Struggling along as best I can

Cherryfudge

Thanks @nannygladys, it sounds as though my strawberries are past their best and I need to invest in some more.

Your day sounds peaceful and productive. Well done on the weight loss!

Makingabobor2

You've just reminded me...must order bird food  lol

nannygladys

Hello all,
Been a bit quiet the last couple of days, the snow has nearly fell gone now and I think today has been a fraction warmer as well  - yay🙂 although it's a bit windy outside at the moment.
I haven't been doing an awful lot the last couple of days so just pootling about, seeing dds and dgc as well and a fruit and veg shop, so not much money has been spent. I managed to put some fuel in the car and it has gone down in price again, so that's a positive! And I did need it. 
I went to the new dentist this am, not sure what I think yet but it's the only one NHS one anywhere in this area taking new patients. I have to have some work done so asked the price and it was over £300 , so I said I would have to think about it  but I do have another appointment to discuss it as they may be able to fix it cheaper another way 😔. It's not as if I have any pain yet and it may be easier just to take that particular tooth out, anyway, I'll see what happens when I go back.
My new fridge/freezer is coming Tuesday so tomorrow's job is to defrost my old one and do a freezer Tetris with the one upstairs so I can fit the last few bits into it. I'm putting the milk into the cupboard under the stairs as it's very cold in there and all the other food should be ok in a box upstairs. My hoover gave up the ghost the other day as well, so I bought one in the sale, so I'm just wondering what will be the next thing to break/stop working 🤣 all I can say is thank goodness for all my little saving pots!!!!!
Anyway that's about it for now, I'm still managing to keep food spends low, I haven't spent on any unnecessary items and I'm feeling quite positive still. Although I haven't done as much 'sorting' out as I would like 🤣 but I have managed some more sewing 😃
Nannyg 

nannygladys

My new fridge/freezer is now in situ - I'm so happy about it! It didn't take too long to take the old one out and not too long to put the new one in
 I'm glad my measuring was accurate and it fitted into the cupboard carcass without too much trouble. So now that has been done I have to move onto the next thing. I have quite a few small jobs that need doing, I wish I knew a professional handyman, I'll have to ask around I'm sure there must be someone who does the smaller jobs. I made a list (as usual for me!) And would like to make a start crossing them off pretty soon so I'll rework the pots and budgets and combine some of them to see how soon I can commence.
I went to see a new dentist the other day, a NHS one as my previous practice opted to go private last year and closed it to any NHS patients altogether! I reckon the powers in charge want to get rid of the NHS little by little whether it's general health, dentistry, chiropody or anything else. Anyway I have to go back to see another dentist in a couple of months at the practice to make a decision how the work will be done.
It's getting really windy outside, I can hear it I'll have to stick my head out of the back door to make sure everything is ok.
I still haven't been shopping but eating out of the freezer, thank goodness I froze all that veg before Xmas 🤣 as it's been really handy this last week. I'm going back to getting a veggie box they cost £3.50 and you get quite a lot of fruit and veggies, from the community place I used to go to before my eye surgery as I can now drive and as it's in a village not far away it means a little drive out for me. There's also a charity shop there and they have some lovely quality clothes in there so I will call in but I'm hoping I see nothing I really really want and can keep my purse shut!! That's for Thursday though. Tomorrow is fat club day but I may be taking one dgd with me as she has been with me today as she's full of cold bless her, but she's desperate to go back to school tomorrow, so I'll hear first thing when DD phones me. 
That's it for now, all a bit boring just trying not to spend anything, sewing, cleaning and a bit of reading 🙂
Nannyg

nannygladys

Hello everyone

Well I picked up two veg boxes, one for eldest DD and one for me. The amount of fruit and veg you get is really well worth £3.50!!! And I'm helping to support a local green grocers.
It's been a bit hectic this week but hopefully it'll start calming down again and tomorrow after an appointment first thing I'm picking up pup for a few days, so hopefully walks and thinking time are on the cards 🙂
The fridge/freezer is so much better, lots cheaper on the electric as it isn't on all the time and I can now make a few bits ( lemon drizzle cake and scones for starters) to go into it.
My list of things to do has now been finalised and I've heard about a handyman who operates in the local area, so I just have to get in touch when I can find his phone number and get him to give me a few quotes, it's only for the small jobs, the bigger ones need more saving for and will have to wait their turn but I would like to accomplish quite a few of them before the end of this year, that's the plan anyway.
Going to bed now as I have a busy day tomorrow.
Nannyg 

