Frugaleer just jamming.

[Unescorted]

Hoping all your new year wishes come true.

They do 2-3 year checks in this area but if your child is in a private nursery they expect them to do the assessment rather than the HV team. I only found out about that when I had referred DS myself for developmental concerns aged 2y 9m and nursery confessed they should have done it . And when they finally did it was bloody useless, they didn’t capture half the issues that I (with no other children or early years training) could clearly see. DD’s current nursery (not the same one) seems really on it and does a continuous assessment process that’s very thorough. Mind you, I also know much more what I’m looking for.

Had a lovely day with dd but need to work tonight and am in the office tomorrow, ug. Took DD to the library (free) and a cafe with a friend (£3). Only other spends were £50 for an after-school club. I was almost in tears yesterday when I learned ds hadn’t got a place (he’s been going to this club for a term and really enjoys it, and I think it’s also the only extra-curricular thing on offer that is remotely possible for him). I submitted the booking a couple of hours after they opened in the last week of term but apparently it was all booked up within 20 mins. Anyway, Senco very kindly sorted it, the club people are happy for him to go in over numbers. Massive phew.

I learned today that the Tombliboos actually have names. I don’t need to know this.

Am currently making a huge vat of minestrone for lunches. Salmon and broccoli with rice for dinner.

Evening.

NSD.

north - you are working so damn hard, doesn't go unnoticed here - it's bloody hard studying and working, not to mention family. I really fancy the Michelle Obama book too.

Positive thinking just comes naturally to me, mil says I was born sunny side up. DH is the opposite and I often wonder if that contributes to his MH issues. I automatically see the positive and good in a situation and he would naturally think about what might go wrong.

I'd rather concentrate on enjoying the here and now and finding pleasure in the joy of every day life - like folk at concerts recording the whole damn thing rather than just being in the moment.

I can be happy walking the dogs in the rain or making tea - I'm perhaps weird! It's hard to change your natural mindset anyway I suppose.

Anyway, work all day, up very early to run, dogs sorted and a gym session done. Floors mopped and drawer emptied. Keeping off social media helps!

Chilli and chips for tea, one veggie and one meat based. Fancied chips as we've had rice or potatoes etc for the last few days.

Happy news re the after school club seacow. Its decision day tomorrow for my DD....

wolf did you have an easier day with DS today?

Phew sea! Bet you're really pleased.

North I don't know how you do it. I should really try to progress a bit in my role but everything seems so difficult ie more hours for no more money whilst training to get a job which doesn't pay much more. It's hard with the lack of childcare etc too.

Jam I'm an 'always plan to fail otherwise you'll only be disappointed' sort of person

It doesn’t take much to make me happy either Jam. I thought that today when dd was sat in my lap and I was reading to her. I do it a lot (literally hours every day) and though sometimes I am gritting my teeth (Meg’s Egg’s for the 15th time in one morning 😬😬😬😂), usually I just feel perfectly content. She snuggles into me so perfectly and there’s nowhere I’d rather be. I wish I could bottle that feeling of holding my little children. Best thing ever.

Knitting also makes me happy. And baking. And The Archers. And cheesy 80s music. And lying on a lawn in the summer. Sometimes I can even combine several of the above at the same time. I’m an exciting soul

Good luck to your DD, I was thinking about that a couple of days ago. Is she nervous about it?

I work in a preschool, We do 2 year checks in our area too They are done with us, the parents and health visitor. Unfortunately the referal process is a nightmare speech & language is at least 12-16 weeks to get an appointment then it's usually a long wait for sessions. We monitor children, however we cannot diagnose and there's only so much we can do in terms of referal and we need lots of evidence which takes time to get together. And before children go to school we meet with the schools and talk about each child and any needs/requirements they may need. However teachers often don't take much notice of the information passed on.

wreck you must be fairly close to me im about 40 mins by train from Chichester!

I miss the night garden days dd (10) used to love it! Dd2 was all about paw patrol. Now we watch far too much Simpsons which I'm not fond of.

