From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

Cheery_Daff

I'm away for work for a few days so have had to do a postal vote for the first time ever. It was quite stressful because it didn't arrive until last Friday! I didn't leave until Wednesday but it still felt like it was cutting it fine, and obviously there's no way to check it actually arrived back at the destination.  If this ever happens again I'll be getting Mr Cheery to do me a proxy vote.

badmemory

Mine arrived a week last friday so I posted them (mine & DS) a week last Saturday.  I don't know why some are taking so long as they don't have far to go.

EssexHebridean

No doorsteppers here either, although a positive rain-forest's worth of guff through the letter box, and all of the annoyingly colourful and shiny type so we can't even burn it or convert it to paper slurry to make paper bricks for the fire. You'd have thought at least the Green Party would want their leaflets to be re-useable over just recyclable, wouldn't you?! As for the doorsteppers, they all get told the same thing anyway - that my understanding is that the phrase is "personal politics", and so as it is indeed "personal" I have no intention of engaging in conversation with ANYONE about it on my doorstep (or indeed in the street), thank you! My favourite was the one on the street some years ago who began their approach with "do you mind if we ask you..." - to which my response was "yes", along with a polite smile. They then began to launch into their actual question, which I (still politely) interrupted and pointed out that as I had clearly said I DID mind, why were they still asking me questions....it all went a bit quiet at that point!  

I'm not sure whether they eventually resolved the issue of the postal votes that hadn't arrived? we both do in person anyway, as this isn't an issue for us, but I do feel for those who have arranged a postal vote only to then face the stress that Cheery mentions above! 

greenbee

I have had postal votes for years due to work travel, but have had to reapply when I've moved - luckily it arrived on time this time. However, the only candidate seen round here was reform. Not much in the way of leaflets, but interestingly a lot on FB. I think candidates also need to remember that they need to get their campaigns up and running before people start returning their postal votes, rather than leaving it all to the last minute!

Greying_Pilgrim

The electoral system - and I hope that we can freely discuss that, without infringing any forum discursive etiquette - does seem to be in a period of transition, which I'm not sure the actual parties/candidates/voting mechanism have actually caught up with.  Having said that, if it all moves to 'social meeja', I'm even less likely to know what is going on than I do from trying to decipher shiny, glossy, logo heavy leaflets that are light on substance.  One candidate had filled their leaflet with images of..... themselves!  They must have spent a fortune at the portrait photographers!

EH - I feel the same, and wonder why people object to you not wanting to engage in conversation with random strangers who happen  to knock on your door - and that can apply to any subject, at any time.  I appreciate some people are happy to promote their particular favoured affiliation, but voting is still supposed to still offer an element of anonymity, and I wish that was respected a little more.  

Postal and proxy systems are vitally important to democracy, but heavens to Betsy, they have to function better than this!

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Well, I'm thrilled at how well the washing is drying currently. Remind me of this day in the depths of winter when I'm bemoaning putting the de-humidifier on at max. suck for 24hrs 😕  

LG has had a hand-written communication through the post from an 'Aunty' - they will be thrilled to open that when they come home.  Presumably it isn't time-sensitive tho, and wasn't supposed to have arrived sometime in 12/2023........  It's reminded me that I currently have no stamps in the house though.  Wonder whether the non-food budget could stretch to a book of stamps this month?  Perhaps I'm better off buying them 'as and when'.  I'm overdue sending a cheery note to a chum who's been undergoing treatment, so I need to get my ducks in a row.  

I'm hopeful that DH isn't working this weekend.  For sure, the additional income can always be allocated, but he's been shook to the core by his colleague's situation, and I just think that a spot of family time wouldn't go amiss.  None of us know what the future holds.  

