Botanical blunderings on a budget - good life starts here.

se999

Pippilongstocking wrote: »

KC - I guess thats it, I feel a bit directionless when they are off on thier on adventures, I need to work on myself and things for my own life more.................

I can definitely identify with that, it's amazing the changes you have to make as they become more independent, and also the fact that it's OK to put yourself higher up the priority list too

Pottering is definitely good, currently in a 2 day day treaty potter break It's amazing how many things are getting done, and are getting looked into when you can browse rather than panic on ticking off the action lists. Maybe I need to schedule in some pottering slots

My 2 had allowances from age 13, but with them living away a lot they needed to be able to buy things as and when needed, I think it does help them develop some basic idea of budgeting.

Pippilongstocking

LT thank you - hug needed and given, all grand today. You're right about that kind of confrontation - hard though eh? xx

se99 hello and - ta for that - its true, you do your parental job well, they begin to fledge and become more independant and then you think, OK what on earth do I do now????

Pottering break how lovely I've just told myself today, OK you're not giving yourself a hard time anymore this is your pottering day, home management, call it what I will.

I know I need to let go a bit, DD told me today, think they find it hard, they have 6 week run of a different life and then back to me...........I am needing to work on the bits I like rather than being moochy.

The budgeting thing I think is a grand idea, we kind of fell out of it when I was totally incomeless for 6 months and were entitled to free school meals, but I think we need it again. We had our 'family management meeting' on the beach last night when out for a walk - talked through budget/allowance, chores and things like cooking etc. DD wants to walk more to school, so today she did even though I like to take her the mile to the bus, we've compromised on lifts on wet yukky days. Ds had a good look at uni pages and we've agreed what he does/doesn't need to take this year (6th year). He has a day free this term, which he's looking into volunteering for that day............

Defruited the fruitbowl of debris - cut up and frozen a pile of oranges and lemons and put the 'need eating NOW' kiwi fruits on the table, in full view..............

redsquirrel80

Good for you on standing up to nasty ex-supervisor man. LT - you are absolutely right about finding the best way to tackle it, even if that is saying your piece then getting out of there!

Family meetings on the beach sound lovely. Does DS feel a bit more positive about school/ Uni etc now?

Ooh.. if you have too many kiwis, then kiwi chutney is nice (I seem to have mentioned chutney a lot today :rotfl:)

KateMP

Nice to read someone havnig such a positive outlook - and by the sounds of it your children are great!! Mine are spoilt by the ex so they have to be reminded often that money trees do not yet grow in my back yard!! Only just started trying to grow my own so am very impressed by the good-life you have going on Pippilongstocking, i think I shall consider myself lucky if I manage to grow beetroot anytime soon

Uniscots97

Afternoon all, how is everyone?

Good you have your cc under £700 now Pippi thats great. I'm still bimbling along. Have day off today. I had setup a Facebook page for my craft stuff but had MAJOR problems with it this morning. So if anyone has any suggestions for somewhere free I can setup my craft page I'd be really grateful.

Re the packed lunches, thats good Pippi they have the choice. Stepson is now realising if I don't make him a packed lunch he has to buy stuff and that costs money! lol. It shouldn't be funny but it is. I think he's slowly realising how ungrateful he's being (I mean slowly as he never bothered making his bed before he went to work even though I woke him up in plenty of time).

Today is our 2nd wedding anniversary, OH sleeping but say he has a surprise for me on friday (pay day for both of us).

The_Dragon

kiwi marmalade is nice as well

Keiss_21

Hya all, glad to see you are getting lots of things sorted Pippi, easy to "lose" food in the fridge and freezer, I am forever doing it!:rotfl:

Had a bit if a lazy day today, face still sore with the infection, but a bit better than yesterday. Still, have managed to get two loads washed (and dried before the rain came ), and 4 loaves of bread started. They are now waiting in their tins as they rise.

Been playing Scrabble this afternoon with DS1 and his GF, which was good fun. I haven't played for many, many years...and it showed, I lost badly!!!! Now have to work out what we can have for tea, as I only defrosted three pork chops for DH, DS2 and myself, but now DS1 and GF will be here for tea too!!!

Looking at possibly making a curry with either the chops or the beef left over from the roast on Monday...will discuss with folks. I have a Korma sauce in the cupboard, or people may want something made from scratch...again a discussion is required

Good idea on the budgetting discussions, we should be doing this agin here too...easy to stick with what has been decided ages ago, even though circumstances change.

Well done on getting gamerboy to look at what he needs to do for uni. DS2 and I sat down last week and trawled through various uni courses for him to consider applying for...looking promising (I hope!).

Right, off to check on the bread and see if a pork/beef korma can be an option for tea. Now, do we have enough rice.........?!

Karmacat

LT, great post about pottering and tackling the backstabbing - concise too! I like it, thank you

Pippi, it sounds like you're getting a bit of a wakeup call from DD! Oops .... she really is growing up, isn't she **wistful look for young teenagerdom** And yet - this is what they're supposed to do! Grow up and away! And you do sound like you *love* being a mum. The amazing thing is that you're all so conscious of it, and talking about it so openly without temper tantrums etc, which I think is fantastic.

Something else fantastic on here ... kiwi marmalade? Dragon? As in you have peel that you put in? That furry skin? **shrinks away** Do tell!

And hello Kate! Its Pippi's thread, but I'm sure she won't mind me saying hello

The_Dragon

We made it from Basic Basics Jams and Preserves a few years back when every organic box we got for a month had a bag of kiwi fruit in it (and much as I love them I couldn't eat that many!)

greenval

Hi all
Keiss, Hope the infection improves soon.
Everyone is really busy. Rained today (surprise) but at least I won't have to water tonight. My 'black cherry ' tomatoes are still green. The plants are still growing though so hope reigns eternal. I'd rather they ripened on the vine. I caught up with a friend who who I had promised some cakes to. She has gone off delighted with two black cherry yoghurt cakes. I love it when someone else is as pleased with relatively small things as I am . I don't spend my days yearning for expensive stuff and just nice when you are not the only one.
I bought two black plastic storage boxes (£1.50), thye are not huge but will fit where I needed them which is the main thing. I think I'm getting obsessed about preparing for winter. It was really bad here last year but I managed but felt I could do better. Mind you I'm still an amateur compared to many on that thread!