My day at Winterton Show, North Lincolnshire - 2025!

Every year since we have lived in North Lincolnshire we have been to Winterton Show. It was on the 2nd weekend we moved here and apart from the lockdown years we have spent the weekend there each year. It is such a fun even with amazing community spirit!

There’s something magical about a small town show! The smell of burgers and frying onions cooking in the air, the sound of the fairground rides and seeing the vintage tractors moving around. It’s not just a little village fair with a tombola and a handful of stalls, it’s two whole days of agricultural splendour, community spirit and good old fashioned entertainment.

Think monster trucks roaring across the showground, immaculate show ponies prancing in the ring, the smell of freshly baked goods wafting from the craft tent, the sound of children laughing at the Punch & Judy show and of course a marching band. It’s part village show, part country fair and part summer fun in the best way.

We got there around 10am and I headed straight for the craft tent, I looking looking at all the pretty things that are on sale but I have learned from previous years to get there early as it gets so busy as the day goes on. The first things to catch my eye were the handmade pictures made from upcycled shotgun cartridges and feathers from Keeper Kraft, they were something different. I went back later and bought one of the horses made out of feathers.

The girls had gone off with their friends and Stu and I went for a wander. We grabbed a burger and went and had a look what was going on in the main arena. There were show horses being judged and cows too. We of course had to have a look at the show jumping. It is one of my favourite things to watch, I could sit there for hours but there was so much more to see around the showground.

I am not usually bothered about going to see the vintage cars but I had a special reason to this year as my dad had his old car there. He has a Reliant Scimitar and it is a work in progress, he has got it running and there's still a lot of cosmetic work to do. He has been going to a lot of vintage car shows lately and loves them, he's got the hang of it now with his comfy seats, flasks of tea and lots of snacks.

As the afternoon began the parade started, floats from local groups and schools, kids waving from the back of tractors, and community groups showing off their creations. All around, people smiled and waved, clapped and cheered. There was a flypast of a Hawker Hurricane plane which seemed so low in the sky.

The Monster Trucks were predictably a hit! The Big Pete Monster Truck Show was fantastic! Big Pete is the world’s only real monster truck at 16ft tall, 12ft wide and weighing 7.5 tons. (the red one) and the Grim Reaper was the lighter, more modern looking monster truck!

Stu and I kept bumping into the girls and their friends. They had been enjoying the fairground rides, slushie drinks and eating lots of sweet treats.

I love looking around the Enterprise & Flower Marquee where people have entered baked good, photography, flower displays and home crafts to be judged. I always think that some of the cakes look delicious and some of the art work was absolutely stunning!

We had a fantastic day and there's so much I have probably missed out but Winterton Show probably is one of the highlights of my year!

Have you ever been to a country show?

Share our Lives - Unique things about where you live!

It's time for me to share some of my life, linking up and joining in with the Share Our Lives bloggers! This months thing to talk about is unique things about where you live! I wouldn't say these are all unique things but they are interesting!

I live in Scunthorpe which I imagine not many people outside of the UK have heard of. It is a town in the north of England, in a region called North Lincolnshire. If you're looking at a map of England, it's sort of in the middle upper part, not far from the east coast. It’s about a 40 minute drive from the historic city of Lincoln and roughly an hour from the bigger cities of Sheffield, Leeds and Hull. Scunthorpe sits in a mostly flat, rural part of the country surrounded by countryside, farms, and small villages.

Scunthorpe is best known for its steel industry. For over 100 years, it has been home to some of the biggest steelworks in the UK! During World War II the steelworks in Scunthorpe played a critical role in supplying steel for the war effort, producing materials for tanks, aircraft and other military hardware. Scunthorpe steel has been used in projects across the world, from Canary Wharf to parts of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. There has recently been concern about plans to replace its traditional blast furnaces with two electric arc furnaces which could have led to a lot of job losses but the government stepped in and even got themselves together on a Saturday which never happens to sort things out.

