The friendly frugaleers natter on through November...

[blueteapot]

Hope you dont mind me starting a shiny new thread

I'm back!!! Been so busy with decorating that I've not had chance to catch up! Managed to do all decorating using budgeted money. Paid for carpet on CC but have a saver maturing in December so will repay in full when that comes through. Looking at actually finishing the month in credit.

Sending get better vibes to all those unwell it feeling low. I think this time of year, getting up in dark and coming home in dark can really affect mood. DP and I are constantly tired. This will be our first weekend not rushing around decorating or visiting people. Looking forward to tomorrow night so much.

Oh dear Blue sorry to hear you are feeling rubbish not easy when there are little ones to look after!

I think I have had a NSD yep can't think of anything!

Did pay £20 last night towards dds school trip.

Work was silly busy today, did 11 visits back to back was slightly gaga by the end of the day!!

Well I've had a shit day, I actually cried at work this morning. Feeling very down in the dumps tonight BUT I didn't spend any money and I made a carrot and chick pea pilaff for tea that was delicious! (just have to work out how to get all the burnt rice off the bottom of my posh pan now!)

Oh no pointless hope you're ok

Thanks spotty, I'll be ok. I've just had a very long week with very little sleep and one calamity after another. I think it all got to me today. Felt very stupid crying at work!

pointless we've all been there. I hope you're ok. Nice big sleep. Maybe a wine and you'll be right. I hope. X X

£1.50 today on pencil crayons. My ex boss is having a birthday next week and I'm meeting her for lunch. Bought her a colouring book and some pencils. Book was free on waterstones points.

pointless big hugs!

I'm a bit worried about January... DH gets paid before Christmas. So that paycheck will have to last 5 possibly 6 weeks until the end of January. I can't work it out because my calender app won't open! Can anyone tell me if January is a 5 week month?

Hope you feel better soon Blue.

Ah, pointless, it's awful when you feel as you do, big hugs. Pilaff sounds lovely

NSD. Well bought fruit and made hamper for Children in Need, I can put this through the business as a donation to the local primary school (which it was), but might make this our donation instead. All from Aldi.

4 Weeks 3 days Collie.

Pointless lots of us have cried at work, it's a good way of relieving tension. Unfortunately it's also really embarrassing.

Pointless hope it all looks up in the morning. Sometimes it is good for people to see that you are under stress - it means they are more likely to do something about it.

Creme the "takeaway indian" taste usually comes from boiled onion paste, which is onion blitzed in the food processor to a smooth paste. In tomato based sauces fry it off (low heat) in clarified butter until it just takes on colour. Fry off the ground spices. Add underripe tomatoes skinned & blitzed - Indian tomatoes are less sweet than mediterranean ones. Also a touch of tamarind paste (ASDA & Tesco both sell this as blocks in their world food aisles - not expensive and you don't need a huge amount) and a splash of sugar. Or use a bit of vinegar instead tamarind. I then add the meat & vege.

For yoghurt based ones - drain the yoghurt through a tea towel for an hour or longer, stir in the raw onion paste and marinade the meat overnight with some spices mixed in (tumeric & garam masala, salt & pepper). You can do a cheat Tikka Masala by adding tomato sauce to the marinade - grill or BBQ the meat.

I got a fab book from The Works - 50 Greatest Curries with recipies from loads of different Indian / Bangladeshi / Pakistani chefs. It gives a real good grounding in spicing & techniques. The recipies are fiddly but really good. let me know what type you like & I will scan & email to you if you want.

And that turned into an essay!

Pointless I've cried loads at work.

Hope the cold does one,
Nsd.

Need help as I'm going crazy looking at ovens. My check list is
Free standing, double electric oven and one must be fan. Timer and I would like a lid too if possible.

Hope torn between gas and induction as don't know if my. Stainless steel pans will work on induction.

Not sure on brands tbh

Thanks for all your kind words everyone. Going to start afresh tomorrow.

babs check some of the catering equipment shops. They are usually freestanding.

pointless we will all be stood just behind you...anybody gives you grief and we can have a flash mob with the toddler taming eye glint in your work reception / boss' office.

Babs How about gas oven, very cheap to run, and induction hob?. I love my induction hob.

