From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

Humdinger1

Well done @Greying_Pilgrim! Can I ask what magic public sector card you waved? Full of admiration as ever love Humdinger xx 

Greying_Pilgrim

Humdinger - its a membership scheme that Staffordia put me on to.  I think it is for current and ex Civil Service/public sector council employees, definitely in England, pretty sure in Wales, sorry, not too sure if it covers Scotland.  You pay a monthly fee and there are membership benefits.  If you look for Civil Service Sports Council with a search engine, it should come up.  HTH

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning MFW'rs

Varied start to the day.  I went to peg out the washing that got soaked twice yesterday afternoon 🙄 and spotted something moving in the garage 😱 Turned out to be the tiniest wee toad.  DH was roped in to save it, and I took it back out into the garden - which we managed without actually handling it.  Then I pegged out the washing, and noticed..... a wasps nest in the bottom of the wall...... 🙄 It was like the flight path to heath row, with buzzy things 🙄 At least it's in a spot that we needn't get too close too, even when pegging out, but grrrr.

I've some shopping to pick up, we're out of apples and I didn't get around to getting any type of notepad that LG can use as a journal.  

I've a notion to go out to a site today that may interest LG.  They have already started nagging, "what are we going to do today".  I think going forward - when the weather settles a bit, they will have to assume responsibility for organising a day trip, as they currently have no idea how many variables you have to consider in planning a day out.  

Tea last night was burger baps and wedges.  I used up most of the tatties I bought in MrS.  Ice-cream (fakey cornettoey) for pud.

Can't think of anything else MSE at the mo.

Greying X

Staffordia

Glad you enjoyed your day out, and the card worked for you. 

Greying_Pilgrim

Right trip to hB undertaken.

LG was helpful and pushed the trolley.  Thank heavens for tall members of staff on hand to get the item that had been pushed right to the back of the tippy-topmost shelf 😁 They were professional and pulled the other remaining item right to the front too, so that other shoppers were helped 😁

We managed to get a pad for LG that wasn't overly expensive, and had dividers in it with pockets for tickets etc.  They are busy filling in a page for yesterday's adventure 😁We're going for a 'what, where, when' approach with a couple of other questions thrown in for expansion, and maybe a quick sketch of something if applicable.  

I spent £7.35 on food and £3.07 on non-food.

Right, I'll update my siggie and then get making a quick pack-up.  I want to try to get a quick trip in this morning, lest the weather should become an issue.

Greying X

themadvix

I used to love the answers we got to ‘what was the funniest thing that happened today’ in the brownie holiday diaries. Might not entirely work, but does involve a bit of reflection!

Greying_Pilgrim

tmv - we went in that vein, and have got 'fun fact' as an answer option.  I want to try to get the balance right in between LG writing something most days, keeping a record of what we do (to stem the inevitable "I'm bored, we never do nuffink") and keeping things light and social versus academic and rigorous.  I bet you had some corkers from the Brownies - particularly if something went 'wrong' and the adults were all thinking along the lines of 'risk assessments' and 'accident logs' and the kids were oblivious and just thought it was all part of the plan 🤣

Well, we've had a lovely morning and been out and about.  Seen the sights, managed to contain the gift shop spend to acceptable levels, made a donation, been entertained plus we ate our lunch in a very nice spot outside which was sufficiently shaded, but not in a draft or freezing out of the sunlight.  We've been lucky with the weather.  It's currently wall-to-wall sunshine.  

My aunt phoned us whilst we were out and about, and we're on for a visit to her and my uncle on Wednesday.  So that's another activity to pop on the calendar.  I haven't seen them in a while, and none of us are getting any younger.

I topped the car up with fuel on the way back, as we'll swop between my little putt-around and the big car, depending on the journey we're likely to make.  

I'll have to think about meals for this week, especially Wednesday, as we're unlikely to have an early finish up at my aunts, and DH will still want feeding, irrespective of how stuffed with cake we are......... 🤣

Right, LG needs shooing gently towards their diary - they have stuck something in on today's page, but we just need a bit of wordage to accompany.  It's always easier to do it straight away.  In previous years we've never caught up if a day or two was missed. 

Greying X

themadvix

It sounds like you've had a lovely day and things are shaping up for the rest of the week too!

Yes, there were some corkers in the Brownie diaries - and also it was sometimes surprising how they viewed things differently (apart from the obvious calamities for adults, but entertainment for kids situations!).

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning MFW'rs

Today's activity is getting haircuts and hopefully we will make it back to Greying Town for a free concert recital - it's the more interesting one today, but also haircuts are desperately needed, so they take priority.  Interestingly, LG did mention a visit to the little museum that is in the market town that we're heading to, but I don't think we'll have time to do it justice today - but great that LG is remembering these things and thinking about them 😁  I think DH has managed to do the dirty on me, and the big car will need to be refuelled for today's trip and tomorrows - meanwhile he pootles off in a fuel-filled car 🙄

Tea last night was 'dirty rice' and a qu0rn filet each with some broccoli.  I put Korean pepper paste (don't ask me to spell it), in the tomato vegetable sauce for the rice.  I was a bit heavy handed - although I find it's hit and miss as to whether it makes the dish hot, or highly savoury - a bit like chipotle.  Anyway, I only gave LG a bit of rice, as normally they're not a fan of chilli hotness.  But I don't know if they were doing it to be contrary Mary, or whether their tastes have changed, but they announced "but I like spicy".  So we came to the compromise that if they ate what was on their plate, and wanted more, they could help themselves to seconds - which they did.  I'd put lots of frozen veg in the sauce, so it was quite a balanced meal - and nice that LG ate up the broccoli with no complaints.  Yoghurt and the last of the tinned fruit cocktail was for pud.

Right, better shift a tail feather, LG has just come in and asked 'when are we going to start to get ready to go, mum?' .  So capitalising on that engagement is a must - will it still all be like this come August.......?  🤔

Greying X

rtandon27

LG is a kid after my own heart! - Dislikes peas, mash needs to be smooth and seems to have taken to Korean flavours! 🤣🤣🤣

Happy travels today!  Even a haircut can be an adventure with a bit of enthusiasm!