The Fantastic Frugalleers Meander into May.....

[Girliefriendlikesflowers]

Thought it was about time I started a new thread

I would like piano lessons too, I would love to start playing again.
Thanks Ipso, it's really my issue with not being able to ask for help rather than them being unapproachable, they are actually lovely! I've never been good at admitting when there's a problem. I've always thought I should cope on my own which I think comes from my mum, she has a very "roll up your sleeves and get on with it" attitude. I tend to bottle things up until it gets really bad and then it all comes out with other ways such as IBS.
I am feeling better bit more positive this afternoon though, had a nice walk in the sunshine which has improved my mood!

Is it impossible without a piano at home though?

There's some cats at an rspca centre near us which say 'used to a young family' wonder if they would be happy to go to us with children younger than five.

Wreck you could look at cheap keyboards. Someone might be getting rid on freecycle or something. Most of my students have keyboards rather than pianos :)

No harm in asking about the cats wreck!

Purple PM me if you're in (or could work in) Surrey, Sussex or London. I'm in several home ed groups on Facebook so could gauge interest for you (since generally only home edding parents are allowed in the groups) if you ever did decide to give the tutor group a go. :)

Ipso IKWYM about the relationship between teaching and writing. I definitely struggle with the people skills aspect, especially in say a secondary school (I was heavily encouraged to think about being a maths teacher, but the idea of teaching teenagers terrified me - I was scared of teenagers even when I was one myself :o :o). Small groups of younger kids is much easier so far.

I'm actually going to start writing a kids' reference book though. I've been pondering it for a while but I kind of feel like this is my time to actually DO the stuff I've just been paying lip service to. I'm my own boss now, I can and will make the time dammit :o. Anyway I've emailed a particular museum about a possible home ed trip and a research opportunity.

Need to wrap DD's presents now. I've decided to keep a couple of the books back for Christmas, as I know DS will love them too (Greek Myth stuff) so they'll be a joint present. But have to wrap the rest. :)

Love when frugalness comes together - downloaded a local shop app last week, today got a push notification 8pk of tayto for 5c must be used today, and a hot drink for 5c valid until end of year, then I got an email from the rewards side of my electric company, have printed a voucher for 500g ice cream free, free hot drink and muffin, and a 6 pack of summer bedding plants free almost €20 worth of stuff for 10c. I'm [happy][happy][happy] and thought I had to pick up aupair at 22.50 and it's 20.30 so this works in perfectly for me to travel on from my class this evening.

Nice one Lilac I hope our very own TaytoCrisps hears about the offer too, since I'm assuming from her name that she likes them... :)

Purple come to think of it, location is irrelevant really as I'm on lots of national (even worldwide) groups as well. So anyway, just PM me if you ever want to chat more. Sorry about the struggling to ask for help thing. It's hard isn't it? And the IBS too, it's a horrible horrible thing! ((hug))

Can't stop sodding sneezing.

Cag your book idea sounds great. I was really enjoying my freelance writing. I think the key to enjoying it is having a project where you get to express yourself. I find that writing stuff for websites is quite like hard graft, but I enjoy writing about topics that I find interesting myself.

Thanks cag, I'm nowhere near you geographically but I'll get in touch if I ever decide to do something like that. Do home ed things tend to only happen in term time?

There were 5 magpies in my garden today, I think that's 5 for silver - should have bought a lottery ticket!

Nails are done! Nice shiny near and tidy french polish. £37.

Tried something new today. nice outfit (new grey skirt (which fits like a glove and sucks everything in in all the right places and makes my bum wiggle a bit when I walk...!) black shirt (which is forgotten I'd customised by seeing hot pink material on the inside of the cuffs) super dooper high heels. I also took my time in the shower and proper exfoliated (to metaphorically scrub off the anxiety) and then moisturised (to encourage good feelings and new skin). Did a proper face and put my hair up in a ballerina bun. Making more of an effort made me feel more polished. More important. More me. it's funny how you can trick yourself into feeling better. Also I wore my "happy undies" hot pink leopard print bra and pants. Makes me smile.

Have also just cooked dinner for the first time in a while. Proper from scratch tagliatelle carbonara. Yummmmmmm. (And salad not a total carb fiend)

You sound so much more glamorous than me Em. I'd love to look more together like that. I'd also like some nice undies. Mine are all ones that don't itch my c section scar!

Not always purple. Yesterday I had no make up unwashed hair and scruffy trousers and a Tshirt for work. Looked a bit corpsey.

