Thursday 7 June 2018

A Post....Early for Christmas! ( and other stuff)

 A partridge in and a pear tree.

A Partridge

And a Pear Tree!



What a fantastic sunny day we had yesterday although the forecast was for grey cloud all day it was really hot. I wanted to go into Stowmarket for shopping and to get photos printed before I forgot and before Eldest etc are back for the funeral. Decided as I was out I might as well go to the Wednesday Car Boot sale, and was jolly glad I'd not worn clothes for chilly weather (which we had Tuesday) because it was sweltering at the boot sale. So warm that I was tempted to my first whippy ice cream  of the year......with chocolate flake of course.
I didn't spend a lot except £5 for 3 good size purple Pentstemon plants for my purple garden. The Hosta I put there last year has been virtually demolished by slugs so that will come out and what remains will be put in a pot.....with slug pellets!

Otherwise just found these 3 things among the tons of junk and house clearance debris.
Bag of Christmas wrapping paper 50p, tiddlywinks game 50p and the 3 jars which are just the size I needed to replace jam jars on the herb and spice shelf. They were £2. The basket they are in might have been useful but it was revoltingly filthy.

Got home to find a letter in the post telling me I'm now officially "on benefits!". I had no idea that because Colin died whilst on Employment and Support allowance due to the cancer, I was entitled to a grant towards funeral costs and £100 a month for a year. Very useful. I filled in the form more in hope than expectation but they seem to have dealt with it remarkably quickly.

Many Thanks for lots of comments yesterday. 

Back Tomorrow
Sue

24 comments:

  1. Some useful jars there - I am always on the lookout for big glass storage jars, and any time I have an open packet of something, it then has a glass jar to live in and stay fresher in the cupboard. I have taken to dating the contents too (having found stuff 8 years out of date at the back of the cupboard!!)

    The Tiddlywinks takes me back.

    That's a help that you had the grant towards the funeral costs and some extra financial support.

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    1. I'm going to have a clear out of jam jars, won't need to make much jam or chutneys now as I only eat a little.
      I have some large kilners too that could be passed on.

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    2. Pity you don't live nearer, I love kilner jars, not so many here in North Yorks. Glad the 'system' is getting into gear and finding money for you.

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  2. Just reading your yesterday's post again! I didn't pay much attention to the bit about the meaning of blousey, such was it that I took for granted its meaning. Blousey is a slang word for a bit of tarty girl, no ifs, no buts.

    As for today's post, yes, we had the same weather yesterday and it got out really hot by the time I went to the hairdressers at dinner time. I always seem to have enough storage jars from the condiments and foody things I eat from the supermarket, washed and all kept, and the cupboard overflows. The only pickle I make is pickled red cabbage so my store of jam jars rather exceeds my needs!

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    1. I wonder why Blousy isn't defined in the shorter Oxford dictionary the way I and everyone else thinks it should be.

      Rain overnight here and chillier this a.m.

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  3. I'm so glad that you have received a little financial help.
    Please accept it with pride.
    I'm sure that you two have worked hard all your lives and though being frugal is a well established way of life.
    The money will be a way of easing the next year a little if only financially.
    Perhaps you will be able to see your family a little more often or indulge in a treat sometimes.
    Sue

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    1. Financially I don't have to worry as the County Council that Col worked for so many years have a death grant and I'll get part of his pension and we have good savings thanks to money left to me.
      I shall just have fun spending the Kids inheritance! World cruise maybe!!

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    2. A great idea though if you're like us you may find spending money you've squirrelled away hard!
      Our kids keep telling us we've earn it so we should now use it.
      Unbelievably we are still saving, not because we are rich in the normal sense of the word though I do feel very privileged compared to many, but because it such an inbuilt habit! Sad isn't it!
      I do fancy a river cruise though, the Nile or the Danube down to the Black Sea.
      Sue

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  4. It is a time of great adjustment not just financial but as you say less jam needed. I still have a cupboard full which I really should clear out but some how there is always something more important that needs doing so it goes on the back burner.

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    1. I think I shall make a list of "winter jobs" as I have a feeling that that will be the time I'm going to need to keep extra busy.

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  5. Very glad to hear there are some benefits coming your way - you both worked hard all your lives and that's what its for. Love the photo of the partridge - my 'commute' to work is down a tiny country lane and then through water meadows where I see lots of wildlife and I'm especially fond of the partridges - they're somehow very endearing.

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  6. Right, that's it, I am leaving Lincolnshire and moving to Suffolk. We have had dull grey skies for many days now, plus chilly temperatures, not quite vest weather, but not far off!
    I haven't seen a partridge for ages - but funnily enough I saw one this morning, as I was driving to Louth for a bit of scissor torture and too much chat from the hairdresser.
    I am really glad that you won't have financial worries - can't quite imagine you being trapped on a cruise liner, but you could surprise us all - at least there would be no shortage of photo opportunities and blog posts. ;)

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  7. Lucky you I have never seen a Partridge.

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  8. It shows it's always worth filling in forms. Glad to hear you will get a little financial help.

    I'm finding car boot sales have less and less that I'm interested in these days, no grand-kids to buy for, they are all well past appreciating toys, it's all expensive electronic gadgets these days ...I'll leave that to their parents, I'll only buy the wrong sort of game etc. They are more tech-savy than me.

    Love the partridge and the pear tree ;-)

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  9. What a good find at the car boot especially as it was an unintentional one. Glad to hear you are going to get a little financial help, every little helps as they say.
    Mitzi

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  10. So pleased about the allowance Sue. I know from experience that expense incurred at such a time is hefty and at a time when one feels least able to deal with it all.

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  11. Pleased you are getting the benefits you are entitled to without any hassle. Doesn't make up for things but nice to put by for a rainy day.
    Briony
    x

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  12. The partridge has lovely colours and markings.

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  13. That be a French Partridge, also known as the Red-Legged Partridge, common in Norfolk and Suffolk.

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    1. It would be a real treat to see a native proper one!

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    2. They are common on the arable land around here. Both.

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  14. Good news about the funeral grant and the monthly payment for a year. Funerals are damn expensive these days although Mark and I have both decided we won't be handing any more than the absolute minimum over. xx

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  15. What a pretty bird, I ha e never seen a partridge of course here in Australia but we do have swamp pheasants and they are beautiful, I have seen a few of those.
    Good to hear you will have some financial help for a while, just put it by to pay for things you will now have to have someone do for you from time to time.
    Some hot soapy water, a bit of a soak and scrub with an old toothbrush or nail brush and dried in the sun will bring back the little basket.

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  16. Your partridge photo is superb. Glad you have found a little extra and unexpected income. Every little helps.

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