Summer to Winter With Old Clothes

 Autumn, my favourite season.  🤎💛🧡

A very lucky score on the charity book table this week.  

I've always wanted to read this but somehow never gotten around to it, now I can once I finish the book I'm currently halfway through.  Isn't Michelle Obama such a very beautiful person, in looks, intelligence and attitude.  

My Summer to Winter changeover is now almost complete.  My t-shirts were removed from the drawer ...

... and the jumpers and pyjamas replaced them.

Now the weather will turn hot and sunny, but this year I have left a few summer weight things out, it's not fooling me again like last year.  😄

The only drawback to doing this over the past week has been the near constant rain, so things have had to have a quick wash and dry overnight on the airer instead of on the washing line.  Some of my jumpers are ten years old or  maybe more, and a couple around five, but they come out at this time each year and go away again in Spring.  The changeover each year feels like having a new wardrobe of clothes, but at the same time somehow it's like welcoming old friends back into the fold.

I'm not completely against new clothes, and after a completely fruitless trawl of charity shops I have added a couple more new checked shirts from good old M&S to my collection of Autumn wear this year.

I love reusing my 'old' clothes season after season, and I am completely in favour of the ban that France and a lot of Europe are bringing in on the advertising of fast fashion brands like Shein and Temu.  I have never and would never buy from either company, but each to their own.

Sue xx

Random Bits ... I am Themeless

 

My £2.69 Aldi flowers that lasted for over three weeks before suddenly falling apart.  What an absolute bargain, better than any expensive bouquet.

I don't know what I had in mind when I took this photo, it's simply a bread crust, toasted with homemade marmalade and that all important first coffee of the day.

I take photos all the time as I use them for a starting point on most of my blog posts ... I don't know what this post would have been.  😄

Ginger's 'Tasty Licks', only he doesn't lick them from the tube the way cats are supposed to, he has a special little flat dish that he licks them from.  I can never remember the name of them so they are nicknamed 'squidges' ... well I do have to squidge them out of the tubes!

I buy them as it's the best way to get his thyroid medicine into him.  They must taste good together, he's always begging for them at breakfast and teatime.

One of this years teeny, tiny harvests, three little potatoes from a volunteer potato plant that was growing in amongst my spring onions.

My breakfast yesterday.

The quickest breakfast in my repertoire thanks to my silicone egg poachers that go in the microwave and cook two eggs in one minute and ten seconds, while the toast pops up and gets buttered.

There that cleared a lot of photos from my September photo file, and no doubt confused a few of you.

Yep ... today I am themeless.

Sue xx

Posh De-scaler, Random Meals and Happy Finds

 

This is possibly the poshest de-scaler that I have ever used.

My kettle was suddenly furred up, a very rare occurrence here in the north-west of England, so I rummaged in the cupboard for some bog standard vinegar.  There was none to be had, I checked Alan's under sink cupboard as he tends to have sachets of de-scaler under there, nope none at all.

So I bit the bullet and tried it with some of my very out of date Apple Cider vinegar.  Oh well better for it to be used in some way as I had never gotten around to using it much in recipes ... I hate vinegar flavours. Why had I bought it then, I have no idea!! 

It worked but it took four boilings of the kettle whereas malt or white vinegar takes two at the most.

Making Alan's dinners and teas while he has been working so hard at the bungalow, means that I am going through the contents of the freezer satisfyingly quickly.  The bottom drawer is now full of homemade items rather than convenience foods and as they are used up only a few of them are being bought again.

Fish fingers are a good emergency standby for a quick and tasty, even if slightly naughty lunch, so they will be replaced ... occasionally. 😁 

These garlic Plant Menu Kyivs are also a good standby, but I don't eat them very often these days, so again another occasional purchase from now on I think

Rummaging around definitely has it's advantages, as I found a single block of homemade soup and half a garlic baton yesterday ... it made for a very tasty lunch.

