Below, earlier in the day, this Elephant Hawkmoth caterpillar was marching across the gravel, intending to find somewhere to cwtch up as a pupa over-winter. So I imagine he is now under one of my bigger terracotta planters which will protect him from the winter weather. Their feedplant is the Willowherb, of which I have plenty here.
I needed more paint, so decided to go to Merthyr Tydfil, which is the same distance from here as Hereford is and - it turns out - more convenient. The sun was out and it was a lovely drive through the mountains (Pen-y-Fan and the Brecon Beacons looking beautiful in the sunshine). It's a good road from Brecon too, past Llywn-Onn reservoir.
Arriving at the double roundabout at Merthyr, I could see my first destination - B&Q - on the left, so straight into there, and had another litre of blue paint mixed for the outside windows here. Then straight across the road and into Cyfartha retail park containing M&S, my next port of call. I had to exchange a new bra for a different size. I also went into the Food Hall there, but my shopping list was VERY strict - a stir fry and Soy/Ginger/Garlic sauce for my tea (2 nights) and sandwiches and a drink (an indulgence, permitted as I have decided I will give up on getting any newspapers at all now so that will save £2.80 a week). I didn't allow myself to browse, lest I be tempted!
I then went across the roundabout again to check out the gigantic Trago Mills. It is apparently 1/4 mile long. I didn't have all day or want to be tempted, but gosh, you can buy anything from a motorbike to a tent to clothing to paint. I stupidly forgot the woodfiller in there (and in B&Q) so have to go out again for that today. I just bought some Purina cat biscuits as they were cheaper than Tesco.
In the afternoon I painted the French doors, bar the panels at the bottom. They need some wood filler, but I put undercoat on the top half of the panels and they will be finished today. That's the whole front half of the house done. I have saved probably £500 in doing the bottom windows and doors myself.
I am needing to be frugal this month anyway as I'm paying out to have the top windows painted. Eating from the freezer is the order of the day. I had cut all the meat off a roast chicken we had recently and frozen it. Half of one bag has gone to accompany the stir fry, and the rest will be chicken curry (4 portions) and chicken pie (4 portions too). I have a friend coming to stay next week so she will just have ordinary grub - we shan't be Dining Out. We will be having trips out so there will be a biggish spend there on fuel and entry fees, but I think after going to Eastnor Castle and Lower Brockhampton (same day to save on fuel as they are 25 miles apart) it will be very much more local and free! Tretower Court is having a re-enactment at the weekend, so we will go there and perhaps into Abergavenny and visit the church and the castle, the market etc. Probably a walk in the Elan Valley, taking a picnic. On the Monday she will get to see the delights of Aberystwyth, as I am babysitting Rosie in the afternoon, so will pick Rosie up and leave G in Aber, then take Rosie home for a nap and meet up with G when Tam gets home.
Right, this won't do. I need to stir my stumps, as mum used to say.
Good budgeting!
ReplyDeleteHave a look at Frogmore street gallery in Abergavenny, run by the Black Mountain Circle. I used to be a member when it was just outside the town. Don't forget get to choose your day to visit there according to the indoor market calendar!! That was a good place to have a stall on craft market days.
I think I'd rather have a sandwich and a drink than a newspaper any day. I never buy one but I picked one up to have a look through from the rack in the café at Booths one day last week and it was full of 'non-news' and adverts with just a shock headline to grab peoples attention. It would seem lots of us are having a pretty frugal month and raiding our freezers. :-)
ReplyDeleteInteresting caterpillar. I had to look up the elephant hawkmoth. What a colorful lovely moth! As is the purple bordered gold moth.
ReplyDeleteHaving a visitor staying over for a few days should be good company.
OH likes to have a paper every day! I flick through it, but its either the same old 'celebrity' stories or its very depressing. A food shop was done, over £100, but that included cat litter and cat biscuits, beer for himself and some wine for me! I was planning on sorting out the rotary dryer spike, dryer is listing badly, but its pouring down, so a job for another day. Xx
ReplyDeleteThat is a stunning moth by the way
ReplyDeleteElephant Hawkmoth caterpillars look, well, simply alien and can give quite a shock to an unsuspecting gardener coming across one for the first time! How lovely to have Mint Moth in the garden too!
ReplyDeleteMy grandma used to aay stir your stumps too. The moth was good spot and the caterpillar too - moths fascinate me. You live in such a wonderful place - you'll be rich as Croesus in the memory of it all one day.
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