From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Afternoon MFW'rs

I popped to the market town along the way today to get a hair cut. I also did the chazzer shops - only managed to pick up a couple of books for LG. I got some YS'd 'hot dog' rolls from her0n f00ds, and some shelf stable custard - DH will like that 🤢

I got some brew-woof burger seasoning in bee+em, it was 39p a packet of 4 packets for £1. I got 4 as it has a long BB date, and if we don't like it to season things here, then I can always pass the packs on to the barbecuing side of the fam. I also got some garlic puree in a tube for our hols. In MrS there were quite a few YS'd things, but I limited my purchases to a kilo of carrots for 45p - which was even cheaper than the stamf0rd st ones, and a packet of 4 avocados for £1.79. I did um and arrrr over the avocados, as I still thought that was quite dear, but in the end I figured I was worth it……. 🤣 Just joshing - it's fruit and veg though, isn't it, so supposed to be good for us.

As I had a little time left before the car park ticket expired, I ducked into the library and found that the community nursing team were doing free blood pressure checks. As there was no-one partaking of the service, I had mine done. I ain't dead yet.

Right, I need to tot up my spends and update my siggie figgie. I'm pondering what to make for tea now, as DH has secured a "rare as hen's teeth" same day GP appt 😱 but he needs to be able to leave work and get to the surgery without the hassle of finding a parking spot, so we're going to try to do a "le mans" driver swap over just along from the surgery - which, in the pursuit of healthy patients - hasn't any designated parking…… 🫤 Still, you've got to strike whilst the iron is hot - and us mere mortals have to wait 2 weeks to see our GP ☹️ Jus' as well I ain't dead yet……..

Greying X

northwalesd

it's fruit and veg though, isn't it, so supposed to be good for us.

Well you say that, I almost choked on a small piece of apple yesterday <eyes rest of fruit suspciciously>

beanielou

A doctor’s surgery with no parking. Glad it’s not mine.

Blackcats

My doctor's surgery has a small car park with tiny spaces and really tight gaps between the rows which makes reversing in or out of the space petrifying. If I can I try and walk there as my blood pressure will be far better without the car parking.

Hope the rendezvous worked out and that DH's appointment is useful for him.

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening MFW'rs

Good grief northwalesd - sounds like the apples are biting back! You take care now.

Yes, that is the only advantage of my surgery over DH's, there is some parking.

So we got to the rendezvous point in time - LG and I walked, so we got some steps in. We then took off to a suburb and parked up in a free spot and waited for DH. I think DH ended up seeing a nurse practitioner, and has been prescribed pills and more drops (continuation of the previous issue ☹️).

When we got home I dug out some sausage ragu (made with qu0rn sausages) from the freezer and some mash, and proceeded to de-frost it all. I added borlotti beans and the last of some mixed frozen veg to the ragu to pad it out a bit, plus I added some of the brew-woof seasoning, and I think we'll use the packs, as it was an interesting taste, without burning your tongue off with chilli - huzzah! I detailed it wrong before, it is their 'smokey burger seasoning' in a blue packet. DH hadn't had time to eat his lunch at work 🙄 So he ate his sangers, had a smaller bowl of ragu and mash, and then we all had the last of the steamed pudding. I finished off the yoghurt pot, and DH and LG dove into the custard. They were the reduced sugar version of that famous amber-o-see-al custard, in the tiny pots that you feed to ickle pickles and I remember it being one of the things my mum ended up eating when there was very little else she could keep down. It actually wasn't as bad as I remember it. DH and LG loved it.

I must admit, whilst today has been a lovely spring-like day, the weather has taken a turn to cooler, and the ragu and mash was just the job.

LG has already got one of the books i got from the chazzer today 🙄 Good job I only paid 50p for it. I was in a ❤️chazzer, and there was a conversation about acceptance of cash. The staff thought that the charity would soon be moving to not accepting cash, as they were already not permitted to bank coins 🙄

Ta for popping by.

Greying X

VintageHistorian

I don't want it to be caused by gestures over past Europe but I would like one brief spell where cards don't work, Spain blackout style, just to remind businesses that cash is still very useful 🤨

Greying_Pilgrim

😭😭😭Liza Tarbuck has left her R2 Saturday Evening Show 😭😭😭 I am inconsolable.

Greying X

Jellytotts

You’re not the only one! I do hope she pops up somewhere else.

There’s absolutely nothing else on radio 2 worth listening to (imo). My Saturday evenings will never be the same!

Greying_Pilgrim

Too true Jellytotts. Scott Mills was paying tribute to her this morning (she ain't dead yet!), and he said something about how no other presenter gets the interaction, and letter/emailing in, funny stories, running with themes etc that Liza did. Well, Terry Wogan did - "Janet & John" stories anyone? and he presented them beautifully, actorly, modestly (he always credited the listeners, it wasn't about him), and Liza has done exactly the same. You're right, there isn't anyone who is a patch on Liza, and as far as I'm concerned, is another reason why we don't need to have a TV/TV licence anymore. The amount of 'live' TV we watch or radio that we listen to is diminishing by the week. Her choice of music was so eclectic, and interesting. Where else would you hear something from 1939, or 2026 in the same prog? No where ☹️

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Right, back from shopping.

Seemingly a large amount of dosh spent, but i did buy 10kg of basmati rice in MrL for £10.49, so that has bumped the figures a bit - although it will go in the 'bulk fund' expenditure, as it lasts us a while. £10.49 is the cheapest I have seen, and I am quite happy to purchase MrL basmati, I find it cooks well, and I've had quite a few of their 10kg bags now. Thank heavens a MrL employee was re-stacking the shelf, as I wouldn't have thought to look otherwise, even though I'm coming to the end of my previous bag.

I did get a green box in MrL. There was only 1, and it was fruit heavy, but represented value enough for me. For sure, I will need to trim, I will need to cook several things that some folk like to eat 'fresh', but it was closer to what a green box was originally intended to be, than more recent offerings in our MrL.

I got some YS'd celery in MrS - as it was cheaper than the myn*ctarprice……price 🙄 I also noticed that although the price has stayed the same, stamf0rd st frozen peas are now in a 850g bag ☹️ I did also notice in MrS that they had taken the time and trouble to put YS'd stickers - with an eight pence (yes, 8 pennies) reduction on various bread products. I wish I worked in time & motion for MrS, and I could add up how much 1 sticker, and the employee time to apply it takes, and how that adds up in overheads ………..

Grocery spend was £36.23 in total over the 2 stores this week, and £10.49 was from bulk buys. I got several things with one eye on holiday catering.

Off to amend siggie figgies

Greying X