Greying's Gaining Ground - with Gratitude & Grace

facethemusic

Just popping on to say, LG will remember "time" much more than "things". DD often amazes me with her "favourite" thing/day/memory of a holiday or weekend etc. Its generally a person/time/funny moment rather than a present/toy/expensive place to visit. Feeding ducks at the river is as much of a "happy memory" as visiting a safari park, climbing a tree as good as soft play etc. I think I have explained that very badly, but trying to say spending time with LG will give her many more happy memories than buying an expensive toy and leaving her to play by herself. 
Halloumi stew sounds interesting- if you make it please let us know how it works! 

Cheery_Daff

I agree with facethemusic - I have fond memories of pulling the settee up to the gas fire and having tea and jammy toast for our tea, not realizing of course that it was because we had no central heating so it was freezing, and there was nowt BUT jammy toast for tea... Mr Cheery has similar fond memories of having egg and chips for days at a time. My mum used to make something called 'cheese pie' - which it seems was literally a bowl of mashed potatoes with grated cheese stirred through, put under the grill I'm sure I ate some veg occasionally...

newgirly

Hi greying, glad you found a new recipe to try on the website,  I’m about to have a look for ideas now. Have a good weekend 🙂

beanielou

My DS used to loved mashed potato & grated cheese with beans stirred in!
I still have it sometimes!
Love love is priceless & way better than money.

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning!

I really am hopeful that we're going down the right route of 'love and time' with LG - as it's not something that was prevalent in my childhood (NOT looking for a sympathy vote here, it was different times and there were different social mores, my parents upbringing has to be taken into account - they were affected by 'Victorian values' surrounding children etc etc).  But my worries around the educational and opportunity disparity being created by the pandemic are quite high and feel very real at the moment.  I was assuming that schools are unlikely to be open anytime soon, and it seems like ministers are now talking in those terms.  And whilst it is starting to be said more often (by educational experts and some in authority), that we can all 'only do our best', the default is still to feel that young people are being let down.  But of course - have I the solution?  Can I wave my magic wand and rustle up more vaccine for those that want it?  NO, of course I can't.  Which is why I feel utterly disingenuous moaning, but equally devastated that we may be responsible for LG not reaching their potential. 

I am going to have to 'quickly' get my head around;  "whatever we do, it will have to be enough", because sitting at home getting school delivered remotely - but not really 'online' - is where we are at, until after Easter at least, if press reports are to be believed.

facethemusic - I did 'sort of' make the halloumi stew.  I sort of followed the recipe (I'm really bad for improvising or taking a recipe as a 'starting point'), and didn't actually put the halloumi into the stew.  I made 'extra' of the stew, using a passata carton, in addition to the tinned tomatoes in the recipe.  The extra has made a meal for another day, and has been put in the freezer.  It is a good stew with or without the halloumi in my humble opinion.  We had it with pan-fried halloumi, green beans, steamed brown basmati rice, and a yoghurt drizzle with chopped gherkins and a dusting of sumac.  I did add in paprika and smoked paprika to the stew, and some celery because I had some.  I used black-eye beans, again because I had some.  It was just the job, given January weather!



I was trying to think about childhood memories, and I have plenty of good ones - and yes, they all involve low cost/no cost activities.  And on the subject of food - I always thought it a TREAT if lentils were put into a cottage pie.......🤣  My mum thought red lentils an 'exotic' ingredient - but we had them in the pantry purely for 'padding out' purposes, but she was reluctant to use them.  Think of all the convo's on MSE that you've ever heard about - 'how much lentils versus how little meat can I get away with in our cottage pie for tea?' 🤣  But also, in terms of LG's memories, they constantly surprise us talking enthusiastically about memories of things that we've done - often well over a year ago, and yes, although I admit we haven't had any expensive vacations, it is always the 'simple' things that LG talks about.  Our only real 'proper' holiday (in a static caravan for 1 week) had a real positive effect on LG for yonks.  They were always talking about it.  And they mention our (simple) day trips all the time, or time spent with friends and their animals or going somewhere and bumping into someone we know etc etc.

Tea tonight is going to be fish, chips and mushy peas.  Straight out of the freezer.  Lunch may well be soup, as it's cold and I also should do some baking to use up some eggs.  

