Lockdown (almost) over and frugalling continues!

[ememem84]

New thread. All welcome

Hello everyone.

We had a nice weekend, Saturday was a bit spendy but I think I broke even as I took a load of clothes back. Finally got my hair cut, first time and probably only time this year!!

Ystd we went to a family bbq which was great and lovely to see some family I've not seen for a while.

I'm assignment writing today, am really hating it now and just want it finished!!

Sea do you know anyone with a really placid dog that might help ds with his fear? Sorry your beach trip ended up so stressful.

I've got about £2 left in my account until payday 😬 should be okay as we've got food etc

Hello,

Thinking of you today Lonely 🤞🏻

Ah, the beach wasn’t too bad, I just felt sad for DS. Successful trips out are so difficult to achieve with so much going on for him. We really don’t go out much, I am trying to give him a more stimulating life but it’s hard when things backfire more often than not.

I was sure there must be dog-free bits of the beach but while we were there neither of us could get any reception to check on t’interweb. And ds was quite distressed about moving our camp just one groyne along (even though it was to avoid a new dog neighbour), so wandering around just to see wasn’t an option! I’ve since checked and there are dog-free bits, unfortunately in the busier parts of the beach nearer the town centre (which we avoid for other reasons as crowds are hard). Sigh. Hopefully we’ll find some nice empty beaches on the Gower Peninsula on our hols in the rain, no doubt

I have ben in meetings solidly all morning but am about to be skivey for an hour and make cookies with DS. For health reasons I am trying to
Impose some gradual deflation on the baked goods at home - DCs have got used to having something in a tin that they can have each day (for DS this is the after-school snack). He used to have a cereal bar or occasional home-made cake but now he’s all about the home made cakes! So to deflate the calories I’m going to do much less cake, more cookies (which are smaller anyway and I can make a bit smaller still). I’d love any tried and tested cookie recipes if anyone wants to recommend anything!

It’s a beautiful day here, I might actually venture into the garden later.

Hi everyone!

Another nsd here, DH is shut away in his office wfh so I've done an online yoga class (I like Yoga with Kassandra), about an hour and a half of my language learning with duolingo and then futurelearn, and have just been for an hours walk. It's amazing how much free stuff there is to do!

I might watch more of my Scandi noir series on 4OD this afternoon.

I hope that you are all having a good Monday, whether you are at work, wfh or neither!

sea

I know exactly what you mean about baking. We have also got used to having chocolate cake, cinnamon buns or banana bread available all the time. I must reduce the quantity of baking I'm doing!

sea google hummingbird bakery chocolate chip cookies. They’re to die for.

Or Anzac biscuits.

I love the Gower Sea, I think Oxwich Bay was our favourite beach.

I used to go to Oxwich Bay as a child. Llangland Bay is my favourite as you can find cowrie shells there. My Grandparents lived in Bridgend.

Spoke to my bosses, clear as mud really! They have asked me to trust them. It's not redundancy yet, but might be reduced hours. They need me to stay, but I was the last in, so I think some of the others are voicing that I should be first out. Staff meeting tomorrow afternoon.

I have a wonderful cookie recipe. I'll post it later. Should make some really.

Dd1 just got up!! Oh to be 17. Not that I ever slept till 5!

I went out on my bike yesterday after all. Just 8 miles, very wobbly and out of practice. And let's just say the small kit no longer fits me! What's the equivalent of a mamil? Beached 🐳! I can't grab any bigger either as I sold it all.

Hope everyone has had a good day x

Can they still do last in first out? Thought out had to be performance related now? Dunno though. Acas are pretty good at this stuff and free.
No need to panic yet though

www.gov.uk/redundancy-your-rights/being-selected-for-redundancy
Seems they can but can't discriminate

Oh Lonely... I hope it is a good outcome. If they had nothing substantive to say why did they say anything?

Anzac biccies - family failsafe recipe. It doesn't work if you do metric btw... 4oz of plain flour, 4 oz sugar, 3oz oats, 3oz desiccated coconut - in a large bowl and mixed together. Melt 4 oz of butter (does not work with butter spreads or baking marg) and 2 x granny's spoon full of golden syrup together - granny's spoon = largish table spoon scraped with a finger before the 2nd dip. ( I weighed it once and it was about 80g). Put 1tsp of bicarb in a cup add 1 tablespoon / splash of boiling water and immediately add to the melted butter mix. It froths up so use a large saucepan. Tip into the dry ingredients and mix in. Leave to cool slightly. Roll into walnut sized balls and place well spaced out on a greased baking tray. Bake for about 10 minutes at 160 deg C (fan). Turn them at least once if your oven is uneven at all. They will go from cooked to burnt really quickly because of the sugar content, so keep a close eye on them. They are the bomb.

