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Ring repair was £40 they’ve done a good job
£5 spends for ds for camp
£30 two hours or gardening - phenomenal job and worth every penny. I’ve asked them to come for an hour a month which frankly I’m happy to give up a couple of bottles of wine for.
Need to buy rose food.

Oh and I’ve been running through annual finances again to see if I might be able to afford a holiday abroad next year.

And I have £225 of bonus vouchers to order and spend. Choice is limited I’m thinking John Lewis

I think it was 85. I was 10 then so only saw it on the TV. Wolf John Lewis is fairly safe as the sell lots. What's the holiday verdict? Had to be said I'm liking youth hostels at the minute of you would consider that. Or do you want to go furrin?

I love youth hosteling Life and I’m very tempted by the teepees. I’m not sure yet whether abroad is do-able, I’m thinking rather than book maybe try to save the cost of the holiday over the next 9 months and book late. But I’m conscious ds isn’t going to want to go on holiday with me for much longer and we’ve only been abroad twice - once when he was little and I got married and then last year. I always feel guilty that he misses out compared to his friends who go abroad every single year, some multiple times. He always seems sad that we can’t afford to do the same.

KLAXON- Eat Well for Less is on at 7pm tonight

Ooh yay! I’ll watch it on catch up when DD is back from ballet.

Went to a lovely concert this morning, it’s a small orchestra who do shows mostly for schools. The Caglets and their friends confidently sat among all the secondary school kids and DD was happy that someone was jealous of her BTS hoodie 😂 and they got to join in the drumming in “In the hall of the mountain king” 😍

Yay. Love EWFL!!!

Dh bought a couple of shirts today. And bought me a top and a dress. He saw them and thought I’d like them. 👍🏻

I’m in work today. Penultimate Friday of 2019. These are my shoes. They’re a bit extra but I love them.

Bought the team ice creams this afternoon £10.40.

Love the shoes em.
Lapwell done your dc.
Wolf sounds sensible to save the money and book. There are no late cheap deals anymore imo. Or Jet2 do monthly payment options.
Had to be said the teepee at Windermere yha was great.

£7 almond magnums and pork crackling strips , might be some biscuits in there too

@Wolfcubisthefemalenomina I am here :) just been a busy few months. And I am finding it increasingly difficult to not make comments on the politics boards..... I am having to take myself for very long walks.

You can borrow our Teepee if you want - it is huge. We use it in the winter b/c it has a wood burner. It does smell a bit of wood smoke and takes forever to put up …. although that might be a function of the amount of frozen ground we have to screw the pegs into.
The boys have got an entry to Strathpuffer again so I am tempted to upgrade to a camper if I am being asked to be support crew.

Tayto That sucks. I am glad your sisters are on hand. You wonder what goes on in their heads sometimes. Errr I feel a little shit so I know what will make it better …. I will run away and join the effing circus. Dick heads. [I must breathe sometimes … I am so angry on your behalf]

em that pool is soooooo cool. I want an adult sized one.

Laputa fab name change. Sorry things are not as good as they could be. It must be a hard adjustment having your DH off work.

sea how can it be 2 years?

I have been abandoned by my family tonight - ds & dh off to the lakes and dd is working. Wine & crap TV and camper porn for me tonight.

Hello Unescorted! Glad you are still here! Yes, 2 years... it really flies by!

EWFL isn’t coming up on iPlayer yet

I remember Live Aid -1985. I was on hols in Majorca at the time. I was oblivious but the hotel pool was amazingly empty all day

Had suuuuch a shit couple of days. In the case of yesterday - literally - as DD stood in a steaming fox poo in the school playground while we were dropping DS off 🤢. It was pretty much downhill from there... Then a mega meltdown after school from DS, and a steady stream of work things going wrong, which led to a crap work day today... I was wfh but didn’t have time to eat lunch! It’s going to be a hideous couple of weeks coming up.

I’ve also double booked myself for Thursday evening too. A friend is moving house locally and the family of 4 are staying in a basic hotel for a few days while they get the new house ready. I offered to feed them on Thursday evening after school but have just realised I have a governors’ meeting then. I hate to withdraw the offer though, Ug.

Thank heavens for weekends! Much baking for the school fete tomorrow. Millionaires shortbread and possibly gingerbread men. Might even stretch to some vegan brownies for the allergy punters. I am manning the stall for a bit on Sunday too.

Waves at unescorted. Ooo a camper van. Exciting.
I'm feeling better now but I have a bruised noise and foot from fainting in the kitchen.
School fair today so will be a few £ spent.
Going to watch ewfl as haven't watched any try. Which is a good episode to stay with our shall I be conventional and begin from the beginning.

Hi unescorted! I thought of you on Friday while swimming, I’ve been working reeeeeally hard on proper breathing! :o

Sorry you had such a shit time lately seacow :(

Just found out we are going to have DSD living with us for a while! She’s moved back from uni but because she is planning to house share in the near(ish) future, just her mum and sister applied for a smaller council property. It was all very far off in the future but they’ve just been offered and have accepted a 2 bed flat! We are now officially long term tenants so we are allowed lodgers and even to sublet now, although I’d have thought family wouldn’t count anyway. But it’s good to know.

Just need to figure out sleeping arrangements and finances really. She does work although it’s in play care so can vary depending on school holidays. I think she gave her mum a percentage of her wages while at home, rather than a set amount. Also going to ask for some babysitting as part contribution, as DH and I get no baby free time. :o

I’m excited as I adore DSD (she is awesome) and also a little nervous as I’ve never lived with anyone other than my parents and DH and my mental health is crap at the moment so not sure how I’ll cope having a bit less space.

