Fearless Frugaleers Finding Their Feet in February

[SpottyTeacakes]

I've got fruflu

collie, fuzz and nk, fingers crossed for you and your families.

Creme, I've been wiped out today too, because yesterday was such a long day. I promised I would just do the basics, but I am not good at that and am really knackered now.

I have stuck the following into the SC, and I must say, it smells and tastes fab. We are going to have it will baked sweet potatoes.

Turkey mince (browned), onion, garlic, herb stock cube, teaspoon of harissa paste, ground cumin, coriander, paprika, nutmeg, spoonful of honey. Very cheap and easy. You could bulk up with chick peas or veggies very easily.

Further menu plans -

Cauliflower pasta bake with chorizo.
Butternut squash and carrot soup
Fish pie
Smoked mackerel, leek and mushroom risotto.
Sausage tray bake.
Omelette and potato wedges.

I actually fancy perusing recipe books tonight.

And DS is home from Berlin, shattered. He went to bed at 2pm and I haven't seen him since

Fuzz It's absolutely horrifying to watch this unfold. I'm still hoping he gets another job quickly.

creme I'd get the dryer, hopefully it will be cheaper to run.

Good luck for collies dh too.

£7 Saturday, £2.60 of that will be reimbursed from topcashback and the rest was Tesco finest cheesecake which is totally worth it.

£10 Sunday on a new pillow in JL. Came with a gaurentee (sp) for 2 years so I've filed that. Can't see a pillow staying in shape for two years.

Bought lots of artificial lilies with my £50 Sky voucher, they were on offer 3 for 2 so it's £72 worth for free. Am not waiting for my valentines flowers to peg it so I can arrange them oh no. One rose is slightly droopy though so not long now.

NSD today. Printed out a coupon for free always ultra pads off supersavvyme. Only valid in Asda though.

Hmm. Interview was very short apparently. DH is worried that they're too put off by the fact the job is technically 'beneath him' IYSWIM. Ah well. We shall see. Not heard owt from last week's interview either, which is rather more depressing!

Sorry to have horrified you Fluffy

I've seen it before, when I worked for the NHS a manager was trying to bully an excellent clinician out of her post while trying to recruit me.

It was cheaper to get her to leave than retire her early on health grounds. Nice.

Nk Good luck, I hope it works out. That job sounds a nightmare.

Ugh that sounds nasty. Some companies just seem to forget that their employees are, y'know, PEOPLE. With actual lives to live.

Just bigging up DH as an employer. He treats his staff bloody brilliantly!

Adding in Jamie Oliver's Briam with pork chops and lentil and veg cottage pie to my recipe pile.

Perusing HFW now.

I am knackered and I'm supposed to be on holiday! It's been such a beautiful day we walked 2 miles to join a different library. Our local one is very small and not that good but the walk took us into a different council area with a bigger and better library. The children's section is massive and you can also borrow ebooks via their website so that'll be a more frugal way to use my kindle!
DH made a lovely casserole in the slow cooker: Onions, carrots, parsnips, red kidney beans, chickpeas, bulgar wheat, veg stock, few tomatoes and a couple of whole chillies plus assorted herbs and spices. It was delicious!
Supermarket tomorrow and going out with friends in the evening.

need that sounds delicious will screenshot it for future reference

I just had sw taco fries with fries I made in my halo amazing

em I hope work reimburse you

HI all again,

Sad to tell you that I unexpectedly had to go away at the end of last week to look after DGD1 (14 months) as the new premature DGD2 suffered a brain haemorrhage last Thursday. After an anxious few days things are now looking a bit better she is now off the ventilator and they are now talking of the future rather than the next couple of hours . Right now they cannot tell what if any damage has been caused as its all depends on how severe the bleed was which they wont know until they do a scan , but it is most likely to be weeks if not months before she can come home.

Its all been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster but we are hoping that the news will continue to be positive..

Obviously everything else has gone by the by , but actualy I dont think i actually spent anything over the weekend , DH bought some food ,and filled the car with petrol ..

