Notes of Life

Yesterday, Mum & I spent the day together and decided to visit Nan & Granddad before Nan goes into hospital on Monday. She’s having one of her hips replaced on Tuesday (at last! - it should have been done at least 6 months ago), so I’ll be visiting her again (this time at the hospital) on Wednesday evening after work. She’ll be needing her other hip replaced sometime this summer too. We’re just seeing how this one goes first. It’s been tear-worthy to see her trying to get around this past year or more. She’s been in so much pain, but hasn’t allowed it to get her down. Both Nan and Granddad have always been active. Granddad is in his 80’s, but that doesn’t stop him calling other people old!

On the way home we stopped for Mum to buy some plants for the garden. She was after plants that are due to flower over the summer, while I was after plants that I could photograph now… So we got half and half - some that had already flowered (see below) and some that would flower June - August. We also picked up a couple of packets of seeds, so hopefully Mum is going to have another beautiful summer garden.

Pansy

This time last year we seemed to have an abundance of flowers in the garden (well, according to last year’s photos!). This year we’ve got a few daffodils and not much else.

I’ve dug out this photo to participate in Write From Karen’s Photo Contest. The theme is Spring Time! I’m not sure why I chose this photo, other than I like it!

Voting starts tomorrow!

Through the forums on the Money Saving Expert website I came across the idea of cashback for online purchases. In the past I’ve spent a fair amount of money online, so the idea of cashback really appealed to me.

I joined Quidco last June and followed their link to Dell as I wanted to buy a laptop. I earned just over £17 cashback for going through Quidco. Not bad! If only I’d joined a month earlier I’d have been able to earn £40 cashback when we got broadband internet. You don’t get the cashback straight away, it can take a few months, but it’s a nice way to save some money. So far, through Quidco I’ve earned over £100 cashback. Mind you, I know some people have received that much cashback for one transaction! Quidco earn their money by taking £5 out of member’s earnings once a year, but I think that’s fair enough.

Recently I’ve joined other cashback sites. Cashback Rewards has 5.5% cashback for Amazon and there aren’t many around that do Amazon cashback. Other cashback websites I’m a member of include TopCashBack, Cashback Kings and GreasyPalm.

Some of the cashback offers don’t even require you to spend any money - such as “Daily Clicks” where click-throughs generate a couple of pence cashback (it all adds up!).

I’m not a gambler, but there have been a couple of gambling offers that I’ve signed up to. For example - I earned £30 from Gala Bingo (from a £10 spend) by joining through the Quidco website (although I’ve noticed the cashback has now dropped to £30) and I even won a tenner playing bingo. You just have to be good and not put any more money in!

Cashback websites are certainly worth checking out if you do any online shopping. Cashback isn’t guaranteed, but it is nice to receive!

Has anyone else had any experience with cashback websites?

* Websites mentioned above are UK based.

Edit: I have just checked out Reward Lover and they accept users from not only the UK, but also the US, US, Australia and Malta.

Yesterday was a lovely day weatherwise, unlike today. So after work Mum & I went for a walk and, of course, my camera came along too. The sun was shining, the grass green, the fields full of ewes and lambs (some more camera-shy than others) and daffodils lined the roadside - typically Welsh.

I love living in Mid Wales. It’s peaceful, apart from the sheep baaing and cows mooing… and a neighbour’s dog which never stops yapping. I started my days here and hope to end them here (in many, many years time!), despite my wish to travel. It’s beautiful.

… Fantastic! Fantastic! FANTASTIC!

I’ve just come home after going to see John Barrowman in Cardiff last night. He started his tour at the Millennium Centre and what a start it was! John sang songs from his latest solo album Another Side as well as others. John used them to tell us about his life (both personal and professional). One of my favourites was when he sang a song from the musical Wicked, only he changed the words slightly… It described Captain Jack’s feelings for The Doctor (Doctor Who)… and it was brilliant! John’s background is musicals and it shows. He really is a great showman!

John Barrowman’s support act last night was Connie Fisher. John told her to kick the habit and she really did. She was the perfect choice as John’s support act and she did a wonderful job. Of course, she couldn’t help but mention her new album out later this year.

Yesterday was my first visit to the Wales Millennium Centre. It’s beautiful on the outside (picture below) and the theatre itself is stunning. I visited during the day yesterday… I sat in the cafe for a drink and then followed my ears. I could hear live music… Various people (who had already been through auditions) were taking their turn to sing on a little stage at one end of the Millennium Centre. I stood and watched for a while and there was definitely some talent up on stage. The funny thing was as this girl was singing with such a beautiful voice this old man walked past with his hands over his ears! I couldn’t help but laugh!