Follow the exploits as we attempt to pay off our mortgage, save money and generally get to grips with the whole baby thing.
Friday, 25 December 2009
Merry Christmas!
I'm sure there will be plenty of posts to follow on the trials and tribulations of chicken keeping!
Wednesday, 9 December 2009
It's ccchhhhrrrrriiiiiisssstttttmmmmmmaaaassss! Part three
Tuesday, 8 December 2009
It's chhhrriiiissstttmmaaasss! Part two!
Sunday, 6 December 2009
It's Chhhhrrriiiiiiisssstttmmmmaaaasssss!!!!
Sunday, 27 September 2009
Busy, Busy, Busy
Good news on the building works front. We have a man coming from EON this week to have a look at the electric cable (yes, it is STILL running through the middle of our new extension) and to make plans for when it can be moved. We've only been waiting since May so it can't come soon enough so we can finally finish the decorating and get some carpet!
Friday, 4 September 2009
Postcrossing - it's brilliant!
I haven't received any cards myself yet but I'm hoping postie will have something for me very soon...
Thursday, 3 September 2009
What to do next - decision is made...
I might regret it but the course starts next week.
Friday, 28 August 2009
Economy Gastronomy
The REAL challenge would be for them to save money for people who have much more modest food budgets. I wonder what they would make of my rather stingy, but necessary £200 per month??
Exam results hurrah!
Yey!
Tuesday, 25 August 2009
Exam results due on Friday - eeeeek!
Monday, 24 August 2009
The 14lb challenge - week 3
Week 3/7 - 5/14
Saturday, 22 August 2009
Friday, 21 August 2009
Cinema-tastic
Thursday, 20 August 2009
Beach hut festival!
Wednesday, 19 August 2009
Time Warp Wives
Tuesday, 18 August 2009
My boy is back!
He did spend all night curled up on our bed. I didn't get much sleep but I don't care - I've got my boy back!
Sunday, 16 August 2009
Has anyone seen my cat?
My oldest cat, Hobbes, has been missing for over a week now. We regularly don't seem him for a couple of days but a whole week is quite unusual for him. I am hoping he will come back soon and check the cat flap every time one of the other cats come in but I am trying to prepare myself for him not coming back....
Sniff
The 14lb challenge - week 2
One thing I have found incredibly easy is to have one slice of toast for breakfast instead of the usual two and then have fruit when I get to work to stop the 10.30 hunger pangs. My water consumption is also up and my alcohol down (more to do with cash flow than diet though!).
Week 2/7 - 4/14
Tuesday, 11 August 2009
The 14lb challenge - week 1
I am pleased with the result and have lost 3lb! Although we went out for a meal last night with friends and am feeling fat and full as a result (this technically counts as week 2 so I'm not worried yet!).
Week 1/7 - 3/14
Saturday, 8 August 2009
Lilac is not a good bathroom look!
Two hours later and the bathroom looks like a child's bedroom from the late 80s - not a good look! I hated it straight away but OH said it looked ok. Fast forward to the next morning an a phone call at work from OH saying he doesn't like it either!! The paint was a pricey £19 but I'll never be happy with it so we are going to paint it white for now. (the offending paint had been used up in the large computer cupboard). Photos to follow when the camera is charged up!
Tuesday, 4 August 2009
Random acts of kindness - part two!
I got a flat tyre at lunch time today and just managed to pull into a car park. My RAC cover ran out last week and my new cover that is free with my car insurance doesn't start until next week (grrrrr). There was nothing else for it, I had to change the tyre myself (with lots of whinging on the phone to OH). I just managed to get the spare tyre out (Ford KAs are veerrrryyyy complicated!) when a lovely elderly couple who had just had their lunch stopped to help me out. 20 minutes later I was on my way and they were late for the dentist.
Thank you whoever you were!
