New Year Eve Birthday

Child with a temperature so we were up most of the night. She hit 39 degrees so we went through the list of things to do. Finally it broke and she is feeling better, We were nearly off to a walk in centre but thankfully. Fit enough today for a walk to a castle and a waterfall in the Ochill Hills.

We are visiting my sister for New year and my birthday. I hit the big 40 today. Sister liveth in the land of Scots in Clackmannanshire. The wee town is very picturesque and nestles at the foot of the Ochil Hills.

Pah 40! Its just a number. Had a curry last night in Alloa. We all went out and I used the evil CC to pay for it, Not loads but it happens rarely that I am in a position to do so. Will be paid off in full.

My birthday meal this evening is on the sister and BIL. We are celebrating their anniversary (28th December) as well as my Bday.

Weeny will have cousin time.

Apparently we have champagne, panettone and a  birthday cake.

We are heading out tomorrow to bag some hills before a huge sunday dinner.Weeny will be staying in.

The pootle to the castle and the waterfall was gentle. I believe in fresh air and kids bounce back to being energised so quickly.

Enjoy your Hogmanay! I maybe drunk or at least a wee bit tiddly fnar fnar 

Sales hell !

Forgot to mention our horrid cinema trip where by we did n't see The Hobbit. After an hours wait in an imax 3d cinema screen at The Metro Centre- huge shopping centre we eere imformed of a technical glitch that became a fault and film was cancelled.

We had travelled 35 miles. One way  35 mile journey to my definition of torturous hell. Shopping mall on Boxing day teeming with Sales zombies.....

I am mentally scared. We were refunded and given free tickets. Weeny was with the 'others'
All ready had the treat costa coffee and comitted petrol money for a 70 mile round trip. These are the expenses we are out of pocket for negating any savings from complimentary tickets. Also we always book seats in advance as we like decent seats and like to guarantee we will get in given the long journey. Will try again w/e 5th Jan.

The place was horrible and souless and the frenzied spending just one day after xmas made my nose wrinkle.

Death by pavlova....Nah lifes a beach!

I have made three pavlovas since xmas eve. We have half of one left to finish tomorrow. I also have hazelnut tiffen in the freezer and s lime cheese cake to make.

We never did get round to biscuits but we will for Valentines day.

mixed berry pav
peach kiwi and raspberry pav
kiwi and red grape and rasp and peach.

Yes thats four combinations. Topping wise I split a large one in half. Its so simple now I have my fantastic mini oven. I love it.


So to avoid becoming pavlova bound, Weeny and I headed to the beach.

White wine in the Sun...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCNvZqpa-7Q

Tim Minchen on Christmas - I love it.

Resolutions and 2013

1. Get fit - I am very unfit
2. Complete at least one additional short qualification. I am thinking Pttls at work.
3. Meal plan - and budget the weekly shop more efficiently.  I can reduce this with good planning I feel. Also I hate waste and have noticed some creeping in!

This is it really.  Three nice and simple things I hope lol


Again I have left out the garden as long term plans are not set in stone and to garden is to plan for tomorrow.

In general I shall continue with the getting by and juggling and penny  pinching in order to get by and live as well as I can without debt. No frugal end goals just life or something like it!

Although its Christmas and the silly season I have a new Ebay and car boot stash coming along nicely already. Some nice kids frocks, toys for a boot sale and such. I also have a charity pile too. The money will be put towards next years celebrations and Weeny's birthday. I have £3 in vouchers from surveys stashed also.


Freecycle look outs
photo frames
rugs
garden table
DVD player
suitable toys for a to be 6yr old- xmas and birthday. To be saved. The Bratz cache was an excellent find!
washing up basin
laundry basket
curtains- always useful
bamboo blinds or other windo covering for the kitchen
sewing machine - working
oil filled radiator - nice to have two so I don't have to move one around the house.


Big things that may go bang!
My fridge is getting old so we shall have to wait and see how long it holds out. I will invest in a new one as its an essential and I like a big freezer and equal sized or smaller fridge. I also have a limited space in a small kitchen.

The bedroom telly is ancient but working so far and another ancient big chunky telly will suffice. Freecycle fine and I can do without quite happily. Biggles will always lend me his as well but I prefer not to chance braking his gadgets as he loves them so..... (rolls eyes)

Lap top - my one is very disabled physically. The screen is comming apart and two of the funtion keys are missing. It works so far though and I get to use a PC at work so will replace in time when it goes to techie heaven. Who knows how long it will last!!

The car will require a service, MOT and also new wiper blade motor. Tyres seem ok at the moment but I do put 10K+ on the car per year.


My credit card debt will be up in January I think.. or maybe feb! Thats another £50 to put towards repaying Biggles and then family. I have no interest accruing debts however. This is a satisfying thing!
 

Gas n leccy part 2

Well the metre reading when I finally got round to in ( 28th of December 20 days late) actually reduced my DD to £38 per month. Yipee! The frugal heating plan is working.

This has included having goodd heating ie having it on over Christmas and when we have all been in and also the use of other items as we have been homebased for several days, cooking etc etc

The mini oven is a dream. Quick and efficient.

I will keep the DD at £50 per month untill the spring reading and see if I can reduce or not.

I also have credit on my account which is good.

 

Next year's xmas

What I will do

• start earlier making cards and gift tags with the weeny
• make pine cone decorations with weeny
• if I acquire a sewing machine this year via freecycle i will make xmas bunting from scraps. its very pretty
• make fewer vegs on xmas day
• buy a supermarket free range chicken- butchers too big and expensive and we don't do turkey
• do not buy any sweets or choc for weeny bar a selection box. She gets so many as it is.
• ask Biggles for a list
• limit Biggles to a set amount of money he can spend.
• make a door wreath and other indoor items from woodland detritus. Never got the chance this year
• force Biggles to give me a list of what he would like
• take weeny to evening mass. I have issue at present with RC and others due to having many gay friends and cannot bear to listen to sermons on topic of gay marriage.
• make individual pavlovas as we are greedy buggers

What I will do the same:

• record all programmes and films Weeny will love. This has been ace as the tv is pants and weather rubbish
• buy crafty doing presents and a game for weeny. Been nice doing arty things with her.
• Re- gift. Controversial to some but useful. I have two boxes of posh chocs lined up for birthdays, one smellies set, one scarf, one stamp set - weeny got two. As well as two bags -peppa pig and dora the explora, a felt scene toy, art activity and barbie doll.
• Buy booze for people. Always appreciated if they are drinkers
• Save all ribbons and cars for next years card and tag making.

What has annoyed me this xmas:
Not a lot at all!  Apart from the general OTT, lets forget the true meaning of the season etc etc Though weenys other family insist on buying large expensive slushy cards and always buy a new super large gift bag every year. It is invariably broken and can ony be thrown in teh recycling bin. Buy a bloody re useable santa sack. They have 4/5 grand kids so imagine the waste and the easte of money! I feel this is a waste of money and poor show for the environment but its their cash and they are idiots.  Also small kids sending christmas cards tpo each other - Rip off! Why parents indulge this I do not know!

I have to do christmas but will one day get my dog and cottage in the lakes, /holiday to cambodia and vietnam, Australia when the dual nationality sibling returns... this is how I woudl really like to spend Christmas.... avoid it lol but the Santa years are few and far between and to not indulge her would be very cruel me thinks.