Struggling along as best I can

nannygladys

Grumpelstiltskin - thanks for the heads up. I have to into the city tomorrow so I will call in for a look. I hate going up there but when needs must ....

nannygladys

Baron_Dale - it is such a relief at long last to have it done, thanks.
I retired 8 years ago and receive the new amount.so for me it's £817 every four weeks, plus around £9 pension credit but as it's the 'savings' pension credit not the 'guaranteed',  I don't receive help with council tax, dentist payments etc but I'm just grateful to receive it.i think I'm able to manage because my house is mine (all paid for) and thanks to Martin I paid any debt off years ago, so I know I'm in a better place than many to manage. 

nannygladys

So for an update. I'll start with today, cos I can remember what I've been doing!! 🤣🤣
I went to collect two veggie boxes for DD and myself and there was a lot of fruit In there, so really happy and then to the Lottie as with all this rain I haven't been for a while.
I harvested courgettes, cucumbers, green beans a couple of pea pods!, raspberries, blackcurrants and redcurrants and lots of orange cherry tomatoes, that are really nice and sweet. The largest cucumber is already on its way to become pickles and the fruit frozen ready for jam making. The tomatoes I gave to DD as I have some of along with the bean and peas as I have some in my garden. The raised beds at home are producing enough for me and the archway over the path is prolific with beans! So I'm a happy bunny as I shouldn't have to buy very much veg for a while.
Money wise I was paid yesterday and bought a pair of summer shoes (discounted of course) as my pair that I have worn for several years - infact I think I bought them before I retired! Have split down the side and I keep getting wet feet 🤣 so that is my one expense this month, and I do have a clothes fund!!! You know me I have pots and envelopes for everything🤣🤣 
I'm going to make an appointment to get my eyes tested as I know I need new glasses and I have enough in its pot so that's the next thing.
Anyway that's about it, i'll just keep plodding along being frugal and living my simple life as best I can. It's taken me years to get to this stage and I reckon it's the happiest and most content I've been, even with the ..... that's happening all around us.
Nannyg 

Sun_Addict

What a lovely positive post 🙂

nannygladys

Sun_Addict - thank so much for the kind comment.

WinterWarrior

Having a front cottage garden sound lovely…I’m picturing lupins 😁 The planning will be so much fun. 

nannygladys

WinterWarrior - i can visualise it in my head but not sure it'll work yet. I think it's going to be a work in progress. My front lawn is mainly moss and I'm thinking grass paths and flower beds full of flowers like lupins, lavender etc but I need to measure it out to see how many beds can be created, and I want it a bit rambling not all square and uniform! Bit like me 🤣🌻

nannygladys

Today I meant to go into the city but in the end I couldn't be bothered so went to the garden centre for a free coffee and a look around their flowers for a bit of inspiration. I know quite a bit about the veggies I grow and not very much about flowers. They have to keep flowering each year and be bee and insect friendly, so as they have an area set out as a bee garden, I went and had a good look and took quite a few photos of flowers that they used , as I haven't got a clue😀 I quite liked the way it was all set out as well so I took note of that as well. Needless to say I didn't buy anything and went to the cafe with my book to read whilst enjoying my coffee 😁
And that was about it really, for tea tonight I had leftovers from yesterday and tomorrow I'm making a lasagne to last Saturday and Sunday., And on Monday I will be making something to last until Tuesday as I'm with dgc and won't get back until later. 
So no money spent and I still haven't drawn my money out for the next few weeks! 
It's been raining here again, I'm getting really fed up with now, where's our bit of global warming? When I spoke to daughter, she lives in Cyprus, and asked her about fires etc, she said they're just getting the normal amount that they get every year, whether it's combustion or arson!! A couple of years ago it came quite close to their house (she lives in the hills) it got very smokey and even hotter but the fire service managed to control it. They use helicopter and planes with huge water buckets underneath them and scoop the sea up and dowse the flames as well as working  on the ground. When I first saw it I wondered what on earth was going on!! But thank goodness they know what to do. Mind you last week she was complaining about the heat as the Aircon had broken and there was me sat in a thick jumper 🤣🤣🤣.
So that's it for now, still budgeting, being frugal and making do!
Nannyg 

WinterWarrior

I’m big on self renewing gardens, it sounds like it will be so lovely. Lavender is multi tasking as you could dry it and make lavender bags too. How about a small area for flowering herbs too like chives and thyme? 

The fires are so worrying. We are very lucky to live where we do, without really extreme heat, or earthquakes, active volcanos, tsunamis, etc. We don’t have to worry about bears or crocodiles or quicksand 😅 The U.K. is very safe when you compare it to most other places. 

kayannie

nannygladys said:

Today I meant to go into the city but in the end I couldn't be bothered so went to the garden centre for a free coffee and a look around their flowers for a bit of inspiration. I know quite a bit about the veggies I grow and not very much about flowers. They have to keep flowering each year and be bee and insect friendly, so as they have an area set out as a bee garden, I went and had a good look and took quite a few photos of flowers that they used , as I haven't got a clue😀 I quite liked the way it was all set out as well so I took note of that as well. Needless to say I didn't buy anything and went to the cafe with my book to read whilst enjoying my coffee 😁
And that was about it really, for tea tonight I had leftovers from yesterday and tomorrow I'm making a lasagne to last Saturday and Sunday., And on Monday I will be making something to last until Tuesday as I'm with dgc and won't get back until later. 
So no money spent and I still haven't drawn my money out for the next few weeks! 
It's been raining here again, I'm getting really fed up with now, where's our bit of global warming? When I spoke to daughter, she lives in Cyprus, and asked her about fires etc, she said they're just getting the normal amount that they get every year, whether it's combustion or arson!! A couple of years ago it came quite close to their house (she lives in the hills) it got very smokey and even hotter but the fire service managed to control it. They use helicopter and planes with huge water buckets underneath them and scoop the sea up and dowse the flames as well as working  on the ground. When I first saw it I wondered what on earth was going on!! But thank goodness they know what to do. Mind you last week she was complaining about the heat as the Aircon had broken and there was me sat in a thick jumper 🤣🤣🤣.
So that's it for now, still budgeting, being frugal and making do!
Nannyg 

Nanny - I can recommend penstemons. They will come back every year (perennial), they come in different shades & grow easily from cuttings. Proper cottage garden plant! KA