Monday, 3 August 2009
The 14lb challenge
The plan is that OH and I both want to lose a stone before his birthday in exactly 7 weeks from today. I know it is going to be tough and if I'm exercising a lot I might be building muscle etc etc
So here goes:
Day 1/49 - 0/14
Exercise: 3 August- 15 minute ab workout (there are loads of free fitness videos on this site - it's fab!)
Sunday - progress report and the weekend round up!
Friday
Food shopping - Done
Washing - Done
Undercoat window ledges in two new bedrooms - Done (On Sunday!)
Sort out paperwork (the pile had been building since the work started 11 weeks ago - will probably find some horrendously overdue bill lurking somewhere!) - Done
Move my craft stuff out of my chest of drawers and into my Ikea shelving unit - Done
Work on mood boards if there is time - Done
Saturday
Prime plaster in two new bedrooms - 1 bedroom done
Washing - Done
take spare lights and tile trims back to Wickes (just need to find that pesky receipt!)
Get another tin of primer, sandpaper and tester pots from B&Q (don't forget to use credit note!) - Done
Sort out old paint in the shed and see what we can use - Done
Work on mood boards
Sunday (definitely NOT a day of rest!)
Undercoat living room woodwork - Done
Take cardboard which wont fit in the recycling bin to the recycling point at the supermarket - Can't do cardboard recycling at Morrison's so I'm going to have to wait until Friday when our recycling bin is emptied
Ironing - - Done
Clean house up!! - Done
Not to much stuff left in red still to be done and we did do some stuff which wasn't on the list:
- Bathroom ceiling painted
- Moved dining table and welsh dresser into kitchen
- Undercoated cupboard door in new bedroom 2
The builders have now finished until we get the electric cable moved so we can crack on with painting and decorating.
Just one small job for tonight - Give cupboard ceiling first coat of white paint
Sunday, 2 August 2009
Saturday - Progess report
Friday
- Food shopping - Done
- Washing - Done
- Undercoat window ledges in two new bedrooms
- Sort out paperwork (the pile had been building since the work started 11 weeks ago - will probably find some horrendously overdue bill lurking somewhere!) - Done
- Move my craft stuff out of my chest of drawers and into my Ikea shelving unit - Done
- Work on mood boards if there is time - Done
Saturday
- Prime plaster in two new bedrooms
- Washing - Done
- take spare lights and tile trims back to Wickes (just need to find that pesky receipt!)
- Get another tin of primer, sandpaper and tester pots from B&Q (don't forget to use credit note!) - Done
- Sort out old paint in the shed and see what we can use - Done
- Work on mood boards
Saturday, 1 August 2009
Friday - progress report
Friday
- Food shopping - Done
- Washing - Done
- Undercoat window ledges in two new bedrooms - not done yet!!
- Sort out paperwork (the pile had been building since the work started 11 weeks ago - will probably find some horrendously overdue bill lurking somewhere!) - Done
- Move my craft stuff out of my chest of drawers and into my Ikea shelving unit - Done
- Work on mood boards if there is time - Done and may have decided on the colour for the bathroom!!
Friday, 31 July 2009
To do this weekend
- Food shopping
- Washing
- Undercoat window ledges in two new bedrooms
- Sort out paperwork (the pile had been building since the work started 11 weeks ago - will probably find some horrendously overdue bill lurking somewhere!)
- Move my craft stuff out of my chest of drawers and into my Ikea shelving unit
- Work on mood boards if there is time
Saturday
- Prime plaster in two new bedrooms
- Washing
- take spare lights and tile trims back to Wickes (just need to find that pesky receipt!)
- Get another tin of primer, sandpaper and tester pots from B&Q (don't forget to use credit note!)
- Sort out old paint in the shed and see what we can use
- Work on mood boards
Sunday (definitely NOT a day of rest!)
- Undercoat living room woodwork
- Take cardboard which wont fit in the recycling bin to the recycling point at the supermarket
- Ironing
- Clean house up!!
Wednesday, 29 July 2009
Supersizers go....
