Starting again...

And then I turned around and it was October ...
Feeble, I know, but true - and lots has happened ...but this was always supposed to be about looking forward.

So ... campervan ... no closer I think, but destitution is much farther away, which has to be good!
The plan, Prongs 1 and 2 ... undergoing a revival ... as we speak the plan is underway again ...just need to remember which prong is which...

Aha...
Prong 1: Frugality

* Daisyfay's extended birthday celebrations are now over (except for today's trip to Toys r Us to spend her (considerable) birthday stash - frugality is definitely not part of her plan!) - frugality had limited sway whilst we dealt with that. She had a fab time though - and, though every year it's a lot of work, she won't want this for ever so let's make the memories and enjoy it now. She wanted a horse party, not just as a theme but with real ones. I wasn't sure how we did this and early research showed it to be decidedly unfrugal! Eventually, however, I found somewhere that was, whilst still not cheap, at least affordable - so she picked 10 friends ( weaning her off the marauding hordes in the village hall concept!) and off we went. We thoroughly enjoyed it - they were riding for over an hour, did games on the horses, all sorts - then we came back here, they organised games and dance competitions - had a short discussion about play fighting never being an acceptable activity - did cowboy stylie food - cake and sing - home!! Wine and Calamity Jane followed quickly!!
I'd definitely recommend the pony party - it did feel like value for money, especially when you consider what you pay at a lot of party places. 
www.parboldequestriancentre.co.uk/ if you fancy a look.
Anyway the smiles were worth it.- and excitement doesn't really describe it...

So back to frugality - on top of the birthday, there was Paul's MOT, the expiring television, the overdue coal bill and the traumatic story of the laptop and the lemonade ... have decided to draw a line under it all ... starting again...

* I have a plan for November - it may be a tad ambitious - it  has 3 strands ( I like breaking things down, ok!)
          1. No spend November - frugal shopping - leftovers, using of - no buying of "stuff" (except
                  frugal, on offer, etc shopping for future, unnamed events looming on the horizon! ;-) )
          2. No wine November - hmmm - going to try...
          3. Contemplating a primal eating month - suppose it's not exactly to do with frugality, but it's
                kind of in the spirit ...

Prong 2: Making more money

* have a job - good start!

* have begun the selling stuff/ remove clutter approach again (it's half term - at least for us, not for
the Miracle Girl - don't get me started ...!) - having a mass Ebay session on Sunday.

Campervan for next summer? Unlikely, but you never know...




         

Epiphanies

I think I may be having an epiphany - a measured epiphany - but an epiphany all the same...

Frugal wine has reasserted itself this week, for a few days anyway... and less on other days ...
Also I have been reading a book - called The Primal Blueprint  - MarksDailyApple.com - some friends of ours have been trying this for quite a while. I always felt I agreed with quite a lot of it, with some reservations, but the more I read, the more I like ... and I've felt quite motivated his week ... why... ?

I really don't know - I am now officially in guilty mommy mode. It is the Summer fair at school tomorrow, I should have made cakes but have been working instead! I am doing the name the bear but will be late as I am tutoring in the morning. And the Miracle Girl is rehearsing for the Lion King and can't be picked up until 12.30 ... and she really should be at the community choir's workshop day... why is this day the day for everything???!!

And the Lion King - mark 1 headdress bombed :-(
Mark 2 is getting there ... don't you just love papier-mâché ...?

So watch this space for a bit more epiph-ing - I feel it in the distance - who knows where it may lead ...