From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

Greying_Pilgrim

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81923467#Comment_81923467

Assuming it was UK lamb………. X

Watty1

The production crew eat it, the studio folk eat it, anyone that wants a meal can pop in and eat it. (Personal experience - one time only - and all the food vanished).

Apparently magazine food does not get eaten as to make it photograph well it gets coloured and painted and so on (according to a food stylist I randomly met)

greenbee

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81923492#Comment_81923492

I heard the same about magazine food from my brother who used to be an occasional model on food shoots when he was a student. So we just need a third reference and it’s definitely true!

Greying_Pilgrim

I would love to know what the food costs were for this episode Watty - there was Lamb, Beef, salt cod and cod being used that I saw. I agree that if the food is consumed by the production crew (nice gig if you can get it), that is better than it being wasted, but why show 2 cooking methods, which - because of the nature of the cooking process and TV schedules, need "here's one we made earlier". I can see that having James cooking lamb is highlighting it, but whether that translates into more sales for UK farmers is debatable. If you use a butcher, and they say the lamb is from the farm down the road and the sheep was called Daisy, that is one thing, but supermarkets don't always stock UK produce…..

On frugal matters that I can have influence over, (well…… 😏), I was a bit niggled when the CT bill came in the other day. I knew it was going to go up by loads, but when you actually get to see what the figure is each month, it is even worse….. But I pondered whether the banding for this house is right. It's a 2 bed, and we're the same band as the rental house we were in, which had been a 3 bed (the 2 larger rooms had been made into one long room and LG was stuck in a box room which had room for a bed and little else). So I found the figure this house was sold for when it was originally built (prior to 1991), and I have the figure it was sold for to the person we bought the house from. The one figure I couldn't find is what the house sold for to the second owners (we're apparently the 4th owners) - again, it must have happened prior to either 1995, or 1991. However, I used the MSE 'formula'. In terms of other similar houses, we're all banded the same. Then I used the calculator to see what the house would have been valued at in 1991. Would you believe that we fell into the more expensive category by about £750 in 1991…. ☹️ I know there has got to be systems, and some will win, others will gain, but I really think that that the valuation was more than you could have bought this house for in 1991. BUT, the important thing is not my thoughts on the matter, the important thing, is that there was a mechanism to check (Thank you MSE), and I have used that mechanism. Had the mechanism proved we were wrongly banded, I wouldn't be pouty about it, would I? 😉

Then, as a secondary thing that happened when I was looking for the valuations was that I found the energy rating for the house. That was done when we bought the house, and I thought I had the document, as it was delayed, and wasn't done prior to the house being put on the market, but anyway, I now have the rating. What I'm not sure about, is whether having much more effective DG installed has changed that rating. But what I want to do is go back and look at the link greenbee gave for the solar power installation, to see if we're eligible to at least get a survey for that.

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

I think it probably is true about the magazine food, and surely, logic would dictate that multiple dishes are also made for a photo shoot - just in case a cake rises unevenly, or the meat joint burns on oneside, or the crackling doesn't crisp? Maybe digital photo manipulation is making that a thing of the past though? Perhaps filters could make something look evenly cooked - especially if the food stylists tips and tricks have been employed? In my humble opinion, a picture perfect representation of a dish doesn't necessarily encourage more people to cook it - particularly new/nervous cooks. Although to be fair, I didn't used to like cookery books that didn't have pictures - perhaps you do need to see if you've managed a pretty fair approximation of the dish 🤔

The siskins are in full voice this morning - they are so noisy for such little birds, and yet so difficult to spot - you'd think there was a whole choir, and at most you can spot about 3 of them 🤣. Then I'm pretty sure a heron flew over - it was a smaller one, lighter grey/blue. The other week, as we were walking to school 2 herons flew over (the big, prehistoric looking sort). They were making a noise I'd not heard before, and didn't expect from a heron. It was closer to a single goose honk. We are so lucky with the bird life around here.

Greying X

badmemory

Be careful looking at solar. I have it & love it. BUT & why is there always a but. We do not live in the south of England. Without a battery mine I suspect would never pay for itself. I am only just getting the hang of it really, I was very slow about it. In winter up here it is mostly (apart from the odd day) pretty useless. But you can fill the battery cheap overnight. Which can save you over 10p/kWh. As for exporrt tariffs, they are coming down & will I believe continue to come down as more people install solar.

But I will repeat I love it, even without the eco implications.

in_need_of_direction

would you agree greying that a lot of the 6 nations games were about restoring discipline, which I think is no bad thing? Even at a lower level, examples such as Bundi Akee show more of a hardline being taken throughout the sport. I do agree that the penalty and reduction in number on the field greatly assisted France’s victory. That said, I think the play this year was exceptional from all.

Greying_Pilgrim

Oh, goodness, I absolutely agree that there needs to be application of discipline in the sport - especially with all the video camera referrals etc. And whilst some of the 'rules' are OK, in textbook theory, they are a little more difficult to follow in real-time, at speed, on a wet surface (for example), I don't think that rules/sanctions shouldn't be applied. What vexes me - and I'm talking from an England perspective - is when the rules are clearly flouted by so called top-tier professional players. Cynical foul play if you will. Professional sports players should be more disciplined - they are on a public stage. Having said that, the England team weren't the only ones to receive cards, so it's not just an England team issue. But when they just needed to hold on, it's a pity they couldn't have just kept to their drills, and skillfully played out. But goodness yes, there needs to be discipline shown and yes - restored, because if nothing else, it harms the game, and lack of discipline can led to serious injury.

You're right - there have been enough moments of brilliance, or sheer dumb luck in this six nations to have made it a great competition. Foul play, or ill-discipline hasn't marred the competition, but England are sometimes guilty of self-sabotage……..

Greying X

in_need_of_direction

I wasn’t having a pop at England, I think bad practice was becoming more prevalent and hopefully this tournament will result in all holding things in check.

Greying_Pilgrim

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81923691#Comment_81923691

Sweetie - didn't read as you were. I agree about the bad practice. I think some of the rule changes have been for the better too - the requirement to "get your opponent safely down" if you tackle them in the air is a good one, there seem to be fewer serious injuries since that has been implemented, although it hasn't stopped tackling, and of course sometimes there are bad landings. But for sure England could - and should - be more disciplined. You are right about the "good" rugby we have seen this championship, because players have just gone on and played the game - scintillating to watch, and even better as an 'advert' for the game for future players (of any level).

Well I got the washing in a couple or 3 hours after it went out. We had a fiercesome breeze, which mostly dried the washing - thank goodness, but the rain came, and set in, so I quit whilst I was ahead. I'm delighted to say that I'm caught up with the clothes washing (as ever you can be). Today's wash is on the airer, and should be good to put away tomorrow.

Lunch was alphabetty minestrone, which used up the last of some M&$ alphabet pasta, a couple of sweet potatoes, a couple of carrots, some black-eyed peas, onion, celery, garlic and a tin of tomatoes, a stock cube and some water and seasonings. 3 full bowls and all lapped up. We all had a piece of the lemon raspberry cake that I made with the waste box raspberries. That passed the yum test too. I got DH some decaf teabags from MrL this week, and he's been on them for any drink after midday. He reckons they taste fine, so maybe that might help with his insommnia and inflammation - as he does drink an awful lot of tea/coffee each day.

Greying X