From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning MFW'rs

13th December, St Lucia's day 😁

The whites wash didn't really dry at all yesterday ☹️  It was almost as if being pegged out, it just drained all the water down into the collar, so it felt as wet as when it was fresh out of the machine.  I the load in front of the dehu for 2 hrs, and it had made them dry enough to then move in front of the radiator on the airer.  I have just folded them up, ready to put away.  DH's workwear is washed and out on the line.  I pegged out in semi-darkness.  Last time I did that was in the late spring, when we were going out for the day, and I wanted to get a load dry.  Air temperature was different this morning!  But at least it's moving on the line, there is a breeze good enough to dry things if it continues, plus if it warms up a bit.  LG's uniform is now in the machine and will go out in a bit.

Tea last night was lentil bolognese and pasta.  I made the tommie sauce with extra peppers, to make it a bit more tasty.  I had 2 pots to put in the freezer, and think I will use one with a pot of ratatouille to make the pasta bake on Christmas Eve.  I did put some red wine in the bolognese, and had forgotten how it changes the taste (in a good way).  Will try and remember that for the pasta bake, which will be a long slow cook, so the alcohol will evaporate, and it will be OK for LG to have.  

I've been up since 6am, but DH had a sleep in this morning.  So brekkie is only just being munched.  I managed to get some more of my gift knitting done, so welcomed the solitude for a couple of hours 😁🧶

I'm not too sure what will be for tea, as I'm hopeful that we will go to the illuminated tractor run tonight.  DH has (somewhat unenthusiastically), agreed to it, and has suggested somewhere to stand (a localish village), but is already panicking about parking 🙄 So I need to do a trawl of the relevant fb pages - as I think the definitive route and approximate timings is up now.  

I can't think of anything else MSE at the mo.  Oh, I was watching a couple of frugal blogs last night - they happen to be US based, but they were both mentioning getting things secondhand/from thrift stores for their kids.  I don't need validation, but, I did find myself nodding in agreement, that 'good quality' stuff (eg books), is no less a gift for being secondhand, particularly if the condition is really not much different to what you'd find in a store.    

Oh, and one of my challenges for 2026 will be to save money for a school trip with overnight stays.  I was chatting to a chum last week, and her kiddo is at a different school, but the school has been proactive, and started a savings scheme for parents for their trip.  It's not rocket science, but I think this is so good.  The school in question serves a demonstrably (on the surface 😉) more affluent catchment than we live in, and yet they are providing this scheme.  We'll probably get told a few weeks before departure, and be expected to rustle up £300+ along with equipment/clothing.  So I want to be ahead of the game!  However, now I've thought about it, I passed over the opportunity to purchase some outdoor clothing at a reasonable price from a chazzer the other day!  Doh!  I did look at the items, and they were in reasonable nick, and probably would have fitted/left room for growing.  But I was thinking in the now, not the fuutre.  Need to buck my ideas up, don't I!  Hence the focus for a budgetary challenge for myself, and maybe I can get LG interested in some way too.

A towbar and school trip - how exciting my life, eh? 🤣

Greying X

Cheery_Daff

Both of those things are facilitating exercise, adventure, and memories Greying, so yes, exciting! 😊😊

Sunshine_girl2

Morning GP , at DGC school they have a similar savings scheme for trips . However they do a 1 night y4 2 night Y5 and 4 night y6 which I think is ridiculous. Luckily myself and grandad chip in with costs . I would say buy as much as you can secondhand as DGS stuff cane back wet , muddy and a mess . 😂. He had an enjoyable time obviously, not sure DGD will be quite as messy . 

Greying_Pilgrim

Sunshine_girl2 said:

Morning GP , at DGC school they have a similar savings scheme for trips . However they do a 1 night y4 2 night Y5 and 4 night y6 which I think is ridiculous. Luckily myself and grandad chip in with costs . I would say buy as much as you can secondhand as DGS stuff cane back wet , muddy and a mess . 😂. He had an enjoyable time obviously, not sure DGD will be quite as messy . 

You're absolutely right Sunshine_girl2 - a mix of some stuff coming back filthy, and other stuff not used - usually the "specifically bought for" purchases of over-trousers or base layers or something equally costly.  To be fair, that's why, at certain times of the year, chazzers are heaving with this stuff.  But never when I need it, as I found to my cost last year, so I need to give myself a kick up the bahookie! and get planning.

Oh, I have a question - and I think it might be something that Cheery, tmv or greenbee may have used/know about.  Someone mentioned....... and I'm thinking it was either Cheery or tmv, because I'm sure 'library of things' may have been mentioned too - about a thermal imaging camera.  Can anyone tell me if this was a specific 'specialist' piece of equipment, or if it was an app/programme on a tablet/eye pad?  If it was the latter, can you tell me how...... accurate?? any such camera would be?  We could get access to a tablet that has a camera on it, that has TI mode - I'd be interested to have a look at our house to see where/if there are any hot or indeed, cold spots.  But obviously, if the images threw up any remedial work, we'd have to be sure it was accurate before investing in...... (more) loft insulation etc.  When I've seen cameras on TV - say on bloo peter, or the 1 show, or Ch4 news etc, they've looked like actual cameras, and are possibly vv£££, so is the tablet version of a thermal imaging camera a swizz?  

Greying X

themadvix

I don’t know about one you can use with a tablet GP. Our library of things does have a proper one and the know-how to use it and as it happens, we have one at home too that was donated to us. It’s fairly straightforward to use - point and see the colours and it has a very narrow point for actual temperature readings too for accuracy. That being said, I don’t know when/if it has ever been calibrated. In terms of accuracy, I would think a tablet version would give you a rough idea of where needs more insulation, but it might depend on what you’re wanting to know as to whether something more accurate/calibrated was needed.

ETA, if you were nearer I’d lend you ours of course! (Although where you actually are I have only the vaguest compass point idea - you are very good at the anonymity thing 😁)

Greying_Pilgrim

Thanks tmv - you've confirmed what I thought a 'generic' camera may offer.  But maybe it will be worth giving it a go - there is possibly a 'science in action' opportunity for LG if nowt else.  And you've also made me think.  Realistically, we've done the 2 "main" energy saving measures - the loft is insulated to........ at least minimum 300mm (I'm sure) and we've renewed the windows and the 'coldest' door.  

We'll give it a go - bearing in mind it may be no better than a 'filter' effect - and see what if anything, we can learn, whilst at the same time using the 'pinch of salt' caveat to images.

Thanks for responding - helpful and kind, as always

Greying X

ladybird1106

If you have a transition group in your area they might have one you can borrow.
love 🐞

themadvix

ladybird1106 said:

If you have a transition group in your area they might have one you can borrow.
love 🐞

That’s where the one at our LoT came from - the transition group folded but the volunteers and their expertise are still valued through other community projects (none of this is in my town, but I do love that town for their really strong community values).

Watty1

I know a bit about thermal cameras as I bought PPH one once.   The ones that clip on to your phone are actually quite accurate and perfect for what you want, you just need someone who has one.    Is there a library of things local to you?  Or a village/small town face book group.  Or even do you use the next door app?  You could post on there and ask if anyone has one and would pop round to use it, I find most people who have gadgets are happy to come and play (have had metal detector folk here) for either petrol money or a small homemade cake or something. 

They don't take long to set up, PPH's clips to his phone and it is point and go!