I'd like to thank the BBC for this wonderful little programme, Supersizers go..... It is funny yet educational and well worth the TV licence fee!
If you haven't had chance to see this series which has just finished you can catch up on iPlayer (another of the BBC's miracles!)
Tuesday, 28 July 2009
Time to move on
The Ressurectionist still sits on my bedside cabinet with my Harry Potter book mark stuck firmly about a third of the way though. I will finish it...one day....
Thursday, 23 July 2009
Struggling with July's bookgroup book
I have read the August book before (The Timetraveller's wife) so I don't have any pressure to read that.
Thursday, 16 July 2009
The wrong colour grout
Just when I thought we were on the home straight with the (never ending) building works the builder hasn't listened to what I asked and used the wrong colour grout in the new bathroom. It is no problem to change it but it will put the work back another day and the toilet can't go in until Saturday. I am completely fed up with the whole thing now and told them to carry. I might regret it a few months down the line but I just want my house back!!!
Sunday, 12 July 2009
What to do next?
Decisions, decisions...
Tuesday, 7 July 2009
Thank you!
Monday, 6 July 2009
What to read next - My Sisters Keeper?
Sunday, 5 July 2009
Pimp my house - update 5 July 09
I purchased some rather lovely duck egg blue towels for my lovely and soon to be upstairs bathroom. It is still and empty shell at the moment but the plaster is coming next week (we have been waiting for him to get back from his cruise - what credit crunch??) and then the tiles can go on - hurrah! Progress will be made.... (many) more house flavoured updates to follow...
Saturday, 4 July 2009
To piano or not to piano?
I can't play a piano or know anyone who does but I really, really want one - crazy huh? To add to my pain there is one for sale on eBay and is only a couple of miles away from us. I keep checking the bidding but no one seems to want it except me. Oh what shall I do??
50 books to go!
I have now clocked up a healthy 14 books and just have 50 to go to reach my 101 target! Still tons I want to read and I keep buying more books from charity shops (they are sooo cheap, how can I resist?).
Also many thanks to the lovely people from the BookitList who have sent me The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (I was randomly selected for the June giveaway) which I have been wanting to read for ages.
Friday, 12 June 2009
Random act of kindness
Wednesday, 10 June 2009
The Apprentice: Nick Vs Margaret - The Final!
We see precious little of the lovely two during the final two episodes so didn't think it would be fair to judge them. I am gutted, however, to hear that Margaret is leaving the show to pursue her PhD in ancient scrolls?! She will be a tough one to replace - how about Karen Brady? She is the queen of business but without Margaret's expressive eyebrows...
Anyway, down to business...
Episode 11 & 12
The trusty 2 are almost nowhere to be seem in the last 2 episodes (except for scoffing chocolates!). I don't feel I can pass judgement on this performance so the final winner is.....
Nick!
Wednesday, 3 June 2009
The Apprentice: Nick vs Margaret - episode 10
Episode 10
Surallen didn't need his trusty aides this week as he watched it all for himself! However, for her appearance on 'Your Fired' the award goes to Margaret this week.
Winner - Margaret
Total: Nick 5: 4 Margaret
Can't wait for tonight - the interview episode is always great! Anyone remember the reverse pterodactyl??
Thursday, 28 May 2009
Bank holiday bliss!
We stayed at a campsite in Derbyshire at the weekend with the most amazing pub on site. The meals we had were one of the best we had ever tasted. I had game pie and chips and MrM had beef and Stilton pie and chips. Well worth a visit for the food alone!
We also went for a looonnngggg walk around Lathkill Dale which had stunning views. There wasn't enough time to see everything so I hope to return again someday to do another walk here.
Mrs M
x
Wednesday, 27 May 2009
The Apprentice - normal service will resume shortly!
