My freezer is fuller than I want. Fortunately I was running it down, as darling father brought home a large bag full of frozen stuff from the Methodists, as they were defrosting their fridge, and what with all that was going on yesterday, I failed to return it. That is one large drawer absolutely full of something that isn't mine. Glass half full - it shows that I am, despite my shopping habits, running down the freezer.
That may not last. Little bear likes fish. I don't particularly like fish, neither does OH, and I have always skipped the seafood chapters of cookbooks. However, it is just too good nutrition to not shovel as much down little bear as I can. And I had an email from Ocado. 15% of my next shop, (minimum spend £60, naturally) plus a special offer on fish. I should really fill my boots (and my freezer). I clicked on the link and it had inexpensive lemon sole and plaice - things I have never cooked.
When it comes to fish, it is either white or yellow, and both get bunged into a warm to hot oven with milk and butter for @ twenty minutes. The white gets huge sprigs of rosemary. It is not haute cuisine, but little bear enjoys it.
Do I have £60 to spend on shopping? The offer expires 19 March, and the fish offer is just so tempting. With the 15% on top, it is worth a go. On the other hand, I have no idea yet how much the car will cost. I shall have to have a big think.
Showing posts with label shopping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shopping. Show all posts
Tuesday, 13 March 2012
Tuesday, 6 March 2012
Shopping
This month is not going well, and it isn't even a week old.
The car 'missing' has proved more problematic than just a fuel filter change and now the entire tank has to be investigated.
Little bear's party is on Saturday - with the balance to pay, plus cake.
Darling father's chair really does have to be replaced, as a matter of extreme urgency. It has sunk, and it is a recliner with an attached seat cushion, so I can't even stick a board under it as an emergency measure.
I can see a vet's bill coming up.
I have already replaced darling father's tv.
And now I have been shopping. Of course, little bear is the stimulus. You see, he has a larger than average head, as do both OH and myself, so t-shirts and sweaters are always a bit of a trial. Eventually I opted out of the white polo shirts for him, as they were getting hard to get over his head as soon as he was even nearly about to grow out of them. As it was the middle of winter I bought long sleeved white shirts. This was great - except that little bear couldn't manage the cuffs, and to be honest, I was struggling with them as the buttons were so stiff. This led to problems with PE and rolling up his sleeves for sand and water. He was getting really fed up, and I couldn't blame him.
So today I was scouring Leeds town centre and the White Rose Centre for short sleeved, white school shirts for his size. Funnily enough, at the beginning of March after a cold spell, there were not that many. I managed to get two shirts in M&S and four in Sainsburys - although one pack was aged five and one pack was aged six (with £2 difference in price!). I think the whole haul, together with a slightly bigger sweatshirt, came to £15. Of course, then you add in the bus fares getting there, the little pot of prawns that I picked up for evil cat, the present for an upcoming birthday, and the hazards of shopping for something for tea that will tempt darling father's poorly appetite, it all adds up.
I really am going to have to watch every penny for the rest of this month, it seems to be just draining away.
The car 'missing' has proved more problematic than just a fuel filter change and now the entire tank has to be investigated.
Little bear's party is on Saturday - with the balance to pay, plus cake.
Darling father's chair really does have to be replaced, as a matter of extreme urgency. It has sunk, and it is a recliner with an attached seat cushion, so I can't even stick a board under it as an emergency measure.
I can see a vet's bill coming up.
I have already replaced darling father's tv.
And now I have been shopping. Of course, little bear is the stimulus. You see, he has a larger than average head, as do both OH and myself, so t-shirts and sweaters are always a bit of a trial. Eventually I opted out of the white polo shirts for him, as they were getting hard to get over his head as soon as he was even nearly about to grow out of them. As it was the middle of winter I bought long sleeved white shirts. This was great - except that little bear couldn't manage the cuffs, and to be honest, I was struggling with them as the buttons were so stiff. This led to problems with PE and rolling up his sleeves for sand and water. He was getting really fed up, and I couldn't blame him.
So today I was scouring Leeds town centre and the White Rose Centre for short sleeved, white school shirts for his size. Funnily enough, at the beginning of March after a cold spell, there were not that many. I managed to get two shirts in M&S and four in Sainsburys - although one pack was aged five and one pack was aged six (with £2 difference in price!). I think the whole haul, together with a slightly bigger sweatshirt, came to £15. Of course, then you add in the bus fares getting there, the little pot of prawns that I picked up for evil cat, the present for an upcoming birthday, and the hazards of shopping for something for tea that will tempt darling father's poorly appetite, it all adds up.
I really am going to have to watch every penny for the rest of this month, it seems to be just draining away.
Friday, 2 March 2012
Almost spring cleaning mood
Yesterday I didn't manage the cooker - I was having problems breathing walking downhill, so I put it down to a panic attack - due to evil cat trying to suffocate me in my sleep. That's enough to panic anyone!
