From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

badmemory

This never used to be the purpose of a school uniform & now all schools seem to have one it should be even less of the purpose.  They are using school uniform to exclude pupils whose parents cannot afford to pay for the special uniforms.  A school tie & maybe a blazer badge should be the most individual a school should get.  Anything else is making them exclusive which is not what our education system should be about.  Just because you can afford to cough up for all and sundry does not actually mean you are committed to your childs education.  It was never this bad until the academies started up.  Those academies don't want us to look too closely into their beliefs either.  Remember the one in the NE that was teaching that the earth was only 6000 years old.  Sorry for the rant GP but expensive school uniform is a major red flag for me.

redofromstart

I went to a 'new parents' evening with the younger child some years back,  and was rather flabbergasted when another parent in the 'any questions' bit asked the head teacher to explain why a new uniform was being introduced that could only be bought from a company owned by one of the governors.  The outrage in the room was palpable. It turned out to be true but happened anyway. 

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening MFW'rs

Thank you for all your supportive comments.  badmemory - the thing is, is this is just a primary school too, not even a comprehensive/Grammar or private school.  It's a local primary and no one has any choice whether they go there or not.  redo - I wouldn't be surprised at all if something similar was happening in our neck of the woods - it's certainly how other things operate in other organisations.

So I checked the uniform stocks, and I was congratulating myself on having some elements of the 'summer' uniform left over from last year, but LG tried them on and they are a bit tight 🙄I'm delighted they are growing, but jinkies! (can you tell we've been watching sc00by d00?), that'll be another couple of donations of pre-loved but very low wear clothing into the second hand clothing bin 🙄Ah well, I've the CHB, so will get on and order new items - they are not branded, so won't gobble up all the clothing budget.

I didn't bother making tea in the SC, but we did have mushroom tortellini and tomato sauce.  We had brocolli and mixed veg to accompany.  I was super impressed with LG clearing their plate - there were peas in the mixed veg - LG didn't like peas.............. 😁👍In fact, poor old DH was last to finish tea tonight, and we had a trip down memory lane, remembering the times when LG was sat at the table refusing to eat some inoffensive object or other......... 😉  I even snuck a load of salad in their cream cheese sandwich today - and they even thanked me and said how much they liked it 😮  Hang on a minute........ Have I collected the right child from school or have I got meself an 👽interloper 🤔

I don't think there is anything else money-related to report.  

Today i am grateful for these 3 things;

LG getting a confidence boost through personal achievement
the wonderful weather and birdlife on my walk
a quick prep tea that everyone liked and polished off.

Ta for popping by.  Appreciated.

Greying X

beanielou

Sent you a PM GP. 

Greying_Pilgrim

beanielou said:

Sent you a PM GP. 

Thanks sweetie.  X

badmemory

Isn't it fun when they get past the "I hate the texture of this" stage.  Mine hated mushrooms, now virtually every meal he eats has them.  The only thing that is still on the no list is brussel sprouts.  His grandmother & aunt love(d) them his mother & him do not.  All I can taste is the metallic taste, but they never could taste it.  Weird or what.

Greying_Pilgrim

Quick computer update.  I have purposely had the computer "just" on battery today, totally disconnected from the mains.  I started off this morning at 8am on a full battery (I'm assuming that is not 100%, as apparently 100% charge is not good for batteries - who knew?).  But it was fully charged.  I don't think that I've perhaps used it totally typically today.  I have been out of the house for long periods.  However, I done many of the normal things I would do - post on here, check emails, view news websites etc etc.  Also, I have just been watching a podcast and I think I got nearly 1hr in before the machine shut down due to lack of power (I had had the warning notice pop up about 10mins before, so knew it was coming).  Although not in constant nor heavy use, the battery has been the power source for 12 hours.

So the machine shut down, and I waited until the on/off button light went out, before reconnecting the mains, and switching it back on..........................  It fired up immediately, and properly.  YAY!  So, does the machine know we've been talking about it, behind its back?  Did the BIOS update/rejig work?  I have no answers.  But at this moment in time, the machine is not doing what it has done the previous 2 times that the battery pack was totally discharged.  But it is behaving like it "should" and how greenbee said it should for a 2 year old laptop.  

You can bet your bottom dollar that I hope that this is just a blip, and we'll continue bobbling along like before - although I WILL be better about backing up docs/pics, because that is just the sensible thing to do, and I would be bereft to lose the baby pics........  But I just wanted to say how grateful I am that I could 'discuss' this with you and get such useful help, advice and support.  I can't think of anyone in my daily life that would could help in the same way, or have such a broad knowledge of consumer right avenues, or expected performance of tech, or just plain and simple offering the loan of an abacus to help me through........ 😉

Grateful, as ever, Greying X

badmemory

I used to have an old car that if it was misbehaving I used to drive it talking about what I should replace it with.  It must work with computers too.

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning MFW'rs

So meter readings taken and submitted.  We remain in credit (just) as this month's useage was down from the previous 2. Long may that continue. 

Gosh, birds are funny, I just noticed some house sparrows bouncing about over to a garden across the road.  They are in a tree - possibly some sort of weeping willow, and one was trying to pull off a whispy, twiggy bit off the tree.  The twig was really spindly, but was about 6-8 inches long.  It did pull it off, but then promptly dropped it but can you imagine what it would DO with such a twig 🤣  Don't sparrows make tiny cosy little nests out of grass and feathers and stuff - it's magpies and pigeons that have the untidy pile of sticks 🤣  I forgot to mention, absently mindedly staring out of LG's window yesterday I spotted a male blackcap. I must admit, I prefer the female, with their brown cap - that is such a warm shade of brown, but the variety of birds we have here is amazing.

LG has club this evening.  No costs involved, but I will probably nip to MrS whilst I am waiting.   I have a couple of things on my list, but must stick rigidly to them, or only purchase bargainacious (useful) YS'd things.  I miscalculated, and technically, I have 2 shopping days left for March, and of course, the Easter weekend is included in this month.  Whilst we don't have a family party for 27, with a roast and all the trimmings in the pipeline, we might need some picnicky type stuff, or just food to cover meals at home.  I forsee alot of soup in our future....... bottom of the fridge soup at that! 😁  On the subject of food - LG requested lettuce on their sangers today 😮

Right, best shift-a-tail feather.  Ta for popping in.  

Greying X

mumtoomany

Tis the power of MSE, I think. I had a rabbit problem in the polytunnel. Had them in there most of the winter. I had tried everything  I could think of to get them out, to no avail. My last hope was to post on here, the green fingered thread, for advise. Since I posted they have not been back! Who knew rabbits read this forum? The laptop must be able to access your thread too.

On the uniform problem. All mine are now long past that stage, thankfully. But when the eldest was eleven back in  1994, she managed to gain an assisted place at a local private school, we had to contribute around £1.50 per week. The second hand uniform shop was amazing, rails of clothing and always mega busy. It seems that those who could afford the £200 it cost for the basic uniform, chose not to spend their money. Maybe that's why they were wealthy.

Hugs, mumtoomany.xxx