Friday 2 November 2012

Trolley takes a trip to town

Hi everybody, it's that ridiculous, dotty, bonkers, eccentric old biddy here again, still wearing my Garfield slippers YAY. A bit old, a bit tatty, and yes they have shiny bottoms, but they will last a little while longer. These slippers have made an appearance on here before, when my sister gave them to me for a pressie. There was some concern then when I was expected to fall arse over tit in them and break my neck. I didn't and I am still here.
I'm waiting for the comments on the last post to go over the 100, there are 97 so far. Wooohooo, so many people sticking up for me. I think most of you realise that some of my quirky little money saving habits would not go down well in your own households. I would not expect you to eat out of a pan or pee in a bucket and chuck it on the compost heap if you didn't want to. By the way, I don't do the bucket thing any more, I use grey water to flush my loo with now, ha ha. 
I am pleased that all of you think everyone should be able to live their life as they wish, and it is no one elses business. I take people as I find them. I don't expect people to live like me, and I don't have to live like anyone else. I wouldn't go on someone elses blog and say their house looks a mess, how they live has nothing to do with me. It's very rude to make comments like that.  
I see the Anon who refuses to put his name to his comments has been back with another one, he is becoming quite unpleasant now. I say 'his and he', as I do believe it is a male. I shall leave it as it is, I could delete it, but I think it shows his true colours, an unpleasant bully hiding behind anonimity. Anyway, I shan't let it get to me, I am made of stronger stuff. You can be rest assured that I aint going nowhere :o)
Right, what's the post about today then. Ah yes, my breakfast, scrambled eggs and spaghetti on toast. I sometimes swap breakfast and lunch around, so today I had a bowl of bran flakes for my lunch, just to be different, ha ha.
The water bucket in the downstairs toilet needed topping up, this is where I collect the rainwater. I don't have a water butt, There's nowhere suitable to put one. I can collect enough water here, I scoop the leaves out first so they don't block the toilet up.
I thought I would give my trolley it's first shopping trip. I went to town and parked on some waste ground five minutes walk from the market. I don't pay for parking and always look for a free space. I did the rounds of most of the discount stores, buying a few items here and there. I got four tins of tomatoes from Home Bargains for £1, and found some out of date seafood sauce for 5p a jar. Got some out of date crisps, 50p for 5 packets, the only time I buy crisps is when they are cheap. The usual eggs, and garlic cheese from B & M. Found some small foil trays of cat food reduced to 10p at Asda so I bought 20 of those. And some bananas, brocolli, and butternut squash from Aldi. All the rest was cat and dog food, the trolley was packed full. Now how am I supposed to lift that into the car.
Look at that, must have dragged it through some mud, the wheel is all dirty. Flippin heck.
Oh well, take a few things out then I can lift it.
I was going to tell you that this is a photo of tonights sunset, but you might know it is not, if you happened to be looking out of the window at about teatime. I took it last night actually. The crane at the docks down the bottom of the hill.
It's been a funny old day, a bit exciting too with all the comments piling in. You my dear readers have cheered me up no end, so you can see it is a two way thing. My sincere thanks to everyone who commented yesterday. I am very chuffed indeed that you did. Pop by again if you have a minute. I would love to see you. Toodle pip.

30 comments:

  1. " that ridiculous, dotty, bonkers, eccentric old biddy here"

    That's what we love about you Ilona :-)

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  2. I could do with one of those trolleys except I'd need skis on it in the winter.
    Jane x

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  3. Yay you're back - and in great form too by the sound of it. What a gorgeous sunset ! Look forward to tomorrow's post. Sleep tight. X

    PS
    still Anon until I set up a whatchamacallit !

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  4. Here here Kath, don't change your ways for anybody, some people have nothing better to do than spread their misery. Will be nipping into my home bargains tomorrow to see if the tomatoes are on at the same price

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  5. I enjoy cereal for other meals as well.

