From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

kayannie

You'd be most welcome to camp in our garden, but as our garden is very steep - on the side of a hill, you'd soon be rolling out of bed! 

Thanks for the offer to car share! It's only because I'm a tightwad that I don't drive to the shops when I can travel for free using my bus pass. I wouldn't get the workout either if I didn't have to lugg my trolley up the hill!

I'm keeping a lookout at the moment for a neighbour who usually walks by at about this time of day as I want to share some of my Mr L box with her. We've already eaten half of the peaches but there are too many oranges for just 2 of us.

I'll keep my fingers crossed in the hope you'll strike lucky in Mr L before too long. 

KA

rtandon27

GP - We just love MrS own brand cod fish fingers as they actually resemble Fish! - Though it is a bit more work, we've also purchased their own brand bag of Pollock fillets and breaded & baked from frozen for a home-made version.  We find a bag can do us 3 or 4 meals for two so good value when cost is broken down.

I truly do admire your balanced approach to LG voicing their knowledge on micro-plastics.  My reaction would have been a lot less generous & along the lines of being thankful for that which has been provided.  This is why our household is both child & pet free, I simply do not have the in-born patience to be anymore than a gawd-mom to littlies! (My gawd-babies are now fully fledged adults with lovely babas of their own, so they survived visits to mine unscathed!)

Greying_Pilgrim

RT - I suppose I am just glad that LG has an opinion about things, and that they feel that they can express that opinion to us.  It's less important to me whether I agree, although obviously at the moment we're on relatively safe topic areas for discussion, rather than multifaceted legal/ethic/moral dilemmas.  I just hope that LG learns the art of discussion and conversation, and that you don't have to agree with everyone - and they don't have to agree with you, but there needs to be respect on all sides and agreeing to disagree with someone, whilst supporting their right to hold a differing opinion is what is important - as is reciprocation.  

I'm afraid that we're already seeing 'entrenched' opinions about all manner of things appearing amongst LG's peers.  Some of them do hold their own views on various subjects, some are merely parroting what they have heard and deem it to be fact.  If you don't agree with them, then woe betide you.  Something that appears in wider society and amongst 'adults', society seems to have lost it's tolerance of differing viewpoints.  I can't think of any issue that can be distilled down to right/wrong, and it's healthy to have other viewpoints and experiences of situations.  I think I would be more concerned if LG had no thought or opinion about (age-appropriate) matters.  If anything, I suppose I am trying to teach them that there will always be the 'grey' areas to any issue, and they need to think through responses and positions.  Plus it (should) be OK always to change your mind/response to issues, without ridicule.

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Morning MFW'rs

kayannie - of the two MrL's I've been to in that neck of t'woods, the one had such a tiny car park that to access/drive around/exit, was a challenge in itself and the other was a new build store, smothered in cameras because it obviously was a prime target for tourists to park up and schlep to the beach or railway station for the day.  No incentive to drive to either of them 🙁I applaud your taking the bus to the shops.  I will hope to drop on a box at some point in the future, although the 'lack' of boxes at our local store seems to have co-incided with a managerial change.  The old manager didn't put any effort into the boxes (and would very often be seen 'collecting' old produce by lobbing it into crates.....) and I suspect that the new manager would look to how to get rid of things without actually having to lift a finger - perhaps more is funnelled to the waste diversion scheme, who knows.

Why did I waste time watching the footy last night?  We had veggie burgers and chips sat in front of t'telly as a bit of a treat.

naturally today seems like a Saturday, rather than school-day Friday 🙄 This week has been looooonnnnngggg.

We have woken up to wall to wall sunshine, so I will hope to get a bed sheet wash on just now.  

I think tea will be plant balls and tommie sauce with pasta.  I think I will use the PC to make it, keep the heat production levels down.  

Can't think of anything else MSE to add.  Ta for popping by.  Appreciated, as ever.

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Morning MFW'rs

Shopping day today.  I didn't bother trying to spend my last MOC in MrS this week.  It ran out on Tuesday, and although I did look to see if I could justify a shop, I couldn't.  I couldn't even make the clothing sale work in my favour, as there was little or nothing in LG's size.  And yes, of course, MrS will say stock is 'flying' off the shelves, but the truth of the matter is, they didn't have the stock in the first place, and they certainly haven't restocked, since Tuesday, because I went for a look today and there was the same items languishing, singly on the shelves......

