Friday 27 July 2018

Five (or hopefully more) frugal things

Friday again. How did that happen.

Busy week at work, except for Wednesday when I had the day off so went window shopping in Ikea, ready for Greek shopping in September. I literally spent nothing, Although i did join the Ikea family which was free but apparently will save me vast amounts of money in some unspecified way. Also popped to the Asian supermarket to stock up on chillies, tahina and tinned chickpeas. So much cheaper than the normal supermarket. I did pick up my shopping from there too though but I ordered ahead and had it picked for me, free of course, so I didn't get led astray.

I noticed that where the weather has been so hot, for us, that filling bottles of water and keeping them in the drinks fridge has got everyone on board. I don't think I have seen a fizzy drink in the house for over a month. Health win and finance win. We do have a fridge that dispenses water but the bottles refilled in the fridge that we keep at a lower temperature are irresistible. And i like that we aren't wasting a ton of bottles either, just washing them and refilling.

I went for a swim with my 90 year old dad and my sister on Tuesday. The swim is free because Fahed works at the leisure centre. I lost my card, nearly had to pay! EEK. All ended well though and they printed me a new one. I asked when i can use the gym as its all free for us but has to be off peak, but the girl said you can use it any time you like. Doesn't seem to need to be off peak anymore. Big win for me

I advertised 2 expensive items on ebay, which i should have done ages ago. The air fryer (known as the hair dryer) and a Saris Bones Bike Rack. I have some watchers and some questions but so far no actual bids. Wish me well.

Tomorrow I am popping to visit my friend Margret. I am hoping to also borrow her 'body;. Its a sort of plastic headless body for posing clothes for enhanced ebay sales. Might work, i will try. I have a bag of things to sell.

Morer than five really aren't I a good girl!

Monday 23 July 2018

Eastleigh Mela

Mela

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In recent times "Mela" also popularly refers to shows and exhibitions. It can be theme-based, promoting a particular culture, art or skill. Generally in "melas" people can find eateries, entertainment activities, shops and games.Mela (Sanskritमेला) is a Sanskrit word meaning 'gathering' or 'to meet' or a 'fair'. 

We had a lovely day. There was singing and dancing (not me, knee still unhappy, boooo) and all sorts of food. This is my dance crew waiting by the stage.
I need more days like this in my life xxx

Sunday 22 July 2018

Soap Making

What a lovely way to spend a Saturday.

Eve and I headed off to rural Dorset for a soap making course. Expecting horrendous traffic as it was the first day of school holidays, it didnt materialise and we ended up being almost an hour early for the course.  So we stopped at WImborne for a coffee break at about 8.30 am. Lovely and sunny and just lovely, lovely. There was a farmers market in progress so we also bought a few things before carrying on our journey. By the time the course started at ten we felt like we had had a great day out already.

We did the theory of soap making, learnt all about the possible ingredients, had a demo from our tutor. The stopped for lunch. I had packed us a nice big salad and some fruit and Eve bought some crab meat at the market so we had a really luxury lunch on an old wooden table outside of our studio.






After lunch we made two batches of soap each, and avoided explosions etc :)  It all smells and looks rather fantastic, we wont be unwrapping it until mid week to see how it looks but we have high hopes. We also found out what we did wrong on all of our various home experiments.

As traffic was light we decided we had time to visit my sister and her husband at their caravan at Durdle Door. We had some fruit, a glass or two of wine and a walk to the beach. Well looking down at the beach. My knee is still not happy enough to have got back up again if we had gone down tot he actual shore. 

So it seemed by then a good idea to go out to dinner that evening. And it was! We went to a proper old fashioned pub. The Kings Arms in Wareham and had a lovely supper.  Then home for Eve to catch the boat back to the Island.

Feels like we had a whole weeks holiday even though it was only a day.

And today we are off for some virtual furniture shopping at IKEA and then to the Mela for an afternoon of Asian food and dancing. Back to work tomorrow for a rest!

Thursday 19 July 2018

I'm fine but....

I am, really. But all around me.

Last Friday morning lovely mum didnt look so good when I visited so I booked her in with the doctor. They called an ambulance and we spent the rest of the day in Accident & Emergency ( I love you NHS, my all together favourite 70 year old!). With clever treatment she dodged an operation. That was my greatest fear as she is 89. Poor dad is really sharp especially for 90 but he was wasn't coping brilliantly/. Anyway lovely mum looking much better and is home again. I'll check on her again in the morning. Bless her.

Poor old dad fell backwards down the escalator in Marks and Spencer. They are very independent but I have to get them to take a bit more care sometimes. Anyway he was really achy for some days and in the hospital just sat by mums bed, waiting for her to get better. Married 67 years I dont think they can seriously cope alone.

One of my close work colleagues is losing her husband. He has been ill for some years but lately some cancer, treatable normally but he isnt strong enough, is kicking his arse. She wasn't in today as he became temporarily paralysed in the night so she was up all night with the paramedics. They dont take him to hospital anymore because nothing can be done and he wants to stay at home. The only treatment now is pain management and palliative care.

Another colleague started her chemo for stage 4 bowel cancer on Monday. There have been complications and now she is in hospital. She is my age exactly.

Feels like I am very mortal at the moment, feels like everyone is. I do know we are but this is really reminding me.

Mum and dad are doing pretty well and I'll stop writing on that happy note. This is them at home yesterday.  Bright eyes and bushy tailed as they say.


Wednesday 18 July 2018

I miss you!

Okay, i miss rambling on though. Time just seems to run away with me. I wonder if 56 is too old to start getting more structure in my life. I just hate being bossed around even by me, so rebel against things i impose on myself. What a muppet. Meal plan, tah! What is one of those! On the bright side I can make dinner out of next to nothing so hopefully that partly redeems me!

I have so many things to talk about too. I really feel i get my ducks in a row when i write stuff on here. It corals my thinking into the right area. I have updates on the pension situation, thoughts about retirement, mortgage stuff, budgets and planning. Also I am more sensible and frugal when I feel i have to answer to you/the blog. And then this Saturday I am off on a course in someones village hall to learn how to make soap. I mean i know how to make soap but after this course maybe it is soap someone else would also like to use.  On the horizon also is a free mosaic lesson with the lovely lady who made the stuff in the photo. Oh and I am supposed to be selling stuff on ebay and facebook. So far I have bought 3 things and sold nothing. You see, i cant be trusted without someone watching me!

Twice a week. Surely anyone can stick to that!  Next week i am singing up for an 8 week 'crash diet', for want of a better word. Its so good for my type 2 diabetes. Last time i did it I came right off my medication. I have put on some of the weight but am still off the meds, so i think time to give it another shot. Also back to weekly dancing and swimming after my operation and then tearing my meniscus cartilage. Seems like a good time to start up my blog hobby again.

Speak soon!


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