Tuesday 31 January 2012

January's Numbers

Earlier in the month I bit the bullet and made a page about my goals for 2012 - craftily mostly crafty, as I know full well that major life-style changes are more difficult and less pleasurable to effect!

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Januaries (!) in numbers
I've managed 2 pages for my BOM, 1 of which is put away already; I've de-cluttered the dining room, the utility and made a start on my bedroom;  I've not only remembered two birthdays in good time, but sent  home-made cards and made some in readiness for next month too!  I've joined in with several on-line challenges and now I'm joining in with Julie Kirk's "My Month In Numbers".  Julie doesn't scrap her month, though some of her friends do.  I fully intend to make a page a month, but will blog the numbers first and see what happens!

So here goes:

84 = £ spent on a new tyre after a midnight mounting of the kerb outside our friends' house caused a flat!  None of us were dressed to change tyres by moonlight, but luckily our friends had a torch I could hold while the men-folk got down & dirty putting the spare into place!
75 = the approximate number of Black Dice watches that No.1 Son didn't want for his 22nd birthday - we eventually found just 1 that had the right combination of colours of strap, fascia and hands (at a price we were prepared to pay).  Sometimes I wish that on-line shopping didn't give us quite so much choice - there is something to be said for going to a real shop and selecting something from the things they have in stock that we can actually see, touch and try on for size!

13 = the number of people attending our 10th crop.  Though as usual I only managed pages and even they weren't 100% finished!

2 = new recipes tried: Harvest Pork Casserole with Apple & Parsnip was not an unmitigated success thanks to our dinner guests turning up about an hour later than anticipated.  The Grilled Pears with Stilton we had as a starter was much better, partly because I didn't start cooking that until after they'd arrived.  Simple too - toasted baguette, covered in watercress, peeled, sliced pear and slices of Stilton which is all grilled until attractively browned.  The watercress was not very obedient and kept poking out from under the pear, even tipping it off the bread, and the bits that were exposed to the grill were ash by the time the Stilton was melted.  It all got eaten though - but another time I think I'll try spinach leaves instead. 

2 = also the number of Book Club books I have read this month - "Room" by Emma Donoghue was my recommendation for December and was just as thought provoking a second time around.  Thankfully the rest of my group also found it a good read - always a worry when I've chosen the book!  This month's book was "The Crying Tree" by Naseem Rakha; quite a slow starter with two, rather confusing, time strands at the beginning, it explores the effects of the murder of a teenage boy on his family & friends, his killer and the prison governor.  There are many, many secrets to uncover and while I suspected some of them, the final chapters had plenty of surprises.  Tissues required though!

228 = £ saved on buildings & contents insurance in just 5 minutes!  To say that I was surprised when the renewal quote came over 50% higher than last year would be an understatement - shocked, but certainly not speechless!   I immediately phoned to complain and the insurance company immediately found me a better deal which came out £7 cheaper than last year's policy!  Good news, but why couldn't they have done that in the first place?

4 = the number of hours driving to & from Bangor to spend 3 hours with No.2 Son.  Well it was one way to spend a day off work and did allow us to treat him to some supply shopping and a lunch in Weatherspoon's.  Shame about the atrocious weather - alternately windy, rainy and haily (is that a word?)  We also got to see inside his house (he didn't have a key to the front door when I dropped him off in August last year), but still haven't seen inside his room as he'd apparently left that key at a friend's house - Yeah right!

15 comments:

Julie Kirk said...

Well, I'm very happy to be part of your new year scrapping plans!

You sound like you've had you patience tested several times this month what with flat tyres, late guests and insurance prices!

You're now pinned to the Pinterest board: http://pinterest.com/notesonpaper/my-month-in-numbers/

Thanks for joining in.

Julie :-)

Katy B said...

What a brilliant month in numbers post. Obviously what with the tyre and watch-gate not such a brilliant month, but you've saved money on that insurance which offsets the tyre cost so it's a plus, right? What's a crop?! Should i know? Ha ha... i hope you join in next month. Xx

Lynn said...

Sounds like you had a interesting and eventful month!

Sian said...

Aha! Another convert :) Pear and Stilton is a favourite of mine, next to pear and Brie in a sandwich

Irene said...

Enjoyed visiting your blog and reading your January numbers. I must look out for 'Room', sounds an interesting read.
Irene

Maria Ontiveros said...

Love it - these lists really do provide an intersting peek into your life. I'm thinking about reading Room (it's being passed around my book group friends, though not as an official selection).
Rinda

CoventryAnn said...

Brilliant saving on your insurance, just think of all the crafty stuff you can do with it :)

Anonymous said...

Loved this post! I know what you mean about quotes - it annoys me that you have to ask to get the deal you should get in the first place - I suppose plenty don't complain which is why they try it on. But - that's paid for the tyre and a guilt free treat(?)

Nathalie said...

I enjoyed reading your post and had to smile about Son #2 missing is room key.... I too think I need to start scrapping my Month in Numbers but can't promise anything!

cookcreateread said...

Great saving on the insurance! I really 'enjoyed' Room .. not sure if 'enjoyed' is the right word ... it was a great read :)

Sandra said...

I really am enjoying seeing how everyone plays along, it's another little glimpse into your world

HannahBanana said...

Fab saving on your insurance - I wish I'd been as savvy as you.
Great post too - I may have to try the pears and stilton. yum.

Alison said...

Just had a quick catch up Jemma...love the Barca LO- I don't get 'splattering' either..I hate how mine turns out! Bet you're glad you phoned up about that insurance!
Alison xx

alexa said...

Thanks for the heads up about the insurance - I'll be on the alert. Sons, eh! The pears and stilton looks yummy.

Lou said...

I enjoyed reading your month in numbers. No 2 son made me smile!! and what's with insurance companies - they really do try it on!!!