Getting my planning head on

 There's another reason why I'm starting a store cupboard, and doing extra shopping for the next 3 months - it's not just for next summer when husband gives up driving.  I don't know when my last Carers payment will be, I've not been told that, it's one of the queries I sent in the email.  Looking at the calendar, I think it's possible I may get a small payment, the final amount taking me up to my 66th birthday and receipt of my state pension, in early November.  However, I think it's probably prudent to work on the assumption that I might not get any money in November - my first SP payment isn't until 1 December and that isn't a full amount, the first full normal payment won't be until 29 December (SP is paid in arrears).  I do of course have my private pension, and husband's state pension - his 3 small private pensions and his Attendance Allowance are his to keep for car expenses, gym etc.

So I want to build up a good stock of chilled ready meals and store cupboard foods to use during November, so that I only have to do very minimal shopping of fresh foods that month.

We got good supplies of shelf stable things in Aldi yesterday, the big lidded box under my bed is already 1/3 full.  With the first (test) Ocado shop being delivered today, the freezer will be stocked up with chilled ready meals.  And tomorrow we're going on the free shoppers bus to the Bridgwater retail park, with the purpose of stocking up on the good quality freeze dried dog food and treats from the big pet store there, and also to have a good look at the M&S food hall ready meals, some of which are coming in the Ocado delivery.  And to get a load of books from the big charity shop, but that's a personal bonus thing!  I've got a big stack of books to donate back there as well.  Oh, the email I had this morning about my Ocado delivery stated that there are no items missing or substitutions made, which is good - when I used to have the occasional Tesco home delivery at our previous house, there were invariably a few substitutions or missing things.  I'll also be interested to see the quality (and use by dates) of their fruit and veg - sometimes the Tesco fresh stuff wasn't the best quality or had very short dates.  I also had broken eggs a couple of times.

Some years back up in the Midlands I worked for a short time as a Tesco home delivery picker - I went round the shop with a big trolley doing the shop for 5 or 6 customers at once.  We were specifically told to check use by dates and to choose fresh items of good quality that we would be happy to choose for our own shopping - I don't think some of the pickers adhere to this though.  Incidentally, we were also told (by the managers) that when an item was out of stock and the customer had indicated they would accept a substitution, we should choose the most expensive alternative!  (The customer didn't have to accept the substitution upon delivery, they could always refuse it).  That goes against the grain of their 'Every Little Helps' slogan somewhat, doesn't it?!

It's a nice sunny morning and I've got washing out on the line, I've also diced and parboiled potatoes for a sort of hash thing I'm doing for dinner - baked beans, tinned tomatoes, mushrooms and a couple of chopped homegrown shallots all mixed together in a roasting tin.  Husband will have a small tin of corned beef diced up on his half - I must remember which half is his! 😂 I'll cover the lot with the parboiled diced potatoes and put in the Ninja combi to brown off....once the spuds are browned I'll sprinkle over some grated Cheddar and parmesan and put it back in the Ninja for a few minutes.  It'll do two meals for us, so we'll have it again tomorrow so I don't have to cook when we get back from the retail park.

I really feel like I'm getting to grips with all this forward planning, which is helping to put my mind at rest.

PS - Sad to see Ozzy Osbourne has died, I did like him a lot 😭