Struggling along as best I can

Moorviews

It’s lovely to see Spring properly on its way in now. I love to see the back of January! 

For many years we were on a horrible interest only mortgage so couldn’t overpay. Thanks to MSE we remortgaged onto a repayment mortgage, reduced our payments because it was a smaller sum borrowed and got it paid off 3 years early. That was because the interest rate fell to such a low rate but we kept the payment the same. I am very thankful to Martin and all the people, such as yourself, who share in the forums. It’s a huge help to many of us in finding our way through confusing territory. 

We put cardboard over the vegetable beds this winter for the first time and it has done a good job of suppressing the weeds. 

Makingabobor2

Thanks for the info on the cardboard. I will definitely give it a try. 

nannygladys

Moorviews - thanks for the lovely compliment I just write about my ups and downs with money and how I managed the best I can on what I have 😁 
When I first put cardboard down at the Lottie after the veggies had finished, I couldn't work out where it had all disappeared to 🤣 I didn't realise it composted down 🤣

nannygladys

Makingabobor2 - yesterday I moved two raised beds in the garden, had to empty the soil out and refill them but I still put cardboard down first at the bottom and refilled them up, those worms must keep fit and fat down there 🤣

nannygladys

I've been busy this week doing family things and by the time the weekend came I was 'done' in so rested up 🙂
I did move two raised beds to make one large one and also moved a very small one to another place. By the time I'd moved all the 'soil', moved them and put everything back and away it was getting dark and I was famished, but it felt so good to be back messing about in the soil etc.
Today I went to the garden centre for my free coffee and bought some more seed potatoes and seed compost,I can't wait to start the seed sowing for the year.
I didn't realise it was pancake day until I was having my free coffee and the people across from me were eating some very fancy looking ones, so after my tea I made some 'american' style ones and had bananas and a little syrup with them. They turned out really nice, I made them with blitzed porridge oats instead of flour and was really surprised when they worked out!
Moneywise I'm doing fine, I'm well within budget so far in all my 'pots' so I'm a happy bunny. 
I have had a handyman come around to give me a quote for some of the jobs I need doing, (the ones that need to be done first) and he's coming back in a couple of weeks to get them done. It's not all the jobs I need doing but the ones like leaks, drips and my extra electric plug socket. After those I can save up for the next batch of jobs, but one of my windows units needs replacing as there's condensation in it and I might get that done next. But he'll finish the bathroom off (bar the flooring) and I will be able to finish the main work in the front room myself. After that it's a few bits outside and then I will be broke 🤣🤣🤣 it feels good to be getting things done. I've got start saving again to replace some of the furniture in the front room and a new carpet - I had a  look in a carpet shop at prices and couldn't believe it, wow they are so expensive so not sure what I'm going to do about that yet. I do need one as the present one is over 30 years old and is threadbare in places so I'll have to start some serious frugalling again, I really had hoped I was getting past all that but hey ho it'll be a means to an end.
Anyway, I'll close for the night and have a quick look around the boards.
Nannyg 

Baileys_Babe

Your oat pancakes sound delicious, they would also make a lovely frugal treat for visiting grandchildren.

nannygladys

Baileys_Babe - that's a really good idea, I bet they would all love them😀

nannygladys

It's been a couple of slower days for me. Eldest dgd has moved into a flat this week and her mum is making sure everything is ok there and as it mainly involves cleaning I'm keeping well out of it 🤣🤣🤣, so I guess I'll see a lot less of her as it's the other side of the city, but I dare say we will on the phone quite a bit,! They grow up so quick these days.
I have bought some new bathroom taps for the handyman to fit, just need a new toilet seat, blind for the bathroom and curtain pole for the front room. I'll probably wait until next week now as I'm out with youngest DD and baby Dgd tomorrow. We're going into the city as she needs a couple of bits and I'll be chief pram pusher😀 I'm hoping I can call in the craft shop up there but it all depends on time as she has to be back home by lunchtime - it's an early start!!!
As it's been raining I haven't been in the garden but I have sorted some pots and trays out for when my planting starts - not long now🙂
I went to pick up a couple of veggie boxes today for eldest DD and me and called at the farm for some more milk which I've divided up and frozen for later use and that's about it. The knitting is going well and I'm almost ready to begin my next x-stitch pattern. So all's quiet and well in my house oh and I lost another pound at fat club, nearly at target now and whilst I'm at the shops tomorrow I need to buy another belt for my jeans!!! I know it's naff but as winter jumpers will be covering it all up nobody will see it 🤣🤣
Nannyg 

Cherryfudge

I hope your eldest grand daughter enjoys her new place! You will miss her, I'm sure, but she will carry on your traditions from spending so much time with you, so think of it as multiplying not dividing.

Well done on the steady weight loss.

nannygladys

I am missing eldest Dgd Cherryfudge but I did go to see her the other day and took her out for a carvery meal!! Which we both enjoyed, but as I stayed the same weight this week I must look more carefully at the little extras I'm eating to lose the last few pounds🙂 and she's phoned me most days for a chat!!!
I've managed to buy all the bits ready for the handyman coming on Monday so I feel it's a bit of start for me getting the house updated. He's getting all the plumbing and electrical parts he needs so come Monday night I might be lighter in the purse but I'll be a lot happier that the leaks are fixed and toilet is working properly! 😂. I can then decide what needs doing next and book him again for a few weeks hence and do a bit more serious saving to keep funds up. 
I've finished knitting the cardigan/jacket for the summer, it was such an easy knit and I'm pleased with the finished garment and I'm thinking of knitting something similar for youngest Dgd for the cooler days in summer. My Xmas cross stitching will be starting very soon as I'm just waiting for the fabric to arrive at I haven't bought all the threads yet but I can work around that. There's a new shop opened where youngest DD lives but when I was up there on Monday it was closed!!! So I'm going up on next Wednesday to see if I can get a few more skeins of silk as it's open then, I much prefer supporting local shops (as I keep mentioning!! 😂) 
I've cleaned my small greenhouse out and prepared lots of seed trays for use later on and bought another pear tree that I'll have to dig a hole for in the garden as it's staying here and not going to the Lottie. It's going to get busy in a few weeks with the garden, Lottie and decorating so I'm trying to get a few bits done in anticipation 😀
I had a failure last Saturday, I made some scones and I haven't a clue what I did wrong but they didn't rise and ended up more like thick currant biscuits 🤣🤣🤣 mind you I still ate them but next time I'll be making a fruit cake 😀. I have found a recipe for mushroom, spinach and orzo that is very 'me' and I've made it twice in the last 10 days!!
Anyway I'm going upto bed, I've got a new book that I would like to read the first chapter of before I turn the light off 😄👋