Frugal Travels Continue Heage Windmill Derbyshire

Weekends can be a bit of a DIY trap I've been asking Mr T to fit the toilet seat for months , I may well have to go myself words that fill Mr T with dread. So in lieu ( see what I did there ) of Mr T avoiding fitting the new toilet seat , we headed off to Heage Windmill near Belper. This is another frugal location in the respect that it has free parking and you can picnic there , you don't have to go round the windmill which is a mere £4 for adults . Again this is a cash only place and you get tremendous value for your money in the way of helping the windmill , there is also the stunning location to boot. Any child of the 1970's will immediately bring Windy Miller to mind.

Situated on top of a hill Heage windmill is stunning and looks out upon rolling shades of green countryside that changes colour as the sun plays peek a boo with the cotton wool clouds. We are still the the throws of glorious summer and I plan to make yes of the sunshine ( though every time I plan a BBQ it does however seem to rain) Heage is the tinniest of villages and the windmill is stunning it is a 6 sail windmill and and been here is some form of another since 1799. Look out and not only will you see the patchwork of weaving colour of the countryside but also stone walls stretching as far as the eye can see. The area is very much unspoilt think Chitty Chitty Bang Bang windmill and you aren't far wrong it is a film set location.

So if you have £4  burning a hole in your pocket I can't think of a lovelier way to spend it than at the windmill at Heage, there is a captivation not only in the romance of the location but in the sound of a windmill turning,

Go seek the sound of a windmill.

The Benefits Of Using A Credit Card Sensibly

Credit cards need not scary in fact used sensibly they can help you out in various situations.



Unexpected expenses such as travel expenses for example 

Recently I had cause to use my credit card for an expected situation in the USA I had to do to this so I don't eat into my spending money which I had budgeted for. I had already booked transfers with my holiday company but due to a mix up in the pipework I had to payout again to actually get to my hotel after an 8 hour flight and US Immigration . You wouldn't believe that this situation was repeated on the way back and I had to pay again to get back to the hotel ( that is a whole blog post in itself) I paid again for this amount on my credit card and I will be sure that I do get these costs back off the holiday company concerned.

Security

I had security in knowing that I could relay on my credit card in what at the time was a very stressful situation. Also if anyone thing else had gone wrong then I had the knowledge I had a very secure back up.


Spreading costs of items



Many credits cards offer special introductory rates such as zero % or other subsequent low % rates
I am planning some kitchen purchases in the near future in preparation for our hopeful kitchen makeover in the near future so the 0 % introduction rate of the Platinum card from TSB which offers ) % interest on balance transfers is one option  I could take.





Consumer Protection

With a credit card you get consumer protection when the amount is over £100, now at the hotel when checking in I popped to the toilet leaving my husband to deal with everything, when checking in they ask you for a card as security against incidentals you may use like that really pricey tub of crisps !. However my husband instead hand over his debit card when meant the amount they debited off the card with take around 5 days to hit back in our bank account instead of instantly if he had used his credit card.


Do remember that a credit card is a form of borrowing and as such should be approached responsibly , only use if you are certain in the knowledge that you can afford the repayments. Use a credit card for needs not wants  and as such a credit card should be used with discretion , think of it as a temporary loan to yourself paying back the amount soon as possible so you can avoid accumulating interest charges.

This is a sponsored post 
Saving for up for what you want is good also.

I want a bicycle with a basket so far I have 20 p towards it but it is a start.

Arlington National Cemetery

I've just got back from Washington D.C and I'm on the vapours of jet lag still , it will be a holiday that I will always remember. One of the trips out we took whilst in Washington D.C was to Arlington Cemetert which might strike you as a jolly odd day out but it is no different to visiting a war memorial. The surroundings demand your upmost quiet, honour and respect and it is a time for remembering and reflection.

If you have children with you , you might not want to get off the tour bus that takes around 45 minutes to visit the various stops within the Cemetary, but it is a Cemetary that receives 25 funerals a day so some stops will be affected . However if you wish to see everything then it is going to take a few hours and you can only drink water ~ there is no eating or soft drinks allowed.

Arlington National Cemetery is located on a parcel of land that once belonged to George Washington 's adopted son, George Washington Parke Custid. In 1868, Custis left the property to his daughter Mary Anna Randolph Custis and it became the family home for her and her husband Robert E Lee.

Many years later, the grounds were used for various purposes, including serving as a camp and headquarters for Federal Troops during the Civil War and later providing a safe haven for skates transitioning to freedom. Arlington National Cemetery held its first military burial on May 13, 1864.

Today the property is the final resting place for more than 400,000 active duty service members , veterans and their families. It is a place of honour and one that doesn't glorify war in the slightest.

Notable graves include where John F. Kennedy and his family are buried in the Kennedy Family Gravesite.

You can witness the changing of the guard at the Tomb Of the Unknown soldier.

There are many memorials to see including Space shuttle challenger and Columbia , my son will be studying history at A level so I feel it's important to see as much as possible before he goes back to school.

The Radio Stages Of Life

I think everyone goes through the radio stages of life.

From the 80's taping of the top 40 making sure you didn't get the talking , it required ninja skills. Ninja skills I hasten to add I still have to this day , except now it's stopping the washing up bowl over flowing. Also remembering that the oven isn't the dishwasher and weetabix and milk don't go on a dinner plate.

From then radio is between radio 1 and the local station ( who have quizzes and looooooove hour) 

Then something happens between you getting married and having children the progression it seems to radio 2 where you now find the Radio 1 presenters of old. There of course is the odd milk drunk year of classic fm during the night then the CDs take over " the wheels on the bus goooooooo"

Then local / sports radio appears as your husband and son must hear the football score.

The swing back to radio 1 comes back all to soon and when you hear the dance tunes from Ibiza are part of the classical proms then you have resigned yourself full circle.

This is not counting your husband listening to Absolute 80's 

Budget Bellini

"I get no kicks from champagne "

Champagne and I don't seem to get along , I don't really seem to get the thrill of the taste from it. This is obviously why that I'm not cut out for the celebrity life style.

When I went to a craft event some weeks ago I was offered a Bellini to drink which I was surprised to learn was peach  purée and champagne , hurrah perhaps the celebrity lifestyle was in my grasp after all !!

1. Pour peach puree into a champagne flute; add champagne. Garnish with a slice of peach.( if you wish )
   
   I used instead of champagne sparkling strawberry Lambrini.
   Disclosure ~ I shall not let my new celebrity status change me. I hereby promise my derrière shall not break the Internet.