2012 Gathers a Pace Already!

Well howdy.  I have been neglecting you haven't I?  My apologies.

But as the title suggests, just how quickly has the first month of 2012 flown by?  I am in a small state of shock when I realise February is this coming midweek!

So how are you all?  I hope your 2012 has got off to a good start wherever you are.

I have got back on my bike a little this week for work.  It's been cold but bearable although there was some ice yesterday morning so I was taking it easy.  One of my colleagues also cycles to work and she came off in December and hurt her knee.  It's still giving her hassle (yes we've all told her to go to the walk-in centre and ask for an x-ray but you know how people are sometimes...they "don't like to fuss") and I don't want that to happen to me:  or worse.

I hear there is a cold snap approaching so next week I may well be off the bike again for the duration.  I guess I always knew January & February would be the most precarious months and I'd be getting lifts or having to take the car quite a bit so my attitude is, any days I can cycle are a bonus.  Can't wait for Spring though when cycling is a bit more enjoyable!

I went out during the week for a meal with some work colleagues which is the first time since I joined in September and it was a nice enough evening.  I would do it again but not too regularly as I can't afford it for one, but also I like to keep a slight distance with work people...experience has taught me not to get too close or be too open as you never know when someone is going to use something against you.  So I try to maintain a friendly but professional demeanour if that makes sense.

I have continued to try more Aldi products in my bid to drive down grocery costs.  I can report back that their potato wedges are as good as anything I have had from any other shop and they also sell Blue Dragon Sweet Chilli Dip which makes a delicious spicy accompaniment!  I also bought a jar of green olives for 39p to go in a pasta dish yesterday and they were delicious.  They also sell black olives which are good too but I really did like the green ones for a change. 

I bought their Lacura body lotion for £1.49 recently which is OK.  Not as nice a smell as Dove but OK and really not bad for £1.49...it's a big bottle!  Will last me ages. 

Oh I also tried their fajita kits which are about half the price of the named brand you can get (name escapes me...Old El Paso?) and much better than Sainsbury's the Discovery brand own in my opinion.  I found a tin of dented refried beans reduced to 50p, which, with a chopped onion and a chopped pepper made a very cheap and healthy dinner.  Recommended!

What else....what else.....oh, if you like to take a packed lunch to work, I can recommend the Harvest Morn cereal bars, both the cranberry yoghurt coated ones and the chocolate "Fruit & Fibre" ones.  8 in a box for £1.49.  Much cheaper and much nicer than a lot of others I have tried.  I loved Frusli bars previously (Jordans) but they are nearly £2 for 6 which is getting a bit too much now!

Non food:  their kitchen cleaner in an orange bottle is effective and also I picked up a massive bottle of fabric conditioner (yellow one) for under a quid and it is fine.  I'd buy it again or try a different fragrance in the same range.  Only in the winter though....in the summer I try to use Ecover because it doesn't affect bees & butterflies like others can do.  Did you know that?

On the subject of trying new things, I did have to pop into Tesco today to get a small box of washing powder in a rush (Aldi is not nearby for me...but I have to say their washing powder is next on my hit list!) and there was a new type: £1 for 10 washes.  They are in a purple box and a pink box and they are called "Enrituals".  I have done my bedding today and a few other bits and they seem absolutely fine.  I would say give it a try for a quid especially if you are doing lightly soiled clothes or just a freshen up load.  I bought the purple one which is Jasmine and Lily but doesn't overpower at all.

I have spent most of today doing the usual housework things but did spend a bit of time on the sofa watching Liverpool beat Manchester United which made me very happy!  I had a bit of a snooze mid afternoon then more chores.  Time shortly to go and make some dinner.  We are having a marinated tofu chilli on Aldi rice!

I recently started taking vitamin B6 (50mg) to help improve PMT and my general mood as well as Evening Primrose Oil and Flaxseed Oil capsules.  Things seem to be ok though the next 10 days or so will really tell!  Vitamin B6 is supposed to help aid sleep and I have to say over the last week I think I have slept really well compared to the months beforehand where I would wake up several times a night.  Things take time to get into your system don't they and touch wood, I think things are starting to maybe kick in now.  I bought them from Healthspan online - I really recommend them if you need supplements of any kind.  No I do not work for them or get anything from them at all if I promote them!  I have been using them for various bits & bobs for a few years now and have never been disappointed so I do like to pass on recommendations where I can.

Well that is about it from me...not a very exciting update I guess but then again January is not really a very exciting month in my part of the world when you're broke after Christmas and the weather is yuk!

I hope hope you are all OK and thank you again for taking the time to read my ramblings!  Bye for now.

xx