Frugaleering, cakes and baby talk

[Taytocrisps]

Just starting off a new thread as the other one was getting full.

Frugal win today. I have started helping people who feed local homeless and they had far too much fresh produce, and very limited storage, so they have me 2 bags of fruit and veg to stop it going to waste.

Spent £7-ish in the butchers and shouldn't need anything else until next week. I do need to ask in the pharmacy about flu vacinne though. Will do that tomorrow.

Adora I booked mine online at boots.

I am all over the EB offer later, just need to ask DH what MIL might like. I was checking it out at 4am, when I do my best internetting (thanks DD)

I just saw this article on FB and thought of a few of you with DC (especially girls) with friendship issues where other kids are being mean. This definitely sounds very familiar from my childhood, which thankfully was before 24/7 social media. But useful fodder for a discussion and a few tips for parents too

lindastade.com/girls-and-their-frenemies-2/

No meal deal after all, I had a word with myself and am cooking. Will be opening wine though, for sure - just waiting for DH to get home for politeness's sake

When we got home there was no wind, so we set fire to the garden. All the wood (lots, mostly rotten old shed), and all the piles of nettles I've been pulling up. Dug up lots of roots and hoyed them on too. I've cleared a huge space.

It's been a nsd so far, but I'm sure I'll think of something later. I usually do.

Dd2 gets her flu thing tomorrow, no idea if it's the jab or spray, she'll cope. Ds is having his at school, he didn't get one last year, so thats odd. Dp had his last week, the rest of us are deemed too healthy or not at risk.

They've rolled it out to older children lonely. All children under sixteen get the spray, rather than the injection, if they're eligible.

Oh good, she'll definitely prefer that!

I've never even heard of a flu spray before . That sounds like such a better idea of kids especially the very little ones. My mam keeps telling me to get it even though I'm healthy enough and thus not entitled for a free one, and haven't had flu since I was 15 . Pretty sure I won't bother.

Everyone at work who sits around me has been sick for the past two weeks and I'm the only person who hasn't got it...yet. DH has a bit of a cold now though, dunno if I carried it and passed to him or if it's something different . Crossing my fingers that I don't get ill as I'm a wimp when I get a cold (sensory issues really aggravate things for me, I find having a snotty/blocked nose ridiculously anxiety-provoking for example) and don't want to take time off work yet as not been in job even two months yet. Managed not to catch it so far...

Today was spendy. I spent about £8.50 on DH and my lunch in my work canteen but that was for two huge plates of noodles with loads of stir fried veg, two cans of San Pellegrino and a flapjack for DH. It was his first time in my work canteen and he was cheddarded. We are allowed to take friends and family to our work canteen as long as we are accompanying them even though the company subsidise it which I think is pretty generous of them tbh! Then DH paid for Pizza Hut takeway for dinner because his teenage cousin is here for a 'sleepover' and is a super fussy eater lol.

Thanks for the Birchbox heads up Need . Mine still hasn't arrived yet! Getting annoyed now.

Oh also got our council tax bill yesterday and had to contact them to let them know it was wrong as they've given me single person discount of 25% as they didn't know DH is living here with me. Sigh. Our bill is a massive increase compared to the last few years as we've always lived in band A properties and now we are in a band C . But I try not to be resentful as obviously want to support my local council services...sigh.

Tomorrow we are going to visit a dog at a nearby animal rescue centre, and then in the evening we are going for a volunteer induction with a local charity that does outreach two evenings a month for homeless peoples' dogs on the streets of our city with a couple of vets and some other dog loving volunteers. So it will be a doggy day.

Does anybody know why some people get side effects of the flu vaccine that feel just like flu? I'm a bit cheesed off with it. It feel more like scheduling the flu than avoiding it.

It's an immune response which is why it doesn't last as long/feel as bad as actual flu. There's also evidence to show that people suffer the same 'symptoms' after having a saline injection so it could be your body's response to the injection rather than the vaccine itself.

Oh! That's interesting. Must remember not to inject saline into myself
My ds doesn't get any of these side effects but he really really does not like the needle going in. He's very interested this year in our very different reactions and is weighing in his mind which he would prefer.

I just got an email to say that soon I'm going to get my very own beaver woggle. I feel partly very excited and partly a bit nerdy. The leader said I could have a glow-in-the-dark one, but I think he's taking the mickey.

That's really interesting about the saline solution.

I have never had a flu jab before as I know my immune response can be a bit... odd due to the conditions I have. But I am biting the bullet this time because of the pregnancy.

Hopefully I'll be ok but even a regular cold knocks me for six (again due to the other illnesses) so any side effects could be bad. But looking on the bright side I've been doing pretty well lately so with any luck I'll be just fine :)

And any immune response to the vaccine will be weak compared to actually getting flu,so well worth it if you are in a high risk group!

Really cba to cook but have to go and crack on as DH has just taken over with DD.

I have a really bad back today, am a bit worried that I am doing real harm with all this holding DD day and night. But I can't see any way round it for now. I couldn't pick her up first thing this morning though I have loosened up as the day went on (and I took neurofen). Don't think there's any point in going to the doctor because they'll just tell me to rest it (which I will do as much as possible but I can't rest it enough). I think some strengthening exercises would help so I am looking at what I could do during the day with DD in tow. There's a gym with a pool and a crèche within reasonable driving distance but it's quite pricey AND it's in a scary bit of Essex (where everyone is thin and tanned and highlighted and basically nothing like me )

Cag lots of people with chronic illnesses go into remission when pregnant. My sister has lupus and always does. Also children can carry the flu virus without showing signs so good job you're getting it done as you never know

Variables.

