The alternative hive - making plan B work

Queen_of_the_Hive

Happy Tuesday!

A v quick update.

Loving being in the caravan! Although am working it does feel like a change of scenery is agreeing with us. Feeling a lot brighter. WIFI was a bit ropy yesterday but we got through it. The caravan is close to a well known budget supermarket, this morning's walk was to do a little top up shop.

OH is coming tomorrow so will have a bit of company. He's got a night out in the city with his friends on Saturday. Thurs is a free day so we are off to venture around the local town.

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hippy, happy Weds!

Its a very early start for us. Going from caravan back to city before work starts this morning as DS2's school show is in the afternoon and don't want to miss it.

Next week my full time period starts whilst on annual leave. Its going to be busy. Still not broken the news to the kids.

Yesterday we had the gutters cleaned - OH was looking after them. The company used had cameras on their set up. The photos looked really good and empty. Gave us a new view of our house. It was a bit of a saga trying to pay them.

Right better get up and moving, have a train to catch!

beanielou

Hope you enjoyed the show.

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hello, happy Monday!

Cannot believe I have been trying to write a diary update since Saturday so here goes!

The caravan stay came to an end on Friday sadly. I must say it worked reasonably well and in a way I feel I've had a holiday of sorts. On Thursday we had grand plans to go and explore the local area but as we stayed up late to watch the England game, both myself and OH were really tired on Thursday and so we just relaxed in the caravan. We had a little walk in the evening and a cheeky beer in one of the on site pubs and that was about it. The caravan and weather was really hot and we just didn't fancy walking around in it. We also needed to pack too which took a bit of time. We used the onsite laundrette and washed the most of the dirty washing, saving us a job doing it back home!

Friday was pretty smooth, up and checked out for 10am and a walk to the station with our bags. The kids finished schools at their pre-scheduled times and we had a little treat in our favourite cafe back in our home town in the city. All worked smoothly and we then made our way back to Kings Cross for our evening train home. Sadly a train had broken down one of the tunnels and we ended up screwed missing our connecting train before even leaving KX. We got home two hours late and a bit grumpy.

Saturday was an easy going start to the school holidays, we enjoyed breakfast in our fav cafe around the corner, upacked, a bit of food shopping and some tidying up and that was about it.

Sunday (yesterday) we had my dad visiting. It was one of those, "not so excited to have you" visits.It was a bit weird and strained but fairly neutral. He's not my person, hasn't been the person he should be but we put all that aside to give it a go. Not ashamed to say felt relived when he'd gone, but glad we'd done it. Maybe meet up again. We did enjoy watching Spain win over Argentina. I've loved watching the World Cup. Probably watched half of the games etc.

Thankfully today is no work for me and I'm being very leisurely. I normally have lots of plans for the holidays, days out booked etc. Food in the fridge etc but this year i'm taking a really laid back organic approach to the holidays. Money is tight, the kids are older and typical teens and happy to do nothing. I want to read a bit of my book and do some dumbell exercises.

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hello Tuesday!

Quick diary update as its a trip to the hairdressers for me in an hour! Luckily its a 4 min walk from home. Haven't tried this hairdressers before but way overdue a good cut.

DS2 bike finally sold, stuck to ma guns and sold for £60. Many wanted to sell for less but was determined there was the right person for the bike out there. Yesterday we didn't do too much. We played a board game in the afternoon and I won by miles! Amazing! 😁

For meals we defrosted a big tray of de-boned chicken leg meat which was on yellow stickered and had frozen down. This made a fake nandos chicken salad dinner and a Spanish chicken stew in the slow cooker for tonight and tomorrow night.

Money wise - the easy day in the morning gave me a bit of time to update recent spends and it was as bad as expected. We really are low and am having to be a bit smart in navigating school holidays. The kids esp DS1 can eat a lot. Ordered a set of 2 tennis racquets. Really wanted to buy 4 but at £40 a set of two I had to be sensible. Also booked an early bird ticket for a local agricultural show tomorrow. Kids are free and OH didn't want to go. So its just myself and the kids. Ticket was £20 for the 3 of us so no complaints. Will take our trolley with camping chairs. Going to need some more groceries today, will be making a picnic for tomorrow and running a bit short on ideas for meals. Will do my research and put on thinking caps.

This morning and yesterday picked up some surveys. July monthly target is now at 21% (£25.82 / £119.15).

Train refund to organise!

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hello Weds & day 3 of the summer hols.

Yesterday was a bit of a wobble day. We didn't do too much and the kids had more than am comfortable screen time but they didn't seem to mind. In the morning with OH we did a bit of gardening. Felt a bit bothered we didn't do much but I guess we can't do fun things everyday.

