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[northender]

Lots of support and advice here for frugaleers old and new.

£38 b and q
Off to Ikea with df later and likely to spend £200 as ds needs a new mattress badly and I want my mirror.
Have painted exterior windowsills at the front and step edge, needs another coat tomorrow and I will consider doing the rear as well but that’s more tricky. Have removed collapsed rose arch from roses. Cut back hard and staked up what’s left. My arms and face look like I’ve had a fight with an angry tiger. I feel sorry for the rose but the pressure of the collapsing arch on the main stem was going to kill it. Ds is being phenomenally fucking irritating because he is bored and can’t see his dad he refuses to be of any assistance at all and also refuses to go and play

I'm imagining you living in a lovely old cottage Wolf with wooden windows and rose arches!

Em domestic chore arguments are the pits. Get that cleaner booked asap! My dh has literally no clue how much time I spend cleaning/tidying (I don't either actually as it's more of a constant clean as I go) but whenever there's a week where for whatever reason I'm not doing all of these things dh will often make a passing comment, usually an innocent 'we (plural) should have a tidy up' or a generic 'the bathroom needs a clean' and it gives me the complete rage as he genuinely believes it's become messy because we've both equally let it slide for a while rather than me just having an off week where I think he should be picking up the slack. I'm getting the rage about it right now just thinking about it and we're not even at home 😅

How's your dd girlie? Oh it's so heartbreaking when our dcs are hurt and ears can hurt like hell!! I often wonder whether it's easier or harder if you're in the medical profession yourself - sometimes ignorance is bliss!

We've had a lovely, sunny day wandering through London. Lunch was £60.

Sorry I haven't posted much lately. 'D'H has decided to have a midlife crisis that he doesn't love me anymore and is moving out next weekend. It's been a rough couple of weeks. I've been to the GP who prescribed an anti-depressant and I've also had a few sessions with a counsellor. I won't be able to keep going to the counsellor for much longer as it's €60 per session. But I'm doing a lot better now than I was a few weeks ago. DD is out with a friend today so 'D'H and I sat down and worked out weekend access from now until Christmas. I hate the thought of sharing DD but I guess it has to be done. I'm still working part time but I'll probably return to work full time after Christmas. I didn't want to inflict too much change on DD all at once. So money's going to be very tight and I'll need you lovely frugaleers to keep me on the straight and narrow.

My family have been very supportive and my Dad and sister have paid for us to have a holiday in Portugal in July. It will be nice for me to spend some time with Dad and my sister in the sun and DD's very excited about this unexpected holiday. My friends and close colleagues have been great too. They say that every cloud has a silver lining and the silver lining has been discovering how amazing people are.

I'm off to make a cuppa and I'll be back to catch up on your news.

So sorry to hear things are so tough tayto The holiday sounds a great opportunity and so pleased people have been so supportive for you.

We’re always here when you need us xx

Tayto I'm pretty new to the thread but I hope it's ok to say how sorry I am to hear about the breakdown of your marriage. It sounds like you've been through a really tough time, but as I read about your dad and sister and holiday I'd just started to think 'what a silver lining' before reading your next words. It takes a strong woman to see the light during adversity. It's a sad time but how lucky for your dd to have such a strong mother to look up to 💪

Took ds to see dparents and grab a pump for his shark pool (see pic) this is easily the most ridiculous thing I’ve bought on amazon. But ds loved it. So money well spent (£45)

Stopped with them for a bit then came home. In which time Dh has blown the thing up using his mouth (full of hot air that one...). He has also made pizza dough (kitchen is covered in flour) and put things up in the loft (mess all the way up the stairs etc).

Ds has succeeded in splashing all the water out the pool and has now gone to the shop with dh. They have a specific list. Whether they get any of it...

Tayto I’m so sorry that must have come as a huge shock. What an arse. Glad your family and friends have been amazing

Em that’s such a cute pic love the pool

Madden, I wish! More Victorian millworker terrace. I aspire to cottage.

£230 in Ikea. Mirror looks great and the mattress is so much better for ds. Will keep an eye on it though as some dodgy reviews lately.

Slapped another coat on my sills and steps.

Expedia have ballsed up a long standing hotel booking for next week. Something about it had made my radar go off and I emailed the hotel direct last night. Good job I did as they’d never received the booking even though we’ve paid in full. Lovely hotel lady had sorted something out for us. Not ideal but it will do and we will still have a great time.
North hope your cricket tea is going well

Thanks for your kind words everyone.