I had a run in with a bike yesterday. I was waiting to cross the road and a cyclist was passing me. He braked to stop and talk to his friend but I think he braked too hard and went flying off his bike. His bike fell on me so I now have an impressive graze/bruise on the top of my leg. It all happened very quickly and I was so shocked that I never asked the cyclist if he was ok . But he picked himself up immediately so I don't think he was badly hurt. I'll look very glam strutting around Portugal in my shorts with a bruised leg. As if it isn't bad enough having pasty Irish skin.

I'm going to do some washing today and start packing for the holidays. I also want to clear out all the rubbish in my old handbag and transfer everything into my new handbag. My brother has invited me out to dinner this evening (his treat).

It's disappointingly dull out and the pavement looks wet . I was hoping for some lovely sunshine.

life hope the bug has gone now. Sorry to hear about your fainting spell.

Wolf we fly out on Thursday. Really hope the finances work out for you and you can manage a holiday abroad in 2020.

Laputa the concert sounds great and it's lovely that the DC got to join in.

Seacow sorry to hear you've a had a tough few days. Can you switch days with your friend and have them over another night instead?

That does not sound good life Hope you make a speedy recovery.
I think Ewfl was bumped by Wimbledon last night. Which reminds me I have a stash of strawberries that need something doing with them.

I find it really hard to plan meals at the moment - we all seem to be dashing in and out of the house doing life. It is not helped by being bored of what we are eating. I need help with easy, quick dishes that can be adapted for fussy eaters. I can see why families fall into the ready meal cycle.

Sea I hope you have a better weekend. It feels as if the whole public sector is waiting for something to happen - it is putting everyone on edge and causing friction. I wonder if your bad office vibe is due to that. I hope your baking helps put you on an even keel again.

The camper is a dream.... I so just want the ability to head away and park up without all the palaver of packing the tent & planning where to stay. We used to have a big camper but had to sell it to put towards the house deposit.

Tayto sounds like nothing other than his ego was damaged. If it is any consolation I have permanently grazed and bruised legs. I never grew out of that small child stage.

Awful sleep last night. Then woke up at 5. Ds woke at 615. Dh took him downstairs and brought me a cup of tea.

I then ignored tea and went back to sleep. Woke up at 915. Text from dh - they were at the park. They came home at about 930 in which time I’d showered and dressed. They’d been to the park near our house. Taken a detour to the shop and had bought pastries.

Ds helped eat them.

He’s also helped do laundry

He’s napping now.

Bil and sil are flying in today from Aussie. So we’re going to see them after lunch. Yay!!! I’ve only met sil once and haven’t seen Bil since 2015!! They’ve never met ds.

They’re staying with Fil who probably won’t let them out of his sight. We’re expected to do a bbq there tonight. I’ve said to dh I may not stay long (they usually turn into a right booze fest) as I’m exhausted achey and feeling unbelievably anti social at present. He’s ok with that. I’ve said what I’ll probably do is stay until ds’ bedtime the. Get dh to walk back with me and ds (15 mins away) help me get him to bed then dh can go back.

Feel a bit sorry for Bil and sil actually as they’re flying in from Aussie to Heathrow this morning then transfer to Gatwick then come here. So the jet lagged bbq sounds super for everyone!!!!

Also. We have beans. Runner beans. Growing in our garden and everything!!!

tayto ouch. Lap sounds like your hey on will enough with dsd to talk to her about how you are feeling.
Thanks all. I'm ok. House has had a thorough scrub except for DD room which is imminent. Anti bacterial spray never features in our house. I know it's a virus but bleach spray is one step too far for me. Sea hope things improve. I agree there is a lot of unsettlement at the minute. Hope it improves soon

Em that sounds rough on bil and family. Not sure I’d be social after all that flying

Unescorted what about a mushroom risotto (Waitrose bag of exotic frozen mushrooms is your friend)

Lousy nights sleep here due to local farming activity at unsociable hours.

Need to work out pattern for a patio and how many flags I need to buy

Sea that sounds rough. I agree with Unescorted that the up in the airness at the moment with SR20 and all the other bits that are going on are making it a tough place to work at the moment. I hope baking and school fayre go well and serve as a reset of the week

I had an awful night too Em. Lots of nonsense from the dts. We are all tired and grumpy this morning.

Missed EWFL too.

Sorry some of you are having a tough time at the moment. Hope things improve soon.

Oh. And I was offered tickets to Wimbledon men’s final yesterday from a client. 😭😭

But can’t go. Because I’m not allowed to fly. Waaaaa.

I love Wimbledon. Have been a few times with work. (It’s obviously better if you don’t pay!!!)

Watched the ladies match yesterday when the 15 year old was playing (coco gauff? Maybe ?) serious talent there. I had no idea until they interviewed her that she was only 15!!

Em watch her first game again Venus on iplayer - outstanding. Can you get a boat?

Frozen mushrooms - I didn't even know they are a thing. I will try that when DD is away. She doesn't like mushrooms... Ds doesn't like rice. They are fussy little shits. And Dh is no better. I think I might just make dinner for one.

em I am jealous of the beans - my garden has been over taken by weeds. Today was going to be a weeding day but it is raining.

I can't believe that your fil is making them do a BBQ on their first evening. That is cruel.

snuggly how old are your twins now? Time seems to run away with me atm.

Unescorted raining bloody hell. Come over here it’s glorious (actually it’s bloody hot and I’m melting)

I am wearing a jumper!