Treats For a Tenner & Foxy Lady.....

 This week our government's generous (???) £10 each Christmas bonus dropped into our accounts. Hmm...what treats can we get for a tenner?  Gray chose to spend his on a box of chocolates and a tin of delicious shortbread....

I decided to donate mine again this year and have chosen Ang & Bob's appeal for the Hospice.  They have created a beautiful tableau of the Holy Family in their garage in order to raise funds.  I don't know how to post a link but you will find them on Tracing Rainbows. 

Anyway, they are now recipients of my own tenner.  I will, of course, still take a box of biscuits to my own favourite Hospice charity shop for the staff and volunteers to enjoy in the run up to Christmas.....

What will you be spending your tenner on?

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I'm finding it harder and harder to get up in a morning.  It's so dark, and this morning there was heavy rain too.  After a sleepless night I find I drop off in the early hours and then don't want to wake up!  It was 9am again this morning.  Last night I fell asleep around 1am and woke at 7.20am to the rattle and smash of the recycling collection lorry.  I popped to the bathroom and then back into my warm bed until 9am.  At least it means that we don't put the heating on until then, and the bungalow very soon warms up.

Are you finding it hard to get up too? 

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I can't believe it's now December, the last month of the year.  Where has the year gone?

All our regular bills are paid by direct debit on 1st of every month so our account has taken another hit.  Costs are still rising and we anticipate another big rise in rent on 1st April 2026 as well as council tax.  I took my car in for MOT yesterday and it passed with no issues but there were advisories.... I will need two new front tyres in the Spring and one headlamp is letting in water.  Replacement headlights are not to be found so I have made the difficult decision to sell Foxy Lady after all.  Someone will either do her up or use the parts for renovating another vehicle.  She is 15 years old and mileage on the clock is 31,500.  Kevin, the friendly mechanic pointed out that I had only driven just over 400 miles in a year !😬

It seems a bit daft to let her sit on the drive over the Winter months while still paying tax and insurance on her.

In addition, Gray will be paying more tax on his tiny personal pension next April ( thank you, Rachel Reeves 😭) and that is what we use for our days out and entertainment budget. By selling my car, it will put around £600 per year back into the household budget to help cover any increases in 2026

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We haven't been having our monthly treat since September so we are going to our favourite pub for a cooked lunch today.  Two roast lunches cost £16 and drinks around £7- £8 and it means that I won't have to cook tonight, thank heavens 😉 As the weather is so mucky, we don't fancy doing much else.....

Have you any plans for the next week?

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

Angie 💗