding the veggies at the Lottie today, according to my list 🤣🤣🤣 no food spending as I have quite a lot of veg and the freezer is quite full (I do eat out of it honestly!) So according to my list it's salad for dinner and a garden risotto for tea. I have found out I'm useless at meal planning though, I start out with good intentions but don't always want what's on the list, so it's easier to plan just a couple of days at a time. 

I'm looking after 'pup' for a few days this week so I have doggy company and more exercise to look forwards to as well, must remember to put him on my list 🤣🤣🤣 he turned two not long ago so he's growing up fast!

Anyway better get going on the old cleaning! 
Nannyg 

WinterWarrior

You do amazingly well with your allotment and preserving. I’m no good with menu planning either. How can you possibly know what you’ll fancy?

nannygladys

Winterwarrior - thats my problem too. Just because you fancy a certain dish when doing the plan doesn't mean you want it days later 😁😁

nannygladys

Had a good day so far, no money spent as it's been ☔ here ( but it's still very warm) so chippy Tuesday didn't happen 🙁 so played with cars and tractors etc with dgs.

I'll be going home in an hour and at least I can go straight home instead of doing a weekly shop as I have enough in for a couple of days.

The next thing to do on my list is a new pair of glasses, I'm sure the cataracts have got worse, especially in my right eye, so if I have to have them 'done' any time soon I would rather know before winter and goodness knows how long the waiting lists are! Joys of getting older, a couple of years ago they weren't bad enough but who knows now and I need to new glasses anyway.  After that it's small jobs before winter, dripping taps, the seal on the loo, a boiler check etc and hopefully the front room finished - although that is an ongoing project 😏 

Unfortunately eldest and I cannot go on a day trip we have been looking forwards to, (they cancelled it) so will have to think of something else we can do for a day out, we enjoyed seeing Ben Fogle that much at the theatre that we decided to go on a few trips, but it's finding them at the moment. That's the second one that's been cancelled 🙁

Anyway, will have a quick tidy up before youngest DD gets home. See you later
Nannyg 

nannygladys

Saturday and all is quiet here. I was paid on Wednesday, so on Thursday I did my budgets, put money into the proper pots, put fuel in the car for the month, drew all needed cash out and put into different purses and put my debit card away as well!! So a purely cash month this time 🙂
Well I say purely cash but the canopy is being replaced this month - yay!!!! So I will have to pay by debit card on that but the money is already there, so I'm a happy bunny.
I've even done a lose menu for the week using stuff mostly out of the freezer and stashed tins, whether I keep to it is a different matter but I have done so far🙂
I made some red onion pickles this morning as I seem not to using the onions much these days, it's basically sliced red onion in white vinegar with different spices , I haven't tried it it's still warm  but I'm hoping I can use a bit on salads in a couple of weeks. If it's ok I will make some more.
The garden is still giving me strawberries and raspberries, I'm eating the strawberries but freezing the raspberries to make jam. All the veggies in my new raised beds are doing well and I've had quite a bit off them. The Lottie has the main veggies growing on it and I'm getting broad beans, lettuce and the cucumbers have started as well and there's loads more down there, so I'm a happy bunny for that as well. 
So all's well and dandy at the moment and I can't wait for the canopy!!!! Then I can start getting some smaller jobs completed, its a never ending job, but the canopy was the biggy that needed to be done and I was always worried about it leaking or collapsing although its no where near that.
Anyway off to play with the pup, I've had him just for the weekend whilst youngest and family are away, he looks as if he has Mohican and wearing baggy trousers at the moment as he's awaiting a hair cut 🤣
Nannyg 

Sun_Addict

You are doing so well and I’m glad you’re finally getting the canopy. You are a great example of how to live well on a small budget. 

nannygladys

Thank you Sun_Addict, it isn't easy and takes effort but it's worth it! I'll be so happy when it's completed and I can concentrate on the next thing that needs doing 🙂