From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

Greying_Pilgrim

Small deposited at school - check

Washing pegged out - check 

Shopping list curated - check

I'm delighted that there is more breeze than forecast, and although it is cold, the whites are currently in the sunshine (it'll only be for a couple of hours tho 🙁), and are flapping away merrily. Fingers crossed for 'as dry as possible' again.  I've got the de-humidifier on in the front room - just for an hour.  my theory is to just finish off the clothes from yesterday and get rid of the last of the condensation off the windows - actually, I've just checked and the machine has switched itself off, so I shall go and fold up the last of the clothes and put them away.

There were several things that I didn't get yesterday from MrL and one thing I forgot to get from hB.  So I've re-jigged my list and will go to MrAl for sultanas and then call in at other places on the way back - there are things that we've run out of (DH didn't mention) and I am going to stock up on things from hB whilst I'm there to get the thing I forgot 🙄  It's worth doing a 'bulk-ish' buy trip as that will be the area of Greying town fenced off with roadworks in a couple of weeks time.  With consideration, I can buy more or less what I need for November of some items.  Not fresh, obviously, but certainly I can prepare the storecupboard a bit better.  I was going to head out to the market town across the way - as they have all the shops I need, plus it would be a little expedition, but I think my time is better spent here and I'll save on travelling costs.  

As I was pegging out the whites, i reminded myself that I must add purchasing school tops to the 'to-do' list.  I purposely don't buy new at the start of school year, as there is the possibility that sunscreen will be required, and it wrecks shirts, so I am afraid I keep using the shirts from the summer term, and purchase new at half-term.  As yet I have discovered nothing that will remove sunscreen 'yellowing' from fabric.

Right, best get going again.  Lots to do.

Greying X

rtandon27

@Greying_Pilgrim - I thought of you this Monday past and completely forgot to mention it - the large bags of L@1la red lentils were on for a decent price at Mr.Al's in their cultural offering of all things Curry-house related. 

I picked up two "largest land mammals on earth that have distinctly massive bodies, large ears, and long trunks" brand chapatis at 1.15 per pack.  We've tried to make them at home but they really do require skill!  So store-bought is our go-to option.

Greying_Pilgrim

RT - HOW bizarre!  I am just back in, and came on to say......... I'm probably late to the party, but MrAl have la1la brand red lentils on offer!!!  There was no price on our packs, so a very kind assistant went to look for me and they are 2kg for £2.90.  £1.45 a kg is a good price, but I had it in my mind that MrT sells them cheaper when in conjunction with clubkard.  

Greying X

Cheery_Daff

What a lovely request for a trip from LG 😊😊 And how lovely that you have a cheerful plan for meeting it 😊

Greying_Pilgrim

Right, so back, shopping put away.  Socks pegged out...... (🙄 putting other clothes away, I noticed that DH was low on clean work socks so I threw the contents of the laundry basket into the machine whilst I went out).  

I have amended my siggie.  Excuse me, when did deodorant get so blooming costly?  I tend to buy several at once, as hB is dreadful for being OOS, but I am sure the last lot I bought was under £2.  I paid £2.49 each today 😱

There were some boxes in MrL again today.  Nothing to tempt me again though.  And the one box was just an absolute joke......... I got overcharged at the till and noticed the error before leaving the store.  The assistant was right 'off' with me today.  Unusual for them though, so I hope they weren't having a bad day - it wasn't their fault the YS didn't scan.   

It was a morning for lovely babies.  There was a lass in MrAl and I was struck by the contents of her trolley (all good), but she was carefully selecting from the shelves and the little baby (hers?) in the trolley, who was probably under 1, but able to sit up in the trolley seat, was literally following her every move, really engaged, and the lass was chattering - presumably to the baby, but maybe she was following her list too, making sure she had it all.  But it took me back to shopping with LG - they were the same, always intent to see what I was selecting..... 🤣  Then in hB there were a couple of ladies - possibly mam & daughter shopping together - and the younger woman had a baby on her arm, you know how when babies are still small, but they are able to sit on the crook of your arm and balance.  Oh goodness, it was a scrumptious little bundle - again, watching everything and taking it all in.  

Lawks, that's the morning gone and I've not done half the things I need to do today yet.

Ta for popping by.  Appreciated.

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning MFW'rs

Cold still start with us, and we had a weird shower of rain as DH left for work.  It was 'blotty' big drops, and there was the most weird smell - a smell of cold.  Sometimes if you open a freezer (particularly a frosted one), there is the same smell of cold/ice.  Very weird!

