Greying's Gaining Ground - with Gratitude & Grace

Cheery_Daff

Ooh, that does indeed sound like good service Greying! Glad all your paperwork is up to date

Hope LG does indeed eat some tea! And I hope your weather is considerably less vile than ours today, and you manage to get out and about for a bit x

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening!

Well today has been quiet and non-eventful, but that's no bad thing.  

It was of course a nsd, but without pennies (officially) until February, that's kinda a good thing!

LG did indeed eat lentil dhal and rice for tea (YAY!).  The quantity was probably about double the amount they were given last time we had rice & dhal.  There was an initial squeak about it being 'too much', but it was all munched, and I think they actually enjoy it - but you know how important 'face' is.......🙄  I'm so pleased though, and I hope in time that the quantity can be expanded up to a full portion, and LG can be relied on to eat it all.  It will ease things in terms of us 'eating similar' and will, of course. assist the budget. without compromising nutrition.  LG enjoyed some natural yoghurt and an apple for pudding, and a few smart1es as a treat for being so well behaved this week.

Today I am grateful for these 3 things;

1) news of a new baby in the wider family
2) LG eating tea with very little fuss
3)  a crochet pattern freely detailed and shared on a blog.  

Thanks for popping by.  Appreciated.

Greying X

edinburgher

@Greying_Pilgrim - all in favour of your thrifty cooking - in fact we had a curry tonight as well. Not quite the rubber chickens of MFW and Mumsnet lore, but we got 9 dinner portions (roast chicken and chicken curry with coconut milk), 3 lunch portions and 2l of HM chicken stock out of 2 chickens. I try and not waste anything as a free range chicken is upwards of a fiver these days, even from the discounters.

I'm glad your spark has returned after a brief confidence flicker, take care 🤗

Greying_Pilgrim

Good morning!

edinburgher said:

I'm glad your spark has returned after a brief confidence flicker, take care 🤗

Hey ed - what a really kind, supportive comment.  Thank you.  And it's true - I had a waver, not a collapse - I'm reminding myself of that, plus the fact that (regrettably) in this current climate, I am not the only one, and I won't be the only one to feel this way 🙁........  Onwards and upwards!  And I heartily agree (as you'd expect) of your use of 'all' of the chickens - irrespective of their monetary cost.  Personally, I do think that it is beholden on all of us to make the best use of resources - and there is no doubt, those chickens were honoured in your efforts to make hearty, tasty and filling meal portions out of them.  Bravo!

Well, it's cold with us this morn (as forecast), and everywhere was bathed in moonlight when I got up.  We must get some exercise today.  LG wouldn't go to sleep last night, and eventually we all ended up going to bed at the same time!  Not good!

Nothing appeared in the property pages yesterday - which was of little surprise.  We will have to down grade our 'house buying' budget in the medium term, as DH's wages have taken a significant hit this past year, and any 'multiples' will be adversely affected.  And has been shown in January, saving a whole 7 pence (yep, count 'em!) from the grocery budget, is hardly going to afford us B3ck1ngham palace any time soon.......🤣  It doesn't mean that some of the properties out there aren't still over-priced.  One that was at the top of our 'notional' budget, but was in the right location, is now looking severely over-priced for what it is, but I suspect that even a 'cheeky' offer would be all of our budget and more, so no point in pursuing.  Especially as the house would need some 'TLC' to bring it back up to good condition (I suspect it has been a rental property at some point, the outside is a little shabby).

I'm have GMS on R2 as I type this - anyone else hear Simon Armitage's poem, 'The Song Thrush and the Mountain Ash'.............

I'm undecided what to have for us tea tonight.  I quite fancy doing veggie sausages, yorkies and some veg.  I could have something green, and something bendy and orange (aged carrots) on the plate without digging into Feb's frozen veg.  Add potatoes in from the big sack and that's a plate of food 😁  Temptation is to just wheel out the cardboard box fish, and chips tho.............  I really ought to make the effort to do the sausages though, as LG has started eating them again, and LG is also pretty spiffy at making batter........

