Albeit, early mornings and evenings can be jolly cold, so start to think about what heating you’ll be using this winter.
Gas heaters are great because you can spend as much as you want or can afford, to keep warm. Once the gas bottle runs out you can either run out and get it re-filled or shiver away until the end of the month. But at least you know upfront how much it’s costing.
Electric heaters are also good but if it’s cold you tend to keep them on and at the end of the month get a shock when your electricity account arrives!
Open log fires look gorgeous but I don’t think I’d enjoy the cleaning, etc. Also you would probably have to decorate more often from the after effects of smoke.
New look – great decorator
Talking of decorating, we’ve just painted our home. Well, my husband painted two rooms and we had a painter in to do the rest.
What a great idea it was and I can highly recommend Sipho, who runs his company, Little Bird Constructions and can assist with all your painting, tiling, plastering and paving.
When he said he’d arrive at 07:00 he arrived on time or even before; he was a great worker and cleaned up after himself; his price was excellent and we are very happy with the work he did. He came recommended to us by a friend and I’m so glad we took her advice and asked him to do the job. Not only did he paint (and our ceilings are very high) but tiled our kitchen too and he did a brilliant job. You can contact him on 082 692 9683.
Economise with soup
Homemade soup is delicious and I often make a pot but sometimes during the week I don’t have time to buy all the separate ingredients and chop everything so packets of fresh soup mixes are wonderful. All the chopping of vegetables is already done so all you have to do is open the packet and pour the contents into a pot and cook. Most supermarkets sell their own packet soups; Spar, Checkers, Pick n Pay and Woolworths (prices vary from +- R20 to R25).
Last week I cooked pea soup and this week I bought a new one, butternut and chick pea. After the soup was cooked it said on the packet to add cream (optional) but I used low fat natural yoghurt. To this I added some cooked macaroni, warmed it through and it was ready. It was delicious and a hearty meal, using no meat, so very economical. It served two adults for dinner and there was enough left for lunch the next day for two. Now, you can’t get cheaper than that! Soup also freezes really well, so make a double batch and freeze half for those days you are too busy to cook. If you don’t add macaroni as I did, serve with fresh bread rolls or ciabatta.
Focus on Local
For those who live in a flat, townhouse or house with a small garden, drying washing can be a hassle. When I saw this nifty wash line I was really impressed. It fits on the side of a wall and comes with 25 secured pegs and hangers. Perfect for hanging out your blouses, shirts, jerseys, etc; or move the peg lugs over to one side and you can hang towels. When your washing is dry the line is collapsible, taking no space at all.
Contact Greg O’Donoghue, who has invented this ingenious wash line. He can have it made to your own specifications, so it is suitable for a single person or family. Phone 078 869 7646 if you are interested in purchasing one.
That’s it for this week. Enjoy all the holidays and shop till you drop!
Julie
