gardens in autumn

my garden is a mess. i wish i could say it's not, but it is. i had to dig out the old garden manual to see what i should be doing now, as winter approaches. apart from pruning, and making sure the plants in the greenhouse are warm enough and fed for the winter months, i can actually look forwrd to some lovely autumn flowers and veg in winter and spring....hope your garden is in better shape than mine. if not, don't despair. there's still time. and if you're not too keen, why not head over to your local cornershop and find a reputable garner to do the job for you. they start at about £10 and hour. a few hours a week shouls be sufficient if your garden is not humongous!

slimming and dieting through the recession: still working out..of sorts

slimming and dieting through the recession: still working out..of sorts

still working out..of sorts

...ridiculous weather. i was supposed to go for a walk but instead the rain stopped us. oh well, at least i managed to do some laundry even if it is drying on the radiator. not to mention clearing the back garden pathway. phew, that was hard work! at least the old man next door doesn't have to call the counsil now and complain about flytipping. i promise you, my garden path was not even "occupied" for two weeks. he called the council, bless him, and told them that we were a danger to ourselves. blocking our only fire escape route.  i do have to laugh even if i feel like giving him a piece of my mind.
anyway, all is not lost. i got out today and cleared the lot. old heavy table, toys, bicycles, chairs, rotten debris from the tree i cut down six months ago. hmmm, come to think of it, it was quite a lot of stuff "occupying" our path. maybe the old man did have a point. But why go and call the council? we are decent people. keeping ourselves to ourselves. we even invited him to our wedding. we always have a good chat over the fence. so much for socialising during the recession. maybe he wanted me to invite him in for a beer or coffee? i don't think so.
so, my exercise is done and dusted for today, even if i did wash it all down with a date and walnut slice and a cuppa. smile

slimming and dieting through the recession continued

...so i shop at asda's and eat at my local carvery for £3.50 (a huge plate of food) i shop at my local bargain shoe store, yes, i hate it but doing this still keeps me shopping. it does help if i want to keep that old demon, Mr Depression at bay. i admit there are otherways to do this, but that's a blog for another day. i haven't seen the inside of a gym since the depression started but i have become increasingly fimiliar with my local neighborhood and countryside. i spent more time this way with my otherhalf and daughter. added to these benefits, i get fresh air and a heap of exercise. all at the cost of...nothing! no fuel used to drive there  ( except what the latest carvery has added to my body) and definately no montly bill! who's having the last laugh now?

it's good to adopt a kind of Sopie Kinsella's, shopaholic-happy-go-lucky attitude. i have. i shop for anything that will put larger items in my pocket or tummy and costs less. even if i have to "shop" without money. i.e get things for free. it might not be all our cup of tea, but hey, this is a recession, and for most of us it means...tighten that belt.