Catching Up

 I feel like I've been chasing my tail a bit.. In fact I thought I'd been away from here a lot longer than is actually the case, it's still too long though..

It's been quite a time of it of late, various 'stuff' both stressful and enjoyable and sometimes both at the same time!

With a final big, fabulous family happening at the weekend a chink of light has appeared in the timeline of getting stuff done. We were all involved in some hefty work  to prepare my sister's garden for the celebrations - hence the bunting. It was initially not so much for decoration as to cordon off part of the newly dug project. I was, though surprisingly happy with it.

SO now it's time to catch up. As usual I've done myself a mega, impossible to finish list that looks quite like all my posts from soooo far back. I even re-read the one about helping my friend to get cleared up after her husband ran off with the au pair. I was about to embark on one of my 'hit every area at once' campaigns when I paused over my morning espresso and read.

I can't even remember the name of the article/book I was reading. It was one of those 'get yourself sorted/declutterd/organised' ones. This, however, was in 52 steps. On reading the first part of it I recognised myself starting, once again, with 'I do that already' or 'that's a simple step' hit me with another so I can do it quicker. This suggested a slower pace. A get one thing in place before you move on.

I know - there's lots of advice like this, but I'm usually pretty efficient in completely ignoring it!

This time I'm trying to rein in the rush for outcomes in order to make it sustainable.

I'm going to do the same with my catching up.

I've realised I can't write or make or create when my brain is chock a block full of urgent things that need to be done. I also know that my brain can't clear itself if my surroundings aren't orderly. This means I need to start right back at step minus one to get life back under control (cue hysterical giggling). 

First I'm onto the 'set one task a day and don't attempt anything else from your list until that's done'. At the moment it's working.... My first task was to take my impossible list and prioritise those items that are both urgent and important to complete this week. 

So far I've caught up with the washing, started trying to eat from the freezer to empty it for defrosting, completed the finances (Monday was payday so that's one thing I always do) and nearly finish the ironing (that's next once I close the laptop). I also wanted to restart my SubStack and this blog as a way of focusing my brain forwards.

Phew! Will this plan work? Who knows? it's worth a try 

so onwards and upwards - I'll let you know next week how I'm getting on and what I'm planning to do next - planning is top of the list for the weekend!

I know I can get my focus in - I  made bunting after all.. well I was particularly pleased with that. It was both urgent and important at the time - I had  not, however, realised that it would bring something meaningful to the table.

Having decided on bunting it couldn't a)take a long time to do as time was tight and b) cost a lot either. On looking at the general fabric stocks in the loft (clearing that will take a lot more time and far better focus - but I have plans) I found a number of items that were the right weight and content. There were a couple of the toddler quilt covers that my sister sorted out from her airing cupboard as the children are now well past the toddler phase and a school uniform dress that all three girls have worn. Both of these weren't in a good enough condition to sell online so had been parked in the fabric stash to make 'something' rather than be thrown away. Then there was some of an old skirt of my mum's and curtains from our old house and finally some of the fabric given to my sister when she moved that I made into garden bench seats.

In my ribbons basket I found a number of lengths of bias binding from old projects, some ribbon I bought for next to nothing in a sale with no idea of what to do with it and a streamer of multi-coloured ribbon from a circus twirly thing that one of my great nieces had thrown out. I set to with the pinking shears to cut triangles then sewed then onto the ribbons and binding.

Lo and behold bunting for the family celebration with the added advantage of the fabrics telling a story in  a way. Bunting with real meaning - meaningful bunting... now there's an idea ... or perhaps not I can feel the tug of a distraction away from my catching up project. Still, I'll hold that thought - meaningful bunting for parties, weddings, end of term balls, birthday celebrations.... nooooooo - I'm almost off again.

Come on Susan, focus, focus, focus.... we'll see!

Focus, focus, focus

 I know I've been trying to get sorted by attacking things in s small steps, random kind of way. Up to now it's been fine, but I'm just getting in a sort of muddle. 

While we were on holiday I took this photo from behind a fountain. It sort of sums up where my head is at! I'm standing in a shady sort of place, peering out at the sunny, organised landscape beyond with a watery obstacle getting in the way....

So, what to do about it. Well, I've decided the only thing to do is to focus.

There are a number of areas I've been hitting on and making a bit of progress, however the time has come for more of a concerted effort.

This week I've been concentrating on clothes. After my last post about selling on those that are no longer in use or refashioning them into something else I paused to empty and sort out all my drawers and wardrobe. I've had everything out and found not one, but two empty drawers for all those unwanted items (and those from the rest of the family) as I list them. That having been done the clothes for recycling into other things are nestling in the loft with the craft stuff ready for when it's time for them.

I will get a chance to organise those bits a little as I've got Sunday to myself, but by and large I'm focussing on getting rid of the surplus first.

