Debt in Dizzyland

peb

Gosh, I wish you well with the night shift followed by a busy day tomorrow.  Whilst I understand the money is welcome don't burn out with the extra shifts.

Pleased that the train trip was a gift. £90 sounds a lot for an afternoon out.

CRANKY40

Dizzy_Imp said:

 no last minute trip to the shops during Christmas week.  I'd rather poke my eyes out with cocktail sticks, frankly.

That's exactly how I feel about supermarket shopping the week before Christmas

WinterWarrior

CRANKY40 said:

Dizzy_Imp said:

 no last minute trip to the shops during Christmas week.  I'd rather poke my eyes out with cocktail sticks, frankly.

That's exactly how I feel about supermarket shopping the week before Christmas

Me too!
that’s a lot of baking dizzy. I’d do for traybakes…flapjack and the easy stuff.

Dizzy_Imp

Phew! That's me done.  Eyes feel full of sand and I'm on "go slow" as my brain has reset to basic mode.  Nearly fell asleep in the bath, which was piping hot and full of bubbles (bliss)...

Boys fed a beige freezer creation full of fat and wholly deficient in vitamins, but that will do for tonight.  Beef stew with dumplings planned for tomorrow,  which I hope will make up for it.

DH is complaining of tummy/abdomen pain and went to his GP, then A&E for blood and urine tests.  He suffers from ulcerative colitis,  so we are hoping this isn't the start of a nasty flare up just in time for the festive season.  I'm already having to dole out sympathy over his hip steroid injection and Nurse Dizzy I'm  not.

Right need to do my nails, grab a G&T then snuggle up for a film.  Day 14, off you pop...

Dizzy_Imp

So by comparison with recent days, today has been reasonably calm, with time to think, make plans and sort paperwork.  Day 15 started with the realisation that it was Christmas Jumper Day...after sleeping through my alarm...and being 50 minutes late getting up! On the upside it was also Christmas Dinner Day at school, so packed lunches weren't needed (DH had to fend for himself today).

I received an email saying my tenant has paid £100 towards her rent arrears, which is good news , and I used a £25 voucher on some last minute shopping for Christmas presents.

It is now Day 16, so best go to bed...

Dizzy_Imp

My very good friend Mrs W gave me 5 hours of her time today and together we blitzed most of the ground floor.  She has said she'd be happy to help out one day a week, so I've snatched her arm off lol.  I gave her a Christmas pressie to say thank you for all her support over these past couple of years.  She's a very kind, gentle soul and I feel really blessed to have her as a friend.  I've come to realise that genuinely beautiful people are rare and she is someone who lights up dark days.

Day 16 has been spent cleaning and then, this evening, I helped at the football fundraiser and have just been advised that the raffle alone has raised £575! Plus, I resisted pressure to get a takeaway on the way home and made dinner when we got in.  I had planned a Shepherd's Pie,  but in the end everyone voted for bacon sandwiches, so we will have it tomorrow. 

I'm having lots of quiet thoughts about the future and how I see me moving forward - I'm excited to start planning tasks for the coming year.  I hope to expand the kitchen garden and need to sort out what seeds I can get started in December and January.  I have a haircut late morning tomorrow and I need to get raw dog food and some peony scented disinfectant whilst in town, but after that, I'll be looking out chilli and pepper seeds to get my crops started. 

mumtoomany

Good morning Dizzy, reader and lurked here. My peppers this year were all grown from seeds from supermarket/vegetable shop peppers, I believe chillies grow all too. For other seeds i use premium seeds direct. Usually 99p pack, for loads of seeds. I grow extra and sell the seedlings in yogurt pots on the gate. 
Keep up the good work, you're doing well, mumtoomany.

Dizzy_Imp

Quick cuppa before my haircut after stodging around feeding chickens, goats and sheep.  The mud is so sticky, despite copious use of straw and woodchip.  I prefer winter when it's freezing cold because at least the ground is hard.

Thanks for the tip regarding peppers Mumtoomany ...I don't have a greenhouse yet (I'm going to suggest it as a Mother's Day present from all the children) so I'm not sure where to grow them? What do you suggest?  The kitchen garden is walled on 3.5 sides and is south and west facing in the main growing areas, although there are north facing short walls under a large pear tree.  The potential for this area is huge, but I want to get the bones sorted well, so I don't have to worry about moving structures later.

Splashed out on a new mop and bucket as my old galvanised one is leaking, a replacement pooper scooper (essential equipment  with my pack of hounds) as the spring went this morning on my spare, and a stash of firelighters as I'm beginning to feel the chill of an evening...so it is a spendy day today.

Night shift tonight.

mumtoomany

Hi Dizzy, I grow mine in a polytunnel. When we first moved here 8 years ago, I told tax credits that our income had fallen dramatically, they did nothing until the following year when they paid us an extra £2000. I think we must be the only people ever to be underpaid. I used this to buy the biggest tunnel we could. Eldest daughter used to have a pepper plant she kept in her school classroom, it grew well. I think you can grow them outside, or grow outside and then bring inside to overwinter. 
I feel for you with the mud! It's the same here, squelching everywhere. Our sheep and chickens hate it too. 
Right of now as I have four jumpers to finish sewing up for the grandchildren, mumtoomany.

Dizzy_Imp

Day 19 already!  December is flying by!

A dog from our last litter of Ridgebacks has come to stay for a few days while his owners visit family in Cardiff, so I'm enjoying seeing him, the magnificent beast!  My boy, who is his father, has been very accomodating and they're getting on really well, which is lovely.

Not done very much today, if I'm honest...a bit of pottering about and some washing, but otherwise a lazy one.  Dinner was Bang Bang chicken turkey that was yummy, although I had to serve it with pasta rather than noodles, as I've run out.  I'm really trying to empty the cupboards and freezers before buying food in, as honestly, I think we could survive a zombie apocalypse with what I've got stashed away.

Ooh a polytunnel mumtoomany ...another want on my long list!  I have been looking at polytunnels and polycrubs, in addition to greenhouses, as I really want to extend the growing season for my kitchen garden (although whichever option is decided on, it's going on the orchard at the side of the house).

Right, need to get ready for the next overnight stint...