Scunthorpe is greener than you might expect. Central Park is a lovely spot for a stroll with open green spaces, flowerbeds, a cafe and even a splash park for the kids. Normanby Hall Country Park just on the outskirts, is another gem. It’s got beautiful gardens, woodland walks, a working farming museum and a stately home that’s steeped in history.

Scunthorpe is nicknamed “The Industrial Garden Town”, famous for its steel industry but it also prides itself on its green spaces. Making it a bit of a yin-yang town!

Scunthorpe’s name actually comes from Old Norse! “Scun” likely comes from a personal name, and “thorpe” means village or hamlet. So it might have started as “Skuma’s village” or something similar. Makes it feel quite ancient, doesn’t it!

Scunthorpe United FC are the “Iron”. The town’s football club is nicknamed "The Iron" in tribute to its steelmaking roots. Their stadium, Glanford Park which is now known as the The Attis Arena was the first purpose built football stadium in England after WWII.

Rumour has it Scunthorpe was one of the first towns in the UK to get broadband internet, because of a trial by BT in the early 2000s.

Another quirky bit of history: during the early days of the internet, Scunthorpe found itself accidentally banned from some online platforms because of an unfortunately placed set of letters in the middle of its name. lol

Scunthorpe has produced its fair share of famous names:

Kevin Keegan - The football legend and former England manager, spent some of his early years in Scunthorpe and even played for Scunthorpe United at the start of his career.

Ian Botham - Cricketing royalty! While born in Cheshire, Botham spent some of his childhood in Scunthorpe, and he’s often associated with the area.

Liz Smith - The late, great actress best known for her roles in The Royle Family and The Vicar of Dibley was born in Scunthorpe.

Kaya Scodelario - Known for Skins, The Maze Runner, and Pirates of the Caribbean has family links to Scunthorpe proof that you never know who’s connected to the town.

The Beatles played in Scunthorpe at the Baths Hall on December 20, 1963, just before they truly exploded into global superstardom. Imagine seeing them just before they became The Beatles!

I actually learned lots about Scunthorpe writing this blog post! What is something interesting about where you live?

I am linking up with:

Adrienne from Mom Life with Adrienne.

Dara from Not In Jersey.

Jen from Show me & Sweet tea.

Joanne from Slices of Life.

Sarah from Toronto Sam.

6 Fun things for families to do in Scunthorpe!

Scunthorpe sometimes has a bad reputation for being a rough, not so nice place but every time we have been there we have had nothing but good times. Scunthorpe nestled in North Lincolnshire and offers a wonderful blend of cultural experiences, outdoor adventures and plenty of family friendly spots.

Immerse in Art at the 20-21 Visual Arts Centre!

Start your day with a splash of creativity at the 20-21 Visual Arts Centre. Housed in a former church, this contemporary gallery offers a variety of exhibitions that are sure to inspire both kids and adults. There’s a dedicated space for children where they can engage in hands on art activities and workshops. It’s a fantastic way to spark their imagination and creativity! Open Tuesday to Saturday 10am until 4pm, it is free to enter and no booking is required.

Explore Nature at Central Park!

Central Park is a lush oasis in the heart of Scunthorpe, perfect for a family day out. The park features beautiful gardens, play areas and plenty of open space for a picnic or a game of frisbee. There's a lovely fountain and the kids will love the splash pad on a warm day. Don't forget to check out the sensory garden, designed to stimulate all the senses and make sure you look out for all of the squirrels, there are a lot!

Learn and Play at the North Lincolnshire Museum!

Just a short walk from Central Park, the North Lincolnshire Museum is a treasure trove of history and learning. A visit to the Museum is a step back in time through fascinating hands on displays. Learn about some of North Lincolnshire’s amazing objects and stories. Explore the geology, local history and archaeology galleries. Plus a programme of changing family friendly exhibitions and events for all ages.

Go Wild at Ashby Ville Nature Reserve!

For families who love the great outdoors, Ashby Ville Nature Reserve is a fantastic spot to explore. This tranquil nature reserve offers a variety of walking trails, making it perfect for a leisurely stroll or a more adventurous hike. Keep an eye out for the diverse wildlife, including birds, butterflies and even deer! The kids will enjoy the opportunity to connect with nature and perhaps even spot some interesting creatures.