Need to start outfit planning again. I enjoyed it and it made me feel more human.

I joked with Dh today that I was wearing my "fancy expensive" underwear (actual bargain from primark £7 for the bra and pants set - it's falling apart but it makes me laugh I bought batman pants on Sunday in London. Also just to make me laugh).

My boss today bless him said "oh. You're back!" He Called some aside and said he'd noticed that is been looking a bit sad and deflated. And was everything ok. I said I was working on it.

I'm a big fan of faking it until you make it.

£20 in Morrison's.

I'm reading but not posting much. Stressed but will be ok

LOL! Em you're so different from me, it astonishes me every time. Good luck there.

I've been frantically cleaning the house for a fortnight as ILs are coming at the weekend. I'm going to down-tools tomorrow and recharge. I have spent practically nothing all month as too busy scrubbing.

Different in a good way though ipsos right?

A lot of what you've said ipsos makes sense and I totally agree you should teach. For someone who has no real understanding of science you have an amazing way of making it understandable.

I went to the library today and picked up some books re anxiety. They're sitting on my chair.

Dh is currently Skypeing mil. And grilling her about her finances. For once I'm feeling sorry for her.

Hi all blimey this thread is nearly full

Spent £2 on water and gum today but thats it.

Dd is home, she had a brilliant time in London loved Matilda it sounded amazing she is absolutely knackered though so was tucked up in ned nice and early!

Cag you are such a super star hope your cold buggers off soon. Have been thinking about getting dd a keyboard actually, once we move she will have a bedroom big enough to put one in!

Em I def think looking the part helps you feel the part, i sometimes feel like that when I put my nurse uniform on!

Work remains as always busy busy and feeling slightly stressed at ho much there is to do, I had a call from someone promising to sort my broadband out in the new house I need to have a chat with EE as have a feeling that not all companies even cover that area. Have started a list of people I need to ring, there is about 20 companies on there so far

Em I wish I could think of a way to explain how different I am from you, but it's hard to do it without giving away too much personal information. I love that we can all get to know each other through mumsnet and be largely oblivious of our differences though. Splendid use of technology.

Cag I've become terribly tempted to try to build a chess computer from parts. Like an actual wooden chess computer with a raspberry pi inside and magnets so that the computer knows when the pieces have been moved. How much fun would that be? And how much would ds throttle me for all the time it would take? Maybe another year then.

Feel like have been spending loads lots sales on maxomorra, kite and Frugi clothing so have brought the boys quite a lot positive being ds1 can pass to ds2 and also they sell well second hand for reasonable amounts. We love that they are organic cotyon and fun bright prints.

I have sold quite a lot recently too but certainly spent more

I'm like em I always feel better with some nice pants and proper make up. It's very rare that I leave the house without make up on and I have never gone to work without it on! I also wear funky socks to work (wear trousers) tomorrow's have dinosaurs on

ipsos seriously? Build a chess computer?? That's cool!!

wreck dino socks??! Also cool. I love cool socks.

I'm a believer in making myself look good outside can cheat my inside into thinking I'm all good while I deal with the crazy!

I sometimes wonder whether if we all hung out in real life whether we'd speak/get on/be friends. I like the anonymity of the Internet.

Wow ipso that sounds a-freakin-mazing! We've only just got started on coding type stuff with the Robot Turtles game. I am a total ignoramus with that sort of thing.

I am crap at chess. DS likes it though. I mean sometimes I can beat him. He's 6 . I've got him and DH a Thunderbirds chess set for Christmas, and there's a new Usborne chess activity book coming out around his birthday.

Party seems to actually coming together last minute. Need to make a call first thing tomorrow but all pretty much ok. Except when I get the question "What would X like for a present?" Aaaaaargh! I can never answer stuff like that!

I like to think we'd get on IRL em (and hey maybe one day we'll be over your way for a holiday :o) but I am pretty certain you are way too cool to be friends with the likes of me. :o

Yay Girlie glad DD is back and had fun! And yes you totally should get her a keyboard at some point. I'm not biased or anything. Do it. :o :o

Whose turn is it to start a new thread??

I don't think I've started one yet...

Not up to date from yesterday but watched episode of programme tayto recommended, the one where family wanted to save for three children to go to college. Brilliant programme unfortunately got no advice from this episode as the tips are already things I do not sure if this makes me happy cos I'm doing things right or disappointed that there's not much scope to improve things further!