From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

Greying_Pilgrim

Sunshine_girl2 - I'm hopeful that at some point in the future (and that I'm around to hear it), LG will come to the conclusion that this summer hols hasn't been too bad at all 😁 I don't need them to try to 'one up' their classmates (that's not really their personality style anyway), but I do hope they come to realise that we've had fun - together, on our own, and with others.    Some of the kids who whang on about what a 'super' time they've had, have got other issues going on - so it's difficult to try to reach a point of 'reality' with LG without breaking confidences, or talking about things that children don't, actually, need to know about.  It's a difficult one.  

KajiKita - if you locate the shop that sells 'bags of will', and has a 'shelf of energy', and 'hope' to buy by the lb, let on will ya - we need some of that for our projects too 🤣  Definitely the back of the house and the landing window that are prioritised for renewal, but I hope we're getting to the stage of having sufficient funds to have the job 'done'.  

DH has put petrol in the car, and I've begun setting out the clothes.  Washing is all pegged out, fingers crossed it will dry, as DH is a bit short on some 'essential' items 😉  If all else fails, we will have to locate an M&$ 😉

I hadn't really thought about it before, but the best holidays I remember from my childhood (we didn't go every year, so that aren't that many to recall), were ones where we stayed in 'one place'.  I recall a caravan (I was tiny), a chalet (on a caravan park - I wandered off to the on-site shop and scared my parents witless), University halls of residence and a log cabin (forestry commission).  Ones where we 'toured about' were less good - it was pre internet and we spent most of the day trying to find rooms in B&B's or hotels.  The one I recall most of was the University halls.  I remember we went down to the bar in the evenings, and some students - possibly PhD/Masters?  let me join them in playing darts.  Donna Summer, 'I feel Love' was on repeat on the Juke box.......... and  I spent all my holiday money on caramacs and polos in the newsagents 🤣

I suppose one important thing was that my parents - especially my dad - didn't really enjoy holidays.  He certainly wasn't one for sitting on the beach all day.  But neither did he seek to make them special/fun.  Thinking about it, we do manage that a bit with LG, although DH gets too stressed about work etc, and won't park that at the door - Mmmmm, yes, I think I've just had a bit of a lightbulb moment.  Our upcoming trip is not abroad, we are not hopping on a plane to get there.  However, if DH and I really go with the 'we're on holiday - way-hhaaayy' mindset, it's going to be a good - albeit short - holiday.  Whether we go out everyday, or binge watch the DVD collection in the air bnb, we're together, we're having fun and making memories.  Mmmmmmm.  thanks team 😁

Greying X

badmemory

Things may well have changed over the years but I suspect for the worse.  How would LG feel if being somewhere in Spain having made friends with a couple of local kids.  Go to the beach but those local kids aren't allowed to go too.  I didn't like it over 60 years ago.  But this is just one of the reasons ordinary spaniards don't like tourists.

LotsOfTea

I think it's completely impossible to stop your child being envious of someone else. No matter what you provide there's always apparently some kid whose parents let them stay up later, have more screen time/pocket money/sweets or they go on more glamorous holidays. It's particularly annoying as a parent when you feel yourself wanting to go all 4 Yorkshiremen and tell them they don't know they're born. Or maybe that's just me ...

I have strong memories of my childhood when my brother kept asking my parents why we couldn't go on holiday to Spain because so and so at school did (we stayed in this country and visited relatives or had caravan holidays) and my dad getting fed up and loftily proclaiming that Spain was 'common as muck'.  My brother misheard and Spain was forever called 'commulus muck' from then on. We had no idea what it meant and we never did get to go to Spain to find out. 

Hope you enjoy your time away @Greying_Pilgrim , just being away from home and all the things you feel you need to do there is really good sometimes.

beanielou

Hope the windows are a good price for you.

