You win some and you lose some!!

As I have said before, I love reading blogs of those women who are determined to save every penny they can, usually because their income has been greatly reduced. I have looked at our spending and we do shop what I would term wisely, but we spend a lot more than these frugal ladies.

But I did have an amazing saving last week My little battery operated toothbrush which I bought duty free at Gatwick years ago went phut.. we looked at them in Tesco and they were £35!! I couldn’t believe the price, but I needed it so into the trolley it went. However it was reduced by £20 at the checkout. Tesco had price compared it and hence the reduction!! Wow!! Even the checkout girl looked at our receipt twice too. Isn’t that amazing?

And this little chrysanthemum was free! One of my SDs sent me a beautiful bouquet when I broke my arm and this was in it.. I loved the little pink rose bud type flower so took cuttings and here is my most successful one, flowering!               

But I didn’t do so well with the little bag I bought. I first saw them in October in Skipton market for £4.99.. I said to DH I am not paying that for a shopping bag, I’ll make one as I have loads of fabric. But last week when visiting my cousin in Shropshire, we visited a garden centre and there they were, the very same ones, for £2.99, so I bought one. However at a garden centre we visited at the weekend, right near us, they had them for £1.99 Poooo!! I was most put out, but I have used it and it is saving me 10p a time, except I can’t remember a time when I have bought something and not had a carrier bag in my hand bag to use!! Because I can’t stand all the bags and wrapping for items, which you then have to dispose of. Never mind it’s a pretty little bag and it could hold a lot if I wanted it to!

And it rolls up neatly into this little bag.

So not too bad, I think I ‘m winning!
I am still knitting and have completed the first one of my next pair of socks but so slowly, I used to knit a pair in three evenings, but I have to rest my arm now and then,  so it is taking a lot longer. We are carrying on with the ultra sound treatment each day, and I do think my arm is less painful, but it still doesn't do what I want it to and wanders all over the place when I try to spread butter on my toast. I suppose the answer is to go without butter,  but I couldn't, I love it!

XX

I can knit !!!

Each Christmas I knit a pair of socks for each of my grand children, actually I should say grand young people as GD is 21, #1 GS is 19 and the youngest is 15. They all tower over me! 

It has been a struggle as it isn't as easy as crochet as I have to move my arm, but here is the first pair completed. I wondered if they wear them but when I visited them the other week, the youngest had on a pair, except they were odd. Both hand knitted and a blue colour but odd! My DD was wearing a pair belonging to #1 GS as she was gardening and wearing wellies!. So they do get worn..
I even knitted this last weekend when we visited my cousin who has bought a very swish barn conversion in Shifnal. We had a lovely long weekend with her; it is out in the country and we walked through the autumn fallen leaves. She fed us well with home baked apple pie, and other treats, I put on weight!!

Home again now and another Christmas cake is in the oven, this one for my #3 son.
How are your Christmas preparations going?

Still here......

 

Thank you everyone for your kind comments about my broken arm. The exogen treatment is going ok. The 20 minutes goes in a flash and the machine records all the treatments. It is just a hand sized unit with the plug part on a curly wire that is held in place with a strap.

I don't feel anything at all. I was expecting to feel waves of warm or something but disappointingly nothing. Only another 70 plus days to go! I shall be having it on Christmas day!!

I have been able to do some knitting and started socks for my grand children.

My camera seems to have gone phut so no photos, sorry.

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I have been reading blogs of those people, mainly women who have decided to blog about living frugally. They are fascinating and buy food from supermarkets at near closing time when a lot of fresh food stuff has a marked down price on 'yellow stickers.'

So I decided to look at what we buy. But we make a list linked to a weekly menu so we buy what we need not what's on offer, although if something we needed was on offer we would buy it.

We rarely if ever throw food out and at least once a week have a 'bottom of the fridge' soup. Today I had a root veg soup with some home grown squash and frozen peas added for a variety of colour and it was delicious. I struggled to cut up the veg into small chunks (DH is visiting his Dad who is not well and his mum) but I managed.

I think over these seven months my left hand has got stronger and I can do things that I couldn't before.

Thank you again everyone. I am not going to lie and say I am happy, happy,  because I am not,  I am still having weepy days and my diet has gone right out the window!

XXX