Good evening. I've just had a gut busting bowl of home made curried, garlicky spicy stew. Boy was it tasty, it's amazing what you can make out of a few odds and ends. I haven't been shopping because I am running my food down in readiness for next weeks sprint across the country. Or that was the plan, until this morning, when I made the decision to postpone the trip after studying the weather forecast. We've had another rotten day here today, there is just no sense to it. They say that this miserable weather is going to continue all next week, and I don't want to be trudging mile after mile peering through rain spots on my specs. So folks, the big walk is off till next month.
In the meantime I will just have to see what the weather brings on a daily basis, and if it gets off to a good start, grab the opportunity to do a day walk. I shall also have a look at some bus timetables, I might even have a day out bus hopping. At least I will be dry and warm, and if I find some double deckers to ride on I will have a good view from the top deck. Maybe take a picnic.
I've recently had a comment from someone at Oxford Bus Museum. You may not have seen it because I wrote the post about my visit there last August.
Just seen your blog and pleased you enjoyed your visit. Lots of new events and exhibits arriving this year as 2013 is the Centenary for Oxford Motorbuses and for Morris Car manufacture, so please come again. www.oxfordbusmuseum.org.uk Oxford Bus & Morris Motors Museums.
I've just picked this from their web site, something you might like to see if you fancy a day out in Oxfordshire.
Friday 29 March As one of the events to celebrate the centenary of the establishment of Morris Motors at Cowley, a cavalcade of vintage cars will travel from the Longwall restaurant to the Museum, arriving from shortly after mid-day.
There are free vintage bus rides on the first and third Sunday of each month starting on April 7th.
If you want more information here is their web site. I am happy to pass this on, as it's a smashing museum, all run by volunteers. The kids will love it. Well this big kid did anyway, ha ha.
http://www.oxfordbusmuseum.org.uk/
Here is a recent comment, I am chuffed to little mint balls.
Frugal in Bucks20 March 2013 11:48
I wanted to thank you so much for something you don't know you have done. I have been a 20 a day smoker for 25 years now. It was the worst thing I ever did! I have tried giving up but only lasting days, sometimes just hours. Recently, you posted about smoking and added some you tubes including one on Alan Carr. I read and re read your post, I watched the videos and I am totally thrilled that I have now been a non smoker for 15 days. If you hadn't posted that, I would still be killing myself at a cost of £50 a week.
So from me and my lungs to you illona
A MASSIVE THANK YOU. Xxxxxxxxx
Wow, great news eh! I am so pleased that my smoking post touched a chord somewhere. Even if one person gives up the horrible weed, it was worth posting it. Frugal in Bucks, I am proud of you, well done. You are now a NON SMOKER. The Alan Carr video is very thought provoking, and he talks such good sense. £50 a week eh! £2,600 a year. You can have a fantastic holiday for that. You could put it towards a new car. In two years you could buy a nice car for £5,200, and live long enough to enjoy it. Has anyone else been inspired to take up the challenge of giving up the fags?
Last week our rescue rehomed two more cats. Luck seems to be with us regarding finding new homes. Some nice people are coming forward, and they are delighted with their new additions to the familly. If we don't have room to take in more cats, we are able to put them on our web page, while the cat needing rehoming is able to stay in it's own home until someone suitable comes along. It is working quite well, and stops people turning their cat out on the streets to fend for itself.
That's all for now. Toodle pip.
Stew
4 minutes ago
That's great that your post reached one person at least. I missed the original post. I have never even tried smoking, but all my grandparents smoked when I was a child. My favourite grandad died aged 68, quite suddenly, from liver cancer and my gran died at 75, also from liver cancer. I don't know if smoking can cause that but it can't have helped. It bothers me now that when I was a child, my parents , aunts, uncles or grandparents weren't bothered about all the smoke around the children and as an adult, the thought of all that childhood passive smoking really bothers me!
ReplyDeleteYAY for Frugal in Buck...15 days of the new you. Fabulous...well done!
ReplyDeleteJane x
Forgot to mention, that both of us have quit. We both stopped together after we sat in bed watching the clip and reading the blog. So you have actually saved two people and we are not only healthier, the wheezing and coughing has stopped but we are £100 per week better off.
ReplyDeleteIt's weird, we knew we should stop and all the health risks but when you actually see it written down somewhere it hits home a lot more.
Thank you thank you thank you
From both of us.