I did go to MrS today for a carefully curated list of items that I needed/would have bought anyway, primarily for the points.  I spent £15.53 instore and did 2 good deeds; reuniting a pensioner with his walking stick that he'd left behind in the trolley port, and reporting a significant product spillage in a high-traffic aisle - which was dealt with super promptly by the till operative I reported it to 😁

I did my 'main' shop (such as it was) in MrL today.  It was soooooooooo eerily quiet - really disconcerting.  I suspect the party is over amongst the MrS shoppers who flocked to MrL before Christmas in search of cheap prices - they have returned to MrS I think, as it was heaving in there this morning 10 minutes after I had left a deserted MrL.  MrL shop came in at £30.33.  I wanted some potatoes and initially was going to leave them on the shelf, as the all-rounder white potatoes were a product of France, and the other box was from Eygpt.  Now of course, there is absolutely nothing wrong with these tatties, but whilst we still grow potatoes in the UK, I like to try to support our farmers where I can.  Anyway, I decided to get my work out and see what was in the box underneath.  I am glad I persevered, as there were some tatties from Oxfordshire, and as it happened, the mix of sizes included several which will be perfect for baked tatties, so actually it was a score on two counts - usefulness and origin.   

So I have spent £45.83 in total.  Well over budget.  I did buy some white wine as LG is going on a playdate tomorrow and has been offered a plate of tea too, so DH and I will have something that LG is none to fond of - risotto is looking like a favourite choice at the minute.  Mushroom or broad bean.  

I have decided that the food budget going forward will be set at £300 for the 3 of us.  In addition, £50 will be budgeted for non-food household (you know, bleach, loo paper, plasters and so on....).  And if you are wondering, dear reader, where this money will materialise from, I'm afraid that it will result in reductions elsewhere.  Although DH did receive a small payrise at the start of the year, this (like many other households), was mostly swallowed up by council tax rises, energy and Utility costs and everything else that went up in April.  So the truth of the matter is that the windows savings will grow at an even more glacial pace, we will have to do less 'going out for day trips' (not that we've had many of those this year anyway), and just not spend on anything that is non-essential.  

I had a call up to do jury service, right at the start of the school holidays 🙄 Luckily I have been able to defer until term time.  Not for the first time I'm worried that our lack of a wider familial support network will make childcare an issue.  I suppose people as old as me aren't 'supposed' to have young children to care for 🙄  And yes, expenses for care are available, but since when has it been 'easy' to purchase quality ad-hoc care for dependents?  I can't imagine it would be any easier if I was trying to get care on a 'might/might not need you' basis for an aged parent.  Thankfully the court is local, I'm not having a long commute added to the matter.  

School sports day is done and dusted.  DH managed to get time off, so LG was delighted that their beloved papa was there to watch.  Not that LG did that many events.  I sensibly didn't enter the mum's race, and they didn't have a 'seniors' race, so I cheered and clapped everyone else on from the side.  DH didn't step forward for the dad's race, as there was a stampede - accompanied by a really strange smell..... 😉.... and there had to be several iterations of 'the dad's race' 🙄 Oh, and did you know that the sacks for sack races have handles on them these days, to hold onto?  Gee, half the task in Ye Olde Daze, was to keep a firm grip on a smidge of hessian that you were simultaneously jumping up and down on 🤣

Right, all out of MSE news I think.  Best shuffle orf and amend siggie.

TTFN, Greying X

EssexHebridean

I seem to recall the best tactic for sack racing was to jam ones feet firmly into the two corners, while twisting the top of the sack around your hand to assist with not letting go, then sort of lollop along the course, with the trick being to appear to be jumping, rather than running... Very sensible of you not to participate in races though, I have a feeling it's all got rather more competitive since I was at school!

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning MFW'rs

New month.

I submitted our energy meter readings this morning, and the account updated almost instantaneously.  Sooooooo very different to the fandango we endured at the rental house with BG and their blessed 'smart meters' and carpy IHDU.  Due to this being an 'ad-hoc' reading, we are the teeniest bit in the red, but this will be altered in a day or two when the DD lands, so I'm fine with it all at the moment. - we're pretty much on-track.  

