Dusty's Frugal Fortnights Return!

dustydigger

So many issues on the go my head is whirling! Mr Dusty is off to town to send money for the funeral of his cousin,who he classed really like a brother. He is thankful that he saw him in his recent visit back home. So,money for the funeral,money for treatment for my stepdaughter,money for his other daughter who has to do all the collecting and distributing,phoning and travelling. Good job Mr D doesnt drink or smoke,there is a lot on his shoulders supporting the family back home. Division of resources. I look after the finances for my family,he looks after the African side.

Still seems to be some confusion about the price cap and fixed rates changeovers,the MSE thread  certainly confused me. Oh well,it will get sorted eventually.Glad I decided against a fix. Even the original fix I was offered way back in June was around £360 a month,and later it was beyond a joke,£518 a month! Incredible.

 It was GGD2s first birthday yesterday never even sent a text to greet her GGS1 started primary year one this week,havent had a minute to see how he got on. Same with GGD2,who was unhappy at her supposedly excellent all girls secondary school. Cliques,bullying etc seemed so prevalent so she has changed schools ,started  Year 8 at our local secondary school this week. Will it be any better? I dont know. And she is coming in alone from a different school in the city. She is very intelligent,I think she just despises all the whole modern social media based teen life,I hope she can settle in.She is only a 5 min walk from home,so no more 20 min bus ride then 10 walk each day.

I cant seem to get my head around frugal living,housework(no surprise there!),reading - anything in fact. Keep hoping things will settle down and they never do!

The eye is slowly improving,so I might get back to reading more soon,I really miss it. The bad back seems quite chronic now,but not too severe,not like it was a couple of months ago,that was terrible,though long periods at the computer are not possible. So no long screeds to MSE! The long hot summer has been a boon for my arthritis,my hands are pretty straight at the moment.So physically not too bad,overall health around 70% That is a very good score for me.A summer score,winter is a different kettle of fish.........

Mentally....hmm,not so sure. Brain fog,lack of focus,memory problems,lethargy etc seem to have been a bit of a burden lately. And always snoozing!The last B12 jab didnt seem to benefit me much at all Next jab is 3rd October,over 3 weeks away. Here's hoping the next needle does a better job. I can actually cope much better with physical pain,I fear and detest mental issues

Oh well,que sera,sera.

Doubt if I can settle to anything this next few days,and the Queen's death is starting to sink it. Its all going to be a dark sad time till the funeral. Not sure which day that will be.

Right,thats my morning screed. May get back on here later,but I will be coping with Mr Dusty,he's quite depressed at the moment. Natural enough,but its not exactly uplifting for me! Ouch,that sounded very selfish,didnt it? Better go and clean up the disaster area known as the kitchen. At least I have fish ready for dinner,as Mr D didnt have supper last night. Only the potatoes to do.

How many times do I say that? You must be almost as sick of hearing about them as I am!

retiredinfrance

Love  your style of posts Dusty, straight from the heart. 
Bon courage!
PS Our department’s local paper had a full page front of the Queen with a lovely tribute. 

dustydigger

@retiredinfrance .I heard President Macron's speech,very respectful and sympathetic. Even Putin made a gracious speech,he had been a guest of the Queen back in happier times,and had been impressed by her,as were so many leaders.She met so many leaders and statesman,cant think of anyone else that can match her record. And she seems to have been everywhere too,even China and Russia!

But Charles too met a lot of those statesmen when they visited his mother. I'm sure he too,in a quiet way has a lot of knowledge   and experience that he will put to use. Hard job though replacing someone who had 70 years at the job.
Queen Elizabeth was excellent at being impartial,discreet and tactful. Not sure if Charles can emulate that! I wish him well in all his endeavours

beanielou

& of course Charles the III is now in his 70's.

Katiehound

Hope you are OK Dusty.
No word from you for a day or two

Take care

dustydigger

Hi Katiehound,I'm not too bad,though back is painful. I did a long post yesterday morning,pressed the wrong button,and lost it all! Then spent the day watching coverage of the cortege, etc

 Had family most of the weekend,and yesterday was the birthday of the twins. The terrible twins are now in the Terrible Twos.

Have spent all of today watchingthe funeral etc. I was so impressed at the dignity and respect shown by the Scottish crowds. I am in intrepidation about how the crowds in London will conduct themselves.

The service in St Giles for the Queen this afternoon was lovely,such a cozy intimate seeming space. Her Majesty chose all the music and hymns herself. And what a lovely touch having Mary Queen of Scots crown on the coffin! Amends for our Queen's ancestor chopping off Mary's head?

I probably wont be around much this whole mourning period,I will be watching coverage.

Might be different if I had some info on the Scottish Power tariff,but not a single bit of info has appeared yet. Not the most brilliant customer service.

All I have done today is my asd@ adjustments. I am trying my best to do a little shopping for storage in case prices go crazy late in the year,but my bill was £74 first round,and even cutting down ruthlessly I couldnt get below £65.84. Three months ago I was never out of the fifties,at this rate it will be over £70

Floss

Dusty, St Giles Cathedral is beautiful, I went to a wedding there 7 or 8 years ago.

Katiehound

dustydigger said:

 

Have spent all of today watchingthe funeral etc. I was so impressed at the dignity and respect shown by the Scottish crowds. I am in intrepidation about how the crowds in London will conduct themselves.

 

Actually I think the crowds in London will be equally dignified. They are talking about queues that are miles long: someone has already started waiting.

Just so sudden: one day appointing the new Prime Minister and then less than 2 days later she had died. I think that is what folk are finding so hard- yes she was frail but looked quite sprightly. 
It will be a huge change, even the national anthem sounds strange. I remember the guide promise: to do our duty to God & the Queen.
End of an era: we are no longer Elizabethans but Caroleans!

I think Charles will do well. He has been 'in training' all these years.
 I remember, many years ago, someone in Cardiff telling me all about his visit to their school- she was the art teacher welcoming him to an art project- and she said it was so easy to forget his royal status, like chatting to a friend.

I hope that many environmental issues will come to the forefront, and his work with youth.

beanielou

The cortege passed very near to me.
Lots of people out to show their respects.

dustydigger

I was a little surprised - in a good way - when he went to talk to the crowds outside Buckingham Palace the other day. His smile actually looked real,not a polite restrained smile,but a real and warm one. And the crowds reacted to that in a positive way,smiles back despite the sad occasion.  The Queen always stayed a little aloof. But she always did have a brilliant smile.I was interested to see her smiling last Tuesday at Liz Truss.She looked so tiny and thin and fragile,yet happy.That was a comfort when the shocking news came out only 2 days later. I think we all expected her to get to 102,to beat her mother  and her aunts for longevity