Family History.....and Growing Your Groceries

 I've mentioned before that our village library has been refurbished and is much more welcoming as a result.  At the moment they are running a free family history course and we decided to attend and give it a try.  It takes place one day a week and begins at 10am ( so an early start for me these days!) and lasts for up to 3 hours.  It is absolutely fascinating.  I didn't realise that there are so many free resources on the internet, although physical copies of birth, death and marriage certificates will still cost £12.50 each 😏

We wanted to research Graham's family, his father's side in particular and it is rivetting!

Even better is that accessing Ancestry on the library computers is FREE.  So far I have accessed census records as far back as 1871, found several new family members, and printed out the transcripts to read at home.  They can be printed at the library for 15p per sheet, so it's much cheaper than paying for a home subscription to access the information.  Each week we are given a sheet of information followed by an email at home with further details.  We feel so very lucky to get all this free of charge, and we have two more sessions to go.  

Next week the subject will be Military Records.....

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When we walked into the library this week the lady on the desk called me over.  She was just signing back in a book she thought I would like 😀

Yes...definitely! It looks right up my street .....

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This week I have managed to get out into the sunshine for just 3 days for my vitamin D fix. It's just been far too cold and windy.  Yesterday Gray went to the allotment for the day so I got stuck into lots of tasks that I had been  putting off,  cleaning the grease filter in the cooker hood, for example 😟which came up sparkling like new 😊I wiped down the kitchen cupboard doors on the top level (I will have to do the lower ones another day as my back was a bit delicate), cleaned the floor in the bathroom, then put on my shorts, took my lunch outside for half an hour, and sat in the sun. 

In the afternoon I spent just over two hours making cards for the shop, which was so relaxing....

I have donated 172 so far this year, not counting the batch made this week which I have yet to take in.  On Monday when I took in a new batch of 20, the basket in the shop contained just 3 cards.  I was in the nick of time 😊I really don't want interest in them to wane by having a near empty basket, do I !  I'll take another batch in next week as soon as I can get there.  Now I no longer have a car I'll have to ask Gray to drop me off as the shop is not within walking distance.

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Today, at lunchtime, we are meeting our daughter and son-in-law at the pub in the village after she finishes work.  Son-in-law is still awaiting results for job interviews and we can have a catch-up on all their news.  The men will have hot beef cobs and a pint, I'll share a cheese bloomer with our daughter and have a glass of lemonade to go with it.  Even tea is making my tongue sting at the moment.  It must be the tannin.  I'm totally off alcohol 😭I hope the D3 kick in soon.....

Thanks so much for popping in.  Stay safe and well wherever you happen to be,

Angie💗

Health Update & Resolution??

 I'm sorry to have been AWOL again for the last couple of weeks but have been struggling with health/life issues.  I thought I would just pop on here with a quick update ....

Health:

The lovely lady Doctor I saw a few weeks ago had commissioned another round of blood tests.  This time quite extensive tests, and they threw another spanner in the works.  I have insufficient vitamin D levels in my blood.  With our UK weather I'm not entirely surprised, but quite shocked at the very low levels I actually have.  I was informed by text message 😕to begin taking 1000 ug of D3 a day ( which I could buy from a pharmacy) as well as my B12 supplement......

As I am prone to do lately, I asked Dr Google if low vitamin D can cause a sore tongue and guess what?  Yessss!

On Monday of this week I spoke to the GP as she is concerned about my high cholesterol levels too.  Blimey 6.9 is really far too high 😨......

Now this is really baffling.  I don't eat meat (only fish) I drink skimmed milk, have drastically cut down on cheese and other dairy, I have a cholesterol lowering drink every day and use Benecol spread on sandwiches.  Butter is a rare treat and I don't eat lots of fried food. Ready meals or a meal out are few and far between.

Once again, I asked Dr Google whether low levels of vitamin D can cause high cholesterol.  No prizes for guessing that yes, it can!

So....I am on a mission to sort myself out.  As well as taking my supplements I have bought myself a cheap smartwatch to record my daily steps and track my sleep patterns, and I am aiming to get a little natural sunlight on my skin every day.  Today, Saturday, I have donned shorts and T shirt and got into the garden for half an hour, deadheading the daffs and tidying up.  I've washed the bistro table and chairs and have sat drinking my tea and eating my banana in the sunshine! 😇

Enjoying the peace and quiet in the garden......

I refuse to give in and get old and frail by default.

I am ON A MISSION!

I will need repeat blood tests in July and hope to have improved things for myself by then or I will need statins and I'm not sure about those at all.

Have you ever had your vitamin D levels checked?

Are you on statins?

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Life Issues: 

Briefly... son in law has still not been offered a job, my lovely daughter has health issues and so does my beautiful granddaughter.  Gray is still waiting for a hospital appointment for injections in his neck too.  We have had a family bereavement recently too.

It never rains but it pours...

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Take care everyone.  Stay safe and well wherever you happen to be,

Angie 💗

Happy Easter to you all...

 

Wishing you all a very happy Easter time. 

I'll be back very soon.

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Stay safe and well wherever you happen to be, 

Love, Angie 💗

Home Made Goodies & Blast from the Past...