There were also a few odds and ends of non-wearable stuff knocking around. There aren't enough books/CDs/DVDs at the moment to make up a box to send off so they have joined the 'sales' drawers. Finally I discovered a box of greetings cards that I'd made over time. Before they can be added to the 'sales warehouse' I need to explore how to sell these. 

I know my sister and I are planning on a craft stall nearer to Christmas, I want though to slim these down sooner if possible. So, it could be time for me to stop prevaricating about my Etsy shop. Grab the design brief by the throat and get on with it....

So, although I've not posted for a while, this is a short and sweet one as I'm about to attack my Etsy shop and get it up and running properly. Once it's sorted I'll be back and who knows I might even manage to organise a link to it so you can see how far I've got!

From One Thing to Another

 It’s nearly time to go away! Yes, the tennis has started in Rome, we’ve got our tickets and there’s only a week left now. It’s been a difficult one to look forward to this year. Leaving behind what’s going on at home with Mum, and that meaning that my sister doesn’t get a holiday at all (not really any break in her day much either) leaves me feeling guilty and yet very grateful that I’m getting the chance.

Sorting my clothes out ready to go has shown me once again that I have far too many that I’ve been holding onto for no real reason. This dress I got when I was working and travelling a lot. It doesn’t crease, packs easily and is really comfortable. I don’t need it now though and as I’ve already been retired for seven years it’s not so new either.

Having had success with other items for the family on Vinted - that’s where it’s going - along with a selection of others that look great, but that are no longer any use to me - or even fit….

There are some clothes though that, having done good service are past their best and are no good for their original purpose.

This skirt is one. 

It’s a lovely,soft, reversible skirt, but has catches and worn patches so can’t be worn. A leisurely scroll through Instagram led me to some simple mini bag patterns and voila…

This is one from the reverse of the skirt and there’s another of these and two from the main body of it! Now I just need to find the patterns and time to turn some of my other cast-offs from one thing to another!

I’ll let you know how it goes!

Back on Track to get things sorted

 Okay, so life is re-establishing some sort of normal, albeit a bit different to before Mum went into hospital. I've caught up with cleaning, washing, ironing, Substack posts and all that, although inroads into the ebook I'm putting together and the pile of craft stuff to do remain fairly untouched.

I've started a bit of a digital sort out too. I couldn't find a number of photos and documents and realised that the folders on the laptop, phone and hard drive were in a real state. Having begun reorganising it all I've noticed how much needs decluttering and deleting. I've written all about my intended path through my digital muddle on my Substack so I'll leave out the details. Suffice to say it's taking a while, but is really satisfying. I've begun labelling folders coherently and cleared loads of room on all my storage meaning that my devices seem to be operating much faster!

Of course all that has led to one or two headaches. There's only so much staring at a screen that the body will take. It made me think about the chat with the doctor about health, blood pressure, relaxation and stress. A while ago I had a problem with my feet - too much tennis and not replacing my shoes early enough. I bought a massage ball at the time.

It works like magic. Firstly rolling it around under the balls of my feet released the tingling sensations and went quite a way towards dealing with the pain, then I tried it up and down my calves after tennis and running to massage the muscles - brilliant.

So now I've been employing it around my shoulders and voila! Soreness and much of the headachey feeling have gone...

I did think thought that a break from the screen was in order so I whisked out the sewing machine. For a while now I've been considering doing a series of 'how to' makes or showing how I've recycled one item into another. I'm sure I've mentioned it before. During my digital show down I found lots of photos I'd taken over time of projects step by step. All I need to do now is to find the time to write the instructions! One step at a time though.

Having sorted through a number of mum's clothes that no longer fit her in order to make room in her wardrobe I've got a bag of bits and pieces that weren't good enough for the charity shop/selling online. There were some nice petticoats with the odd mark on them and so I've mass produced a load of scrunchies.

both from the slips and from some spare cotton fabric...

They can go in my box ready for selling at a craft or Christmas Fair later in the year..

Planning ahead - not that's really getting things sorted!

Getting Sorted - Loving Betwixmas

 Now I did start this when it WAS Betwixmas, but somehow the posting slipped and I am now coughing like it's an Olympic sport and brandishing a nose that would do Rudolph proud! It's only a cold, nothing too serious, just irritating and producing the sort of brain fog that makes writing crazy...

Anyway, Christmas having been and gone has bequeathed out household with lots of yummy stuff...

 

And there's plenty of leftovers awaiting us in the freezer too.

Somehow I, rather perversely, love this in between period when there's lots to finish up. It reminds me of when we were small and Dad got the mincer out to grind up the leftover meat and produce rissoles and so on. I always enjoyed times when we got cheese and potato pie, or mini cakes or pastry. It wasn't till I was much older when I found out that these were always at the end of the month when money was running low! 

Getting things sorted often means shopping at home. Not the internet version. The type of shopping where you go round the house seeing what needs using up and making menus based on what you find. It's not just the food either. I love using the presents that arrive - bath stuff, moisturisers, whatever - far too good to put in a cupboard for 'later'. The only things I keep for another day are the small sizes or samples that I take on holiday to lighten the luggage load.

