“Just Say NOvember; Batten Down the Hatches 2016”.

mothernerd

Hugs to Toni's friend, ccl and anyone else who wants one.

NSD no 4 today.

Very tired and back is okay but only one wrong move away from returning, IYKWIM. A little bit down as not as far on with the house as I would like and also worried about being 'judged' by DS3's beloved's parents. DS3 and I are both hoping that only her father comes but as a family they are gadget mad so a house with no television will baffle them. Father was also arguing for red marble worktops when they were looking to replace theirs (don't htink there is anything wrong with the existing kitchen, they just fancy a change).

I know I should not be bothered by their opinion but beloved's mother doesn't like him and has patronised him (and me by proxy) before. I did give DS3 tips on patronising her back but he is too nice.

My emergency plan (I am making progress but having a back up cheers me up and helps me get things done) is to put bin bags in the 2 plastic bins (the ones we had before wheelies) and then gather as much stuff as possible (from worktops, tables, floors and anywhere else), bag it and put it in the bins. I can then clean all the clear surfaces and bring stuff back in and deal with it a bag at a time.

My room is a tip (not taken the stuff I brought from mum's and loads of craft projects in preparation) and I may add to the chaos and then keep my door firmly shut. If both parents come (child from hell would also have to come) and they are the sort to snoop behind closed doors, then it reflects more on them than me.

Today I am grateful for the sun making an effort to fight through a bank of cloud, for the work I have done and for the back up plan (it makes me smile - I have hidden stuff under beds and in boxes before but not 2 whole bins).

greent

Didn't check in yesterday. Weds was NSD - was going to start c25k but gave blood and hurt back (not related) so didnt.

Yesterday was not SFD. Yesterday morning started with me discovering water coming down the lounge windows form the floor above - loose connection in the wall from DS1's radiator. Some gushing water later and a pile of sodden towels, a soaked curtain and two damp carpets it was sorted )with two holes made in the wall in DS1's room) My back was hurting too bad for Zumba (so saved money there) but I wanted to exercise so went for a slooow walk with OH and posted 2 small parcels and got a small amount of shopping at TEsc0 (less than £14) - will update sig. OH carried shopping home. At 6.30pm when OH was out with DS3 at swimming I discovered water dripping from the architrave above the door from lounge to dining room. Turned heating off which slowed it down. Dining room ceiling developed a large dark patch (which grew quickly) Insurance co were, frankly, quite useless. Anyway, managed to avoid emergency plumber @ £190 + VAT for first hour!!! by OH taking an educated guess at leak - was coming from a landing radiator and a seal had perished in the wall on a joint - just unlucky the same day. I now have holes in 3 walls, damp carpets, 2 damp ceilings, missing door architrave - and a pile of washing (and redecoration when all holes have been sorted and everywhere has dried out) Repair cost = £6.50 for the joint parts and £2 on wood.

After all that was sorted I went to the pub (prearranged) with friends and spent £3.80 (well within budget)

Today has been SFD. Food- toast for breakfast (HM bread), poached egg on toast for lunch and leftover risotto for dinner (risotto made with chicken crumbs from freezer from a roast)

Fmess

Wow greent, two leaky pipes in one day! Glad you got it sorted and have a useful OH.

SFD number 4 today Got paid back expenses today but need to use it for a new cat flap as the cat broke the old one after I left it locked and forgot to unlock it. He managed to break into the house but broke the whole cat flap in the process. I wondered why the kitchen was freezing this morning!

Bobarella

Jeez Greent sorry to hear it. How awful.

Mothernerd oh dear your DS in-laws sound 'interesting'...

thriftylass

Just a quick post as I'm on my phone. DH is out in the pub so i thought, well I'll be having drink too if I'm stuck in the house with the kids batch cooking. And i smoked. I just have no willpower and make the wrong positive associations with those vices too. Anyway, i have confessed. Plus i was !!!!ed off with DH as he already asked me to borrow money just over a week after payday. Oh the car was expensive and the jacket. Yeah never mind the nights in the pub etc. But then i don't really have the courage (for lack of better word) to say no and discuss this with him.

