From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

rtandon27

@Greying_Pilgrim - There are many who don't like the option of home delivery!

I have an Aunty across the pond who believes grocery delivery is the work of the devil & during pandemic was glad for her food & basic supply stores! 🤣 She has asked me on several occasions how I can trust anyone to squeeze the oranges for me!  My mom sees her grocery escapades as a way to get out of the house on a regular basis and allows her to pick just what she fancies when she fancies it.  She does not understand the concept of eating seasonally, when there is perfectly good produce to be had all year round.  She does not understand how I buy a kg of carrots or onions at a time, or why I would eat a swede when I prefer an aubergine!   I have explained to them both that most fruit and veg here do not come loose, so I'm at peace with receiving bagged produce. To be fair most of our own veg comes without packaging in our veg box or straight from the farm when we can, but none of it would not be anywhere near the perfect specimens they are accustomed to!

Happy Solstice to you and family Greying!  Wishing you a cosy long night and the joy the lengthening days will bring! XOXOX

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning MFW'rs

Well, we all enjoyed our Solstice meal last night.  The only thing that didn't get eaten was half a roast parsnip - it was on LG's plate, but they had eaten the other half, and all the rest of the veg, including shredded sprouts, carrots, roast tatties and mash.  I had even put a teaspoon of bread sauce and a dribble of gravy on LG's plate and they had eaten that too, so although I usually try to avoid food waste, half a parsnip is not too bad a result.   I went with quorn filets in the end, so that we can have 'hot dogs' with the veggie sausages, probably tonight, or perhaps tomorrow.  We didn't bother with pudding last night, as LG and DH had had cake at the community cafe, and we were all full.  

I'm not too sure what we will achieve today, as the weather forecast isn't brilliant.

I'm hopeful that LG and I will make welshcakes as an activity for advent.  

LG has continued to be delighted by the tree. They decorated it quite well - I expected to have to change round the decs when they had gone to bed.  But once we'd talked about the principle of 'all-round' decoration, and I'd stopped them 'twizzling the tree' facilitate this (I'd already put the lights on, and they didn't realise that it was twisting the cable 😬), They just flew with it 😁

The couple of items i washed yesterday dried really well on the line, and I have got them on the airer (there really isn't room for it, but...) and they are now dry enough to put away.  Whether I will be able to keep out of the launderette over the next week or so, remains to be see.

I must catch up with DH with regard to his wages.  Although his payslip came through, I don't think that means he's been paid early - will have to double-check.  But I will need to work out what money is to be allocated where, as there is at least one (his) credit card bill in to be paid - and then the money will come out on the usual dates to meet our bills.  We won't be 'spending' the wages any earlier.  January is a long enough month as it is.  

Can't think of anything more MSE related at the mo, so will shuffle orf.  Ta for popping by.

Greying X

peb

What a lovely meal.    I believe you influenced me on the purchase of sausages and french bread for a form of hot dog but I was too full after lunch out for anything last night so it'll be brunch today 


Gosh.  Having had torrential rain here I'm contemplating washing Christmas day as the forecast is currently excellent 

Only a Sainsbury's cheap swede and potatoes acquired yesterday, the shelves were bare at Lidl and no carrots available.  Couldn't fit sprouts in the meal plan.

Have a good day.  Today is my Christmas baking day 

rtandon27

Glad to hear Solstice meal was a success!  Ours was pizza with crispy smashed potatoes (instead of wedges).

I've got a load in the machine as we are again living with full laundry bins & need to catch up - today is sheets and facecloths with a scoop of stain remover as the facecloths are used for make-up removal!

We also ventured forth to MrS for a top-up shop - I gritted my teeth & OH bared his! It was a madhouse!

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning MFW'rs

RT Pizza and crispy smashed potatoes sounds super yum!  Are you still going to the local pub/food truck for date night?  I was trying to remember - they do Poutine? right?

A wash is on.  Smalls and lightweight clothing.   There is supposed to be a weather window this morning - I am not sure the breeze will be strong enough though, so fingers crossed.  peb I have a feeling I too will be hanging out a wash on Christmas Day 🙁 in order to keep up - although the weather forecast keeps changing, and I'm not too sure if there will be sufficient breeze to make it worthwhile.  I don't know if any of the energy apps that work on a dynamic pricing model are showing low prices for wind-generated power this week?  And yes, I do realise the irony, given it's the week the nation as a whole probably consumes the most sprouty goodness all year........ 😉

Hot dogs and chips went down well yesterday.  DH had the last portion of l/o soup for lunch and we had cheesy crumpets too.  

I'm pondering whether to pop over to the next market town along the way this morning, to perhaps snag a haircut - I should imagine the salon will be open.  The market town is quite compact and has all the shops I use in one place.  However, if it's heaving, it's not a pleasant place to be.  Will ponder on.  It's only the haircut that is driving the thought to go there really.  Everything else could be purchased (if in stock), in Greying Town, plus I'm low on petrol....... mmmmm.

I went for a walk yesterday again.  It was a bit blustery, but once  i started out, it wasn't as bad as I thought and I ended up walking further than I had initially anticipated.  It was quite quiet out and about, but mostly urban/edge of urban walking.  I suspect all the birdies and small mammals were snugly tucked into any bush, tree or crevice as it was really quite blustery.  I had spotted 2 herons flying about in the morning - which given our nearness to a couple of pools, wasn't without context, but I did think it usual to spot 2 flying around "together" - they seem to be a more solitary bird.  

Anyhoo, I think the washing machine is beeping, so I had better see if I can stumble around in the dark to peg stuff out.  The clothes are going to need every second they can get out on the line today.  

