I'm back.

Hello. I'm back at Tightwad Towers after my fabby walking trip in the southern area of the Lake District. The hotel was brilliant, the staff super efficient and friendly, the food was deeelishus, the walking was chilly at times in the wind but I didn't get wet and the sun was shining this morning. I've walked 36 miles so I'm chuffed with that. I was quite sad when I left at 3pm today, Grange over Sands is a lovely place, everyone I met was happy, everywhere was neat and tidy, hardly saw any litter, and the parks are well looked after. I spoke to strangers at the hotel and while I was out walking, and had lovely conversations.

I'l be back tomorrow with the first installment.
Toodle pip for now. We'll catch up soon.

We'll catch up soon.

Hello. Did you think I got lost? Nope, I'm not lost, I'm still here keeping my eyes on you, watching that you don't get into any mischief. I've got some cracking pictures for you, they will be on the blog asap, so don't go away. I'll tell you all about it. We'll catchup soon.
Toodle pip.

I love to go a wandering

Hello.
This is a smashing video, tells it exactly like it is. I have walked this route.



I love to go a wandering



Ha ha. We'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

How much! Chuffin heck!

Hello. My computer is having a wobbly. When I walk away from it and it goes into sleep mode, the screen doesn't just go black, it goes all colours, keeps changing every few seconds, bright neon colours. Then when I shut down, the computer switches itself off but the colours carry on and there is no response when I press the off button. I have to switch off at the wall, which I always do anyway. I think the monitor may be on it's way out. I'll wait until it stops working altogether. This computer is quite old. The red colour is very bright. Very strange.

I had to go shopping this afternoon, I had virtually no food left in the house apart from three cans of peaches, a jar of pickled onions, pasta, noodles and rice, nothing in the fridge, and a few things in the freezer. The postie brought me a letter from Tesco, there was a voucher for £7 off a £50 spend, I never spend that much. I put it in my pocket anyway. As I was walking round, I thought I might as well buy a few extra things, then I won't have to bother with a big shop for a month or so. There were offers on the cat food as well so I stocked up on that.

As she was scanning it I watched the numbers creep up and up. Chuffin heck, £72 chuffin quid, and that was with a few yellow stickers as well. The extras I bought were seeds and nuts, several kinds of canned beans, a bottle of wine, tuna fish, frozen white fish, and cooked chicken for the cats, sesame seed oil, frozen veggie burgers, plus all the usual stuff. So I did get to use the £7 off voucher. My stocks were very low, it was almost like starting from scratch. Gotta eat something.

I bought a cheese and onion pasty because I was hungry, I ate it on the way home. It was supposed to be for my dinner. So tonight I have had the rest of it, a plate of spinach and rocket with a little grated cheese and some pea and mint dip.

I must keep an eye on the time, I can't have anything to eat or drink after 9pm tonight. Tomorrow morning at ten past nine I'm at the medical centre for the first part of my free health check. They take a sample of blood, and I go back the week after for the rest of the check. I think I'll get a drink now, so I'll sign off.

Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
toodle pip

Home made shopping bags are in fashion

Hello and Good Morning. Here's another colourful post for you. Why do shopping bags have to be dull, boring, plain, brown, grey, plastic, or covered in advertising logo's? There are alternatives. Let's brighten things up and make shopping bags a fashion accessory. Let's have them in a multitude of colours and designs. Let's use up all the spare fabric we have and make pretty fabric bags which can be washed and used for years. Here's my latest selection just finished. 

Made from fabric sample books so the two sides are different. I found some extra fabric for the handles so they don't match, but it doesn't matter. The sample books were included in my £5 basket when I last went shopping in the Scrapstore, so these cost virtually nothing.

If you don't have a Scrapstore, you could look in car boot sales and charity shops for cheap fabric. Curtains work well, bed throws, as well. Anyone with a sewing machine can make shopping bags. Let's all brighten up the High Street, the shopping malls, the markets and supermarkets. Are you game for this? Go on, give it a go. Show off your own home made shopping bag with pride.