So I ironed and ironed and ironed and ironed. I haven't finished anywhere near the amount I need to do, and there is a huge heap of clothes little bear has grown out of to sort, plus underneath the misplaced bedding (still no idea where to put it now we don't have an airing cupboard in darling father's room) we have a heap of paper work displaced when I lost my two, four drawer filing cabinets. I shall probably still be moaning about them when I'm seventy!
But - glass half full - I did loads! And I have put away a lot of it as well, the bits I have places for. And I have wiped my line and put a load of washing out to dry, plus I have sorted, and put washing on, and had a proper breakfast, and generally been proactive.
I have also spent an absolute fortune on Prices Candles, mainly for darling father, as Prices Candles are a lot nicer than Yankee Candles for me, and there were some interesting bargains at reduced prices. The reduced prices were actually v inexpensive as well, so good value for money. If you like scented candles I do recommend them! Prices Patent Candles
Of course, now my lady like parts are not co-operating, so glass half full I am going to get on with some knitting to try and clear some of back log of half finished items. And I can watch tv while I do it!
So I ironed and ironed and ironed and ironed. I haven't finished anywhere near the amount I need to do, and there is a huge heap of clothes little bear has grown out of to sort, plus underneath the misplaced bedding (still no idea where to put it now we don't have an airing cupboard in darling father's room) we have a heap of paper work displaced when I lost my two, four drawer filing cabinets. I shall probably still be moaning about them when I'm seventy!
But - glass half full - I did loads! And I have put away a lot of it as well, the bits I have places for. And I have wiped my line and put a load of washing out to dry, plus I have sorted, and put washing on, and had a proper breakfast, and generally been proactive.
I have also spent an absolute fortune on Prices Candles, mainly for darling father, as Prices Candles are a lot nicer than Yankee Candles for me, and there were some interesting bargains at reduced prices. The reduced prices were actually v inexpensive as well, so good value for money. If you like scented candles I do recommend them! Prices Patent Candles
Of course, now my lady like parts are not co-operating, so glass half full I am going to get on with some knitting to try and clear some of back log of half finished items. And I can watch tv while I do it!
Thursday, 23 February 2012
Very secure package
I have just had a very silly Asda order - silly because I didn't really need it. However, I have stocked up on the cans of cola OH likes, 30 cans of coca cola for £8 is a good deal. Most of the order was bits like that, adding little or nothing to our nutrition.
However to my surprise there was a blue box with security break off tags. So I watched in trepidation as the delivery lady broke off the tags and got me to sign to say I had received...
...a packet of antibacterial wipes that cost £1. I just wanted them for convenience in the bathroom, and they were a last minute impulse buy. I am now a bit nervous to use them - I would have expected something like dry ice or secret magical artefacts in something like a tagged box, not £1 wipes. Sigh. Real life never lives up to my imagination.
However to my surprise there was a blue box with security break off tags. So I watched in trepidation as the delivery lady broke off the tags and got me to sign to say I had received...
...a packet of antibacterial wipes that cost £1. I just wanted them for convenience in the bathroom, and they were a last minute impulse buy. I am now a bit nervous to use them - I would have expected something like dry ice or secret magical artefacts in something like a tagged box, not £1 wipes. Sigh. Real life never lives up to my imagination.
Sunday, 19 February 2012
Thinking harder about shopping
I was thinking carefully about the Makro offer. £10 is £10, after all. On the other hand it is not long before I need to pay the rest of the holiday, and anything could happen between then and now. Really, I need to start saving like a demon for the next one.
Two things have changed my mind. I don't actually like Velvet loo roll. It is too thick and there is a bend in the toilet waste pipe which makes me nervous of flushing anything too substantial. I actually prefer the Asda own brand smartprice thicker rolls which last for ages and are more than adequate for the purpose intended. The other thing that significantly changed my mind - the car has started missing. Nice Mr Next Door (a professional mechanic who used to have his own garage and is pretty clued up) will deal with it. He thinks it is a petrol filter thingy. I know we will not be overcharged, but I think I would rather hold back on the shopping to save in case the car needs something even more expensive.
I can eke out the washing up liquid for a little longer, and it will be really healthy for me to walk to Makro and really sensible not to carry a big load back. The washing powder will be good for a week or too and, best of all, Asda not only had 7up for £1 per bottle (bought six) but they also had 30 tins of coca cola for £8 (15 tins bogof).
My house is still too full to stock up for the sake of stocking up. However, agreeing with Robyn on the benefits, when it is a little less congested I shall try and think scientifically about stocking up, and doing the research.
Two things have changed my mind. I don't actually like Velvet loo roll. It is too thick and there is a bend in the toilet waste pipe which makes me nervous of flushing anything too substantial. I actually prefer the Asda own brand smartprice thicker rolls which last for ages and are more than adequate for the purpose intended. The other thing that significantly changed my mind - the car has started missing. Nice Mr Next Door (a professional mechanic who used to have his own garage and is pretty clued up) will deal with it. He thinks it is a petrol filter thingy. I know we will not be overcharged, but I think I would rather hold back on the shopping to save in case the car needs something even more expensive.
