Struggling along as best I can

nannygladys

Couldsavemore - pruning raspberries depends on whether they are summer or Autumn fruiting ones. Summer ones you cut out all the old canes and keep this years growth as that's where the fruit comes next year, for the autumn ones I think you cut them back to the ground after fruiting, unfortunately as yours haven't fruited does it say on the label which ones they are?.  Not sure about keeping it in the pot though, I must admit my canes were already on the allotment when I took it over and the first year i just cut them all to ground level in the winter and they grew back OK! One of the other plot holders had a few of my canes straight out the ground and stuck each one in a hole on his plot and they grew fine. Sorry I'm not much help.
Ref being veggie/vegan like you we were veggie before Quorn etc and made sausage/burgers from lentils and various beans and Sunday dinner was the old faithful lentil loaf! I do eat some quorn etc but mostly try to eat non processed food. I have thought of becoming vegan and did try for a couple of weeks because of the bees, cows and hens etc but I couldn't get on with some of the substitutes but it has made me more aware of how honey is farmed, dairy herds are treated etc.

Today has been lovely for me, it's my birthday and dds have spoilt me. I even had a birthday cake (Ginny guinea pig) with candles, not the amount of candles that are my age though that would have set the house alight!!! It was lovely to see/hear from them all. I'm hoping to be able to visit dd2 soonish, but they seem to a bit behind us and she hasn't had any vaccinations yet.

Anyway I haven't spent anything and the bank balance is panning out OK, as I get paid next week, I will have to redo budgets again and mix it up a bit to keep the interest there! 
I don't know where people live but here it has been a glorious day and lively and warm, makes you feel good!!! Simple frugal living at its best.
Nannyg

evebeme

Happy Birthday Nannyg. Wishing you all the best.

leftatthetrafficlights

Happy belated birthday!! 🎂

Couldsavemore

Happy Birthday for yesterday.

We have lots of wild rasps near us. I may prune a few to see if they root. I love it when they fruit as I pick them on dog walks. 
The dog loves them too, he often stops near the canes for me to get him some.
Bumper crops of brambles near us.
Again the dog likes the brambles.
Perhaps it's from living with a vegan or perhaps it's because he's a greedy spaniel.

You remind me of my parents. They've been watching my son all week as he's finishing his coving isolation. If I took time off I wouldn't get paid!

Four_Seasons

Belated Happy Birthday x

WinterWarrior

Happy belated birthday nannyg, I hope the cake was delicious 😋 

Toonie

Happy Belated Birthday NannyG!

nannygladys

Thank you everyone for my birthday wishes, the cake is lovely although the rest is sliced now and in the freezer to enjoy when I want, I would usually eat it over a couple of days but at the moment I'm being more sensible.

Couldsavemore - tough on the cv isolation, my lot  have been quite lucky so far, eldest dds family were all off together and were paid thank goodness, other 2 daughters haven't been affected so far (both families work), and I've only needed 2 tests and they were both negative.

So today, I went to the community shop and spent £5.50. It's a Church run shop with donated food, but you don't need to be referred, you pay two different amounts according to how much you want - it Is heavily discounted, so today I had a free bag of veggies (just potatoes this week) a loaf and a box of cakes(everyone gets this and some people just receive this and a couple of other bits if they can't afford anything) And then I chose 15 items from a list which includes food and toiletries but you never know what will appear on the list as it varies each week. They have been running for quite some time and its a godsend for some families on small wages etc. Sometimes at the allotment someone organises any spare veggies to go to a food bank/organisation which I always try to contribute to as it all helps. I don't go every week but I have started to get a few bits in for Xmas and winter months.

Tomorrow I have a blood test so as its a 12 hour fasting one I've made the appointment for 10am!! So I will be hot footing it home afterwards for breakfast and coffee lol. And then dgd is coming for a visit and staying over, she has just done her first full week at college (3 days) and one days volunteering so I expect I will hear all about it.

I get paid next week but the bank account isn't looking as good as I thought it would so some further thought is going to be done I think. The food side is sorted at the moment, I've never ate as healthy, hardly any goodies and mostly hm ones at that. Oh I've been given some very ripe bananas today in my haul so more banana cake coming up and pancakes I think, BUT what I have done is paid by bank card when shops don't want cash and then not taken it out of my envelopes, it's no wonder I think I'm doing OK lol. So I must find a way around that one, not sure what to do yet, so if anybody has any ideas they would be welcome.

Anyway time for another coffee I think and a look in the fridge to decide what I'm eating the next few days, I know it's spag bol tomorrow as dgd has already requested it and I have some leftover garlic bread in the freezer to use. 
I really fancy going for a day out somewhere next week, so will put my thinking cap on for that as well. I've decided I miss just going somewhere/anywhere so a few walks need to be gone on, as long as I don't go near shops I should be alright!!! Flask and snacks to be taken.

Right fridge here I come.
Nannyg

southern_chick

, BUT what I have done is paid by bank card when shops don't want cash and then not taken it out of my envelopes, it's no wonder I think I'm doing OK lol. So I must find a way around that one, not sure what to do yet, so if anybody has any ideas they would be welcome.

Hi nanny (long time reader, first time poster on your diary 👋) just a thought on this. anything you put on your card, put the cash in a separate envelope as soon as you get home and then either pay it back in to the bank to pay off your card straight away or take that much less out of the bank the following time so it will even out the next week or month depending on how often you draw money out, then just make it up with what is in the envelope.  You can keep a ‘running total’ on the front of the envelope to help you keep track of what is in there!! You really are doing an amazing job on a tight budget and growing so much of your own food is brilliant.  I’m loving sharing your journey with you. Thank you for sharing it with us xx

nannygladys

Southern_chick- I think that is a brilliant idea, I will draw my money out weekly and if I use my card I will do as you suggest and draw less out the following week, it's simple when you look at it logically, I was making it too complicated in my head, thanks for that lol! It also means I get a walk to the bank as well for exercise.

I had a very much on the go day yesterday. I had my blood taken and eldest dgd came and as I wanted to go to the land of pound we went into the city and I got my 2 cycle covers to cover my garden chairs - I dont cycle it's too hilly where I live, and went on a hunt for a new or new to me coat for the cold weather, I didn't get one though, I didn't even see one that would fit the job so I came away empty handed, it's quite satisfying really being in control and not buying for the sake of it. Anyway I treated dgd to a bag of chips (last of the big spenders) and we came home. I was pooped!! Oh I made an eye appt for next week as I need some new glasses, but I have the money for them. Then we both had a snooze and we had tea.

This morning I let her have a lie in whilst I made two banana loaves, one for me and one for her to take home, I can't fit anymore in the freezer so I've got to eat it, ha,ha! And did a load of laundry and did a bit of titivating as you do and now I'm obviously having a sit down whilst the second cake is just finishing off and dgd is having a walk up the fields, plugged into her phone of course! I must remember to get her to have a shower when she gets back.

Anyway the oven has just pinged so I'd better go and have a look at it, at least the over ripe bananas I was given have been used up. I think I will be having a risotto or something similar for tea tonight to use some of my veggies up.
Nannyg