Step Back in Time at Normanby Hall Country Park!

A short drive from Scunthorpe, Normanby Hall Country Park is an ideal destination for a family day trip. This historic estate features a stunning hall, beautiful gardens, and a farming museum that’s great for curious kids. The adventure playground and splash park are perfect for burning off energy, and the park’s woodland walks offer a peaceful escape into nature.

Adventure at the Pink Pig Farm!

For a fun-filled day that’s both educational and entertaining, head to the Pink Pig Farm. It’s a great place for kids to learn about farm animals and agriculture. The farm offers a variety of activities, including tractor rides, indoor and outdoor play areas, and a chance to meet the animals. Don’t forget to visit the farm shop for some delicious local produce!

Have you ever visited Scunthorpe before?

5 years living here!

Oh how time flies and the last 5 years really has! This time 5 years ago we were getting ready to move from Northumberland in the North East of England down to near Scunthorpe. I still don't know how to describe where we live. Sometimes people say it's Yorkshire, sometimes the midlands and sometimes it's just North Lincolnshire but if you are reading from say London do you know where North Lincolnshire is? It's not the most well known areas. For people who aren't around here I just say we live over the bridge from Hull. lol

Next week is 5 years since we moved here and I can honestly say things have changed for the better. All of my family have changed, relaxed and feel so much happier here than we ever did in Northumberland. Yes, we had some good times there but in 5 years things have just been better! 

When we moved here both Stu and I couldn't sleep because it was so quiet! There was no drunken fools walking home from town, there was no one fighting on the street and there certainly have never been any drugs raids in the houses around us. In fact if we see a police car now we get shocked and wonder what is going on. 

A few days after moving here I wrote this blog post about how it felt like a whole new world and in some ways it still does. I still can't get used to all the green, grass, fields and flowers. I thought by now my body would have got used to it all but I am suffering with hay fever for another year it seems. That is the only negative I have about living here but I wouldn't change it. I love having a garden even if I am having a battle with weeds at the moment. There is nothing better than hanging washing out on the line!

When we first moved here I thought I would miss being in walking distance to the main high street but living where we do we have the best of both worlds. Scunthorpe is a short bus ride away and Hull not much further and with the £2 bus fares even if I did drive I still wouldn't drive to Hull with the bridge toll and parking costs. Yes, sometimes I miss being able to nip to McDonalds or Costa but in the long run it has saved us money! I rely on online shopping for the groceries and random things but that's fine. We do have a little Tesco and Co-op locally so it's not like we go without. Now when we go to town it feels like more of a treat than an every day thing.

I have seen the biggest changes in the girls. Yes, in 5 years they would have changed but I think if we had stayed in Northumberland Becky would be plodding along unhappily doing goodness knows what and Ellie, I don't know. There might have been a mental breakdown or two. I'd like to say I was exaggerating but she was not in a good place mentally when we left Northumberland. 

When we left Northumberland Ellie was suffering with social anxiety but now she is a totally different girl. I wouldn't say she is fully confident in everything but she has came out of her shell! She sailed through school doing well in her GCSE's and is almost finished her first year of Electrical Engineering in college.

Becky works full time, night shift in a care home. She loves her job and the residents. She said it's a job she could see herself staying in for life. It's close to home, the hours suit her and the money is good! Soon after moving here Becky came out to us as bisexual and over the last 5 years she has had a few girlfriends. She has been seeing her currant girlfriend for about a year now and is happy. She said if we still lived in Northumberland she would not have came out to us or anyone. Things were different there.

We live in a small town which has a village feel to it. Everyone knows everyone and I feel like we are getting there with the locals. We have had some moments when we have felt like outsiders but I just name drop my dad as he has lived here for almost 15 years and all is good. hehehe 

The best thing about living here is having my dad up the road! We see him a couple of times a week, he's a busy man but I still speak to him most nights on the phone. The girls have a great relationship with him and his partner. He is so proud of them both. Some people look down on carers but he thinks Becky is amazing for being one and he has really taken Ellie under his wing when it comes to her being an electrical engineer. He has had her doing wiring and has been buying her tools.

