NST Awesome August

f0xh0les

 @grandmanerd the C-word chocolate has been out for a while now in Mr Ts. The Willy's Sale got me some solar 'tree' lights - £3.75 for 50 lights, so the charger will go in my north facing bedroom window and there is still enough light to keep them going brightly as soon as dusk falls and still faintly glow when I get up in the morning. I have a set In my hall from the front door to the bottom of the stairs, it is my version of bunting, and it makes it lovely and witchy when you walk through at night. Plus it has no running costs. 

In other news, I think my interest rate bank account jiggle last month will net me an extra £50 a month in the budget.

thriftylass

"When life knocks you down, roll over and look at the stars" I think this is my favourite one. 

Finances this month not looking too shabby and still got child benefit to come in on Monday. Didn't overspent this month and paid some debt which is good. DH wanted to also buy the carpet now for the kids bedrooms but I convinced him that rather than buying cheap now I'd rather get slightly better quality in October when I have the money for it. Luckily the rooms are small enough to carpet them with carpet roll remnants and months ago we found a carpet store (I think it was Carpetwrong) who sells them heavily reduced e.g. a fancy plush £700 remnant that would fit for £200 and similar. Finished DDs furniture yesterday and moved the last bits out that didn't belong. So, I think tonight we'll mover her stuff down and I can start doing up their old room as DS's room next week. 

Will definitely do some gardening this weekend too, the grass is about a foot high.

Not an NSD today as I treated myself to some snacks on the way to work. DH is away tonight so I think the kids and I will have HM chicken goujons and chips, should still have some parboiled tatties in the freezer.

Have a good day

Toni'sfriend

A huge bag of unwanted bits and bobs removed. Some donated to my little girly friend who is delighted with little sample bottles of perfume, make up bags which were free with purchases. handbag mirrors. hand cream, etc. Not so sure that her mother is so delighted though.

Her much older sister has started tracing her family tree and has informed me that after doing it for a day she's related to Mary Queen of Scots. I don't think so, Pet! I've been doing mine since 1990 (before you could do it online) and since the sister and I share a common GGG Grandfather I think I'd have discovered that by now.  I've given her all my info, photocopies of birth certificates, etc and pointed her in the right direction to do it properly. I'd hate her to be disappointed when she eventually discovers that they were, in fact, poor miners and there's no money or titles lurking somewhere in the background.

So, a bit more decluttering today. I really need the space. But I an still getting very tired and not quite up to date on the housework front. My nephew and his family are coming to see me tomorrow so if they see any cobwebs, etc they'll just have to put up with it.  Actually he's a good lad. He'd probably get out the feather duster and clear it for me. Looking forward to seeing them. Last time was when they very kindly brought me home from hospital.

Himself is just about to make me some pasta for lunch. He's a star.

Have a good day. xxx

Toni'sfriend

If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain (Dolly Parton)

I like that one. Very wise.

weenancyinAmerica

On one of my trips to England, one of the department stores was having a C-word in July sale. I bought my C-word cards for the year plus a couple of ornaments. Maybe you can pretend it is for tourists as souvenirs.

grandmanerd

Yes I saw  cards in the cs but people write and send cards early. Tinsel is tinsel. Not impressed by the mountains of Halloween carp, either- just think about all those American declutter shows where they have a basement full of large boxes of decorations for every season and possible excuse for a holiday. Sorry weenancy I know you aren't guilty of that but your relative with the 96 trees is not alone.

Today has been very spendy. I made it to Morries on the bus, got a small trolley rather than a pull along basket and spent lots. I did get things for the food bank, my flowers which were more than I had planned to spend but are gorgeous roses in crimson, 2 shades of pink and cream, 4 packs of spring bulbs (I would probably have spent £50-60 if I'd ordered online), 2 large flats of cyclamen which I'll grow on and have on my windowsills. Lots of food, especially salads and lots of ys - veg, fruit, prepared fruit (I like melon, kiwi fruit and a few others but only in very small quantities). I resisted lemon buns, the products of the Yorkshire bakers and several aisles of goodies (and yes f0xholes there were 3 towers of those chocolates in one corner) but bought frozen fruit and red berries lollies (they were on offer, it would have been rude not to). I was going to buy a magazine but couldn't find where they had hidden them. Was  tempted by a craft mag at the cigarette counter (I went there to redeem my cashed in coins) but it was £14.99 so not appealing ( couldn't find a price tag so asked the assistant I said 'no thank you', the counter assistant said 'I'd have rejected it on your behalf). Called a taxi and asked him to go the scenic route and very pleasant it was. The other way is notionally shorter but the roundabout at that junction is madness at the best off times (retail park and Sainsbugs, Arseda, Al -dee and many others directly facing, major route into and out of town on the crossroads and they've made multiple peeling off roads.

Got home after 2 pm, ate and then went to my optician's appointment. Both eyes have altered, the left is more noticeable so I'm having new pairs of both reading and distance glasses and when they come back my current ones will be sent off to have the lenses upgraded, so I'll have spare pairs of both. I've given then a £200 deposit and the balance will be slightly less but I wear them all the time, they make my life so much richer and I can't count on always having the money so it's sensible to upgrade when I have the choice (I don't change every year, these should last about 5 years, with just any lenses required for changes in vision).

Very tired after that but have been downstairs since, taken rubbish out, brought the bins back (2 out of 3) and pegged out my clothes to dry. Grateful for pretty new glasses (stepping out of my comfort zone), lots of lovely food and flowers (and future flowers), taking the scenic route.

beanielou

New glasses are worth their weight in gold @grandmanerd.  Hope you love them. 

f0xh0les

Happy Bank Holiday Weekend Turtle-friends!  *

*Except those in Scotland, where normal service has resumed

lcc86

Forgot to post yesterday, had a bit of a long day at work then started feeling unwell again with the whole migraine-ache-issue again. Medication I've been given isn't doing the job. I did buy lunch yesterday as we were having a bring and share lunch. 

Today I've still been feeling ill but had to travel to East London for work, bought lunch on my way back to the office. Was meant to be going to a leaving do after work but felt too ill to go so came home. Today was my last day before a week off so I had to get loads done before I signed off.

Nothing really MSE achieved, although I did get paid yesterday so I finalised my budget and moved everything ready to be sorted out for 1st September. 

beanielou

Feel better soon @Icc86.