I had to concede defeat ... on the hair, rebellion was beaten by reports! And cakes (guiltily) bit the dust too. But managed the rest, plus nine jars of blackcurrant jam...
And now am contemplating the Slippery Slip - have I mentioned The Faraway Tree before - the slow starting, but gathering speed, descent into holidayness! In two weeks time I shall be sitting next to a barbecue outside a caravan in Cornwall with a glass of wine and a book ...
But before that ... work, well, it's a school, so the normal excess of things to do. Brownies, climbing, swimming, choir - still rolling ... Performing Arts has finished: Grease last night and the Miracle Girl was fab - v. proud.
Need to get organised:
1) invitations for Christening to sort
2) send back booking forms for Village Hall
3) holiday shopping list
4) holiday packing list
5) make blackcurrant compote/ ice cream
6) pick more blackcurrants
7) make blackcurrant cordial??
8) make cakes for climbing
9) BOOK HAIR APPOINTMENT
10) buy new collapsible BBQ from Go Outdoors
11) book surf school for Daisyfay
12) make gooseberry compote
13) order Tesco vouchers for days out in Cornwall
14) find National Trust 2014 car sticker which I have somehow mislaid...
Life - a series of events with no gaps - good job it's fun ...
Showing posts with label wine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wine. Show all posts
Sunday, 13 July 2014
Friday, 18 April 2014
Epiphany on the horizon
It is - I've made a plan - and we all know how well that usually works ...
* house - pretty okay - even stretched to a bit of gardening...
* exercise - chest infection improved (but not gone sadly) - been walking ...
* positivity in place - have created a plan!
Tuesday is the day - new me and all that ... I have a menu plan sorted for a couple of weeks, into May ... Primal, sort of - still can't get my head round the legumes, and potatoes ... but it's a start... And I have timetabled exercise - again not tons but it's a start... And wine - Primal eating approves (!) - but I'm intending a reduction...
Starting slow - hoping to up the running rather than walking once I feel better - and yoga, I want yoga back ... and I'm contemplating early get ups and going out then ... now it's light and sunny ...
I want it to be achievable, I'm aiming at 21 days, then I can review it ... but if, if (!), I can get that far I should be on a roll ...
Heading for the horizon, full of the joys of spring ...
* house - pretty okay - even stretched to a bit of gardening...
* exercise - chest infection improved (but not gone sadly) - been walking ...
* positivity in place - have created a plan!
Tuesday is the day - new me and all that ... I have a menu plan sorted for a couple of weeks, into May ... Primal, sort of - still can't get my head round the legumes, and potatoes ... but it's a start... And I have timetabled exercise - again not tons but it's a start... And wine - Primal eating approves (!) - but I'm intending a reduction...
Starting slow - hoping to up the running rather than walking once I feel better - and yoga, I want yoga back ... and I'm contemplating early get ups and going out then ... now it's light and sunny ...
I want it to be achievable, I'm aiming at 21 days, then I can review it ... but if, if (!), I can get that far I should be on a roll ...
Heading for the horizon, full of the joys of spring ...
Friday, 11 April 2014
Trying to epiph
I promised epiphanies, I think. Rather a long time ago. I'm having lots of good intentions in the direction of the aforementioned epiphany, just need my willpower to co-ordinate...
Steps needed for an epiphany:
1) get house into a fit state so that you can think...
2) get going with some fitness stuff...
3) feel all positive...
The sun is shining - that's helping too. I have been for a long walk on two mornings this week. I was going to run but, as always seems to happen when it's the holidays, I've not been well - chest infection - antibiotics - dodgy breathing - hence walking not running!
Step 2 is getting there.
Today the seesaw tipped and I glimpsed the end of the cleaning tunnel - the house is starting to look like I'm in control...well, almost! I have sorted most of the craft stuff, to the point of sorting sequins into separate compartments in a hobby box ... there's something telling me that's probably not good...! The downstairs is basically fit to allow other people in, and I feel better ...
Step 1 is getting there.
And positivity - I've always been okay at that ( although I wasn't last weekend, feeling all ill and self-pitying) - and with sun and tidy house and a fair wind behind me ...
So, an epiphany ... running - less wine ( yes, again!) - less wheat - more fruit and veg - fresh air ...
And this will lead to feeling good and saving money - which will in turn lead to savings - which may yet, one day, in a post-epiphany life, lead to a campervan ...
Please ...
Steps needed for an epiphany:
1) get house into a fit state so that you can think...
2) get going with some fitness stuff...
3) feel all positive...
The sun is shining - that's helping too. I have been for a long walk on two mornings this week. I was going to run but, as always seems to happen when it's the holidays, I've not been well - chest infection - antibiotics - dodgy breathing - hence walking not running!
