Archive for the About category
Anniversary
Posted on Wed, Mar 25, 2009 at 10:41 by Michelle
| Edited on: Fri, May 15, 2009 12:04
I've kept this blog going for a year.....
The entries have been somewhat sporadic depending on what has been happening for me, but a whole year! I could barely believe it when I read back over the posts.
I love to read other people's bogs, as you can see from my blogroll at the side. I may glance at a few others, but those blogs get my full attention. My current favs are Fussy and The Discomfort Zone, I like the style of these, they are both well written, entertaining and even occasionally educational.
My plan for the next 12 months is more of the same. I need to write more content and learn to write better.
Those 12 months have gone over quickly though, some things have stayed the same, but many have changed.
- I bought a car off eBay, it's a rubbish car and I've spent more on it at the garage than I did buying it, but it’s still just about going.
- I began training as a podiatrist, that was completely out of the blue but something I had wanted to do and although I like it.it’s not going to get me to the states :(
- I've been back to Peublo Ingles, another amazing experience and I won’t leave it so long next time.
Anniversary
About Me
Posted on Wed, Mar 25, 2009 at 10:41 by Michelle
This is a blog about my life; studying, cooking, eating, traveling and doing it all the cheapest way possible.
I'm just a normal woman, mum, grandma, housewife.
A lifetime ago I had my own high earning business, and at first I loved it, I liked being at the sharp end, the adrenaline and more probably power that came from doing something exciting everyday.
Because I was self employed I had to work a lot of hours. Then I started to notice I couldn't hold a conversation with anyone because my phone would ring. I couldn't sit down to a meal and eat the whole thing without having to answer a call midway. I didn't like what it was doing to my family, my business had became more important than everything else, so I sold it.
What a culture shock we were in for, we downsized very, very quickly. We went from being able to buy anything we wanted to having to justify every purchase.
During those initial dark months The Old Style Money Savers were my lifeline, they helped me learn to cook and bake my own bread.
This mantra from Martin lewis became my own and was the one biggest thing to help me save money, it’s still something I think of when I want to buy something.
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The other great help is deciding between want and need, I need to pay the mortgage and buy food, I don't need beer, a laptop or a mobile phone although I want all of those things.
Everyone's wants and needs vary of course, some people do NEED a car/laptop/mobile for work. So my mantra is altered a litle from "Do I need it", to "can I manage without it", and I find there is very little I can't manage without.
My one weakness is justlifying my purchases, can I manage without it, mmm yes, probably, but as it costs £200, I can save that over a year just by using it. This is an area I have to be very strict, it is the area I know I cheat when I want something.
|100 things about jordylass
Posted on Sun, Oct 05, 2008 at 11:53 by Michelle
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My name is Michelle
- I'm into facebook at the moment.
- I have 5 children aged 22-12
- I have 3 grandchildren aged 5, 3 and 1.
- I love to drive fast.
- My best ever holiday was in Florida.
- I love to get away in my caravan.
- I used to have my tongue pierced.
- I ran away to London when I was 16.
- I left school (see above) with no qualifications.
- I qualified as a nurse when I was 25.
- I like to work out at the gym.
- It doesn't show.
- I couldn't boil an egg 3 years ago.
- I used to manage an escort agency.
- My favourite places to wander are Newbiggin by the Sea and Edmundbyers.
- I buy almost everything for my house from boot sales.
- I was a competitive diver when I was in school.
- I used to live on the 23rd floor of a tower block when I lived in London, (and I loved it).
- I'm scared of heights.
- I sold books on Amazon for a while, (but didn't make much money and don't have the storage space).
- I have written websites.
- Built PC's.
- Edited Movies and photographs.
- Ran an online enterprise.
- I've never had a lesson in computing or computers.
- I read a dummies book once.
- I like to play poker (no limit holdem)
- I've read loads of books about poker.
- I've read loads of websites about poker.
- I still don't win at poker.
- I like to wear crocs.
- I have 3 pairs of crocs. (purple, yellow and green)
- I've just started studying to become a podiatrist.
- I like being a student.
- I've learnt that Crocs are not good for your feet.
- I could eat jacket potatoes for tea every night of the week and not get bored.
- I make my own ice cream, and it's better than Ben and Jerry's.
- I love watching telly, X Factor, House, Greys Anatomy, No Angels, Secret Diary of a Call Girl.
- My favourite housework is hanging the washing outside on the line.
More later, as it's harder than I thought.
- I always take the alternative route.
- My 3 youngest children were born at home.
- My 2 youngest were home educated for a while.
- Now they go to an alternative school.
- I only drink Douwe Egberts coffee
- I only buy Charmin loo roll
- They are the only things I am snobby about, everything else is own brand/cheapest.
- I only drink tea outside of the house, 'cos coffee never tastes nice unless I make it.
- I've started to go grey.
- I have a reddish colour dye on my hair at the moment.
- I like to eat humanely reared meat, so I usually choose vegetarian if I eat out.
- I had a McDonald's with the kids just before they went back to Summerhill
- It was my first time in McD's for over 2 years.
- Most nights I can't be arsed to cook.
- I always do though 'cos I can't afford to eat out.
- My favourite food is rare steak.
- My favourite drink is champagne,
- cider
- red wine
- white wine
- coors
- southern comfort
- vodka
- Bacardi
- I'm thinking of having a tattoo on my wrist.
- I don't have any tattoos right now.
- My grandmother taught me to knit
- I can knit, but I don't.
- I think I have a sort of photographic memory.
- I'm good at exams.
- but not good at course work.
- I can't get a job in I.T. as I don't have a qualification.
- I'm looking for an evening job.
- I wish I could make a living at poker.
- I don't wear jewelry except earings now and again
- I have a fascination with the Amish way of life.
- Apart from Harry Potter, I mostly read non fiction.
- I'm currently looking out for Billie Piper's autobiography at the boot sales.
- I read loads of books about communism in my teens.
- I bought my car on eBay.
Only 20 more to go.
- I am a potty mouth and swear, a lot.
I think I'm an 81 item person.
- I researched Feng Shui for a while.
- We have a money tree
- Foo Dogs
- and some buddhas in random places around the house.
- I don't know if it works, but it helps with the clutter.
- I cry at movies, songs, sad stuff on the radio, pretty much everything.
- My Initials are the middle two letters of the alphabet (MN), to save you counting it through.
- I'm scared of dogs.
- I've had a stray cat here for about 8 months, she's called 'the cat'.
- I am a morning person and lose higher level consciousness after about 7pm.
- I want to live in the states for a while
- and Spain
- and maybe Italy.
- I'd like to walk the Camino De Santiago. (no mean feat for someone who doesn't walk more than 20 paces).
- I'm scared of heights. (oops, said that twice)
- I'm currently reading Slam by Nick Hornby, it's very good.
- My only allergy is to duck eggs.
- My 2 favourite sandwichs are peanut butter/banana and crips.
- I often cut my own hair.
Phew, that was hard going.
#97 The first of the Twilight series, and I can't put it down.
| Edited on: Mon, Feb 02, 2009 16:47