A Catch Up ... and an Explanation

 

I bought this shopping well over a week ago and just haven't have the time to upload the photos or talk about it on here.  The ready rolled pastry was a shortcut for myself to turn the leftover shepherdess pie filling into a couple of pies, the lemons because I was down to my last morning slice and the rest because I wanted them.

The receipt.

Calling in Booths the same week for some magazines from my Mum, I spied these in the Reduced to Clear trolley and thought they were a bargain ... and I needed some potatoes.

After this shopping the challenge has all gone to pot for this month, the main reason being that my Mum was rushed into hospital at the beginning of last week.  Once you are driving up and down the motorway and eating what you can when you can, whether it be from home or out and about, it's just too hard to keep tabs on spending.  So the card has been used instead of cash, and the will to keep tabs on spending has vanished.

So for the rest of May I will be letting the challenge slip and spending whatever I have to, when I have to, without worrying about it.

As well as Mum being in hospital our Welsh flat has sold and all the final paperwork is being dealt with, mainly by the solicitors and Alan, who has been marvellous at keeping the paperwork on track.  We had to call there for the last time on Friday night, combining it on the way with a visit to Mum who is in hospital in Manchester.

The sight that greeted us late on Friday night in the back garden was an amazing meadow like vista.  My brother generously said it is just our attempt a a 'No Mow May'.  We closed the curtains on it and went to bed. Although it was pretty and the wildlife obviously loved it, we knew that we couldn't leave it to get even longer for the new owners.

So the next day Alan got stuck in, aided and abetted by a certain little Pug.

There, a few hours later ... much better.

It wasn't all hard work and we made the most of the lovely weather with a walk on the promenade in Llandudno, and a fish and chip lunch.

The dogs people watching on the prom, since they got older it's one of their favourite pastimes.

Then after another good nights sleep, a cooked breakfast in Tesco and a bit of shopping to take home with us.  There was time for another hospital visit in Manchester on Sunday, and finally home to get stuck into some more of the paperwork concerning the lease.  It was a lot less complicated to buy this flat when it was brand new that it is proving to sell it, it's freehold all the way for us from now on!!

It's been quite the Bank Holiday weekend!!

So, to keep things easy for May I am classing the month as a Total Spend of £100 ... and not even worrying about it at all.  I will leave the carry-over figure as it is and move forward.

Yes there has been a stash of chocolate purchased for those collapsing on the chair with wine and chocolate moments that are sorely needed at the moment.

Sue xx