Gardening Course

Last night was the 1^st night of the 5 week Spring Growing evening class.  My friend unfortunately was ill so couldn’t come but I went anyway and collected lots of info for her.  It is being held at the Environment Centre in our city.  The building itself is set in a 24 acre nature reserve.  It has solar panels, collects rainwater and has a very cosy wood burning stove.  They seem to run lots of courses, either free or some of them for £1!  http://www.stnicksfields.org.uk/ Hope the link works.

There were about 20 people there and it was interesting to see how we all seemed to want something different from the course, hard for the man taking it and trying to cram it all into 5 weeks!  Some people had been growing fruit and vegetables for a while, others have just got an allotment and there were a couple of people from different community gardens.  Our city has a project running where throughout the city in unsuspecting places there are vegetables growing for anyone to eat. 

I think the course will be good.  I’ve already got a bit more of an idea what to plant and also thinking of getting another little plastic green house.  Who knows we might actually get to eat something I grow this year!

Update on Jobs Done

Well I didn’t get as much as I had hoped done on Monday. I totally underestimated how over grown the garden was and also how unfit I am!
I cut the weeds back as my OH followed me digging it over. It took most of the day, with a few breaks but we have broken the back of it. We both ached at the end of the day but really felt we had achieved something.

After I had picked the car up from the garage we nipped up to the garden centre for a few bits and I managed to get some sunflowers, ferns, lettuce and fuchias all in the reduce section, which just needed a good water.

I updated my spreadsheet and checked bank accounts. I also set up another spreadsheet for car costs, to try and work out how much journeys cost in petrol.

I also wrote a list of all we have in the freezer and will do some batch cooking this weekend. I will do a menu plan for the rest of the month and should only need to buy milk, bread and fresh fruit and veg.

Update of Easter Jobs

Thank you for asking sft, I will try and do a post about my volunteering over the weekend.

Made a start on the list:
Fence Painted
Decking Painted (another coat needed)
All seeds put together - need to find a box to store them in
Planted beetroot, carrots & spring onions
Planted a tub with flowers

We spent a lovely day in the garden, enjoying the sunshine and then had fish for dinner. It was a Jamie Oliver receipe with a few changes because I forgot to get some things from the shop - whoops. It was ok, probally better if I'd followed the receipe.

August Update

I had intended to update on here regularly and set some targets for August however it hasn’t happened for one reason or another that I won’t go into. Instead I will concentrate on where I am with the challenge.

The bathroom is nearly done. The plumber and builder/tiller have done a great job. We decided to paint the walls a light green and have brought the paint. I am aiming to have it decorated by the end of the month. Then we will just need to get new skirting fitted and the flooring done. Luckily, even with the wall falling down we came in under budget on costs. As we have some money left over I want to get the loft hatch moved. At the moment it is in the bathroom but we have no way of getting into the loft. I would like it moved onto the landing with a pull down ladder. The loft really does need more installation in it and I would like to get this done before winter but I don’t know if funds will allow it.

I have been seeing my mum more often, which has been nice. We are making the most of it while the weather is good and the nights are light. Once the nights start to draw in I think I will go to stay with her a bit more on the weekend.

I have continued with wearing makeup and doing my nails etc. My skin is a lot better although I have had an eczema breakout and had to get cream from the doctors (I know my eczema is stress related). I have got into a skin care routine and treated myself to some very nice Clinique foundation and powder.

The homegrown vegetables have been a bit hit and miss. The lettuce and potatoes have been great but the radishes didn’t get going and the courgettes looked very promising but haven’t come to anything. It hasn’t put me off and I am planned more for next year. I layed some old paving stones down to make a bbq area and OH and me had our first proper bbq (not a disposable one) this week. I cooked far too much but it did my OH for the next day. It was a lovely evening we sat out late just chatting, reading and listening to music. What I have found is that on the evenings where we don’t have the TV on I feel a lot more relaxed. I know that most of the programmes I watch such as the soaps are just out of habit. When I met my OH he didn’t have a TV and even now doesn’t watch half as much as me. We are enjoying having the Lovefilm subscription and try to have a film night when they send the dvd. We have both watched films that we wouldn’t normally and have liked both of them.