Saturday, 23 May 2009
The Apprentice: Nick vs Maragret - episode 9
I can't believe we have been watching The Apprentice for almost two months now and thoughts are inevitably turning to the final in whatever shape that will take this time. Although I began to loathe Ben towards the end (and even regretted picking him for my fantasy Apprentice team at work) I didn't think he was the right one to go this week. Debra is so slippery she would give an eel a run for his money. The rocking horse was clearly her decision but she wouldn't take any blame. She has definitely go to be the next one to go...
Down to the serious stuff.
Episode 9
Winner - Nick
'Horlicks!'
Total: Nick 5: 3 Margaret
Tuesday, 19 May 2009
As for me, during my many years...
Phew - I was tagged by the Book-It list to:
- Grab the nearest book to you
- Turn to page 56
- Post the text of the 5th sentence as a post title and pass this meme on to who you like
Mrs M
x
Sunday, 17 May 2009
The Apprentice: Nick vs Margaret - episode 8
Sunday, 10 May 2009
Saturday, 9 May 2009
The Apprentice: Nick vs Margaret - episode 7
Wow - week 7 already! Doesn't time fly?? Once again the candidates seemed to completely miss the point of the task. They had pitches set up with some of the biggest retailers in the ares - candidates pick completely inappropriate products. Either it is very clever editing or they are just that stupid!
Episode 7
Winner - Nick
Nick in the boardroom to Philip - 'Do you remember Pants Man?' Surely the final nail in his coffin. Joke!
Total: Nick 4: 2 Margaret
Sunday, 3 May 2009
Literary Meme
1. What author do you own the most books by?
The most prolific author on my book shelves is Daphne Du Maurier closely followed by Agatha Christie.
2. What book do you own the most copies of?
Erm, I only feel the need to own one copy of a book. Is that strange?
3. Did it bother you that both those questions ended with prepositions?
Nope - I'm not hung up on getting things grammatically perfect. Language is here to evolve I say! lol!
4. What fictional character are you secretly in love with?
Ohh, good question! I'm quite partial to Lockhart from Harry Potter...
5. What book have you read the most times in your life?
As a rule I don't read books more than once - life is too short and there are so many great books out there to be read. As a child I read all of Roald Dahl books over and over again.
6. What was your favorite book when you were ten years old?
Apart from anything by Roald Dahl, I loved The Adventures of the Little Wooden Horse by Vivian French.
7. What is the worst book you’ve read in the past year?
Being a member of a book group makes this question simple! I am torn between Remember Me? By Sophie Kinsella and Elleander Morning by Jerry Yulsman (definitely the most bizarre book I have ever read!)
8. What is the best book you’ve read in the past year?
The one I have just finished 'Water for Elephants' by Sara Gruen. Again this is a book group book but sadly it was not my choice.
9. If you could force everyone you tagged to read one book, what would it be?
The Shadow of the Wind - I loved that book!
10. Who deserves to win the next Nobel Prize for Literature?
I don't think I'm the right person to ask about that!
11. What book would you most like to see made into a movie?
See question 9
12. What book would you least like to see made into a movie?
See question 9 also! Films are never as good as the book and as a rule I try to read the book BEFORE I see the film.
13. Describe your weirdest dream involving a writer, book, or literary character.
None I remember
14. What is the most lowbrow book you’ve read as an adult?
Plenty but the Shopaholic series must be up there!
15. What is the most difficult book you’ve ever read?
Difficult because of it's sheer length not because it was difficult to understand - Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke.
16. What is the most obscure Shakespeare play you’ve seen?
Richard the third - only because I did it for English Literature A-level
17. Do you prefer the French or the Russians?
I have no preference at all.
18. Roth or Updike?
Ekk - no idea! Should I stop right here?
19. David Sedaris or Dave Eggers?
As above!
20. Shakespeare, Milton, or Chaucer?
Shakespeare - he is the only one I have read.
21. Austen or Eliot?
Austen - definitely. And is this the right place to say that I loved the TV programme Lost in Austen??
