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

Siebrie

Thank you. As passings go, my Dad's was good. He was 81, Christian, clearheaded until the end, no pain, only 10 days where he couldn't get out of bed anymore. From age 75 (when they diagnosed the prostate cancer) he said he had lived a good life, and was happy to go when he had to. My parents have a large group of family and friends; the atmosphere at home even in the last 2 weeks was cosy, my father could have been in bed with a broken leg, for all everyone noticed in the atmosphere. He was not afraid to go, just hesitant to leave my mother with unsorted business (admin, mainly )

Wednesday2000

It sounds like he had a wonderful life.

I looked at the Anglian water bill more closely. Apparently our bill for the first 6 months from May was £110 and then next 6 months from November was £171. I think it must be the increased hot baths, hot water bottles and tea that did it. I assume it we start paying £62 then we will be in credit quite soon. I should probably contact them in a couple of months to see what the situation is like then.:)

Brambling

If you are on water rates rather than a water meter the baths shouldn't make a difference as you are not being charged for the water you use? it sounds like you were maybe undercharged for your rates previously so they are clawing the money back

Wednesday2000

Brambling said:

If you are on water rates rather than a water meter the baths shouldn't make a difference as you are not being charged for the water you use? it sounds like you were maybe undercharged for your rates previously so they are clawing the money back

We are on a water meter, we only realised yesterday! 

Longwalker

Sounds like he had a peaceful and loving passing Siebrie, so very important>

We are lucky here we dont have water rates, its included in the rates. We just have to pay for sewage, if we need to empty the tank more then once a year. The water board take so much a year FOC. It ensures that you as a householder keep the tanks working their best and you become extremely careful with what you put down the sink or loo. As we say here - the 3 p's only, and funnily enough Ive never seen coloured loo roll for sale since Ive lived here. Has it gone out of fashion all over the UK? I keep a jar on the kitchen window cill to tip any cooking fat at all and we use as little detergents as we can get away with. Having a tank back up isnt good When we moved here we had trouble for the first few years with the tank not draining as it should, when we finally had to get the cameras in, we had almighty fat bergs in the draining pipes , there was a family lived here before us- wipes, sanitary protection, cotton buds - all sorts, even the odd small toy.

Im heading out for a small shop today. Bread and pack lunch stuff for Mr L, see if there is any bargains to be found. I have loads in the freezers but always look in the YS sections JIC. Been eating the Gammon that the supermarkets had on special at easter since Sunday. Still plenty so Ive promised them Ham, eggs and chips for tonight. I made a couple of litres of greek yoghurt yesterday and a couple of litres of butternut squash soup. Soup was a bit hot - I went a bit ott with the chillies, but a dollop of yoghurt in it and its so lovely. Ive saved the Whey so will be making scones or bread this afternoon

Coming into June and the heating is still on and soup is still required. 

annieb64

It sounds as if your Dad had a good passing. My Dad was a Christian.  He died during one of the lockdowns but the hospital allowed my sister to be there. They asked if she'd like a chaplain.  First the Catholic chaplain came then a Protestant one. They both stayed . I think Dad would have been very pleased and perhaps rather amused. 

London_1

Condolences on your loss Siebrie, to be surrounded by your loved ones at the end is the most important thing and to have lived and had a good life as well. The night before my late husband was taken into hospital (well early hours of the morning really) the last words he spoke to me were "I really have been such a lucky man " he lay down to go off to sleep, and a few hours later I couldn't wake him and had to call an ambulance.
He had an aortic aneurysm bless him, and passed away 20 years ago this July, he just went to sleep and he had myself and our two daughters with him for the next two days.
I spent one long night just talking to him, although he couldn't reply as the lovely nurse said his hearing would be the last to shut down, and to just keep talking as it will help you no end.it was true it did .Just remember the good times and keep focussed on them xx


Well today being Tuesday I went off to Dobbies as usual and had my coffee and natter with my friends .Then a quick scout around their food hall, not a great deal this morning to see, but I did get two pints of semi-skimmed milk OOD tomorrow for 65p. I had this last week ,and even after making some custard it lasted well until I finished it all off on Friday. Waitrose milk seems to last really well 

I decided I would brave the shops, and went to the local shopping centre and had a scout around M&S food hall as I knew I wanted some salad bits
I got an iceberg lettuce ,6 tomatoes, a red pepper and a cucumber all for £2,85 so I thought Hmm so far only spent 3.50, I'll have a look around Sainsbury's as I knew I had some Nectar points but wasn't sure how many I had.

Bought a good few odds and ends to be a sort of top up shop and they had some favourite biscuits of mine on offer. Got to the till and it came to £11.58 so I asked the assistant was there enough points to be able to use some 
No problem you have around more than enough I can take £10.00 off if you like Result  my Sainsbury's shop cost me £1.58 so I came home with lots of stuff and no need to shop anymore this week, and spent a grand total of £5.08 this week and get everything I needed.

OK I dare say I could have done without the LU cinnamon biscuits but they are a treat and I usually only get them when they have a special offer as I'm not that keen on shop bought biscuits. I prefer to make my own but as I'm not able to bend well baking is out of the way for the time being.

So a very productive day today, I also picked up my two ordered library books on the way home, so that's another job ticked off my list of to-do things. The forecast is quite nice for this week so maybe some rest and relaxation in the conservatory with my library books is on the cards.

Tonights dinner is carrots, garden peas cheesy mash and some battered haddock the last two from the freezer as I am trying to source main meals from there and run it down a bit before my holidays.

I hope the sun is shining down on you all ,as in Kent at the moment its a beautiful spring day 


Cheers chums 

JackieO xxx

Florenceem

JackieO - lovely here at the seaside in Kent but I have to stay home - Covid. Don't feel well enough to venture out anyway.

YoungBlueEyes

I hope you feel better soon Florenceem

YorksLass

@Wednesday2000 - Now you know you're on a water meter you'll be able to track more accurately how much you're using and make savings accordingly.  

@Longwalker - Snap, we also have some of the Easter gammon in the freezer.  And, like you, I never put fat down the sink.  I wish my next door neighbour would follow suit - her kitchen drain overflows quite regularly because it's blocked up.  Sometimes she doesn't even realise until I tell her - how on earth she doesn't know beats me, it stinks.  

@London_1 - I'm pleased to hear your shopping trip wasn't quite the shock it might have been, well done on your low spend.  I thought you'd like the Lu cinnamon biscuits (so do I) and also buy them only when on offer - the current offer finishes on 6th June so I may will need to stock up.    The Petit Beurre ones are nice too but I'm not so keen on their Petit Citron Lemon Flavoured Soft Bakes and haven't yet tried the new Petit Ganache ones.  As you say, an occasional treat.

At the beginning of the year I decided the 23rd of each month would be a "Me" day, so today I've been idle and haven't done any spring cleaning.  I did, however, after yesterday's clear out, end up with a lot of surplus plastic clothes hangers (I'm sure they breed in the wardrobe) that I've sadly had to bin.  I know from past experience the CSs don't want them.

Today's dinner is a beef & mushroom casserole using some cooked beef chunks from the freezer, the last few wrinkly mushrooms, some onion and I've also thrown in the last bit of red pepper.  I've also made 8 potato cakes to use up the mash left over from Sunday.  I used the recipe that someone on here posted - sorry, I can't remember who it was, but they turned out well, so thank you!

Back to slothfulness now to make the most of my "Me" day.