Right, run out of MSE/MFW things to natter about, so I had better shove orf.

Ta for popping in.  Greatly appreciated.  Always.

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening

Well, today has been a mixed bag.  But we've come through it, and spent no money (not that we had owt to spend.......).  So on balance, pretty spiffy.

LG helped to make the yorkshire puddings.  They weighed out the flour wonderfully, and did some good mixing, but I think I added in the wet ingredients too quickly, and whilst YP is definitely better as a 'rough' mix, this was a tadge too lumpy.......  However, the resulting puddings did rise and were edible.......

I did a wash of workwear and it 90% dried on the line, which is a great help.

We've had lockdown haircuts.   How I miss our hairdresser.  Here's hoping hair grows quickly in winter.......  or that I can find my hat........It t'ain't even about money saved.  I KNOW hairdressing ain't my forte.......

Tea was our version of a 'roast'.  I did break into the new bag of frozen cauliflower florets, to add a bit of variety, but in my defence, there is a third of a bag of green beans to carry forward into February, so I've just done 'swapsies' in effect.  We had; L1nda Muckartknee's veggie sausages, yorkshire puddings, mashed potato, green beans, the last of the carrots and some cauliflower with gravy.  LG didn't have any carrot, but 'something' of everything else was put on their plate - including 2 veggie sausages.  There was a little bit of a kerfuffle about eating 'vegetables'.  However, in the end, LG decided that they wanted to watch a bit of telly, more than they wanted to avoid eating their tea, and get sent to bed early.  So it was a clean plate, that was taken to the sink.  Plus, LG admitted that it was actually 'alright'........ It was a shame there was a bit of a stand off, as this was by far the most......... 'normal'? 'balanced'? 'multi-item'? tea that LG has eaten in a long time.  We were all eating pretty much the same thing, and I shall be honest, it was a relatively low-cost, but balanced meal.  An outside observer would probably point out that LG was actually very, very good to eat up the meal, and that another child, in the same circumstance, would have put up much more of a fuss and refusal.  So I am more than willing to acknowledge and count my blessings where I can.

I did enjoy catching a bit of 'Grayson's Art Club'.  I didn't catch the whole series last year, but felt the emotion and deflation of all involved in staging the exhibition.  They all got so close to getting the artworks of Jo & Josephine public, and Mr & Mrs *someone* on display for open exibition...........

Today I am very grateful for these 3 things;

1) that LG was in someone's thoughts.
2) pictures of a newborn 🥰
3) for accomplishing 'mundane' chores.... 'coz y'all know they've gotta be done........

Thanks for ducking in.  

Greying X

Cheery_Daff

Ooh, your tea sounds lovely Greying! I am currently craving some proper food, my own meals today having consisted entirely of porridge and crumpets 🙄 Glad LG ate better than me, at least!!
X

rtandon27

Greying_Pilgrim said:

...However, in the end, LG decided that they wanted to watch a bit of telly, more than they wanted to avoid eating their tea, and get sent to bed early.  So it was a clean plate...

As second internet 'Auntie' happy to hear that LG has eaten their well balanced dinner! 😘

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning!

Thank you internet 'Aunties' for all your support 😁  We're a relatively small family in RL, and therefore have taken steps to encourage supportive 'Aunties' from amongst our friends, to ensure that LG doesn't miss out on a balanced upbringing.  Everyone brings different skills and abilities to the party 😁  Me and DH know our limitations.

So, first of February.  The day has started incredibly well, as I came across a few tins of baked beans and mushy peas that I had put in another storage spot, as the tins cupboard was temporarily full.  This means that I have sufficient of both for the month of February now, and so they have been crossed off my shopping list.  Huzzah!  A few pennies saved!  And no, unfortunately, secret stashes don't extend to money, chocolate or bottles of red wine.........  but I was so pleased to find these tins 😁  It all helps!  And just in case Cheery is wandering thru - I definitely don't have any secret stashes of chickpeas 😊

I'm going to have to put my thinking cap on with regards to the meal planner this week.  We have food, a-plenty, but thought will have to be given to make the best use of resources.  We are all out of carrots, and currently have a small-selection of fresh fruit.  It will be necessary to top up both before the end of the week.  I definitely want to build in a bit more diversity - we've had no cruciferous veg for too long!  Not that I expect LG to munch sprouts anytime soon, mind........