I can eke out the washing up liquid for a little longer, and it will be really healthy for me to walk to Makro and really sensible not to carry a big load back. The washing powder will be good for a week or too and, best of all, Asda not only had 7up for £1 per bottle (bought six) but they also had 30 tins of coca cola for £8 (15 tins bogof).
My house is still too full to stock up for the sake of stocking up. However, agreeing with Robyn on the benefits, when it is a little less congested I shall try and think scientifically about stocking up, and doing the research.
Saturday, 18 February 2012
Tempted to spend
Makro have an offer that if you spend £100 (ex vat) then you have a £10 voucher.
They also have an offer where you can buy 36 Velvet toilet rolls for £9.95 (buy 18 rolls, get one free ex vat). two lots of this would set me up for some considerable time, I have places to put them and they don't go off. That's £20 of the £100. Then I could do with a gallon jug of washing up liquid, and while I could eke out my washing powder for a little longer, they have an offer of Persil at £9.95 (ex vat) for 85 washes. So you are looking at £35 of the £100.
Then I could sort out some pop, darling father is keen on 7up and 7up alone for his whisky. That is one of the few places that Makro really scores against the supermarket. OH really likes tins of coke, and he insists on coca cola, again that is an area where you can really save money at Makro. £100 looks doable, although a lot of it comes from stuff that really could be cut back on if we were struggling.
The offer starts on 22 February. That is four days away. I shall think about it. Spending that £100 could save a lot of money, but do I really want that £10 voucher that much? Spending £50 would save a lot of money, and wouldn't make such a dent in the bank balance. I shall do some serious thinking.
They also have an offer where you can buy 36 Velvet toilet rolls for £9.95 (buy 18 rolls, get one free ex vat). two lots of this would set me up for some considerable time, I have places to put them and they don't go off. That's £20 of the £100. Then I could do with a gallon jug of washing up liquid, and while I could eke out my washing powder for a little longer, they have an offer of Persil at £9.95 (ex vat) for 85 washes. So you are looking at £35 of the £100.
Then I could sort out some pop, darling father is keen on 7up and 7up alone for his whisky. That is one of the few places that Makro really scores against the supermarket. OH really likes tins of coke, and he insists on coca cola, again that is an area where you can really save money at Makro. £100 looks doable, although a lot of it comes from stuff that really could be cut back on if we were struggling.
The offer starts on 22 February. That is four days away. I shall think about it. Spending that £100 could save a lot of money, but do I really want that £10 voucher that much? Spending £50 would save a lot of money, and wouldn't make such a dent in the bank balance. I shall do some serious thinking.
Tuesday, 17 January 2012
Coated
The bon marche order came - yay!!! And one of the things that was included in the order was coat. I got so cold and wet last week with only a short fleece jacket, that I decided that I needed something else. And the coat was in the bag and I fell in love with the colour and I tried it on.
Oops.
It wasn't just that it was a bit snug. Part of the problem was, as little bear put it, I'm too fat and part was I was wearing a very chunky sweater. The big problem was that the zip got stuck. I struggled and wriggled and jiggled and wished darling father hadn't gone out. Little bear was not supportive. He watched dispassionately as I was as contortionist as my shoulders would allow and commented that I needed to do more exercise.
I kept my temper.
So I am sitting here, in the coat (which is lovely and snug) waiting for darling father to come home so that I can be cut out of the dratted garment, which I hope I will then be able to send back. The lady I rang seemed lovely, and is actually local. I have no problems with Bon Marche. But if I am not cut out of the dratted thing I think I will have to be buried in it.
Oops.
It wasn't just that it was a bit snug. Part of the problem was, as little bear put it, I'm too fat and part was I was wearing a very chunky sweater. The big problem was that the zip got stuck. I struggled and wriggled and jiggled and wished darling father hadn't gone out. Little bear was not supportive. He watched dispassionately as I was as contortionist as my shoulders would allow and commented that I needed to do more exercise.
I kept my temper.
So I am sitting here, in the coat (which is lovely and snug) waiting for darling father to come home so that I can be cut out of the dratted garment, which I hope I will then be able to send back. The lady I rang seemed lovely, and is actually local. I have no problems with Bon Marche. But if I am not cut out of the dratted thing I think I will have to be buried in it.
Monday, 16 January 2012
Darn it to heck
My previous post mentions me buying nighties. The ones I like that I like little bear to see me in (bearing in mind he wakes me up and sees me get out of 'bed') are hard to find, oddly. Just boring long t-shirt type ones, in my size, that aren't pink, at a reasonable price. I also drew the line at brushed nylon or wincyette, I wanted the cotton or polycotton t-shirt fabric and I also wanted them a decent length so that when I got up all was decently covered. For a while, as my current ones slowly disintegrated, I either couldn't find what I wanted or put off paying the price as I was trying to watch the pennies.
So I found this site for the first time, drooled over some of the stuff, giggled over some of the other stuff, and there were two long t-shirt type nighties for £16, and while I dithered over three days, I did get them, as I wasn't sure that the offer wouldn't end. I bought them yesterday. From Bon Marche, which today was in the headlines that it may be going into administration.
