From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

Greying_Pilgrim

oooh, kayannie - sounds lush - all aboard the charabanc to your house for pud! 😁

Well, that's activity done and dusted for the last time 🥲It was amazing seeing the LG of today, from the LG of a couple of years ago.  It's not been a straight line progression, and there's been times when we almost gave up - nothing seemed to be working to get LG to believe in themselves - but then today they were 'at home', comfortable and effortlessly 'doing their thing'.  No mummy goggles required to realise this was one of those 'parenting' moments that you aren't entitled to see, but gosh, it's jolly lovely when you do 🥰  LG gave their instructor a card - I'd managed to get a terribly spiffy one from 3t$y, which was just the ticket - and they'd not only written the card themselves, but they'd actually sat and composed what they wanted to say.  The only bit I did to help was to write it down first, so that it was captured to copy with their 'bestest hand' 😁 Again, in this digital world, that probably ranks as nowt, but it took a little time and effort, and conveys respect and thoughtfulness I think.  I shall miss the activity, I shall miss the instructor - who thought the world of LG, but I definitely shan't miss travelling the back country roads, particularly in the autumn and winter.  Onwards and sideways, into something new - in time, no rush.

Whilst we were at the venue, it absolutely hammered down with rain for approximately 3 minutes.  But that's all we've seen today.  It's currently very humid - I wish the weather would break in a controlled way.  I don't think there was rain in Greying Town whilst we were out - but I was thankful I'd got the washing in before we left, as it's bone dry and ready for putting away.  

Tea was Mediterranean stew and I plumped for the bulghar wheat in the end.  We're (only) having yoghurt (no cakey) for pud ☹️  There is a lunch-size portion of the stew left.  It used up the last 2 YS'd tatties, the last 2 free courgettes.

I think i may soak some chickpeas overnight again.  It won't harm at all to have some more cooked chickpeas in the freezer ready for popping in whatever.  

I did go shopping today (almost forgot).  I got some snacks for LG for lunches, as we'd run short - I went to MrAl and I got yoghurt too.  £7.46 needs to be added to my siggie.

Can't think of anything else MSE, so I'll push orf.  Ta for popping in.  It's always appreciated.  

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning MFW'rs

We've almost got ed's rain.  I'm not sure we've a consistent pitter patter, but it is damp and very breezy.    The garden is absolutely alive with birds flitting about scouring the greenery for bugs and goodies to eat, and the best thing is - the babies are out too!  Young; blue t1ts, coal t1ts, blackbirds and house sparrows are all joining in the hunting and gathering.  I'm pretty sure I saw chiff chaffs too, but I think they may have been the adults.  But it's just so busy out there 😁

We happily helped out a chum with something this morning, so we were up and at 'em, early doors.  

I won't be putting a wash on today.  Not a hope in hades of getting it dry.  

I think I will walk into Greying Town just now - whilst there are showers, it's not too bad and I need to sort out a couple of things.  

Can't think of anything of MSE note to report.  Ta for being here.

Edit:  Doh!  I am stupid, one of the things I wanted to mention was that i did remember to put 500g of chickpeas on to soak last night and I have just cooked them up this morning.  They are just natrually depressurising, and I'll drain them before I leave the house, so that they can cool, ready to be boxed up and popped in the freezer.  One MSE thing done this morn 😁

Greying X

rtandon27

Greying_Pilgrim said:

...I won't be putting a wash on today.  Not a hope in hades of getting it dry...

Aha - a clue as to where you are spending your time today 😉 - the third level of hell where it is always raining.  Be sure to pick up some honey cakes when you go shopping to feed to Cerberus.

Greying_Pilgrim

Oooooooooh, rt you're far too high-brow for me!  Anything beyond Julian, Richard (shortened), Anne, George & Timmy* and you've got me.  I've no recall of all them gods & goddesses and who did wot to whom, and who was married to whom 🤣

Well, it was nice enough walking into Greying Town, although it was humid, so it was uncomfortable to wear a waterproof, but just as I was finishing off my chores, the rain came heavier.  It was still horrendously humid, but the rain was more consistent and the pavements finally stopped 'drying off' the rain the instant it fell.  

