It's getting tough out there. Feeling the pinch?

Longwalker

EssexHebridean said:

Longwalker said:

Rosa_Damascena said:

Longwalker said:

We are just back from a 3 night stay in Edinburgh - our holiday for the year.

We done it on the cheap, very cheap, flights cheaper then the cost of taking a cabin bag, so we carried two tiny 10litre back packs with enough clean clothes to get by on and wore our big heavy waterproof coats and boots - and the weather was fabulous. Only having the one coat meant I was too hot to be wandering about shops - made an even cheaper break

We walked everywhere and only paid for one tour that we were interested in. We visited more then a lifetimes worth of free galleries and museums and must have explored every inch of the old town - and a lot of the new town. We did donate where donations were asked - St Giles etc 

Breakfast was at Wetherspoons, a full fry for £5 and everlasting coffee for £1:30 - a lot cheaper then the hotel , we did go all out for two evening meals, but even then that was only £20 a head including a drink.The first night we were so tired we had a pizza and glass of wine at the hotel and collapsed in bed by 7pm If we were home, Id have baulked at paying £20 a head for a meal, thinking that would do me a week, but it was a holiday and we had budgeted and saved for it and for once it was nice not to look at the price and worry

So after being so warm in Edinburgh ( it was 7oC but dry ) and not having the heat on in the hotel room, Im back home where its dark and lashing it down and Im feeling cold and already tempted to light the fire

We got heating oil before we left 700ltrs for £650 , hopefully that will get us to the new year. We have it on an hour in the morning and it goes on again at 4pm when it gets dark, until around 10pm. But if its going to be a long wet winter, it will need putting on more, the house is never toasty, just warm enough to function in wearing jumpers 

I dont know when we are going to be seeing any help with heating costs. Rumours are it will be January. Unfortunately you pay for oil in advance so for a lot of people here its very very bleak. We are fortunate that we can cover the costs as we both still work and can always increase work hours if we need too but I have friends on fixed incomes ( benefits/pensions ) who are already rationing the heat 

Edinburgh is wonderful - but wasn't it a bit rowdy last might with all those political shenanigans going on?

No idea, we came home yesterday afternoon

And yes , Edinburgh is wonderful. I loved it. The history thats there in your face with every step, the friendliness and helpfulness of everyone we met - even the airport staff were human  

I think best part of the trip for me, was being at the top of Carlton Hill just as the sun was beginning to set, still being able to see out to the Forth bridge, but the lights coming on in the city below us. I did have every intention of going up Arthurs Seat before we left, but woke to rain so decided on a leisurely breakfast before heading back to the airport

Mr EH asked me to marry him up there a good few years ago now - so that is without question on of my very favourite places in the city!  We went for a wander up there when we were last there and it is fabulous these days with all the information boards giving you details of what you can see from each viewing point. A lovely spot! 

We're usually very happy with a P. Inn/T/Lodge for a couple of nights but above that tend to look for an airbnb or similar as we find often the savings on being able to self cater for meals offsets the extra spend, plus you get a more comfortable environment to just sit in when enough exploring/ time on feet has been had, as well. 

I agree, 3 nights is enough. We had a week in York earlier in the year with friends so an Airbnb was required, 2 bed,2 bathrooms - worked out the same price as a premier inn and having a place where we could all get together in the evening was a godsend

Carlton Hill is definitely a beautiful spot and a very popular one - was hard to take pictures without someone walking in front of you But at the same-time so peaceful. What a lovely place to be proposed too, so romantic xxx

YorksLass

This has been a really grotty week weather-wise with lots of rain, frosty mornings and very little sun, although I did manage my weekly trip to the Co-op without getting wet yesterday.    It was sunny at that stage but jolly cold though, so I've dug out scarves and hats as well as gloves to keep my "bits" warm.  I managed to get a couple of useful ys items (saving just over £3), disposed of my bag of soft plastics while I was there and returned a book to the Little Free Library on my way back.  Despite the chill, I had to stop and watch two red kites circling very low overhead.

I've also managed to use up all the odds and ends from the fridge as well as some long lurking bits from the freezer.  It doesn't seem to have made much extra room in there but at least they've been used up and it's released some storage containers.  Sad to say, I've binned some fish fingers - having tried a couple, I can honestly say they were truly the worst weve ever had and I doubt we'd get round to eating them.  

It's grocery delivery next week but, as I don't need a great deal, I think I'll make up the order with Xmas stuff.  That way, if it's not in stock online, I can plan in an in-person trip to the SM before it gets too busy.

Pollycat

Longwalker said:

YoungBlueEyes said:

Ooh I love a travelodge/premier inn. Saves the pennies for the good stuff 😊

Exactly this. All we need is a comfortable clean bed and a hot shower, we dont go away to sit in a hotel room , we go to see what we have gone to see.