    Gill in Canada

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  6. Hi Ilona, Your post made me laugh, arse over tit with the Garfield slippers, jeez. :-) You've christened your chic shopper trolley, you got a fair old whack of stuff in it. I have some GT40, like spray oil that I put on the axle of my trolley from time to time, to stop rust, especially come Winter with salt on the pavements. The kitties and pooches will be glad of all that food you managed to pick up for them. What time is teatime for you, it's pitch dark here by 5pm now, you got a nice picture with the little bit of blue sky. It's quite frosty here at nights now, and a little wet snow but nice through the day, bright sunshine. Be careful of your info re the parking space, with it coming up to Christmas there may be a pile of cars on it with people out Christmas shopping. Mind you, some people can't get close enough to the doors of the supermarket, so the five minute walk would probably put a lot of people off nabbing your space. We sometimes have soup for breakfast, if I make some in the slow cooker and there's some left over we have it next day for breakfast, or left overs from dinner. It's not set in stone that you must have cereal for breakfast. We've been having beans on toast but after seeing your post of scrambled eggs and spaghetti, I think I'll get some spaghetti in for a change. Well, Good Night and thanks for posting again. I was worried you wouldn't post today, I really like reading your blog. Take care, Christy.

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  7. Dear Ilona, I write as "anonymous" as I am a Technowally and dont know how to do it any other way, I have five cats and all my furniture is covered in rugs and throws...but still the cat hairs get everywhere,on my clothes, in my dinner!
    you name it, however when my adored white deaf (rat-bag) cat stretches out on my lap and looks up at me with love,then all is forgiven and if people come to my house they always go away with a present of white and ginger fur.Please keep posting, and more photos of Rockie ,please!
    Teresa

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  8. Ilona, I had to smile at your post today. This past weekend, my 4 y/o grand-daughter was here visiting and she finally realized that I lived alone and she was concerned that I wasn't happy. I explained to her that I could go to bed when I wanted, get up when I wanted, eat pizza for breakfast and cereal for supper if I wanted. She said, "Wow, Nana, you are soooo lucky!" Out of the mouths of babes, Ilona!
    Joan in Michigan

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  9. "I don't have a water butt, There's nowhere suitable to put one." As a Californian, I'm delightfully lost by some of your idiom but find I agree with this one whatever it means. My compliments on your independence in practice, thought and spirit.

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    1. Hehehe...not butt as you are thinking,but rainwater barrel!
      Jane x

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  10. MQ, I didn't comment yesterday as I was too angry. Your blog is such a joy and inspiration to me that I can't imagine anyone making those nasty, judgemental remarks to you. Chosing to live a very frugal lifestyle in order to do the things that are most important to you such as your lovely cat rescue work is a very moral choice. It also makes your fun, challenging, educational and spiritual uplifting jaunts possible. You very generously share these trips with us through your entertaining descriptions and pictures. You do not have to eat, dress or decorate as I do in order for me to value and respect you as a person. As to your slippers, I have a pair of slippers in my closet that I find very uncomfortable and I have said to myself that Mean Queen would know exactly how to make them wearable. Now that i've seen the duct tape on yours, I may take the scissors to the blasted things and see what can be done! The dollar store has some zebra pattern duct tape...


    Greetings to Rocky and the kitties.
    Bonnie

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  11. I love switching meals around...leftovers for breakfast then cereal for supper...I am one of those picky eaters you talked about a few posts back...my personal gruel is a mix of yogurt, cereal and fruit...looks awful but very filling,tastes great...



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  12. Hello
    New reader here. Whilst I might not choose to do all you tell us about I enjoy reading your blog and you've given me lots of ideas already. Re your slippers have you thought about sticking something 'grippy' on the soles. When the slippers in our house when through on the soles we were lucky enough to have some old leather elbow patches in the sewing box. These stuck on 'rough side' out gave the slippers a long lease of life without them being slippy under foot. Ok we don't often have spare leather at home but I am sure you or other readers can suggest a 'grippy' alternative.
    Please keep us updated with life re your lovely trolley. I'm about 15 years away from retirement but my back seems to be older than the rest of me. I am wondering if a snazzy trolley might be just the thing to collect bargins whilst out and about.