Tea will involve omlettes, potatoes and baked beans - in various guises to suit recipients and timings.  I need to update my recipe index with yesterday's recipes, as both are keepers for me, and have another trawl to use up other spice mixes/random ingredients etc that have gravitated to the back of the cupboard.  Also, I have let the freezer get too low with ready prepared 'somethings', so need to focus back on that.  I'll thank my past self if we can have a day out in the summer hols and know that there is something for tea on our return.  And because we don't/can't just default to ordering takeaway, this - for our household - is 'moneysaving 101' so I need to pull my socks up - a.l.o.t.  I know that I am not making the best use of this time when life is (finally) on an even-ish keel.  It's no good pointing to the last 5+ years of choppy waters, and saying, but, but, but. I need.to.focus.

Greying X

badmemory

I worry about the way elections & the like are going.  MSE is the nearest I get to social media & I have a couple of friends who have no "devices" at all & only seem to have mobile phones because (being catty) they like the sound of their own voices.

rtandon27

GP - Have sent you a PM in regard to your stamp comment! - RT

Greying_Pilgrim

rtandon27 said:

GP - Have sent you a PM in regard to your stamp comment! - RT

Thanks sweetie - have got back to you 😘

Well, Good Morning MFW'rs

Kindness abounds in the background on this thread - THANK YOU 😁

Well, I had an early night last night, but still woke up tired.  Mad how that works, isn't it.  I did catch the last set of the Murray & Murray doubles match.  Glad that they got Sue back in to conduct the official ta-ra.  Fitting.

We ended up with mash, omlette and a hastily rearranged ratatouille for tea last night, as I hadn't realised that i had NOT one tin of baked beans in my cupboards!  How ill-prepared me!  Anyhoo, everything was munched up by all, and I added a couple of spoonfuls of mixed veg (from a MrS frozen bag) to DH & my plate too.  

Last day of the week.  With the change in activities, these weeks seem to last at least a fortnight!  Add in the limp to the end of term, and July is going to last forever!  Well, you can bet it will last forever, until we reach the summer hols, and then it will whiiiiiiizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

I need to get a wash on just now, as it stands a good chance of getting dry.  

I think we'll go for plant-based balls, tommie sauce and pasta for tea.  I bought some grana padano for the risotto last week, so we'll top it with that - LG loves that type of cheese.  

Right, best shift a tail feather and get on with things.  It'll be time for the school run before we know it!

Ta for popping in and for all the kindness shown towards me and Family Greying. Super appreciated - as ever.

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

I've just popped back to update my siggie, as I spent £3.58 in MrL on onions, carrots and nectarines.  I was passing nearby and remembered I'd forgotten onions.  

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Afternoon MFW'rs

Not alot to report. 

I am currently playing laundry roulette with the weather.  It's the second time I've pegged out workwear, and have brought it in once.......  Currently I'm watching to see if the black clouds come over or go round.....

I just made a pot of soup for lunch.  Chickpea and pasta, using tinned chickpeas and the remainder of the pasta from Friday night's tea.  I pureed the base, which was onion, celery, garlic, carrots and chickpeas and then added the pasta and another tin of chickpeas and warmed through.  LG lapped it up and had seconds with DH.  

We had the Jamaican bean curry (1 of the 2 pots out of the freezer) with lentil dhal and rice for tea last night, sat in front of the telly watching the football.  I know England won, but gosh, yet again, sooooo boring to watch. 

DH didn't end up working yesterday, but is now talking about doing so next weekend.  I resent the short notice, as I had intended for us to go adventurising this weekend (perhaps).  When working got mentioned, I shelved those plans, only to find that by c.o.p on Friday, that DH would be at home.  Whilst I appreciate we've not cash to splash, running about wully-nully; weeks and months go by and we've done nowt.  It's not as if we're all off together for the whole of the summer hols, DH will be working for most of it. His previous employer had a system for weekend working - which whilst it could be turned off and on to suit the employer, and became non-existent following the pandemic - you did better know where you stood.  This maybe/maybe not, up until the last moment decision making is ever so slightly doing my head in. 

Tea is probably going to be pizza and wedges.  I'll make the pizza dough just now.

Greying X