La Dolce Vita (The Sweet Life) - on a tiny budget.

Wednesday2000

Wellness Wednesday is off to a good start as I had my second reflexology session this morning. I feel very relaxed and not tired like last time. She is a lovely lady.

I met another lovely lady from this forum on Monday and we went for a long walk in the local woods.

I'm thinking of moving to Broadstairs when my husband retires in 2026 so I was thinking that I should take full advantage of how vegan friendly Leigh-on-sea is while I'm here. I have 3 fully vegan restaurants within 10 minutes walk of my house. I will probably never live anywhere like this again.

After my reflexology I had lunch at one of them. A pumpkin spice latte and roasted tomato soup. I'm feeling very contented right now.🤩

annieb64

I'm just down the coast from Broadstairs. We haven't lived here long but haven't found a vegan restaurant yet.The Veg Box in Canterbury is mainly vegan although does have butter for bread and cows milk or you can have non- dairy. 

Lots of good farm shops.
 

Wednesday2000

annieb64 said:

I'm just down the coast from Broadstairs. We haven't lived here long but haven't found a vegan restaurant yet.The Veg Box in Canterbury
 

I was googling earlier and I did see that place mentioned.

Do you like the area? My cousin lives near Botany Bay and really likes it. I'm seeing her at the end of this month so we can look around. I haven't been there since I was 14 on a school trip!

annieb64

We love it. There is so much going on. Broadstairs has a food festival twice a year and Canterbury once a year. Sandwich seems to have something once a month in the summer-medieval weekend, 1940s weekend, arts week etc. We could go to an event every weekend if we had the time and energy.

Wednesday2000

annieb64 said:

We love it. There is so much going on. Broadstairs has a food festival twice a year and Canterbury once a year. Sandwich seems to have something once a month in the summer-medieval weekend, 1940s weekend, arts week etc. We could go to an event every weekend if we had the time and energy.

Oh brilliant. I am going to start a thread on the house moving section tomorrow to see what other people on here say too.

helensbiggestfan

Good Morning my lovely friends.,  sorry I have been awol again but I'm here now.  

Wednesday. Loving the sound of a move to Broadstairs. It's really nice in that part of the world.  I would move to the south coast in a heartbeat but it would mean leaving my family.......  

It reminds me I once had a romance with a gorgeous man who although he lived and worked in London, his family lived in Canterbury. He took me house hunting there so I'm guessing he was ready to commit but unfortunately  I sensed that he wasn't the man for me.  I felt he was rushing me.  Sure enough the romance fizzled out after a while but It was nice whilst it lasted. 😉.  

The funny thing is when I met the man who became my husband I knew within days he was the "The One". I think you know almost immediately.  At least thats how it was for me.  

Anyhoo.....

Thrifty Thursday.  

October is always one of  my heaviest months in financial terms but thanks to my frugality this year I have sailed through with ease.   I am still working on reducing my food budget of course, trying not to be extravagant but at the same time still trying to eat a healthy well balanced diet, all made more difficult with food choices being a bit restricted due to my dental implants.  Hey ho. It's all in a good cause.

  I have been shopping more online, not for groceries but the "extras" I can't get from shops like Lidl or Aldi.  Avoiding Sainsburys and Asda and the like is definitely saving me money.  It's partly due to laziness but I'm also finding it helps me concentrate and just stick to planned purchases.  Less browsing seems to equate to fewer impulse buys.  I haven't bought anything from a charity shop in ages.  Last few times I've browsed I have found them rather disappointing.  Maybe I need to try some different shops but I don't really need any new clothing this winter so I probably won't bother much.  I bought quite a lot of knitwear and some new thermal underwear a few weeks ago so I think I am pretty much sorted. 

I do browse on eBay and hunt for bargains (bought two really nice handbags recently). I might take a look at Vinted at some point. 

The good news is Octopus have reduced my monthly direct debit by around £50 and I'm £500 in credit. The house I am in now is much warmer and cosier than my last place and my bills are quite a bit lower.  Also thanks to rising interest rates, the interest I am earning on my house money fund nearly covers my rent here. So all in all the finances are looking quite healthy at the moment.  The big expense is the dental treatment but I think I mentioned I have taken advantage of their interest free payment plan.  It helps lesson the fiscal pain. 😂🤣.  

Other than that, nothing much happening here.  I do actually feel that I am in a bit of a rut at the moment and that I could do with shaking things up a bit. However I'm finding it quite difficult to do much other than keep up with the dental work.  So far it's going well, not nearly as painful as I anticipated but none  the less I do feel it's taking it out of me.  I feel very tired and drained.  The blood tests I had recently show some anomalies so maybe that's the problem.  Just waiting to see my consultant next week. Take it from there.  Anyway with a bit of luck I should have completed stage 1 of the implants by mid November and then I can ease off and crack on with other things. 

I think at some point I might treat myself to a winter sunshine holiday. I think I have earned it.  😂🤣

Wednesday2000

Yes, you should get a winter break to top up your vitamin D. I'm thinking about getting away in February as that is usually the most depressing month!

I almost went to uni in Canterbury. It is a nice place.:)

helensbiggestfan

Thrifty Thursday.  

Hello my lovely friends.  Sorry I have been awol.  A combination of factors.  Tech issues, fibro flare up, dental treatments - all conspiring against me. 😂🤣

Anyhoo.....Im here now and all is well - well as good as it can be given the state of the world at the moment but I've decided that as there's precious little I can do except prepare for the worst and hope for the best so I'm just going to concentrate on the things that I can control.

 A sort of my list and God's list if you will.  

As it's Thrifty Thursday I have done my weekly financial round up and things are generally ok.  Still living a simple and frugal life and enjoying life's simple pleasures.  I did have a little splurge and treated myself to a faux fur coat off eBay.  It's gorgeous and at just £25 a real bargain.  

Today is bright and sunny so will head out in a moment.  A few bits from Lidl and a gentle stroll.  

More than half way through dental treatments.  Final two implants next week.  It's going well, no real problems.  Next week will be the big one, requiring gum surgery so a bit anxious.  Hey ho, at least it will be over by Christmas, so I can relax and look forward to my new Hollywood smile sometime next spring.  😁.  

Saw my gynae last week.  She's sending my blood tests results to my GP. In the meantime she has started me on HRT patches.  It's been a week now, still early days to reap any real benefits but so far so good, no unpleasant side effects. In the past I always felt at my best when taking HRT so I am hopeful that sorting out my hormones will be a good starting point for a new and improved me next year. Lol. 

Now if I could just shift some weight..........😱😂. 

Hope you are all well........and savouring life's good moments. 

Humdinger1

Thanks @helensbiggestfan; fab to hear from you.   Yep, I'm focusing on the things I can control too.  Feeling a bit bogged down in medical stuff too: I reversed type two diabetes but have now dipped back in.  So, seriously working on reversing the reversal.  Love Humdinger xx 

Makingabobor2

I've been absent from most of the diaries for a few weeks, due to broken wrist and couldn't type very well with left hand only. Just starting to get back into a bit of 2 handed typing now...although still painful as only 5 weeks since fall. so hoping to get back into your days of the week as I think you have some great ideas here.