    Marg (sorry about anonymous but I don't understand the alternatives yet! Give me time)

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    1. I wondered about that too, how to make the underside of your slippers less slippy. You know how you get these slipper socks that have rubbery dots on the bottom of them to give grip on lino etc. What about a cut up rubber glove, you could cut it up and glue dots or strips onto the underside, might work. Depends on the glue maybe, as it might melt the rubber. :-/ Wouldn't want you going arse over tit as you say. I duct taped an old pair of slipper boots, they were quite slidey underfoot, but I don't have stairs, so not so bad. Cheers, Christy.

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    2. I queried someone who made knitted slippers for charity, wouldn't they be dangerous as they'd be very slippy? well the answer was blobs of pva type glue on the bottom, once dry it makes them grippy instead of slippy!

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  13. I know they're only slippers, but they look so sad without eyes. Could you sew some on!

    Or am I joining the bonkers' crew, giving feelings to slippers?

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  14. Good to hear you`re back with your fighting spirit. People that don`t know you have no idea how interesting and varied your life is. As you share the funny and not so funny side of things here we have come to love the whole quirkiness of you and the things you do. Your blog is the more entertaining for it. You carry on wearing fluffy slippers. They suit you!

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  16. Sorry terrible spelling mistake in previous comment.

    What I said was that the more silly comments anon makes, the more love pours in from the rest of us.

    What I love best about you is that you are you own woman and I like to think I am too.

    Great bargains.

    Sft x

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  17. Hey Ilona!! We have often peed in a bucket for the compost!! Doesn't everyone!! Great comments from everyone regarding your last post. You live your life to the full your way, just the same as everyone else does (think about it). All our lives are lived the way WE want. Our waste bins and buckets are always nearly empty on collection day, but our compost bins and garden waste piles are absolutely full. Good luck to you. Ann x

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  18. My other half has often stood on a large brick and peed directly into our compost bin, I will say it is always in the pitch black, I felt embarrassed for him at first but now realise nobody can see him so if he can BARE (pun) to do it, what the hell.

    I love your Garfield slippers, I couldn't have them as I'd kill myself going downstairs! I do have a Garfield kitty that can be put in the microwave and cuddled. Not quite so hot as a hot water bottle and I must admit to giving it to my own Merlin cat if it's very cold.

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  19. Dear Ilona,
    I read your post every day,and enjoy hearing about your exploits. The thing I admire most about you is your absolute joy in being alive. One advantage about getting older is that what other people think about you is totally irrelevant.(that is what I have discovered anyway). I also have had to post as anonymous, because I don't know how to do it any other way. I am glad you are ignoring these boring people who are posting on your blog.
    Best wishes
    Margaretxxx

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  20. Good for you on switching breakfast around, Ilona - as my home-made car sticker says `Bran Flakes are for life, not just for breakfast`!

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  21. I often eat some serial without milk and have it as a crunchy snack during the day. Beats eating sweets any day.

    Looking at your lovely shopping trolly I`m inclined to invest in one myself now. Could make my shopping trips without car a little easier, me thinks. I might even get away without having to take a taxi home with whatever I bought.

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  22. Two ideas to de-slip your slippers. The stick-on decals for putting in the bathtub/shower to prevent slip and falls or, if you can find a large child's footed pj's at the charity shop, you could cut off the pebbly bottom of the feet and glue on to your slippers.
    Joan from Michigan

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  23. I have followed your blog for quite sometime and never fail to have a quiet giggle at some of the things you do. Your absolute joy of life comes shining through and is a an inspiration. Also how many people would give up time,space and money to care for such vulnerable creatures as your rescued animals. I love hearing about the kittens and cats and Rockie is a star. It is a good job there are people like you around. Thank you. Annette.

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  24. You might not remember me, but I emailed you about how to lose weight a few monthsd ago, and your advice was brilliant and very do-able. I am losing one pound a week as you suggested and have now lost almost a stone. I also follow your recipes and spend a lot less money and eat far more veg than ever, and I'm walking more than I used to, although foot pain sometimes prevents that. So whatever anyone says, you're blog makes a lot of sense!

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  25. absolutely love your blog.
    Just to say that only male pee should be used on a compost heap ( the oestrogen in female pee is not good fro the compost )
    Tricia

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  26. Hi Ilona,

    I just wanted to tell you that I admire your pluckiness and joy for living...Curious as to how you came by the name meanqueen...You don't seem at all mean.

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