Skint, Skint and Even More Skint!

Trying to get the boat ready to move on, to means that Pete hasn't done any paid work for five weeks now.  Added to that we have had to buy a wood burner, fridgefreezer and washing machine earlier than planned so that they could be craned on to the boat.  All this has emptied our purses quite considerably, so now we need to do some serious saving/frugal living to be able carry on with the barge.  With that in mind, I have joined SFT's Stretch-It-Out September Challenge:

1. We spend our usual Grocery Budget from 1st to the 22nd-weekly or however suits. Looking out for bargains, special deals and batch cooking.

2. Then from the 23rd to 30th we eat for 'free' using up all the batch cooking and special deal meals.

3. The money we save by not spending that week could be used for anything

www.sftandthe101challenge.blogspot.co.uk

Today I have been emptying out my fridge to make a lovely pasta sauce to freeze, ready for quick easy meals 

when I get in from work.

I used :

1 Onion

3 homegrown courgettes

1 homegrown fennel bulb

1 Red Pepper

2 Homegrown Garlic Cloves

All gently sautéed in 2 tablespoons of water until soft, then I added:

1 Tin Tomatoes

300 ml Vegetable Stock

1 tsp Fennel Seeds

1/2 tsp Chilli

2 tablespoons Tomato Ketchup

Salt to taste

And simmered for about 30 mins until all the flavours had come together and made a lovely chunky sauce.

I have actually frozen this in four portions, because I have it as a main meal with pasta but Pete will have the pasta

as a side dish with a couple of pork strips, so I don't need very large portions,

 

Makeshift Kitchen

We are living in complete chaos at the moment, those of you who have moved home will understand.  I cannot believe how much 'stuff' came off Carpe Diem, I am now convinced she was a Tardis in a previous life!  Added to the fact that although the bedroom was sort of ready and the bathroom works, albeit unfinished, there is still a lot if work to be done.  We are having to make do, hence the makeshift kitchen.  But I am not complaining - the space is amazing, I have ice cream in a working freezer, I can do the washing without dragging it all to work, I have a hot shower to stand under and best of all I have my bed!  More pictures to follow. Enjoy your bank holiday weekend if you are in the UK xxx

Our New Home Berth

We finally got the barge moved today on to its mooring.  It was manually pulled round by four big blokes and of course today was the only day for weeks that we have had any wind!  But it all went off without a hitch and we are now sitting nice and flat in the berth.  We are all absolutely exhausted and are looking forward to taking things at a more leisurely pace.  I thought I would leave you with a couple of pictures of our new views........

Leaving One's Mark

Well, the boats have been moved today. Carpe Diem is now back on her old mooring, half way up the creek and Bonnie has been pulled round the corner waiting for the final trip to her permanent mooring tomorrow.  The two boats have been in the same place for the last two and a half years and when the tide went out we saw that they had definitely left their mark.  In fact, Carpe Diem has left behind a swimming pool!

Off to Bed

Sorry I haven't been around much, but it really has been all hands on deck getting ready to move the boats on Thursday and Friday.  I will post some pictures soon, but here is a little taster.  I am soooo excited, tonight will be the first time we have slept in our bed for two and a half years.  So now if you will excuse me, I am off to bed ..........

Pickled Gherkins

For the first time I have grown gherkins and am now harvesting them thick and fast. Time to start pickling!  Firstly I salted them and left for twenty four hours, today I have put them in white pickling vinegar with some sugar and dill.  They look gorgeous, so now I am going to look up when I can actually eat them.  Whenever it is, it will be too late for Lucie's pregnancy cravings, who has been going through pickles like there is no tomorrow!!

Strange Weather

It's been a funny ol' day as far as the weather is concerned.  Woke up to glorious sunshine, clouded over by the time I got to work, storm at break time, gently warm by lunchtime, now (tea time) too blinking hot to move!  But there were some beautifully sinister cloud formations just before the storm.