It's also a good chance to go through my clothes, sorting out those things on their last legs or the items that no longer fit. Previously it's been because they've got a bit tight, but since my new health kick inspired by that chat with the doctor, some are now too big - hooray! Some of the older stuff I'm again keeping for holidays - journeying in older, yet comfortable clothes makes sense, especially if that's the last wearing of a t-shirt that can be binned rather than transported home and washed, etc. I'm also acquainting myself with newer (to me) selling platforms to pass on clothes that are no good to me, but in good shape. And no I haven't forgotten the pleasure of passing on good quality gear to charity shops either.

So, this Betwixmas has allowed me the space to start a good clear out, making the most of what I've got and enabling me to save a bit of cash in not buying too...

Long live Betwixmas - and hopefully the clear out will include my coldy germs and I can get on with enjoying what 2024 has to offer!

Getting it Sorted - Best Foot Forward

 It was daft really. Writing about my sister and her shoes and not starting from there myself. After all, they take up far more room than nail polish and the choices about what to keep and those to throw are far more straightforward.

So, this week the shoe rack has been emptied...

What made the task easier was the fact that the weather has definitely changed so the summer stuff needs storing away - and at least one pair that have still been in use, while only just surviving the ravages of use (and age) isn't worth saving till next year!

I've sorted, thrown and given away some and still have plenty to wear - result - I'm very happy and they are all organised and ready to go.

I also delved into the loft a while back to unearth some rather nice boxes and old wrapping/craft paper. During the recent half term these made it over for one of my sister's childcare occasions when all the relevant parents were working.

They all had individual approaches to covering their boxes with a patchwork of scraps creating their own personal storage boxes. It was not only a fun way to while away a rainy afternoon, but it also cost absolutely nothing as I had the scraps, boxes and PVA glue and found some wooden letters in my card making stores.

 

One great niece chose to cut small pieces choosing the pictures she liked, another decided to go for strips, whilst the 4 year old watched them use the PVA on the paper scraps and they position them onto the boxes. She decided there was a better method. First she pasted a small area of PVA onto the box, then cut out a shape or picture to fit and finally put it onto the pasted surface. It was quick, efficient and far less messy than the other two!

When it came to sticking their coloured, wooden intials onto the boxes, the oldest pair put theirs on the top of the boxes, but the littlest one went for the front 'cos that's where you look to open it!'

(I know the Z is reversed, but that's a normal trait for this particular great niece - as I say, they are all very individual!)

Right, now to tackle this week's Substack offering... I hope you get the chance to check it out. Last week I added the first in the series about helping the process of learning to read with phonics as a building block....

And a final round up..

 Happy New Year!

As it happens I haven't quite finished with the old one - yes, even over a week into 2023. Lots happened at the close of 2022 which rather got in the way of me catching up with all the missing posts for the year.

So, this post and the one or two following will need to rely on that notebook of mine and the photos taken at the time to race me back up to speed.

To Month 11 then - here's a random mix of the final Bites for the month.

Month 11 - Bite 23

Having passed on and sold a lot of books and DVDs earlier in the year I've now found a small stash of more. Not enough to warrant posting them off to a buying website I came across this just round the corner from where I live,,,

Sorted!

Month 11 - Bite 24

A friend has decided to raise some money from gifts that she might have received for Christmas and her birthday by asking for cash instead to be donated to her chosen cause.. Great idea - she's using JustGiving, but other sites are out there too.. another idea to consider.

Month 11 - Bite 25

A regular email arrived recently from a charity shop I often drop stuff off to as well as a newsletter from a local charity. Both reminded sponsors/contributors about registering the fact that they are taxpayers when donating. This is a great way of bumping up any donation by a comfortable percentage as an additional amount can be claimed back by the charities concerned. I need to double check I've ticked that box so they don't miss out.

Month 11 - Bite 26

Knitting carries on apace ready for Christmas, but I have had time to add in some extra hats and scarves for the library warm rail so I must find time to drop them down as the temperature plunges.

Month 11 - Bite 27

It's nearly time for the Advent Calendars to make an appearance. Each year my sister's church does a reverse Advent Calendar. Instead of receiving something each day - a chocolate or far more extravagant gifts in some cases (!) - you put an item from a wish list into a box to be delivered before Christmas to make someone festive period a little easier. The list contents range from foodstuffs to essential household items - a tin of soup or a toothbrush for example. It's a really simple way to countdown to Christmas without adding to the more 'grabby' side of it.

Month 11 - Bite 28

One or two of our neighbours live alone and are generally fine, but just recently one has had a long drawn out bug and another a trip to hospital for planned surgery. Time to pop in or message them to make sure they've got the provisions they need or to have a chat to break up their time at home until they are fit and well enough to get back to normal.

Month 11 - Bite 29

While I was in the charity shop the other day I started browsing the Christmas card selection. Many of my cards I make, but when I run out of time (or inspiration) it's the charity versions I turn to. Why not use something I need to get into something that helps others too?!