Sue xx

Replicating a Kitchen

On the previous post, in the comment section, Maeve asked if our new kitchen is the same as the one in the annexe.  So I thought I would dig out a few old blog photos to show you all just how much it really is the same.  A good side bonus to being a long-term blogger, is that you have an arsenal of photos at your finger tips to share and share again if the urge to do so overcomes you.  😀

There are three main differences, the first being the size as the new kitchen is much larger.  In my current kitchen there is only actually one set of drawers, two single base cupboards and one double wall cupboard.  Both base cupboards house something, one of them the sink base and it's pipes and the other one the main electrical consumer unit, so there is not actually a lot of shelf space in them.  What looks like a large cupboard next to the fridge freezer is actually housing the combi-boiler.

The second difference is the sink.

   My current one is cream in colour and has a twin bowl design, and the new one is stainless steel with just one larger sink bowl.  You do learn from your mistakes and I have.  The cream one while looking brilliant, and tying in so well with the colour palette of the kitchen, takes a lot more upkeep than any sink I have ever had before.  We eat a lot of spicy curries and tomatoey pasta sauces and they can stain it so easily.  Stainless steel is so much better at coping with this.

The final difference is the worktop, or countertop if you are not from the UK.  

While it looks exactly the same from above, the new one is a traditional worktop thickness and my current one is a much narrower design and is what is also used as the backsplash in place of tiles.  While the kitchen design company could get enough of this for the backsplash of the new kitchen, we had to go with a standard thickness for the worktops.

Alongside these three main differences there is also the size of the induction hob, I currently have a two zone or multi use sized hob and in the bungalow it will be a four zone.  Above it I have a smaller extractor unit than we have in the new place.  Our new one actually has shelves incorporated into the cupboard around the extractor fan, so even more storage ... although only Alan can reach the top shelf, unless I keep my little steps handy. 

The last difference that I can think of is the washing machine, in my current kitchen I decided to keep my old freestanding washing machine, but as our new kitchen is in the only living area of the bungalow this time we have gone for an integrated model.

Over the years I have have made very good use of the space in my current much smaller kitchen, it has really done me well.  So because Alan has always liked my kitchen he was more than happy for me to work with the same kitchen designer and fitter to replicate it.  💖

Finally, here are the two kitchen designs in the final planning stage.

My current kitchen.

Our new kitchen.

Oh, just look at all those cupboards and drawers.  😁

Right ... that's more than enough kitchen talk.

Sue xx

The Kitchen Delivery, and What I'll Miss When We Move

 

Late yesterday morning the kitchen was delivered.  

At the moment it's all safely boxed and/or wrapped up, but peeking into the visible bits it's already looking good and just as we wanted it.  So for the rest of today Alan is grouting the floor tiles at the kitchen end of the living room ready for the kitchen to be installed on top of them starting next Tuesday.

Alan worked like a trouper on Monday and Tuesday tiling the whole of the living room as there was a chance we would be needed to help my younger son move into his new home on the Wednesday.  He's a big lad and he did have his partner and her brother to help with the lifting and shifting, but after having a biopsy last week he still had stitches in his stomach so he had to be very careful. I thought it best to leave them to it if they could manage, as it is a big sense of achievement to move into your first purchased home together without the parents.

 Happily he managed everything he wanted to do and we weren't needed, so Alan had a well earned day off and we went out for lunch ... still on standby, just in case.  😊

Somehow it got me thinking about what I will miss when we move, so I went around the annexe snapping at the things I thought I would miss most.

High on the list is my beloved SMEG fridge freezer.

It's been my best ever purchase, and while they are expensive to buy they do keep food amazingly well.  I must have recouped a lot of the money spent on this beautiful appliance in non-wasted food costs over the years I've had it.

I couldn't make my mind up over whether I will miss the little half sized section of my kitchen sink.  

We both made the joint decision to have a one bowl stainless steel sink at the bungalow, as this is what we were used to before we moved here.  Having a plastic bowl in the sink means that you don't really need the centre section much, as you can pour things down the side of the bowl if you need to drain them.  

Having a bowl in the sink is the usual way of doing things in the UK.

I will definitely miss my radiator cover.

It's been good to have a sort of seasonal change of my favourite things on top of it, making me smile daily, and looking lovely when it's all illuminated at Christmas time.

