Dear Dairy(July

July is now well and truly upon us, even before we have begun to adapt to the fact it’s even summer. I for one have barely witnessed the changes that the summer season brings, Frugal living and going out do not make for good bed fellows..everything these days requires money, and as we are all well aware plenty of it,.Even something as simple as going out for coffee can cost as much as £5 in some places, that simple five pounds, at one point,(which was nothing to some) I would have too just months ago , somewhat without thought even, but this is no longer the case, I have become that boring person in my pursuit of saving a pound here and there, a spendthrift.

I find I can indeed tolerate the self enforced incarceration, if it has an end game, there is you will be glad to hear a method to my madness, a reason for all this penny pinching, And the main point to all this is the need to be solvent, and as its possible to achieve this,. The mere thought of leaving behind a whole bunch of debt for my loved ones to deal with leaves me cold, and with some stubbornness and determination it will never happen, I will make sure of this.

This infact is the very first year I havn’t bought any plants for my garden, (it’s with a feeling of loss for me), gardening being a hobby I’ve enjoyed since early childhood, especially growing things from seed, (mostly vegetables), and I know what your thinking now😁,packets of seeds are inexpensive right?, And I agree they really are on the whole, but getting to those shops that sell them would take a car,(In my case a taxi) then there’s compost, pots needed to plant them in, because there’s no real garden here to speak of, instead I trawl the shop I use for home delivery groceries, buying large cheap bags of frozen mixed veggies, it’s very cost effective, doesn’t go off and surprisingly contain as many vitamins as their fresh veggie counterparts.

The discipline it takes to live this life can infact be somewhat harsh, Today for example there have been times my foody past comes tapping at my door 😁, and I crave those things I used to readily buy.. One of these for instance are good old Crisps,(potato chips). It’s not just a want, it’s that midnight calling, mouth watering, you can almost taste those salty, crunchy mouthfuls, this week was to be no exception, Crisps even starring in several dreams, now youve two options here, give in to ones temptations or dig your nails into the palm of your hands until you’ve crescent moon indents and wait for it to pass…I have many of these indents from sleepless nights believe me, but up until now I have not given in,

Then there’s the hand washing of clothes each and every day, sighs!, It’s avreal chore on the best of days, then there’s the other days, ones youve just taken pain meds because that also so happens to be a day your hurting more than usual. Those are hard to push through, but somehow I always have,usually with much bribery and corruption,once the wash is done I allow myself a curl up on the sofa with a passage or two of my latest read and another coffee, works every time,. After this peaceful well earned respite theres always the taking of the rugs outside to beat,(this is somewhat satisfying in an odd sadistic kind of way, teach those rugs to attract crumbs😁)we also have the joys of sweeping with a carpet sweeper rather than vacuuming,. I never in my wildest dreams thought there would come a day, when I would look longingly at Henry(My Hoover who sits idoly by in the cupboard gathering much dust, while I do all the work😁, yes it would be easier and less time consuming to vacuum, but not less electricity though, (and there’s the nub of it all) , There are those days when it’s all up hill, and I long to bellow “I hate this!!! “, those are the days remembering my cause is not only much needed, but in fact rather crucial.

Friday dawned way too early for my liking, for the past two weeks I’ve slept badly at best, during which the heat in my tiny room can become unbearable, . I’m not sure if its connected or not, but each night my sleeps abuzz with countless nightmares,. what I do know though is I wake up even more exhausted than when I went to bed the night before, . Something else I know through my own experience, is lack of sleep causes sugary food cravings this is indeed connected, so it’s not my fault right ?😁…

All day Thursday I had longed for something sickly sweet ,anything sweet would do it, Ok if we’re breaking this down, Cake was in fact the main culprit,cake always is 😁, being more precise chocolate fudge cake😁, . But of course there’s none to be found, as if to rub salt in the wounds, all my face book pages are filled with endless delicious cake recipes, every type of cake, it’s like Facebook reads my mind and is determined to make me pay😁, I slather as I scroll almost tempted to lick the tablets screen, it’s only Jesse is watching that I enforce some self control😁, but as I continue on scrolling nonchalantly, I come across something that instantly catches my eye, I slam on the breaks, reverse, and there in a haloed glow is a three ingredient recipe for home made fudge…

Oh Boy…

Firstly and foremost at the same time as I’m enraptured at the idea of partaking in soft creamy caramel fudge, a little niggly voice murmers, “well you know Treez your bound to not have all the ingredients” , (Even if there is only three needed), I watch the video three times over, the smiley man repeats over and over how easy it is to make, his looks perfect, but there’s always does right 😁, he talks on about how there’s enough to store in the fridge for three weeks, ..I on look enviously at the 24 tiny perfect cubes of fudge, (hang on a moment here!!!!!!, 24 tiny cubes are meant to last you three whole WEEKS!!!?, Nah surely not?, Well not in my house anyhow…some of us have this thing called a healthy appetite, AKA..gluttony😁,. But what I will make Mr perfect smile, fudge maker right about for once, I do have all the in ingredients here right at home in my store cupboard yayyyyyy!.

The low down…

What you need is either a bar of dark chocolate, or a bar of milk chocolate, you can alternatively use half and half..I only had my bar of emergency dark Lindt(why emergency?) well I know full well I won’t eat the whole bar at once, then it’s there at real times of crises, like nuclear holocaust or just because I need something yummy. The next ingredient is a tin of sweetened condemned, I mean condensed milk. Everyone has one of these in the cupboard right? (Mostly handed down as a family heirloom from your great Gran twice removed, once poured over tinned fruit cocktail on Sunday teatime😁), .last but not least half a pack of salted or unsalted butter..

You pour the contaminated(whoops condensed milk into a heat proof bowl(microwavable) add the butter..microwave this for two minutes. While this whirls about and your waiting impatiently for it to ping…begin chopping up your chocolate into small pieces, unless you have chocolate drops then use those, now as you chop always chop more than required,(why?) Because your going to shove some in your mouth as you go along!, (Oh you don’t do that!!!?, Ooops thought everyone did sorry)😁 .Once the milky buttery gloop is heated, shove in what remains😁, of your chopped chocolate😁, stir until it thickens into a lovely silky shiney Ganesh type consistency, line a small brownie tray with Parchment paper, then pour and smooth over, leave to cool for ten minutes before you lick the bowl😁, I mean place the flattened tray in the fridge for four hours, then wash the remains off your face, and change your t shirt….oh that’s just me again ok is it😁…!,

Tomorrow I’ve decided to invite a group of large burly work men in for after high tea😁. Well actually what’s happening is I’m joining the age of connection, broadband connection, I’ve ordered in extra milk and Kitkats as they may like a choccy biscuit, but if their all watching their figures that’s ok too because then it can live out it’s days in my store cupboard….ahemmm, stop laughing you lot, you never know I may surprise you all as well as myself….well I might!, Anyhow dear folks be careful out there and look after you ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤🍰😉