I sorted all my cd’s out and they are all ready to take to a charity shop. DH still has his tapes to go through. I found a big box full of recipe books and recipes torn from magazines. I went through them and did get rid of a lot. The others I want to put in a folder or book of some sort to keep them organised. Also I want to start using them.

I have been planning our meals each week and am running them freezer and sort cupboards down to try and not spend much at the moment. I really want to work towards cooking more from scratch, which I do most of the time but would like to be more organised and do batch cooking and freeze them. I have made a list of what we have already in the freezer and are using things up in the menu planning. The plan is when we have use most of the stuff in the freezer then I will stock up with meat from the local butchers and get the veggie box delivered each week, cutting back on trips to the supermarket.

I’m going to a music festival!! A friend saw it advertised and the got tickets that day. It is at Bingley Music Festival and the tickets are only £25 for the weekend. I’ve only heard of a few of the bands plus there are lot of local bands playing. I keep telling everyone it is going to be the next Glastonbury lol. We had wanted to camp but all the campsites are fully booked so we have got a BnB. We are going after work on Friday, and one of the girls is driving us there. There are four of us going and I only know one other girl but it should be a good laugh.

I think that is it for now, but hope to update more frequently.

I Love my New Shoes

I need to de-junk my wardrobe. I have clothes in there that no longer fit and that I haven’t worn for a long time. Last month I spent a bit on some new clothes, well a lot more that I normally spend, all be it from Matalan. These actually fit me. I brought things I wouldn’t normally and love wearing them. This goes towards number 74 on my list – Find my own style. I also brought some new shoes after traipsing round. I seem to get the impression that some shops don’t want custom, as the people that work there can’t be bothered to serve and just chat with their colleagues! Anyway I got a pair of orangey red flip flops, which go nicely with the handbag my DH got me for Christmas. And also got a pair of green shoes – completely different to what I would normally where but they jumped out at me. I did originally choose the same style but in brown but when chatting to the lady in the shop she said go with your first choice. They are so comfy.

I had the first of my “homegrown” today – some lettuce for lunch. Tasted all the better for the fact that I knew I had grown it! We’ve also got our first veggie box being delivered tomorrow – am so excited lol. I saw the lady’s stall at our local farmer’s market and got chatting to her, turns out her farm is in our village! We have ordered a mixed bag so I don’t know what we will get and also they give you a recipe card if one of the veg is slightly out of the “norm”. We have been enjoying the garden more so far this year. The other night we had dinner outside and just sat reading and chatting until 9ish. It was a relaxing evening and made a nice change from plonking down in front of telly watching rubbish. I saw one of those chimney things that give off a bit of heat and thought it was reasonably priced so that is going on the shopping list! Even though we just have a little garden I’m enjoying pottering about and deciding what to plant.

Spoke to the chap who is going to fit our new bathroom and he is more or less good to go – when it is a bit cooler! He is also going to get someone to quote for tiling it.

Update

Sorry haven’t posted for a while so just thought I’d give a quick update.

Have managed to keep up with no 10 “Be more girly”. My nails are looking good after a bit of looking after and have worn jewellery to match my outfits to work every day since last week – I have felt nice making a bit of effort.

Am trying to not buy bread this month but it hasn’t worked. However did make some bread for a guy at work – sun dried tomatoes and herbs – in return he gave me some of the veggies from the box he gets delivered. Also baked a loaf for me and 2 colleagues to have for breakfast this morning and got nice comments from them :) . Am going to keep making it when I can and have a go at some other recipes.

Finally got rid of the old sofa plus a couple of old push bikes we had. Choose the vanity unit for the bathroom today and have been looking at all the different types of taps and plugs – very exciting bedtime reading – I never knew there was so much choice. Will let the guy who is fitting it know we are good to go.

The NSD are not going as well as I had hoped but I have cut back. Yesterday all I spent was money on aerobics which I go to each week and today at work we had a cake stall to raise money for Cancer Research which I don’t really count as spending as the money is for charity – plus the sponge cake was yummm.