I will also definitely miss having actual radiators.  They are very handy for quick drying of things that you need in the Wintertime when the heating is on.

I will miss having the two sets of French doors.

 I currently have one set in the living room, and the ones in this photo are in the bedroom.  On a hot day it's great to fling them all open and let air circulate.  Ginger has never quite got used to the doors looking identical, but leading him into different rooms when he comes in from the garden. 😺

At least we will have one set in our living room at the bungalow, letting lots of light flood in.

Something I thought that I would have to let go was this useful little drawer unit.  It's currently being well used in the kitchen of the annexe, but in the bungalow it might fit into my bathroom where it would be extremely useful.  I have my fingers firmly crossed.  🤞

What would you miss most if you had to move house and leave  something behind?

Sue xx

The Biggest 'Snippet of Home' Ever on My Blog

 

Valuation done on Wednesday 22nd, photos, video and 360 degree imaging done on 23rd, paperwork signed off on 24th and our first viewing on 25th.

It's been a bit of a whirlwind, and much faster than we were expecting.

Grab a coffee and then click here to see  The actual agents details of our house.

I've added this extra link to Rightmove in case you need it.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/91304274?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

Now we have to crack on with the bungalow so that we will actually have somewhere to live if things carry on at this pace.

Sue xx

Added - Saturday 3pm.  I was just setting this post up for going live on Sunday ... and we have just had a full asking price offer from a family that needed the annexe for a very genuine reason, and we've accepted it!!

So our house will be off the market less than 24 hours after it went on.

Hiding the Everyday

 

Seemingly these days when you are having photos taken for a house sale, you don't just hide the clutter, you have to hide the everyday!!

The house was valued yesterday, I'll tell you the result when I share the estate agents details with you, but don't worry you won't have to wait long, things are moving at the speed of a hungry leopard.  

As soon as the estate agent left our phones started pinging with forms to fill in, instructions of what paperwork we needed and instructions from the photographer, videographer and social media wizard on what we should do to prepare for the photos being taken later on today.

You are advised to put away anything but the main component parts of each room, so that any viewers can imagine their things and themselves in your space.  I am now of the opinion that some people have very little imagination. 😄

We got up early and started almost immediately, now I can't find anything!!

Happily you are 'allowed' to leave a kettle out.

It did spur me on to finally remove the two Winter jackets that were still hanging by the front door though. 😁

Pet food bowls and all traces of animals are to be removed, but we won't do that until ten minutes before they are due to arrive ... we don't want to upset Ginger.  Cars have to be off the driveway or off-road parking area, but we won't do that until just before they come ... we don't want to annoy the neighbours.

  All the paraphernalia off my desk and from the bathroom is in the boot of my car along with a myriad of other things.  Happily I know where my glasses and my current book are, but I am not sure what to have for my lunch, it will have to be something very simple, as all the bits and bobs from the kitchen have been stashed away into the drawers, so no pans are accessible.

It will be nice to get back to normal, still tidy ready for viewings but just more normal.

Have you moved home recently and were you instructed to do all this?

Sue xx

How Much Are We Worth?

 

It's been a bit chaotic here over the last few days.

Ever since we got back off our little weekend away we have been sorting out, cleaning up and generally getting our current house ready to go on the market.  Some corners like this one at my front door were an easy clean and an easy fix.  Alan pulled my big SMEG fridge freezer away from the wall, and I cleaned behind it and quickly put it back in place, the rest of this area just needed a little clean, so it was a satisfying job to do.

At the opposite side a bit more was needed as my little 'desk' area will be shown as more of a breakfast bar for the estate agents photos.  It's been satisfying to do, but bitty and tiring.

We have managed to find quite a few things to add to Facebook Market place, including my printer as we will only need one when we move, and Alan's large Vax carpet cleaner ... once he had finished cleaning all his carpets of course.  😄

Of course as is usually the way with things, Alan's middle floor toilet decided to start leaking and he needed a washer. Only these days you can't generally buy just a washer, you have to buy a whole new set of innards for the toilet.  So what used to be a 20p fix turns into a £16 set of new component parts. 

