The Friendly Frugaleers - Furtively planning Christmas, as August arrives

[StoogingOn]

Welcome one and all!

laksa no it’s out west ma love. In the bladdy country eh. It’s in St. Peter. We’re near to taaahn (town - St Helier) now.

The conversation with dh and the estate agent went like this:

Dh: original price.
Ea: no
Dh : higher price £15k more but still £24k less asking.
Ea: ok. Will come back to you
Ea: morning. Two offers similar. Make best and final.
Dh: our offer is best and final. This is it.
Ea: accepted.

I have to admire dh’s arrogance on this.

Generally it takes 8 weeks to get through court. We know the vendors have a new build to go to. So if they do need more time we can wait.

Thanks Love that was exactly what I was wondering.

Em cracking good house that. I don't think anyone will rumble your real address from such a skillfully disguised photograph

We just went to visit granny and grandad and they played monopoly with ds while I spent two hours in the spare bed. Zzzzz. #Salvation.

Oh seacow, that must be tough. It's very early days yet for you all. Time I suspect is really the only thing that helps.

I forgot bacon lardons, yes, they are really useful for soups, stews and even risotto.

I spent a touch more at the green grocers than I anticipated but not much. Partly because it's a new business trying to start up on the local town high street and partly because they had beautiful asparagus and fennel. These are my favourite veg. I shall make asparagus and lemon risotto and a HFW dish with the fennel.

DH is like that em, in business and when buying cars etc. Takes some guts but worth a try.

I've got tagine all sorted for tea. Dd is listing a lot of equine stuff on Facebook and I'm washing a couple of other bits to list later.

Thanks will get writing a list later. Am getting dd to count all of our coppers so can add that to the amount I have to spend.

Christmas I'm sorry it must be so hard for you and for you mum

Ah thanks guys. We’re okay, I think it just comes and goes.

I was really tired this afternoon after sobbing earlier so I had a little nap while dd was napping. DH is now being a bit of a martyr about how he’s been looking after the children ALL DAY. I pointed out that he hasn’t washed so much as a mug for a week while mum’s been here (she’s manic about tidying up before we’ve even finished with stuff ) and I’ve done all the cooking, so apart from hands-on time with the kids he’s been on a total holiday! I wouldn’t mind a bit of that myself. We always have to self cater as DS is so fussy about food and also hates hotels... so the cooking never ends for me! I’m just in my break between cooking for the DCs and preparing our dinner. Lazy tonight - hm spicy sweet potato wedges but shop bought burgers and bag of salad. Holiday shortcuts! I want Jam’s risotto though... mmmm

I know what you mean about the cooking Christmas. "Holiday" is a bit of a misnomer I think.

em yipee! But if your offer had not been accepted, you would have been ver cross with Dh. I know arrogance works in these situations, I'm just not good at dealing with it. Ps, your new house looks lovely!

jam I have missed your quick lists of meal ideas! I just go blank and say spag bol...

I have been given my contract seven weeks into my 3 month trial. Still have to do the 3 months, but I know the job is permanent now! Very pleased.

£7 in the co-op (I bought a euromillions ticket too. First of 2018), £1.20 lunch pasty, 99p on a toothbrush holder to put my paintbrushes in (they are squirrel hair, and bend easily when squished into a pencil case), and £10 deposit on works christmas do!

seacow what a day. I think you have to let yourself feel sad. And go and buy some yarn. 💗

Also - though DD can’t walk she has started seriously climbing and it is getting very wearing! As of this afternoon she can get up on the sofa and then up to stand on the back of the sofa looking out of the window. And she lets go with her hands and just balances... with predictable results. So we’ve had to hover very closely for the last couple of hours. We can’t take our eyes off her 👀👀👀👀

Oh, and as far as Centre Parcs goes breathe the cheapest basic lodge is fine. It should be clean and have enough plates and cups (take your own sharp knife though!). Take all your own food (food shop on site is £££) unless eating out. And spend as much time in the pool as physically possible.

Thanks Lonely. It's the pool we're thinking of going for really. Ds is just on the cusp of being able to swim, but doesn't find it very exciting. I'm wondering if the lovely pool at a center parc might just fire him up a bit.

Thanks for the word about the food and the sharp knife. Noted!

Lonely I already have 5 skeins of hand dyed fancy yarn from this trip... 3 were a gift from DM but even the 2 I bought were quite enough spend! Today I was very tempted by some undyed North Ronaldsay yarn (a local specialty from the sheep that graze on seaweed on a very northerly Island here) but then I had a word with myself. I probably won’t be going into Kirkwall again so hopefully all the yarn temptation is out of reach now!

Coolio Em Way out west!

Yay lonely!

Well done on the contract lonely

Well done on the contract lonely that's fantastic

I had to ask at end of my first year if I was being made permanent, they just assumed I'd know

Just been at work doing out a budget for mediation next Monday, I'm doing a couple of drafts so today's one was of me and dc living on our own but using some figures from existing expenses iykwim, I've no intention of spending similar amounts on Christmas gifts as H liked to in previous years for example, so while it looks like I'm stretched I don't think I will be as much.

Will do the others over next few days, now I must fly to my voluntary work

Wow you lot have been chatty today. I'll try and catch up in a minute. Just noticed you have a climber Cag. We have one too, it's exhausting!

Shoe shopping for the dcs today. £67 for all 3 which is better than I expected. Ds's were £9 in the sale which I didn't realise until after we'd chosen them so that was a result! Just need pumps and wellies first dd1 now but Shoe Zone will be fine for those. Or Sainsbury's 25% off.

On the subject of shoes does anyone know how they can be recycled? Too worn out for charity shop, they have holes in.

Wooohooo! em
Brilliant news -so happy for you !
So exciting and it looks fabulous from your drawing

Hello all, just catching up!

Having a nice time here although weather could be better, dd did surf school today which she enjoyed but it left her completely knackered! !

Tomorrow we are hoping to go over to lundy weather permitting.

Lost track of spending a bit....

Congrats on the house em lovely news.

seacow thinking of you, completely understandable you will be feeling tearful.

Clever caglatini 💗

Caught up now. Congratulations Em! From your drawing it looks like a lovely house

Dh being a dick. He's gone out to football so I'm letting the dc sleep in our bed and will join them in a bit. Dh will have to sleep in one of their beds .

Lovely house em.I can just see you there.

Ah it's going to be hard for while yet. Let the tears out of you need to. Be indoors for the ugly crying though so you don't feel too self conscious

I would do the same wreck

Took all of ds’ clothes bar his outfits for Nursery tomorrow to my parents. Unpacked everything. Come home and dh is watching a movie.

He’s made no attempt to pack anything. Despite me saying we needed to get cracking on the kitchen. He hasn’t.

I’ve asked him to do it. And have gone to bed.

He has this magical idea that we can do it on Thursday. When the removals are here. I’ve reminded him that they expect everything to be packed. And I have a lot to do tomorrow afternoon already.

Apparently I’m being a dick though. Because I expected him to do something.

And we have loads of time. He got the “ok. Fine.” And I took myself off to bed.

Em congratulations we’re going to need an MN diagram :)