22. What is the biggest or most embarrassing gap in your reading?
A large proportion of the classics. I am more embarrassed and have bigger gaps now I have completed this!
23. Is it better to read broadly—a few books from a country and time period—or deeply?
Definitely broadly - you might just discover something new.
24. What is your favorite novel?
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon
25. Play?
Pass
26. Poem?
Pass again - I really need to broaden my horizons!27. Essay?
?!
28. Short story?
Ahh, here is more comfortable territory. Daphne Du Maurier's short stories are cracking, especially The Birds volume (not at all like the film).
29. Work of nonfiction?
I really love reading gardening and eco books. My favourite recently is A life Stripped Bare by Leo Hickman.
30. Who is your favorite writer?
Daphne Du Maurier
31. Who is the most overrated writer alive today?
Hmmmmm. I would dare say that anyone is overrated. If they have the guts to put pen to paper (or finger to keyboard) then they have done something amazing - who are we to comment?
32. What is your desert island book?
Definitely the Lord of the Rings books. My husband is obsessed with them and keeps nagging me to read them. To be honest I don't know when I would ever find the time or the inclination to start such a lengthy book other than if I was on a desert island.
Friday, 1 May 2009
The Apprentice: Nick Vs Maragret - episode 6
I think a new campaign needs to be started to get Debra out of the show. Did you see how she spoke to Nick?? Shocking - she has to go!
Episode 6
Winner - Margaret
For the Cassandra quote and also the 'never before has anyone done something so stupid for so long'
Total: Nick 3: 2 Margaret
Friday, 24 April 2009
The Apprentice: Nick Vs Margaret - episode 5
Episode 5
Winner - Nick
I can't remember the exact line Nick said but it was something along the line of 'they took an idea and murdered it'
We did get some very rare footage of Margaret smiling. Once I saw that I knew her team had won!
Total: Nick 3: 1 Margaret
Saturday, 18 April 2009
The Apprentice: Nick vs Maragret - episode 4
Wow - I can't believe it is week 4 already! A highly cringeworthy episode this week just like we love from The Apprentice. Sadly for me one of my picks for my fantasy Apprentice team, Paula, was fired this week. I still believe it was the wrong decision from S'rallen but she had the moral victory in the end because she is a nice person!
Episode 4
Winner - Nick
The dynamic duo are coming into their own now. Nick has to win this week for the way he delivered the devastating news of the price of sandalwood 'I'll leave you to get on with it'. Class.
Total: Nick 2: 1 Margaret
Friday, 17 April 2009
Kirstie's homemade home
I'm just off to run up a quick cushion cover...
Sunday, 12 April 2009
BBC Dig in campaign
Send for your seeds now and join in!
Friday, 10 April 2009
A new bathroom - the saga begins
The house came with planning permission which expires in 2010 so we have taken the plunge and have got 2 plumbers coming round to give us quote not only to move the bathroom but to build a second floor extension too! Ekkk - this could be expensive!
Watch this space for updates!
Thursday, 9 April 2009
The Apprentice: Nick vs Margaret - episode 3
Sunday, 5 April 2009
The Apprentice: Nick vs. Margaret - episode 2
We are still getting to know the candidates. Some of them have hardly had any airtime at all making it difficult to gauge at this point who the winners are likely to be. This made my choosing of my fantasy apprentice team at work even harder! (in the end I chose Kate, Philip, Ben and Paula - Paula was a last minute addition because I liked her hair).
Anyway onto the important stuff:
Episode 2
Winner - Nick
Again we saw very little of Nick and Marge. Nick just managed to edge it for me this week with his comment about the boys with spotty backs in togas and his winning performance on The Apprentice: You're Fired. Although Margaret had a very strong performance especially the shot with her head in her hands!
Total: Nick 1: 1 Margaret
Wednesday, 1 April 2009
The Apprentice: Nick Vs Margaret - episode 1
They come up with the best lines, they don't have to pretend to like the candidates and best of all they can play a blinder in the boardroom by revealing a shortcoming of one of the condemned candidates just at the right moment.