Oh Laska how terrifying for you all. Ds had brain scans and lumbar puncture, ventilator etc when he was born. Being off the ventilator is a huge step and I really hope she continues to get stronger and stronger. The people who work in NICU etc are truly amazing at what they do

Thanks, yes , poor D(s)D and her partner are totally exhausted. Luckily all of DHs family are really great and supportive ( DDs 2 cousins have young children themselves and are happy to all help out as much as they can , which is a great comfort ) Dsd mother is not on the scene though.. so DH and I are in the grandparents role

Really sorry to hear that, Laska. How scary for you all.

Laska I'm so sorry to read your news.

Oh no Laska that's so scary :( what an awful thing to face. I'm glad you can be there for them at this horrible time, looking out for them. Will keep baby in my thoughts.

Gosh laksa how awful! I hope everyone is ok.

fuzz I hope dh is ok - it's awful when employer treats you as a number. Tell him not to give up hope. It'll all work out. Onto better things.

I was in a similar situation a couple of years ago -awful employer no support. I jumped well before j could be forced out but colleagues were taken through the wringer. It was awful to see.

Been to the gym tonight. Not been for 2 weeks. Feel much better having been. Walked from work to the gym then home - bloody freezing!!

It's supposed to ice over tonight. So will be walking to work tomorrow. More casual dress tomorrow so can wear warmy knitted tights.

Cheers all, I hope you didnt mind me sharing, but as I'd told you all about the baby arriving . I thought I would..

I dont know much about what goes on in NICUs (or didnt a few days ago) . but this is yet another reason to support the NHS and our Junior Doctors I think.. absolutely hate, hate, hate this government and s*dding Jeremy Hunt for what they are doing

Hello everyone, thank you all for the welcome. Laska that's awful I hope the baby continues to get better. Fuzz reading about your dh is really hitting home part of the reasons I'm so desperate to go back to uni is so that I can earn more and dh can leave his horrible job he's the only ft member of staff where he is works with two other women who are pt do bigger all work when they are there and delight in winding him up .
Have managed a nsd at work and another day in the sw wagon! No coffee and scone for me this morning and I've been to Zumba after work.
And the plumber man rang me earlier saying landlady had agreed to replace shower for us got home and it's already in and lovely and shiny!

I'm so sorry to read about this laska how awful. Did they know it would happen or did something happen during birth or just after for this to happen? Do they have the specialists care that she needs??

I ask this only because my son got referred to GOSH and they've been brilliant. Even now, 3.5 years after his diagnosis, they are v on the ball about things. He was in remission for a while and something has just flared up and they are ringing us to keep us in the loop etc, and sharing with us their latest views.

The local hospital has been appalling. Other than routine bloods, everything else isn't great.

Good luck...

Laska how frightening and concerning, I hope there is as little damage as is possible, obviously. Poor family, what a shock.

Sending love and prayers for your DGD and family laska

I made leek & potato soup yesterday and chucked in my 'frozen stalks' pot from the freezer. First time I've done this and although it tasted ok it was full of stringy bits I fobbed DH off with a mumble about how perhaps the blender was playing up! We had to strain it through a sieve!

Spends today:
£22 cleaner
£7.90 on small top up shop in sainsburys (milk, creme fresh, two blocks of cheese and olive spread)
£5.40 on two (soft) drinks and two packets of crisps for me and DH at the pub. We had an appointment and booked DD in for extra time at her childminders then arrived back earlier than expected so we snuck in whilst we had the chance!

Oh Laksa how frightening for you all, I am so glad that she is doing better now. My thoughts are with you and your family

Had two nsd's. Beautiful weather, and an inch of snow up here in Cumbria, which is pretty without getting in the way. Got the whole lot out for a decent walk today, 6 of us plus 2 dogs. I usually walk the boys on my own so it was really fun (and free!)

And my diet restarts today. I have chunked up 6kg since about September. Must dig up some willpower.

So sorry to hear that Laska. What a worry that must be. We're thinking of you here as you take of your family there.

I'm sitting up in the night letting my tired brain cool down a bit. I've been playing-playing-playing with ds all day for days and I'm knackered. Wow! that boy is a dynamo. I hope the warm weather comes soon and lets then all out into the gardens to play. This being cooped up is hard for energetic little boys I think.

Not a very cheap day again. £22 on lunch out as both ds and dh are on holiday. Yet another trip to the library to borrow another 12 books, of which ds has already finished 3. I can't keep up with him...

Oh laska my heart goes out to all of you what a scary time. Hope baby is on road to recovery now