Fluffys frugaleer thread. All welcome.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Thanks Holly. We're in two minds as the price is a lot higher, but there's been a lot in the press here recently about people dying from car fumes, and the possibility of congestion charges being introduced, so we're thinking hard about it.

Cag Your post really helped me this morning. Our Beaver leader has been making up extra requirements to make it harder for Ds to get badges. Extra requirements that would prevent him from ever getting the badges before he has to move on to Cubs. I called him on it and he backed down, but now he is being antsi with me and sending critical emails in bold. Your explanation of that other girl making your DD feel in the wrong really helped me to understand the situation I'm dealing with. Thanks for that.

Eugh cag girls can be so mean. I was "dumped" by a friend when I came home from uni. I was the last one of our group to get dumped by her and to be honest I should have seen it coming. But I didn't.

I've got a lot better at weighing people up now and keep people like that on a very long rein.

Have been at work from 8 this morning. Lugged a box of cupcakes, brownies and tiffin into the office for the bake sale. So far everyone has been really good and has baked up a storm. We'd better sell it all otherwise we're all going to get fat!

meadow have you signed up to civil service job alerts? There are lots of legal public service departments where you could potentially do an admin type job whilst applying for graduate jobs too?

cag and cag DD

My mum has made me very cross today. She tells me that her opticians said eventually her left eye will stop her driving. She then tells me she can tell the vision is deteriorating but 'it's ok I can drive to sainsburys with my eyes closed." I may have got very cross and said what if she drove into someone with a child of my kids age and killed then . Still trying to calm down now!

The opticians appointment was August last year so not recent just for context.

Bacon That's awful, not surprised you're fuming. We had a terrible time with MIL years ago, she is addicted to copious amounts of prescription medication which made her patently unsafe to drive but she just couldn't accept it. Eventually she ended up with a driving ban and hasn't drove since as I suspect one of the conditions for returning to it might have been passing a drug-test which she obviously wouldn't, even though the actual ban time has passed now. Sad but she was very dangerous on the roads! These people just have a "that will never happen to me" mentality I think. But everyone thinks it won't happen to them, and it does!

Cag Sorry to hear about your DD, I hope you're all ok.

Bacon Good idea about civil service. They have a huge department in the area I'm moving to as well. Will probs wait til after exams to sign up and start searching though. But thanks for the pointer, will write it down!

I did my presentation!! And the lady who is the main marker for everyone's presentations, who I really dislike and gives me immense anxiety, not only rearranged my appointment to today so DH could come with me but also unbeknown to me, delegated her work to one of my regular tutors who I have a really good relationship with. So now I feel bad for disliking her so much because actually she's been super kind to me on this. I think I might have been a bit shorter than I was supposed to be but anyway both the markers were really nice to me and said it went fine and not to worry etc. A massive weight off my shoulders as I can deal with the written exams, it's just the oral that was making me such a wreck. But no more oral exams for ever now !

Also saw my GP who a) has finally agreed to put my anti-depressant on repeat so I don't have to call up or go in every 2 months which is handy, and b) has referred me for an ultrasound to look for gallstones.

Productive day so far and I'm still going to uni later for a 2hr revision session with my mentor. I feel very accomplished today.

Oh and my cardies and leggings came from everything5pounds.com and they weren't how I expected them to be but were all nice and fit fine. That was a nice treat after my exam.

Great news all round meadow!

Just waiting in the click and collect line at tesco. I'm starving.

Sounds like a good day meadow. Wow you've done a lot in one day! Glad the oral worry is now over for you

I may have been a bit nicer to my mum and suggested she goes to the opticians soon in the hope the optician informs the dvla that she should not be driving

It may well be that if I give up work then I can drive my mum to the supermarket every week or so between online deliveries and then she will give up driving. I guess I'll have to come to terms with them being more dependant on me too. I was hoping this wouldn't happen until both my DC were at school though. But my dad is in his 80s and my mum is close to 80s too.

Bacon when I was working at the Drs surgery we used to get a lot of patients children phoning to report that they didn't feel their parents were safe to drive anymore. I expect you can report directly to the dvla yourself (anonymously!).

Did anybody read the leaked Labour manifesto? What do you think?

Thank you lovelies. As always

Had a 3 hour sofa nap after getting home while the Caglets watched a DVD and played spies. Glad I had the opportunity! DD is much more herself now. As am I! (Except for the obligatory post-nap headache - what's with those?)

Going to catch up on Masterchef and should probably sort dinner. Must get back to frugaleering next week

Your poor DD, you get this with girls. Boys just kick the shit out of each other instead.

£10 sains.
£46 hair.
£1.59 charger lead for satnav.

Cat looking peaky.

Boys also constantly change the rules of whatever endeavour they are involved in so that everyone else loses. That's where we are at the moment. I'm realising just now that one of the great advantages of Beavers is that all the rules are written down.

£200 ish raised today. Yay!!!!

