Struggling along as best I can

nannygladys

Toonie - I didn't realise this one existed but my eldest found it by accident. I like to think the farmer hats a fair price for his/her milk, and its a bonus that you can see they cows and calves, I always feel sorry for the calves though.

Today has been a strange one. Up early and delivered eldest dgd to her voluntary job. Did a little Xmas shopping so that's all finished now and then I managed to get a pushchair from the charity depot when I dropped some bags off, I've been wanting to replace the one I have as the wheels have worn through and dangerous, it only cost £5 as its a stroller, but more than adequate as dgs isn't a small baby anymore.

One she was delivered home, another one came whom I have the night, whilst parents at the Xmas works do. I've started another Xmas jigsaw, but only completed the outside pieces whilst dgd was drawing at the same table. Bit of tv watching then bed in about 15 mins, early night for me with dgd being here.

Pup was good on his walk today and is learning to walk by my side and came back every time I called, even when other dogs and birds were about!!! Hopefully it'll last but I expect there will be many mishaps along the way!!!

Anyway, have to put pup out and lockup now, so will see you all tomorrow.
Nannyg

Sun_Addict

Have you got the pup on a permanent basis? Sounds like you’re training him well anyway. 

nannygladys

Sun_Addict - no I haven't got pup permanently, my youngest dd has been having some building work done in their  house and as they both work we thought it better for pup to come to me,  but he's been here a bit longer than we thought as the builder kept putting the date back! The works been completed now and they are busy painting so when it's finished they will have him back. I will miss him though but I don't think I will be getting one, they are hard work!!! (Hes 6 months) They have been here today to take him for a walk and collect dgd, so at least I didn't have to go out n the rain 

I haven't been out at all and I'm glad as the weather's been awful! So I've been scoffing Xmas chocolates with dgd until my dd collected her and doing the Xmas jigsaw. Youngest dd and partner both had work do's last night, so I had eldest dgd, and her partners parents had the youngest, my dgs.

That's about it so I'll sign off. Nite nite.
Nannyg

nannygladys

Another quiet day for me, except for the rustling of chocolate papers

Been thinking  about next year's budgets and I really do need to start these home repairs, the first being a new canopy over the front door and window. The one that is there has been repaired a couple of times and it costs a few hundred each time so I think I should bite the bullet and save for a new one, I will get a couple of quotes first so I know how much I need and after that I can start saving for the smaller things. It's a bit scary but once that is out of the way I will be happier!!

I sorted through my seeds and I have enough for next year, so that's good and and again I've decided to only have a few containers of potatoes at one, so they're not taking up lottie space. I still have three full drawers of veggies and I'm considering investing in another freezer if I see a good second-hand one for the extra produce I'm planning on growing, my eldest dd is going to help this year (so she says) as eventually she'll take it over when it gets too much for me!

Anyway going to make some tea
Nannyg

WinterWarrior

Ooh, what were the chocs?
another freezer is a good idea. They are often advertised on the Facebook selling pages around here. 

All repairs seem so expensive ☹️

nannygladys

WinterWarrior - the chocs were mainly chocolate eclairs, cherry brandy liqueurs and quality street, it wasn't just me eating them and quite a few liqueurs went home with dd3!!!!.

Just in bed reading my book and thought I'd have a look for a recipe on os, and I fell down a rabbit hole, oh dear ....
Nannyg

Toonie

I'm going to sit down and work out budgets soon too. It's that end of year feeling where Iook back through spreadsheets and see what months were more expensive than others.

I've got lots of seeds too, but need to try and be more inventive with pest deterrents as so many things got chomped this year (including pigeons eating all my kale!) and a never ending amount of slugs eating my salad! Any tips NannyG?

Its_time

I enjoy reading your diary, I often worry about mine but it is a great place to write things down that would otherwise go round in your head.  I enjoy sitting down every so often and catching up, its very easy reading especially these days where contact with other people is limited.  We have a pup, well she is nearly 6 months now so it's nice hearing about yours but I expect you will miss her when she moves, keep writing.

nannygladys

Toonie - I keep going over my budgets to see if I can tweak them, but it's coming down to being more frugal I think, not sure how though with prices going up all the time, ah well everybody's in similar situations on here so I'm sure I will be looking at more diaries and boards for hints and tips.
Slugs, I don't seem to have that many on the lottie, but I have a small pond down there (old baby bath) and have a resident frog or two in there so I don't normally do anything. In my garden I do have them, I don't really like killing them but sometimes needs must so use slug pellets that are safe for other wild life. They seem to live under under the paving slabs so only target that area, every so often. A friend of mine attacks them with an old pair of scissors!!!! Yuck.

Its_time - I'm afraid my diary will be charting my success or not with the frugalling!! I really need a new canopy over the front door and bay window as its been mended a couple of times and its looking really ropey, so every penny not spent will be for that, I don't want water coming in like a waterfall again lol

I was at dd3s yesterday (grandma duties) and the painting has nearly been done, so she said they might be collecting pup this weekend!!!! I'm really going to miss him, he's got me out of the house, gives me cuddles and on the whole is well behaved for a 6 month old!!! Mind you I won't miss the muddy foot prints or his toys being destuffed!!!

As I was paid today I have done my new budget, I hope it works but it's very tight, as I've wrote before I don't have a mortgage or any debt, but I only receive the state pension, so to actually save any amount ( I think it will have to be around £2000) is going to take time, but I want it done before next winter, so that's the incentive. I already put money aside each month for annual bills and only have five direct debits going out each month. I do change suppliers when needed and do everything to actually save on bills, so it's really about cutting out the 'I don't know what I spent it on' monies 
I'm not spending anymore on Xmas and going to dds for Xmas dinner, the presents and food are all bought (well money given) except fresh fruit, veggies and milk that I will get just before the day, hopefully when the prices have come own. So that's it for the moment, I made tomato soup for lunch and a veggie shepherd's pie for tea and both will last two days, so no cooking for me tomorrow. I've made a menu for the week and have all the food in, so hopefully I won't be tempted to go shopping this week.
Gosh this post is getting long, so I'll stop for the moment!!! 
Nannyg

Suffolksue

As you’ve just got the basic state pension ,are you eligible for pension relief ?