Breaking The Silence

Sorry folks, it's been some time since I've written a blog post. Things have been somewhat hectic with various stages of moving house taking place and life generally taking over.

It seems that every time I do sit down to write of late, it's either for work purposes, or to let another batch of people or businesses know my new address - and believe me the latter has been a revelation in itself!

Some companies have been helpful and efficient about changing my details on their records, whilst others have either failed to recognise what I'm telling them, been very slow to respond or have just basically cocked it up!

A relaxing scene to relieve the stress

Top of my list for helpfulness and speed have been Superdrug Beautycard, whilst currently bottom are Debenhams Beauty Club, who just can't seem to grasp what I'm actually trying to tell them, bless them, with all levels of efficiency nestling between the two.

Anyway, as I write I am still in a kind of 'limbo' state. Half my home in one place, the other in another, with months of temporary accommodation still to go before reaching our final goal. Amongst the chaos I will be endeavouring to keep up a steady stream of Shoppers' Joy posts and plan to start an additional blog in the autumn about the ups and downs of my new life.

All will be revealed in the fullness of time.

Thanks for continuing to read - Joy. 

In May I …

… have been getting to grips with mastering my new hairstyle. My new cut meant a change in blow-drying technique and even saw me ‘investing’ in a set of straighteners. It called hardly be called investing however, as I picked up a bargain from Sainsbury’s where Phil Smith hair-styling sets were being sold at a 75% discount. For around £7 I bought a handy travel bag containing ceramic-plated mini straighteners with cover and a handy folding hairbrush. A really great buy!

 

… ate lots of Duerr’s Ginger Preserve. It all started when I lost my appetite due to a bug, and the thought of most food left me feeling queasy. As ginger is recommended a stomach settler, I decided to give it a go, and am still totally hooked on it long after recovering from said bug. It’s delicious on toast.

… made lots of lists. Lists of people to notify about change of address, lists of jobs to do on the current house to leave it in order, lists of what is to be stored where during our complicated multi-stage move, lists of food for my mother-in-law’s 90^th birthday bash … perhaps what I really need is a list of lists.

 

…read ‘Peril On The Royal Train’, another great story from the Railway Detective series, penned by Edward Marston. I really enjoy these crime stories set in the golden age of steam and featuring the masterful Inspector Colbeck and the feisty love of his life Madeleine. The tales are very atmospheric – a piece of history and crime combined.

… also read ‘The Missing One’ by Lucy Atkins, which I found quite chilling yet felt compelled to read at the same time. The book demonstrates how keeping family secrets can have far-reaching consequences and disturbing effects.

My Best Buys This May

I’ve really been enjoying the return to salad weather and tucking into Tesco Sweet and Smoky Beetroot – shredded beetroot that actually isn’t dowsed in vinegar. To my mind this is how beetroot should be eaten. I’m a bit unsure about the packaging though. It proclaims, “I’m new” and “Keep me in the fridge”. Er, I don’t think it can actually talk Tesco, so why insist on trying to thrust this human quality on it?

In our household, we occasionally enjoy a glass of Sprite/7Up Zero, but it can be pricey at around £2 for a 2-litre bottle, so I was thrilled when I discovered Tesco Lemon and Lime Zero for just 65p for the same size bottle. But then I was even happier when I found Sainsbury’s Lemon and Lime Zero for just 55p a bottle! Although the price has now risen to 60p it’s still a great buy, which is as tasty as the big name brands.

For a lovely summer meal, we’ve been enjoying Sainsbury’s Minted Lamb Grills (frozen, 4 for £2) accompanied by Sainsbury’s Microwaveable Golden Vegetable Rice (frozen, £1 for 2 sachets) and served with a salad. This is a tasty, budget, family meal that is quick and easy to prepare.

As a bit of a treat I’ve bought Marks and Spencer Passion Fruit and Peach Jaffa Cakes. They are absolutely gorgeous, but strangely come in packs of eleven, what’s wrong with twelve? Nevertheless, Jaffa Cakes have come of age!

Follow me on Twitter @shoppersjoy

A Hidden Gem

With the big improvement in the weather recently, my thoughts turned to outings and I started looking for new and different places to visit.

My recent research resulted in a visit to a stunning building virtually on my own doorstep, which I had vaguely heard about but had sadly previously ignored.

Temple Manor in Strood was originally built in 1240 by the Knights Templar and was used as a stopping point for travelling dignitaries. Today, following restoration by the Ministry Of Works in the 1950s, it stands proudly in a leafy garden, nestled between business units on an industrial estate. Incongruous as this sounds, the surroundings do not spoil the peace and charm of this lovely building.

Cared for under the English Heritage umbrella, the property is open weekends between April and November and admission is free (although donations appreciated).

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Temple Manor, the building has been lovingly restored and there are some very interesting information boards not only about the building and local area, but the Knights Templar too. Although unfurnished, the building has some interesting details, including traces of original wall paintings, grand fireplaces and a vaulted undercroft.