Darn.
That parcel had better arrive is all I can say!
So I found this site for the first time, drooled over some of the stuff, giggled over some of the other stuff, and there were two long t-shirt type nighties for £16, and while I dithered over three days, I did get them, as I wasn't sure that the offer wouldn't end. I bought them yesterday. From Bon Marche, which today was in the headlines that it may be going into administration.
Darn.
That parcel had better arrive is all I can say!
Thursday, 29 December 2011
Hitting the sales
Little bear doesn't need clothes, I don't need clothes (well, that's another story) and OH won't buy clothes. We don't need appliances, or plates or soft furnishings. I certainly don't need to buy any toys or books for little bear!
I also suspect that a lot of items are marked up quite a lot before Christmas so that they can legitimately advertise the item at 75% off. At the moment I think I am better off saving 100%
However one thing I did snap up in the sales - sixteen 4 metre rolls of rather nice, good quality gift wrap that can also be used for birthdays, weddings etc at £1 per roll at Matalan. I did this a few years ago, and my stock is finally running low. I am still fine for Christmas cards, however, after buying in significant quantities from Approved Food last year - they were nice cards, not too flimsy, and worked out at around 10p per card.
As soon as little bear is back at school I will be working on the gifts for next Christmas, and making lists to get stuff stocked up!
I also suspect that a lot of items are marked up quite a lot before Christmas so that they can legitimately advertise the item at 75% off. At the moment I think I am better off saving 100%
However one thing I did snap up in the sales - sixteen 4 metre rolls of rather nice, good quality gift wrap that can also be used for birthdays, weddings etc at £1 per roll at Matalan. I did this a few years ago, and my stock is finally running low. I am still fine for Christmas cards, however, after buying in significant quantities from Approved Food last year - they were nice cards, not too flimsy, and worked out at around 10p per card.
As soon as little bear is back at school I will be working on the gifts for next Christmas, and making lists to get stuff stocked up!
Monday, 12 December 2011
Delivery and decisions
I've just put in for a delivery next Friday for purely unavoidable items that could do with being delivered rather than hoicked home on a bus.
Four bags of cat litter and three bottles of whisky. Well, the whisky was on offer.
I will probably add one or two things, but not much. I just can't wait to see the delivery man's face.
Four bags of cat litter and three bottles of whisky. Well, the whisky was on offer.
I will probably add one or two things, but not much. I just can't wait to see the delivery man's face.
Monday, 5 December 2011
Grocery Delivery
I had a delivery of groceries yesterday.
For the first time since I can remember there was not alcohol in it. Not a single drop - I had been stocking up on the offers and I know that alcohol may be some Christmas gifts (alchohol MAY be Christmas gifts in the same was as the Atlantic MAY be a little damp). There was, however, a shed load of 7up which darling father likes with his whisky. It was on offer so I stocked up.
I resisted stocking up on tins of soups. There were three reasons. The first reason was that the deal wasn't that brilliant. The second reason was that the deal was a frequent one and I could wait until next time. The third reason was that the doors of the soup cupboard were already nearly falling off due to over packed shelves. I need a price book and some self control.
An Approved Food order is on its way. I may regret it.
For the first time since I can remember there was not alcohol in it. Not a single drop - I had been stocking up on the offers and I know that alcohol may be some Christmas gifts (alchohol MAY be Christmas gifts in the same was as the Atlantic MAY be a little damp). There was, however, a shed load of 7up which darling father likes with his whisky. It was on offer so I stocked up.
I resisted stocking up on tins of soups. There were three reasons. The first reason was that the deal wasn't that brilliant. The second reason was that the deal was a frequent one and I could wait until next time. The third reason was that the doors of the soup cupboard were already nearly falling off due to over packed shelves. I need a price book and some self control.
An Approved Food order is on its way. I may regret it.
The Pyjama problem
Little bear is a child in the Christmas Play, and has to wear pyjamas. I have already blogged how they pointed out that they could have just got him pyjamas from Matalan, but they were sure he had nicer ones.
On the Friday morning I came into possession of a 20% off voucher from Matalan...
Four pair of school trousers in the next size up, three dishes (I keep breaking them), snazzy top for his school party, book for darling father for Christmas, and a pair of Matalan Pyjamas for the School Play! So there. I saved £11.
The pyjamas are a very middle class sort of blue with red sort of plaid effect. However I am not getting him new slippers, so he will be looking very Disney in plaid pyjamas, and very little bear in Batman slippers.
On the Friday morning I came into possession of a 20% off voucher from Matalan...
Four pair of school trousers in the next size up, three dishes (I keep breaking them), snazzy top for his school party, book for darling father for Christmas, and a pair of Matalan Pyjamas for the School Play! So there. I saved £11.
The pyjamas are a very middle class sort of blue with red sort of plaid effect. However I am not getting him new slippers, so he will be looking very Disney in plaid pyjamas, and very little bear in Batman slippers.
