Next steps; grip-relaxing bimbling, and avoiding the temptations

Suffolk_lass

I remember that @foxgloves. I always think of the Not the Nine O'Clock News "Gerald the Gorilla" sketch when anyone says they are not happy. It always makes me smile. 
"When I first captured Gerald in the jungle he was not wild..."
"Wild? I was absolutely livid!"

foxgloves

Oh yes, I remember that gorilla! I loved the 80s 'alternative' comedy scene, as it was called back then. In fact, we have tickets for Ben Elton's current tour this week. Still love that scene in 'The Young Ones' when Rik says, 'Hands up everyone who likes ME!'
F

Suffolk_lass

Well I found the Gerald the Gorilla sketch as a FB video. It is just as funny. I think that is the thing about that "alternative comedy scene" - because it no longer relied on targeting minority groups, it has stood the test of time far better than the comedians who picked on others, like the mother-in-law jokes of Les Dawson or the 'don't mention the war" type of jokes. We lived two roads away from Thames TV Studios when I was young and I remember one of my cousin's teachers became notorious because she gave up her teaching job to run around in a bikini being chased in the Benny Hill Show, the school was a short walk along the same road and she was approached walking in one morning.

@foxgloves I'm rather envious of you going to see Ben Elton. And Rick Mayall. What a comedy legend; lost too soon. And forever young. 

I'm at that stage where I watch something and I think "how old is (s)he? and I look them up. Simon Schama (79) in "The history of us" interviewing Bono (64) [who looks much older imho].

I'll try and post later on the money saving today - it did begin with a £20.11 Tilly tidy after yesterday's milk, single cream and carrots top up. I had to physically put the hot cross buns pack down and remind myself it is January! I said this to the woman behind me in the queue who suggested I put the cream back too (cheeky mare!) I said, it is for the soup (which it is - just a little swirl on top instead of making with milk, and Mr Sl likes a dribble of it on his porridge). What is the old saying? "A little bit of what you like does you good"

Suffolk_lass

So, influenced by talk of asparagus and strawberries, I have ordered the strawberry plants (I typically buy 6 of two varieties and dispense with the ones that ran out of steam). I do pot up runners but they can become progressively weaker. I have ordered two dozen this year, plus some plug sweet-peas as mine have been eaten by the naughty rodents.

foxgloves

I need to do this too. I cultivate strawberry plants for 3 years, taking runners during Year 1 & 2 to replace any I lose over winter. After they've fruited in Year 3, I compost them all then start again. We've seen a 3-tier wooden container we'd like for starting off new plants at our village garden centre. £74, but we were hoping it would be reduced in the sale. No sign of that happening yet.
F

Suffolk_lass

I ordered from Kings Seeds - a mixture of one dozen each of two flavoursome varieties (they are only a few miles from us, although they do charge £3.95 for live plants so carriage was twice that for two packs). I wanted a late strawberry as well as a maincrop, as we do enjoy them. On the one occasion there was an error in seeds I bought from them, they posted the correct packet the same day I spoke to them. They sell in hundreds and thousands for agriculture too - so just check your package size if you use them! I can recommend them. Not the cheapest, but if you want them to do well, sometimes quality trumps price in the long-run. 

Right, the second coffee of the morning needs to be had before the 09.00 deadline, so I don't feel I am fasting yet.

Suffolk_lass

Back today after my two days of medical stuff. [Feel free to skip the next two paragraphs. You don't realise it is in your head until it is done.

Day one, not so good. The vile mixture contains lots of artificial sweetener and flavours - things I avoid because they do not agree with me. As a result, the second part of the treatment was more of an emetic than a laxative, and in the process two things happened. Thing one, it did not work as thoroughly as it should have. Although the procedure of examination took place, the removal did not. I have two polyps to be removed using a different preparation to clean me out, yet to be arranged. So a bit like @foxgloves, I have to do it all again. Thing 2 is that my mouth blistered across the roof, especially behind my teeth, and I am ulcerated inside my bottom lip and all round the tip of my tongue, like bee-stings. Deep joy. This is what happens when you have to consume something you avoid. I don’t think the “low residue diet” helped either - with no F&V, it left me bound up.

