Psssst, fancy a quiet chat in a quiet spot. I recorded this video yesterday.
What did I have for lunch yesterday. I made a stir fry with courgettes and broad beans. When it was almost done I added a cheese and onion roll cut into four pieces. Let it cook through so the sweet and sour sauce was absorbed into it. It was blooming lovely.
Last nights dinner was frozen steamed vegetables with grated cheese on top. Quick easy meal.
An update on the mandala. I've added a bit more. There are 50 small buttons.
I went another walk this afternoon. Although windy it was quite hot. I was pleased to see my friend Karen attending to her horses in the field she rents. I haven't seen her in ages, so it was nice to have a catch up natter.
I was getting a bit worried over the last week or so, only one hedgehog coming for the food. The night before last all four of them appeared. That was a relief to see them. Last night three turned up. Maybe more come after I have gone to bed, the food is always gone when I wake up in the morning.
Good morning. I had this video in drafts, I store them up to maybe pull out later and use them in a post. This blog started out as a money saving, living within your means blog. I documented my money in and money out, because I was skint and about to finish work and move onto a state pension. Hence the name Meanqueen was born.
Now I am in a better place because of all my years of being frugally astute. If you can save a few pennies every time you shop, they add up into £'s. People laughed at me for being so tight. Why bother they said, it's only 10p.
I hung around in Tesco at 7pm waiting for the reduced trolley to be wheeled out onto the shop floor. I joined in the scrum with the rest of them to grab my share of what was available. A full load for less than a tenner. I lived on last date food for a long time.
I was frugal with my gas and electricity usage. Only switched it on when it was needed. Make a meal for less than £1 in one pan. For three years I had no central heating, couldn't afford to get it fixed. Put lots of clothes on first to keep warm. Always on the look out for money saving tips. Buying and wearing second hand clothes. All tips that my mother taught me. Thank you mum.
I can allow myself a few treats now. I can afford to spend money on a decent car, new clutch a few months ago, and keep three cats, vets fees and food. I had an old garage taken down at a cost of £1,000. I had a new roof on the house, saved up for it, paid £7,000 cash.
I have been debt free for 13 years now, when I paid off the mortgage. But, old habits die hard, I am still careful with my spending.
I watch money saving videos, because it's wise not to think it's all over. The high cost of living will not suddenly go away, it will carry on creeping up. To keep on top of things I don't take my eye off the ball. Always looking for new ways of becoming even more tight.
I was on Rip off Britain. I believe that programme is still going. Not sure because I don't have a tele. That's a hundred and something £'s saved a year because I don't have a licence.
Now is the time to be more vigilant as the Government tries to force everyone onto Central Bank Digital Currency. There are so many scams out there. I keep my banking simple. One account, paper statement once a month, two direct debits a month, pay everything I can with cash.
Try this video as a reminder that it's still important to watch the pennies.
Thanks for popping in. Have a good, cheap, weekend. Toodle pip. ilona
Just a few more photo's from last weekend. Back from Heckington on Saturday night. Sunday morning I was off to Sandtoft Trolleybus Museum. I was here a year ago so I tried to limit the amount of photo's I took this time. 😬😣😝🚎🚌🚋
If you want to look back one year for more photo's, check this post out.
Something different. Check how many place names you recognise on the destination boards. Have you been to any of these places.
Two trucks and a very old blue bus.
I'm glad I made the effort to go. Had a lovely day chatting. It is my mission to make people laugh, and I did. I sat on a bench telling my stories to a very nice lady. She had the opportunity to escape with her family to look around, but she said she would rather sit chatting with me. We laughed a lot.
The icing on the cake was me calling in to a friends house in the next village. I didn't know if she was going to be there because it is many years since I have seen her. She was a trucker for a long time, also a biker, so we have a lot in common. We used to meet up at the Truck Shows. I was pleased to see Polly in her garden, she still lives in the same house. That was lucky. Do you want a cuppa she says, so we sat in the sun catching up on the last 20 - 30 years.
Today is Friday as I write this. I did the shopping yesterday. I am well on the way to stitching another mandala, it's looking good, always something to do.
Thanks for popping in. Have a good weekend. Toodle pip. ilona
Hello. I recorded this video on the Saturday morning before I went into the showground.
The Heckington Show has been held annually in the village over the last weekend in July since 1864.
After after spending most of the day at the show, I decided to walk into the village of Heckington. Here are a few snaps. As this is a big annual event a lot of the houses were decorated.
St Andrews Church. I couldn't go inside, the door was locked.
Heckington Manor.
There are lots of pictures online of this building in it's derelict state. It's good to see that renovations are well underway. Apparently the owner wanted permission to demolish it because it was a magnet for vandals. I wonder what it will be when it is refurbished and open.
Heckington has a famous windmill.
The nearly 1,000-year-old village (first mentioned in the 10th century) is best known for its windmill, the only 8-sailed example of its type still standing in the UK and Europe. The tower windmill built as a five-sailed mill in 1830 and turned into an eight-sailed mill after serious storm damage in 1890–92 was formerly (and sometimes still today) named Pocklington's Mill after its last owner John Pocklington. In 1986 the windmill underwent restoration.
Next to the Windmill is the Railway Station.
After my bimble around Heckington it was time to go back to my car. I didn't know they had a fly past arranged so that was a surprise.
A fireworks show was planned for the evening but I decided it would be too long to wait for it. I wanted to get back home. Besides I had another outing planned for the Sunday.
Guess what, I have some pics of that as well.
Time for dinner. Catch ya tomorrow, Toodle pip. ilona
Hello. I'll carry on where I left off, see the previous post, before being interrupted by a very loud singer. Video number 2. Friday night. What else is there to look at.
And now a few pics of the actual event on Saturday. My favourites, the Shire Horses.
This made me laugh. Wonder if the BBC will go back to using basic equipment for their outdoor broadcasts, when everybody stops paying their TV licence.
I had a chat with the owner. He has had the vehicle for a long time, and it is kitted out like a bedsit small flat. It has everything you need for a tiny house.
Some unusual and colourful tractors.
This old crock was brought here on the back of a trailer.
This looks too clean to go and work in a muddy field.
I thought these prices were too high. The course was a short run along a straight piece of grass, and back.
First prize for someone who painted a picture of The Red Arrows.
The Blighty Belles did the show proud. First class entertainment. Their repertoire went from the 40's through to the 60's. Great foot tapping stuff. Check out their web site for more information.
By mid afternoon I decided that I wanted to escape the crowds so I walked out of the show and into Heckington Village. I have pics of that coming soon.
Hello. My working life ended 16 years ago. Now I just please myself. This is my diary. What I do and what I think about. You are welcome to read it. Toodle pip.
