Bloggers!!!

Have some questions and am courting opinions of the frugal!!!


What are people doing re the utilities price hike forecast for September!  are we changing now or biding out time!!!


Quidco-  How does it work?? I got a phone call from aviva sourced from the quidco site  and have gone with this option. How do the other other bits work re cashback etc etc


Can anyone recommend survey sites??? I have pine cone ( thank you Sharon mac) any others out there worth your time. I am registered for ipsos access panels?? Anyone heard of them???



Thanks


Much appreciated!!1



eeeek

Viewers Ahoy!!

And hello to folks viewing anonymously - tis only polite afterall andI can tell by the view counter thing.

Enjoy the weekend!!

Another pants thing!!! and any Info on Quidco!!!

Parking ticket- ten mins over in the rain while I ran some errands. Another £30 to add to the £60 fine. yah boo sucks.

I have picked up some perennials for the garden from free cycle - as soon as it stops raining I am up for some hard labour. Loads of them I will have loads of flowers in my garden and lovely green plants and foliage! 

Have collected recorded post from Royal Mail, got forms to get tax back, and picked up veg for tonights hot Thai Curry!!! I have also deactivated Facebook. Will pop by from time to time but not in the mood for FB at the moment. Can't say anything nice so shall not say anything at all.

Weeny girl at Fathers. He picked her up this morning and will drop her back tomorrow.  He does not have a car at the moment. hasn't had one for a year only his work van. he is also feeling the pinch being a self employed joiner with own business.

I noticed car shopping that there are lots of larger cars about. Also the charity shops are most def busier than normal.  Sign of the times I feel.  Small cars and second hand is the way forward for not just us frugallers - in fact frugallism must be getting more popular. Freecycle seems busier as well.

Have you noticed anything????  Def more value products taken off the shelves in the supermarket.

 Every room in the house is a tip. I have much to do. BT vision box requires a clean up as well.
I feel a wardrobe reshuffle coming on as well. I need to get car boot and ebay stuffs ready. Am going to need it.

Hopefully will still get to the water of Ull at the weekend. ( Ullswater)  Glenridding or Sykeside as they are near a pub!!! A few beers may be in order on Friday night I think.

I have renewed my life insurance via quidco. What happens re cashback and such????? Does any one know?? I used aviva and got same policy for Twenty quid less.


More cookies on the go for Biggles as a thankyou for being Mr Wonderful.  Don't make many like him - I think its his mothers doing and also fine Yorkshire upbringing with a bit of military thrown in for good measure.


Bought another duvet for weeny girls bed - gets abit cold in winter - only 2.99, new work clothes - new to me anyway - size 16 to be comfy as am getting porky, a black mac style coat  and a suitcase for weekends.

I had a spend to cheer self up then ha went over parking time. Bloody expensive so far!!!

Last Weekend's Pics

 Cookies - more frozen dough for this weekend!

 View from Seahouses beach to Bamburgh

 Rather vibrant weeds on the cliffs!

Not bad for a mobile phone camera me thinks!

 Heading down to the shore

Skimming stones - madam had to take her leggins off for a plodge - She is a northern british child and as such is more than capable of taking the chill of the north seas for a wee bit - loves it!! lol Proper british chidhood in the summer!!!

And the obligatory ice cream!!!!

Big pile of you know what!!!!

I crashed my car. Write off.  Don't ask! I have three points, a fine and injured pride. Everyone ok however. One of those things. PISH PISH PISH. I paid for early MOT, and recently the exhaust - 189 and 161 and tax which I will get back at least Oh and there was 1/2 a tank of fuel left so about 25 quid.  I have now purchased a car for 2k ( Fiat 03 Reg good mileage 30k on the clock) and paid 130 extra insurance.  

My frugal plan has gone down the swanney. Thankfully no one hurt. Weeny likes the new car which is blue.
Biggles has been fabulous - he rescued me and has lent me 1k interest free


I will update tomorrow in more detail. I am really tired.

Well well well.....Weekend stuff

I have been a lazy blogger!!!  But little has occurred this week other than the usual work type stuff. Biggles off work - on leave all of next week so the house is full and meals are planned.

