Saturday, 31 October 2020

October roundup


I have just 1 order for yarn, needed to make jackets for grandsons. I got a few things for the garden, I did look at sale items, as you know I love a bargain, but there was nothing I saw I liked. I am well stocked now, I have raised my own seeds for my pots. So a much lower spend this month. 

We are spending more on food, we have a good stocked larder and freezer, so if any panic buying starts we can sit it out. We have already got most of the treats we want for the Christmas period, we are both good at not opening these treats. BUT we have noticed how prices have risen this year, I have made the few gifts for close family, our grand sons will all get money, the things they want as they get older are all so much more than we want to give, which sounds cruel, but we have a budget and we will stick to it. 

The heating is on, just an hour in the mornings, I hate a cold bathroom, and then late afternoon to early evening, but it's not coming on every evening, some times the inside is warm enough. It's still warm enough for me to open our patio doors most days to air the house, not normally my thing, but through these strange times I am trying to keep the house and us safe.

We have not been able to find the new cooker we wanted, so we have decided to wait until the new year and see what's about. But our dishwasher started playing up, not cleaning and then the cycle lasting over 3 hours, so a new dishwasher has been purchased.

Our food and general waste is as always very low, we do not waste any food, all peeling go to my wormery, they are making beautiful compost for next spring, our portion sizes are now right, so we watch carefully everything.

We ended up with another cost from next door, because of her constant complaints to our local planning department, we were asked to submit a retrospect planning application for our pergola, we were told they could not see any reasons to refuse, so £250+ spent. But we did request it was added to the list at the council of antisocial behaviour against us. The woman is a nightmare and gets away with too much, our council and police are both fair and good, but she pushed buttons with them and they then work to show they are unbiased, and do things further than they need to be sorted. Often because our neighbour will refer things higher, if she does not get the results she wants, claiming institutional discrimination against her. 


11 comments:

  1. Sorry about the trouble you are still having from your neighbour, can't be very pleasant to live with.
    I've been buying extra bits for Christmas when I go shopping, I do it every year, saves having a big shop. Although, it looks like Christmas is going to be very different this year.
    Have a good weekend

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  2. I've never heard of planning permission for a pergola, that seems crazy. Surely it can be considered a temporary structure. I agree it makes her look petty and nasty. Like you have have a few sweet treats for Christmas and a good store cupboard and freezer.

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    1. We checked and thought we did not need planning, we think the council are thinking if we have permission our neighbour will accept it, but knowing them they will never let it go.

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  3. I have started to buy and put away a few little xmas treats too, Marlene. I keep them in a bag at bottom of my pantry with a DO NOT OPEN tag on it. This stops my son from devouring them before Christmas!! MegXx

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  4. Good to hear you are planning ahead so well. You are an inspiration to us all.
    Sorry that neighbour is still being a pain. Hopefully one day she will sell up and move away.
    Take care, Mxx

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  5. So sorry that the neighbour is causing you still more grief. Man, she just does not quit.

    God bless.

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    1. No it's her mission to upset as many people who live in our village, the neighbour the other side goes through more hell as they share a drive

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  6. Your neighbour sounds a nightmare. I once had a neighbour like that but they eventually moved after thirty years.....

    Julie xxxxxxxx

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  7. Like you, I've been putting away a few food items for Xmas as I do the grocery shopping each week. Sometimes we do dip into it, I have to admit. We're not as disciplined as you and your husband. Sorry about the trouble with your neighbours, it must be very stressful to live next door to someone so unreasonable. We're getting new neighbours this month, I hope they are reasonable people, as it can make such a difference to how you feel about where you live.

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    1. We shared a bottle of red wine on Saturday evening, and opened a small box of chocolates, so only good when sober.

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  8. There is truly nothing worse than awful neighbors. I am sorry.

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