Ta for popping by.  Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

So we popped to the shops this morning.  I did wonder if I had made the right decision going to the hB on the big retail park when we hit the queues to the island that serves the entrance 😬  Anyhoo, we were able to change lanes off the island and go directly into the not too busy hB carpark.  I spent £10.20 on food items in there - yoghurt and sunflower oil were normal purchases, and I picked up a bit of cheese and a box of inexpensive crackers (for cheese) and some fruit.  I also spent £2.18 on some non-food items too.  We then popped to MrL for some milk, a loaf of bread, some more fruit and some onions.  Total spend in MrL was£5.71.

We then came home via MrA to get some fuel for the car.  

Before lunch LG  was starting to get a bit bored so we went out for a walk.  It was only urban, pavement walking, mostly through housing estates, but I was impressed that LG was keeping up (they normally lag behind and I spend all my time encouraging them on), and that they didn't moan once.  They were able to point out the house that had put out the 'free to good home' cooking apples that we had enjoyed in the autumn.  When we got home, I looked up our route on a distance calculator to find that we'd actually walked 4.2 miles and burnt 313 calories each!  It was a really nice walk - helped in having things to look at and point out, albeit wreaths, lights and decorations, rather than rabbits, birds and frogs, but it's one of the first walks I have ever enjoyed with LG - simply because we were walking and nattering.  They said they would like to go walking more before the holidays are over too😁

The washing got shoved out on the line at 7.30am.  I had to use the outside light to see what I was pegging where.  Thank goodness our garden isn't big and the light cast far enough to be useful!  I got it in about 1 hr ago.  Not bone dry, but then the winds were far lighter than they have been in recent days, so in that regard, it's done quite well.  Certainly dry to the touch, it would have cost £3 or £4 to have got it equivalent dry in the launderette.  I have now put it on the airer and got the dehu on.  Hopefully it will dry enough to be put away, probably tomorrow morning.  I am going to have to keep an eye on the clothes that we are needing/using, and the next priority will be DH's workwear.  If I could get that washed tomorrow, and mostly dried then I would feel a little more comfortable, although it's true that overall I have got behind with my loads again.  

Off to amend siggie.  Greying X

rtandon27

ooooooo Greying what a lovely surprise that the walk with LG was so enjoyable!  They are finally getting big enough to keep up and AND enjoy themselves - what a treat!

I've had one load in today & it is now on the drying rack beside the dehumidifier doing it's thing.  That part of the house has inadequate heating so the contraption does double duty to keep it livable!  I'm only aiming for one load a day, which over 10ish days or so will be more than adequate to get us all caught up!

We have definitely planned in the food truck every couple of weeks or so, but unfortunately both horrible train service and poor weather have meant that we have not ventured forth as planned.  Not really a negative, as Foxgloves says - keep it in your handbag! so we have saved funds which is always a positive.  Our next planned Poutine & wings adventure is planned for the afternoon of the 28th!  Weather permitting we will have an outdoor meal with mulled punch to go alongside and if it's too vile, we will hop in the car and make our way home with the nosh!

Tonight will be another cheap meal of store-cupboard sauce gussied up with mushrooms, with mushroom tortellini.  Followed up by a big bowl of popcorn and a movie of some sort.  It's all about the small pleasures!

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning MFW'rs

A wash is on (DH's work clothes), and I've another load of lights lined up.  I'm hopeful the temp/breeze combo today will get stuff more or less dry.  Don't particularly need the airer around on C'mas day.....

LG has blotted their copybook.  They have done 'something' to the tree.  Can't work out if they've been twirling it again, moving stuff for the sake of moving it, or whether they have in fact fallen into it/knocked it over......  There is at least one bauble damaged, and the tree looks nothing like it did when they decorated on Friday 🙄  Rather taken the shine off things.  

Just in case you always thought everything was perfect chez Greying.

You expect damage/accidents if there are pets/toddlers in the house, but to say that we're disappointed that LG has been fiddling - with the tree of all things! One of their favourite bits of Christmas! - is probably putting it mildly.  

DH is limping (literally) to the end of the working day, at a firm that is starting to demand more for less.  Colleagues are taking leave, and then demanding more time off, and think nothing of leaving others in the lurch with scheduled jobs and malfunctioning equipment.  So he's not a cheerful bunny.

I don't think we're in need of anything from the shops today.  We have sufficient.  And we're not entertaining any guests/attending any gatherings, so if we end up with beans on toast, that's on me for lack of planning.  I am conscious that it won't take much for me to give up Christmas altogether.  I won't, because that won't be fair on LG.  And my dad was a grinch about Christmas, and I don't want to pass that on, but neither do I think Christmas was ever about "excess" either.  

Tea tonight will be pasta bake from the slow cooker.  I had better make the pasta (base) sauce this morning though.  

Wondering if I can get in another walk today,  Think I need it.  

I'm coming across as a grump, and so I'll shove off.

Greying X

maddiemay

@Greying_Pilgrim please sort the family out with breakfast, put on your coat etc, pick up your phone (you might hear some puzzling bird calls) and head out of the door, you need some time outside just for you. (Insert stern, finger wagging grand-ma emoji.)

Virtual hugs.(((())))
MM

Greying_Pilgrim

Ha ha - I hear you maddiemay 😁  I do have to look after LG for most of the day tho, as DH is at work.

But I certainly shall take my phone with merlin app, on a walk - you are quite right, I shall try and go somewhere with a little more greenery today.  I just had the most wonderful (loud) serenade from a robin whilst pegging out the second load of washing - which was wonderful.  

Hugs gratefully accepted - thank you.

Greying X