From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

rtandon27

A child with the love of a leaf of an Acer! LG is a baba after my own heart ❤️ 

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning MFW'rs

Grey and dreich with us today.  I have just pegged a wash out - there is a gentle breeze, and we might have sun later, so I am definitely engaging in laundry roulette.  The house is already topsy-turvy with half the kitchen in the living room, so if I have to put stuff on airers later, we may well have to sit on the roof this evening to find space..... 🙄

DH is reluctantly preparing to do another coat on the kitchen ceiling.  I don't know why he asked me my opinion, because if he left it as it is, he will only spot 'thin' patches from hereonin, and moan, moan, moan about it.  Why not get it 'better' (not perfect) whilst the place is in upheaval, and then when you finally put your brush down, you can say 'good enough' and know in your heart it is.  

DIY............... 😡 Getting trades in......😡.....rock.........hard place.........😡

I was going shopping this morning, for the 'non' MrL bits, but then I remembered about the roadworks 😕  They don't affect hB and MrS directly (MrL and MrAl, yes), but there will doubtless be a knock-on effect.  I don't think I can be bothered to traipse over to the next market town along though.  Decisions, decisions.

There is definitely the incentive to get out of the house tho whilst DH is painting.... 🤔

These are all first world problems, and ultimately, nice problems to have, so please take no heed of my grumbling.  

I'm going to sort out my shopping list to see if there is anything that is worth queuing in traffic travelling for..... although I need some uniform bits too, and our MrS is usually quite good at carrying clothes.  The two market towns along in either direction are very poor on children's clothes, particularly uniform.  Mmm, decisions.  I could walk I guess.......

Right, I also haven't amended my grocery spend in the siggie, so must do that.

Ta for popping in.  Appreciated.  I shall endeavour to moan much less - as in reality we are blessed, and we do realise it...... most of the time.......

Greying X

Cheery_Daff

You moan as much as you like dear Greying. You can get it off your chest in here and if that helps you be more cheerful at home then so much the better 😊

EssexHebridean

Might a solution for the DIY to be for Mr GP to take *some* time off when LG is at school for DIY stuff, and then a few days of a HT or other school holiday to do family things? That way perhaps he feels as though he can focus on the DIY without the pressure of expectations around doing other things, or the distractions of LG being about the place and him wanting to play with them, too? 

badmemory

Is LG old enough yet to be Mr GPs assistant/labourer.  I was my father's labourer from quite a young age.  It may give them together time & give LG bragging rights at school (always a bonus).  It will also help LG learn how to do these jobs.

Greying_Pilgrim

Certainly badmemory there are jobs that LG can do, and they do help - but sometimes they just can't.  I remember working with my parents too, on a wide variety of jobs and for sure skill transfer happened.  I am afraid times have changed tho, and doing stuff with your parents (particularly practical/DIY/gardening etc etc) holds positively no cache at school these days.  They are indicators that your family are boring/old/tight/poor/losers - take your pick for descriptor.  Bragging rights comes with acquiring "stuff", going to exotic places, spending lots of money, eating out etc etc. 

EH - we have tried to accommodate those type of days off in term time etc etc.  The holidays situation got a bit messed with for the tail end of this year at DH's work, due to colleague ill-health and a rather opaque leave system, not to mention an insistence that only 1 person can be off at a time.  Understandable in a small business, but a nightmare in any organisation with double digit employee numbers in multiple sectors/departments.  We ended up having to take the time when "allowed" or lose the holiday entitlement all together 😕  DH did take time off in the summer when LG went to camp, and he literally worked every minute LG was away - and "just" finished in time.  But we also lived existed in a junk store for a couple of days.  As adults - it was pretty much the song-sheet to our lives, and we made do when it came to meals etc.  But throw a small into the mix, or even an aged parent, and you can't operate like that for very long 😕  Unfortunately at this house we have no 'spare 'ooms' to move stuff into whilst we do stuff like decorate.  I realise covering stuff up is possible, but sometimes you need the minimum stuff in the room just to be able to swing a roller, or move a step ladder etc.  Again, degree in hindsight stuff, there was really too much (physical and decorative) that needed doing to this house.  With where we are at - at this moment in our lives - we would have been better moving into a house that didn't need much doing, but then we couldn't afford those type of homes, and we really would have been stuffed had we still been renting - I know the tenancies have changed in the interim, but the rent for the house we were at has absolutely sky-rocketed since we left.  Plus, you know how kids moan that the school day lasts for-evvarrrrrrrr, it's only 6 hours.  6 hours........  🤣