Hairdressing appointment happened later than booked. The salon wasn't open when I was originally booked for so assumed it was shut for the holidays. They later called me and re-booked for late morning. They appologised profusely and gave a 10% discount. After which we went food shopping. Our trolley cart (our own one) was overflowing and when rung through came to £102. Even the guy on the till said he expected it was going to be more. With two growing teens not sure it will last as long as we hope it will but it wasn't as bad as expected. As its normally just myself and OH our shopping trips are normaly a lot smaller so it was a bit of a gulp momment. Lucikly all paid using cash in Mon*o. Our litte fridge is now full and the chest freezer full. At this point really wish we had a larger fridge. Ours is quite a small cheapy fridge freezer that was bought as "temporary!" but we'll probably have till it packs up.

In the evening after much procrastination I did settle down to reading a few pages of my book. I was trying to read 12 books in 12 months and only on book 3. Failing myserably at this challenge!

Today was awake wayyyy to early but got up and put on the washing on and washed up last nights dishes. OH is not feeling well, he's come down with a cold / flu bug. We have to be careful of this so have been monitoring his temp and wondering whether I need to call the hospital. Normally I would say this is an overreaction but with him being immunocompromised its something we need to be mindful off.

Edit - OH is out of bed and seems a bit brighter than he has been so holding off calling the hospital for now.

Its a day out for myself and the kids with my mum & stepdad. We are taking a picnic and flask for tea. Hopefully a relatively cheap day out.

Baileys_Babe

Enjoy your day out and hopefully OH is much better when you get back.

As the children are now teens could they help with tidying up after dinner? If everyone pitches in at the same time you could make it more pleasurable by playing music - possibly taking it in turns to choose a track or each having an evening to be in charge, or playing 20 questions or who am I etc

Queen_of_the_Hive

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82077465#Comment_82077465

Morning @Baileys_Babe,

The agricultural show was really good, I think I needed it as much as the kids did!

Totally agree - the kids are old enough to help. I did get them to muck in a bit last night, they were not too impressed but yes, will be making them do a bit more over the time they are here! Thanks for that push in the right direction.

Queen_of_the_Hive

Good Morning, happy Thursday.

Our day out to the agricultural show was fabulous. The highlight for the kids was the ferris wheel. First time they went on they came off and wanted to go straight back on. My stepdad paid for the first lot of tickets and I bought the second. We also saw some stunt bikes in action, log chopping, kids v ferrits. The horticultural tent and homecrafts were my fav tents. Sadly we couldn't spend as much time as we would have liked as mum & stepdad needed to get back for their dog. Their dog would have been overwhelmed with the show so she stayed at home. The show really did me some good and came home in a calmer mood.

OH is feeling much better, no hospital needed and the flu like symptoms only lasted a day thankfully! He has a cold but is on the mend.

Today is going to be a quiet NSD. I fancy going to the beach today and OH is saying he needs to get out so we may get the bikes out for a ride around. Strangely enough there is a car park nearby which DS2 likes to ride around in. DS1 and I prefer to go to the cliffs on our bikes.

Finances wise - no real updates. I was reviewing the numbers last night and have really "drunk" through a small pot of money in July so really need to reign it in. At the show I did see some plants and some beautiful wicker baskets that were shining at me but, no I was good and stuck to my guns. Mum was encouraging me to "buy what I like" but mum is a skint magpie and I know better.

I think i'm going to try to pad out one or two of our meals with pulses. The kids and OH are not keen but they don't budget or appreciate the health benefits. We already pad out meals with veg too!

'Quietly' feels like its the word of the day as progress on the July survey challenge is quietly making progress in the background. 4 AI videos studies came up this morning topping the pot upto £53.79 / £119.14, so sitting at 45%! I'd love to get to 100% before the end of July. I won't have as much free time next week so truthfully not sure it will happen but giving it a good go. Am also quietly making progress on my book too! Again would love to finish this before the end of my little holiday from work.

Queen_of_the_Hive

eeek don't you just love your teen comparing you to his stepmum when it comes to meals and the kitchen. Admittedly she's pretty good in the kitchen but oh my days. Stepmum doesn't work and their home set up is pretty traditional. Their dad out at work and the wifey in the kitchen. It was not the life for me at all. I've had DS1 discussing his never ending hunger and the meals made from scratch ie home made bagels,burgers, pasta, pasta sauce, etc. I love to cook and bake but this is an occasion rather than being a normal thing. Its made me think I should probably attempt bagels to show willing. Now to dig out a recipe! Wish me luck.