I am so excited with my veggies in the garden. I swear I can see some of them growing! We now have potatoes, lettuce, courgettes, radishes, tomatoes and carrots coming through. Have decided what to do with the area which I was going to use for veggies until DH pointed out it doesn’t get much sun! I would like to have a bbq. We have some old paving stones that I think will fit and have seen a reasonably priced bbq. Our next door neighbours invited us round on Sunday for one and I enjoyed just sitting outside, chatting, making the most of the weather.

Things are going well at work and am still writing a list of weekly/daily jobs to be done. As this has worked well I’m going to transfer this to home life as I think it will help me to keep onto of things.

Love reading all your blogs, seeing how you are all getting on – keep up the good work! xx

Bit of bad news

Bad news is both companies where I and DH work are making redundancies. Where I work we were all told on Monday of the cut back’s and saving the business has to make, and obviously there will be job losses along the way. I’m not a worrier by nature – DH does enough of that for both of us – and tend to think what will be will be but it is a shame as I do really enjoy my job, it’s defiantly the best job I’ve had, and work with a great bunch of people. But if it does happen to the both of us I hope its not at the same time, that would be hard.

Have got so much I want to do this weekend and hopefully the weather is looking good (hope I’ve not spoken too soon!) Gardening – need to cut the back lawn, well I say lawn more a patch of weeds. Also have some more seed I’d like to plant. After sorting out all our paperwork I found a chart which shows when veggies should be planted, picked etc. I’ve put on the inside of a kitchen cupboard door and I’m going to try and follow it. Also a bit of shopping but not sure if I want to brave town on a Saturday, plus all the normal chores.

Going Veggie

As it is National Vegetarian Week I thought I’d have a go at No. 99 – Go Vegetarian of a Week. So far it’s been ok, apart from when I forgot and finished of some tuna and mayo left-over from sandwiches for DH pack-up. I have cooked all meals from scratch, eating a lot of salad and fruit. And have lost 3lb J.
I listed some books I don’t want on https://www.greenmetropolis.com for the first time. It was very easy and hopefully may make a bit of money. If they don’t go on there will give them to charity. Also goes towards de-cluttering.
Have a man coming on Saturday to give us a quote to fit a new bathroom suite. Hopefully it will be acceptable as I can’t wait to get ride of the old one. We have lived here for 5 years and have put this off as other things have taken priority. The colour of the suite we have now is dark brown and even has carpet up the side!!! We didn’t choose it I hasten to add lol.
Looking forward to some good weather at the weekend (if the forecasters can be believed!), going to tackle some more of the garden.

Wind!

Been a bit laxed this week with the list. The History Boys was brilliant. If we hadn’t known it was amateur’s we’d never have guessed. The young lads acted their little socks off.
Unfortunately my new greenhouse blew down in the wind, taking all my seeds with it. Was gutted L Hubby was great and rescued what he could but am sure there will be onions springing up in the lawn. I was then taken shopping after work and treated to couple of propagators which won’t blow over and more seeds (I’m very lucky). I also got a prayer plant for the bargain of £1.
I’m still impressed that work is organised – got a bit behind as had a bit of project work to complete and meetings that went on forever. On Friday I wrote down everything I want to do this week and I seem to be able to prioritise a bit better.
Posted my 1st postcard on Postcrossing (no. 19) and the lovely lady sent me one back to say thank you. I need to get an album to put them in.
I’m going to set some targets for May (idea “borrowed” from another blog). I realised I been working on the “nice” tasks on my list rather that ones that are more difficult/scary e.g. losing weight/learning to drive.

Greenhouse - 1st task completed!

I’ve managed to complete my first task yey! – no. 95 Buy a Greenhouse. Sadly not a big proper glass one as we only have a small garden but we got a little plastic one with 3 shelves, which my hubby very kindly put together for me. I put in it sunflowers, strawberries, lettuce, onions. I also planted some potatoes in bags. Have got some more seeds to plant but need some deeper pots. I have to re-think the garden, as the area I had dug over for veggies doesn’t get enough sun, so got to decide what to put there instead. One idea is for a small pond but might just sow some wild flowers, will have to think about it.
We also went to a new restaurant (no. 13) after getting said greenhouse. It’s called Chiquito http://www.chiquito.co.uk/index.aspx . It was really good value for money and the service was great. I had bbq chicken wings, chilli beef tacos and chocolate brownie sundae, which was heaven!