I've read back a few pages.

Seacow hope you enjoyed your ersatz Frazzles. What are they? I don't think I've ever had them. Happy Birthday to your DD. Hope she enjoys her party tomorrow. You'll have to share a photo of the Peppa Pig biscuits and the birthday cake.

em glad you're booking the cleaner - sod the expense! Life's too short to be wasting time arguing about domestic stuff. Your DH is being VU but I'm sure you know that already. I love the shark pool - it made me smile on an otherwise tough day.

Love Happy Birthday to you too.

Cag hope the dance show goes well tonight.

Wolf I'm still wearing my rings but I'll probably take them off when DH moves out. It's a shame because they're lovely rings and I hate the thought of them hidden away in a drawer . But seems pointless to keep wearing them given the circumstances. Anyway, hope you enjoyed the shopping trip in IKEA. Your new mirror sounds lovely. Lucky you checked up on the hotel! Any news on your ex? Hope his condition improves as your DS has enough to cope with atm.

Girlie DD's ear injury sounds nasty! Parents evening sounded great. When will you get the results of the MRI?

Oh tayto I'm so sorry to hear things have been so difficult, the holiday sounds lovely and just what you need. How old is your dd again?

Thanks for the concern re dd, her ear is really bruised and she has a large bump but seems completely fine in herself. I think it's worse having some medical knowledge as I straight away think concussion, fractured skull, bleed on the brain etc 😐

We've had a nice day, I made a very frugal soup out of yellow label veg I picked up Ystd (tomatoes, spring onions, mushrooms) I roasted them with some red pepper and then added them to some cooked lentils, added but more water and stock and it tasted amazing! Dd ate two bowls 😁

In less frugal news we went to the cheaper cinema but I'd forgotten to add in cost of parking! Parking was £4 😳 which was very annoying, we did get cheap pick n mix from Wilkos so total cinema trip was around £18 which is still less than we'd pay at the local odeon.

£20 on dinner out.

I enjoyed toy story, dd claims she didn't but I know she did really 😉

Late sign in.
Have just been busy.
Yesterday we (work) had our annual trip to the beach, I was in charge of one child and we all had a lovely day. Got back later than planned as the train was delayed, so had to run to collect dd2 to make her dentist appointment.

Spends yesterday
£8.60 on an ice cream, coffee and a huge piece of tiffin.
£9.50 on take out, I was just too tired to cook
£ 48 Ocado delivery
NSD today.

Happy Birthday to your dd Sea, hope she had a great day.

Happy Birthday to you to Love, and how sweet that your DCs were so excited!

Girlie hope your dd is ok and you must be so proud of her, doing so well at school.

Tayto I'm so sorry, it must of come as quite a shock.
What a lovely dad and sister you have, I bet your dd is really going to love the holiday.
We are all here for you, my lovely

Belated happy birthdays to love and seacowdd (hope the Peppa Pig party has gone well.
Tayto sorry to hear your news, tough times. You know we're here for you.
Cag hope the dance show went well.
girlie ouch, your dd's bump sounds painful. Neuro & paeds isn't my field, but mild dyspraxia maybe?

Yesterday's cricket teas went really well and the concert last night was good too. It was in a local coastal town & in the interval Dh & I managed a few quiet minutes on the seafront with a beautiful post sunset view of silhouettes of the Lake District hills. Stunning, peaceful & free. A friend texted yesterday & offered to drive so the journey cost us a glass of coke & no stress.
Cricket teas again today, but hoping to make lots of money today. Have a organised a group of fabulous volunteers to help. It's a bit of an unknown but I think we're ready for every eventuality. Next weekend there is just one tea to do, I won't know what to do with myself

Morning all. Coat number three on the windowsills and a trip to the tip planned. Bacon Dannie’s first though

Diving done. Costs me about £5 in greggs for breakfast and baguettes. We are not going out today as DD fill of cold so will Bob about the house.
Tayto I echo everything the others said. Big hugs my lovely. Em live the pool. Wolf pleased the IKEA visit went well. We all have their mattress and they are great. I'm doing ours in the school holiday.

Sounds like a really busy weekend north. You'll be shattered on Monday.