Still, I enjoyed the walk/exercise.  I picked up a couple of books in the library that were on the list Blackcats provided.  I don't know if they will float LG's boat, but they are two different genres, so they offer breadth to the list, and there is plenty of choice on the list and scope given LG's love of reading.  And I think even schools accept that kids can start books, find the story unengaging or boring and toss it aside - I guess picking up something else is the key.  It was lovely that the librarian that checked the books out knows us by sight and was asking after LG as they recognised I was using LG's card/checking out children's books.  We are so blessed that folk think to ask after/look out for/think so well of LG.

I bought some postcards to send a couple of notes to people, and I bought a (much, much needed) pair of 'everyday' (walking) trousers for me. 

I've no idea what to make for tea.  Hopefully it will freshen up a little.  Hot food isn't pleasant in humidity.  

Greying X

* The Famous Five

Greying_Pilgrim

I did forget to mention, that when I was in the library, I looked at the noticeboard, and in the 'leaflets' section and I found a kid's trail that has been set up around Greying Town, for the summer hols. So I picked up the leaflet.  There is a competition, you have to find clues to work something out for the chance to win a prize.  But even if we just walk from place 1, to 2, to 3.... etc, it's a nice route, and as EH's nan says - it provides an opportunity to look up! (and around, and down and to the side....... 😁).

So that can be added to the list of 'things to do'.  I was also thinking last night that in previous holidays, I have talked about LG and I perhaps treating ourselves to 'lunch out' (difficult when your small person is wedded to picnics! 🤣).  Perhaps we can do that, this summer hols, on a day when we've done the 'buildings', or the 'celebrity of this city', or the 'children's treasure' trail.  Knit a couple of things together to make it more of an outing, despite 'staycationing' 😁

Greying X

rtandon27

@Greying_Pilgrim - Thought you might have to have a laugh as my English-2-English translator was called upon to explain the famous-5!  We didn't have them across the pond!

So incase you need to entertain LG on a rain day during the holidays...
I'm a big fan of the Beeb 🤣🤣🤣

ETA - OH says all is not lost on me as I did read Mallory Towers!

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening MFW'rs

I shall bear that website in mind rt 😁What's the betting we'll have oodles of rain now that we're on the cusp of the hols for some schoolchildren 🙄

LG had a chum around afterschool for an impromptu play date.  Funnily enough, as I've got older, I cope a little better with impromptu - I tend to suffer analysis paralysis if I have too much opportunity to plan.  The downside with impromptu is when you've not much in - in terms of snacks or drinks.  Gosh, I was a little embarrassed by that - but a few sweeties were found, water or juice were offered and we'll just have to try harder next time.  

Tea was black eye bean and vegetable curry, lentil dhal and rice.  Yoghurt for pud.

Ta for popping by.  Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning MFW'rs

I've a wash pegged out and another to set out just now.

I did the main shop today, as I've got to take the big car into the garage tomorrow, and I'm not sure how much of the day that will munch.  

I went to MrS.  No boxes.  I did end up spending more money than I intended, but I was able to make use of several n*ctar offers on JS own brand vitamins, 342 meat-free frozen and 342 frozen veg.  I also had a small discount on some vanilla extract for cooking.  I saved just over a tenner, but spent £51.14 😱

This last week of school is dragging.  

Not too sure what to do for tea.  I think it'll stay warmish and dry, so stew and dumplings won't be on the agenda.......

Greying X

LotsOfTea

I miss-read your post to begin with and thought you had bought 3 hundred and forty two items and then thankfully my brain started working again! 🤦‍♀️ 

Sounds like you've got loads of lovely things planned for the Sunday holidays. My nearly-teenager is a lot harder to motivate to leave the house with just his parents these days although he is looking forward to us going camping during the summer break. He has been helping his dad out with some furniture assembly though which you'd think would be really boring to a child (it sure is to me!) so I guess even the most mundane things can entertain them sometimes.

Greying_Pilgrim

LotsOfTea - I bet we could come up with a list of 21 things that we think our kiddos - of any age - would love, and yet they would be all 'meh' about it, but leave a packing box about, that still has the delivery bubble-wrap in it, and they'd be content for several hours...... 🤣  I'm trying to go into this holiday with the mindset that if my list is 'long' enough, then something will stick, and I'm not to get discouraged if somethings don't float, or what I think will take up a morning, has been completed in 10 minutes........ 🤣  How handy to have a kiddo engaged in furniture building tho.  YAY!

Yeah, you can't move in here now - 342 bags of frozen veg takes up an awful lotta room....... 🤣😉

Greying X