From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

badmemory

I am hoping to be shot down in flames on this.

I am sure I remember that LG was once bullied at school.  Is it possible that they adopted an "I don't remember so I can't remember" attitude & that this has lingered.

Greying_Pilgrim

badmemory said:

I am hoping to be shot down in flames on this.

I am sure I remember that LG was once bullied at school.  Is it possible that they adopted an "I don't remember so I can't remember" attitude & that this has lingered.

I think had we been doing utterly boring things or utterly scary things or intensely dislikeable things, then that might explain it.  And whilst I'm totally willing to admit that LG hasn't enjoyed every single minute, or every single experience, there's pretty much been "something" that they've seen or done, or tried that has been new, or novel, interesting or fun, on most days out.  On Thursday, a manual typewriter was on display in a bookshop.  LG hadn't seen one (up close) before, and was intrigued.  I explained how it worked (it still had a ribbon in it, but no paper), and they were genuinely intrigued that this was how things were formerly "written" in ye olde times.  I think the typewriter was probably of 1940's - 1960's vintage.  I might be wrong, but I don't think we've done anything that might bring about 'flashbacks' to unfortunate incidents at school. 

My conclusion, therefore, is that LG is just being a contrarian (i'm being polite), for the sake of being a contrarian.  

The thing is, whilst i still believe LG is "pretty good", I have no idea how they really are performing compared to their age group. I mean, there's boundary pushing, and there's boundary pushing.  I'm not sure if I had more kids, whether I would have more of a clue, as even in families, every kiddo can be a different personality.  

LG knows how our family operates, and what is 'acceptable' behaviour (for any of us, not just children of the fam.). Fingers crossed that this IS just boundary pushing and that this IS just a stage......

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Oh - and on the point of 'scary' things (not related to anything that may have happened at school), LG is scared of the dark, and to a certain extent, of heights.  We've discovered this from various trips up and down historic sites, monuments, dungeons, wine cellars of stately homes etc etc.  For the most part, they have - after cajoling - accompanied me and/or DH (also scared of heights), up or down, in or out. 

And yet - go figure - they were watching one of Prof Alice Roberts archaeological progs the other night, and she went down a disused colbalt mine somewhere in the UK.  LG was enraptured, and was asking if we could so something like that.  I have to say, whilst I'm not so bad with the dark, or heights, exploring underground tunnels, where you have to crawl through (potholing) gives me the hee-bee-gee-bees.  But there are other options, and I'm willing to explore what we could do in that vein. 

This is why I think that much of their no/shan't/can't remember/I won't etc etc is just said for a knee-jerk response, especially when they know that actually, they are more than capable of doing what is asked of them.  And yet, this procrastination always eats up far more time than completing the original task ever would.  Which for those of us on the receiving end, is exhausting..........

Greying X

badmemory

Sorry I should have explained better - I  am not talking any flashback type of thing.  Just some things can become a habit.  LG may have got into the habit of "forgetting" stuff that happens.  This is nobodies fault & just a way of protecting themselves in the past that has carried forward into the future.  I started school at 3 and remember some of that but the first thing I remember at home is having my legs slapped by my mother when I was 5 & nothing much more until I was 8 then teens.  Although I do remember my friends but nothing about home.  We adjust our memories to suit what we can cope with.

Greying_Pilgrim

Ah - got you badmemory.  mmm - I couldn't hand on heart say that that isn't happening.  But with prompting, LG does recall things, so I'm more minded to think they are just being contrarian.

Do they want to do this diary?  The easy answer is, of course, no.  They don't.  "No one at school is having to do this" has been said more than once.  Of course, we don't know whether that is true or not. I can't imagine that stacks of kids are, and none of LG's classmates immediately spring to mind as potential diary keepers.... But then LG will be the first to say 'nothing' when asked, "And what did you do in the summer hols".  I don't expect them to report to their peers or teacher, "well I visited 53 EH properties, 5 NT properties, ate my own bodyweight in icecream.......", but at least they can look back in their diary and say to them selves, that they did something in the summer hols of 2025.

