Sometimes, the need to knit a triangular shawl calls to me like a siren. Who am I to resist? I dug out some yarn that I was supposed to be saving for scarves, but I was rethinking my choice, grabbed some needles with a long cable and started off.
It's been wonderfully soothing to knit, and I needed it.
The first bit of excitement was the discovery that it's the time of year when gluten free groceries get discounted. Anyone who has to follow a gluten free diet knows that you practically never get a sale on gluten free stuff, especially not the supermarket own brand version. I keep an eye out for it every year, and when it comes round, I commit. I go in hard. For example, at Tesco, 500g of gluten free pasta is currently 60p instead of 75p, which is only a 15p saving. However, we can go through five or six bags per month when bear is home, and at least four bags, or 2kg per month when he isn't, and I have no shame in buying a year's supply when the sale is on. If I allow for four bags per month, which is around the minimum, that's £7.20 saved, and with today's food inflation, that's not to be sniffed at.
I need to be picky. There's the jars of pesto that DH likes, that have around a two year shelf life, and he gets through maybe three per month. They're currently 25p cheaper, so that's around £9 saved for a year's supply. I'll probably get four or five tubs of the gluten free gravy granules as well. They have over a year shelf life, and we get through at least one tub per month, more if bear is home and they're 30p cheaper.
Food isn't likely to get less expensive for the next year, so I'm happy to stock up, but only things that we absolutely will use and that have long shelf lives. Besides, it gives me an interest. Both Tesco and Morrisons are running deals, and at first glance, some regular items are a penny or two cheaper at Tesco and some are pennies cheaper at Morrisons. In the grand scheme of things, it's pretty unimportant. But in terms of a challenge, well, challenge accepted! I'll probably save less than £30, but it will be better off in my pocket than that of the supermarket.
The other issue today has been the car.
That's a pic from 2022 when Gladys was considerably larger and Red, the car, was a great deal newer.
We're getting 'oil check' notifications, but only for a few moments. Then it goes back to normal. I thought that I'd check with our favourite garage, and when I spoke to them on the phone, they said that it sounded like a 'wet belt' problem and that it would likely be around £1,000 to fix it, and that they couldn't do the work as it was an engine strip down and they didn't have the gear.
I've spent most of today ringing around trying to find someone local who would be able to deal with it and who was unlikely to overcharge. DH was also on the mission and he got told that our model of car doesn't actually have a 'wet belt'. I got back to our favourite mechanics, and they said, "Oh yes! I didn't realise it was that model. Come in on Friday. But don't drive before then because you may irreparably break the engine. No stress."
This is why I needed to knit the triangular shawl. And why saving £30 on groceries over a year has its attraction, because every penny really does count!
Writing stuff - Further Tales from the White Hart is now live here.
It's currently just the ebook, but the paperback should be available soon.
If all goes well, and we all know that I'm risking things by stating what I'm planning, Back at the White Hart, which is the recent arc of stories from my blog, and Stories from the White Hart which is a collection of short stories that have cropped up from time to time, and which are separate from the ongoing stories, should, theoretically, probably, hopefully, be available by the end of the month, fingers crossed.
Hugs and good health to all
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