Normal Service will resume shortly

I have been having some technical difficulties this week with my laptop - the socket on the laptop for power stopped working. My battery was fine, but the laptop couldn't take on any power.
After googling and asking around I was told it was either a damaged connection and easy to fix or the motherboard was damaged and I would be better replacing it.
Needless to say I was quite worried, tried bringing it to Curry's (where I had originally bought it) and was told as it was out of warranty they wouldn't even look at it. Luckily I was directed by some friends to the local computer hospital and was very pleasantly surprised to find that it was a simple thing to fix. My computer was back up and running in 5 minutes flat.
With a school inspection coming up the last thing I needed was to be without a laptop - but the second last thing I needed was to have to buy a new one. I need to add about £400 to my savings because I need to be prepared should this be the beginning of the end 

Winter Motivation

Winter motivation - I don't have any at all. Before Halloween I was out at least three times a week jogging. Since Halloween I haven't been out all - I need a jump start. Christmas isn't far off (37 sleeps ) and I know exactly what that entails - being stuffed with various niceties by my Mother and brother.

So in attempt to get going again. I have set myself a challenge - I had a thirty minute walk last night and I will be volunteering at my youth club on tonight. I am at my parents all weekend with our wonderful dog so he will keep me busy. I have my playlist ready to rock courtesy of A Neurotic Glamour Girl and have started back with fitness pal.

I can feel myself become more unfit and I know I have a busy few weeks ahead of me, rather than let myself slide I want to keep on the straight and narrow to keep performing at my best. I know that when I am under pressure I have a tendency to eat unhealthily and utterly unfrugally. So I am setting myself a strict routine both frugally and health wise.

Eeeep School Inspection

So our school are having a general inspection! We have just over two weeks! Panic stations you say! I would agree!

This picture is from the guardian's website - I needed something to symbolize inspection

This is my first job after qualifying
 Negative - I am new and inexperienced
 Positive - It hasn't been two long since I was last inspected in the classroom, I am relatively up to date on my Buzz words and jargon
Negative - I trained in a different education system
Positive - I am on part-time hours - less time to visit my classrooms
Positive - My planning is up to date

The school in general is abuzz, it has been a very long time since they have had a whole school inspection. The mathematics department was comprehensively inspected last year - however this means that they may wish to gauge whether the findings of that inspection are being implemented.

So, I will be knuckling down and making sure I am up to speed. I am on a year's contract in the school, but I always need to make a good impression and the feedback will be very useful and the experience might help me careerwise down the road.


Sneak treat of the week:

Aldi's diet cola

 I am a little bit of a cola fiend. I don't drink tea or coffee - I know how bad these things our but I love me some cola. Now I have been nursing an addiction to a more expensive branded cola (I won't name names, but it does rhyme with Mepsi) but I recently tried Aldi's diet cola and it really wasn't too bad. Now I am not saying that it tastes like any big brand cola, but it doesn't have that weird aftertaste some generic cola's have. It is my secret shame. But the caffeine keeps me going when I need it most!! 

Spend Free Days

Things have been a little hectic for me over the past few months. I got a new job and had to move 250 miles. I love were I am now, but setting up a new home away from everyone has been difficult (full disclosure I am lucky enough to actually live near my little Brother.) Financially it has been very hard, and as a newly qualified teacher I have been been flat out with school work - busy means less time to spend keeping on top of other areas of my life.

So I am hoping to sort out my finances again and am aiming for 20 no spend days before the new year. I know people can be quite sceptical about no spend days - and say that you then spend more altogether to try and compensate. But in my own opinion it is just another little way that we can make ourselves more aware of our own spending patterns and therefore more responsible.
I know that 20 days might seem low to some and high to others - but it is my own personal goal. I will struggle with it (particular in prime Christmas preparation season - although again for the record I spend all of November in a giant horror/scary movie marathon)

I am going to have to be very vigilant and hopefully keeping myself accountable here will help. 

Christmas with the Diaspora

If you are like my family (and in the current economic climate, it wouldn't surprise me) you will be celebrating Christmas this year via Skype with family members all over the world.
I have a sister in Oz, some family in America and Canada and a few folks over in England. For Christmas I like to send a little taste of home. This varies from person to person and each family has their own traditions. With my Sister so far away and unable to come home for her favourite time of year I make an extra special effort for her.

