From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning MFW'rs

We're back from a pretty good time away.  We got to do/see most everything that we'd wanted to see - not always easy when you're visiting a heritage site that is on the list of 'must sees' for any and every 'UK & Ireland Tour' from each and every country in the world.  But the one advantage we had over the 'tour bus' visitors was time.  I did feel sorry for them in a way, because it was only one stop of (clearly) several in the day.  No wonder they arrived, moved through the exhibition centre to the shuttle bus stop, whizzed to the main site, took 47 selfies at the first available spot, and jumped back on the shuttle and piled into the gift shop.......  

Our stay at Sir Lenny's gaff was OK.  For our location and on a Friday night, the room price wasn't too bad.  The only let down was a disconnect between our reservation for a family room, and the housekeeping prep that had the room clearly made up for single occupancy......  It was sorted, but was faff we didn't need after a long day.

We didn't spend a bean on our second day, with all sites being freely accessible.  We had a picnic lunch at a wonderful hill-top view point.  We were extremely lucky with the weather our entire trip, and all in all, had a wonderful time, and were back home at tea-time on Saturday.  I'm glad that DH managed to book a day off to coincide with LG's 'baker day' (that dates me!), as I should imagine visiting on a weekend gets mega busy.

DH now has tooth troubles, and his face swelled out yesterday, and he's in pain - the sort of pain that paracetamol and ibuprofen don't really touch 🙁  And of course, co-codamol is an option (in moderation), but has unwanted side-effects of its own 🙁  Fingers crossed he can get an emergency dental appt today.   The only "good" thing about it, is that you can clearly see his swollen face, there can't be any doubt in his employers mind that there is an issue.  Regretfully DH works with some people who "take the P" when it comes to wagging sick days, and so his employer takes the attitude that you have to be 99% dead and with a note from your great-grandmother to warrant time off........ 🙁

Wash 1 is pegged out, wash 2 is on it's final spin.  If I can get it all dry today, I shall be up to speed with uniforms and some weekend wear.  I'll take that, given the forecast for much of the week.

We had tomato meatballs and pasta on Saturday, sausage and mash with mixed veg and beans last night, and I made an apple crumble too, to use up oven space.  Thankfully everything was just about soft enough for DH to eat.  I made minestrone soup for lunch yesterday, as the weather was driech.  I used orzo pasta in the soup.

I scored some YS'd organic mushrooms from MrL on Saturday as we called in on the way home to grab some milk.  I bought 2 punnets 60% off so 56p a 300g punnet.  I must process them today, and will most likely make curry with them.  I had bought some potatoes from MrT on Saturday morning, as there was a store close by to the PI.  I bought a little bit of milk to make up flasks for lunch, and bought some tatties  (just ordinary white all rounders) as I was sure they were cheaper than MrL.  There was a YS'd cabinet, full of things (not particularly good discounts) but as the goods were in a chiller, behind doors, it made it difficult to 'rootle', so I gave up.

DH sorted out the car insurance yesterday.  My insurer had raised the premium by 35%, so eventually it got negotiated to a 10% rise, which was actually in a similar ball park to quotes that DH had got.  I've got to sort out the house insurance today.  

Right, best shift-a-tail-feather.  Things to do.  Greying X

Cherryfudge

It sounds like a worthwhile time away. I would struggle with the 'it's two o'clock on Tuesday, this must be St Paul's' sort of tourism. I'd actually rather see less and have time to take it in, but you've had the win/win of plenty of time and opportunity to see the site properly.

Sorry to hear about the tooth problem. Tooth pain seems so inescapable. I hope it gets sorted pronto. And surely with all that overtime, your DH's employer will take note that he's not workshy?

EssexHebridean

I recall some years back when we were in the Hebrides we were eating our lunch at a favourite spot of ours - a small parking area in a little bay, overlooking the water and the rocks where seals sit out and bask. A tour bus turned up, and a little gaggle of its occupants disembarked and started taking photos. A couple of them wandered across in front of us to the infographic board and there was much excitement about the news that seals could be seen. A quick scan about, general disappointment "Oh dear, they must be somewhere else today..." then they all piled back on the bus and off they went to their next stop. I kid you not - they were there for well under 5 minutes, and there were a good 15 - 20 seals hauled out on the rocks as close as we have ever seen them...certainly in clear view without needing binoculars...! 