I think we moved at the best ever time! We moved here at the end of June and by early 2020 the world was in lockdown because of Coronavirus. I think if we were in Northumberland when that happened we would have fallen apart as a family. In the job Stu had in Northumberland he would have still been working during the lockdowns but here he had a few months at home as he wasn't an essential worker.

I have said this is my forever home! If the landlord ever wants to sell I will beg, borrow and steal to keep it! I couldn't imagine living anywhere else! 

Two days at Winterton Agricultural Show.

When we first moved here to Scunthorpe my dad mentioned an agricultural show which happens every year and he took us on the 2nd weekend that we lived here. It was a fantastic couple of days out and we were looking forward to it the next year but then Covid happened and it was postponed for 2 years. We have had a long wait for it to happen again but a couple of weekends ago it happened and we had the best time.

The Winterton Agricultural society was formed in 1872 to further the interests of a rapidly modernising agricultural community. Now the two day Show occupies over 20 acres, which the society now owns to accommodate the growing demand for trade stands, sideshows and entertainment, The Show caters for many agricultural and countryside pursuits involving all elements of the local and neighbouring communities. It successfully blends a variety of events appealing to both rural and town dwellers.

The plan was for us all to go as a family. Ellie would go off with her friends and Becky with her girlfriend but then things changed. Stu got a new job and works Saturdays, Becky split up with her girlfriend and couldn't actually get the weekend off work so it was just Ellie and I going on the Saturday. I wasn't really looking forward to it because Ellie had planned to hang out with her friends which meant I would be alone. Hmmf. As it turns out Ellie's friend and her friends mum were going too and we hung out with them for most of the day. It was fantastic to have some company and we had such a great time.

Ellie and I arrived a little earlier than our friends so we had a walk around and ended up sitting watching the show jumping. What we did notice is that everything that was there the first time we went 3 years ago was in the same place which is fantastic for finding your way around.

Ellie and her friend were so funny. They kept seeing people they knew and would say that's so and so from their class or a different year. I didn't have a clue who most of them were but we did end up bumping into and walking past some of their teachers. Which caused the girls to squeal and get very excited. You would think they had never seen a teacher in every day clothes and outside of school. hehehe

There were plenty of stalls and things to look at while walking around and there was always something going on in the main ring. The lads on motorbikes doing stunts were fearless and it was pretty amazing to see.

Around lunchtime the floats arrived. The schools, nurseries and day care locally all design and decorate a float which goes around the streets before arriving at the showground. The little kids were just adorable and you could see they had worked so hard on their floats.

Everywhere we turned there was something to see. Farm animals and machinery, acrobats, crafts, food stalls. I think my most overused phrase of the weekend was "ohh, look at that".

I think my favourite displays in the main ring were The Cavalry of Heroes. On the Saturday they performed a tribute to the horses and soldiers of World War One which was beautiful and on the Sunday it was all about the musketeers fighting against the highwayman and his bandits which was action packed.

Before we knew it the first day of the show was nearly over and we headed home ready to do it all again the next day but this time with Stu.

By the 2nd day Ellie had seen all the stalls so had no interest in them and wanted to be off with her friends. We kept her with us in the morning but the afternoon was hers. She ended up spending it with her friends where the fairground rides were so we knew where to find her.

Stu and I had a good look around, got the most amazing pork, stuffing and apple sauce filled bun. It was that good that we ended up going back later on for another. lol We also found the beer tent and the area where the bands were on. We sat there for a couple of hours just watching the world go by.