Month 11 - Bite 30

Planning time now. The festive season is fast approaching and I need to start looking at the gifts I need to buy. Out with that list I made earlier in the year of Christmas card recipients so I know how many I need and a new list for presents to buy is about to be made.

By pooling out thoughts on who wants what we can make sure that the money we spend as a family goes into exactly what's required with no waste or doubling up... We've also still got time to get the requested items before panic buying and lack of time intervene...

Phew! - Sorry about the whistle stop trawl through the notebook, but I'm now only a month short on my blogging target...

Playing Catch-Up

I've got a bit behind with all my good intentions!

I don't know why that is.. I've made notes, taken photos (some of which I've managed to lose - don't know how I've done that either!!!

Anyway, the next few posts will need to contain a number of bites written from the notes I made. These may well read a bit like the Strictly Sunday show - with me referring to today or yesterday when it's obviously not - be that as it may it's all in the panicked catch-up of someone who feels the oncoming approach of Christmas and all that entails....

So...

Month 11 - Bite 3

In the sorting out I did last month I did put aside a number of items to pass on to others. I mentioned the tile cutters last time and once they'd gone I took a look at what I'd stashed away in the garage.

There's supposed to be a great photo of empty paint tins here - but it's one of the photos that's gone awol.. and I can't retake it as I've carted the tins off to a repair/art place locally that make good use of odds and ends of decorating materials to help spruce up homes and surroundings at no cost.

Month 11 - Bite 4

I did track down this picture though.

It's the home for retired tennis balls at our local club. People can then help themselves for practice sessions with the worn-out balls if they feel like torture or take them for dog chasing.

I found two or three tubes of balls that haven't been used in a while and added them to the club's collection.

Month 11 - Bite 5

A search in the loft for some fleece uncovered more towels that I must have stored up there a while ago. Perhaps when I was exploring the airing cupboard, who knows?

I've bundled them all up and they're off to a local pet/animal rescue centre where they'll be put to good use.

Month 11 - Bite 6

Time to open the coat cupboard and have another hunt through for coats I haven't used in a while. I know I did this earlier in the year, but there one or two that I thought might be useful until I realised that I already had plenty without them.

Our local libraries have warm rails where they put out donated outer layers for anyone who needs one to take. No prizes for guessing where my surplus is off to!

First rapid-fire selection over.. more soon!

 

More finishing off!

 Now I'm on track with the bathroom and kitchen my attention is focussed on all those other projects lying around. 

The feeling of anticipation and excitement when starting a new project is exhilarating, but somehow, if the project stalls or seems bigger than intended it can make the completion a bit of a chore. All those unfinished projects are a weight on the mind (however hard you try to forget or hide them) and on the wallet. After all they've been bought and paid for so they need to be completed or moved on.

This group of bites is a bit of a double whammy bonus. On the one hand there's the projects themselves and on the other they do beckon involvement away from the TV and the electricity that consumes. So, how to get motivated... well one project at a time I guess...

Month 10 - Bite 19

My favourite part of any sort out is when I empty a cupboard, box or bag to rediscover what's in there. This is the first port of call for me then. The craft cupboard and loft are the focus of my new found finishing zeal. They'll both need emptying, sorting and then the specific projects listing. The list can be prioritised - especially with Christmas on the horizon - so that I can tackle each one in order of urgency, breaking up some of the larger ones with quick, nearly finished jobs.

Month 10 - Bite 20

Where to start - simple - books! I've got library books, books on the e-reader, books leant to me by my neighbour and some from my sister too. Again, priority order please! The library books need to come first so they can be returned, then I'll decide on those that I can finish quickly to reduce the pile and immerse myself in them all - starting tonight (well after Only Connect obviously!).

Only the tip of the iceberg here!

Month 10 - Bite 21

There are still one or two home projects lurking so they need bringing into the light. Preparing for these takes a little longer as choosing paint colours, sourcing the right paint or enamel and clearing space for painting take time. Making a decision about whether it's the stool or table that need refreshing has to be the starting point and then it's full steam ahead.

Month 10 - Bite 22

Now for the difficult one - finishing a hobby project. I'm great for starting these and then something always crops up.. shortening curtains, making dolls clothes, cushion covers, finishing a writing brief, having COVID, lots of things so I get diverted. Then once the diversion is over I do the sensible thing... and start another new project!

This needs to STOP I tell myself, but do I listen, well, what do you think?

Anyhow, today's the day to go for it. And the first hobby project to finish is an obvious one for me. I've been putting this off for ages.

A long time ago, further back than even the pandemic gives me an excuse for, we went to Widdiecombe Fair and I got an alpaca fleece to spin. He, himself wasn't sure I was going for a big enough quantity so treated me to a lot, one and a half kilos to be exact. I enjoyed spinning it and that was fine, then came the knitting it up task.