Anyway, batch cooking. Made 3 family portions of Bolognese etc base. 17 pork meatballs and 16 lamb meatballs. Used 700 gr beef, 500 pork and 400 lamb. The folk from the grocery challenge and similar probably laugh at this as all this mince only made 5-6 dinners for 4 and maybe two lunches. Added milk soaked bread to the meatballs and lentils and veg to the Bolognese but still think I really didnt get that much out of it.

jojitsui what is sky bet?

crazy cat lady and mooloo well done on those low weekly shop spends, impressive. How many people is that for. I'm good at low cost dinners but fruit, yogurts and other snacks get me.

greent sorry to hear about you pipes drama.

nannygladys

Hi everyone, I know it's late but can't seem to get to sleep

Anyway sfd 3/4

Went spending money on fuel and food today, not a lot of food bought but I didn't really need much, what I really needed was the fuel so thought I would food shop to save me another sfd over the weekend.

Present making has come to a stand still at the moment, but I have been getting a bit of exercise. Not much else has been happening.
Nannyg

FurryBeastOz

At the airport. Bought what I'd budgeted for - my annual cosmetics top up, and water.

I am counting yesterday as a NSD. DH gave me money for the bus ticket and he's paying for my missed PT session. He got drunk on Thursday night and sensibly ditched the car. However that meant he had to take my car to work and I had to get the bus into town to rescue his before it got a parking ticket. Cue grumpy me. Played havoc with my day as well - didn't get home until 10am.

Hope I've remembered to pack everything. Major drama at airport. Reallocation of luggage between hand luggage and hold. Still 1kg over, but she let us get away with it. Very frustrating as we'd used luggage scales at home. Obviously time for a new set as we thought we were 5kg under.

I'm ignoring spends from now until we return. It's all budgetted and we have withdrawn cash for food etc. Anything else is going on DHs own credit card as he is treating me.

See you when I get back. Good luck with your challenges.

Savvy_sewing

My food is for two during the week, and three at the weekends.
Although I often have little extra visitors for teawhen DGDS friends come over. Sausage and pasta always in the stores just in case.
I was buying lunches at the baguette shop next to my shop most days, but for the last week I have had leftovers, and microwaved things instead. Saving me £2.30 a day.

dolly84

Bob - once I actually got going with my list of jobs I achieved loads.

greent - what a nightmare day you had with your leaks.

thrifty - the only way your DH will learn is the hard way, you have to say no to loaning him money.

I am hoping for a NSD today but may need to buy antifreeze for my car. The plan for today is cycling (I am fuelled with porridge and two coffees), getting rid of leaves at the tip and sweeping more (we have about 50 trees in our garden), getting the caravan ready for winter, long walk with the dog, washing out on the line in the wind.

The kids didn't want fireworks this year (I knew last year they were outgrowing it but I still feel sad), DS asked for a takeaway instead but I said no and this week I bought pizza, curly fries and a cake from my grocery budget and we are having that tonight whilst we watch a film/other peoples fireworks. We had a lot going off here last night and the money some people must spend on it is incredible - in a bad way.

Bobarella

Morning All

NannyG sorry you had a bad night. Hope you can power through today ok.

Thrifty thing is it all depends on how much food you like to eat as well doesn't it. I think the modern portion tends to be bigger. I notice a difference in how my in-laws portion to how I do. So unless you were able to actually meet these people in real life and compare how they plate up it is hard to do virtually.
I wonder if Ytube might be helpful for visual demos on food stretching?

Today will be NSD 3 for this week. I have been up and cooked us all pancakes and bacon for breakfast. We have a class for my son this morning already paid for. Both OH and I have money on our cards to travel. Dinners in the fridge.

I do have to buy some items for an event tommorow but that comes from the business so is outside the challenge. However the good thing on that is any leftovers that come back will go into our food supplies for next week. All good.

Good luck keeping your pennies in your purse.

Bob