This weekend we three went on a tent hunt. I have a large stand up tent which is a pain to pitch especially for one person. I may have to pitch in my own initially - not sure of timings. The plan is that I do West coast - see mum then travel down and Biggles will meet me at Ullswater. He will take his bike if its nice weather - he is hoping so very much. Weeny girl is very excited ans wants to go today!!! Lets hope the weather is better.

We have a four man tunnel tent - purchased between us. Smaller - warmer, easier to pitch and not a comfort tent. My previous was purchased to pacify an ex who was not a camper.  A massive tent and you might as well get a caravan.

We have it in blue and had a challenge to fine the cheapest  on the internet. I lost. Biggles invoking the Yorkshire man's skill in not wanting t'part wit money found said tent for £69.99 delivery  £4.95 with a free gift to boot  ands a useful one - gas burner with gas canister.   Most excellent.  Well done the yorkshireman!!!


We went to a few tent shops which weeny loved as she got to crawl inside big tents little tents etc etc ones inside..... We also went for ice cream at Morwick. Morwick is a dairy farm that produces its own fabulous ice cream in a variety of flavours and also has a small play park. Bloody cold however!!!

Home for Green Thai curry - Weeny girl loves Green Thai Curry - I make a creamier version for her. Doctor Who and Kill Bill vol 2.

Today we are waiting .......... for it to stop raining so we can go to Seahouses for a walk along the beach and some fish and chips.  We had a late breakfast of  sausages and eggs. I managed to tidy the shed and give the camping equipment the once over.

Biggles watching moto gp  upstairs, Downstairs Weeny girl is watching Mama Mia. Its a lot of fun really We may if there is time make Choc chip cookies using Jacqui at the interrupted gardeners recipe!!. If we do we will up date with pics.

Ho hum nearly Monday again.................sigh

Some pics from the weekend.... Mini adventure plans...

Some pics from the weekend...................

My Strawberry tart efforts - architecture to be desired but taste perfectly adequate ++

 Boulmer Beach - tide was out leaving rock pools to be explored

Weeny girls favourite place is the Beach - given the option of park or beach she would choose beach everytime - far too much interesting stuff  do compared to a concrete park 

And you can run and run and run and run!!! and draw and splash and collect stuff and find dead stuff and live stuff and shells and rocks and sticks and seaweed and, and , and run and build sand castles and dig holes and  and ......

happy as piglets in muck

well back to work - not bad but bosses are off and there is much re structuring going on so little progress work wise -= I have gone as far as I can go really without getting other people to do their bits/have students in and its half term so I don't for see getting out of second gear. It leaves me time at work to day dream and plan and plot.... This is my logic....

I have to take a day off to meet with social workers.  If plans for work occur over summer I will not be taking anytime off bar days here and there maybe if I am lucky.

Why not combine trip with camping in lakes for a night or two. Weeny girl desperate to camp again and go on a boat.  I want to go to the lakes again. I am thinking Ullswater steamer to satisfy the boat.  

 I drive to west coast Thursday night. Spend morning of Friday with Mum and social worker  then tootle down west coast to Glenridding or Sykeside camping for Friday and sat night.

Friday will just have enough time to put up tent. Sat - Ullswater steamer and walk in Grisedale Forest . Head straight back Sunday.  This way I do not loose the day and have less of a journey overall not having to make a separate trip to the Lakes.  

I have the equipment - ok need an airbed but other than that...... not sure if Biggles will come or be able to come. Nice if he did pop over maybe on his superbike. I like the idea of Weeny girl and I doing a wee bit on our own. Like the idea of him popping over for the evening too.  could also take in Aria force if time. I have a back pack for weeny one who is not so weeny anymore when she gets tired. I think three miles+ may be a bit of a long trek for three year old legs..

I did try to encourage Biggles towards going to Wickerman but not keen on the line up. Can you believe he has never been to a concert!!!  All that military stuff getting in the way - I will secure Artic Monkeys tickets for him at some point.

ooo another adventure- excited already.