I started with a hat for himself to test out the tension, and as an easy to finish project. Then I took a big breath and started. I have begun the back of a cardigan with this yarn no less than eight times. Each time it's not been a success - the pattern is hidden by the texture of the yearn, it's come up to big, too small, too heavy... and so on.

Finally, I announced to my spinning group that no matter what version 8 was to be the last one. I'm nearly there. The bulk of the knitting and sewing up is done, it's just the edging. I'm putting it off no longer. The cardigan must be finished first, no more prevaricating.. here goes...

I've made myself hang on to this post so that I could add this...

Ta-daa..

It may not look like much to you, but to me it's a huge mountain climbed and my central heating for the winter..

So, what's next?

Warming up

So as the night's are drawing in and the bills are going up it's time to look at preserving the heat we've got!

Here's my next few attempts at doing just that...

Month 10 - Bite 3

Having got used to lowering blinds and drawing curtains in the daytime during the hot weather to keep the sun out and the rooms cool, now we'll be doing the same at the other end of the day! By using the sunlight during the daylight hours to heat our home, from now on the blinds and curtains need to be closed as the temperature drops in the evening to keep the warmth in.

Month 10 - Bite 4

We love the flexibility of the internet controlled thermostat and heating system that's been in for a year now, but have got used to switching the heating off when we're out to come into a cosy home. That's not going to happen this winter. As long as the property doesn't get too cold the heating won't get fired until we're in. The inconvenience of keeping outer layers on until we switch the thermostat up and the house warms to a reasonable temperature in minor compared to the savings it'll represent. So from today that's it, no driving back home and turning it all on half an hour from home.

Month 10 - Bite 5

Back to the wardrobe and drawers for me today. It's time to sort out my jumpers and cardigans. I've got some 'nice' ones I wear out and about and some 'comfy' items that are only for indoors. One or two I've spun from pure wool fleece are really warm and I rarely wear them. Why? Because it's always been so easy to turn on the heating and wander around in a t-shirt! This is a habit that's got to go too. Once I've got the woollies sorted today then it's out with the light gear, on with the cosy stuff and no to too much heating.

Month 10 - Bite 6

It takes a lot more energy to heat a room than it does a person so the task in hand to tackle next is the search for our warm-you-up items. Somewhere around this place we've got hot water bottles and oat filled cushions or pads that take little to heat up and keep warm for ages. Once I've tracked them down and double checked they have no leaks (!) they can be employed in the evenings to stave off putting the heating on.

Month 10 - Bite 7

While on the search I need to explore what's in the ottoman in the bedroom. It's a treasure trove of goodies that don't really have a place anywhere else. I'm sure there are some really warm blankets nestling in there so it's time they came out and went on the beds and in the lounge for snuggling into during the colder evenings.

I may even start making some from my wool stash rather like those I made a while ago....

Phew - with all that searching around I'll get quite a bit of heat up from the exercise too.....

Becoming Someone Else

 Now how about a change of character? 

Not literally, obviously. Here's a chance to explore a different creative side.

Month 8 - Bite 21

Why not let the children loose on some old clothes for a dressing up session? Do you have any old gear that you sorted out during your wardrobe purge that they could experiment with. The items don't have to be used for their original purpose. A skirt could become a superheroes cape or a scarf could turn into a sash  or sword belt.

Let their imaginations run riot as they role play themselves through what's available.

Take note of anything they wish they had - 'if only we had something for a tail', 'what can I use as wings?', 'all I need is a witch's hat'. 

That list will come in handy tomorrow!

Month 8 - Bite 22

Now they can design some costumes of their own. That tail could be made of some left over yarn attached to elastic or a belt. This one I made for a World Book Day for the Big Bad Wolf. It took forever to brush, straighten and fluff after I saw a video of how to do it. Yours doesn't have to be so fancy!

Wings could be conjured up from some filmy fabric attached to bent coat hangers or a witch's hat made from card. You can whistle up a stick as a magic wand or a pillow case for a Pharoah's tunic. I love the usefulness of old pillowcases. Just a slit and cut here and there turns them into a variety of costume basics (watch out for more pillowcase stuff in October and December!).

There are plenty of templates online for masks of different varieties and cardboard cut out stethoscopes for budding doctors or vets.

What will your designers go for?

Month 8 - Bite 23

Now they've got costumes and have practised dressing up, what will they do with their new characters. Plan an entertainment. It could be miming or acting out a favourite tale with a narrator telling the story. They might choose to improvise a dramatic scene or two - suggest a few of your own for example Harry Potter and a Wolf go shopping and see a butterfly taking sweets from a shop - what happens next? They may have some ideas for plays of their own or have found a script at the library that they want to act out. Alternatively there's the chance to put on a musical show with them pretending to be a number of different singers or bands.

Buying and Selling

 Month 8 - Bite 5

Right, now back to that pile of stuff from the bedroom tidy (and any other items you may have gathered up while the urge to declutter was upon the household.)

Are there any toys or clothes that would be good enough to sell?

