Fantabulous February with the Friendly Frugaleers!

[Cagliostro]

Hello everyone, new thread time yet again!

'Well I ain't exactly lactating right now pal' is one of my favourite lines from Sid!! It cracks me up every time

Oooh! I've found some compression gloves that are nice and cheap. Previous pair I've been pondering were £20 which is a lot to risk as I've not tried them. Worth a shot right? I get a lot of hand pain and someone mentioned pressure might help

I love Sid :o :o

Welcome Rattie,
Spends £3.50 on veggie sausage buttie with friends.
Last year I grew cucumbers ( the small green ones) lots of different tomatoes and peppers all in the conservatory because I have yet to get a green house. (can't afford one yet as bathrooms not finished).
I got 23 cucs off 1 plant and still have lots of tomatoes and peppers in the freezer for stews. Also lots of tomato soup.
Outside I dug 2 vegetable beds outside and grew pumpkin, beans, leeks and so many courgettes that I have many frozen for aforementioned stew.
It is still a bit early to plant the seeds unless in a heated greenhouse.
I have just bought " plug plants" which are tiny seedlings ready to be planted on. This is by far the cheapest way to buy them.
But they are for flowers for containers.
Wait another month to plant the cucumber, tomato and pepper seeds.
I have my first early potatoes chitting on the windowsill though.

I love the name Aurelie. ( have I spelt it correctly) and Toby and Max. My DD has a first name that starts with the same letter as my surname and so have I. Both different first names but both work well.
Cath, I agree about the school system here. It seems very harsh. It seems like all the kids have to learn stuff for the tests. It is not what education should be about. It should be exciting and fun and flexible.
I suppose it is better in secondary school but primary seems to be all about SATS. I may be wrong because I am judging by my DGCs. Ages since my two left school.

Secondary is even worse, Trying. DS in Year 9 will be among the first to sit the new GCSES, which will be entirely exam. based, like when I was at school, so students will be taught to the test again.

Ooh courgettes in the freezer trying aren't they in short supply -stick them on eBay you'll make a mint oooh minty courgette 😂

Obviously my kids aren't there yet but it does make me sad about the exam only thing - coursework is a whole other set of important skills. We started doing maths coursework in year 7 at school and I loved it - I'll be doing that with my DCs and my home ed pupils when they're ready for sure.

cag I have a recipe for mint courgette cupcakes....with chocolate frosting. Yum

Catface and I are in the spare room tonight. I needed a good stretch out whole bed sleep. She's curled herself up at the bottom corner of the bed and was pouncing things.

It's super cosy in here. Although really cold outside. I've got two duvets and a blanket the heating is on and dh is meant to be making a hot water bottle.

I want to celebrate the achievement of not rising to the bait with dh, he's itching for an argument. He had counselling this evening & last Friday evening & he's behaving like a moody teenager since

Cos I'm not feeling 100% I've taken to bed to get cozy & avoid confrontation.

Good for you Mammy. That must be so hard, but, in reality, what do you gain from an argument. I used to end up feeling upset (usually crying) whatever the outcome.
Cag, you're right about the courgettes. I shall put 1 box of frozen green courgettes on eBay. I have courgette soup as well.😀😀 Do you think I will get enough to pay the rest of the money for these bloody bathrooms. Honestly this is a small house. Bedrooms are tiny. And there are 3 bathrooms (well 2 ensuites) and a cloakroom. I have 4 toilets FGS.
Off to bed now, early start tomorrow.

Since when do trade names become clickable on mn? not sure I like that!!

£9ish on lunch couldn't face nasty offering in school canteen.
I can't remember who asked about my school but I teach 13-18 years, the art show was today and was a success, lots of people came which was lovely.
£10ish on grocery top up of fruit and veg and a pot of soup as I'm flat out and can't cook. Will batch cook a curry and a soup on Sunday to stop this occuring again.

Sounds like the right choice Mammy often the bravest thing to do is walk away from that kind of thing. Nothing good would've come from it right now so better to just get a good kip!

Thanks MissA 'twas I who asked about the age of your pupils. I am tempted to try a smaller version of your project with some home ed kids (and maybe a bigger one sometime as a charity thing) - sounds awesome, I'm glad it went well!

Feeling slightly less sorry for myself now and have settled down with cheese, crackers and catch up telly. :)

Can't bloody sleep. Once in a while my mind races and I just won't sleep until about 3. Very frustrating. Will read some outlander (am on book 6) see if that helps.

Dd1 is year 9, just chosen her options. She's quite academic so I think she'll be ok exam wise.

Swap you trying ! I have one loo and six people. And no room at all to build another loo anywhere even if we could afford it. My courgettes failed last year. And I haven't managed a pumpkin since we moved here. Peaches, yes, but not a single pumpkin. Will try harder!