Really can't think of anything MSE/MFW or spiffy to witter on about a bit more.  So best shuffle orf.

Great to *see* ya.  

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Interesting that there are already 2 new properties on the listings this morning.  Surprised that they've come on, first thing on a Monday, but still, what do I know?  Anyway, whilst both were actually well within reach, they are both discounted.  One was a nice house, but in the wrong area, and if I'm being super-picky had too small a garden.  The other was in an overpriced area where all the 'cool' people live.  It was too small, from the Victorian era (been there, owned one of those.....) and was actually alot of money for what it was - but did have the benefit of a garage, which is a premium in the location, so all understandable etc etc.

We've done our exercise this morning. We walked to the co-op for a greetings card and a look at the YS'd stuff.  Wish I'd not bothered.  The greeting card was a rip-off price - but lack of choice at the moment rather restricted our options - and there was nothing remotely 'bargainacious' in the reduced fridge/bin.  Still, we had a good walk, and at times it was so quiet (I know it should be, but that doesn't mean to say that it always is.......) all you could hear was birdsong, which was blissful.

We saw a rental property on our walk, that is through an 'out of area agent'.  I remember the house being for sale.  Originally when the house was first on the market, we had not got Greying Towers back on the market.  However, the first sale must have fallen through, as the house came back on the market when we had just sold GT - and whilst this house was; in the right area, was the right price, would have 'done' as a family home for the next few years, and clearly was in an area that has saleability/rental potential, we didn't investigate, as we were so fearful our own sale might fall through - we didn't dare to hope.........  Anyway, I have looked up the rental details for this property and the agents are asking a staggering £750 a month!  there aren't any internal shots of the house, but that is such a large amount of moolah.  It does no favour for tenants nearby as their landlords begin to get greedy.........  Ah well, timing is everything, no?  What's for us, wunna go past......

Right, best get a wiggle on.  Not done the meal-plan yet.  

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening!

Well, today has been pretty spiffy.  Dearest RT started the ball rolling about honorary 'Aunties' in the role of bringing up a child, and I've long thought it certainly can (and possibly should) take a village to raise a child.  We benefitted from that approach today, as out on our walk, LG asked me a question about a plant that I couldn't be sure I had the answer to....... but I knew a person who could answer the question.  Cue a missive to the Professor of Petals, the Lecturer of leaves, the Doctorate of digging......... They gave us (freely) a great explanation and built upon LG's initial interest in subject 👍  Far more value added than had mum just had a bash at answering herself, or - even worse, just mumbled, 'I dunno....'  

There have been no properties of interest (to view/purchase) added to our local pages today. 

Tea was a ill-thought out mish-mash.  I used some ambient spinach & ricotta tortellini, with a jar of bought sauce and served with a bit of broccoli.  LG asked for some of the tortellini as I was putting it in the pot.  I gave them 3 to try, and they waited until they had all but eaten the third one to announce that they didn't like them.........  They regurgitated a bit (yeuk!), so I suppose that's a 'no'.  I was so hopeful the way they tucked in though..... They did eat the (small amount)  broccoli on their plate though.  Lets not get excited - it was a small amount, but I did sneek in a bit more than I usually expect them to eat....... So, tea was OK, but I have already busted one of my 'storecupboard standbys' and it's only the 1st of the month........ Must try harder tomorrow.

Today I am grateful for these 3 things;

1) Dr Flowers and their enthusiastic help - who says learning can only happen in a classroom? 😊
2) Fresh air and exercise
3)  A view on the world through a child's eyes......

Ta for popping by.  Appreciated.

Greying X