Wednesday, 16 November 2011
More spending
I went into Leeds and I now feel a bit of a sourpuss. I went into the Museum to see the West Yorkshire Hoard, and I was just amazed. It is a very small collection of gold but to me, seeing something so beautiful and so old is stunning. I wondered at the story behind it, who made the rings and who wore them, whether they were gifts or trophies or displays of power and wealth.
Leeds Museum's cafe lived down to my expectations. It's sort of more or less okay, but I keep going back to the rarebit and I always regret it. I was not tempted by the Guinness parkin and the Dandelion and Burdock chocolate cake, and I don't recommend the maple and pecan cake either. I also bobbed into the gift shop and succumbed to a junior dictionary and thesaurus for little bear. It will probably be a bit advanced for him at Christmas but he may be finding a use for it by next summer.
I had a wander round the German Market as well. I more or less sat on my hands because it was either food which I didn't want to have as I want to lose weight, or it was ornaments and I don't want anything more to dust, or it was wooden toys which were, sadly, just a bit too young for little bear. Typing that I had a lump in my throat. It seems only yesterday that most of them were that bit too old. But I really enjoyed the atmosphere. Then I bobbed into Poundstretcher and bought a waste paper bin, as little bear was sick in the living room one and it was lined with fabric. There was some yarn on sale in Poundstretcher that nearly came into the 1p per gramme category, but I resisted.
So, a morning well spent with the emphasis on spent. Again next week, to start stocking up on the Christmas goodies.
Leeds Museum's cafe lived down to my expectations. It's sort of more or less okay, but I keep going back to the rarebit and I always regret it. I was not tempted by the Guinness parkin and the Dandelion and Burdock chocolate cake, and I don't recommend the maple and pecan cake either. I also bobbed into the gift shop and succumbed to a junior dictionary and thesaurus for little bear. It will probably be a bit advanced for him at Christmas but he may be finding a use for it by next summer.
I had a wander round the German Market as well. I more or less sat on my hands because it was either food which I didn't want to have as I want to lose weight, or it was ornaments and I don't want anything more to dust, or it was wooden toys which were, sadly, just a bit too young for little bear. Typing that I had a lump in my throat. It seems only yesterday that most of them were that bit too old. But I really enjoyed the atmosphere. Then I bobbed into Poundstretcher and bought a waste paper bin, as little bear was sick in the living room one and it was lined with fabric. There was some yarn on sale in Poundstretcher that nearly came into the 1p per gramme category, but I resisted.
So, a morning well spent with the emphasis on spent. Again next week, to start stocking up on the Christmas goodies.
Thursday, 3 November 2011
The pits
The cherry stones have arrived. What I am supposed to do with 3.2kg of cherry stones in a homespun hessian bag. That's right - I'm supposed to be making heat bags out of them with the surplus pillow cases.
Sigh
After packing in a hurry, unpacking in chaos and barely able to move without coughing myself to a standstill, the laundry is in ruins. I can only find one of the five pairs of school trousers that little bear possesses, which he is currently wearing. And that he wore yesterday (I washed and dried them overnight, of course). I can't move bags and baskets to search without collapsing with the coughing, and I had two hours sleep last night, which is the last in a long line of broken nights - I haven't had a decent night for about three weeks. The washer hasn't stopped all yesterday but the unwashed pile is still looking at least like Himalayan foothills. The unwashed pile is still smaller than the ironing pile and the 'finding a place to put this textile accumulation' pile, which includes the surplus pillowcases. I still haven't found places for everything for darling father's stuff and the stuff that used to live in darling father's room. Also lots was turned upside down as the ironing etc is in the same room as the space cleared and now filled with four summer tyres.
And in the middle of all this I am supposed to make heat bags. Actually, I am going back to bed.
Sigh
After packing in a hurry, unpacking in chaos and barely able to move without coughing myself to a standstill, the laundry is in ruins. I can only find one of the five pairs of school trousers that little bear possesses, which he is currently wearing. And that he wore yesterday (I washed and dried them overnight, of course). I can't move bags and baskets to search without collapsing with the coughing, and I had two hours sleep last night, which is the last in a long line of broken nights - I haven't had a decent night for about three weeks. The washer hasn't stopped all yesterday but the unwashed pile is still looking at least like Himalayan foothills. The unwashed pile is still smaller than the ironing pile and the 'finding a place to put this textile accumulation' pile, which includes the surplus pillowcases. I still haven't found places for everything for darling father's stuff and the stuff that used to live in darling father's room. Also lots was turned upside down as the ironing etc is in the same room as the space cleared and now filled with four summer tyres.
And in the middle of all this I am supposed to make heat bags. Actually, I am going back to bed.
Monday, 10 October 2011
Frugal fail - again
I finally dug out the game 'Guess Who' that I had had stashed since Christmas, and little bear loved it, though I think he is only just old enough for it. He and OH played against me and it was a lot of fun. However it was the most inexpensive version I could find, and the little cardboard inserts that we needed to flick down when a character was eliminated kept falling out and it took ages to get them all in place when we were setting up again. And little bear wanted again, and again, and again...