How to make a shopping bag.

Thank's for popping in, I've got things to do, we'll catch up soon. Enjoy your Sunday.
Toodle pip.
PS. When I say, 'we'll catch up soon', there is no particular time scale on that, it could be anytime.

Just pants

Good morning. Running out of clean pants. I was up early so the first thing I did was fill the washer. Now I have 30 pairs of clean pants. All arranged neatly for the photo shoot, ha ha.

The regular readers will know why I wear pants, but the newer readers will say, what the heck is she doing now. Yep, I have been a fan of pants, some of them teenage boys pants, for oh, around 15 years now. The reason is that they last a lot longer than flimsy ladies knickers. They are more robust, thicker fabric, well made, hug my hips, and will wash millions of times without falling apart. I like the way they feel snug and cover the whole of my bum, no dental floss up my backside for me, ha ha. Some of these must be around ten years old, and I might add that I have a fresh pair on every day, sometimes changing them half way through the day if I am going out.

Most of them are black, dark blue, and grey, with the odd colours thrown in. I buy whatever is cheap which is usually boys pants in packs of five. No VAT on kids clothes. I don't care what colour they are, nobody sees them. I haven't had to buy any for a long time as these will go on and on for many more years. I don't need to include the cost of underwear in my spending budget, because I don't expect to buy any in the near future.

Washing a load of pants only happens here once a month. I prefer to do them in bulk rather than three or four pairs here and there. I made up a full load with t-shirts and trousers. YAY, after a murky start the sun is out, so these are going out on the line.

Thanks for popping in, enjoy your weekend, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

Here you are then, me and my pants from Hunt for Britain's Tightest Person, seven years ago.

Molly the dolly.

Hello. We have to make some decorations for our Crafty Club Christmas tree which we are entering in the Festival again this year. The theme is children, so I decided I would have a go at making a dolly. I found a book in the library, Making Dolls and Creatures by Ruth Sleigh-Johnson, and thought it would be quicker if I followed some instructions rather than making it up myself. This one looks simple enough. 

First copy the pieces onto cardboard.

And here we are, a slightly modified first attempt. I thought the hat in the book looked a bit silly so I decided on plum red hair. She is a bit bald at the back because I didn't have enough wool, I need more practice.

Her neck is a bit floppy and her face a bit flat, she needs more stuffing. 

I rushed the last bit because I was running out of daylight and haven't put a piece of lace on the bottom of her frock. Her lips are felt, but should be embroidered on with red silk. The instructions said to add the face after the head has been stitched together and stuffed. I think it would be easier to add the face while it is still a flat piece of fabric before sewing it together.

She measures 13 inches and is too big to go on the tree. I'll have a go at making a smaller one next.

I haven't been anywhere today. A day at home sewing. Just got to attach the handles to the shopping bags and they will be ready. I need to get all my pictures out, they are currently wrapped up and stored, I have to decide which three to enter in the Open Exhibition at the 20 21 Arts Centre. That's going to be a difficult task, I like them all. They have to be handed in soon.

Just a quick note about comments. I am getting quite a few coming into the box on old blog posts. They all get published, (unless they are offensive or inappropriate), but just keep in mind that this blog moves on pretty quickly, and they might not be read by anyone for a long time, unless new readers choose to delve into the archives. Mind you, it's amazing that I am contacted by people asking to use my photographs from several years ago.

Thanks for popping in. We'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

Lucky find

Hello. Just a short one tonight. I've been nattering on the phone tonight for absolutely ages. Nephew rang and it must have been almost a year since I last spoke to him, so there was a lot of catching up to do. He has a busy life with a full time job, a long commute, and three young children. I could hear them in the background. It went quiet when they went to bed.

