And now we go again...

EssexHebridean

Definitely an advantage of having the battery greenbee - it gives you the flexibility to make far better use of those really low rates doesn't it. I am very glad I caught up with the washing over the weekend, even if some of it was not done at the absolute best rates, it was a lot cheaper than anything done today would have been! 

Thanks to RT for prompting me via a comment on her diary, I have put in a delay repay for the travel back on Saturday night. I suspect I may have put it in for the wrong length of time, as all I had to go on was how delayed it was when I hurled myself off it onto the platform at Coventry, but it's worth a try! For the sake of less than 5 minutes effort, anything I get will be a win. 

PennysIntoPounds

Oh well done you on cleaning the silver so it can be worn, I will try to do mine in advance but suspect there's a strong chance of them being my two remaining pieces once everything else has been worn 😁

I'm convinced soft cheese switches entirely in one fell (and foul) swoop, you take it out for lunch and it's fine, you take it out for dinner to use up on the same day and it looks like smurfs have been having a swingers party in it 

Sun_Addict

Soft cheese is the devil’s work. How does it go mouldy so fast 🙁

Makingabobor2

Was thinking of you last night EH, we came across the program on BBC Scotland called Island Crossings, all about the ferries going to the various Scottish islands.    We have watched it a few times before, just love the scenery.  I said to DH that there is a lady on MSE who I'm sure uses these ferries to go on her holidays. 

Watty1

Loving the jewellery advent idea.  I've cleaned mine and put aside some bits to donate as I realised I did not like much so decluttered the box, found a silver jewellery cleaner and dipped the silver and am now wondering how to make the best out of some costume broaches probably from the 80s.

EssexHebridean

That is indeed "our" ferries MAB - although one of the most entertaining things about that series is all the stuff it glosses over! It's lovely hearing the stories about the people involved though - there was a fascinating exhibition all about the ferries that we went to while we were over there last, really interesting! 

SA & PiP, I'm so glad it isn't just me with the cheese - yes, I have a sneaking feeling that it is actually closely related to avocado in that if you turn your back for a second and blink it will instantly go from "edible" to "Bleurgh!" 

MSE Stuff:
- Banks checked and all good
- regular saver shuffles done last night although MrEH still needs to do his
- I need to get some CC shuffling done as various bits have hit and need clearing. 
-  I also need to decide whether to shift the £300 that's transferred to FD but won't be taken by them this month back again.
- Prolific still trotting along nicely - pennies under £14 payable/£9.49 pending (plus a couple of bonuses that I know are coming, but not how much, or not yet)
- Electrickery rates today are 'orrible, very glad it is not a WFH day for MrEH! Will be trying to ensure that food this evening gets cooked as fast as possible!
- On the subject of food, last night's was tasty and packed with random veg! Tonights stir fry will use a tub of pork chunks from the freezer and more random veg - I also plan to dispatch MrEH outside for some chard to go with that as well as stir fries need greenery! 
- My Christmas list is now with MrEH and Mum - and as usual consists of a mix of needs and wants. 
- Need to get the train tickets for travel on Friday sorted out - it usually pays to book those at least a bit ahead.

At some stage I need to do some planning and thinking about expenditure this month - as my usual "christmas food buffer" has NOT built up in the grocery account. There is some excess in the christmas pot however, so that will get factored in. It underlines that we do need to think about budgeting more for food though I think, nothing is getting cheaper, is it! 

lucielle

Food is so expensive!  There are only so many things you can cut back on. Hope you get a good mix of needs and wants off your list. 

L

Baileys_Babe

I find pears have a tiny window of perfection, about 5 seconds, before that as hard as a bullet and after very soft and mouldy 🍐

EssexHebridean

Ha yes BB - this is also true of pears, or so MrEH tells me! (He also maintains that the phrase "bruises like a peach" should in fact refer to pears instead, as once they hit that miraculous "ripe enough to eat" window so much as the tiniest knock sees them collapse into a macerated heap!) 

L - there are, and frankly we're rather past the "trimming everything down to the bone" phase of life now too - unless of course it's a cooked chicken we're referring to! Our current budget simply doesn't fit for the current day prices and still allow us to build a surplus - I think we have done well keeping it as low as we have, for as long as we have, really. 

MSE Stuff:
- remembered that I had a £5 reward to redeem for completing a survey a few weeks ago, that has now been cashed out for a £5 T's voucher which will help towards christmas food.
- having done that, was reminded that I also had £15 cashback sitting in my m*n*ys*p*rm*rk*t account from an insurance purchase earlier in the year, so I trotted over there and cashed THAT out for an Al's voucher! 
- T's have sent CC savings vouchers through the post - I've bookmarked the first (£4 off £30 spend) to use this week
- I've also made sure I've selected any vaguely appropriate clubcard challenge options too, so will bear those in mind.
- £5.34 Delay/repay credit to come back from the west coast train people - I think that is 25% of our return ticket price so while not a fortune, it all helps! 
- Conversation was had last night about switching out our current everyday spending CC for a rewards one, now there are some about again. I've done a check through the Credit Club, and it looks like my best bet may be a Virg.Money one paying 0.25% cashback.
- MrEH fed his Oyster yesterday morning, which was roughly expected. 
- My car was fed at the weekend but that should see me through this month and some. 
- Prolific still going nicely - my cumulative total for the month already sitting at above £30! 
- Train tickets booked for tomorrow's travel - £19.70 total which will come from our personal spends, as of course will the other spending tomorrow. 

Nice things:
1st - Baileys, and home made mince pies
2nd - wearing a pretty pair of earrings I made years ago and can't recall the last time they saw the light of day! Also we ate the remaining mince pies!
3rd - having taken the time last night to clean a number of pieces of tarnished silver jewellery, today's earrings are a pretty pair of celtic knotwork studs!
4th - it was jewellery again, this time a pair of sweet little drop earrings again in a celtic style, and a silver and amber necklace, another thing I'd forgotten about! Oh - and a 2 finger k1tk@t each after tea!
5th - Wearing the little stud earrings I wore on our wedding day, plus a pretty silver/cubic zirconia necklace which tends to come out when I want something fancy, but not OTT. Poor thing though, why should it be relegated to that?!  We will also be pubbing after work! 

Food this evening is going to be an everything omelette I think - ie, one to use up various bits of veg! MrEH was enthusiastic on his chard gathering last night, so there will be some of that to go in as well. 

Makingabobor2

Love a good omelette.  Just wish DH did, he has an aversion to eggs. He will only eat fried ones, and then only the yolk!   Says eggs make him feel sick, but strangely, he will eat quiche....there is no rhyme or reason to it.