From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

Greying_Pilgrim

I've caved and brought the washing in and stuck the dehu on for a couple of hours.  According to the interactive map, we were supposed to stay dry until nearly 5pm.  But there is a consistent 'mizzle' happening at the mo.  Not heavy, and if you're standing out in it, it doesn't seem so bad, but the clothes were getting that fine 'mist' of damp to them, so I pulled everything in.  It's not dry, but neither is it wet anymore, there has been value in putting it out on the line for a few hours.  Apart from a couple of thicker socks, most things are dryish apart from collars and cuffs.  I'll take that, with the weather forecast we've been given.

We did have a very brief burst of sunshine - nice to see, albeit it was of no use to the washing at that point - but it's been grey cloud for most of the day.

Onwards and upwards!

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Good evening MFW'rs

So the clothes were in front of the dehu for a couple of hours.  They didn't end up bone dry, which is a bit disappointing, as they weren't that wet when I brought them in, but the tray was pretty full, and it had made a difference.  They are on the airer in front of the radiator now, so should be dry by the morning.  

Tea was green lentil Fakes - which as you know is Greek lentil soup.  I served it with some YS'd wholemeal baps.  Yoghurt was for pud.  If you're spotting a lentilly theme here, then don't let on, as I might have snuck it past my team 😉........  Not entirely sure.  The soup pot was drained dry anyhoo, so it must have tasted OK.  

Hopefully with doing silly little challenges to myself, I can eke out this month's grocery budget - and who knows, maybe next months too, which will all help in the long run to limit DH's anxiety about sick-pay affected wages.  

Can't think of anything else MSE related.  Ta for popping by.

Greying X

EssexHebridean

I applaud you getting lentils past people - not something I generally manage with MrEH although tonight's ragu is pretty red-lentil heavy and he hasn't complained about that when we've eaten the previous portions, so perhaps... 

Humdinger1

Add some chili and garlic and no-one can spot the lentils, I find.  Well done @Greying_Pilgrim love Humdinger xx 

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Afternoon MFW'rs

Ha ha - yes, I'm going to have to make them a bit more 'groovy' to keep this game up, but I'm thinking a bolognese/puttanesca type dish tonight, tomorrow will probs be the same for LG (I don't think they'll mind), and the leftover lentil/smoked tofu stew for DH and me, then Friday & Saturday will be something along the lines of lentil burgers one night and lentil burritos the other.  Wish me luck....... 🤣👍

So I decided to take myself off on a little pootle this morning to a couple of chazzers that I rarely go to.  I was looking specifically for books for LG and/or christmas jumpers for the school xmas dinner day 🙄 I found neither, but I did spot one or two things that I considered..... left on the shelf this time, and don't think I'll regret it, but it was good to go and have a look somewhere different.  

As I was the right side of town, I called in at MrM.  It isn't my favourite shop, and it's always tinged with sadness going there, as I did mum's shopping for her, and she was a dedicated MrM shopper, and..... I dunno, just..... I was in there the morning after she passed away, and a robin was actually in the shop, and it came to a shelf where I was standing, and landed on one of their sticky outy product place signs ...... Only I and an observant shop worker, who clearly wondered what the heck I was staring at, saw it........ Anyhoo.    Back to the present.  I am THAT person, and I bought a tray of the instore-bakery (doubt they're made in-house anymore), mince pies!  I know - who am I????  But we did used to like them - I think the quality may have changed, but again, it's a memory for LG of their grandma.  I also picked up a present for LG.  There was a special offer on this particular item, and it made it a very good price, so I figured I would get it.  Needless to say, I have now got to work out where to hide it, as LG is getting to that age where they are n.o.s.y.  I can't complain, apples don't fall far from the tree, and I was not without my picking and poking when I was a child....... 🙄 Karma catches up with ya!  I also bought some bottled beer.  There was a special offer on some bottled beers and there is one that we quite like, so for the price of probably 3 'London' pints, I got some for us that will last through the xmas and NY season.  I also picked up some festive ales - I think from.... theblacksheep and hogsback breweries.  I did consider the saltaire brewery brew, which sounded nice, but it was quite a high abv, and both DH and I are past strong brews these days.......  🤣   I also filled the car up with fuel, as the petrol station at that particular store is quite accessible.  

I will tally up what I spent as I also bought DH some work socks, so bits need to come from different budgets.  He was in need of some more socks though, and I bought them when I saw them.  

I have also ordered a book for LG, online, as a xmas pressie.  