I've been wanting another short break away somewhere before the clocks change and we have shorter days. I've searched for the right accommodation, at the place I want to be, at a price I want to pay. It's taken ages and flippin ages. At last, I found somewhere. I fancied a bit more luxury this time, not a hostel, but not so silly expensive. A nice-ish hotel. Have a look here. What do you reckon, good innit. 

Look what I found in Wilko yesterday. I was checking cat food prices, and saw a shelf with REDUCED on it, worth a look. Tester pots of paint at 10p each. Might as well stock up, you never know when you might need it, always comes in useful for those little crafty jobs. 

Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

What can you do with a tin of peas

Hello. There are some days when I don't mind what I eat, as long as it's cheap and fills me up. Saying that, you won't find any meat or fish in my fridge, unless it's cheap white fish for the cats, I no longer buy ready meals either. I will sometimes splash out a bit more dosh for something extra delicious, but not very often because I can make tasty food from scratch myself. So, I buy my food on price. My meals don't always look appetizing, my aim is to eat it, not to step back and admire my handiwork. 

A while ago I picked up a dented tin of mushy peas from Tesco, maybe I ought it eat it. 

My lunch yesterday was a spud in the microwave and half of the peas. Scoff scoff, it filled my tum, and at only 15p, it was a bargain. Bags of spuds are in season and cheap at the moment.

Dinner last night was steamed sprouts, broccoli, potatoes, and an onion, topped with the other half of the peas. Another tum filler at possibly 40p, a wild guess.

This is ten shopping bags waiting to be assembled. I had a fabric sample book from the Scrapstore and took it apart. The pieces weren't big enough to make a complete bag and handles, so I have used other fabric for the handles. I don't think it will matter, the two sides will be different anyway because there is only one sample of each. Best get on with it then. Need them for the Christmas Fair.  

Thanks for all your comments on the previous post, it's good to hear that we are all on the same wavelength. Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

Do not despair, make it a challenge.

Hello. We wake up this morning to more doom and gloom in the press, inflation is rising and we are all going to have to pay more for the things we need to give us the life that we aspire to. But wait a minute, not everyone will suffer, those of us who understand the difference between a need and a want, will still be able to adjust our finances to get the best possible deals. We know it's all down to juggling, and from the comments I get from my readers, most of us have got it about right, so this post is not aimed at you. 

What do you do when you can't afford to buy new clothes from a High Street shop? Answer, you go to a charity shop, a car boot sale, a rummage sale, a garage sale, accept hand me downs, swap clothes with friends, look on ebay and the free sites. 

What do you do when you can't afford expensive brand name foods? Answer, you try the shop's own brand, you buy the Value and Basics labels, you shop around in different places, you get to know the prices of everything you buy on a regular basis, you look for reductions, offers, and out of date reductions. 

What do you do when you can't afford your utilities? Answer, you check how many kw's you are using per annum and go on the comparison sites and look for a better deal. You contact your present provider and ask them for a cheaper tariff. You use less gas, electricity, and water by not switching things on until it is absolutely necessary. Flick a switch, turn a tap on, it will cost you.

Petrol is going up, how can you spend less? By driving correctly, not rushing about, no harsh braking or fast acceleration. Plan your driving by what you can see ahead of you. There's been many times when I have seen a bend or a junction up ahead and have slowed down by just taking my foot off the gas, when the car in front has approached it at speed, then slammed their brakes on. Remove all the clutter from your car, more weight uses more petrol. 

Shop around for literally everything. Think about what you need, then look in different places to get the best price. Give yourself time before you sign a cheque, open your purse, or put your card in a machine. Be very aware of what you are spending your money on. Absolutely no impulse spending, go home and think about it. 

Put a little money aside every week or month, into a savings account. Doesn't have to be much. One day you will need a new washer or fridge. Your car will eventually conk out, if you have planned and saved it won't be so painful when you come to change it. I've had my car almost two years, I started saving as soon as I got it, there will be enough in the pot when I come to change it. 