Didn't spot any new properties added locally yesterday.  Interestingly, it looks like the one house that was possibly the 'best' example we have seen so far (lower end of budget, reasonable location etc), has been sold. I'm not surprised, if it hasn't gone to a FTB, then I would have thought it an ideal rental investment.  Still, we'll keep looking 😊

Ta for popping by.  Greying X

newgirly

That’s dinner looks great, you need to do a frugal cooking blog 😁 
I’m at the other side now with the kids and we were lucky enough to have a few holidays (all but one in England) often of the frugal kind and I don’t think it’s caused any lasting damage not going abroad. It makes me feel a bit sad sometimes, but they really don’t care and are independent and wanting to see the world still 😬 

Same with birthday parties, the ones they went to when little were often at venues but their favourite was when we did a water fight in the rain in the garden with their friends wearing bin bags, less money sometimes make for more creativity.😁

Greying_Pilgrim

I have to say newgirly - I'm in agreement about it not being necessary to travel abroad to have good holidays.  I'm not extensively travelled myself, I have done some travel in America and a smidgen in Europe.  But I have got a real appreciation of Great Britain, and would certainly like to explore more.  We would return to those wonderful Scottish beaches we 'discovered' in 2019, had we half a chance.  I would love to see much, much more of Ireland, and there are plenty of places in England and Wales that are - as yet - undiscovered.  If I made a GB only list - I could never see it all in my lifetime.  Having said that, I hope that LG grows up to be inquisitive of other countries and cultures, and if they enjoy exploring, well then, I for one will be happy 😁

Right, I'm away to rustle up some soup! 😊

Greying X

greenbee

GP - paddling in rockpools with a net, catching crabs, running about on the beach in winter. These are all favourite memories and stuff my brother's kids have also loved. They STILL talk about jumping in puddles when we were flooded here - I remember it differently (freezing cold and wet and they wouldn't stop jumping in puddles and head home - my nieces nappy was wet from outside in!).

As for education, there are a few things to consider. Finland, which has an excellent record for education AND for equality, doesn't start formal education until the age of 7. And then there's the montessori approach, where the child learns at their own pace. Much of that is doable at home, within the context of home life rather than structured 'classroom' education. It might be worth exploring some of the ways that people traditionally homeschool to see if they would work better for you at the moment than the alternatives. Our education system isn't designed for remote delivery, so what you get is a bit hit and miss. Not helped by Gavin Williamson's insistence (despite know qualifications or knowledge) that 'live' lessons work best.  Videos, worksheets, games etc work well, with teachers then having a chance to talk to the kids in small groups or 1-2-1 online. Kids also learn different skills - they can take more responsibility for their learning from an early age and become more self-sufficient and independent. One friend was saying that she's been hugely impressed by the emails her two older children are writing to their teachers when they want help. I know it's harder for littlies, but if you have a bit of time to poke around online, I'm sure it will be reassuring. There's a lady who posts on OS @thriftwizard who has homeschooled some of her brood and offers excellent advice. I hope neither of you mind me tagging her here, but I though that way she might drop in for a visit

I've been using red lentils today - batch cooking a SC full of mince with lots of veg to freeze in portions. Meals on work days tend to be chaotic, and at weekends I'm often too tired to bother to cook properly, so I'm trying to get ahead. I've just used up the last of a jar of garlic paste that was dated 2017, so I think this lockdown needs to involve a 'use up' challenge!

Greying_Pilgrim

Yes, all those activities are truly, truly wonderful greenbee - for the young and the 'young at heart' 😉

A small issue I have is that I "like" educating LG - along the Montessori guidelines if you like.  And more 'practically' if you like.  But at the moment, every moment "seems" (and I do think it perception more than reality), to be having to be supervising the "structured" stuff.  There is little time or energy for 'family' learning.  And yes, government ministers rarely have any experience or knowledge of the area of their ministerial portfolio, do they..........

thriftwizard also has the benefit of living in one of my most favouritist places in England too......... It's where our static caravan memories were made 

Greying X

badmemory

I just wondered if any of the BBC's bitesize programmes are appropriate for someone of LGs age.  They always used to be good years ago.  But I think at LG's age anything that they can concentrate on for a period of time or makes them think is a good thing.  No point in you worrying, you are engaged, that puts LG in the front foot not the back foot, you don't use the TV as a babysitter. 

Definitely encourage the why, what, how questions (which we all know are a pain).  I just hope you avoid the "what are those Mummy?" questions at the checkout.  "I'll explain when we get home" whilst going bright red.  Thankfully my sister, realising that I, as by then a single parent & product of all girls schools, was going to have some difficulties, bought him a book about how your body works.