Step 2 is getting there.
Today the seesaw tipped and I glimpsed the end of the cleaning tunnel - the house is starting to look like I'm in control...well, almost! I have sorted most of the craft stuff, to the point of sorting sequins into separate compartments in a hobby box ... there's something telling me that's probably not good...! The downstairs is basically fit to allow other people in, and I feel better ...
Step 1 is getting there.
And positivity - I've always been okay at that ( although I wasn't last weekend, feeling all ill and self-pitying) - and with sun and tidy house and a fair wind behind me ...
So, an epiphany ... running - less wine ( yes, again!) - less wheat - more fruit and veg - fresh air ...
And this will lead to feeling good and saving money - which will in turn lead to savings - which may yet, one day, in a post-epiphany life, lead to a campervan ...
Please ...
Friday, 15 November 2013
No - no - no - November
No - no - no - no willpower!
Again!
No wine - big fail - but less ... better than nothing!
Primal eating - pants!
No spending - ok actually!
The only way is up (baby!) ...
Again!
No wine - big fail - but less ... better than nothing!
Primal eating - pants!
No spending - ok actually!
The only way is up (baby!) ...
Saturday, 19 October 2013
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...
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...
Tuesday, 14 May 2013
Willpower
I don't think I've got any.
Should have been running whilst the Miracle Girl was at Brownies; not for the first time, instead I went to Tesco and bought wine...
This is bad. I know this, you know this, but still I persist.
I will discover willpower ...
Should have been running whilst the Miracle Girl was at Brownies; not for the first time, instead I went to Tesco and bought wine...
This is bad. I know this, you know this, but still I persist.
I will discover willpower ...
Monday, 22 April 2013
Climbing
So, climbing is taking over my life! Or has the Miracle Girl already surreptitiously taken over my life ... hmmm.....
My weekend:
Saturday: get up - clear up - sort various kitchen machines - practise Lion King audition for part quite obviously destined for much older child - drive Daisy Fay to Performing Arts group - go to tutoring job - come home - peg washing on line - make packed lunch - pack change of clothes - pick up Daisy Fay - drive to climbing centre in Warrington where the rest of her climbing team are in the last round of the North West qualifying for the national championships ( and some of them did! Yay!!) - spectate while child goes off to socialise - spectate with child - drive home - express relief that Paul has sorted out home-made pizza for movie night - fall asleep halfway through second film!
Sunday: get up - clear up - sort various machines (the hamster wheel of life) - plan food for week - lament lack of time for weekly shop - entrust cash and limited shopping list to Paul, knowing he will not be as frugal as he should be! - make yet another packed lunch - pack climbing kit - pack still as yet unread reading book - drive to climbing centre in Liverpool (reading book on the way) - pay entry, hire ropes etc. - buy coffee - contemplate need to learn to belay whilst watching Miracle Girl's squirrel impression - text Paul that we will be too late to buy wine at 25% off at Tesco so he will need to go - drive home - sort stuff for Monday for me and Miracle Girl - eat (very good) Sunday dinner - clear up - sit down - fall asleep!
The Miracle Girl has passed her Level 1 climbing qualification - she now has her own harness and belay device - and there's a chunk of money I won't see again!!
This is not going to go away ...
My weekend:
Saturday: get up - clear up - sort various kitchen machines - practise Lion King audition for part quite obviously destined for much older child - drive Daisy Fay to Performing Arts group - go to tutoring job - come home - peg washing on line - make packed lunch - pack change of clothes - pick up Daisy Fay - drive to climbing centre in Warrington where the rest of her climbing team are in the last round of the North West qualifying for the national championships ( and some of them did! Yay!!) - spectate while child goes off to socialise - spectate with child - drive home - express relief that Paul has sorted out home-made pizza for movie night - fall asleep halfway through second film!
Sunday: get up - clear up - sort various machines (the hamster wheel of life) - plan food for week - lament lack of time for weekly shop - entrust cash and limited shopping list to Paul, knowing he will not be as frugal as he should be! - make yet another packed lunch - pack climbing kit - pack still as yet unread reading book - drive to climbing centre in Liverpool (reading book on the way) - pay entry, hire ropes etc. - buy coffee - contemplate need to learn to belay whilst watching Miracle Girl's squirrel impression - text Paul that we will be too late to buy wine at 25% off at Tesco so he will need to go - drive home - sort stuff for Monday for me and Miracle Girl - eat (very good) Sunday dinner - clear up - sit down - fall asleep!
The Miracle Girl has passed her Level 1 climbing qualification - she now has her own harness and belay device - and there's a chunk of money I won't see again!!
This is not going to go away ...
