BOO! The Freaky Frugaleers prepare for Halloween and beyond. All welcome!

[Cagliostro]

:)

NSD today. I resisted the temptation to go into town, I run to the town center and back. Gosh, I'm unfit. I am restarting shred tomorrow.
Menu planned for the next two weeks with stuff I have in the cupboards.
I had a lovely afternoon nap, 2 h with the cat curled up next to me. Bliss.

8 I was in town this morning it was heaving yesterday there too I think people have started their Christmas shopping. The clock tower looks so nice now they've cleaned it.

Need glad you got your cellulitis treated if you had left it you would have needed IV antibiotics.

I'm just making a roast for dinner. Le Yum.

Bloody hell need your leg! You can't mess about with infection, I've seen them so bad you can see the redness spreading in front of you.

Rl is very important Cathode, I feel so much better after seeing some of Dhs family.

Adora We have an ideal condensing boiler, no cold water tank in the loft, & the boiler service chap said ideal was a fit & forget make because it had brass internals rather than plastic. Weissman or veissman are meant to be really good.

RL chat is nice isn't it Fluffy? For a while all my friends were under siege from small kids and RL was just more stress on top of more stress. A lot of the kids have stretched up from 2 feet tall to 4 feet tall though and everybody looks kind of like the calm after the storm.

Ds says he would like a robot for Christmas. I love Collie's idea of setting a date beyond which the choice cannot be changed. Definitely going to do that.

So pleased for you Cathode.

Been Christmas/birthday shopping today:
£13 TKMaxx
£21 Boots
£27 Amazon

Also got a refund for my damaged rug.

Hi all, had a nice day didn't make it to discount village so have actually had a nsd!! Spent the morning doing jobs at home and went for a nice walk at an RSPB reserve thats local this afternoon.

Home now and dinner in the oven and dd watching a film, its been properly cold again today. Bit of a shock considering how mild last winter was!

Our date that can't be changed is the Santa visit. I try and do it early December so the elves have time to make said toys.

I know re the spreading of the swelling, I can't believe my leg went from redness and soreness/swelling near the bites to my whole bloomin' lower leg swollen up like a balloon. That's why the triage nurse kept me at A&E, as she wasn't sure if I would need IV medication. I didn't thankfully.

You sound positive Cathode, which is lovely. I know what you mean about feeling like coming out of some form of tunnel almost as the DC get older. Suddenly, you can hold a conversation again and actually get to the end, rather than being interrupted.

Re recovery, I've read quite a lot in the past about mind over matter, but I'm no expert, really I am not, apart from feeling a bit of that at mile 24 of a marathon . These guys who run 300 marathons in 300 days for charity or complete amazing feats of endurance and bravery for the hell of it, they don't think 'better not today, got a sniffle'. I guess I think it's easy to tell yourself you can't but much harder to say 'I can'. My own DH is bi-polar as you know, but he has always said the day he gives in and doesn't get out of bed will be the day it defeats him (it did his DF). And there have been days when I have had to physically drag him out of bed, when he's cried and shouted and shivered in a corner. But he's made me promise to do it, always. And he inspires me for it.

BUT, I don't always listen properly to my body and I'm a stubborn cowbag, so I'm sure there's a balance to find which is right for each of us individually, which we all have to find ourselves.

If I'm running and feeling like giving up, I figure Mo Farah wouldn't lol. How sad is that?

And that was probably waffle, so feel free to ignore!

I do feel positive today actually, and it's just because it was a good healthy sort of day and I pushed the boat out and saw people, but it's nice.

Also I've been struggling with my GPs surgery for years and I've finally decided to move which makes me feel positive. Many of my friends have said that the closer one is good and I'm feeling quite encouraged by that.

I had to fill in this school/GP form this week describing my family situation and it clarified a lot of things for me. It made me realise that there is a lot that the GPs don't know is going on because they never had time to listen. Now they might read the form and know what it is that needs fixed.

I also realised I have a lot of RL friends who aren't helping because I never asked. And there are a huge number of things in our family and life that just work fine because that's how it is.

It was a useful form really. I've written to lots of RL friends and told them my situation and they have all said they will visit or I can visit them any time or whatever, and it feels good. I saw some today and have some lined up for next weekend.

Having been all optimistic sounding, I'm going to touch wood just in case. But a good day is a good day isn't it, and it doesn't matter if it all goes wonky now.

Your dh sounds like he has it hard need. I's so sorry to hear that and so glad that the two of you found a way to work together on that. I think that that is the real essence of a good marriage, when we have struggles and meet them together ifkwim. Well done there.

I'm the world worst for asking for help so I shall duel you for the title but totally get where are coming from in that regard. Totally.

Indecision too, I hate that 'shall I or shall I not process' and feel energised for making a call.

You sound like you have a network of folk that are willing and able to help, that's brill.

We can only live by each day and today is a positive one, really chuffed for you.