When we first went to the show 3 years ago we knew no one apart from my dad and his partner but over that weekend we saw so many people we knew. People Stu has worked with, Ellie's friends, people we know through my dad and of course the man over the road who I don't think knows my name. He just calls me Rosy or Bluebell depending on what hair colour I have. lol

We had such a good weekend. I was knackered by the end of it with all the walking I had done. My legs were aching but it was worth it and we will do it all again next year and hopefully Becky will be able to get time off work. She's planning on putting her holidays in before Christmas. lol

Have you visited any agricultural shows before?

Visiting The Arcade Warehouse.

For my families birthdays we have been having days out and for Becky's birthday she chose to go to The Arcade Warehouse in Scunthorpe. Ellie's friend was the one who let us know about it. She went a few months before us, without her we wouldn't have even known it was here in Scunthorpe.

The Arcade Warehouse is what it says, an arcade but the difference to most other arcades is that you pay a £7 entrance fee and all of the games are free.

Looking at it from the outside it doesn't look like anything more than a computer shop but once you go through to the back it is pretty amazing!

Whether you want to relive your youth with retro arcades, try something new with VR and E-Sports computers or have fun with the family playing Pool, Air Hockey, and basketball machines, there is something for everyone. 

In the main room there is the retro arcade games, pool, air hockey and games you think of when you think of an arcade. In the 2nd room there is VR sets and lots of retro consoles and in the 3rd room there is about 15 PC's with the most popular games like Minecraft and Fortnite.

You book a two hour slot online, arrive and you are free to play whatever you want. Each two hour slot has about 30 places so it doesn't become too overcrowded and to be honest I thought we would have to queue to play the games we wanted but when someone was say on the motorbike game we went on something else and by the time we had finished they had moved on too.

At first we went and did our own thing. Ellie and Stu went on the racing car game, I went on the motorbike one and Becky and her girlfriend went to play air hockey. We spent the next 2 hours moving around playing all of the games.

I had fantastic fun and the rest of my family did too. I think my favourite game was the car racing one's where you have the steering wheel and pedals or the air hockey where I did get a bit over competitive and ended up smashing the disc onto the floor a couple of times. Oops.

I had my first ever got on a virtual reality game. Well I pinched the goggle things off Becky and nearly had a heart attack. There was a reason you were supposed to sit down and play that certain game, whatever it was. I looked and it looked like I was stood on a big tower. I am not good with heights in real like and it turns out it's the same in the virtual world. lol

Ellie ended up finding her way into the PC room and we found her playing Fortnite with a couple of boys. She was having a great time. The PC's looked pretty amazing with matching keyboards, headphones, mice and really comfy gaming chairs.

After an hour or so Stu and I needed a drink so we went into the cafe area. The kids got slushies and we got a bottle of pop. All of the food and drinks were reasonably priced. We saw one of the pizza's coming out of the oven and it looked amazing. £6.50 for a Margarita and £7.50 for Pepperoni.

Food and drink can't be taken out of the cafe area which is totally understandable with all the electronics. The man serving said it we wanted our drinks putting back into the fridge to save for later that was fine.

Before we knew it our two hours were up. We all had a fantastic time. It was great to have something completely different to do with my family. Becky and her girlfriend are planning on going back as soon as they find the time and we have said we would happily go back with Ellie. 

As well as The Arcade Warehouse in Scunthorpe there is also one in Lincoln. The prices are more expensive in Lincoln though. We paid £35 for five of us in Scunthorpe and in Lincoln it would have been something around £44. Under 3's go free and under 14 year old's must be accompanied by a paying adult. 

Have you visited anywhere like The Arcade Warehouse before?

How I had a stress free house move!

It is crazy to think we have lived in our house for just over a year! It was The best thing we ever did moving away from Northumberland to Scunthorpe! Northumberland is wonderful but the area we lived wasn't!

This blog post was supposed to go live a few months after we have moved house, once we had got settled in but it got lost in my draft blog posts and forgotten about until now. I thought now would be a good time to post it, now we've been here a year.

We moved over 150 miles and I expected way more stress than we actually had! I stress about everything. My fella calls me a stress head so when it came to moving house he expected me to lose my mind but I didn't, mostly. It was all straight forward and went so well. I do feel that we were very lucky.

