Bricks Not Books

beanielou

Positive energy.

Merlin's_Beard

Keeping my fingers crossed for you!

Greying_Pilgrim

Oh VintageHistorian - sending positive vibes for you all getting better, and being in robust health for your hols.

Greying X

VintageHistorian

Thanks everyone! It just got to me today, not helped by DS being very variable with his moods (one moment being very adorable and quite well behaved and the next shouting "no" repeatedly and bursting into tears). It's hard seeing the sunny but not too hot weather solely through a window.

Anyway, April has started off with an OP of £18.73.

Despite being ill this morning I had to drag us to Waitrose this afternoon as I'll have no chance to get food in the next 3 days and there's things that need to be in the slow cooker first thing Sunday morning. Came in well under budget, mostly because the freezer is stuffed and I'm not taking chances with my stomach, so the lovely looking yellowsticker Belgian chocolate cheesecake was left behind, as was reduced minced beef and reduced diced stewing steak.

Over the past few days I did a laundry load and got that mostly dried outside, which was a lovely achievement after months of grey and rain. I have also managed to have a sort out of DS's toys. I've got a few to donate to nursery, alongside his outgrown socks which I also decluttered, and a few to try selling at work. Created enough space in the storage footstools to put some less played with but still loved toys away. He's also had some nice Folio Society and similar books given by family members that I want him to be able to cherish when he's older, they were all downstairs on our bookcase but I've moved them to the high shelf in his room. That created enough space for one of his larger Christmas presents to fit nicely on the bookcase shelf.

I also offered a couple of books on baby weaning to a colleague for free, their little one is coming up to 6 months. If they're not wanted then I'll pop them in the charity shop bag, they're too battered to sell on.

To try and settle my stomach I had scrambled eggs and a bit of toast for dinner. I was starving so going to bed on an empty stomach wasn't an option even if it might have been the slightly more sensible one.

Have a good rest of the week everyone!

VintageHistorian

£1.13 TT sent to the mortgage.

I finally got my ID verified on PA so I've done some surveys, got £4.30 approved and another 90 pence pending.

In-laws have been round this morning, I have been gifted a very nice Waitrose lemon drizzle cake, I'm about to go have a slice with a cup of tea.

First talk of the month completed, now I need to remember to pay the £35 cheque in on Tuesday. Got my second one this coming week, and another in May. The May one is a very small very local group so I charge them £25 instead, but it's cash and that can go in the emergency pot so it's all appreciated.

DS's socks and smaller toys have been handed in to nursery. Mr VH has confirmed another toy can be sold so I need to photograph that and add it to the email.

Dinner tonight is roast chicken, with potatoes, greens and yorkie puds. I've done some extra potatoes so they can be cooked and then saved for DS to have for dinner on Wednesday.

Not much else going on so time for tea and cake! Have a good week everyone!

VintageHistorian

£3.25 TT sent to the mortgage.

We have had our holiday. 5 days in Centre Parcs, with two stops on the drive up there and a stop at a National Trust property on the way back (only spends were in the cafe and the second hand bookshop as we're members). Went swimming on 3 days, let DS loose on the playground equipment and went for lots of walks but didn't pay for any of the activities. Did pay for dinner every night, had picnic bits for breakfasts and treated ourselves to breakfast twice (once on our anniversary and again on the last day before leaving). Oh and bought cakes every day in the shop.

I haven't totted up the costs yet but once I do Mr VH will send me his half. DS had a lovely time but wasn't keen on being in an unfamiliar bed and bedroom on his own so one of us (mostly Mr VH) ended up in his room with him at some point during the nights. He did enjoy the swimming though and we were very happy to see him making friends with small people in the play area as it's something that nursery have highlighted as being a bit of a struggle for him.

The weather was so lovely when we got back on Friday that we washed the towels and swimming things and put them out to dry then and there, then did DS's laundry on Saturday morning and put it out so it was all dry when we brought it in last night. I was going to do the same with mine and Mr VH's things this morning but DS was super clingy with Daddy so I spent a lot of time trying to unsuccessfully distract him so Mr VH could have breakfast etc.

Did my second talk before going on holiday. They insisted my fee was too low even with petrol on top so rounded it up to £50. I still need to pay the cheque in, depending on DS's mood on Wednesday I might try to pop into town with him then to pay it in.

Will set myself up to be better with money saving in May. After holiday spends I need to rein things back in a bit. There's no birthdays now for several months. I need to get back into the habit of baking packed lunch treats, and find some things to cook from scratch that can replace stews since we're starting to leave regular mashed potato season (I am not a salad person).

Dinner tonight, having said that, was beef stew and mash. The stew portions were from the freezer, there's one portion without dumplings left, which will probably end up surfacing again in September.

Have a good week everyone!

beanielou

Glad you enjoyed your holiday.

Greying_Pilgrim

That sounds like a wonderful holiday time together VH.

I remember LG being really not sure of their strange surroundings the very first holiday we went on in a static caravan (even though we had done stops in Purple hotels prior). Luckily they were in the room with 2 single beds, so DH was able to (comfortably) stay with them - although there was so much crying/distress from LG ☹️ But during the day, they had such fun and enjoyed themselves. Most peculiar, and hasn't happened since (thankfully).

I hear you on the salads, and DH wouldn't thank me for a plate of 2 lettuce leaves and a water-lily carved tomato for his tea…… But I'm slowly 're-defining' what a salad 'is', and looking for many more bean salads, lentil salads, vegetable salads, or salads including fruit - melon, avocado, orange etc And working them into salad bowls, or buddha bowls. This may be of no use what-so-ever to you, and it may be too much of a time drain, or may just not be the way you want to go. I much prefer autumn/winter food too, it seems easier to decide on and prepare somehow, but I'm slowly progressing with the mindset change, and accumulating recipes (not all keepers!) as I go along.

Greying X

ladysummerisle

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81978286#Comment_81978286

ooh @Greying_Pilgrim I will add to this with a cooked salad (serve warm or cold):

Roasted carrots

Onion (raw or roasted)

Tin of butter beans

Green beans

Feta

Sumac.

Greying_Pilgrim

Thanks ladysummerisle - that looks an entirely do-able recipe, and all stuff that I routine have/can get. I think the onion would work using a red onion done in a 'quick pickle' too. I love those sort of 'component' recipes, you can make them with what you have/like - difficult to replicate tho, and I'll never be a cookbook author! 🤣

Sorry for the thread de-rail VH - me talking about food, who wudda thunk it……… 🙈

Greying X