Xxx
Wow, that's even better. Nothing like a bit of support close by. If you feel the urge, just take a £20 note out of your purse and set fire to it, because that's how daft smoking is. Enjoy your new smoke free healthy lungs.
DeleteMany Many congratulations to frugal in Bucks. I KNOW how hard it is to give up the accursed weed. I gave up a 20 a day habit 20 years ago. It was like getting out of an abusive relationship.You must be delighted that you have inspired someone to make the move MeanQueen.
ReplyDeleteGill
If you are ever our way again, Buckinghmashire, you must come and stay.
ReplyDeleteWould love to, now you have a smoke free home :o)
DeleteWell done, Frugal in Bucks! Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteIlona, even though it may be disappointing to postpone your planned adventure, isn't it grand that after years of employment you now the flexibility in your life to "roll with it" and reschedule without having to save up more holiday time from work, or go on your trip anyway because "it's my holidays" and you don't want to lode your chance? You can up stumps whenever the fancy (and the weather) strikes you, or stay snug at home with the kitties if you please. I do know you put a lot of planning into your big trips, though, so I hope you won't be out any deposits for B&Bs or hostel reservations.
It is grand, Quinn. Being retired is miles better than working :o)
DeletePS. I didn't book anything in advance, so no money lost. I would have bought my train ticket £9, yesterday if I was going, and topped up the dongle for £10, although I can use the top up any time.
DeleteGood decision to postpone - no pleasure in being masochistic, you want to enjoy your walk and WE want to enjoy your photos too.
ReplyDeleteI had the odd cigarette when I worked with someone who had one at coffee in morning and tea in afternoon. When I left however, she started smoking properly. I didn't continue other than the odd one. I can't remember when I had one.
Hello, Ilona. May I please share with Frugal in Bucks that, when you get an urge to light up (it will happen), remind yourself that you ARE now a non-smoker -- even with an urge. The urge WILL pass, I promise. And each urge you fight down, it will take longer for the next urge to crop up. Eventually, whole days come and go without the urge, then weeks. But never get disappointed if the urge does pop up. You can tell yourself that you've overcome worse than that--like the first three days of not lighting up. And who'd want to endure that again!!! Stay well and happy all. Elaine near Philly.
ReplyDeleteThank you for that hot tip, Elaine, very helpful.
DeleteThank you. It's really motivating to hear from lots of you. And thanks Ilona for publishing all these posts about me stopping. I feel almost famous now!
DeleteI will keep you updated.
X
Praise God for Frugal in Bucks being inspired to quit because of your post! Just one more reason I enjoy reading your blog. Don't blame you a bit for postponing, looking forward to seeing the walk when the time comes. I enjoy your blog, hats off to you!
ReplyDeleteRuth here. Well done to frugal in Bucks-keep it up!
ReplyDeleteI met a lady two days ago who I had advised to give up smoking 30 years ago.She did that very day and has never smoked again.We just never know the influence we can have on others. I was delighted to know that just as you must be Ilona.
ReplyDeleteHope we can all take advantage of any dry weather we get.
This is really great news. Sometimes it's the little things that we do, that make BIG differences in others lives. Cheers to Frugal in Bucks.
ReplyDeleteWell done all the ex-smokers, I know it's not easy (I speak from experience).
ReplyDeleteAnd well done Ilona, you inspire and motivate people in many different ways :-D
I think this weather is affecting the whole of the northern hemisphere (big comfort, right ?) Our temps here in the mid-west are 20 degrees below normal and the New England states are have snow storm after snow storm. Lets hope it warms up soon.......
ReplyDeleteHello, I enjoy reading your blog. I too am retired and trying to make it on what little money I have coming in. I've learned some good ideas from you...thanks! I have a question...what is a curried stew? I love curry spices and would love to know how you folks across the pond use them. Martha from Kansas
ReplyDeleteHi Martha. Curries here are mainly
ReplyDeletevegetables and meat chopped quite small, which makes it a bit mushy, served with rice. I cut my vegetables into larger pieces, so it is chunky, like a stew. Then I add curry powder, and call it a curried stew, without rice.
I am still trying to catch up on your blogs so I am late to the party but just wanted to let you know I gave up the 10 a day habit over 22 years ago. It felt so liberating to break away from that albatross. I felt the same way when I became debt free years ago and retired 3 years ago. All I have left is a small mortgage payment.which is very managable. Now my challenge is to give up the lure of food; harder for me than quitting the cigs ever was. I have been enjoying your blogs and up to march 2013.
ReplyDeleteBeverley in Elk Grove Calif.