Greying_Pilgrim

badmemory - that's the thing, whilst we would be less likely to go for a beach holiday (anywhere), the beaches are not without their issues.  DH and I have only been to Lanzarote and Tenerife (long, long before LG was even a twinkle), and there were beach issues there - not least the (adult) time-share sellers interrupting/spoiling our day.  And yes, in Lanzarote when we wandered into a (proper) Spanish bar, we were indeed treated with contempt - I'm sure because of the behaviour of those that came before us - because we were sober, quiet and tried to speak the language ☹️

LotsOfTea - I agree, it's impossible to counteract envy.  I just wish LG could see the bigger picture... now.  But that's not how childhood works I guess.  And actually, things don't change.  When I was in primary, one child in our class went abroad - to the Costa del Sol.  Naturally we were a) flummoxed as to where the Costa del Sol was 🤣 and b) impressed by the 'continentalness' of their holidays...... But again - degree in hindsight - the family...... I don't wish to expand, but let's just call it, endured significant losses, early, of family members.  All desperately sad.

Tea munched.  Black olive Detroit style pizza and maris peer wedges for tea.  

I think all the clothes packing is done - we've not really had to pack that much, but we need to include coats tomorrow.  I've included some cooking things (the unit is well-equipped, but sometimes it's easier to use your own items to make things), and we've breakfasty stuff packed.  There is a MrL close by (YAY!) and a MrM and a MrT not too far away.  MrS is a bit light on the ground, unfortunately, but that's not a problem in the grand scheme of things.  

Greying X

MisterPym

Greying_Pilgrim said:

Phew, it's been hot today, then rainy, then sunny, then rainy......... 

We popped out to a NT place to use a voucher.  We went to a place we've not been for quite a few years.  We ate our picnic lunch first (time had marched on and it wasn't one of our local properties so we arrived at lunchtime).  Thankfully we picked a covered spot, as about 10 minutes in to munching, the heavens opened.  Then - shower over - we toured the veg patch.  Lovely pumpkins ripening up 🥰 and beef steak tommies still on the vine in the greenhouse 🥰  I was a little surprised the tomatoes hadn't ripened more, given the heat we've had, but they did look fine specimens.  There were plenty of roses in the garden - alot were the same types, planted in blocks (I don't know how authentic that was), but the one plus point was that the gardeners/volunteers had taken the trouble to put the variety labels in full view, so you knew what they were.  Several had the most gorgeous scent, so it was nice to put a name to a fragrance, particularly if we were looking for roses for the garden.

The lure of the 'play time' exhibits was too strong for LG so they dragged their beloved papa off to investigate the lawn terrace,  whilst I toured the house.  There were plenty of volunteers - almost one in every room, and they were clearly very knowledgeable about the house, and the artifacts within each room.  

On exiting the house I found LG and DH easily enough, and LG pleaded with me to have a game of tennis, as there was all the equipment set up for visitors to use.  We were in full sun, but had a go.  Apparently I impressed LG by being able to pick up a tennis ball with the racket and actually doing some return shots!  Good job they are easily pleased!  As Steffi Graf I am not! 😂  Anyhoo, some other kiddos began loitering, looking longingly at the court, and I could see another set of grey clouds gathering, so we vacated the court and headed for home.

It was a good visit, and most of the guides were lovely and friendly.  I'm glad we chose to go a little bit further afield.  

Although we were on the outskirts of a city, and could have gone looking for world foods stores (there are several large ones), DH doesn't particularly like driving in that city, so we came away, but called in at the metropolitan town along the way, and I went to the store there to stock up on whole spices and some powdered spices.  In total I spent £18.32, which I'll put against the bulk fund (busted that again, although it's at least a year, possibly longer, since I last went, so per month the spend is quite small).  I did also call into MrAl and picked up £12 38 worth of bits for LG's lunch box.  I bought in bulk - the first part of the Autumn term is nearly 8 weeks long 🙄 so I have stuff for a good few weeks at least.  I will put the £12.38 against my August grocery budget, although in reality, none of the stuff should be touched until September.  

It was frozen HM pizza and oven chips for tea.  Not very original, but time was ticking by the time we got home, due to taking a diversion to avoid a road closure.  