Decide on how you're going to do it and involve those throwing the things away in the process. You might decide on an auction site or social media platform. Do it together and you could offer to pass any profits on to the person that donated them to the 'chuck' pile. Or you might all decide that the proceeds from any sales will fund a special day out at the end of the break.

It might be that there is so much that a table or boot sale is more suitable. Do some research together and plan it, sooner rather than later. Book it onto your calendar and start pricing and packing everything.

Month 8 - Bite 6

Of course you may have some friends and their offspring that have also had a tidy up. What about getting in touch and joining some other like minded souls for a giant clothes and toy swap? That way everyone could enjoy some time together (don't forget some cake), find some new possessions and have a play - and that's only the adults - only kidding!

If the weather's good put some sheets or blankets out in the garden and lay everything out for all to see. You might need some rules (no grabbing your old stuff back, only so many items per participant - you decide), but it's a good way of enjoying part of a day and getting some new stuff for nothing (well apart from the cake).

Month 8 - Bite 7

There will be some items that you would rather donate so ask those who've contributed their off casts where they would like their donations to go. Check that whichever charity or shop is open and receiving donated stock and when the best time is to deliver it. Now do it all together. There's nothing like your goods being warmly received to make children (and adults) want to help again. They might even want to find out a bit more about how their gifts will benefit others once you get home.

One for the Kids

 Okay, so we're on to Month 8!

Another playful, cuddly elephant for this month. I know I have been trying to make most of these ideas non-particular-month-specific, but as I write schools' out and thoughts of entertaining our younger family are at the forefront of the mind. Especially now my younger niece and her crew are due to arrive from Italy to swell the throng.

I've tried for this month to mix a range of free/cheap activities that we have tried in the past and are planning for now. The age range of our lot is quite wide and not all the activities will appeal to all of them. That's life! Still let's get on with the first batch...

Month 8 - Bite 1

This opening activity will seem a bit odd as we're beginning by thinking of the end of the holiday. No, it's not like in the shops, where as soon as term breaks up the advertising for 'Back to School' starts appearing. While we're all keen and excited we like to start to build a stock for the end of the holidays. Today sees a concerted effort to gather together the first components of the 'end of the Holiday Box'.

There's lots of bits and pieces around - craft stuff, colouring sheets, templates, that between all the family we're putting together. Books that were on sale go into the mix as do any puzzles, games and so on that we pick up in the first few days. The web needs searching for downloadables (you won't believe how much is out there) which are printed off and saved.

As other ideas crop up (along with any special bits and pieces that might get acquired from gift shops or outings) they get squirrelled away too.

All of these get put away ready for the end of the holiday when inspiration begins to wane, other tasks need to be accomplished ready for school or even the weather refuses to co-operate.

You'll thank me for this one later I promise.

Month 8 - Bite 2

Time to get out of the house and go for a walk. It doesn't matter where or for how long. It's time for a stretch and an explore of what's around locally. With all the to-ing and fro-ing that accompanies the frenzy of the end of the school year a  nice walk and chat is welcome. It provides the chance to talk over what's happened in the past few months, what might lie ahead and what they'd like to do during the break (don't forget to make a note of the ideas - they might surprise you with how simple the things they come up with are). It also creates an opportunity to revisit and remember those facilities and amenities that might exist close by.

Month 8 - Bite 3

An at home day today. A sorting out day! Release them into the wild that is their bedroom(s). 

How about emptying all their cupboards, wardrobes, shelves, bookcases, everything? Now they get to look at all the stuff around. Will they discover toys and games that have been forgotten? Decide there are clothes that no longer fit? Laugh at the thought of ever playing with some things again? See something their sibling wants to throw away that they'd like?

At the end of the voyage of discovery all the items they want to keep can be carefully replaced and stored and it should leave a pile of discards (especially with some encouragement).

What will you do with them.. well we'll get to that later.....

Travelling comfortably

 Now I know there are many who will say that travelling comfortably belongs to the rich and celebrated who can afford to have all their home comforts and a staff to carry everything. Especially, you might say with the amount of problems and disruption around at present - we were lucky to have a problem free trip. However, when on the move I do try to limit the discomfort if you like.

The transit bit of travelling when you are carrying your belongings with you, especially if you managed that panacea of only taking carry on stuff can be lightened up by packing wisely and leaving out some of the weighty items that you can acquire along the way.

Month 6 - Bite 7

When packing there are some things I don't like to be without (make up, shower scrunchy, toothbrush, hairbrush, that sort of thing). There are others I don't bother with because they are just as easy to pick up and as cheap to buy while we are away. In addition to that many of the places we've visited supply some toiletries as part of the deal so why lug stuff abroad when you can get it there? Okay, sometimes if you're not sure (a sensible price for deodorant is never a given) taking your own supplies is best, but avoiding things that spill or have to be packed separately in plastic bags to be scanned at security makes life easier.

This is also where those freebies that I was accumulating come in. A small sample of perfume is lighter to transport than a bottle, the free sachets of sun block take up next to no room and so on. Worth stockpiling a few then.