Morning
Stupid time to be up on a Saturday. Overtime beckons.

Courgette and pumpkins need loads of sun.

My nsd became £35 in Morrison's clothes sale. Fgs I only wanted hand wash

We're going to gunwharf today without the dc I have a £30 Bella italia voucher for lunch and am hoping Dh might treat me to some bits...

Wreck and mammy thanks for explaining about EOL. That really helps very much. We have various older relatives and every time something goes wrong I get worried about all this stuff. A little knowledge and even some technical terms helps me to understand how it all goes, iykwim.

Mammy I know just what you mean about being stuck in the car with a sleeper. I've been there so many times. You're a good mum to do that so patiently.

Trying I'm glad you agree about the schools. Very weird business indeed.

Friends DS is called Sid. Suits him. Love the name. DS's own name was very unusual when we chose it, about 3/4 years later it became very popular. Pissed me off no end.

I didn't keep up very well yesterday. Sorry. Busy day.

Cath Yesterday, I went to the track for the first time in 6 years. I've been doing a lot of steady/easy miles since starting running again. Just to build up some endurance. I had forgotten how good it feels to lengthen your stride, drive forward and do sprints. I just did 4 x 1 minutes efforts but the pace I got was akin to my old paces, nearly. Obviously I used to be able to sustain that pace for long periods and I can't do that anymore but I can away invigorated and feeling really positive (almost certain really) that I can achieve my old times, with work and effort.

So, now it's your turn!!!

Spends.
£30 Boots, vitamins and amazing bargains on Yankee candles on the clearance shelf, for presents. Box was battered but I'll put in a present bag.
£20 Sainsbo's (cider for DS party)
£5 having Shellac taken off, giving nails a break.
£30 in town food for me and DD. Treat. Went to see La La Land with my lovely friend in a posh cinema that has big comfy sofas and brings your food and drinks to you. Lovely friend paid for tickets for my birthday.

Cathode it got me out of the job of feeding the dogs in the rain ☔️ by the time I was home dh had it done! However it also put my dinner back by an hour.
It's girlie** that deserves credit regarding EOL explanation.

I need to get up soon but I've had a lovely hour in bed reading a Colette Caddle book. Tayto if you read & you or dc are members of the library you should download BorrowBox, their Ebook & audiobook system it's great & free

Need at work yesterday I had to run up several flights of metal outdoor stairs, well I didn't have to run but i was late & wanted to go home, anyhow I was out of breath at the top but thought it would be great training for my half marathon which is 11 miles mainly uphill before the final 2 mile descent.
Sounds like a lovely cinema trip.

Still in bed so now have an hour to feed & dress three of us to get to swimming lessons on time
Dc are having a really healthy breakfast of waffles & Nutella

Stair climbing is indeed great for fitness mammy. If your half is a hilly one, having a strong core and quads is going to be key. Folk tend to slump up hill as they tire. Having a strong core will help maintain a decent posture. Try to keep upright (not straight, just not 'slumped' either). Small steps, constant pace if you can manage.

ps - Have you tried logging everything you eat on MFP for a week, to give you any clues?

I've finally got a working TiVo box and broadband
Girlie I've given up chocolate for lent a few times I just eat cake instead
Blue well done on your car passing it's mot.
So this morning I have the pleasure of driving dd 45 minutes to play football I'm hoping it's not going to rain.
Tonight I'm going to a surprise 18th I'm driving as I can't afford to drink and I can't afford a taxi. I can't lie I'd rather stay in under a blanket but it's one of my closest friends only daughter. She had numerous miscarriages and her dd was born at 31 weeks.
Only spending this weekend should be a food shop which I'll do tomorrow. More overtime at work next week managed to get up early yesterday.

Uphill Mammy? Good grief, that is my worst nightmare! Well done for avoiding a fight - I guess DH's issues won't go away but it will likely take the heat out to leave it a bit.

DS is 4. Very young to be showing OCD traits, hence I am so worried. Girlie DS is still waiting for OT assessment. We've been in the system for over 18 months, I am told we will get seen in march at the earliest . If our SLT experience is anything to go by, we will be assessed, given some photocopied advice sheets and never hear from them again.

No courgettes on Ocado or in my local Tesco this week . I couldn't be less fussed about iceberg lettuce shortages but I was surprised my big Tesco had no whole lettuces of any kind last week - just bagged stuff. I don't think the bagged stuff is recommended for pregnant women and doesn't keep as well either.

I haven't done my usual Ocado shop this week - I lost track of time and I really have to force myself to think about meal planning these days. Just not enjoying cooking much at the moment, which is very unusual for me. I will do something quick tonight anyway as I have a lot of cleaning to do and wont want to undo all my good work! However I might bake some scones as a treat for DH. He has been a star recently.

Off to browse some foodie mags /recipe books for inspiration.