Better amend my siggie figgies, and then pootle off to Bedfordshire.  

Ta for popping in.  Greying X

De lurking to say - I have discovered Whole Foods Online who offer free delivery over £10 spend.Had 2 orders, really pleased with prices and quality.

MisterPym

MisterPym said:

Greying_Pilgrim said:

Phew, it's been hot today, then rainy, then sunny, then rainy......... 

We popped out to a NT place to use a voucher.  We went to a place we've not been for quite a few years.  We ate our picnic lunch first (time had marched on and it wasn't one of our local properties so we arrived at lunchtime).  Thankfully we picked a covered spot, as about 10 minutes in to munching, the heavens opened.  Then - shower over - we toured the veg patch.  Lovely pumpkins ripening up 🥰 and beef steak tommies still on the vine in the greenhouse 🥰  I was a little surprised the tomatoes hadn't ripened more, given the heat we've had, but they did look fine specimens.  There were plenty of roses in the garden - alot were the same types, planted in blocks (I don't know how authentic that was), but the one plus point was that the gardeners/volunteers had taken the trouble to put the variety labels in full view, so you knew what they were.  Several had the most gorgeous scent, so it was nice to put a name to a fragrance, particularly if we were looking for roses for the garden.

The lure of the 'play time' exhibits was too strong for LG so they dragged their beloved papa off to investigate the lawn terrace,  whilst I toured the house.  There were plenty of volunteers - almost one in every room, and they were clearly very knowledgeable about the house, and the artifacts within each room.  

On exiting the house I found LG and DH easily enough, and LG pleaded with me to have a game of tennis, as there was all the equipment set up for visitors to use.  We were in full sun, but had a go.  Apparently I impressed LG by being able to pick up a tennis ball with the racket and actually doing some return shots!  Good job they are easily pleased!  As Steffi Graf I am not! 😂  Anyhoo, some other kiddos began loitering, looking longingly at the court, and I could see another set of grey clouds gathering, so we vacated the court and headed for home.

It was a good visit, and most of the guides were lovely and friendly.  I'm glad we chose to go a little bit further afield.  

Although we were on the outskirts of a city, and could have gone looking for world foods stores (there are several large ones), DH doesn't particularly like driving in that city, so we came away, but called in at the metropolitan town along the way, and I went to the store there to stock up on whole spices and some powdered spices.  In total I spent £18.32, which I'll put against the bulk fund (busted that again, although it's at least a year, possibly longer, since I last went, so per month the spend is quite small).  I did also call into MrAl and picked up £12 38 worth of bits for LG's lunch box.  I bought in bulk - the first part of the Autumn term is nearly 8 weeks long 🙄 so I have stuff for a good few weeks at least.  I will put the £12.38 against my August grocery budget, although in reality, none of the stuff should be touched until September.  

It was frozen HM pizza and oven chips for tea.  Not very original, but time was ticking by the time we got home, due to taking a diversion to avoid a road closure.  

Better amend my siggie figgies, and then pootle off to Bedfordshire.  

Ta for popping in.  Greying X

De lurking to say - I have discovered Whole Foods Online who offer free delivery over £10 spend.Had 2 orders, really pleased with prices and quality.

Sorry - it's Buy Whole Foods Online.

Greying_Pilgrim

Thanks MisterPym  - but as it happens, we were passing this world foods store, and other than garam masala, they had everything I needed.  Although I can't believe the way prices have risen.  It's more price efficient than buying small jars or pouches of spices in the supermercados, but it's not as reasonably priced as it was.  But I also like being 'in' the shop and seeing what is available 😁

Greying X

Blackcats

Wishing Family Greying a wonderful holiday.  I think you are right to big up the "holidayness" of the journey and the accommodation and the scenery etc.  you have already given LG a wonderful range of activities and experiences this summer.  If LG had to spend any time with my in-laws in Spain they'd soon change their opinion of a holiday there 🥴

Watty1

Wishing you a wonderful family holidays