I think it was easier moving a long distance than just somewhere in the same town. We missed out on the stress of having two houses to deal with, decorating before we moved and moving things slowly into the new house rather than all at one go.

We knew for quite a while that we were going to be moving, almost a year. It made it easier to plan but to be honest we didn't really start dealing with moving until a few months before we did.

We applied to our now local college for Becky just before Christmas 2018. I said we weren't moving until the summer of 2019 and they were absolutely fine with that. They took her application and said get in touch when we were settled and we did. She had an interview and a look around the college and then she started and has settled in so well. She has just finished her first year and is starting a new course in September!

We scheduled the mail to being redirected about six weeks before we moved and gave them a date to start redirecting our mail. I thought we had told everyone who needed to be told we were moving but I wanted to be sure. It cost just over £40 and I think it was worth every penny. We did have a couple of letters from people I forgot to tell. Oops.

With Ellie we told the SENDCO woman in her school and she informed everyone else at the school who needed to know. A few days before Ellie left school we handed a letter into Ellie's head of year officially saying she was leaving and that was it. We applied through the council for a place at a new school for Ellie near where we live. We probably could have had her starting for the last couple of weeks before the end of the school year last July but we thought it was best to give her a long summer to settle into the new house and area. After the stress she had at her old school with bullying I think she deserved a break. In hindsight she made friends so quickly so if I could go back and do it all again I would have started her at her new school as soon as we moved and then she would have had all the summer to hang out with her new friends.

Luckily for us Stu worked in a high street shop and there was plenty of cardboard boxes going spare and we bought the bubble wrap from the pound shop. We didn't really start the packing until about a month before we moved and then continued packing until the day we left. The packing did drag on but it was a fantastic way to declutter! I felt like I was organised with the packing. All the clothes went in black bags so we knew they had to go upstairs and the boxes had written on them where they needed to go.

Stu was supposed to be transferred to our new local store of the high street shop he worked for but that didn't work out. It was actually probably for the best with coronavirus happening. He would have been classed as a key worker. He spent a couple of months being unemployed when we moved house but soon found a job 15 minutes away from where we live. It's totally different from the shop work he used to do, working outside 90% of the time but he loves it.

What surprised me was getting the internet set up in our new house. We rang Sky a couple of weeks before we moved and they were fantastic. We were disconnected in the early hours of the day we moved and reconnected the day after. We didn't have chance to miss the internet as we were so busy unpacking! We did upgrade to super fast, fibre broadband and had had a few teething problems but it was soon sorted out. I am now getting 45mbs via wireless which is expected and Stu gets much more through a wire!

My dad hired a big van for us to move and he drove up from Scunthorpe to pick us and all of our belongings up. I would have loved to have hired a proper removal company but we just couldn't afford it. It worked, we didn't have the stress of dealing with people we didn't know. I did have a moment where I cried and screamed everything is not going to fit in the van. My dad was calm as usual and everything did go in apart from a big bookcase which we weren't too bothered about anyway. Our old next door neighbours claimed that!

We had takeaway the first night in here. Fish and chips which saved us having to cook. I couldn't have if I wanted too as we had emptied the freezer and most things out of the cupboards before we moved.That takeaway shop has turned into our favourite. I must find out the recipe for their coleslaw, it's the best I've ever tasted. I got the shopping delivered from Tesco the day after we had moved and yes it cost a small fortune filling the cupboards, fridge and freezer but it was worth it not to have boxes and bags of food to deal with in the move. The money I had saved in previous weeks paid for the big shop.

We took one room at a time. I took over unpacking the kitchen while Stu wired up the electronics, did all the building of things and carrying things upstairs. The next day we did the living room and then worked our way through the other rooms. We got all of downstairs done and tried to just ignore upstairs, living out of black bags until one day when I couldn't find something to wear and I lost my mind! There was shouting and swearing from me. I got on with unpacking everything upstairs. It took a day but it was worth it!