Moorviews

That sounds like really good value for a veg box! I have been thinking about how I do my shopping and how unsatisfying it is. During Covid I got into the habit of once a fortnight going to a supermarket and getting everything in one go. I have just carried on with this and I don’t enjoy it at all, especially when I have to self checkout too! It just feels like a right slog and I buy more than I need to cover the time period “just in case”. I prefer to support the smaller shops and will have a look around at what is available. I live rurally and between several towns so will pay them a visit and see which would suit me best for now. A lot of businesses have gone unfortunately, or changed ownership; I can’t just turn back the clock and go where I used to. There are also various farm shops scattered around the area. 

Glad the fridge/ freezer is working out well. 

Hope you enjoy some nice walks and that the weather finally plays fair!

nannygladys

Moorviews - the veggie boxes are great value, I'm not sure how it works but it's great to support a local greengrocer, we actually collect them from a community centre so they may be subsidised but I'm not sure. We also have a couple of farms that sell their own milk, unfortunately both only sell pasteurised milk, one did sell raw but had a tb scare and is still awaiting final test results to see if they can restart raw milk sales. I'm lucky I think, where I live, there are a few small towns that encourage independent sellers and it's up to us to support them as much as we can. We also have a few regular farmers markets as well, but I find some of the produce too expensive for me but I do buy the occasional bit of cheese 🙂

nannygladys

Today I've been to youngest dds and had dgs and baby cuddles😍 then bought pip home with me for a few days 🥰
Had a busy time with an early start this morning so I'm determined to go to bed earlier. It's also been glorious son here although cold and the daylight hours are definitely getting longer - yay!! It brings happiness to the heart🥰
No money spent and loving company all made for a really lovely day ❤️

Moorviews

Sometimes the simplest pleasures can be the most uplifting 😊

nannygladys

Oh dear, I meant pup not pip🤣🤣🤣

Today I had a bit of a lie in, then started dusting, hoovering, filling the washer, producing a meal plan and reorganizing the freezers. So now I'm all sorted in the freezers I hope. 
The washing actually dried outside today - yay!! I'm hoping it will be fine tomorrow and I can get another load in and dried outside. After the meal plan was done I needed to go to the shops for a couple of bits I needed for the meals, so off I went, it didn't take long as I tried to use food I already had in. I made a Thai curry for tea and had enough for two other meals that went into the freezer.
I took the pup a walk, it was meant to a quickish one but ended up on the football fields where he had a really good time running around like a loon!! He is such a character so I was out a lot longer than I intended to be, but I reckon he had a good time🥰
Tonight I've been thinking and reading about making my own cleaning products. I will need to source a few ingredients which I will research in the next few weeks and hopefully buy. I do have a couple of bits in so that will help. There's also a 'recipe' for some eco fire lighters so I might have a go and pass them onto my eldest DD for her fire, that's if she wants them or I could use them in the incinerator at the Lottie or save them for the fire pit in the summer🤣 all these choices lol. 
I have planned the Lottie out so I now need to carry on clearing the beds down there now the rain has stopped, I've sorted my seeds and just need to get some potatoes and onions. I'm so glad I actually washed my trays and pots as I went along last year at least I haven't got to do that. Next week I'm hoping to go and buy the wood for my new raised bed, it will be paid for mainly by a gift card I have and youngest dds partner will build it for me! My biggest problem will be filling it with compost! 
Anyway bed for me after pup has been outside, earlier night as I'm tired. I still managing my 10,000 steps most days so pleased about that.
Nannyg