Fun and nonsense

Today's silly creation

A touch of silly

A quick silly collage, trying to get back into creating something every day.

Realistic shopping expectations

So, the anticpated quick "pop to the shops for milk and cat food" last week didn't turn out quite that way.  Without checking my shopping receipts, I think I paid the local Sainsburys a further 3 visits last week and nearly all for "legitimate items".  So, prepared with a more realistic food budget for this week, I went shopping yesterday, the bill came to approx £110, but we are covered with lunches and evening meals for 3 adults this week, which also includes the cat food (but not dog food, as I buy their food on-line).  I've meal planned again this week but have lost the list!

Last month I took part in Zero Waste Week, which is an annual challenge and this year the focus was on food waste.  To start the week off we were asked to check out salad in the fridge, using up any salad lurking around the salad drawer instead of putting it in the bin. Then we moved onto bread and other food items as the week progressed.  I've been keeping up the good work, all the vegetable peelings, egg shells, kitchen roll, toilet rolls have gone straight into the bucket to take down to the allotment to be composted.  Any other rubbish has been mostly stuff like crisp packets, chocolate bar wrappers etc.  I've been like the Bin Police, constantly checking what is being put in the kichen bin and taking it out if it can be re-cycled or burned. Even the food wasted by the cat is given to the dogs to polish off.   As a result, only 1 bag of rubbish has gone into the grey bin for collection this week, I am so proud of this, as usually we generate about 3.

Back to the budget and meal planning

It's time to get back to budgeting and meal planning, this has been a very expensive year what with one thing and another and I've noticed how I have let things slip around food and so the food bills have been rising.  It's not easy managing different dietary requirements for each family member, one is gluten free and a meat eater, the other is wheat intolerant and pescatarian.  Now my daughter has ditched the meat (yay!) meal planning is easier for the two of us and as for the other half, he cooks for himself as he doesn't eat the same food as me.

So, this morning I took my shopping list, went into Aldi, bought only what I needed and the bill came to £10.13. I then nipped into Sainsburys to get the things I couldn't get in Aldi and the bill was £10.65.

I know I will need to pay another visit to the supermarket at some point this week as I will need to get milk and cat food.  I bought a couple of packs of cat food from Aldi, not the cat's usual brand, however, if he eats it, I will be back to get some more!

This week's meal plan:

Monday

Vegetarian roast dinner

Tuesday

Spaghetti bolognese (either vegetarian or vegan)

Wednesday

Vegetable curry with a chana allo side

Thursday

Chilli con carne (vegetarian)

Friday

Sweet & Sour Quorn (vegetarian)


Lunches for myself and my daughter are covered this week, my daughter always has left overs from tea for her lunch and I will have either salads or home-made soup.

By meal planning and sticking to a budget, I hope to reduce the food bills enough this month so I can re-direct the money into savings.

August Break 2016 Days 5 & 6

A bit behind with the August Break...never mind..........

Day 5 - Midday

Day 6 - What I am reading

August Break 2016 Days 3 & 4

Day 3: Handwriting:

A letter from my Mum

Day 4: Sweetness:

Jasper's birthday pork pie with a candle on top, the expression on his face is very sweet!

August Break 2016 Day 2

Today's prompt: Leaf

Out on my dog walk today I was drawn to the decay and discolouration of the dock leaves and weeds.


It's also Jasper's birthday today (on the left of the picture) and here is with his sidekick Runa, they are sat patiently waiting for their treats.

August Break 2016

The August Break is  a community project that has no real rules —  the idea is to simply take a photograph every day for the whole of August. That’s it. Pause, look around you and shoot what you see. Live inside each moment. Pay attention to what’s there. If it’s the summer where you are it’s a lovely way to be present to the moments that will be gone before you know it. If it’s the winter, what better way to liven up your day than with a creative project to play with? :-)


The prompt for Day 1 is Morning Light - I captured the morning light hitting the fruit bowl