Now waiting at airport for dh to fly back in then off for pizza. Yay

I love that lacy dress Need...the one you have in deep red. But partying after the 3 peaks....I would be pushing it to stand up!
Love the nails Em and well done on £200 for charity.
Good luck with the exams Meadow.
Sunny, surely the Beavers can't just make up additional rules to make it harder for kids. That's not just unfair, it's nasty.

Need I have that dress but floor length and in navy. I wore it as a bridesmaid at my friend's wedding.

I've cancelled ds' group swimming lessons and he's just going to have one on one.

Dh is a bit drunk. He's been at a funeral and wake.

Good stuff Em.

Can I just non-confrontationally mention that I have found the opposite? DS is a complete law-abider to the Nth degree, so a rule is a rule is a rule, was like this at 3 and is like this at 17. DD however, changes the game to suit her own methods and always has done.

Been a long and busy day, fell asleep on the sofa last night and been on the go all day, I'm hoping someone will volunteer for the early dog walk and DD walks to the yard at 6.30 (won't happen...). I'm sorry if this post is a touch disjointed but posting from that which I recall.

Laska, I do indeed spend some time on the S&B boards, have you noticed he he . They are very persuasive but also entirely without any argument. It's a happy place that influences me to buy far too much stuff but has fab hints and tips too.

Cag Look, I know this hurt your DD and therefore you, but might I just mention that, notwithstanding that she's has been dreadfully upset, that she shows a level of maturity to recognise, at her age, this friendship is a negative one. That takes courage and maturity beyond her years. And is something to be proud of, she's a tough one. Which doesn't mean she's not sensitive either. x

Meadow I love it when someone surprises the expectations you have of them. You have done brilliantly well today and I know it's tough.

Love Such a dilemma isn't it? And a very modern day one. There's folk stuck between the needs of a young family and the needs of aging relatives. It's very hard. My own parents are getting to that stage now and I would never not be there, despite an absolutely shite relationship with my mother, but my DC are older, it's extra hard for you.

What's up with the cat do you think Fluffy?

You are not selling me your breakfast Wrecked

How you feeling Life? I'm not likely to walk in from running the 3 peaks looking fresh and I'm wondering about the high heels sandals as a post run footwear of choice But hey ho, DH will be fine with the social thing, he's good at that.

Took DM to the hospital today for a scan, thankfully in the morning before this awful cyber attack. Just doing this puts me on edge but I did it as she needed me to.

Done a track session, a PT session a dog walk and a few lifts here and there for teenagers. Very glad of my lovely cleaners, who brought an amazing contraption to clean my inner windows.

In shallow need news, I keeping the converse, 'cos I've just realised we go to Italy in the summer and I might pick up some Superga's then that are not available in the UK.

Spends.

£15 PT session.
£70 petrol.

Cross post Wrecked, that dress sounds beautiful, it's so pretty and classic isn't it?

I might sit down a lot and drink gin to be fair Copper

£30 cleaner too.

Haha need it's quite tasty...and keeps me full until lunch. Yes the dress is lovely. I would have had a short version but can't wear heels so prefer to cover my feet...

Well, I am too short arse to be able to wear long, we all have to play to what works don't we

Still not selling your breakfast though btw

£6 Morrison's, £3 beavers subs and £6 trip money.
Need to make a shopping list. CBA. Can't shake the swollen throat, feel a bit tired and achey. Thought I saw a pustule last night so might need a GP visit Monday if I'm still feeling like this.

Cross post with you too Life, early night, easy weekend (if you can, it doesn't always happen I know) and GP Monday if needed. Definitely if there's infection on the throat. Gargle with aspirin as a relief.

Cag I think it's because your body wants to continue to nap.

In a rare position now bank balance on my account is higher than joint account admittedly mine has €200 which I want to pay off cc but can't until I lodge it at branch tomo. Joint account is not healthy though I'm determined not to loan any more money to it because I'm not able to retrieve it.

Looking nice improves mental health, they did trials years ago giving manis etc to women on mh wards & found improved mental health afterwards compared to how they scored themselves before. I think women could do with these boosts. Men don't seem to have self esteem problems.

I'm a rule observer. Rules are not to be broken. Dh is a hooligan but I adore him & he humors me.

love I've reported patients to Drs when they've said they can't feel the difference between pedals . Boundaries are needed though, one of my patients has gone home with home care, Cleaner & Ocado. Super pleased for her. Her kids do the Ocado for her.

Need I wouldn't party after that either but fair play to you. Cats been sick twice but I got it on a towel #winning. Probably eaten something he shouldn't. Again.

Politically I'm a Tory, socialist liberal. Those that can work should but the vulnerable should be helped & protected & worker rights are paramount. Life is experienced differently by all & health plays a major part in that.

I'd like to see costings before I form any form of opinion, for both parties.

Catching on a towel counts as a result imho.

I would also like to add that for women, sometimes you need to value yourself enough to spend money on yourself. Especially if that money might be pooled resources or spent on those more 'worthy'. We matter too. Sometimes, remembering that is the best example we can give.