Fingers crossed DH will have finished the 3rd coat to the ceiling this afternoon, and we can have a bit of a relaxed time for the rest of the hols - although if I were y'all, I'd buy shares in manufacturers of pain relief spray/cream for sore necks/backs and shoulders n.o.w. 🤣

I'm going to bring the washing in just now.  I don't suppose it is 'dry', but it will turn back to being cold/damp if I don't shift a tail feather.  There has been a breeze, so at least it should be drier than when it got put out.  

God knows what's for tea.  We'll not go hungry.  But I don't think it'll be anything 'from scratch'.  At least i have eggs now so that DH and LG can bake together.........

Right, washing.  

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning MFW'rs

Well, the good news is - the painting is done!  3 coats of paint on the ceiling (with the relevant kitchen grade being used).  No obvious darker patches (paint was going on over 'new' plastering), and it looks good.  Hurrah!  Kitchen was restored to functioning.  

It was freezer tea - pizza and pasta with pasta sauce.  Unfortunately, coming back into the kitchen from the garage freezer I stepped onto to the mat in the kitchen, it slipped and I clacked my other ankle against the step.  Ow blessed ow.  It hurt.  I may have sworn.  Quite loudly.  It did swell up and a bruise quickly formed 🫤  To be fair to DH, although he did wipe the kitchen floor, he didn't use anything out of the ordinary, so it must have just been one of those things.  The crappy lino does need replacing, but in the short term we've just removed the mat.  I'm sure you can get mats with non-slip backing, so we'll investigate that.  To be fair, these mats are ones we've always had, but mostly they have been laid over carpet, or textured tile.  I still have a bruised ankle this morning, and it is a bit 'stiff', but I can move it/put weight on it, so all is well.

Another dreich day here.  I will double check if there is any washing I must do, as yesterday's didn't dry fully.  I had the dehu on for 2 hrs on clothes mode, but stuff was still damp (partic, cuffs and collars).  I haven't anymore airer room if stuff doesn't dry today.  

I did end up going to MrS and hB yesterday - I was pleasantly surprised that there wasn't gridlock when I went.  I had to go in DH's car, as it was less hassle than moving DH's, getting mine out and doing it all in reverse when I got back.  I managed to get one bit of school uniform - it fits, but it's not a 'good' fit.  Honestly, what shape do manufacturers think human beings are?  Anyway, I used the balance of my n*ctar points to pay towards the uniform.  Although online it said I had..... £8-something to spend, and the till only took off £7.50.  Anyone know why there is the mismatch?  I got a load of points from a purchase (which probably amounted to tuppence), in Argoose - can I only spend those points in Argoose?

Not too sure what is on the cards today.  I will need some food shopping, it's just a case of where it comes from. 

We won't be doing anything halloweeny.  LG got to carve (and bring home) a pumpkin from club - I would have bought one otherwise.  Rightly or wrongly, I am not a fan of halloween (neither is DH), so we haven't really indulged LG in dressing up or parties or costumes.  This year it happens that they didn't have an actual halloween party to attend - they have for the past 2 years.  I really don't agree with 'trick or treating', and I do think it is interesting that some US blogs etc are now bemoaning the amount of candy that gets bought/consumed, and how parents are resorting to buying it off their kids so that the kids eat a bit healthier.  Rightly or wrongly I am of the opinion that if we don't start, we may (may) not have the problem to contend with in the future.  LG is like any other kid, they will eat chocolate, sweets and biscuits and cake until it comes out of their ears.  But if we don't have it, they don't eat it.  We do still have the baking to do.  I may put out the cupcake stuff for them today - the biscuit mix isn't specifically halloweeny, so they can make those another day.  