Girlie DD is 14.

It won't be a NSD because I've to pick up something for dinner. I'll have to get back to meal planning and a weekly shop. Some days when I was feeling really bad it was easier to just get a take away. Obviously that won't be an option when we split our finances and my income reduces.

Nail in tyre. £140 emergency trip to Kwik-fit . This month had been going so well until now.

Busy morning so far.

Ds up at 545 😭 breakfast and FaceTimed mil in nz. Watched postman pat.

Have submitted comments to object to planning application for nearby development which will impact our house.

Washed sofa covers - dh made pizza on the bbq last night and ds got tomato sauce everywhere. They’re just drying now

Pork is marinading in the fridge ready for bbq. Veggie skewers made. Ribs marinaded.

Laundry put away.

Apple eaten. 😀

Second cup of tea is on the go.

Other jobs - swimming with ds at lunchtime. Sweep all the crap off the dining table.

Buy a couple of bottles of fizz for bbq. Wrap DMs presents.

Having a good old blitz of the house today. Sunny and warm here. DD fill of cold so we shelved our plans to go out. Will have a wander in a minute to walk the back way to school for transition next week

Quite a productive morning here as well, hoovered and cleaned upstairs, helped dd sort her fish out and have been to Aldi. Spent £33 which is about right although I need to pop to Morrisons at some point as there's a few bits we need that aldi don't sell.

Going to mums for a walk this afternoon, it's muggy and cloudy here today, think the sun Ystd was a teaser!

Tayto just posting to add support. Have been there myself. Have you posted on relationship board? X

I am at least 80% bbq.

Ribs
Burgers
Sausage
Vietnamese pork
Veggie kebabs
Chips
Salad
Cucumber and rice salad

Birthday cake.

It was yummo.

Dsis is asleep in the chair - she has slipped into a meat coma.

Ds has toddled off for a walk with grandma and grandad

Dh is cleaning the bbq.

I’m stuck on the couch. Can’t move. Too full.

Oh Tayto, I’m so sorry to hear about that. It sounds as though it was a bit of a shock to you, it must be such an emotional roller coaster right now. You will come out the other side but I’m sure there are some very hard times right now. Thinking of you

Had DD’s party today. Somehow we had a lingering lunch but didn’t manage to play a single game (I didn’t have terribly high falutin’ ambitions for a bunch of 2 year olds but I did laboriously wrap up a pass the parcel with a Kinder hippo in each layer. No doubt I will raid that when the chocolate munchies strike 😂). DD seemed to enjoy seeing her little friends and DS coped amazingly well sonit was all good. Annoyingly though, someone took an extra party bag somehow. I had 8 ready - 6 guests and one each for my two - and had spent a fair bit of time and effort on making them good as the guest numbers were so small that I could spend a bit more. So I was a little annoyed that someone took a extra one. Is that a bit weird (of them or me?)

I took photos on my real camera so will try to upload later. Iced biscuits went down a storm!

Tayto sorry you're going through a shit time

We went to London today. Free parking and took a packed lunch. Probably about £7/8 in fuel so much cheaper than train. Whatever two bus journeys is and £20 McDonalds (which dh paid for, although the didn't come with us as he was working). Noticed that the fuel in stations in London is actually cheaper than round here

Took out €100 cash on Friday
€46 on boozy night out with my sis
€42 on takeaway for 4 adults & 4 children
€10 dc pocket money
Remainder church collection

Definitely weird. Any chance they could have picked up two by mistake sea? Glad it went well. And yes a photo of peppa pig biscuits are needed. I’m sure I saw some on a fb post recently where the noses looked like something else ‘ahem’

Bbq sounds amazing em

We’ve had a lovely weekend. We all enjoyed Toy Story 4. Bought the cinema tickets with Tesco vouchers. And got some generous, well thought out gifts too

We have enough pudding/cake to last the week. Although I could really do with not having another week of cake (DPs birthday last weekend and just finished his cake)

Spends:
£5 popcorn
£60ish Tesco

That's really annoying seacow but I would say after doing many parties and party bags over the years that I always make up 1 or 2 more bags than I should need. There's normally always a sibling that turns up unannounced and I'd rather do too many than not enough. Dd always wanted a bag at her own party as well!!

I've also eaten wayyyyy too much today, I look about 6 months pregnant 🤰