I suggested sellotape. OH wasn't so keen, and ended up going out and buying the electronic version (not very electronic!) which still isn't brilliant but a little easier to use. I am just as much to blame as I sourced it for him and reserved it online for him to pick up at Argos. Sellotape would have been a lot cheaper than £20.99.
Mind you, I think we will be having a lot of fun from it, and will definitely get our money's worth. I shall consider getting some more games for the 'C' word and birthday.
I suggested sellotape. OH wasn't so keen, and ended up going out and buying the electronic version (not very electronic!) which still isn't brilliant but a little easier to use. I am just as much to blame as I sourced it for him and reserved it online for him to pick up at Argos. Sellotape would have been a lot cheaper than £20.99.
Mind you, I think we will be having a lot of fun from it, and will definitely get our money's worth. I shall consider getting some more games for the 'C' word and birthday.
Saturday, 1 October 2011
Effects of shopping
Today, in the hottest October day so far, I took delivery of two snow shovels and a pair of thingies to put on your shoes to stop you slipping on ice. I shall still totter around like an idiot, but with less skidding.
I also took a delivery of a cookbook - thank you Ian! I shall dive into it! Cookbooks are a bit of a guilty pleasure for me - I possess hundreds, I read hundreds, I cook from, well, umm, possibly half a dozen. Almost certainly from this one, and if I get a go at a really good recipe I shall share.
Still at least in this weather I can get rid of the lolly ices clogging up my freezer. I have just spent an entertaining ten minutes after getting lolly ices for little bear, darling father and the grandson of next door, trying to fit everything back in to the freezer. It has been challenging. Just as I thought I had one box of mince slotted in, a packet of cut price casserole beef would come hurtling out and I would be nervous about bending down to pick it up in case an inexpensive frozen turkey drumstick (the real ones, not the reformed-and-breadcrumbed ones - the real ones with the bone still in make a great soup followed by stir fry the next day) would land on my head like a brick.
According to the weather forecast I need to enjoy the weather while I can. It can't last. And I can't wait from going to grumbling about being too hot to complaining about being too cold.
I also took a delivery of a cookbook - thank you Ian! I shall dive into it! Cookbooks are a bit of a guilty pleasure for me - I possess hundreds, I read hundreds, I cook from, well, umm, possibly half a dozen. Almost certainly from this one, and if I get a go at a really good recipe I shall share.
Still at least in this weather I can get rid of the lolly ices clogging up my freezer. I have just spent an entertaining ten minutes after getting lolly ices for little bear, darling father and the grandson of next door, trying to fit everything back in to the freezer. It has been challenging. Just as I thought I had one box of mince slotted in, a packet of cut price casserole beef would come hurtling out and I would be nervous about bending down to pick it up in case an inexpensive frozen turkey drumstick (the real ones, not the reformed-and-breadcrumbed ones - the real ones with the bone still in make a great soup followed by stir fry the next day) would land on my head like a brick.
According to the weather forecast I need to enjoy the weather while I can. It can't last. And I can't wait from going to grumbling about being too hot to complaining about being too cold.
Friday, 30 September 2011
I Hate Handbags
I am missing something somewhere. I have no call to handbags, no interest. When I hear that my husband's niece managed to get a handbag for £300 in the Harvey Nichols sale, first of all I don't recognise the name of the handbag and then I think - HOW much?! A handbag is to put things in.
I want a boring handbag that I just put things in, with a strap. I wouldn't mind a Tardis handbag, one where I can fit absolutely everything I can ever need in a small bag the size of evil cat. These seem a bit rare. I want something that is quite plain so it goes with everything. Most of all, I don't want to pay a fortune. I started hoping to pick something up for @ £10, but my hopes have been dwindling.
I have had to look for one as the current one is disintegrated. Bits of lining and cardboard stiffener (bought cheap last time) are shedding every time I rummage through the current one, though I keep wondering if I just cut the lining and inner out then perhaps it will do just as well.
However I have put a minimal bid in on a bag on my friend ebay. The thing that attracted was the bright red lining. I am not really a fan of red, but I have always had black handbags with black linings and on a dark morning when you are trying to find your keys it is a horror fishing in the gloom past the lumps and bumps. I switched from a basic black purse years ago to help me find it in the shadows of an overstuffed black bag. The one on ebay is still a boring black outside as well, so it is great for me, especially if I get it at the price I bid. Okay, deep down I might go for weird, punk and wonderful, but I am a middle aged SAHM and I have to be realistic.
Even if I don't get it, I am a little bit cheered up, because at least I now know that it is worth looking out for handbags with bright linings.
I want a boring handbag that I just put things in, with a strap. I wouldn't mind a Tardis handbag, one where I can fit absolutely everything I can ever need in a small bag the size of evil cat. These seem a bit rare. I want something that is quite plain so it goes with everything. Most of all, I don't want to pay a fortune. I started hoping to pick something up for @ £10, but my hopes have been dwindling.