All money is in the bank to pay this months DD's.  I will get on and pay the cc bill this morning, which includes some clothing for LG and the overnight stay at Sir Len's motel at the start of June.  

LG had a lovely playdate on Friday, and mum & dad enjoyed a white wine and mushroom risotto, for a change.  

I'm semi-caught up with the washing - all the 'important' items are laundered.  Baskets aren't quite empty yet tho.  

We had creamy potato soup for lunch yesterday as the weather wasn't blazing hot sunshine.  It used up the last of the 'smaller' potatoes out of Thursday's bag and the remainder of the pot of whipping cream I had bought along with a pack of scones for our 'cake and coffee' treat when DH was at home in the week.  We hadn't really time to pootle off to a (nice) cafe, sit and relax and then head back for sports day.  So a 'DIY' cream tea was a fine substitute, and as we had the jam already at home, cost less than one slice of cake out anyway....... And I'm afraid that I must admit to being 'Team Cornwall'......

We sat watching the footy yesterday tea-time (why?????) and had veggie sausage hot dogs and the last few oven chips out of the bag.  A mini fake maggynumb was for pud.

The weeks seem to be dragging in the run up to the summer hols - and we haven't even a (going away) holiday to look forward to.  I think one of LG's after-school clubs will be holding its last session this week, but everything else is on until the end of term.  September will hopefully bring about a change of the days that LG is out and about, and hopefully bring a bit more balance to the weeks.  At the moment we're out for 4 days of the week, and only just manage to limp through Friday.  

I am hopeful that we can have a good time in the summer holiday though.  We're not flush, but things aren't quite as squeaky tight as they were in previous years, so I'm hopeful that we can get out and about a bit more - pack a lunch and head out, as there is plenty to see and do locally.  Then perhaps venture a bit further afield when DH has his time off.  Although we have a big bill pending as the one car will require major fettling to keep it running/on the road and passing it's MOT, so that's got to be factored in as well.  

Right, can't think of anything else MSE relevant, so will push orf and pay my cc bill.

Ta for popping by.  Appreciated.

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning MFWr's

I went shopping this morning - I know, get me shaking things up....... 😂

Anyhoo, we were getting low on things and it could be time consuming to go to the polling station tomorrow - or it may not be, I'm just assuming that ID checks will delay things.  So I thought I'd fling caution to the breeze and take my list to MrL today.  I popped into HB too.

In total I spent £47.90 in MrL and £8.97 in HB on food items.  I also spent £4.87 in HB on non-food household items.  I did buy some potatoes again in MrL.  I could have had a choice of Scottish, Fife grown tatties today, but opted for one of the few remaining bags of Oxfordshire grown ones, simply because they had more of a mix of sizes again.  But the Fife tatties were perfectly fine looking - Saxon variety I think.  I did buy a pot of the 'simply' strawberry jam.  They have changed the jar it is in, to look more like the goodly mother variety.  If nowt else, I can donate the jar to a jam making chum when we've used the contents.

I think i got everything I needed in MrL today.  I didn't notice any price rises for anything that I buy, but I did marvel at the shrinking size of the cucumbers - which are priced at 89p - same as when we weren't in the height of cucumber season........  I did buy some salad tomatoes and noticed they were UK grown 😁

There weren't any green boxes - and didn't look as though there had been any.  There were a few YS'd things dotted about, but not masses, and not anything that I needed.  At least one of the pleasant store assistants was on the till.

I need to get on and do some batch cooking.  In checking to see what herbs/spices I needed, I discovered some homemade spice mixes that had gravitated towards the back of the cupboard, so I need to get and use them.  I'll whip up some curries, as the weather is variable and if all else fails, they can be put in the freezer for another day.  I'm a bit low on 'ready' meals.  

Right, can't think of owt else MSE, so I'm amend my siggie and shuffle orf.

Greying X

beanielou

Fife all the way says this proud Fifer. 

EssexHebridean

The polling station with the ID checks took no longer than usual when we had the local elections a while back GP - they only glance at the ID and make sure the name matches your entry on the list - it's nothing in depth.