Moving on

Cherryfudge

I was woken by an insect bite about 5 this morning. It was raining. I gave up trying to sleep till I'd had a snack and didn't sleep very well even then but woke at 9.30, so I've actually had what seems to me a reasonable amount. After that I dashed around tidying up as I'd invited H and the girls over, but wasn't sure if she'd got the message. As it was they came about 11.20 so I'd had breakfast and tidied a bit. I'd even cooked up the rest of the rhubarb, which I had with custard after work.

We had sandwiches for lunch, did some craft activities then, the weather having turned nice, took the girls out to the playground for an hour or so. It got really hot so I found ice creams in the freezer when we got home. I think I might 'need' some more: they are nicer than the tub of ice cream or the ice pops that are cluttering up the space. I've also taken some delightful videos of the children.

Tea was a hurried tuna pasta, but I managed to get to work on time (3 hours) and finished  the pasta when I got home.

Nothing spent today and I've been going though bank statements from earlier in the year (just finished March/April) to get my budget sorted out.

Oh - third time lucky - we caught the mouse! Twice it had stolen the bait and got out of the trap, but this time it was sprung and DH released it in some parkland where I hope it will be happy (plenty of shelter and undergrowth, though lacking in the monkey nuts I used to bait the trap).

Cherryfudge

Another hot day: three hours helping out at church then three hours at work, so who needs gym membership?! I've only lost a very small amount of weight since starting this job, but I'm much more toned up. I remembered I had a coupon for extra club card points if I spent £3 on frozen fruit of veg, so I bought 'imperfect' berries and peas, both of which I know we will eat. I only just managed to cram them into the freezer by dint of putting the remains of the previous pack of berries in the fridge and letting DH know they are there as he likes them.

This evening I've pushed on with the bank statements - it's kind of compelling now I've got started. I'm up to the end of May. We seem to eat out a lot when we're with friends, though we have also developed a small coffee and cake habit of our own. Holidays are expensive... but worth it. DH has a habit of multiple tiny food purchases at supermarkets without which I'd whizz through these bank statements in half the time. I probably spend at least as much as he does, but I make it simpler by spending in bigger chunks. I know a lot of our expenses are negligible compared to what many people have to deal with: I am so thankful we got our mortgage paid off and can both get to work on foot.

And would you believe it, another charity shop was selling an ice cream maker! I've not been bothered about not having one but just now I keep thinking how nice it would be, and I could use basic ingredients rather than the yucky stuff we bought a while ago. Someone remind me it would just sit there most of the year...

Expenditure:
Housekeeping £6 approx? (Lost receipt)

in_need_of_direction

How would the cost per use compare to purchase price of alternatives? Also, you’d be controlling how it’s flavoured, with natural flavours or additives.  I’m generally disinclined to kitchen gadgets but given that this has been missed, I’d say go for it

Cherryfudge

The cost per use is a good question, thanks for asking it @in_need_of_direction! Daft that I'd not thought of it in that way but actually it could work out favourably and as you say, I could be much more choosy about what goes in it. I've already got a citrus sorbet recipe from these boards that I want to make for DH, who can't have lactose.

I'm not at all certain the ice cream maker I spotted the other day will still be there, but it would be worth looking this afternoon. No instructions but there are always some online. The other thing is it's an activity I could try with the grand daughters... they could also help me eat the results!

Laura_Elsewhere

I reckon ice cream is a year-round thing! You can enjoy the seasonal fruits throughout the summer and into autumn, but then think about classic vanilla with hot sticky toffee pudding or apple pie? And what about making Xmas Pudding ice cream after Christmas? Before that how about pumpkin spice ice cream to eat with hot freshly-baked spiced biscuits crumbled over it at Halloween? 

Cherryfudge

Oh my goodness @in_need_of_direction and @Laura_Elsewhere, are you in sales? You should be!  

I will go looking this afternoon.