I will send her a pre-Christmas parcel- it will mostly be little bits and pieces, pre-cut paper chains, paper lantern makers, and other Christmas decorations and some  sweets (Dairy Milk that has been made in Ireland - sorry, I know it was originally invented in England but the Irish version is that little bit creamier)  None of the things I am sending are very expensive (to be honest they will actually cost less than the postage) but I think it can help to have the silly things when you are away from home.

For her actual Christmas present (I won't actually reveal - don't want to spoil the surprise) I found a seller on ebay Australia who will post it directly. This cuts down the cost of shipping drastically, it allows for a much better delivery period and I just replace my sister's first name with Santie and she will know not to open it until Christmas day.



I know this seem like a bit much to some and possible not very frugal but  this is only something I do for my loved ones abroad. To my family in the US I actually send them crisps - again the shipping is much more than the goods, but the treat for those who can't make it home is worth it. The rest of my Christmas presents will be a lot more practical!

An Post postal dates:
Europe                Last dates for parcels 11th December
                          Last dates for letters 18th December
USA, Canada, Australia, Israel, New Zealand, Hong Kong, India & Philippines 
                          Last dates for parcels 8th December
                          Last dates for letters 8th December
Rest of the world  Last dates for parcels 4th December
                          Last dates for letters 4th December

RoyalMail Christmas posting dates:

International Airmail
Wednesday 5 Dec	Asia, Australia, Far East (including Japan), New Zealand
Friday 7 Dec	Africa, Caribbean, Central America, Middle East and South America
Monday 10 Dec	Canada, Eastern Europe and USA
Wednesday 12 Dec	Western Europe

Resume Transmission: Frugal Winter Eats 1

So, I finally have internet in the house - it really is so hard for me to function without broadband these days.

There is a storm on the horizon at the minute, but I managed to get a load of washing out and dried, so I am snug in the house with the dinner on. Tonight I am cooking a favourite of mine: Spicy Chicken Thighs with Garlic and Rosemary Sweet Potatoes, Roast Salted Kale and steamed veggies.
I love chicken thighs, they are the cheapest cut of chicken and yet very versatile. I roast them with the skin still on, but you can use them in many different ways.

Spicy Chicken Thighs:

• 2 teaspoons garlic powder or 1 teaspoon of garlic purée 
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon ground pepper
• 8 boneless chicken thighs 
• Oil (rapeseed) 
• 6 tablespoons honey
• 2 teaspoons cider vinegar (My father is a cider producer, nothing quite like REAL cider vinegar - I cannot get enough of the stuff)

Everyone has their own method for cook chicken thighs, for this recipe I don't like too much chicken fat. I start cooking the chicken with all the spices, mid way through spoon the fat run off over the chicken again. When the chicken is almost cooked through take it out, drain most of the fat and then add the honey and vinegar mix, coating the chicken. Put back into the oven until the honey and vinegar has reduced to a glaze and the skins are crispy.

I served this up with sweet potatoes that has been roasted (when the oven is going stick everything in) in a little oil, rosemary, salt, garlic powder and a pinch of cinnamon. I roasted the kale (5-8 minutes, I like my veg with a bit of bite) with a little oil and salt, and steamed some veg in the microwave. 

In other news I managed to buy a bar of Carbolic Soap for 50c in a bric-a-brac shop in town. All in all I have has a great weekend (I haven't quite done enough school work, but the night is young! And the countdown is most definitely on for the midterm break!)  

Settling in & Decorating

Sorry I haven't been keeping up to date, but I did move across the country at short notice to take up a new job.
I found a room in a house about ten minutes drive from the school (I had looked at living closer, to save on petrol and get a bit more exercise - but as a young teacher I thought that having a bit of privacy and living further from the school might be better.) I am settling into the new school quite well, the staff are very friendly and helpful. 
I still have to sort out internet, but my housemate has kindly lent me an internet dongle for the interim period. I didn't have much room when I was moving down, and consequently don't have much in the way of household things (I brought mostly school books and work clothes) but the house I moved into has been lived in by some of the tenants for a few years and luckily is well stocked.

My room is lovely, but with my very utilitarian move I don't have much going on to brighten it up - until I had some excellent ideas from some friends. Basically, they were postcards, bunting and mini-pegs. It really brightened the place up, I will be moving in some more Art, Photographs & Mementos - but right now it isn't half bad!