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Just Frances

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Tag: budget

Living on a budget, whether by circumstances or my choice to be frugal

Posted on7 April 20247 May 2024Everyday Life

Castle Ryan: A home of my own

by Just Frances7 Comments on Castle Ryan: A home of my own

Welcome to Castle Ryan, my new house that I hope to transform into a home. It was about 16 years ago that I last made…

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Posted on1 February 20244 July 2024Everyday Life

Hopes of home

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Hopes of home

In the past several months, I have hinted at Big Things that are afoot – and I even came close to saying outright said that…

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Posted on1 January 20242 January 2024Everyday Life, Musings & Ramblings

2024: Giving new life to old things

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on 2024: Giving new life to old things

With the start of the new year, it’s time to start thinking about new things. New goals, new adventures, and new life. In recent years,…

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Posted on10 August 202317 November 2023Everyday Life

A free-sale purge to contain(er) clutter

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on A free-sale purge to contain(er) clutter

We have been doing a bit of purging on my Homeland Holiday this summer. It’s hard to say that this has been “one of my…

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Posted on21 October 202230 September 2023Culinary Arts

The (dried) fruits of my labour

by Just Frances2 Comments on The (dried) fruits of my labour

I finally splurged on a new dehydrator in late August and kept it running pretty much non-stop until last week. And, oh, what a glorious…

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Posted on1 August 20228 August 2022Crafting & Creating, Musings & Ramblings

A yarn about yarn

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on A yarn about yarn

Definition: Yarn \ˈyärn\ (noun)1 (a): a continuous often plied strand composed of either natural or man-made fibres or filaments and used in weaving and knitting…

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Posted on12 November 202112 November 2021Culinary Arts

When life gives you (smooshed) strawberries

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on When life gives you (smooshed) strawberries

I’ll cut right to the point here: Life is really stressful right now and I am struggling to see the glass half full (visa stress…

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Posted on23 March 20214 July 2021Everyday Life, Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings

The year that wasn’t: My year of COVID19 isolation

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on The year that wasn’t: My year of COVID19 isolation

Today marks one year since the UK’s COVID19 lockdown measures became “law” – three days after the “stay home” orders were announced. Since then, the…

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Posted on1 May 20204 July 2021Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings

Checking my privilege

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Checking my privilege

I have long been aware of the privileges I have in this world simply because I am a white, Christian, American. That’s not to say…

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Posted on4 November 201916 July 2021Everyday Life

Sing-a-longs with friends

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Sing-a-longs with friends

I had a fantastic weekend in Glasgow with friends, despite being a bit run down from last week’s trip to London and Surrey for work.…

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Posted on27 October 201628 July 2021Academic Life

The buck stops here

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on The buck stops here

That’s it folks: the buck stops here. Actually, I suppose I should say the pound stops here. Why? Because my last PhD stipend payment was today, and…

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Posted on30 January 201627 July 2021Everyday Life

Affordable vintage

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Affordable vintage

Judy’s Affordable Vintage Fair was in Edinburgh today, so I went out with my lovely friend, Susan, to find some affordable vintage flair. I had hoped…

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Posted on1 November 20159 May 2022Everyday Life

Halloween brews

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Halloween brews

Yesterday was Halloween. And Halloween means playing dress-up. It was also the Alloa Real Ale Festival. And that means drinking beer. And as I love dressing…

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Posted on9 August 20159 May 2022Culinary Arts, Everyday Life

The brew master

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on The brew master

I love beer. But I bet you probably knew that by now. Especially if you follow me on Untappd. I also love cooking and making edibles from scratch. I…

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Posted on28 July 201526 July 2021Everyday Life, Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings, Travels, Adventures & Explorations

Making plans

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Making plans

I’ve talked a few times about my desire to build healthy routines for myself, to get out and be more active, and, of course, to prioritise myself a bit lot more. And…

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Posted on19 July 201526 July 2021Everyday Life

Weekend jazz

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Weekend jazz

The Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival started on Friday, setting the tone (pun intended) for my weekend. I admit that the weekend has been slightly less active…

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Posted on16 July 201526 July 2021Everyday Life

Juniper girls

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Juniper girls

Last night, I did something I (almost) never do: I enjoyed mid-week cocktails with “the girls”. Or rather, with a random group of girls, some…

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Posted on9 July 201526 July 2021Everyday Life, Health & Wellness

The jazz plan

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on The jazz plan

As part of my plan to have more adventures – even if I have to have them alone – I picked up a programme for the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival.…

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Posted on8 July 201526 July 2021Crafting & Creating, Everyday Life

Polka dots and beads

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Polka dots and beads

Once again, my workday saw me walking to-and-from my office for all-important errands. And, once again, I seem to have stumbled into a charity shop…

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Posted on6 July 201526 July 2021Everyday Life

Lost and found

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Lost and found

I had a meeting in town today, and on the way back to my office I managed to get a little lost when I took…

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About Just Frances

Just Frances is a personal website maintained by me, Frances Ryan. I am a quirky runner, writer, thinker, drinker, crafter, adventurer, and researcher. I am also a daughter, sister, aunty, friend, and widow. But mostly, I am just Frances. (She/Her)

I blog about my life, including my travels and adventures, my experiences with PKD and ITP, my life as a young(ish) widow, and my life in general, really. Learn more about the topics I write about here.

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