Lsd today. £13 in the co op on top up bits. And £4 for girls brigade.

Interesting nocuts I'm forty mins by car! We were going integrated reviews but since the commissioners had a hissy for its on the back burner for most families...

seacow there's many books I can read without looking at the words!! Children like repetition! That wanting to relive the fun bits is why I went into childcare, I loved the preschool years and now I get to do it every day! However i am a mess every July when they leave for school 😂 especially when I've seen them grow from a tiny just turned 2 year old to a confident 4 year old ready for school.

wreck that was the word I was looking for integrated reviews! It's been a while since I've done one! Im between Worthing and Brighton 😁

Oh how funny, not my specific team converting that area but the same trust. I know a few people down that way

😂 wrecked.

seacow I totally get that from your posts that you are generally cheerful soul. Reading was my best time. I often used to (and actually still do) just stop and watch the DC and savour them in the moment, even now they are adults.

Dd is okay. Philosophical about it all, she's like me - she'll see the positive in either outcome. We've talked about allowing herself to experience and feel any disappointment because that's entirely natural but that she'll be happy and thrive at her other choices too. The application process is rather all consuming at the time but I'm sure we will reflect back and see that nothing is the end of the world.

Nearly there north. You can do it!

NSD today
Ordered some second hand textbooks yesterday £14

I'm not convinced about gp referrals either cag as dp's always get lost in transit. When he chased up his "urgent" mri appt, turns out it wasn't on the system. Still waiting. Then again when I found my "lumpy breast tissue" I was in and out of the breast clinic with my lumpy tissue within a week.

Well, either AO or the delivery guys got it wrong. My £189 8kg candy dryer has morphed into a £259 (in the sale) 10kg Candry dryer. It collects water into the door, so no need to stack them. Dp hadn't listened to me much when I told him what I ordered, so he signed for it, unpacked it and so far it has dried 3 loads!!

My only spend today was a load of beads (buy 5 get one free, so 10x£2 ish) from ebay. Mostly because I liked them, but they will get used for crafts. My mermaids have lots of jewellery on, and my little fairies always have sparkles. Paypal money.

We are super dooper busy at work, very much blaming Brexit as the orders are mostly from Europe. I think they are panicking in case we cannot export after March. So maybe the whole import/export thing might be a problem .

I really wish they would just sort it out, so we know where we stand. Except I think that some are going to vote against any kind of deal, just to thwart Theresa May. Which is fine, but probably not the best thing for the country as a whole.

Here endeth my Brexit moan. I am sick of it.

Bonus lonely. Also thwarted is one of my favourite words.

Evening all. Just got in from my long working day so haven’t seen ds other than for about 20 mins Jam he is still fraught but not as bad as yesterday. Hopefully it’s just a back in the routine wobble
House insurance renewal can through. I need to ring them with change of circs. House notoriously hard to insure so I’m reluctant to switch provider but I’m annoyed by how much it’s gone up

North good luck tomorrow you e been working your ass off

I am neither half full or half empty. I’m actually best in a crisis, point me at a disaster and I’ll go and fix it and what will be will be. I am far more likely to grumble about the small stuff

Evening my lovelies. It is only Tuesday....

North keep going you are nearly there.
Cag hope it settles soon.
Meadow it does get better. I know at the moment it is shit so be kind to yourselves (including your dh in this). People always have a revisionist version of their parenting skills. For most people just getting up the next day is a win. Clean clothes, getting out the door are optional.
Tayto the happy moments jar is a wonderful idea.

I have saved my gym membership... I was going to join, but got my bike instead. Each time I cycle to the station I burn 230 calories and save £5 in bus fares. It also gives me a smile and takes less time than catching the bus. I have already save the price of the bike. What is there not to like.

£185 car service and MOT. I always used to be too tight to pay for a service but I think the performance is better when done regularly.

Had some fab news today which will save me £3000 which I don't have (long back story involving DS leaving uni and having to pay for his room, but now it's been let).

Evening all.