We got rid of all of our large furniture before we moved house but thankfully there is a fab auction nearby which runs every Saturday which sells furniture at fantastic prices. We arrived with no sofa, armchairs, dining room chair and tables and within a month we had everything we needed and it didn't cost us much at all. My dad was buying things before we moved here and then we bought things like a big chest of drawers for £5 and a computer table for Ellie for £3 

We moved on the Thursday and were 90% unpacked by the following Monday. We informed most of the people we needed to before we moved house and only had a few people to deal with when we moved. The doctors was a complete nightmare, nothing to do with them but all the forms we had to fill in. There was not enough space on one form for all Ellie's medical issues. lol It took about 40 minutes for each set of forms and I had 4 lots to do. Since then the girls have both had a heart check at our local hospital but we're still waiting for a hearing check for Ellie. When she was due to have one we were in the middle of lockdown.

All in all it really was stress free and we actually had fun moving house. I don't want to rush to do it again though! 

Over the last year the kids have settled into school and college, we've all made new friends and seen so much more of my family. The house is being decorated slowly. The kids bedrooms are done, the hall, living room and bathroom all that's really left to do is the dining room. I have made a little video (below) about the progress we've made. I do think if it wasn't for Stu being home because of Coronavirus we wouldn't have got as much done.



Have you got any tips on how to have a stress free house move?

I have seen the worst and the best of people.

It has been a crazy few weeks thanks to the coronavirus and it really has brought out the best and the worst of people. I have found myself in tears crying about the situation some people have found themselves in but then I have cried because of the lovely, amazing things people are doing to help.

There was course has been the locusts emptying the shelves which is so selfish and thoughtless buying a ridiculous amount of food and leaving nothing for those who are at work, working in hospitals saving our lives or the elderly. I hope those people who panic bought haven't been shopping again buying more essentials like pasta & loo roll. My fella was speaking to one of his old workmates who now works in a big electronics store and was on about how people were going out and buying big freezers to fill with their stockpiled food. They are so lucky they could afford to do that, what about the people who struggle to even do their food shop on a day to day basis!

A couple of weeks ago three staff in our little Tesco were in tears one day after being shouted at and abused by people for not having things on their shelves. It's not their fault why couldn't people understand that! We have a few shops in my little town and Tesco has been the worst hit and I really think it's because they weren't getting the deliveries. Most of the independent shops now have fully stocked shelves.

A lot of shops and companies have done amazingly well but there's other's which have shown their true colours and treat their staff awfully. It's certainly made me think about who I will be shopping with when all this is over with.

Over the weekend again there was people not playing by the rules. Out sitting in parks, sunbathing, having BBQ's with friends and family. Why can't they just stay at home?

The scams started quickly. Enter your details and goodness knows what they'll do with them. My dad's partner was saying she read on Facebook about how you had to make sure all your washing was off the line and all people were inside because the army was going to be spraying disinfectant. That did make me chuckle though!

For every person doing stupid things there is 100 doing amazing things to help and make things better.

There is all the rainbows up at all the windows. The rainbow trend started in Italy but has rapidly caught on in other countries. When I went to the shop last week it was so lovely to see all the windows with rainbows in. Even the businesses which are closed are asking for some to put in their windows.

I am in a local Facebook group for the little town where I live and it has been amazing to see people pulling together to help. A woman who has her own soap company donating it to those who need it. Our bus service has been greatly reduced so people were offering lifts into town to get to work for free, people have offered to get shopping for those who can't go out and the doctors surgery asked for help to get prescriptions to those who needed them. People stepped up and offered to help. It is so wonderful to see. 

Our local council asked for people to help those self isolating and the elderly and people signed up to help and everyone who has asked for help has got it. It makes me so glad that I live here.

All the local businesses who don't usually deliver have been like the farm shop, butchers and takeaways. They keep having to stop and start the service as so many people are using them but they are doing a great job.

I have seen people ask on a local Facebook group for dog food and specialist food and others offering some of what they have. There has been people giving away nappies, books and toys that their kids have grown out of just so other kids can have something different to do.

