The Christmas review
Are you thinking about making New Year resolutions? Setting goals in life, whether it’s to lose weight and keep fit or something even more challenging can be useful. Try writing some things down and thinking about what is achievable and how you might achieve it. I have a few goals that include more photography. (more…)
Christmas Day in the Black Country
This Christmas Day post will be syndicated to my local readers later and a link will go on Twitter for all my followers on there; Facebook will also get a instant link. That is the power of the Internet at Christmas. There is no need to send a letter to Santa these days, you can email the guy. You might remember that I wrote and published a Christmas Story last year. You can click that link and read it today! I am writing a sequel, but it’s still not finished. It took me weeks to think of an ending, that is always the hardest part. (more…)
Thrifty Thursday: Christmas Countdown 6 days
The super six at Aldi today are clementines (600g), Brussels sprouts (750g), Maris Piper potatoes (1.5Kg), parsnips (750g), carrots (1.5Kg) and lemons (5). They are all 69p. That offer lasts until the end of the month with new offers beginning on the 2nd of January. That’s the same as last week.
The weekend review
I read a really good article yesterday about how to take night pictures. They say you should consider the exposure triangle to set your camera for this type of picture. That is set the ISO, aperture and speed. While I was doing all that and setting up a tripod, I would probably get mugged for the camera. (more…)
Thrifty Thursday: Christmas Countdown 13 days
The super six at Aldi today are clementines (600g), Brussels sprouts (750g), Maris Piper potatoes (1.5Kg), parsnips (750g), carrots (1.5Kg) and lemons (5). They are all 69p. That offer lasts until the end of the month with new offers beginning on the 2nd of January. I think we can assume they will be closed on the 1st of Jan.
Wednesbury at Christmas
I found out this morning that some of my photos are on the website of the local newspaper. I was asked if I was from the Express and Star when I was taking them. Newspapers are fighting for survival and have to adjust to the new era of digital communication. Advertising is changing too with Google dominating. (more…)
Thrifty Thursday: Christmas Countdown 20 days
The super-six at Aldi today are tomatoes (6), broccoli, swede, chantenay carrots (500g), onions (1kg) and lemons (3). They are all 49p. Those offers continue until the 11th of December. Those are the same as last week. I went to Aldi yesterday and I bought some of those persimmons. I’ve never tried them before. I like them! They’re packed with vitamins, especially vitamin A; it’s good for the skin.
Thrifty Thursday: Christmas Countdown 26 days
The super-six at Aldi today are tomatoes (6), broccoli, swede, chantenay carrots (500g), onions (1kg) and lemons (3). They are all 49p. Those offers continue until the 11th of December. They have lamb and pork chops on offer this week too.
Christmas is coming
Christmas is coming and it’s getting colder in the UK. The energy companies are increasing the prices of gas and electricity as usual. If the people running these companies or the regulators had any morality at all they would at least increase prices in the spring or summer. Like the government they are immoral.
Thrifty Thursday: Christmas countdown 33 days
The super-six at Aldi today are tomatoes (6), broccoli, swede, chantenay carrots (500g), onions (1kg) and lemons (3). They are all 49p.
Autumn bargain hunting
The Aldi super six this week are cherry tomatoes (250g), broccoli, snack pack grapes (150g), carrots (1Kg), savoy cabbage and onions (1Kg). They are all 49p each. That offer ends on the 25th of September. The weather is getting cold now and so we have to think about winter soups and stews to keep us warm.
Boxing Day blues.
I’ve started with an artistic picture today. I used three different programs to do that one. It’s Boxing Day and I think there will be a few hangovers around today. For those of you asking about supermarket opening hours, I think they’re all closed except for Asda. You can check out iopeningtimes for most stores.
Naughty or Nice?
When I was a kid, we were told we would get coal in our stocking instead of presents if we were naughty. Why coal? The original idea of Father Christmas or Santa Claus was that he would drop gold coins down the chimney for ‘good children’ on Christmas Eve and if you were naughty you would wake to find coal in the stockings you had hung in the fireplace instead.
Improving your Facebook Timeline
I chose this picture as a Facebook Timeline picture because it has open sky where I can add text. I had a lot of water too, but a timeline picture has to be wide and not very high. You can take a photo and crop it to make it the right shape. Facebook does allow you to position it. You can then add text.
Thrifty Christmas Countdown
Super Six
The super-six at Aldi this week are cucumber, broccoli (350g), onions (1kg), celery, courgettes (3) and tomatoes (6). They are all 49p this week. I wish I had bought celery now, that is great in a soup or stew. I did have a couple of lots of broccoli, I need the vitamin C. I had chicken drumsticks and thighs (1.26 Kg) for 2.99, those will be good for making chicken stew. That’ll keep the cold out…
Shop thrifty – save money
Aldi
The Aldi Super-six this week are lemons (5), plums (500g), peppers (3), sweet potatoes (750g), conference pears (6) and red onions (750g). I must make an effort to eat more fruit. I bought a kilo of bananas (68p) on Sunday and I’ve only just started eating them. We need lots more vitamins in winter.
Saving money this Autumn and Winter
It makes sense to insulate your home with energy bills going up yet again. Some energy companies will do it for free if you apply quickly, some offers end at the end of this month. The offer from British Gas ends on the 30th of November, so be quick to give them a ring, if you need loft insulation or cavity wall insulation. They might even help clear all the junk out of your loft, if you’re on benefits.
Neodigital Art | Changing seasons
I took this photograph last October on a sunny day. You can see the colours changing and reflecting more light. The light was better in Autumn last year than we have had in summer this year. We have to be prepared for whatever nature decides to throw at us and make the most of it.
Neodigital Art | Diversity
This is a picture of the local church, taken just before a storm and so it was quite dark. I decided to make it monochrome with a blue tint. I think it’s one of my better pictures. (more…)
Christmas Eve Ramble
Merry Christmas
I don’t care, I’ll say Merry Christmas if I want to; Happy Holidays doesn’t sound quite right! I’m not too fussy about tradition, but will have turkey and roast pork for Christmas lunch tomorrow. It’s been an interesting year so far, I was nominated for writing awards and got that one last week for writing and photography. My Dark Globe Artist Diversity Award can be found here. I also was a finalist in the photographic competition at the hospital and got a certificate from the mayor. I might get involved with the latest project too, which is about the history of the hospital. (more…)
Frugal Christmas
It’s Frugal Friday again and nearly Christmas. Many people are taking out payday loans or planning to after Christmas and some are putting Christmas on their credit cards. This is not a good idea! I checked some share prices earlier; shares in payday loans companies and banks are going up. I’m not surprised! (more…)
Frugal Friday | Christmas Ideas
We have real winter weather in England now and snow was forecast for today! Most people are thinking about Christmas and there appears to be a determination to enjoy it despite the economic problems. I read that toy shops are busy this morning. (more…)
Thrifty Thursday | Thrifty Christmas
I think everyone tends to spend more at Christmas and often too much. You should however still shop around and look for bargains or you might regret spending too much in January. (more…)
Thrifty Thursday | Ideas
There are some ‘sensational deals’ at Lidl this week, I would like the Bachelor’s savoury rice and cup a soups, but they are unlikely to be gluten free and dairy free. I’ll get chicken and veggies and make my own soup as usual. In the Christmas market, they have duck, goose and venison. (more…)