 That's just one of the reasons I tried so hard to keep the original toilet from the bungalow. 😒

The estate agent is coming round tomorrow to look everything over and give us a valuation, that should be very interesting ... I wonder how much we are worth?

Sue xx

A Slow Cool Sunday Start

 

I'm just into a lovely cool, slow Sunday morning start.  

It's currently 8.45am as I am typing this, the first load of washing is out on the line and the machine is just finishing the second.  The doors are all open and a lovely cool breeze is gently taking the heat of the night out of the annexe.

It's easy to understand the oft repeated phrase 'deliciously cool' when it's like this.

After pegging out the first bit of washing, I took time to look at the garden.  It's a bit rag taggle at the moment.  Nothing perfect or Instagram worthy, but then it doesn't need to be.

We have enough vegetables to add to our meals, there are so many Spring Onions in this little bed, a few Romaine lettuces, some chives and some thyme.  Everything else went to seed during the hot dry spell and while we were away.

We have two cucumbers that are crying out to be picked, and two of the courgette plants are finally starting to produce sweet little courgettes,

We seem to be in our 'shades of yellow' period in the garden at the moment.

The Crocosmia are really overcrowded this year, so I will be putting some in a pot to take with us.

A little Aldi purchase that is waiting to go into the raised bed to fill a gap.

The water for the birds ... and Ginger ... is so clear after Alan spent half a day pressure washing everything that you can't even tell it's there. 😊

Well the machine has finished so it's time to fill up the washing line, have my second breakfast and then we will be hitting the road to go and visit Mum.

I hope you are having a gloriously warm, or deliciously cool day wherever you are.

Happy Sunday. 

Sue xx

Just a Simple Sort of Day

 

It was just a normal, simple day ... but I photographed it. 

Starting with breakfast of what I already had on the go, some orange juice and a Weetabix with the last of the stewed apple from the freezer.  I must do some more, stewed apple and Weetabix goes so well together.  It's good to start the day with two of my five a day, and yes these measurements of orange juice and apple were the exact amount needed to qualify.

Don't worry about it being dry I did add a good splash of soya milk after I took the photo. 😄

The while the washing was whizzing around in the machine I got out the pegs and put the line across the garden.  I never take the washing machine for granted after washing everything by hand for many, many years.  Some things are worth appreciating.

All pegged out.

It wasn't terribly sunny but the breeze kept everything moving and it was all dry for late afternoon and put away by bedtime,

While the washing was drying, I did a bit of tidying, a run through with the hoover and had a bit of a top up of the spice tin.  

It's always good to check what I have and what I might need to buy soon. I have just about enough of everything at the moment, and spares of the things that are almost running out.  The onion granules ... the tub with the spoon in ... are running low, but they are a bit stuck together so I need to chop at them with the little spoon for a while whenever I need some.  I will persevere until they are all gone and then I have a new pack waiting to be broken into..

Lunch was a nice simple affair of scrambled eggs on toast with my usual coffee.

https://youtu.be/HeBteQW7_kA?si=Oss3vMUJxKBMj6z8

It was eaten in front of the television while I watched a 'new to me'  YouTube channel called The Hidden House.  It's a lovely relaxing watch, especially over some tasty food and a coffee.

Later I sat outside and read a bit more of my book.  I do want to get this one finished so I can take a nice new read away with me for the weekend.  I'm nearly there.

For my tea I had decided on some pasta, so I had a bit of a pasta cookathon so that I would have some more for later in the week.  It just makes sense to make three times what you actually need, if I don't use it all it can go into the freezer before we go away.

I had found half a tins worth of tuna in a little tub in the fridge, so I had a simple tea of pasta, peas and tuna liberally sprinkled with grated cheese.  It was very tasty, again eaten in front of the television this time watching The Chase.

I am really looking forward to having a dining table when we move into the bungalow!

 

I was feeling peckish halfway through the evening, so I raided the fridge and had half a tub of my recently stewed rhubarb with the last of a tub of yoghurt.  Swiftly followed by another black coffee.

Yes, I can drink black caffeinated coffee just before bedtime and still fall asleep within minutes. 😁

Just an average sort of day in my life, but photographed as I lived it.

Sue xx