From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

Greying_Pilgrim

So I jumped into the big car this morning, wiggled in my seat and........ my sciatic nerve decided it hadn't had any attention for a while and went semi-ping.  Not totally ping (thank heavens) because I can still move, but standing from sitting, getting out of a car, using steps..... all ouchy ☹️

We did go and get hair cuts, and LG is feeling better now - although I think they always look older when their hair is cut 🥲 I will add the cost to the non-food spend, but I'm so over budget this month, and DH hasn't given me the money back for some medical stuff I got him ☹️I did also spend £2.25 non-food in hB and £6.08 on food in hB, and £3.89 on food in h3r0n f00ds.  I did buy 2 x 2kg bags of tatties in hB, YS'd to 68p each from £1.28.  They weren't green, not sprouty and didn't smell of blight (as some 'old' tatties are apt to do this time of year), so I figured they would be useful.  I did also put fuel in the big car.

When we got home, I whipped up a couple of rounds of sandwiches and shoved some pretzels and chocolate fingers in a box.  Filled the water bottle and put coffee in the insulated mug.... didn't close it properly and put it in the back pack.  We walked into Greying Town - and considering I was hobbling, LG still dawdled 🙄 but we managed to get to the venue before the lunchtime concert started and found a seat.  I got my purse out of the backpack to give LG some cash to get a cup of squash, and noticed the backpack was leaking coffee all over the floor........ 🙄  Thank heavens I am just about 'mum enough' to have a few tissues about my person and the insulated cup was put upright and closed, and the floor was wiped - the spent tissues were put in the bin at the end of the concert, it was as if we hadn't been there and leaked all over the floor....... 🤣  The concert lasted about an hour, was jazz standards and was something completely different.  LG sort of enjoyed it, but was werriting a bit over when we were going to have lunch.... 🙄  Had they shifted a tail-feather, we could have eaten our sandwiches before the concert, but as it was there wasn't time.  We found a bench and I had just enough tissues left to wipe it down (we'd had rain this morning), and we sat down to eat.  And then a wasp joined us 🙄  LG stomped off and ate standing up, I took care with every bite and sip,

We walked back past an art gallery, that had art in the cubist style - so we spent a few minutes looking and trying to 'interpret' the bright images.  Inadvertently we have had quite a cultural day 😁I'm not entirely sure LG understood nor necessarily appreciated what we heard/saw, but perhaps when they are older, they will at least appreciate the exposure to different types of music or art, or whatever.  We don't have to like everything, but it's easier to know what you do like when you come across it, as you've been casting your net so widely.  

I popped into the bank on the way home to move some money about, so that the fuel bill for the cars will be met.  

Walking back home LG was quicker than me 🙄 but at least I could still walk along.  LG spotted a bird, and it was a thrush, so close and hopping about on the ground, so we got a good look.  We also spotted lots of large ripe blackberries, but without fail, the best looking ones were either 6 inches off the ground, or 6 foot back in the briar patch 🙄 So no free fruit today ☹️

I pegged the washing out before we went to the concert, as we've no rain forecast for the rest of the afternoon.  I have also just thrown the backpack in, as it was soaked with coffee.  

I've no idea what to make for tea.  It's at times like this that I wish we did live nearer to a decent takeaway, I don't much fancy slaving over a hot stove.  Although having said that, I'm probably better off moving about gently than sitting or lying down.

Greying X

themadvix

Oh GP, I hope your back eases soon.😕 It’s such a miserable, all-encompassing pain. 

It sounds like you had a lovely day in spite of it though - very cultural! I think LG did well to sit through a concert at all - not sure my niece would have had the patience, not many others of that age (I think LG and Niece are similar in ages).

Greying_Pilgrim

Oh thank you tmv - it's uncomfortable, especially if getting up, but I can still move, so I think I may have been lucky-ish. My left leg is aching like mad, but it's a dullish ache.   I'll take some ibuprofen and rub some heat cream into it, and see if it'll settle overnight.  Fingers crossed.

Tea was sausage, mash, baked beans, broccoli and mixed veg.  I was pleased with the mash - it passed the LG test, clean plates all round.  Yoghurt for pud.

Can't think of anything else MSE to add, so I'm away to finish off my shopping list and then watch the footy.  Fingers crossed for a fair and entertaining game.  

Greying X

badmemory

does a hot water bottle help?

themadvix

Watching the footie here too- just hope we can go to bed earlier than at the weekend!

Greying_Pilgrim

badmemory said:

does a hot water bottle help?

I may well try that when I go to bed badmemory - thank you for the prompt.

tmv - here's hoping it's done and dusted in 90 minutes.

Greying X

Watty1

Hopefully back will be much improved by morning 

Cherryfudge

I hope a night's rest and all the appropriate treatments mean you feel better soon. So easy to do, and so hard to live with. Get well soon!

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening MFW'rs

Thank you for all your good wishes - they have worked, and I got up this morning, and whilst still ouchy, much improved.  Now it's sort of morphed into pain in my thigh almost like you'd had a thump on the leg,  and the hip/back is tweaking when I stand up. There's no doubt, I'm trying to 'nurse' my movements, but I'm hopeful that in keeping moving gently, i'll get back to normal.  But it's hard to try to think about every movement - i carried a heavy shopping bag down steps today, and wished I'd used the driveway, as every step hurt ☹️

We went shopping early doors this morning - MrS and MrL.  I did get YS'd lettuce in MrS - I think they were suffering because of the MrL PoTW offer - but at least I paid less for the YS'd lettuces (39p x 2) and I also bought an organic lettuce YS'd to 49p.  We need plenty for sandwiches, and I plan to make wraps on Friday or Saturday night, so will need lettuce for that.  In total I spent £57.04, which did include one bottle of red wine.  Will update my siggie figgie just now.

Today's day trip turned out brilliant.  My cousin was up with their kiddo, and we ended up spending some time with them - which was just so lovely.  tmv would heartily approve, as an inflatable canoe was involved, and great fun was had in a "safe" (as much as these things can be), waterway.  We had to pay for parking, but that was all we had to pay, as we packed a picnic and drinks.  The kids had fun, I caught up on the family goss and it was really memorable day of the holidays.  My aunty & uncle are well - although we got around to swapping sciatica stories...... 🤣 We were stuffed full of coffee and cake, and asked to return before the end of the hols.  LG has yet to fill in their diary, but today already has a car park ticket, lots of activities to report, and ideally we can print off some photos to accompany - there are several nice ones where everyone is smiling 😁

Tea was pizza and pasta for LG and pizza and baked tatties for DH and I.  The pizza was out of the freezer, and one small slice was enough for LG and I as we were still stuffed from today's catering.  Yoghurt for pud.  

A wonderful day, that already was going to be good, getting to see my rellies, but it was enhanced by choosing to say 'yes' to a wonderful opportunity that was offered out of the blue.  

Tomorrow will end up being a bit of an anti-climax, but I've not thought what to do yet.  We've a long list to draw from, so we won't be bored! 😁

Can't think of anything else MSE to add.  I agree with tmv's statement that the footy was painful to watch last night.  Italy's defending was superb, we could learn a thing or ten from them.  At least it's an earlier kick off on Saturday.  

Ta for popping by - know that it's appreciated, as always.

Greying X

themadvix

Sounds like a fantastic day Greying! And you’re right, I heartily approve - in the words of Ratty, there’s nothing quite so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats 😁