Struggling along as best I can

Makingabobor2

I found when DH built me a couple of planters, it cost a fortune filling them with compost. Not sure if its good enough to re-use the same stuff this year, hope so. 

Well done on 10k steps a day. After  I had covid at new year, I found it hard to get my step count back up again. I'm getting there now though. Trying to get more strength exercises in as well these days. 

cbsexec

I’ve seen various instagram posts of people using cardboard and twigs etc to fill the bottom of a raised bed so that they don’t take so much compost?   Would that be an idea? 

WinterWarrior

Hi nanny, you have been busy! I’m impressed at your step count. 

nannygladys

Makingabobor2 - I'll be putting cardboard on the bottom, twigs and bits on top of that and then emptying my potato pots, carrot pots, old grobags etc in there first and finishing with the compost from the bin, if I need more I'll have to buy a few bags 🙂
I'm keeping the steps up at the moment because of all the dog walking, it'll probably go down a couple of thousand of steps when he goes back 🤣🤣

nannygladys

cbsexec - thats more or less what I'm doing, I'll use all the old pots and containers, compost heap etc and see how I get on, before I buy any and then just keep filling it gradually if I need to, otherwise it'd cost a fortune 😵‍💫🤣🤣

nannygladys

Wintetwarrior - nice to see you back, I hope you're keeping warm and well up in Scotland.
My step count is only that high because I'm looking after pup for a couple of weeks I'll soon be back to normal 🤣🤣

nannygladys

I've been a little busy the last couple of days, but in a good way. The fridge/freezer is now fully organised and I've been doing some batch cooking of main meals, I would have liked to have made some cakes as well but as I'm still losing weight I thought I wouldn't tease myself 🙂🙂
I've sorted all my seeds out and made a list of what needs planting when, so hopefully I won't miss anything this year! Potatoes are all chitting upstairs and I can't wait to get started but it won't be for a few weeks yet.
I went to a shop where you can take containers/bottles to fill with eco stuff for cleaning, washing etc they also sold fruit, flour, pasta etc but I was interested in the household section. They were really knowledgeable in there and I found it very interesting and came away with some toilet cleanser as I'm near the end of my 'nasty' bottle! I can't afford to ditch all the cleaning stuff I have in, so will hopefully buy/make it as I run out. I will have to resource the ingredients and it depends on price as to how quickly I can do it! 
So besides the toilet cleaner I just bought some milk and grapes so not much spent and I have enough in now to last me until Wednesday when I get my pension. Oh I've just remembered I'll need dog food in the next couple of days as well.
Not much else has happened, it's all quiet here at the moment, a couple of the dgc are poorly with coughs, colds and sickness so I'm keeping out of their ways and youngest two are getting over chicken pox! These things just keep going round and round at school 🙁
So I will close, I didn't realise how late it is, I've been reading tonight and the time of flies by.
Nannyg

Makingabobor2

nannygladys said:

Makingabobor2 - I'll be putting cardboard on the bottom, twigs and bits on top of that and then emptying my potato pots, carrot pots, old grobags etc in there first and finishing with the compost from the bin, if I need more I'll have to buy a few bags 🙂
I'm keeping the steps up at the moment because of all the dog walking, it'll probably go down a couple of thousand of steps when he goes back 🤣🤣

So do you just throw cardboard in, any old way, or do you pile it neatly etc?  I did put some stones in the bottom of my last one, but cardboard and old pots etc sounds a good idea. I will start saving cardboard

nannygladys

Makingabobor2 - in my new raised bed I'll clear the area it's going on down to soil level as it's all gravelled at the moment then I will put a layer of cardboard down (after I've taken off the labels and tape off as they don't compost very well), then a layer of twiggy type stuff (nothing very thick though) then any spent compost and grobags from last year and lastly fresh compost from the compost bin and bought compost if needed to top it up. That's it really, the only time it's expensive is if you have to buy lots of compost. I get my daughters to save me cardboard and I cover any empty beds on the Lottie for winter and it's mostly disappeared by spring, so I already enough of that. Hope that helps.

nannygladys

Well it's still quiet here, the weekend passed quickly so no shopping was done but plenty of dog walks!! I'm taking him home tomorrow so no more dog walks for a while but at least with the longer daylight hours I can still get out and about.
I have been adding up my expenditure for theo th and it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be - thank goodness. The fridge/freezer has been paid off in full and the new hoover was paid for by cash, as I've said before I'm so glad I have savings pots I can use when needed. Mind you I haven't always been this organised and had credit card debt and an overdraft at one point, but I managed to pull my bgk's up and buckled down to get it paid off - thank goodness. It wasn't easy and I did go backwards a few times but I did it in the end, it's only a pity I didn't realise you could overpay  your mortgage or accumulate an emergency fund before I started looking at these forums!!🙁 Anyway for me that's in the past but I do feel for anybody with money worries as it's truly one of the most difficult times to have to deal with.
I'm feeling really positive at the moment, I think at long last I can start getting work done around the house and the garden is waking up and I'm getting some enthusiasm for the growing season. I dug the last of my leeks up the other day, the bluebells are coming though all over the place as are the daffs and tulips and it seems the trees and fruit bushes are waking up as well 🙂
So whilst I'm feeling happy and all's well in my little world I'll say nitey nite!😃
Nannyg