If you enjoy a few extras at Christmas, start saving on January the 1st. If you like a summer holiday, have a pot for that. Write a plan on a piece of paper, you don't need fancy electronic gadgets to keep track of your money, a notebook does the same job. The miles I do for my walking challenge are recorded on a calendar, I don't need a gadget for that. Pen and paper is all you need. Keep a spending diary, record every penny you spend, look back on it often. 

All this is common sense, and a lot of you who are a similar age to myself will know what I am talking about. It's the younger people who are struggling, those that don't get the benefit of savvy parents to teach them, which I feel for. 

Right, so what do you do when you are really struggling to make ends meet? All of the above, but what you don't do is BORROW. Loan companies know people will be struggling once inflation rises and gets a grip,  they will be increasing their advertising to reel in all those who don't know which way to turn next. The sharks are waiting for the kill.

Do not fall for it. MSE is full of posts from people who are in such a mess with their finances. They know they have been living beyond their means, and know they will never have a life if they don't try and do something about it. Borrowing is too easy. Spending someone else's money is too easy. If people can't afford to pay for something, how are they going to afford the repayments? Look at the figures below, found on a random web site. Borrow £3,000 to buy a car. It takes three years to pay it back. You will have paid £5,143 to this company if you borrow from them, and you will be left with a scrap heap of a car worth nothing.   

What did I do when I started driving? I bought a battered old Bedford van for cash saved. Changed it for another slightly better van, then worked my way up with more old vehicles. I went to car maintenance classes at the college to learn how to do the basics. And at long last after years of driving around in a vehicle which I could never be sure of it getting me there, I now have a decent car. 

So, don't despair if the cost of living is going up, try and keep one step ahead. Appreciate what you already have. Find ways of staying in control, make it a challenge, don't let the buggers beat you. There is Life after Money. 

Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.

Toodle pip

The cutting edge of crafting

Hello. I've found something which you crafters out there might want to have a go at. Slashing, have you heard of it? Have a look at this video,.



This is my first attempt. I decided to use black fabric, yes it is black, a fitted double bedsheet I bought from Age UK charity shop for £1. I also decided to make circles and not lines like the video. My fabric is double,  I used a large bowl as a guide for the biggest circle, drawing around it with chalk. Then added more circles using a ruler. The lines are 2cm apart. In the middle I sandwiched all kinds of scraps, then machined around the lines. Next, as the video shows, I used a small pair of scissors to slash through all layers of the fabric, leaving the bottom layer of black intact. It doesn't look much like the video, I realized I had made the lines too far apart so the coloured fabric didn't fluff up to the surface.Even after washing the slashes still didn't open up.

I trimmed the black with nail scissors to open up the slashes, that's better. Now more colours are coming to the surface.

It does look a bit like a spinning wheel, the red appears to be radiating out from the centre. That's because I used smaller pieces of fabric than the video, and laid strips from the centre towards the edge, like spokes on a wheel. I think it's best to lay fabric across the stitching rather than following the line of stitching.

I still have the black ditches between the colours but I think that looks nice.

I will have a think about what to do next. I had in mind to make a picture and frame it, but I suppose it could be made into a bag. I might add some hand stitching to it when I find the right thread.

Do you fancy having a go at this, it's quite easy. There are lots of videos showing how to do it.

I've been to have my free flu jab today, and coming up next week is my free health check.

We've just had a massive downpour, the road turned into a river. The sun is shining now so I think I'd better go and do my walk. Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

Mix and Match

Hello. We've had a rotten morning weatherwise, piddling it down, but now the sun is out so I am tempted to go outside. Before I do I'll post this. Every morning I use my mini chopper to prepare my breakfast. Nuts, seeds, and fruit all go in there to be smashed to bits, then added to my branflakes, with a banana on top, and strawberries if I have some.  