Oh, and just because i don't agree with halloween, it doesn't mean I don't respect others choice to indulge in celebration.  Wherever we have lived previously, folk have decorated/trick or treated, but if you've not (obviously) joined in, your house has been left alone - which is how, I think it ought to be.  It will be interesting to see what happens tonight.  It is our first halloween here, and of course, LG knows many of the children who live locally - although i think that our estate is very mixed, and we have plenty of adult only households - some of whom have decorated, many of whom haven't.......

I am all for celebrating autumn.  I saw the most beautiful wreath on a door at the weekend, which just 'sung'.  The leaves and berries and plants that had been used, were just absolutely from the autumn palette.  Either an artist or a florist must have made it.  I'm afraid I did take a picture of it, it was soooooo beautiful.

Right, better go and see what the plan of action is for the day.  I realised at the weekend, Family Greying is no good at making decisions.......

Greying X

themadvix

N3ctar points only get used in £2.50 chunks, which is why they’ll only have taken £7.50 off. I never remember this until I come to use them!

Not fans of Halloween here - or at least, not what it has become which is an over-sugared, over-hyped, imported from America waste of resources that end up in landfill. I don’t mind carving a pumpkin and dressing up as a witch in a homemade costume (as we did as children), but that’s definitely not what it’s about these days and the fact it seems to start in the shops in September is dire. Yet another marketing success and planet-saving failure. I hope LG enjoys the baking though. 😊

Autumn/harvest are a whole different matter and very much to be enjoyed!

rtandon27

Was going to pipe in re Necatr points but Vix beat me to it 😂

Instead I'll add my two penneth on the 'American' Halloween!  I'm actually from north of 'THAT' boarder. but it was always good fun - celebrated as Vix says with costumes & being allowed to prowl about the neighbourhood in the dark seeking goodies for our treat bags!  We had parties very similar to Nov 5 with bonfires, toffee apples, grilled hotdogs & s'mores!  In the multi-cultural city I grew up in, it was one of the few ways that everyone from different backgrounds came together over a common festival!  The funny thing is that we all considered it a colonial legacy!  Imported from Brits celebrating Samhain Eve - so I do chuckle everytime I hear it referred to as 'American'

Now, being very much removed from all childhood festivities, both in time and distance, I take every opportunity to celebrate everything!  So today in the office we are celebrating All Hallows Eve, Diwali and the 13th anniversary of me being the den mother at this here fine establishment! 😉 Bacon sarnies & coffee have been had - and once we've all done some actual work, the 'children' will be rewarded with sweeties and chocolate in loot bags which will then mean there will be no actual work for the rest of the morning! For afternoon tea we will be feasting on Samosas and chai - which means not a lot of work will be done at all!

Cheery_Daff

Ha, your office sounds great RT! 😃 Happy work anniversary! 

I'm not a fan of plastic tat, but I am all in favour of celebrating anything and everything, and I think seasonal traditions are a good way of marking the passing through the year, embracing seasonal activities as something to look forward to and all that. We never did trick or treat, but we did do apple bobbing in the house - there's a fantastically evocative photograph of my mum in her dressing gown looking rather gloomy while the dog laps water from the washing up bowl filled with apples 😂😂 Doesn't scream FUN but it does make me reminisce 😂😂 

Not bothering with it here, we won't exactly get any passing trade anyway 😂 but I'm definitely trying to do some autumnal things at the minute to make me embrace autumn rather than just resenting that summer has gone.