I know that at least one of LG's chums doesn't ever write postcards to rellies, as their parent told me they don't, as they watched LG writing one...... Now, it doesn't mean to say that it's a good idea to get LG to write postcards, I'm not claiming it is.   But it keeps their hand in at writing, and the recipient enjoys receiving them, and they take but a few moments of LG's time to complete.  Usually it takes longer to track down a post box to send it off......... 

I'm not saying we're right to get LG to do these things.  If we say 'OK, give up' is that the right answer?  Will LG pick up something else to do instead?  Or is consistent persuasion to commit something to paper, regularly - a reasonable request, that will yield a clutch of memories for the future?  I don't have the answers, and I'm not sure any of us do.

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Tea was Bulghar wheat with a sort of (made up) ratatouille-esque mix, which featured courgettes 😉 and fresh tomato, with fried, smoked tofu slices on top.  Sunflower and pumpkin seeds sprinkled over, garlic mayo and bagel style toppings.  Pud was supermercado iceycreams.  Affordable, and used up what we had, including some of our box bounty.

I'm going to grab the washing in just now, before the cold starts getting in it (line now in shade).

Ta for popping by.

Greying X

Cheery_Daff

Your tea always sounds super tasty! 😍

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning MFW'rs

I have just put the last of our basmati rice into the jar - it holds approximately 1kg.  Does anyone know of any good offers on basmati at the mo?  I have been buying the 10kg bags - formerly from MrL, but then they hiked their prices up to ridunkulous, and never had offers (on the 10kg bags), so the last bag I purchased was from MrS, it was the 'tr0phy' brand and is certainly good enough for our needs.  I seem to recall it was n*ctar priced, and somewhere around the £12-13 mark.  MrL reduced their 10kg bag prices not long after.  I don't have to have the 10kg size, it's just been a case of 'sort of' being able to accommodate it, and it offering the best £:KG price ratio.  However, if anyone knows of any other basmati that is around the £1.20 - £1.40ish KG price range, please shout up.  Ta.

Grey start with us.  Dry, but overcast.  It seemed to take an age to get light this morning - autumn is on its way.  I walked past the school on Saturday on my way to get the TV guide (must amend siggie), and I had a slight shiver about lining up for school again ☹️

Having said that, there's still a couple of weeks of the hols left, so lets enjoy them 😁I haven't anything marvellous planned today.  This is partially because I've ground to a halt in terms of ideas, but also the one place I was thinking of doesn't make it clear when it is open.  I mean, the likelihood is that its open today (because of the summer hols), but it doesn't explicitly say that.  So we'll leave that option, perhaps for tomorrow - when it looks to be open.  I'm in two minds whether to invite a chum/LG's chum, I think they would perhaps enjoy it, but after last week's fandango, I'm not minded to over complicate our trips and also, it would immediately change the route I would take to reach the destination, and absolutely rule out dropping in on any family members.  OK, that might not happen anyway, they could be out and about doing things, but it just adds a layer of complication.  I don't know whether I'm wrong to think like that.  I suppose it's a bit MSE to at least see if you can call on fam. members on a day trip out.  I also think it means it's just a drop in to say 'hi' there's no expectation for anyone to provide a banquet (if you get a cup of tea, then fine), or stay tied to the homestead for hours.  

One thing I must shift-a-tail-feather on this week is ensuring we have some hm ready meals, or things that can be prepped quickly for the last week of the hols.  DH is off, and whilst I'm still hopeful that we might manage an overnight stay somewhere, it's more important that we have things for meals when we return from a day-trip out - even if we haven't travelled very far.  I ought to see what the weather is predicted to be - no good prepping a load of curries if we're in for wall-to-wall sunshine...... 

Can't think of anything else MSE to add at the mo.  Ta for popping by mind.

Greying X

badmemory

If it helps Tesco clubcard price for 10kg of laila basmati is £12 & Asda price is £11.98.

Greying_Pilgrim

badmemory said:

If it helps Tesco clubcard price for 10kg of laila basmati is £12 & Asda price is £11.98.

Is that the green bag?

Greying X