I stay in city hotels because I'm usually attending a concert.
I want a hotel that is walking distance of the arena that is clean and welcoming.
I've found some lovely places on a booking website.

YoungBlueEyes

That reminds me of when we last stayed in Dublin….. 

I’m about to make an actual money saving suggestion! A helpful contribution! Not just chatter! Whodathunkit! 

We stayed in a youth hostel. It was marvellous! Cheap, clean, central, good position for doing stuff. 

How d’ya like them apples 😃

London_1

Florenceem said:

London_1 said:

One of the reasons the SA is my go-to charity of choice, I donate what I would spend on Christmas cards to them as a rule and all my friends and family know this and are quite happy about it Being an ex-londoner I have see the work they do to help people in dire straights, and this is really where people who really are in deep trouble and despair can get help. I do hope the outcome for D is good and will add him to my chats to the 'Big Guy' tonight before I go to sleep.

JackieO xx 

D is critical in hospital with kidney failure, pneumonia and sepsis.

Oh bless him poor chap, at least he is warm and safe I do hope he pulls through,although its not sounding good  

JackieO 

Slinky

VintageHistorian said:

Slinky said:

Didn't get anything in the traps last night. Will re-bait with chocolate as well as peanut butter and move them to different positions tonight. The mouse we caught yesterday was on the shelf right where the food source had been removed from.

We thought we had a rodent problem in the loft a few years ago (thankfully it was actually a bird). The man that came out to put down traps told me that mice are much easier to catch than rats. Mice are stupid and go straight for anything that looks like food. Rats have better memories and are smarter, so they recognise when things have been moved or when something new has been put down, and therefore avoid it.

Hopefully it is just mice, in which case it should be quicker and easier to catch them, but if there's quite a few of them then it might take a week or two. If it something bigger than you may need to leave the traps in place for longer in order to succeed in catching them.

Unfortunately I think there's rats as well as mice given the size of the blooming great big hole that's been gnawed in the bird food box. Plus there's rat sized poo as well as lots of mouse sized poo. Nothing caught last night.

Rosa_Damascena

YoungBlueEyes said:

Ooh I love a travelodge/premier inn. Saves the pennies for the good stuff 😊

I'm not going to lie, I'd love to stay at The Balmoral. For citybreaks give me luxury all the way! 

JIL

I can highly recommend pollock halls for basic but good accommodation in Edinburgh.  Obviously being student accommodation they arent always available. But they are very clean with fab breakfast, parking and central.
My sons university has seen him studying and working in Warwick, Edinburgh, York, Paris, Durham and Venice so we have visited and stayed in some lovely locations with a personal tour guide.
I loved them all, especially Edinburgh.

Longwalker

JIL said:

I can highly recommend pollock halls for basic but good accommodation in Edinburgh.  Obviously being student accommodation they arent always available. But they are very clean with fab breakfast, parking and central.
My sons university has seen him studying and working in Warwick, Edinburgh, York, Paris, Durham and Venice so we have visited and stayed in some lovely locations with a personal tour guide.
I loved them all, especially Edinburgh.

Student halls are a great way of visiting any city on a budget, London in particular as there are so many student halls empty over the summer. I have found you need to know your dates well in advance as they do get booked very quickly 

I would do a back packers hostel ( Mr L wont ) they are just so much fun ( do them whilst on hikes ) Im usually a lot older then most which is a great advantage , I become Mum and theres always someone who gives up the best seat in the lounge or offers to make the coffee

Woolsery

Slinky said:

VintageHistorian said:

Slinky said:

Didn't get anything in the traps last night. Will re-bait with chocolate as well as peanut butter and move them to different positions tonight. The mouse we caught yesterday was on the shelf right where the food source had been removed from.

We thought we had a rodent problem in the loft a few years ago (thankfully it was actually a bird). The man that came out to put down traps told me that mice are much easier to catch than rats. Mice are stupid and go straight for anything that looks like food. Rats have better memories and are smarter, so they recognise when things have been moved or when something new has been put down, and therefore avoid it.

Hopefully it is just mice, in which case it should be quicker and easier to catch them, but if there's quite a few of them then it might take a week or two. If it something bigger than you may need to leave the traps in place for longer in order to succeed in catching them.

Unfortunately I think there's rats as well as mice given the size of the blooming great big hole that's been gnawed in the bird food box. Plus there's rat sized poo as well as lots of mouse sized poo. Nothing caught last night.

With rats, you must be consistent and patient. Put the traps in the right places and they still won't be caught straight away. They need time to adjust to the change in their environment and gain confidence. Once they decide the trap is non-threatening, success should follow.

How long? Not sure, but weeks, probably!