I have had to look for one as the current one is disintegrated. Bits of lining and cardboard stiffener (bought cheap last time) are shedding every time I rummage through the current one, though I keep wondering if I just cut the lining and inner out then perhaps it will do just as well.
However I have put a minimal bid in on a bag on my friend ebay. The thing that attracted was the bright red lining. I am not really a fan of red, but I have always had black handbags with black linings and on a dark morning when you are trying to find your keys it is a horror fishing in the gloom past the lumps and bumps. I switched from a basic black purse years ago to help me find it in the shadows of an overstuffed black bag. The one on ebay is still a boring black outside as well, so it is great for me, especially if I get it at the price I bid. Okay, deep down I might go for weird, punk and wonderful, but I am a middle aged SAHM and I have to be realistic.
Even if I don't get it, I am a little bit cheered up, because at least I now know that it is worth looking out for handbags with bright linings.
Thursday, 29 September 2011
Spend spend spend (again)
Today was payday so...
MOT tomorrow. Everything crossed that this is not too much. Then Approved Food order though I nearly didn't, but I got some bits in that I can use. Strangely it is light on sugary treats, so I may be reforming. Then on to my friend ebay, for snow grippers for shoes and a snow shovel for the car (guess what weather I think we will get this winter), plus a small halogen heater and a book called 'Maths for Mum and Dad' which I hope will get us through the homework. An Asda order got bunged in as well, for the heavy stuff, and once again the cost of alcohol figured large.
Also, when I went to the newsagents there were two new knitting magazines and I only bought one. This is a step in the right direction. On the same trip there was £15 spent on plants for the garden, booked by darling father. He has planted one of the trays of dianthus and one of the buckets of wallflowers, and he will (he says) do the other tomorrow. I am in awe of him as he has also been painting the outside of the house.
Now I need to sit on my hands and not spend anything else!
MOT tomorrow. Everything crossed that this is not too much. Then Approved Food order though I nearly didn't, but I got some bits in that I can use. Strangely it is light on sugary treats, so I may be reforming. Then on to my friend ebay, for snow grippers for shoes and a snow shovel for the car (guess what weather I think we will get this winter), plus a small halogen heater and a book called 'Maths for Mum and Dad' which I hope will get us through the homework. An Asda order got bunged in as well, for the heavy stuff, and once again the cost of alcohol figured large.
Also, when I went to the newsagents there were two new knitting magazines and I only bought one. This is a step in the right direction. On the same trip there was £15 spent on plants for the garden, booked by darling father. He has planted one of the trays of dianthus and one of the buckets of wallflowers, and he will (he says) do the other tomorrow. I am in awe of him as he has also been painting the outside of the house.
Now I need to sit on my hands and not spend anything else!
Wednesday, 28 September 2011
Almost getting it right
Walked all the way to Asda. I have no idea how long it took me, as I left my phone at home and never remember my watch, but I was pink in the face when I got there and it took a little while.
Nearly didn't buy anything extra, but not quite. I promised a treat for little bear as he had been so good this morning, so I got some egg custards to share. I also picked up a packet of semolina which I haven't had for years and quite fancied. I picked up some bananas and was on my way home before I remembered that I had two cooking apples, which darling father had brought in. Not enough for one each baked, but nice stewed and served with the semolina.
Also little bear will have the metallic red sugar sprinkles I was soft enough to buy. However a very light dusting of them seems to replace the honey for him, so that's a help. I'm getting metallic blue next. If it cheers him up at breakfast, in moderation I can live with it.
The shop had been open one day and there were yellow sticker items. I did blink at that, as I just couldn't believe it at first, but it was fresh sandwiches. They were always going to be a bit of a slow seller when there is a Greggs next to the tills. But if I get there in good time of a morning I may get lucky.
So, £10.78, including darling father's harvest festival offering and a nice and healthy lunch for me. I picked up the Asda Christmas savings card, and had a look.
I am not a huge fan of Christmas clubs, because your money is tied up even if you have an emergency and you get no interest. However you don't get much interest these days anyway. It is not registered to a name, so while you don't get spam or junk mail, if you lose the card, the money has gone. And you have to save £144 on the card (maximum allowed) to get the maximum bonus ('some time in November') of £6. Although at today's interest rates I suppose there are worse deals. Also, all your savings have to be spent at Asda (could be worse) and if Asda go bust you lose your money (not sure how likely this is, but worth remembering).
I plan to put on the change for each visit, so if I spent £10.78 on the visit, I would put 22p on the card, and that way I can put a little each time to save for the drinks next Christmas (I doubt there will be £5 by the time this Christmas comes!). I did try to put it on today, but the woman had just had her supervisor and her supervisor's supervisor struggle to sort out a little complication with the customer in front of me so when she looked at me in panic and said that she hadn't been shown how to do this, I decided to leave it for another day.
Nearly didn't buy anything extra, but not quite. I promised a treat for little bear as he had been so good this morning, so I got some egg custards to share. I also picked up a packet of semolina which I haven't had for years and quite fancied. I picked up some bananas and was on my way home before I remembered that I had two cooking apples, which darling father had brought in. Not enough for one each baked, but nice stewed and served with the semolina.