Me? I've flooded the bathroom in the hotel, am frowning at the small array of smellies, can't work the lights that are all remote control but have my eye on a stash of chocolate and biscuits left with the coffee and tea

If you want to see the difference between positive & negative emotions watch the Oxford-Cambridge boat race. The winners are elated & the losers are exhausted & sometimes being sick into the water.

Both have done the same task but ones won.

forgot to say, love the cake Mammy. My little DGS would love it. he's tractor mad. He's moving on to volcanos and has asked for a "sploding cano" cake for his birthday. Not sure how you get a cake to explode. Any ideas?

Glad you had a good day Cathode. Friends in RL are so important to me as well. Particularly ones that go back a long way as we have shared memories and shared trust.

Volcano Cake!!

My two are gone to bed complaining of pains in their bellies maybe all the sweets

Thanks Mammy, that is definitely a " sploding cano " cake and it doesn't look too difficult to make. I will certainly give it a go.
Thanks again.
Hope your two are ok.

Maybe nsd. Still need to pop to tesco for a few bits I forgot yesterday not sure if I will do that today or tomorrow though... Probably tomorrow as I work next door to a tesco and it will save on fuel.

Forgot to say that both dc's outfits for the wedding were v frugal.

Ds:

Next shirt from charity shop
Sainsburys trousers half price with extra 25% off
Cheap Amazon tie

Total about £6

Dd:

Should half price in next sale
Dress from eBay

Total about £12

It's starting to get really cold our kitchen is freezing so we might have to turn the heater on in there.

We finally have heating again after it being gone since Monday

We made cake pops with leftover cake!

My 90 year old Nan came to visit yesterday which was fabulous

The working week begins. Should be nsd until wed or Thursday depends when we run out of fresh stuff..

Should be nsd today. I'm off work until Wednesday. Yippee!!

Today I have to meal plan and food shop tomorrow. This is usually dh's job. He's suggested switching roles. I do that and he will do "everything else" there's a part of me that is thinking about blitzing the house today/tomorrow to make sure things get done. But the other part that is saying nope. Let him do it.

I suspect the latter will win. must check I've enough clothes for a week. Washing is not his forte

Today's outfit. found a pair of green tights....

Dropped dh into work as it's absolutely chucking down today. Am currently writing him a list of the "usual" chores I do for the next week.

And have put a load of washing on. Despite my earlier post.

My day will be spent realistic eBay items, and generally tidying up. Have to clean the hallway floor. We changed catfaces litter and she seems to be ok with it. It's less stinky easier to scoop and is quieter when she uses it. Downside is that she tracks it everywhere.

Also need to meal plan and food shop. Dh has challenged me to do it for under £50.

Do you think I could do beef hot pot in the slow cooker? Would I just layer the potatoes on top as usual?

Brrr..... very cold and frosty here this morning. Quite Christmassy

We had a fun few days in Dublin. We went to the Waxworks Museum on Friday. That was €23. On Saturday we went to Dundrum Shopping Centre. As planned, we got there early and were finished shopping by about 12.30. It was getting pretty busy at that stage. DD bought her Christmas shoes (fake Uggs from Penneys for €9) and I spent €20 on a Christmas present. Then DD went ice skating which was €13 for 45 minutes. Finally we went to the cinema and saw 'Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children' which was, well, rather peculiar. It was a lot darker and scarier than I'd anticipated. It's 12A but I wouldn't bring any child younger than 12 to see it. Anyway, the cinema was €13.

My sister gave DD €5 spending money but I made her put it towards the ice skating. Or at least, I gave her a choice - I said she could spend it on herself or use it to go ice skating, so she chose the ice skating, then I paid the balance.

Yesterday I ordered DD's Christmas top from Debenhams for €22. I chose Click & Collect so no postage costs.

Off to make a cuppa and then I'll have a read back over the last few days.

wreck yes I think you could. Maybe just put the potatoes on last though.

I have a headache. It may be because i had a bit a bottle of wine last night without realising (my glass was kept topped up....)

tayto I must get myself back over to Dublin. I've been once for work spent a week in the city but probably didn't really "see" it. Glad you had a good time.

Hi all, may I join you all?

I am a long time lurker on this thread but our finances have taken a big downturn (hopefully temporary) as I have given up work to stay at home with my DS for the last year before he starts school next September. He has ASD and has significant challenges and unfortunately with both of us in ft work and him in a not-very-clued-up nursery 5 days per week nothing was happening for him . I was the main earner by quite some way so our income has dropped by more than 2/3. Not sustainable in the long term with our mortgage and other outgoings but we are augmenting DH's salary with our savings for this next year or so. I figured I needed time with DS more than I needed a new kitchen but it is all very nerve wracking to see the savings dissipate so drastically

We are 2 months in and our run rate has not dropped enough. It is hard to break the habit of spending as though we have 'plenty'. So I am going to make a much more concerted effort.

Oh and my electric bill has dropped by £7 a month. So now paying £70pcm. Saving of.....£84 a year.