Living abroad tips and hints for money savers

droopsnout

Well, overall, I guess that's great news, d-g! And well done for the weight loss!

I lost 12 kilos last year, but weight has been stable for several months now. Was hoping the gardening would help now that spring is here, and need to get out on my bike. Of course, I spend too much time on the lappy for that!!

Cholesterol is funny stuff. My Mum hardly eats enough to keep an ant alive, but has had high cholesterol. Some people's systems just seem to make more of the stuff.

"Starvation and no alcohol" ... Yes ... On the other hand, there's no point being here unless there are some pleasures in life. Do I want to live an extra year (in a nursing home???) by eating nothing but bean sprouts? I think not.

seven-day-weekend

Good news on the whole, donny-gal.

I am prone to high b-p too , but fortunately mine is controlled by one tablet a day.

I'm pretty sure mine is weight-related. I did manage to lose ten kilos last year, but a couple of them have crept back on again.

Cut down on the vino tinto methinks.

seven-day-weekend

Thanks droopsnout for the bostin Black Country conversation.

Just one last thing. Have you ever seen the Black Country Old Testament? It's so funny!

For example , when God makes Eve out of Adam's rib and says ' I have made you a helpmeet, Adam', the Black Country OT reports God's words as 'Ah bin got yo a wench, Oddom'.

:rotfl::rotfl:

Anyway, I'm from northwest Wolverhampton and only the extreme southeast tip of the city could (arguably) be said to be in the Black Country, so Ah doh a-tork like that.

Bostin, ta!

droopsnout

Ah! "Bostin" ... Haven't heard that for a few years. Made me smile!

I was a student in Brum for four years, and stayed on another four years teaching there. (Handsworth/Handsworth Wood/Hamstead area).

When I was a student, the lady who cleaned our rooms (God bless her!) was just lovely, and always reminded me of Amy Turtle ("Crossroads"). She spoke just like her. She was a bit of a second Mum to some of us blokes there.

Very happy memories of my years there.

No - haven't come across the Black Country Old Testament. Is it on the web somewhere?

Oh, and we knew C&C C in our caravanning days.

seven-day-weekend

Can't find (or cor foind) a copy on the web, but you can buy it here:
http://www.whsmith.co.uk/CatalogAndSearch/ProductDetails-The+Old+Testament+in+the+Dialect+of+the+Black+Country+-9780904015096.html

(It starts....in the beginnin wuz the Word and the word wor...BOSTIN!)

I didn't know those people well, but I know who they are. They both used to live not far from me when I was a teenager.

Merrywidow

Hi Donny-Gal -sounds like the doc gave you a very mixed report. Does that mean you have to postpone your departure?

donny-gal

No - she wants a follow up in two months, but is happy for me to do that in the UK, waiting now for the NHS to say oh you can't have those tablets they're too expensive. Requests I see her again on my return in Sepember/October.

Current plans are to leave next Friday/Saturday, going to Verdun to sort the rally out on the Monday morning, then trying to try to Belgium route to Dunkerque and cross 8ish Monday night. Now need to attach the TomTom to confirm which way we will go.

Weird feeling, looking forward to going home, but don't want to at the same time, but looking forward to meeting my new great nephew born on Wednesday. Also ready for a shop in Donny.

DG

Francophile

droopsnout wrote: »

LOL. My sense of adventure was slightly squashed on Saturday when a stepladder crumbled under my enormous bulk, and, tippling to the side, left me high and dry, cartoon-style, pedalling frantically in thin air before collapsing on top of the aluminium.

Aluminium is a soft metal. But it is harder than me.

Sunday saw me gallivanting off to the hospital for x-rays on my heel.

I am now largely recovered, the bruising to the back and chest is no longer crushingly painful (you have to lay it on thick, non?), and I have cast off with straight abandon the plastic ankle support which was keeping me on the vertically straight and narrow.

So, having taught and touristed today, I'm tottering to the tatie patch tomorrow, for a touch of torso twisting. Well, a bit of digging and planting strawberry plants, all being well.


However, the weather here has just turned gusty, so we could be inside ...

That's sounds scary. Hope you're fully recovered now.

gfplux

Hello All,
Good to hear that visits to Doctors and Hospitals have not had bad results.
We are just back from Tunisia. The Hotel was great and it only rained three days out of four Ha. Ha.
I mowed the lawn here in Luxembourg today and the sun was shining and it was 22C. Just as hot as North Africa!!
Happy Easter to all and safe travelling.

droopsnout

Welcome back, gfplux! Hope you had a good time.

Weather here is variable at the moment. Was a windy morning, fine afternoon, and rainy evening. That's OK. It's watered in the strawberry plants.