Age - Does it really matter?

Age - Does it really matter?

It's a new year so everyone will be adding another year to their ages. Firstly Grandad, in January. Then our children in February, me in March, our daughter-in-law in April and son-in-law in May. Another year, another number.
The grandchildren will be joyous at the extra year and some of the adults will be sad, but why? Age - does it really matter? If you have health and happiness surely there's little difference in being twenty-nine or thirty?

Our Weekly Journal - Soft Play and Colds

Our Weekly Journal - Soft Play and Colds

Another short and late post as we have all had colds (flu?) here. Bad chests, nausea, achy limbs, sore throats - in fact so much I won't bore you with the details. Needless to say I have spent most of it on the sofa or in bed.

Bear was quite poorly last week too but seems to be getting through it now. He is still loving Welsh school so that is good news.

On Tuesday we popped around Bears house while he was at school and Grandad took Mummy to look at a new pram for Bee. I stayed in and had lots of baby cuddles with Bee.

Walking Into the New Year with Vionic Walking Boots - Review

Walking Into the New Year with Vionic Walking Boots - Review*

Since my husband had his new hip last year we have been trying to walk more. Our aim is to be out walking in the Brecon Beacons by the summer. It has got off to a slow start, mainly because of the weather. I'm happy to walk in all weathers but not thunder and lightning of which there seems to be a lot around this year! Then Christmas came and I became a bit of a couch potato, so when I was sent a pair of Everett walking boots by Vionic I was determined to start the New Year walking.

Ravensburger Toy Wonderama Jigsaw Puzzle - Review

Ravensburger Toy Wonderama Jigsaw Puzzle - Review*

Jigsaw puzzles bring back so many memories. Each Christmas my mother had one spread across the dining table that we would all add a little to as we wandered by. How she found time as a mother of four children I'll never know. So when Ravensburger sent me the Toy Wonderama jigsaw puzzle to review it wasn't just the picture on the front that took me back to my childhood.

Our weekly Review - Cefn Mably Farm Park and a Horse Ride

Our Weekly Review - Cefn Mably Farm Park and a Horse Ride

It's been so busy again this week. Bear started Welsh school on Monday and loved it. He then started coughing badly in the night so Mummy took him to the doctors on Tuesday. He has croup, but just needs a close eye so went back to school. We collected him at 11.30 and brought him home. We didn't want to make his cough worse by letting him out in the cold or running around. He seemed lots better on Wednesday so after school we went to Cefn Mably Farm Park.

Our Weekly Journal - A New Year and Welsh School

Our Weekly Journal - A New Year and Welsh School

This week was our last week with having Bear full time. He is so small and only three but in Wales all children over three are entitled to some free care. This can be either nursery or pre-school. Bear lives in Caerphilly which has some excellent schools that teach in the medium of Welsh. None of us speak Welsh so thought going to Welsh pre-school would give Bear some understanding of the language before he starts real school in two years time.

How To Stay Warm This Winter on a Budget

How To Stay Warm This Winter on a Budget

Oh my goodness it's cold out there! It may look lovely and sunny but my thermometer is reading 5 degrees and with that wind it feels so much colder. It's nice to be tucked up indoors although I remember the year when our boiler broke. It was the coldest week of the year and we had a huge hole in the side of the house. It certainly made me think about how to keep warm without stress and running up huge bills.

This year I'm teaming* up with Contact Numbers UK to help promote their #WinterHeatingHelp campaign.

British Gas have a number of ways to help keep cosy this winter with smart meters, "Hive" active heating systems and flexible tariffs. When it comes to boilers, you don't need to be a customer to contact British Gas for support. They offer it to all!

Not everything needs to cost more. Here are some of my favourite tips.

Christmas Made Easy - Newsletter Number One

Christmas Made Easy - Newsletter Number One

If you haven't signed up to my Christmas Made Easy newsletter here is what you are missing!

I won't be sending emails every week, just when there's something that needs doing so you won't be overwhelmed, Christmas will just be spread across the year.

January

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas but now is the time to start planning next years celebrations. This is your to do list for January but firstly make sure you hit the sales before everything is sold out.

1. Things to buy this week while they are discounted in the stores;

• Wrapping paper
• Christmas Cards
• Napkins
• Christmas crackers
• Decorations
• Replace broken lights and trees

2. Christmas Cards;

Put all the Christmas cards with addresses in a pile and when you have a few minutes add them to your address book - don't tell me you don't have an address book!! Add it to the list above.

3. Make a note on the computer or in a book. (If in a book and you don't have one add it to your list above) you'll need this later in the year.

A list of the food and drink you ran out of and everyone loved

A list of all the food that you didn't touch/threw out or hated

A list of all the stuff you wish you had bought 

4. Open a dedicated savings account

Christmas is expensive. It is estimated that in 2016 people spent over £1000 on it. That would mean saving over £80 per month. Not many of us can afford that so start saving now to spread the cost. Decide what you can afford (even £20 a month will give you £220 by November).
Set up a direct debit or you will forget. Maybe have a penny jar? Put your loose change into it, it will mount up over the year. DO NOT TOUCH! it's for Christmas.

5. Set up a photo album called Xmas 2018

You need this to store photos of everything you buy or make in advance. By November you will have forgotten that perfect bargain you bagged in January.

Your Xmas 2018 photo album can be anywhere that's easy for you to access. Below are some free ideas but beware that some have limits on space and may cost you if uploaded using your mobile data;

On your computer
Facebook (don't forget to change the settings to only you can see it)
iCloud (Apple users)
Amazon Cloud Drive (Apple and Android)
Flickr
Google Photos
Dropbox

That's enough for January. Click on this link* for a simple, print friendly pdf version. I'll email with a very short reminder in a week or two; see how much you can tick off before then.

Happy planning


*this was only available to those who had signed up to the newsletter

This was a long newsletter as it's our first! They won't be as complicated as this again so don't despair just sign up here!

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