Mrs. P's Savings, Paying Off CC, being more organised diary

MrsPorridge

Update - just received two letters.  One to say DH's pension is going up in April and the second from the electric company to say that we will be getting our £200 discretionary payment (we are not on mains gas) this month February - at last - its taken long enough.

MrsPorridge

NSD 4

No nsd today as DH has gone out for breakfast with his mates – cheap and cheerful at Spoons.

Weather really horrid today, misty and drizzly rain which hasn’t stopped at all.

I made some teacakes and we had two for late lunch/afternoon tea – as DH had had a fry up he didn’t complain!

Some sewing/mending done.

Went through my books and maps and have put quite a few aside in the charity bag.

I also did a bit of printing of some recipes I like etc.

My breakfast was potato waffles and for tea we had home made fishcakes.  I had some mash in the freezer, defrosted that and cooked some salmon bits.  Then mashed that all together with some tartare sauce, served with a few chips and some salad.  Though I say it myself, they were very tasty and a lot nicer than bought ones.  I’ll be making them again.

Makingabobor2

Ooh that's given me an idea, to make my own fishcakes. Not done that for years. Like you say, they are very tasty. 

MrsPorridge

NSD 4

The £200 discretionary fund has been paid into the current account today, so this morning a mini money shuffle was done.  It has been put away now ready to go towards when we next need to fill up our oil tank.

Weather still very nasty, mist and drizzle and I can hear the fog horn blaring as I am typing this up.

One of our neighbours gave us an old pallet – thinking we could use it on our chimnea – DH got his thinking cap on and is making me a two-tier planter.  It looks great and will hang on the fence.  Not sure what to put in it yet.

We need to call in to Sainsbogs for some milk and other bits and bobs and will combine that with a visit to the garden centre so I can look for inspiration for my planter – I think trailing plants will look good.

Breakfast was porridge and berries, lunch will be fishcake (left over from last night) and for tea tonight spaghetti (or in my case linguine as I am making my own pasta) carbonara to use up two odd rashers.  I have plenty of eggs at the moment as the neighbour gave me 6 the other day.  I’ll add some cheese on top and some garlic bread to bulk it out a bit.

I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again – we have such lovely neighbours and are so very lucky.

Makingabobor2

Its nice when you get on well with nieghbours. Ours are ok but very young and hardly ever in, so don't really see them. In fact one side is up for sale, so fingers crossed we get someone nice. Would be nice if they were more our age and we could talk gardening and things. The ones who were here when we first moved in about 15 years ago, were just right, but they decided to move to somewhere bigger so they could store their caravan on their drive...lol

MrsPorridge

NSD 5

A bit of a spendy day yesterday as we bought some plants for a new rockery DH has created by the pond.

Back on the NSD wagon today!

It’s pancake day so we are having pancakes galore.  We started with brunch which was bacon and American pancakes – the thick fluffy ones.  I use Jamie Oliver’s recipe but I add some baking powder to it even though I use SR flour.  We them them with golden syrup.  DH made up some “normal” pancake batter and tonight we will have that with sugar and lemon.  For supper if we are hungry its sausage baps.  So not really heathy eating – although plenty of protein.

The morning was spent gardening, doing the rockery, weeding and planting some veggies in the greenhouse and moving some to the cold frame.

Its very overcast today, but at least it is dry.

This afternoon I am going to my friends for our sewing session – although I am taking my crochet.

MrsPorridge

NSD 6

Baking and cooking day today.  I’ve made a cake for next door and one for our freezer.   We have friends coming on Saturday night for an Indian meal, so I made some sag aloo ready.  I made up several portions so we have some for the freezer.  I’ve also made some ice cream.

Had a walk to the farm shop to get some sugar – dodging the rain.

Still crocheting my granny square blanket.  I did have to order some more wool from Hobbycraft and pay the postage – which is still cheaper as the nearest one is a 54 mile round trip.

Breakfast was porridge with berries, lunch will be a cream tea at the hotel and tonight its jacket spuds, beans and cheese.

Makingabobor2

Sounds like you've been busy. I've never tried freezing cakes, but TBH, I think I'd need a bigger freezer, ours is always full....lol

MrsPorridge

NSD 7

Lovely sunny day but with a very cold wind.

Some washing done.  Also had a walk around the village.

No NSD as I did treat myself to a new lipstick – I haven’t bought new make up for almost a year.

Breakfast was toasted muffin, lunch was tuna salad and tea was chicken and ham pie with mushy peas and wedges.

I'm a great one for freezing stuff.  Cakes freeze really well I find, I always fill them first jam and/or buttercream and just freeze the whole lot.  You honestly cannot tell it has been frozen.  

MrsPorridge

NSD 7

Some payments have gone into the account today, so the usual money shuffles have been done.

Again, lovely and sunny here, but very cold.  A walk into the village and breakfast at the café.

Today I’ve made a spinach and lentil pie from the Hairy Bikers Everyday Winners – split it into 3 x 2 portions and that’s gone in the freezer.

No lunch after the café breakfast, dinner tonight is home made potato wedges and scampi and mushy peas.