Here we have had people doing karaoke in their garden on a Sunday evening to cheer everyone up. Each week the whole street has been out clapping, saying thank you to the NHS & the key workers. Thank you to everyone who is keeping this country running as best as it can. You're all amazing!

I hope you have all been managing OK and have seen the best of people too!

I refuse to buy new if I can get it from the auction.

There is an auction in a nearby town which happens most Saturday's and we have been so lucky with the bargains we have got from it over the last 8 months or so. I refuse to buy new things now if there's chance I can get it 2nd hand. They sell furniture, just about everything for the home, toys, electronics, tools, bikes, garden stuff, knick knacks and everything inbetween.

Before we moved here my dad was already helping us out buying things. He got the kids bikes each, a lawnmower, us a gorgeous bed frame, the kids divan beds each, a black leather sofa and an arm chair. Everything he bought cost under £100 which is fantastic considering everything was nearly brand new.

I would say we go at least 3 out of 4 Saturdays a month. We usually go and see what's up for sale on a Friday and take a note of what we want to bid on and then on Saturday we bid and hopefully buy.

The buyer pays 10% to the auction and the seller pays 10% too. So if we pay £2 for something we actually pay £2.20. That's how the auction makes it's money. Most weeks there is a lot of lots in, well over 1000 and some weeks close to 2000.

The first weekend we moved here we went and loved it. Stu bought a big Samsung TV for about £35 because our TV that we brought from the old house was too heavy to go onto the wall. We ended up selling the heavy one to someone that was at the auction for £25 so we only really paid £10 for our  TV from the auction.

On the 2nd week we bought a working PC tower for £5 which Ellie still uses now, an iron for £2, a free view box for £2, 3 big chest of drawers £5 each and a table to fit my youngest girls computer on for £3.

The third week saw Stu and I get a bike each. I think we paid under £30 for both. They were in fantastic condition and just needed a new inner tube each.

The kids love to go. Ellie is obsessed with buying the cheap boxes of toys, sometimes the plastic boxes the toys come in cost more than the 50p she pays. She's got a guitar for £2, and 2 massive Barbie cars for £2. I have put a stop to her buying dolls for the time being as she has far too many. lol

Becky loves to bid on iPhones. She's never got one yet though. She got an electronic gaming chair for £2 a while back which she loves and since doing her bedroom up she now has room for it. We got a big bundle of 3d jigsaws for a few pounds, one was brand new, a light up Ravensburger Eiffel Tower which sells online for about £20. 

Just before Christmas we got a big freezer. It's about 4ft tall with 6 drawers and we paid £26. It is fantastic to have that extra space instead of just the 3 little drawers under the fridge. My dad also bought us a tumble dryer. I still owe him the £5 for it. Oops. lol Buying those things new over a couple of weeks would never happen as they would just cost too much. I priced the freezer up online and they're selling for about £250 new.

In the run up to Christmas I was looking in all the big stores for a new Christmas tree but they are so expensive. I held off until one came into the auction. We got a 4ft pre lit tree for £5 and a smaller one for £2.

Most recently we got a bed for Becky. A hi-sleeper which we chopped the legs off to make a mid sleeper. It cost £2, to buy new would have cost at least £100.

At the weekend we went not expecting to buy much and came home with the back of my dad's car full. We got a mini trampoline which was clean until the kids jumped on it, a nest of 2 tables which were as good as new with a wipe down, 4 photo canvases which were were brand new, still in the plastic wrapping, a black leather pouffe, a square ottoman which did need a clean, a basket ball hoop, 2 spirit levels and we still had change out of £20. Most of the things cost £2.

Now we have got all the big things that we need for the house we are looking for smaller things. We got a lamp and clock for the kitchen, £2 each of course a few weeks ago. We hadn't planned on buying them but when they were shown and the auctioneer was getting no bids we thought "bargain!!". I am on the look out for some bins, curtains, bigger pans and picture frames at the moment. Every week it is a surprise to what is being sold so it's just a matter of waiting until what we want comes in.

Have you ever been to an auction and got any bargains?