From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

EssexHebridean

The other organisation for window certification are CERTASS. 

Indemnity policies are an option, but lack of certification for something as straightforward as windows CAN sometimes put folk off - just as a warning. I think personally as long as the survey showed everything was all good, and it was made clear why there was no certification (and if being done by a company, that company checked out as looking good/having good reviews etc) it wouldn't put me off, but certainly some folk do see it as a sticking point. 

Make sure that your windows are fitted with good trickle vents, would be my top advice - they can be retro fitted, but are then nowhere near as sturdy feeling, or as well-fitting when it comes to wanting them closed. 

Blackcats

I've had success with "tartan" a trade.  You post the job and interested tradesfolk contact you.  I prefer to cold calling.  Go on - you can do it!  

Greying_Pilgrim

Thank you all for taking the time to post.  I suspect the trade certifications - with what started off as perhaps a reasonable idea/concept - have gone the way of most things and are not worth the paper they are written on.  Must be so frustrating for tradespeople who still stand by their work and aim to do the job 'proper'.

Well, all this 'action' and wearing big girl pants has quite gone to my head! I've booked a little get away for us all in half-term 😱 DH and I did discuss it and it is SC, and quite frugal, but I'm just giddy with excitement that we've a holiday to look forward to.  It's a M - F gig, we could have had F - M for the same money, but I thought we'd easily find something to do on the 'extra' day, so I went for the 4 night option.  Although it doesn't cover any special events, this year has seen some milestones reached, so it feels good to have a tiny little reward for that.  And our few days away at the end of the school summer hols, just reinforced that you don't get much time together before your kiddos regard holidaying with Ma & Pa as totally uncool 🫤 so despite having other things we "should" or "could" be doing, it feels right to be having a holiday together.  

Right. I got the washing in, as we were forecast rain, and the forecast was right for once.  But most of the stuff was pretty dry.  Only the undersheet is still damp in places, and that's a given anyway, as it takes ages to dry.  It's still dried quite well in reality.

Greying X

teapot2

Whoop to a break booked 🎉🎈🥳 I love having a wee trip away to look forward to x

badmemory

I know a couple of people that had the old corgi gas certifications that said that the new one was just a case of cough up a couple of grand & you had it.  They were not impressed.

beanielou

LOvely to have a wee break to look forward too.

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening MFW'rs

Thank you, yes, the anticipation and build up to the hols is important to me, and adds to the occasion.  Even DH said he was really looking forward to going away.  We're not telling LG yet - they'd probably get over-excited, and this half-term is quite looong as it is........ 🫤

Tea was moong dal and rice.  I did follow the 'new' recipe - but it wasn't overly dissimilar to the one I already had, so I cooked all the (soaked) dal, and made the 'base' recipe, and then took out a third of the mix, and put it in another saucepan and added a bit of coconut milk and some fresh coriander and some lemon juice (the recipes call for lime juice, but i used what i had).  I sprinkled Nigella seed in the rice I served the dal with, I was a bit heavy handed 🫤 But thankfully in the steam the seeds softened a bit and they weren't too overpowering.  LG at it all up anyway (they like nigella seed sprinkled on HM flatbreads, so knew what they were).  I think there are probably about 2 (family size) portions left in the PrC, so I will box that up and freeze it, with instructions of what to add - either just coriander and lemon/lime juice or coconut if I want a slightly richer dish.  

I'm pleased I've used up the open bag of moong beans.  I have a 1KG brick pack left.  Some of the MrL box garlic and a lemon were also used up.  I also used up the 2 nectarines today - LG had one for lunch and I ate the other one, plus I ate the last grapefruit for breakfast this morning.  

I need to have a good look around the new to me recipe site, there looks to be some interesting recipes.  As I mentioned, the mexican casserole dish may well be up for doing in the SC, and would use up some of the brown basmati I have in the cupboard.  

I've benefitted from other people's kindness on here and in RL today, and it's given me the confidence to at least step forward with enquiries about alterations to the house.  Thank you.

I've made a move to book a little getaway.  I'm all kinds of grateful for the stars that have, or will, align to help us enjoy a few days away as a family.

I got the washing mostly dry, pulling it in before it got rained on, and I've made a budget friendly tea, that has filled us up and left some for another day. I'm grateful to have avoided the launderette and takeaway, at least for today.......

Right, off to put the curry away and then I'll call it a day.  DH has gone to bed already.  Such rock n' roll lives we lead.  

Ta for popping by. 

Greying X

VintageHistorian

How lovely to have a holiday booked! I'm another "need something to look forward to" person. I don't do last minute hols.

We got our double glazing replaced before the pandemic and unfortunately it didn't fix the condensation problem in the main bedroom. But we've had a roofer out who found no problems (we thought something might be leaking) and who pointed out that the room just won't really get warm enough in the winter as it's north facing and next door's house (we're a mid-terrace) sticks out slightly so casts further shadow when there is a small amount of winter sunshine peeking out between the houses opposite.

The rest of the house thought definitely benefits from the new windows, and the old ones were long past their best. The double glazing had popped in one so a chunk of the glass was misted on the inside, two of the locks wouldn't work (luckily upstairs) and one window had "dropped" slightly so if you opened it it had to be lifted in order to close. We paid less for the insulation and more for windows that just worked as windows 

Greying_Pilgrim

VH - I've just never been very good at the 'last minute' holiday snagging thing.  I wasn't any good at it when it was just me and DH, and I've found it even harder since there has been the 3 of us.  I always longed to be that person who could jump on a plane with just my passport, credit card and a spare pair of nix and have 2 weeks 5 star luxury in a chi-chi European destination, but sadly I've just never been that lucky.  

I'm hopeful that new windows would make some difference, but I do think there is something in "unless there are immovable factors" - ours is north-facing rooms too, and the front window that is more or less hanging in mid air with zero insulation around it.  

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning MFW'rs

Quick duck in from me.

Bedding wash #2 is on today.  Stands a good chance of drying as all cotton.

Snap is done and packed and waiting at the door.

I'm pondering a trip over to the metropolitan town, to see if I can get PE pumps for LG.  Don't really like driving the little car over there, so will think on.

I've got a mango to use up out of the MrL box, and have found a mango dhal recipe on that site.  It uses Toor Dhal (I don't have any), so I would substitute red lentils, but I'm not sure the fam. are ready for curry 2 nights on the trot 🤔

Starting to plan the hols requirements, as we have to take some things with us eg bedding provided, but not duvet covers/pillowcases etc, so will have to ensure we have appropriate stuff - as likely to be at least one single duvet - which we don't use at home, but I do have several in my fabric stash that would 'do' for a quick trip, and where no-one 'cool' is going to be inspecting the 'on-brandedness' of our bed linen! 😂

Right, best get a wiggle on.  Currently got everything done, but you know how it'll be time to go out of the door before we know it!

Ta for popping by.

Greying X