Monday, 11 March 2013
The best laid plans ...
My plan is feeling a bit like it's spiralling out of control - I have no time... this is good because it means I'm working ... a lot! Now I know that kind of is part of the plan, but between that and the Miracle Girl's fully packed life, I have no time to think. Or write this. Or sell things ... decluttering has ground to a halt again!
On Friday I was supposed to go to a Pampered Chef night - not very good for frugality, I know, I've done it before!! But I was too tired!! Not a bad thing when you think about the temptations a Pampered Chef can wave in front of you, but it was for the PTA at Daisy Fay's school, so I was torn !! So I just felt guilty and drank red wine instead!
Now before you think I have slid off the wagon of frugality even more - I did not have wine for many, many days (well, 4 !), only indulging at the weekend. And my will power has reasserted itself today...
Tomorrow I am working again, all day, and again in the evening - and I have developed a debt reduction plan that sounds like it might work! I shall review it and the plan in general tomorrow, because, unsurprisingly, I'm tired and my brain is spiralling again ...
I think I shall go to bed and dream of a campervan ...
On Friday I was supposed to go to a Pampered Chef night - not very good for frugality, I know, I've done it before!! But I was too tired!! Not a bad thing when you think about the temptations a Pampered Chef can wave in front of you, but it was for the PTA at Daisy Fay's school, so I was torn !! So I just felt guilty and drank red wine instead!
Now before you think I have slid off the wagon of frugality even more - I did not have wine for many, many days (well, 4 !), only indulging at the weekend. And my will power has reasserted itself today...
Tomorrow I am working again, all day, and again in the evening - and I have developed a debt reduction plan that sounds like it might work! I shall review it and the plan in general tomorrow, because, unsurprisingly, I'm tired and my brain is spiralling again ...
I think I shall go to bed and dream of a campervan ...
Sunday, 3 March 2013
Pants!!
This week I have been mostly pants at:
* writing this blog
* cleaning my house
* not having any wine!
In my defence it was my birthday on Wednesday, so wine pushed itself to the fore! But in the spirit of frugality I decided not to go out - instead I had a lovely, delayed birthday meal on Friday. Paul cooked mussels, with homemade bread, and chocolate fondants. It was fab!
Further in my defence I worked a lot this week, which is always a good thing on the making more money front. The last three days of the week I spent at a lovely school in Wigan, one of the nicest I've been to in ages. It's the best thing about supply, the variety, and every so often you land on a school that is just great - and this was one. I had an enjoyable three days with an excellent, bouncy, personality-filled Year 4 class - and thought ( which I don't all that often) : now these I would like to teach.
On the plus side, the plan is going okay ... ish!
Prong 1: Frugality
* didn't go out for my birthday
* am using birthday money to pay to get my hair done
* made soup with stalks from broccoli and cauliflower, some leftover cabbage and leek tops - a bit of onion, a couple of ounces of lentils and some garlic and chilli - d'you know, it's really nice!
* didn't do a proper shop this week, used the freezer and storecupboard
Prong 2: Making more money
* worked for four days out of five - yay!
* sold some stuff - not a lot, but it's a start
* might be doing a bit of extra tutoring ...
* think I might be making some cakes ...
Feeling productive - feeling entrepreneur-ish! Need to investigate tax and stuff!
Daydream believing ...
* writing this blog
* cleaning my house
* not having any wine!
In my defence it was my birthday on Wednesday, so wine pushed itself to the fore! But in the spirit of frugality I decided not to go out - instead I had a lovely, delayed birthday meal on Friday. Paul cooked mussels, with homemade bread, and chocolate fondants. It was fab!
Further in my defence I worked a lot this week, which is always a good thing on the making more money front. The last three days of the week I spent at a lovely school in Wigan, one of the nicest I've been to in ages. It's the best thing about supply, the variety, and every so often you land on a school that is just great - and this was one. I had an enjoyable three days with an excellent, bouncy, personality-filled Year 4 class - and thought ( which I don't all that often) : now these I would like to teach.
On the plus side, the plan is going okay ... ish!
Prong 1: Frugality
* didn't go out for my birthday
* am using birthday money to pay to get my hair done
* made soup with stalks from broccoli and cauliflower, some leftover cabbage and leek tops - a bit of onion, a couple of ounces of lentils and some garlic and chilli - d'you know, it's really nice!
* didn't do a proper shop this week, used the freezer and storecupboard
Prong 2: Making more money
* worked for four days out of five - yay!
* sold some stuff - not a lot, but it's a start
* might be doing a bit of extra tutoring ...
* think I might be making some cakes ...
Feeling productive - feeling entrepreneur-ish! Need to investigate tax and stuff!
Daydream believing ...
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