This really is one of Kent’s hidden gems.

What ‘hidden gems’ have you found where you live?

Random Thoughts For May

As I fast track another pile of badly thought-out election leaflets from the door mat to the recycle bin, I can’t help wondering how many politician’s faces are destined to become tomorrow’s packaging materials. Who says politicians don’t do enough to help the environment?

Whilst enjoying a cheese scone at my local Sainsbury’s café, I started pondering the pronunciation of the word ‘scone’. The lady who served me pronounced it as I do, with a long ‘o’ as in ‘bone’. But of course, many people use the shorter ‘o’ version to rhyme with ‘con’. This always puzzles me, as it seems to follow the pattern of words such as ‘cone’, ‘crone’, ‘phone’, ‘tone’, ‘zone’… Well, you get the idea. Mind you, the ‘scone-related’ scenario that really irritates me is that many cafés that offer cream teas serve them with fruited scones, as opposed to the more traditional, plain Devon scones. Sorry, this combination just doesn’t work for me.

It’s very nice of Cadbury’s to emblazon my name across many of their chocolate multipacks. Does having the name ‘Joy’ on them mean they’re all for me? Well, there was no harm in asking.

Follow me on Twitter @shoppersjoy

A Life In Boxes

As I write this I’m sitting in a house filled with boxes. Cardboard boxes of all sizes that are currently being filled with what amounts to my life.

This may all seem very melodramatic, but I’m sure the coming months (and beyond) are likely to be filled with a certain amount of drama. We’re about to embark on a rather complicated move, which we’re trying to synchronize and plan with precision. Yeh right!

In our household we don’t often do plans. We more commonly operate on a kind of ‘make-it-up-as-you-go-along’ mentality. Many a time we’ve enjoyed an outing or holiday where the kids (can barely call them that now) have exclaimed, “Wow, you did well planning that one!” At which point hubby and I exchange knowing looks indicating, “Well, actually we made it up as we went along”.

What I’m actually anticipating is an element of chaos and the likelihood that ‘plans’, such as they are, will change on a near daily basis.

We’re currently at stage one of said move – packing all the things that we can manage quite nicely without for some time into a series of boxes, duly sealed and labelled. These will then be stored so that we can enter stage two.

Of course, part of this process involves ditching the junk, which is easy for me as I’m a ‘serial sorter’ anyway. Any excuse and you’ll find me rummaging through various cupboards and drawers, throwing out unwanted items and meticulously putting the rest in order. It’s something I do when I have things on my mind that I just can’t seem to resolve – a psychologist would have a field day with me! The good thing is that now the rest of the family have the incentive to clear out all their junk too!

So on to stage two. This will mean moving all our remaining belongings into what we are calling ‘temporary accommodation number one’. Basically a brief period spent kind of indoor camping at a relative’s outbuilding, before spending the majority of the summer in our beloved static caravan.

OK. With me so far?

At the end of summer we’ll be getting ‘temporary accommodation number two’ in place and that’s when the fun begins …

More than that I won’t reveal at this time, as final arrangements have to be confirmed and we have much work to do. All I will say is that we’ll be trading a suburban lifestyle for village life, views of the house opposite for a countryside scene and busy roads and good transport links for winding lanes and an hourly bus service.

So keep watching for future posts when more will be revealed …

Follow me on Twitter @shoppersjoy

Paper Bills

The Internet has proved such a useful tool in so many ways. The choices are endless – ordering shopping, booking holidays, comparing prices, researching everything from family trees to ‘useless’ facts – but using it should remain just that, a choice.

It appears that the answer to almost anything is increasingly becoming “Look on the Internet”. This is fine for those people who are actually able to do so and, indeed, want to. However, there are still a large number of people who don’t have access to the Web, whether it’s due to financial restraints, lack of skills or personal choice. That is why in any situation people should be given a valid alternative without penalty.

Even though I regularly use the Internet for a list of tasks, there are still a few things that I prefer not to do online. When it comes to bills, online versions are all very well, but I have to remember to look for them. At least receiving a paper bill requires no more thought than retrieving it from the doormat!

Of course, pre-Internet we all regularly received our paper bills as there was no alternative, but if we want to continue receiving them in this way, we often have to pay a charge. Although not extortionate (commonly around £1.50), this is still unfair to many people who do not have any choice in the matter – pensioners, those on a low budget etc. The very people for who every penny counts!

 

Although I opt for some of my bills to be sent on paper, it’s exactly that, a choice. For others it’s a necessity for which they should not be charged.

Companies obviously opt for online billing to reduce their costs and paperwork, but if they could afford to send paper bills out at no extra charge when all customers received them, then surely they can continue to do so for the reduced number of people now receiving them in this way.

As for the ‘saving paper’ argument, those bills that I do receive online still have to be printed off for tax purposes as we’re a self-employed household – and we’re not the only ones.

So maybe it’s time that companies reviewed the billing situation to allow everyone a ‘free choice.

What do you think?