Too many in humans. Current state of health/how good your immune system is at vaccines.

Psychology as well, the flu vaccine attracts a lot of criticism but Tetanus, Hep A & Hep B & any other boosters nurse has to hand are routinely given to HCP pre training & every 10 years thereafter if your titre levels fall & I honestly can't remember anyone complaining about side effects.

You don't hear people getting side effects from holiday vaccinations either.

Christmas that happened to me too. Ds wouldn't stop screaming unless I held him all the time and I knackered my back doing it and got in real difficulty for a few days. I have a book with some very brief stretching exercises that sort my back out every time in short order. Will you let me know if you want to know the name of it? I'd have to dig a bit, but it's somewhere around here.

I'm the end if I figured out that I just had to sit on the couch with him on my lap for a while two years. I also discovered that our local library could order in books from all over the county if I requested them online, so I just ordered in a dozen a week and sat reading with him flaked out on my lap. I knew a lot by the end of it and developed powerful bladder control. I'm also great now at sleeping sitting up with ds on my lap, but don't tell the SIDS campaigners.

Wreck I think I went into remission while pregnant and came out when ds weaned but I still have no idea what I was in remission from.

It's been a really pleasant surprise wreck - I have heard similar, even one person who was able to ditch their wheelchair for much of the pregnancy! I have found that my POTS symptoms are the same/slightly worse but the muscle/joint pain has been so much better, apart from my knees in the last couple of weeks (but that may be partly due to clambering off the floor mattress a gazillion times a night to pee - very glad we are getting a bed soon! :o).

If I'm honest I am starting to panic a bit about what happens when the relaxin hormone buggers off and symptoms creep back, so I am trying to work on my base diet and fitness while I feel well enough. I'm also really pleased that once baby arrives I will end up lighter than I was pre-pregnancy which might help a bit.

I would be interested in the stretching exercises reference if it's easily up hand Sunny - thanks! And I cross posted with you earlier but I just had to say how much I like the word 'woggle'. I only wish I had more call to use it . Woggle.

Cag whatever happens I am sure the weight loss will help, so it's great you've managed that (albeit I appreciate the sickness hasn't been fun it's a silver lining indeed!)

Woggle.

Mad thing is I wasn't even sick, ever! Nauseated as hell but thought I'd made up for it by eating All The Things since. Bizarre.

Forgot to say thank you for that article, I shall read soon, but I do think it says a lot that most of DD's best buddies are boys. Of course her two awful bullying experiences have been with girls which may have put her off (and the more recent was absolutely the snide, underhand bitchiness type) but in general friendship just seems so much simpler with her male friends.

P.S.

Woggle.

Meadow and adora kudos for your charity volunteering - i used to volunteer at the Terrence Higgins Trust and would love to get back into something worthwhile (if I ever get more than 5 minutes to myself again!)

£3 on phone data. Frugal win: did a 4-hour journey with no services stops as brought along a shed load of drinks and snacks.

Finally caught up with you guys!
I'd the day from hell at work it happens now & again, my job is high pressure & usually doesn't get to me but today it did in spades.
I mainly deal with male customers (construction industry I'm not a hooker ) but today one woman really got on my tits nerves

I came home went to my volunteer work for an hour & came home feeling quite fluey again, but I took nurofen cold & flu hopped in shower & got dressed up & went to a post foreign holiday wedding celebration. Drank Diet Coke as I was driving & we've a wedding to attend tomorrow. €17.40 spent on one round of drink.

Tomorrow will be spendy
€150 wedding gift
€100 hotel
€?? on alcohol
Make up €30??
Hair is covered as I paid membership for my hairdresser to something so she owes me €20

Em my mother came to stay for about two weeks after I had dd & they really tested my relationship with her, she was oblivious to this & still is. She was zero help but spent the time reminiscing about when I was a baby.
I told dh she wouldn't be doing it again when ds was born & he said I couldn't take that bonding time away from her, we were in complete disagreement over this anyhow I had two post partum haemorrhages after ds & she was a lifesaver caring for dd, and helping out dh during that time.
I know things are going swimmingly for you & ds now but she's just keeping an eye on you in case the blues set in or you get rundown yourself. And they love you & their dgs too. Sorry if this comes across preachy it's not meant to.

Meadow your canteen sounds fab

Oh another spend coming up, our microwave is gone kaput. Any recommendations fluffy you're great with electrical stuff.
I've got about €90 in shop and scan account, definitely can get Amazon currys or Argos vouchers

Glad I'm not the only Frugaleer awake!
(Although I hope the gorgeous little dude is asleep chez em :))

I am awake because, well not sure why really just feel bloody weird and 'not right' (not in a labour starting way before anyone gets excited!). POTS thing possibly. OOH if not better during the day though.

Have given up on sleep and am watching telly wrapped in the duvet. Could honestly stuff my face right now but don't want to fuck up my fasting sugars so have held off after Brazil nuts and a tiny bit of 70% chocolate at 1am .

Spends today, errrrm let's see maybe £25 food and £5 bus? But made a profit on sports club. DH got some lovely compliments on his teaching which is always lovely to hear #proudwife

I hope kenwood are a good brand of microwave - lots of choice in these at currys