I have been looking on r1ghtmove and came across the house we sold several years ago.  It's on for a lot more money than we received for it, but then certainly the person who initially bought it off us did more work to it (ripped out period features and put in 'modern' fixtures and fittings).  It went up for alot of money about a year/18months  or so ago, but whether it didn't sell - imho it was well overpriced for a small house with on street parking.  And so perhaps the vendor has had time to t1tivate it a bit more and put it on again (ironically for about £20k less - which is still overpriced, but still).  

I didn't find a property (that we could afford) that would yield a reasonable school place/better options than we have currently.  So I better practise gratitude for what I have.  I just wish LG were happier at school.  The children seem cliquey or naughty.  I keep on trying to tell myself that whilst the 'school years' matter at the time, they don't really in the long run.  But LG's confidence has taken a complete battering at this school 🙁  And no, I don't like over-confident/bossy/arrogant kids, but LG regularly gets trampled on 🙁

I've stalled with my knitting and sewing - which is typical me!  I'm no 'finisher/completer' 🙄Still, I will finish the knitting, as I'm not that far off, and I know that the magic loop works, so if I knuckle down for an hour, the job would be done, and DH would have extra work hats in the 'right' 🙄colours.

I've done a wash of towels and some of DH's workwear.  I've pegged it out - optimistically.  It has stopped raining, and has brightened up (a little), but currently there is no breeze, so I appreciate I may have shot myself in the foot......

We had sausage, pesto pasta last night.  The sausages were only the little qu0rn cocktail sausages, chopped up, but it made a meal, and DH was able to eat it, and LG liked it, so...... We had a MrS fake c0rnett0 for pud and we all liked them - crunchy cones, as I am sure someone mentioned on here, so I would buy them again.  Soup for lunch (DH should be back) and I've not decided what to do for tea - most likely curry, but we'll see.  

I've contacted a plumber about doing the boiler service.  I haven't heard back yet.  I wish - in these days of modern technology - that they would at least send a preset 'sorry too busy' type message, rather than leave you hanging.  This was the same plumber who delayed sending his quote out for replacing the boiler and so we went with the other company - who we then felt ripped off by.  I just think if I contact another plumber, this first one will probably get back to me and I'll have to refuse him a second time..... I suppose the moral of the story is don't go back.......... Always move forwards.  

Right, best away and actually do something.

Ta for popping in.  Greying X

beanielou

No other school options nearby for lg ? 

Greying_Pilgrim

beanielou said:

No other school options nearby for lg ? 

Unfortunately not beanie.  They are all over-subscribed and there are waiting lists - even for kids who actually live 'in catchment'.  LG's current school is something of a 'catch all' for kids from all sorts of areas that can't get into the primary school nearest to them.  But technically - because we have moved - it is our 'local' school.

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Well, I'm delighted that the washing has been brought in pretty much 'dry'.  The towels are definitely 'good enough' and the tops will benefit from hanging on the airer overnight, but otherwise can be folded and put away.  I can't believe that as I am typing, there is rain spitting in the wind.  Timed it just right getting the laundry in, just after 3pm - and I saw a sparrowhawk (male I think), to boot!

Lunch turned out well.  Just potato soup with plenty of garlic and I used stock and evaporated milk.  Here's a question for you all - how come evaporated milk tins are so 'thin'?  Is it because the milk is 'cooked' in the can?  I know you can puncture evap milk tins to get the milk out, but i used the tin opener and it took the lid off and the rest of the tin was noticeably less structured/wobbly.  Anyhoo, the soup was slurped up with the last of the YS'd white baps I got from MrL last week.  

DH was back at lunchtime, so that was good.  He's now taken his last of the anti-b's course, so fingers crossed the infection has been zapped and now the extraction can go ahead.  We don't have a fund for dental work - well, not more than the checkups, so we can meet costs from 'emergency' savings and will have to sort out a budget line for the future.  Dentistry/glasses/hearing aids - given our individual genetic histories, they are all potentially going to kick in/get worse, so worth setting up a specific pot now.  

I have dug out a blanket to put on the bed as DH was complaining he was waking up cold last night.  

Greying X

Cheery_Daff

Sounds like your weather has been better than ours today Greying! Ours was a bit ropey first thing, then we had a spell of lovely sunshine, and now it's gloomy and proper raining. Glad you got your washing dry!