Let's make things more interesting I thought. Why not see each week which of Srallen's aides is the best (most amusing comment, facial expression etc) and then tot them up at the end of the series to see who the REAL winner of the Apprentice 2009 is....
Episode 1
Winner - Margaret
We saw very little of Nick and Marge this week but Margaret's 'Never before have so few cars been washed by so many' just edged it for me.
Total: Nick 0: 1 Margaret
Monday, 30 March 2009
Earth hour 2009
The picture is of our living room during the Earth hour - doesn't it look pretty?
It really made me stop and think about the energy we consume in our homes but did also think that it wasn't sustainable to have 5 candles burning all the time either.
We whiled away a very pleasant hour listening to our (wind up) radio! I can also cross another item off my 101 in 1001.
You can read more about Earth hour here.
Thursday, 19 March 2009
Do you need planning permission to move your bathroom?
It had never crossed my mind to be honest. I quickly popped an email to the planning department and have an agony of a 10 day wait before they reply to me IN WRITING! How old fashioned??
UPDATE 29/03/09 - Still no word from the council but have asked around at work and apparently I just need the work signing off by the council once it has been completed. No excuses now!
Saturday, 14 March 2009
Let down by Cath...
So imagine my delight when I had the opportunity to buy my (heavily pregnant) sister a nappy bag from Cath Kidston! She could share my love too and even pass it on to her unborn child.
The delight, alas, was short lived. Four failed payments (on their behalf, not mine!), three emails, two lost credit card details and I'm still not sure if the item has been dispatched. Whilst always polite I find the customer services somewhat inadequate. I wrote an email of complaint but stressed how much I loved the CK brand and was disappointed with the service.
Come on Cath, you can do better than this!
Mrs M
x
Sunday, 8 March 2009
eco caravanning
Just watched the latest episode of 'It's not easy being green' on iplayer. They had a feature on eco caravanning (Eco + caravans - two things close to my heart - although I don't have a caravan or have spent any time in one I just know it's my destiny - ok?!). The airstream is the daddy of all caravans - think big, American and shiny! I would assume it would be impossible to made this beast eco but I was wrong!
The programme showed the caravan with a wood burning stove and solar panels and all the recycled materials made the interior look pretty cool! Check it our here.
Oh how I want one! But surely with such luxury Lauren Laverne shouldn't need to wear her coat and gloves for the entire show? and what about the 4-wheel drive Jeep they needed just to pull the thing along?
Perhaps I should stick with my humble tent for now....
Mrs M
x
Saturday, 7 March 2009
Charity shops are the best!
Sunday, 1 March 2009
The great chicken debate
I reaaallllllyyyy want some chickens but don't know if I can cope with the extra hassle at the moment. I'll keep doing the Internet research on them until I get bored (this has happened before) or I take the plunge. I wonder how long delivery would take.....?
Mrs M
x
Thursday, 26 February 2009
Woo Hoo - I've passed!
Just another three to pass and I'm all done.
I'm off to have a celebratory cuppa...
Mrs M
x
Exam results - eeekk!
Mrs M
x
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
Amazon - too much of a good thing?
Now, don't get me wrong. I love Amazon. They have made the last two Christmases soooo simple and their Wish List is a genius idea!
So why do they think they need to email me EVERY DAY with special offers? At first I would open the email and have a quick look and perhaps even click on a couple of items to have a better look. Then I moved on to quickly scanning the email before deleting. Now I just delete them without even looking at the title of the email. And recently I have started to become angry when I open my email in the morning and low and behold every day there is a fresh, new email from them!
I work in marketing and understand the theory behind building customer relationships, getting current customers to buy is easier than recruiting new ones etc, etc. But I still think daily emailing is too much and I am sorry Amazon, I am going to have to unsubscribe.
Mrs M
x