The dilemma of food or fuel (diesel that is)

First off, I forgot to mention I was very glad to see that Blogger has finally pulled it's finger out and sorted the blog postings so we are back to as it should be.

The heading reflects what was truly the choice this week, as with the price of diesel up to £2 a litre, and all my journeys long ones - two to Tam in this past week, at around £20 a time, Llandeilo tomorrow for the fair, that's 38 miles each way; the Unit last week 70 miles each way, which is why I tacked on the extra bit to go on to St Dogmaels rather than have a separate day out in the opposite direction. I haven't been to do a proper grocery shop, just picked up a couple of things I needed at Co-op - and I try not to shop at Co-op if I can.  Yesterday I had to buy a pint of milk (remains of last pint were a week out of date) and I bought bananas to go with my granola.  I had wanted raspberries to make the plain yoghurt I also bought, but at £2.50 for about 4 oz, I wasn't doing that. Today I need a couple of bread rolls for lunch at the Fair tomorrow.  I shall use chicken as the filling, and some salad.  I have two bananas a bit too ripe for me to enjoy so they will go into Chocolate Banana Muffins.

Food prices are getting ridiculous.  I was happy to pay £4 for 6 large cod fish fingers at Tesco's but those have now shot up to £4.75.  I have Kedgeree regularly, but smoked cod has now gone up from around £4.50 to £6.50 - that is a BIG hit.  Simple cans of soup - I can remember paying just 60p for Batchelors condensed chicken soup for pies - probably 8 yrs ago say.  It is now £1.50 a tin.  Ordinary soup, the good Heinz sort, is £1.59 a tin, or 5 for £5, which shows you the profit margin.  I invested in five tins last time I went shopping as I don't always want to make a vat of soup at home and eat it every day for a week!  I can still afford 2 raw chicken breast portions at £2.67 and make them go a long way.  I don't often buy salmon portions, but when did a smallish (212g) tin of salmon become £3.80?  Corned beef used to be something I bought regularly for Keith, who liked corned beef hash (pass, not for me).  It was a cheap meal but now at £3.50 a tin - and I saw a small tin at £4.10 in Tesco recently - it's becoming haute cuisine!  Even the loathed Spam from childhood is £3.50 a tin.

The humble potato, reinvented in crisp form, has to show the best profit margins out there, retailing at £2.50 a bag for what is probably not much more than one large potato.  Very few packets are cheaper unless on an offer.  I buy peanuts at 59p a bag.  More protein.

So, for the past couple of weeks I have been living largely out of the freezer and storecupboard, and the chicken I roasted on Monday has done 3 meals so far, a whole breast left, and carcase for soup, and 3 portions of curry with veg in the fridge.  2 will be frozen.  

This is why I try and buy most of my groceries in Aldi, and only things like Twinings Earl Grey teabags, cat food, etc in Tesco's.  Basically anything I need that Aldi don't stock.  Easy to be led astray though.

I have apples from my trees now, and have been given a goodly supply of cooking apples to store.  In the freezer, I have blackberries and elderberries which were free.  Soft fruit off the menu now unless I buy a bag of frozen, which go a long way. I had several small cucumbers from the polytunnel this week and a bag of the yellow cherry tomatoes which have been frozen (toms not cucumbers :)

Eggs, I use mainly for baking, and they are £1.85 or so for 6 medium free range eggs.  I prefer the ones from the butchers (Clun eggs).  

I am fortunate to have a full freezer and well stocked storecupboard to fall back when leaner times hit.  Once I am out of the Unit, there is only one more Fair this year, and I won't be going much further than Llandod.  Time to blow the dust off my bus pass if I fancy going out somewhere - though the destinations not terrifically exciting.  Will have to see if I can get to Cardiff in reasonable time to meet up with Gabby/go to the Museum and Art Gallery.  They changed the T bus time table which could get you to Cardiff, and then there was a lengthy break at Merthyr which made people travelling for work pretty put out.  I will perhaps have an outing on the Heart of Wales line train as that is free with my bus pass, over the winter months.

Sorry, woffling now.  Got lots done yesterday but my back complaining after I loaded several boxes of china into the car . . . I will have to be careful today.

 Update: All loaded.  I have decided to part with my lovely Arts and Crafts mirror as there is nowhere to hang it here.  I hope someone falls in love with it as we did.  I have really lost the enjoyment for Fairs right now.  The thought of getting up at 5.30 tomorrow doesn't thrill me either.