Also little bear will have the metallic red sugar sprinkles I was soft enough to buy. However a very light dusting of them seems to replace the honey for him, so that's a help. I'm getting metallic blue next. If it cheers him up at breakfast, in moderation I can live with it.
The shop had been open one day and there were yellow sticker items. I did blink at that, as I just couldn't believe it at first, but it was fresh sandwiches. They were always going to be a bit of a slow seller when there is a Greggs next to the tills. But if I get there in good time of a morning I may get lucky.
So, £10.78, including darling father's harvest festival offering and a nice and healthy lunch for me. I picked up the Asda Christmas savings card, and had a look.
I am not a huge fan of Christmas clubs, because your money is tied up even if you have an emergency and you get no interest. However you don't get much interest these days anyway. It is not registered to a name, so while you don't get spam or junk mail, if you lose the card, the money has gone. And you have to save £144 on the card (maximum allowed) to get the maximum bonus ('some time in November') of £6. Although at today's interest rates I suppose there are worse deals. Also, all your savings have to be spent at Asda (could be worse) and if Asda go bust you lose your money (not sure how likely this is, but worth remembering).
I plan to put on the change for each visit, so if I spent £10.78 on the visit, I would put 22p on the card, and that way I can put a little each time to save for the drinks next Christmas (I doubt there will be £5 by the time this Christmas comes!). I did try to put it on today, but the woman had just had her supervisor and her supervisor's supervisor struggle to sort out a little complication with the customer in front of me so when she looked at me in panic and said that she hadn't been shown how to do this, I decided to leave it for another day.
Off to Asda
Today will be my first challenge of walking to Asda, buying just what I need, and walking back. It's the buying just what I need that is the hard part. The walk will be tiring for me, I am grossly out of condition, but resisting temptation will be far harder.
So, I need fruit to have with custard for dessert (currently thinking bananas but happy to be inspired - trying to get nutrition in little bear), and a few tins for darling father and his Harvest Festival. I already have my contribution to little bear's Harvest Festival - a bag of pasta. It is going to a homeless shelter, where they also support people who need help (St Georges Crypt, Leeds, a fantastic charity that I think is really worth supporting). I don't know what to give these days, once it was raiding the veg rack, now it is stick closely to a list, except we haven't been given a list but examples. Still, I hope little bear doesn't feel let down by my Asda own brand (but not smartprice) fusilli. We are eating quite posh tricolour pasta twists from Approved Food, which are very acceptable but past its best before date. Darling father has suggested a few tins of peas.
It is a whole new brand of etiquette for me - how to get stuff for little bear's 'voluntary' donations that doesn't let him down. I can be comfortable saying 'no' to designer school wear, but I can feel the 'donations to the tombola' question looming. I have absolutely no idea about what sort of level to aim at, I haven't been involved with a school for nearly thirty years. If I bring in Smartprice, would it make little bear suffer? Personally I doubt it, and I am not buying extra fancy. I am sure it will be fine for now, I think I have a few years before the 'Muuuuuuuum, I can't take that, I would just totally embarrassed, it's not fair, my mate's mum is really cool and she would never send that...' hits. If I get it right now it may never happen. I shall keep working on that one!
Now all I need to find out is whether I take in cash or cheque for the (smallish) donation to the charity for the school. And purchase a school book bag.
And I definitely need to find a substitute for the handwash.
So, I need fruit to have with custard for dessert (currently thinking bananas but happy to be inspired - trying to get nutrition in little bear), and a few tins for darling father and his Harvest Festival. I already have my contribution to little bear's Harvest Festival - a bag of pasta. It is going to a homeless shelter, where they also support people who need help (St Georges Crypt, Leeds, a fantastic charity that I think is really worth supporting). I don't know what to give these days, once it was raiding the veg rack, now it is stick closely to a list, except we haven't been given a list but examples. Still, I hope little bear doesn't feel let down by my Asda own brand (but not smartprice) fusilli. We are eating quite posh tricolour pasta twists from Approved Food, which are very acceptable but past its best before date. Darling father has suggested a few tins of peas.
It is a whole new brand of etiquette for me - how to get stuff for little bear's 'voluntary' donations that doesn't let him down. I can be comfortable saying 'no' to designer school wear, but I can feel the 'donations to the tombola' question looming. I have absolutely no idea about what sort of level to aim at, I haven't been involved with a school for nearly thirty years. If I bring in Smartprice, would it make little bear suffer? Personally I doubt it, and I am not buying extra fancy. I am sure it will be fine for now, I think I have a few years before the 'Muuuuuuuum, I can't take that, I would just totally embarrassed, it's not fair, my mate's mum is really cool and she would never send that...' hits. If I get it right now it may never happen. I shall keep working on that one!
Now all I need to find out is whether I take in cash or cheque for the (smallish) donation to the charity for the school. And purchase a school book bag.
And I definitely need to find a substitute for the handwash.
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