Slow Living - Doing It Old Style!

KajiKita

Ooh, yes, I’d like to try making yogurt … 😊

KK

annieb64

I have a Lakeland yogurt maker and make yogurt every week. I use UHT milk as it doesn't need heating and add a tablespoon of dried milk and live yogurt. Once you have made yogurt you can use yogurt from a previous batch as a starter for your next batch.

CRANKY40

I was up early this morning so the tree and all the decorations are away. The tree has to come down carefully as a lot of the decorations are glass and have to be bubble wrapped. I have also dismantled the House Troll's computer chair which his friend broke just by sitting on it yesterday. The bottom gas lift bit is bent somehow so it's in the shed now ready for when I can face a tip run. 

A new chair will be arriving at some point today (he paid for it himself) so until then he is on one of my ordinary chairs from the kitchen table. I'm contemplating making a cake but the tail end of the cold that I've had since the week before Christmas day is still making it's presence felt so that may be a job for in the week.

savingmore

Loving this thread.   I have four months to go until retirement and my slow living can begin in earnest.  Spent twixmas working on 2024 budgets, but had two to work on, pre and post R day.  We are moving too so have a lot of expenses with that, as we have delayed replacing lots of things (mainly white goods sofas, dining room table and chairs, until we move.   Have been saving for replacements so have the money, just need to be buying wisely.   Want to take time to properly research which appliance etc to look at longevity and energy consumption etc.  trying to hold back excitement to not rush decisions.  I too want to start spouting, making yoghurt etc, but now putting it off until we have moved.  and can create new rhythms in life.  So looking forward to 2024.  Happy new year to all fellow journeyers 💕

London_1

cranky40 is your house troll a grown up house elf perchance ?

Hi everyone I retired in 1995, and I much prefer it to working the insane hours I used to. Sadly after 8 years I lost my lovely OH but I've learned to cope and I've had my two super DDs and son-in-laws, plus my 7 terrific grandchildren ,All grown up now the youngest Mikey is a second year uni student now bless him

 I've been blessed with three beautiful great granddaughters, and knitting for them, and my favourite charity has helped.

I am a lot slower probably than I was 28 years ago but again its a fact of life.

I still enjoy my life, even though I've slowed down considerably ,but apart from some health issues this year, (hopefully  on the mend now ) life is good .

I have just read through all the comments and to see such positivity is lovely.

Please to those retiring, don't worry its really not that bad at all ,especially when the sun is out and you can just sit in the garden or potter off to the park . I have a good circle of friends whom I meet with regularly and we put the world to right every Tuesday morning at coffee in Dobbies

I find more than enough to do and have never been bored. In fact there are times when I wouldn't have time to go to work and certainly wouldn't want to now,

 I can please myself when I get up, or go to bed I can eat what if fancy when I want to, believe me the freedomm is amazing

  JackieO  xx

CRANKY40

@London_1 Jackie I started posting on these forums when the House Troll was a House Elf of only three years old and you were still minding little boys after school. Sixteen years later I have a House Troll (the transformation from Elf to Troll happened when he was eleven or thereabouts) and you have great grandchildren ❤️  He's not that bad most of the time but he has his moments. Today he has carried the clean laundry upstairs and also carried the christmas tree and decorations up for me to put away. He wore his pyjamas to eat Christmas dinner but he did sit at the table with me and also ate vegetables so I pick my battles carefully 😊

joedenise

Absolutely agree with JackieO that retirement is brilliant.  I've been retired for 13 years and I certainly don't miss the commute to London every day and being out of the house for nearly 13 hours a day and then coming home to cook and clean and then spending the weekend doing the washing etc!  Can do do whatever I want when I want.

Florafauna

I also have a Lakeland yoghurt makers which is just fabulous and well worth the investment. Have had a blissful afternoon setting up my new sewing machine
Happy new year everyone and here's to being slooooow😁

Wimbledonwomble

Thank you for replying re: yoghurt
I had money left on a gift card and had been looking at the Lakeland yoghurt maker,wondering if it was good. I think I'll order it .

I cannot believe that I used to enjoy shopping and to receiving parcels. Its obviously frugality but also I hate the unwrapping ( all that waste) which  means I hesitate for ages before parting with any money ( even gift cards) .

That is one aspect of being suddenly much poorer that I had not anticipated.  Friends who are still working and often with 2 adults in the household seem unable to understand that I cannot spend as I used to. I think though that  many people have become more aware of cost and taking care of the world in which we live . Which is good. 
I must say , finding that I need spend very little,that I can " make do and mend" that many pastimes are free or very inexpensive, that I'm quite a good cook really,is far more interesting and satisfying than my job ( or buying stuff) ever was . 

Happy new year everyone x

weenancyinAmerica

Re-Spouting - I like radish sprouts, but I grow them in a bowl with potting soil. Best when just coming up with the first two leaves, but still good any time. Can add more seeds as eat what is there. I like them on bread and butter. Taste just like radishes only mild.