Stainless steel pans would work with induction.

I have looked at induction tonight and I so like it.
I prefer electric ovens having had both

Pointless soak the pan in clothes washing powder? Sorry you've had a hard week, I've cried at work too, sometimes it just happens and I've never thought less of someone that's done it in front of me.

NSD and when I skyped husband I told him not to but the game he announced he was buying. He can wait till next Month. He can in fact wait for Christmas probably, we need to do that more now.

Had a few good afternoons with ds1, few dodgy moments but we are coping. I might take him to the council farm tomorrow. Or the zoo. Zoo will be free as we have passes but I'm not sure I can manage it with both of them yet, there is a big soft play that ds1 will want to go in and I can't manage that with Gabriel. The farm is really small but ideal for using an hour or so and he loves animals. Annoyingly they don't do an annual pass otherwise he'd be getting that for Christmas from relatives. I do love annual passes to local places as gifts, it makes my life easier as much as anything!

Thanks unescorted that made me laugh!
That's a good tip what, I've left it overnight with fairy liquid and water but might try washing powder if that doesn't work. I hope you do get out for a nice outing tomorrow. The farm sounds perfect if it's small as you shouldn't have too much toddler-chasing to do.
The last straw for me tonight was that there was no chocolate or cake in the house, an apple didn't really cheer me up very much! In bed now, have given up for today.

Unexpected night out with other home ed mums - really lovely, and amazingly they let us use a voucher for all 15ish of us, rather than the 'maximum of 6' it said on the T&Cs, so cheaper too.

I've heard back about dance lessons for DS - one was a mixed style class that's £50 a term for a half hour lesson a week (closed in half terms). But then a friend mentioned a specific 45min ballroom class she'd heard about so I got in touch with them and that's £15 a month, even if it's a 5 week month, and doesn't close as much for holidays. So that works out better I think, and it's ballroom that my little Strictly fan really wants to do anyway :o so we are going to go along to try it out in the next couple of weeks. He's going to be so excited. :o

Place marking as mightn't get on here for a few days

Hope pointless feels better this morning & that whatabout has a lovely day out.

My dw is installed & will be going on for first time today as we're away for weekend won't be waiting for it to be full, there is a half load option.

This week I had a very poor turnout for my class on wed night & was very disheartened with it all but last night was much better so brought up my income a lot!

Where is ipsos?

Food shopping coming later otherwise nsd oh £1 for dd superhero day for children in need

Hoping today will be nsd. There's a chance I'll go out after work for drinks but that depends on how work goes.

Lunch is soup -already popped into my soup cup.

I need to start really thinking about Christmas. I have ideas but nothing really concrete yet.

Have a good weekend away lilac. Feeling much better today, actually got a full night's sleep and it's made such a difference.

fuzz the dancing class sounds so good! I watched some quirky ballet yesterday and it was really good. There were children and adults doing it as part of a play. It was mostly ballet with a mix of random gymnastics and ballroom dancing. DS loved it!

lilac have a lovely weekend.

I had planned to take DS into town today. But the weather is horrible. Not just heavy rain but really windy too. So I think we'll go in tomorrow instead. I really want to get him used to the bus because I'll be leaving the buggy at home! Nervous!!

fluffy thank you for confirming the calendar weeks in January. Glad its not a crazy long month. It shouldnt be so bad!

I think it'll be a NSD today. Although we desperately need a dining table but they're all so expensive. our current table is extremely good quality and I could get a few hundred for it. It's too big and unmanageable for us. It's chunky solid wood. I adore it. It's just far too huge!

£5.25 in Tesco yesterday.

Less frugal day at work. Have made a small error that will cost us £££s. not looking forward to facing my boss when she gets in and finds out. Or her boss either.

Today should be another LSD, might even manage a nsd.

Rafa. Mistakes happen. One of our guys forgot to invoice some work out last month that will cost us about £4k in total. Nothing we can do about it now.

Not sure if I am going out today or not. DC and DH want a takeaway for tea. Much as I love cooking, it's nice not to one in a while, so I might agree. Or might not.

pointless I am useless with out sleep. DH manages on so little I am the bitch from hell when tired!