I always keep my eyes open for other cereals when they are reduced. The Cash and Carry is good for this, and I have also found some in Poundstretcher as well. I usually put a few of these in the mini chopper as and when I need them, but I am concerned that I may be expecting it to do too much, because the lumps are pretty hard. I don't want it to conk out through excessive wear and tear, so this morning I decided to zap two whole packets in the big Kenwood, then it will be ready to use.

These were 50p each from the Cash and Carry. They are like small fruity Shreddies.

I have double bagged them to keep them dry. Two spoons in my fruit, nut, and seed mix will be enough.

This is the rest of my breakfast ingredients, I mix and match any of these. Three types of nuts, sultanas, linseeds, and porridge oats, plus whatever fresh fruit I have, bananas, strawberries, nectarines. If I see any other types of nuts and seeds at a good price I will buy them. This is what starts my day most mornings, though now the weather is getting a bit cooler I won't be using as much soya milk, I will start making hot porridge, with all the rest added.

What's your favourite breakfast? Any good ideas that don't cost a lot of money and take only a short time to prepare it. Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

What a cheek.

Hello. I have a currant stuck on my face, not a pretty sight. It ruins my flawless 67 year old skin. No, that's not quite correct, I do have a few flaws, mainly wrinkles, saggy jowls, and a scrawny neck. However, I am not going down the route of sticking needles in my face to plump up my skin with fillers. I will just have to put up with how I am. But what I don't want is this currant stuck on my right cheek.  

My doctor at our village surgery treated it earlier this year, and it went away. But then it reappeared so I went back to see him. He referred me to the Dermatology department of the Virgin Care health centre in town. I didn't know Mr Branson had medical establishments as well as running an airline. The Ironstone Centre is a brand new building and in a part of town I don't normally go to. It was very nice, the staff were nice, and the young specialist I saw was very nice.

He peered through his magnifying eyeglass to get a better look and declared that it was only a wart and nothing sinister. I said I have something similar on my arm as well, so he had a look at that. Only a wart he said. Then I mentioned that as I live alone I am unable to see my own back, and could he check it for me. He obliged and said only moles, which I knew about but thought it's best to get them checked out.

The doc said he would zap my currant with something to freeze it. I said my doctor has done that, three times and still it came back. He said, my liquid is stronger, and it will work. He got a plunger contraption off the shelf. which looked like a space gun. I closed my eyes and waited, he zapped. It felt like a thousand needles sticking in my skin. He zapped it twice, I said, yeah, kill it.

So this is the result. The currant is apparently dying and will drop off. I'll let you know when it does.

Thanks for popping in, have a nice Sunday, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

Remembering Hilda

Hello. Not another yoootooob vid, had to post this. Jean Alexander who was known to millions as Hilda Ogden has passed away, aged 90. She played a big part in my growing up years, I was an avid watcher of Coronation Street, every Monday and Wednesday at 7.30pm. Everything stopped in our house, we all sat down to watch.

Jean was a fine actress, Hilda was a national institution, loved by millions. Have a nice rest now Jean, you will never be forgotten.



Back later.....

Be creative

Hello. I saw this sign in a shop window in Lincoln a few weeks ago, and immediately thought, yep, that's right, definitely agree with it. Life is about creating yourself.  

If you are lost then you took a wrong turn and you have to go back and look at things from a different angle, maybe find a better way. If you are not sure where your destination lies you could find yourself lost in a dead end, and unable to work out how you got there. Drifting along with no particular aims and ambitions and you are almost guaranteed to get lost somewhere along the way. And then what do you do? You start to question what is going to happen to you for the rest of the time you have left on this earth. You start soul searching, you begin to think, this isn't the real me, I don't know what the real me is. You ask how do I find myself? By then it could be too late, you are well and truly lost.

However, if you make up your mind that you are going to make the best of your life, the very best that you can, that's a good start to building the foundations for the life you want. We can create a timetable, create our own unique journey, create opportunities, create our own little space where we feel comfortable, and create our friends. Far better to create your own life, before someone else does it for you.  

Thanks for popping in. Have a good weekend.
Toodle pip