Month 6 - Bite 8

Emergency supplies are another thing. I mentioned my free samples of sun screen, but if I don't have such a freebie I'll usually take a small tube of my own, buying at the airport at silly prices seems unnecessary. Then there are other essentials to consider - paracetamol, for example, is so cheap in this country that it's daft having to go searching for it if I need painkillers while I'm away and would tempt me to paying more than I need - they are packed without the box though... Sting relief and anti histamine tablets are something else I'd rather take with me. I know there are supplies available at the airport, bust a captive audience never guarantees a good price!

Month 6 - Bite 9

Packing wisely sounds like good advice and one day perhaps I'll manage it! I don't do too badly although I still managed to bring home clothes I've not worn as I've taken far too many in the first place. I think I learned a lot about packing when I was still working and having to spend time in hotels. Getting most of my needs into a holdall I soon discovered what were the heavier items and which crease proof dresses were a must. I usually keep a change of underwear and a top as well as comfy shoes in my hand luggage and wear the heaviest outdoor gear and shoes for the journey. That works well for me. 

I tend to roll my clothes and pack out my case corners with small items so that it's all fairly tightly packed. You'd think this would result in very creased clothes, but because they don't move about in the case they seem to travel well and any wrinkles steam out when hung in the bathroom while I'm showering (if only the same could be said for the wrinkles on my skin!).

Why am I going on about weight and travel comfort, when I'm supposed to be thinking about cost cutting? Well, the less I take, the smaller and lighter my case, so the cheaper it is to book in! It's also better for the environment and energy efficiency if we all travel lighter - just imaging what a difference it would make if every passenger on a flight reduced 1kg weight from their portables!

Month 6 - Bite 10

This year I also did something which I keep thinking of doing bu never do. Having sorted out my old clothes I still had some with a small amount of wear in them, although they would never stand a close inspection - just why do t-shirts develop small holes near to the hemline in the front?

I deliberately wore some older clothes that were on their way out, including underwear, that while comfortable, had definitely reached the end of its 'wear by' date. These went out with me, but never made it back! Well, did I mention the extra space I needed to bring back some stuff for our soon to be arriving family?

                                   

Holiday Time!

 I know I've mentioned it once or twice, but we finally got abroad for the first time since the pandemic! Now I know that in writing about saving money a holiday seems a little frivolous, well, perhaps finding money saving ways to be frivolous is just as important sometimes in keeping the spirits up.

This little pink elephant is here to announce the next monthful of bites about getting away. Perhaps his pinkness is due to a little too much sun!

Now, unlike most of this year's writing where I've largely set myself a day-by-day task, this month will be full of predominately retrospective bites. I'm still going to record them though - for future reference.

Month 6 - Bite 1

As soon as we were able to book with some confidence we went ahead with confirming our accommodation (which had been on hold since 2020 with the deposit paid) and booking flights. 

Straightaway came the decision about holiday insurance. Normally we have annual insurance that just rolls over, but of course, with the pandemic it didn't seem sensible to do this in 2020.

Looking at the insurance made us question whether our usual joint policy was a good idea in respect of our ages. We're not that too far apart in age, but it did make a difference to the premiums. So, this time it worked out cheaper to have two individual policies - one each - rather than a joint one. That'll need constant revisiting as age catches up with me/us from here on.

Month 6 - Bite 2

After all our travels in Italy our attempts in the language are little more than saying hello, asking for the bill and saying thank you! Unforgivable really, especially with family living there. So before going this time I downloaded a free (and excellent) book on the e-readers so we could really get stuck into the language in order to fully understand what was going on and to integrate a bit better. Knowing a bit more than the basics helped with ordering, buying, finding out information and using public transport - all time and money savers!

Month 6 - Bite 3

Having visited Rome once or twice before we've been lucky enough to find an apartment that works well for us. Knowing the owner helps with the cost too. That said, it's still a luxury and has to be weighed up carefully to see if the benefits outweigh the cost implications. From our point of view they do. There's something about being somewhere very convenient where you have the option of dropping back during the day for breaks or eating in. The very location of the apartment - this after all is the view from the living room and kitchen windows (yes, really, the Colosseum) - means that we spend little on getting around as so much is walkable and there are tram, bus and underground stops within 2 minutes of the front door!

Month 6 - Bite 4

For my retirement birthday my sister bought me a notebook....

I've been using it ever since to record what we get up to on our wanderings - it makes life so much easier when trying to remember highlights or decide where any photos that we can't place are taken!

One page I always start a holiday with is a record of costs. It might sound a bit un-holiday like, but it's so valuable in seeing where the money goes. It also means that we know in advance roughly how much we need to budget for another time or where we can save a bit. Especially since this was our first trip abroad for a while it was so helpful with simple things like how much currency to change up.