Phew!  Spend, spend, spend today!  

Better go and sit on my hands for the rest of the afternoon!

Greying X

LotsOfTea

I keep reading recently that most people in the UK are not getting anywhere great enough fibre in their diets but Family Greying will not be among them! Family Tea are also doing well in that regard although I do have to smuggle lentils past DS in the form of whizzed up soup. He's pretty good on beans though and l can put chickpeas in pretty much anything and he'll be happy. 

I also hear you very much on the subject of beer strength. I'd like it to be a bit more obvious how strong they are. Both in shops and online I find it's an effort to check and there's no way easy of finding a moderate strength beer if you don't want non-alcoholic but you also don't want anything over 5%. It doesn't help that I need to fish out my reading glasses to see the tiny print on the cans but I appreciate that is  my aging eyes!

Greying_Pilgrim

LotsOfTea said:

I also hear you very much on the subject of beer strength. I'd like it to be a bit more obvious how strong they are. Both in shops and online I find it's an effort to check and there's no way easy of finding a moderate strength beer if you don't want non-alcoholic but you also don't want anything over 5%. It doesn't help that I need to fish out my reading glasses to see the tiny print on the cans but I appreciate that is  my aging eyes!

Lawks - I'd be a disappointment at any party.  I struggle with beers much above 3.4% (so called 'session' beers), these days.  Once it starts to creep over 4%, I don't really enjoy it - although if it's an exceptionally well flavoured tipple, that does help.  I do quite like some of the winter brews that have the warm spices in them 😊 Not that the reducing abv means I can up the quantity either 😊  I'm a woman of a certain age, and like my sleep - not getting out of bed every half hour to spend a penny 🤣

Yes, I've less of a worry about fibre intake, although I'm not sure DH drinks enough water, and medication tends to thwart his system.  I'm lucky that our default bread is wholemeal, too - and it means that if I get white flour bagels, or perhaps baps or something, I don't have to worry about giving them (in moderation), to LG.

I indulged and I tried a MrM mince pie.  I was pleasantly surprised.  I think they have been 'shrunk' as well as the price has increased.  They seem 'flatter' from when I remember having them a little more often.  But the flavour of the pastry and the filling was fair.  Given that we only have a couple of pies, or at most I purchase a couple of packs, I think they 'scratch' the mince pie 'itch' for us.  I know some people like to make their own, but I'm not good at pastry and I don't have a mince pie/jam tart tray anymore.  

Right, I've presents to hide.  I think I might be as well to start wrapping.  Hidey holes are pretty thin on the ground, and at least wrapped and stashed they will be a little bit more difficult to nosey into.........won't they?

Greying X

Baileys_Babe

I was going to suggest wrapping the presents before you hide them. Can you put them in the loft and then move them down to the main house and hide shortly before the end of term? - less chance of LG discovering them and you could repeat in the following years.

Greying_Pilgrim

Baileys_Babe said:

I was going to suggest wrapping the presents before you hide them. Can you put them in the loft and then move them down to the main house and hide shortly before the end of term? - less chance of LG discovering them and you could repeat in the following years.

We've not got the loft set up to put things in Baileys_Babe - partly by choice (if I could fill the loft, I would hold on to alot more "stuff"), and partly by prioritising loft insulation when we moved in, over 'boarding out' - to the extent that we haven't put down any type of boards, screwed down to form a floor or otherwise, and loft insulation is best left undisturbed, rather than popping bags atop it.  I've hidden the things away now, but I think priority for next child-free time slot is going to be wrapping! 😁  I don't know - perhaps I'm wrong wanting to keep on to a small element of surprise?  I mean, the time will be with us soon enough that a 'computer', or 'school trip to NYC' or 'Driving lessons' or whatever will 'be' LG's Christmas present - I'm trying to hold on to the innocence for a bit longer - although peers at school have already 'obliterated' the Santa myth ☹️ We actually held on to that for far longer than I ever thought we would - and LG isn't quuiiitttteee sure about totally disbelieving, just in case.... 😉🎅🤶

right, so the scores on the doors are £2.49 spent on food (mince pies and a packet of tomatoes that looked quite ripe and cheerful for this time of year, not UK, obvs), and £16.82 on 2 packs of work socks and the TV mag.  Away to amend siggie figgie.

Greying X

lucielle

De lurking. One of the best hiding places and in plain sight was suitcases. They used to be in our bedroom as there was nowhere else to put them. Had them against a wall. I did wince when a child chose to perch on them. 

L