Felt so energised today. So either I’ve hit trimester 2 ahead of schedule, or the gym actually gave me the boost I needed. Or both. 😀 but whatever it is. It’s a good day today.

Spends £73 coop. Dh did the shop. He bought me a pineapple. Asked me if I wanted anything in particular so I asked him to suprise me. 🍍 I do love pineapple. Everything about them makes me smile. The taste. The fact they look funny...

Still haven’t hit my 10000 steps for today. Sigh.

But almost. Am on 8000. If I could be arsed I’d walk about the house a bit. But meh. Tomorrow’s another day.

Since I’ve been home ds has had his bath, we’ve read some new books (handed down from a colleague), had spaghetti Bol for tea, I’ve baked a flapjack, made lunch for tomorrow, cleaned kitchen and have popped a load of laundry in the machine to finish by the time I get up tomorrow.

Catface is currently chasing a moff. She loves moff.

Talking to nursery person today when I picked Ds up. She said how he was always on the go. Never stops. He’s doing so well in his transition to toddler group. Nothing seems to phase him. 😍 love that kid.

Also he farted in the bath and looked around for it. Hilarious.

£3000 saved is £3000 earned Wilderness

Nsd.

That's good news about the £3000 @wilderness.

LSD today spent 88p on a drink and saved £1.12 into my not doing it properly penny a day challenge pot.

Mile Yes, I seem to have a really pessimistic nature and well, everyone knows about my MH problems!! If I work really hard at it I can change my mindset sometimes and then it's like the more I practice the better I get at it, then stuff comes up and I get stressed and slip back to being pessimistic all the time etc. I'm hoping CBT might be able to help me with that. Having said that, when I can manage to stop the worrying voices in my head, I do also take a lot of pleasure in small things like a cup of tea or a walk in the park. I had a lovely walk in the park today in the sun with DD who was fast asleep the whole time, and managed to sit on a bench and read for a bit in peace, it was sooo lovely. I don't remember the last time I actually sat in a park. It was probably the summer of 2017! DH and I used to go to parks loads before I got pregnant and everything went even more topsy turvy.

Nocuts Ahhh, I used to watch The Simpsons religiously as a child, I'm sure for a good few years it was on like two episodes 7-8pm on a Sunday or something and I remember us all being excited and sitting down to watch it all together. I still love it now and fairly frequently watch old reruns on telly when there's nowt else on . DD is obsessed with In the Night Garden, it's def her fave show.

Em about the fart! Glad you're feeling good. I too love pineapples

Oh, my spends. Sometimes I forget this is a thread for frugaleering ! Umm I spent about a tenner-ish. Not sure exactly. In Asda and Superdrug. On groceries and some bits for DD - dummy clips and Ella's prune pouches for her constipation . Also got a letter from United Utilities asking us for details for the water bill. We moved in in August so will have a heffa bill to pay once they process it, I guess. We would probs save money with a water meter but I'm sure I've read that once you've got one, you can't really get rid of it? And maybe we will go on to have like 10 kids or something and then it won't be cost-effective anymore. (I'm joking, but you know what I mean?)

meadow the walk in the park sounds amazing. 😀 I don’t remember the last time I sat and read a book. Should do more books. And less screens really.

For dds constipation there’s a reflexology trick you can do (have a google). I did a baby reflexology course and I don’t have my notes around to check but I think you have to massage the mid foot in a clockwise motion. I think it’s that anyway. But give it a google.

I used to do it to ds after every bath. And he used to without fail poop an hour or so later. When it was dhs turn. Haha.

£21 online boots order for nappies. I will not be sad to see the nappies go. My boots card is currently up to £95. I am going to treat myself to something nice with that.

meadow would it be a good idea (if you haven't done it already) to sky+ or download a shit tonne of in the night garden and play it on a loop to jiggle dd infront of when she gets screamy? I don't really believe that tv is bad for kiddies. Anything soothing that holds their attention works for me. I watched a programme once after ITNG was released about how it was specially developed to be uber grabby to little ones. They did it deliberately ! Same people who made the Tellytubbies.

Evening dog walk done.