For many years I kept a diary, a large A4 page to a view one usually. I quite enjoyed the start of the year filling in of all the names and addresses, some personal information and any things that I needed to pull forward from one year to the next.
Then I started finding that process tedious and slightly ridiculous so I reverted to my old, old way of a personal organiser. It had been vital to have one of these when I managed two shops in two different towns and needed lots of information about both at my fingertips as I travelled between each of them numerous times a week.
For the past six years now I have just purchased a new 'diary section' for my organiser and all the other pages stay the same. The names, addresses and phone numbers, the banking pages, the Christmas lists and birthday pages. It also means that once I slip the new section in, I can put the previous years into the plastic bag the new one came in and my history takes up very little space in the drawer of my sideboard.
My old A4 diaries made a spectacular little bonfire before we moved house from Wales. 😀
Today has been bitterly cold so I kept myself busy in the kitchen making a 'mince mix' from store cupboard items. Nothing complicated, just a bit of chopping then a lot of slow simmering to let the flavours develop.
It might not look much, but it tastes delicious.
Hopefully it will be nice and warming for Alan when he gets home later. He's been out in the frosty, snowy weather helping the builder demolish the garage at the bungalow, ready for it being rebuilt next week. He must be chilled to the bone. I gave him firm instructions to take a break and either call home, which he hasn't done, or go to Booths for a fresh cup of coffee and a warm through.
I was going to turn the mix into the base for a Shepherdess Pie, but after being reminded in yesterdays comments that I have a couple of part-baked 'cook at home' baguettes waiting to be used, I might just serve it with one of those each for dunking and scooping purposes.
Sue xx
That has reminded me to add broth mix to my grocery list! Your pan o ingredients looks very promising.
ReplyDeleteThe smallest carrot didn't make it to the pan, it was a chef's perk, and I ended up chewing while I was chopping. :-)
DeleteYour mince mix looks good. I'm trying to go back on a salt free/low salt diet and find that just about everything in my pantry has salt in it!
ReplyDeleteFor such basic ingredients it is a really tasty mixture, and very healthy too. It's amazing what they add salt too isn't it.
DeleteLooks delicious-I have vegetable soup cooking just now as requested by Norrie yesterday. I have note what you said about the part baked bread and no more will be bought-thank you. Catriona
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder that I had it, I doubt I'll be buying any more either. It's good to learn these things isn't it.
DeleteI have done exactly the same with my diaries for about 40 years! I did have to buy a new address section last year though. An excellent way to save money and time.
ReplyDeleteI write all my diary pages, including the address pages in pencil and have done for quite a while now. So many people (myself included) move numerous times and make a mess of address books don't they. It's so much easer now to rub the old addresses out and keep my book neat-ish.
DeleteDon't forget to add your name, or at least a nickname, if you want to carry on commenting as Anonymous. Thank you. xx
DeleteSorry Sue, Victoria here. And I agree about the mess of the address section. Using a pencil is a very good idea.
DeleteThanks Victoria, I'm just trying to discourage the more annoying Anonymous's who leave strange comments ... of which you are most definitely not one. :-)
DeleteFood looks lovely, can you tell me what make your planner is as mine is one that doesn’t lie flat. He
ReplyDeleteHeather sorry caught publish button.
DeleteThe make is Wonderpool and it's available on Amazon.
Deletehttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Wonderpool-Binders-Leather-Refillable-Notebook/dp/B08RXCJKFJ/ref=pd_lpo_d_sccl_3/520-0755293-4062361?pd_rd_w=Jmgx5&content-id=amzn1.sym.bb13d3fc-af40-4fff-a822-e0e4c415da96&pf_rd_p=bb13d3fc-af40-4fff-a822-e0e4c415da96&pf_rd_r=93GR57ZQ78EBBDYEM65B&pd_rd_wg=SnmX6&pd_rd_r=0c6e66a8-2064-4754-9478-a10d29491924&pd_rd_i=B08RXCJKFJ&th=1
I don't envy Alan working outside in this weather. It's freezing cold here with lots of ice and more overnight snow. I'm sure he'll be very glad of the stew!
ReplyDeleteI've used an old fashioned organiser for years. It saves a lot of re-writing!
Angie x
He was like a block of ice when he got home. So he went round to the gym to thaw out in the steam room and sauna. He really enjoyed his hot meal and ate seconds, before falling asleep.
DeleteAw bless him. He earned his nap didn't he :)
DeleteDefinitely 😀
DeleteIt's definitely soup weather. I've made two lots of vegetable soup in a week.
ReplyDeleteYep, it's certainly soup season at the moment. 😀
DeleteWe have shepherd's pie tonight, I made a huge batch up of mince before Christmas. Also got some bottom of the fridge soup made and in the freezer. Popped to Morrisons for some bits, our forecast isn't good. Got some bargains, bread, tomatoes, king prawns, courgette on YS. Also got some eggs, my Granny always said if you have eggs and spuds, you have meals. Take care. Xx
ReplyDeleteFrom what I've seen on social media there are a lot of brilliant bargains in the supermarkets at the moment. The forecast is dreadful for the next few days isn't it. 🫤
DeleteAs you know, I have been very attentive to that bitter cold lately! Ha!
ReplyDeleteI've never kept an organizer in book form. I used to keep a written journal, now I keep a blog, and that's all the record of my daily activities that exists. I also used to keep a desk calendar, blotter-style, and I kept the monthly pages so I had a record going back several years, but I tossed them all when I left the Times.
Haha yes, just slightly attentive ... lucky avocado tree. 😄
DeleteIt is handy having a blog isn't it. My second one started in 2009 and is like an in depth potted history.
Your mince looks wonderful. Alan will certainly enjoy it with bread to dunk.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
He absolutely loved it. I thought I would have lots of leftovers, but he ate most of them. 😄
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