This morning we went to the car boot sale. The weather is hot and sunny, it was busy and I resisted a few things but bought several as well, each at grand total of 50p. There's an old coffee jug which looks like factory seconds but an initial look online shows similar priced between £5 and £145, so goodness knows what it's worth! I'm not even sure the lid is the original, though it goes very well and obviously coffee isn't bothered about that. There's an orange scarf because I love the colour - more tangerine than orange - and it would look great with the green I'm wearing today, though I don't know that it would work with my skin colouring. There are a couple of plain tee shirts, men's ones so DH gets first dibs but if he doesn't like them, they will find their way into my collection. Lastly there are some cream/stone coloured M&S trousers for me.

I have a load of laundry on the line but no other housework has been done. Food shopping is needed and L1dl sent me a coupon for a free bakery item though I didn't spend the usual qualifying £50 there in July.

redofromstart

I have used our (cheap/£13 new) ice cream maker weekly.  The bowl takes up room in the freezer, and you do have to plan ahead.

for me it is worth it, Mr Redo eats good quality vanilla ice cream regularly, rather than we are eating more to justify the purchase. It's only a little bit cheaper (but much nicer) unless you get a bargain on the cream. Every so often our bakery counter at MrM does 4 pints of double cream for £1 when they overstock. I use vanilla bean paste rather than pods to keep the cost down. 

I prefer sorbet, and nice sharp lower sugar ones so again, worth it for me. I don't eat bought sorbet as it is too sweet and artificial tasting, but HM lemon is glorious. 

Cherryfudge

I have my ice cream maker. Also have a headache, so I've not even checked to see if it's working, but there's no opportunity to make anything for a few days anyway as we're eating at J and L's tomorrow and I'm working most evenings next week apart from Tuesday which is pizza evening with my friends.

DH and I did two supermarket trips - neither huge, but we got the free bread from the L!dl scratch card, some pasta on offer and lots of DH's favourite rusk-type things.

Expenditure:
Clothing £2
Household £6.50
Housekeeping £18.08

Cherryfudge

Feeling better today, but a bit down and anxious so I made myself talk about it to DH, who was helpful. I'm not clear exactly what's behind it but the August change of routine doesn't help. For the last couple of months I've kept myself very busy, but everything slackens off in August so I have too much time to think.

We did 'church from home' today, though I'm afraid I was hardly there, seeing as I was listening with one ear while making a pineapple upside down cake to take to J and L's. I noticed they were playing some of the music recorded during the lockdown, then went on to do live music, so we suspect those in the actual building were having a fire drill, especially as the chairs had been rearranged for August and someone had made a point of explaining from the front that people should respect some marked-off empty areas as they gave access, and if there happened to be a need to evacuate, the exits are there, there and there!

We had a lovely meal with J and L (risotto, followed by pineapple upside down cake, then an hour or so of dog walking through the local greenery and a sit out on their new patio). I have some cuttings from their olive trees, though I suspect it may be a bit late in the season to grow them.

Back at home, DH went to the last evening of his course and I watered the plants outside. It may look as though it's going to rain but actually it's not rained enough for weeks. I also collected up some of the stray plant pots and saucers and washed them. The broken ones are set aside for the garden centre to recycle and I will sort the rest so I don't have an inordinate number of small ones any more, and the spares can also go to the garden centre. About a dozen cleaned and drying. Dozens still to locate and work through!

Nothing spent.

Cherryfudge

Woke about six, too warm... that's cos the duvet is back in its cover, which in turn is because yesterday was cooler, but then again today will be warmer... feeling a bit yawny in consequence.

DH has gone to work and I'm going to try being strict with myself and saying I must get certain things done:

• pop to Mr S for more tuna and any other bits we need
• get more makeup remover
• make a chick pea tikka in the slow cooker
• ironing
• round up some more plant pots
• check ice cream maker is working
• prep for tomorrow's study
• work at 5
• weed at least one garden tub
• do an item of mending or sewing
• push on with the budget

By the way, you can put yesterday evening's torrential downpour down to me as I was the one who watered the garden at dusk.