 Does anyone remember Howard Drury from Central Television's gardening programmes?

Howard runs a gardening club in one of the villages close to us which we began attending last year, having found it by accident.  It's held 6 times a year; 3 in Spring and 3 in Autumn, and it's really good.  The speakers each time are varied and interesting, including Howard himself, and his wife Andrea makes and sells jams and marmalades for the McMillan cancer charity.  It costs £5.50 each to attend but in the interval there is free tea/coffee and a biscuit and you can purchase a slice of delicious home made cake for a donation 😋I can never resist.  It's for charity after all so it would be rude not to partake!......

Breakfast...is this healthy or just a necessary ingulgence? 😁

Oh boy....it tastes good 👍 

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Wednesday's grocery delivery was uneventful , thankfully.  I popped my head out the door to ensure the driver had not blocked Minnie's drive ( he hadn't).  All was well.  They had everything I ordered too.  My cupboards are full and I will only need to buy fresh milk and a TV guide next week. Not only surviving  but building up my Nectar points balace too 😀.  I think I'll save them up and try to get a week's free food at some point.  I'm writing down every penny spent on groceries as I  need to stay under budget this coming year

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We have a funeral to attend today, so I must dash......

Thanks for popping in.  Stay safe and well wherever you happen to be,

Angie 💗

Bravely Tackling The Budget Sheet !

 

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I can't believe that we are now into April.  The weeks are flying by after a long drawn-out Winter.  As the new tax year heralds price increases across  the board regarding monthly outgoings, I just had to be brave and prepare a budget sheet for 2026/27.  Now I know approximately how much things will be costing, I can relax a bit.  I still don't know how much the water rates will increase by so I added an uplift of 5% (probably not enough) As Gray will be paying more tax from April 6th due to fiscal drag, I have included an allowance of £30 per month for petrol ( we'll have to make it stretch ) and I've increased dental checkups to a total of £200 per year.  This should cover 2 visits each but any treatment will have to come out of savings. Car running costs eg tax, insurance and service charges/MOT have been calculated at £856.  Any repairs/ new tyres will again have to come out of savings.

I have kept the food budget at £55 per week for now and will be making the most of coupons, discounts and yellow sticker prices.

We will continue to cut down on energy as far as possible to keep the cost down and this will become easier when the weather warms up a bit.  Energy prices are due to fall from April 1st but I have no idea yet what this will mean in monetery terms.

Our broadband contract will end sometime soon and we will be looking for a cheaper supplier.

Any days out, weekly clubs and such will be paid for out of our own disposable income allowances.  We will share the costs.....

All in all, we are ready !

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A big thank you to all who responded to my last post about Moaning Minnie.  The comments really made me chuckle 😂and gave me a bit of ammunition if (when) he moans about something else ! Thank you!

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Thanks for popping in.  Stay safe and well wherever you happen to be,

Angie 💗

Moaning Minnie Strikes Again!

 On Saturday I took in a parcel for the chap next door.  It was medication and placed within an ice pack on a 24 hr guaranteed delivery, so why he didn't stay home for it I don't know.  He'd gone off on a bike ride.  In the afternoon he rang the bell and collected his parcel.  As he turned away he did the usual " I just want a word".  This time he complained that my Sainsburys delivery driver drove up the street 'far too fast' last week.  In my view he didn't, as we have his arrival on camera.  Apparently, Moaning Minnie opened his window and shouted at the driver who, apparently, ignored him (I don't blame him 😎)  After delivering my groceries, the perfectly nice and friendly driver drove off whilst (allegedly) 'gesturing' to my neighbour 😂  Minnie asked if I knew the driver's name (no), did I get the same driver each week (no) and who to contact to complain (no idea)  He decided to 'let it go this time'.

For goodness sake.  With all the horrible things happening in the world right now,  all the pain and suffering of ordinary folk...

WHAT DOES IT MATTER ?? 😡

I've got a delivery booked for April 1st so watch this space!! 😂

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The clocks went forward yesterday to British Summer Time.  I wish they would leave it alone.  I feel quite discombobulated.....

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Thanks so much for popping in and a warm welcome to my latest new follower.

Do stay safe and well wherever you happen to be,

Angie 💗

Too Good to Miss & Easter Veg Bargains

 

As I'm now moving to grocery deliveries every two weeks instead of weekly, we popped into the local Sainsburys for some fresh milk and bread.  At the checkout I was issued with a voucher for free delivery on a shop of £70 or more.  This was just too good to miss so I've placed an order for just over £70 for next week and have found that I can have a 1 hour time slot for free !

Not only that...the cheap Easter veg was showing on the website so I've ordered 2 bags of potatoes for 15p each, a bag of carrots 15p, parsnips also 15p oh...and a 15p swede.  Bargains!

I believe the Lidl veg will be 8p next week but we don't often visit them, Asda too will have the cheap veg.  Fill yer boots lads and lassies, well....fill your fridges and freezers anyway, 😁

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Thanks for popping in.  A big welcome to my new followers too.

Stay safe and well wherever you happen to be,

Angie 💗