From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

badmemory

I must say I think your meal was somewhat healthier than ours was.  Once a week usually Friday not Sunday we have our equivalent of junk food.  Venison (aren't we posh - not) grillsteaks cut in 2 with fried onions.  They are less fatty than normal burgers re DSs cholesterol issues & quite tasty.  We have tried the plant versions, frankly disgusting, although we quite like the beetroot or mushroom burgers, but they haven't been seen for almost a year.  If I could just wean DS off the cheese toasties we would be laughing.

teapot2

Another fan here of Lisa Tarbuck's radio prog

Greying_Pilgrim

teapot2 said:

Another fan here of Lisa Tarbuck's radio prog

What did you wear for skating, teapot2?

Greying 😁👍⛸️

greenbee

If your laptop is only 2 years old you definitely need to be making a fuss GP. It should last 3-5 years without issues, and up to 10 years getting increasingly annoying due to lack of software updates (although ChromeOS Flex can theoretically overcome that) and average business replacement cycles are now (I think, as I’m not at work right now to check) 4.6 years, with consumer replacement cycles being longer. Having to use laptops plugged in is normal towards end of life, but not after just 2 years. 

Greying_Pilgrim

Thanks greenbee that is useful 'anticipated performance' data.  I have just updated the BIOS and run a performance test on the battery and the AC adapter.  The tests both came back as ok, although the adaptor test was slated to last 2 minutes, and barely took 2 seconds, so how accurate......  

I am using the laptop on battery power only (fully charged up), to see how long it will last with 'typical' use.  Also, if it goes down to nil power, will it boot up again, or only when charged back up by AC connection.  At the moment, it is operating and powering off/on as normal.  

LG despatched to school; early starts on a Monday morn.  roll on the Easter hols!

I am going to walk into Greying Town just now to move some money about.  We have lovely sunshine and a good breeze here today - but (typically) I haven't a full load of one type of wash to put on, so can't take advantage 🙁 The weather is forecast to change later, so it is possibly just as well.  Larger or heavier weight items probably wouldn't dry fully. I would love for the garden to dry out, but it doesn't look like that will happen anytime soon.  Meanwhile the local magpies are making whoopee, using our mud and grass stalks to build their nests 😠 Thankfully the nest building is taking place elsewhere.

I'm anticipating doing something for tea in the slow cooker.  I might make up a new batch of tommy sauce and I have some mushroom tortellini in the cupboard that could be added.  Need to locate some sort of veggie to go with.  

Can't think of anything else MSE - although i need to start my lists.  One list will be for clothes needed by LG - I'm thinking primarily school uniform things.  We have a teeny bit of wiggle room this month with CHB as clubs/activities don't run in the holidays, but we're not talking masses of money available.  I have also got to keep in the back of my mind the school's declared intention to make some sort of revamp of the uniform, with the introduction of further branded items 🙄 I have given my opinion, that this isn't the time to be introducing compulsory branded items, which can only be sourced from one shop, but I don't suppose my views will be listened to.  There is supposed to be legally binding guidance on schools to only introduce the bare minimum of branded items. 

Ta for popping in and for posting.  Greatly appreciated. By me.  Thank you.

Greying X

teapot2

Greying_Pilgrim said:

teapot2 said:

Another fan here of Lisa Tarbuck's radio prog

What did you wear for skating, teapot2?

Greying 😁👍⛸️

Wet suit and tutu natch - you? 😉

EssexHebridean

The issue of uniforms being made very "exclusive" and having to come from only one place - I can see that it was introduced to remove any element of "my kit of better than your kit" type bullying - but of course that turns into a big problem when the place selling it in turn use it as an opportunity to increase costs because they have no competition. It's a tricky one that I have no idea how it's possible to completely solve. Whichever way it is dealt with seems to come with issues for someone! Even the option for parents to buy patches which can then be affixed to non-specific items bought from cheaper shops is a problem for those who cannot sew, I imagine! A proper minefield and I don't envy you for needing to navigate it  - but well done for making the point about affordability. Who knows, perhaps sufficient people will have done the same that the school will listen? 

Greying_Pilgrim

teapot2 said:

Wet suit and tutu natch - you? 😉

Oh, just my third-best water polo outfit 🤽‍♀️, complete with mismatching water wings and a rubber ring..... I mean. LT is usually bob-on with skating venue choices, but frankly, with spring approaching, it's been a bit touch and go some weeks........🤣

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Right, money matters.

I had a lovely walk in the sunshine into Greying Town, making sure I tried to keep up a good pace - worthwhile as a bit of exercise for the day 😁 No parking charges as I used my feet/legs.

I did the relevant money moves - both financial institutions were heaving with customers, so much for 'nobody uses high street banks anymore' 🙄

I bought some apples - £1 added to Grocery budget.  I also bought some clothes for LG from a shop that was closing down.  They are 'next size up' in (generic) clothing that LG has had before, and which they like/will continue to use.  I was mindful in the shop of a item of clothing that was well priced, but it was in a size for an older child - and did (for once) look like it was on the 'larger fit' side.  And I pondered whether LG would still like that style by the time it came to fit them, so I left it there.  A shame, as the prices were better than some chazzers are now charging and the clothing is new.  Money drawn out of CHB.

EH I hope parents who are struggling will voice their opposition to the introduction of needless uniform upgrades, which will only need to be worn for part of the school week, over a truncated part of the school year.  But to be fair to the school, they have mooted the introduction, because despite very clear and very simple requirements for uniform, which can predominantly be purchased from anyone of a number of supermarkets, high street stores or the internet, some children have been turning up to school in branded/fashion label/designer/logo'd clothing.  Which possibly cost alot of money.  It hasn't been thought through properly, and will put the onus on every family to buy new clothing, without stopping people turning up to school in what the heck they want.  Which - as you quite rightly point out - does lead to ridicule, one-up-personship and teasing.  The existing uniform does allow for sufficient choice and there aren't any obscure colours that the shops don't stock.  We do have a 'secondhand' uniform scheme going on - I have contributed to it.  But the sizes seem to concentrate on the littlies, rather than throughout the school range and of course, no-one will have this new introduction.  I need to double check what I have for LG and then plan purchases accordingly, and bear in mind this new requirement may be introduced.  With moving, I have 'misplaced' the clothes that I have for LG in bigger sizes etc, so first action will be to track them down and then start my list! 😁

Right, I've a plan, l'm off to action it!

Greying X

EssexHebridean

That's the thing isn't it - it's easier to put I place a policy which will end up costing everyone more money than to actually police the existing rules! And yes to the second hand schemes as well - they are a great idea but above a certain age either the kids don't want the clothes going back to the school I suspect, or indeed would they want to be the one wearing the second hand items, as it's a lot harder to conceal that if the clothes have actually come via the school. So much easier all round when they are little!