                                                  

Month 6 - Bite 5

You can see from the last photo that each cost is followed by either 'cash' or 'Clarity'. That's because I like to keep tabs on how I pay for each thing (as I say it helps to know how many Euros to take). A couple of trips ago I was happily using my normal credit card abroad, asking to be charged in local currency, all that sort of thing. Then when the monthly statement came there was a currency conversion charge against each item. It might not have been much on each individual spend, but it certainly added up over the whole time away.

Having researched what was available I got a different card that I only use abroad that doesn't charge a fee (and has a reasonable conversion rate too). I know that I don't get points (as I do on my regular card), but having done the maths the saving on the currency fee was greater than the reward points.

Just before we went I tested out the 'card for abroad' to make sure it wasn't sulking through lack of use and it worked fine so that's where the spending went!

Month 6 - Bite 6

With all the 'paperwork' in place it was time to dust off the cases and check them out. With all the extras counting on flight costings we needed to make sure that whatever we were taking fitted the bill both in weight and size. So out with the tape measure and scales for a reassuring sizing session. The main baggage allowance was fine and our cabin bags fitted easily so no extra hidden costs there.

I did take a slightly larger carry-on bag than usual - although still well within the restrictions. This wasn't for me! With our Italian family due to relocate to the UK soon I needed to be able to bring some of their clothes back to lighten their load! Mission accomplished I'm glad to say - and a bit more money saved in their pot too...

Limiting Laundry

 You'll remember how many bites it took me to get a grip of the clothes mountain that had accumulated over the years? Well now it's time to maximise some of the outcomes of that massive sort out...

Month 4 - Bite 6

I did put together a group of clothes for wearing to destruction and I'm doing pretty well with those so they are nearly ready to hit the bin. The selection of dresses, t-shirts, socks and underwear is now pretty close to the end of its life. In fact that time will come this week! If the fabric is good enough to use I will, but for most of the items the next few days will see their final wearing. This will not only see more space in my storage, but will also mean that they won't be a burden on the iron at all - just think of all that saved electricity. Today's task is to put these at the ready and to start by disposing of them from today. All of them except one outfit, from underwear to capri pants.

This is just a selection!

We're due to go away next  month. Travelling can be grotty on clothes and yet you still need to wear something comfortable. So the outfit I'm saving will be fine for the day of travel, but it won't be coming home again. No washing of it, no ironing and no carrying it! 

Month 4 - Bite 7

I do have another pile of clothes that have plenty of life left in them, but they no longer fit. The next task is to ring round everyone for a clothes swap party. We've not been able to do this while the restrictions were in place so it's something to look forward to. Organising it should be straightforward. Guests will just need to bring along anything they want to swap and pass on and I'll supply the mirrors, tea, cake and clothes rail. Then we can spend an afternoon or evening selecting new wardrobes from our offerings and anyone who doesn't have spares to swap can always make a donation to charity!

Again, the tip of an iceberg...

                                         

Month 4 - Bite 8

While I was looking at the laundry and wondering how I can trim the costs of it further, it struck me that I'm not being too clever with what I'm wearing. I tend to wait till the laundry box is fairly full then sort it ready for washing. This usually ends up with at least one half load, if not more as there's 30 degree items, whites I don't want to wash with darks, delicates and so on. What if I were to plan and organise what I wear so that there will always be a full load? So, it shouldn't take too much to group my stuff so that I wear mostly 30 degree wash items for a number of days in a row till there's a full load, or make sure I wear mainly whites when I'm doing the bedding, or - well you get the idea... I'm off to group clothes now!

                                                   

Purse busting task

 So having tidied my purse I’m now going to give myself a task that’s going to fill it up again!

Month 3 - Bite 23

I often use coupons and vouchers so this addition to the job list is an extension of that. I’ve got one or two vouchers and now need to maximise any other offers out there. This means having money off vouchers and coupons with me whenever I go shopping as well as remembering any loyalty cards that can add to savings.

My current task then is to track down all those I've already got and store them in my purse/shopping bag so that they are ready and available when I need them.. then all I've got to do is remember to actually use them!

I also need to research where I can lay my hands on more to get the best possible results from any shopping trips.

An aside....

Back during the clothes mega-sort I found a pair of jeans for repair, I also discovered a cut up pair which must have been part of some project or other. Rather than throw this remnant away I did my usual distraction routine of watching endless 'how to' videos online. It was obviously time to stop watching from the sidelines and start creating so here's my attempt.. The lining isn't perfect and the air was a bit blue while I was working out how to sew through multiple thick layers, but that's the creative process I guess.

Month 3 - Bite 24

Watching those step-by-step videos made me think about what I could provide helpful instructions for and after thinking 'I couldn't do anything like that' I gave myself a good talking to. This was along the lines of - you were a teacher for about 35 years, why can't you produce some simple instructions. So, dear reader that's what the next item on my joblist needs to be. 

First, make a list of what I could give a broken down list of steps to make and then research how to disseminate this material. I have no idea about any of this, only to know that me making mini-films about how to do anything isn't going to work! Research then....