Sunday 6 September 2009

Bargains and Car

Junior has been exploring the computer.  

She can now make captions and put them on photos and so make her own comic or mag.  Just need to find my spare ink cartridges so she can print them up.

She's also discovered the joys of computer chess!  This surprises me as she's not known for her patience.  Anyway, she's teaching herself and is being repeatedly 'walloped' by her opponent.....the iMac!  Still, every day she soldiers on and gets better and better.  I bought her a chess set this weekend,  in pristine condition, from a jumble sale.  20p.  Bargain!!  One of her brothers was a school chess champion and she wants to beat him!!

I don't much care for it.  Used to play in my younger years, but I much prefer draughts.  We used to play with my Dad, who was a hilarious, serial, call your bluff cheat:o)  He'd make rules up as he went along and we ended up playing to these instead of the proper ones.  Hilarious.  We'd have a whale of a time, ping ponging, backwards and forwards across the board.  Dad also used to make other rules up as he went along, to assist himself in winning (especially against my younger brother, who was way too competitive).   Dad would titter away like a mischievous child:o).   He made it fun.   We always play to Dad's rules nowadays.  The normal ones are too boring!  lol

We came  back from the aforementioned jumble sale ladened with loads of goodies, some of them given for free!  From cat-loving stall holders:o)  Lots of ornamenty types, which Mother has commandered...but I don't mind.  Less dusting for moi!!  lol   There are some lovely, cute little novelty teapots.   Shall have to photo them.   They're all still at Mother's because old Rickety Joints here couldn't carry them home.  6 teapots, some crystal, figurines and loads of other odds and ends for...50p!!

I love jumbles and car boots. 

Also got some clothing...all in pristine condition.  The intention was to get some cotton/linen bits as Junior wants to make a patchwork cushion.  So, as patchwork was originally to make use and reuse scraps/old/unwanted clothing,  we picked up a few items in co-ordinating colours  at the jumble sale (and some for J's wardrobe).  Trouble is, now that they're home, they seem too good to cut up...even if they were only 30p each! (including a designer linen skirt)   But, they will have to do.  New quilting materials are just too expensive and it's a bit pointless spending money on these when you are trying to recycle, save money, etc.  So, like it or not, Junior's new patchwork cushion cover will be in differing hues of lavender and lilac.   I think they'll be really lovely, too. 

Even the mogs got something.... we bought a couple of lovely, fleecy jumpers for them to cuddle/sleep on, now that the nights are getting colder.. for 30p each.   They've washed up a treat.  Beats paying a fiver for a pet blanket or bed.  

Did I mention that I love jumble sales?  lol

Bro and bro in law are coming down tomorrow to build a wardrobe for Mother.  She's fed up of crinkly clothes.  Junior and I could put this wardrobe up, but she won't let us!  She fears for my joints.  Junior is a bit disappointed as she likes doing this sort of stuff.  Krypton Factor sort of figuring out stuff:o)  So, Mother has promised the boys a bit of old-fashioned cooking in return of their diy skills.  A traditional dish that we used to eat week in, week out in our Uki home....pyrogy!  Basically, little potato dumplings, slathered in melted butter and sauteed, chopped onions.  Delish   She's making 200.  I think that might just be enough:o)  lol  This is no mean feat for an 80 year old.  Making the pasta, rolling it out thinly (which is HARD work) and then cutting out into rounds and filling the buggers up with cheesy mashed potato:o)  Then there's the cooking!  Anyway, Junior will be 'helping'.  lol

We're excited, 'cos bro is also delivering our new car.  A joint friendly type.  Automatic.  He says it's a nippy little thing, having road tested it for ages.  He misses the big jeep that he's kindly let me borrow.  Bless.    We bought him some bits from the jumble sale, too.  A lovely sweater and a 'doom and gloom' book. (about WW2 airplanes and ships - he's into all that sort of stuff! )

We spent about a fiver on all we bought at the jumble.

I love jumble sales:o))  Did I mention that?  lol

1 comment:

Classroomfree said...

Hmm, proper bargain hunter by the sound of it - I really must seek out the nearest car boot sale or jumble, been wanting to for ages and blog-hopping tonight has given me even more of a thirst for it.

I hope you will share pictures of the patchwork, I look forward to seeing it!

Julia x