Day two a success though. The cysts are slightly smaller and NFA, although they will look again, probably in 12 months. It was so easy, going in through an entrance normally packed M-F with only pregnant women and their partners, plus a few of us older women to be monitored. Running the clinic on a Saturday is great for us and I thanked them all. The whole thing was gentler and chattier with a woman undertaking the scan too. Win-win.

I celebrated by leaving Mr Sl to the rugby and going for a mooch around the nearest garden centre. I am going to buy some herbaceous plants to repopulate the bed at the front that we have been clearing of docs, bind-weed, creeping thistle and ground elder. Yesterday was fact-finding and ideas. Not good. 

Fact 1; it was all three times the price of the last time I bought anything

Fact 2; I could get better plants by dividing things in my garden (and will!)

Fact 3; I need a bit more of a plan. My brain emptied as I wandered around.

I saw about three things to consider Edgeworthia chrysantha (paperbush, Sarcococca confusa (sweet box), there was a reduced daphne I am still considering, but at £18.99 instead of £36.99 it is still very expensive! and some more lavender and pittosporum

Another to visit this morning with a bigger choice but further away. No dogs allowed so just me and Mr Sl is going to the cinema this afternoon so not a long trip as I need to get back to be the one with the dog.

Money - DH has been “paid” both his state and occupational pensions. Me? my occupational will be Tuesday, but with council tax done for this financial year, I hope to use some of this to invest in plants. My state pension is not until mid-month.

I am so grateful to the medical professionals and I feel a weight has been lifted.

Right, coffee, stop lolling in my nightie and get a wiggle on! Happy Sunday!

Suffolk_lass

Right! Monday morning. I can see but not touch, my occupational pension. All the monthly DD have gone but no CT this month or next as I pay over ten months (I do love that!). I need to be careful not to spend it multiple times though!

I have spent nearly £80 in the Garden Centre because, the plants were on my list and were last year's. They had left pots at £8.99 from last year, alongside the new stock (smaller and £14.99 each) so obviously I picked up several of the last year's pots. I also resisted the temptation to buy anything I have elsewhere as we will divide some instead. I also did indulge myself by buying a myrtle, which I want for the perfume to go in that bed at the front.

Not today though. I have a funeral today. An elderly beekeeper and I think there may be lots of us. I was not as close to him as some but I do need to go and pay my respects. He was generous and helpful. I didn't agree with everything he did but it was all well-intentioned and from a wealth of experience.

Suffolk_lass

Right, Mr Sl & DS (on a rest day) have been and collected the garage doors I bought for £80 on Faceache MP. He then drove to DS's with the toilet, wash hand basin built in unit and wall boards that have been in our cart lodge for a year!! It was adopting someone else's bees that delayed everything so we are determined to keep it low key this year!

So hooray! there is space in the cart lodge that was not there and soon the doors will be modified, the barn door fixings added and they will be painted black and hung, for a bit more security at last. Lots of wood needs treating (painting with the black shed preservative) - it will be so much better!

Pension arrived today and I indulged in a big Tilly Tidy before logging on to NS&I - hooray, three bond wins; £100, £50 and £25, so that is lovely. No more for Mr Sl by the difference in holdings makes a big difference! I also got a "you have won £10" from Omaze. Only redeeming it can only be undertaken by taking out a subscription. Nope. No intention of doing that. I have entered three times, but that is me done now (unless I win the current draw house, which my ticket was bought for!)

Right, stop bimbling and study woman!

foxgloves

Oooh, you lucky thing on the Premium Bond wins! I'm afraid ERNIE failed to bung a few quid in our direction again this month, the mean pig, but I live in hope. Could do with a nice cash injection to get us a bit nearer to our Suffolk move when Mr F retires. Are you listening Ernie? 
F