Greying_Pilgrim

Thanks Cherryfudge.  Unfortunately DH's workplace has unnecessary levels of management that don't take 'personality' into account.  They are driven by numbers, numbers, numbers, at the expense of common sense.  I agree that in most every workplace you have people who spoil it for others, but systems aren't set up for when it's a real illness/emergency or unavoidable event.

I agree with you about the 'pack everything in' type of tourism.  But can also imagine if I ever wanted to see the Pyramids, or The Sydney Opera house, or Machu Picchu or Victoria Falls, I would pretty much have to be part of the 'bus tour' system 🙁  I have to say, once you got past the initial crowds, 100 yards or so from the shuttle bus stop, it was pretty easy to stand and stare.  Plus I was mightily impressed at the amount of people offering to take pictures for each other - complete strangers, but helping each other to record the moment. 

Anyway, the good news is DH got an emergency appt.  He's been put on antibiotics and will have the tooth removed possibly next week.  An unforeseen expense (October is always a full on one, financially), but there is money in the pot to cover the costs, so DH can get the treatment.  This is what makes me so mad when people 'sneer' at you for budgeting or being 'careful' with your spending, or take the P out of your kid for not having the latest gaming station, or for not going to themed resorts on holiday.  All those things are nice, but they pale into insignificance if you haven't got your health.  And DH does go to the dentist annually, so he does try to do his bit to keep his teeth healthy - plus there is no doubt we are blessed to be placed with an NHS dentist, so whilst I appreciate expense is expense, the costs are known at least.  

All the washing is out on the line, and there is a good breeze and sun (at the moment), so fingers crossed it gets a good blow.  

Activity tonight, so I will have to prep tea.  Must think of something not too onerous to eat, as DH will only be one, maybe 2 doses into the anti-b's and they're unlikely to have kicked in that quick.

Definitely already feeling very blessed that DH has been helped today, and a plan is in place to sort out the problem in the longer term.  

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Oh EH - that's a good one! 🤣  We found that folk wandered over to the exhibition cases and/or interpretation boards, and actually, did anything but read them or look at them - one mother started redoing her (adult) daughters hair in front of a very interesting/informative exhibit, blithely unaware that it was pivotal to the understanding of what they had arrived to see, and they were blocking everyone else's view. Eventually sufficient plaits, bobbles and kirby grips had been positioned, and they moved away.........😁  

Mind, people watching can sometimes be a big part of the fun of going places, can't it....... 👍

Greying X

badmemory

I have to say that I have only been on those bus tour things abroad & that was definitely not my experience.  My impression has always been that whoever is running the tour is on a commission from the local stores.  One tour guide even told us which stores to go in & which to avoid.  It is as always all about the money.  Still I guess seals can't pay commission & it would appear some people need glasses.

Cherryfudge

Excellent to hear DH got prompt treatment! I hope he's feeling better soon, and you are quite right about having your health. I'm very glad of mine and try not to take it for granted.

I've not been to most of the places you mention, but I've been to Sydney Opera House and if ever you go there, you won't need a tour bus. We had a wander round and had pre-booked tickets for a performance. Sydney is a lovely city and easy to get round - though the Harbour Bridge is £££ (my keyboard doesn't have dollars) and I preferred to look at that from a distance. We 'did' Uluru on a tour, though, and it was wonderful: the tour guides are really informative and it's possibly not a place to go without someone to link to as the dessert is so vast.

northwalesd

Agreed on the opera house Cherryfudge, I actually did the harbour bridge climb, yes it was expensive but the chance of a lifetime as I didn't think I'd ever go back to Australia (that was 2013 and I haven't - at least so far).

redofromstart

I think the only time we ever did a bus tour was 'Uluru' as a sunset bus tour, which was so not us, so the next day we hired a Harley and did the bits we wanted to see at our own pace.  V expensive but worth it.  Funnily enough I was looking at the Australia photos last night as part of choosing memorial pictures.

Baker days, I knew them as that too.

greenbee

Best place to see Sydney Harbour Bridge from (in my opinion anyway!) is from the swimming pool underneath it as dawn is breaking. Jet lag meant it wasn't even an effort to get up and be there when they opened