The boys decided that they wouldn't ride today ….they are going tomorrow instead. DD and I are grumpy b/c we had planned a lovely TV / sofa dinner. grrrrr.

I'm now ordering coconut so I can make Anzac biscuits. You lot are dangerous

Sea the banana loaf I make has no refined sugar in it if that would help ?

It's been a hell of a day. I have an impending migraine and my head feels like it's in a vice.

Lonely I second Life's advice re ACAS

Unescorted top tips - pic of something that makes you smile above or next to the camera on your laptop. Notes/prompts/inspiring quotes behind the laptop where they can't be seen.

I'm now ordering coconut so I can make Anzac biscuits. You lot are dangerous

Sea the banana loaf I make has no refined sugar in it if that would help ?

It's been a hell of a day. I have an impending migraine and my head feels like it's in a vice.

Lonely I second Life's advice re ACAS

Unescorted top tips - pic of something that makes you smile above or next to the camera on your laptop. Notes/prompts/inspiring quotes behind the laptop where they can't be seen.

Wolf thanks. I have the notes on a spreadsheet which I can have on half the screen and they are on the other side just under the camera. I know the interviewers really well - they are my current line manager and one of my really lovely colleagues. They will be shocked to see me out of my PJs....

Ooh thanks, they sound fab! I made some choc cookies today with a rolo squashed into the top of each. They are pretty nice actually, only they spread a lot more than I’d like so next time I’m going to chill them on the baking sheet before baking.

I’ll do Anzac biscuits once those have all gone (not for a few days because the kids are only allowed one or two a day and I’m not eating them.... so it’s a lot of pressure for dh ). They sound ace thanks - and I’ve just topped up my tub of desiccated coconut!

I have a lovely banana loaf recipe Wolf but it does involve refined sugar so I’d be keen to try yours. Im up for anything, healthy or not, but it does take the edge off the guilt occasionally

Em I have that book and think I made those long ago but I had forgotten - I’ll get that book out again! I am really feeling in a very biscuity making mood.

Glad it’s not bad news Lonely, though I know that even reduced hours would make your life very tough. 🤞🏻

Right, tonight I need to hoover downstairs and mop the kitchen /diner /hall. It’s disgusting. If I have the energy I’ll clean the bathroom and downstairs loo too. DM is coming tomorrow

Is this a job interview Unescorted? I missed that!

Thanks for the link life that's the only thing they could get me on. Except I'm the only person in there who knows how to make/mix/use the paint. I think they were trying to tell me it's going to be OK, without actually saying it!

Actually cooked tea tonight, and have 3 packs of leeks (of various age and sliminess-salvaged as much as possible) and a pack of streaky bacon in the slow cooker for turkey pie (last of the Christmas turkey located at the bottom of the freezer).

I'll make some cookies later.

cookieandkate.com/healthy-banana-bread-recipe/. Here you go Sea. I've made it with normal flour and whole wheat and with maple syrup and honey. All work well

Rachael Khoo made jam thumbprint cookies with part rye flour the other day, I'm going to give those a whirl when some more jam arrives. That's something we've had a lot more of in lockdown.

Another fave sea is “iced spiced biscuits” which are a recipe from an usborne cook book I believe.

Spendy

£50 to dsis for ddads birthday gift
£35 for flowers for dparents wedding anniversary
£42 (!?!?) on a huge pink soft jellycat bunny for dds birthday (for ds to give her) I honestly had no idea how much it was. But loved it and know Dd will too.

Oh and £2.40 on a coffee!

Payday tomorrow so cleared out my bank accounts to my savings and will start afresh tomorrow.

Dinner with Dparents as ddads birthday. Lasagne cake (Colin!) and champagne. Both babies in bed now.

Dsis gave me some of her end of term gifts - a huge basket of bath bombs. She has super sensitive skin so would make her eczema flare up if she used them.

Drums neighbour came over and gave both me and dsis a huge bunch of fresh lavender each. I’ve put sprigs in all bedrooms and also bathrooms and kitchen. So lovely smelling.

I've been awake since before 3. Way too much going on in my brain.

Oh wolf any chance of a nap today? You must be exhausted already!

Payday! Wahoooo! Accounts are looking a bit healthier now.

£267 and £50 in my acs after money has gone to savings/joint ac as applicable.

Today’s payday treat - a naice coffee from coffee shop near nursery.

Once upon a time a payday treat would have been a new handbag. Or a pair of shoes. Or a spendy mascara or something.

Oh dear wolf. Try for an early night today.

Spend here yesterday £74 riding shops, loads of fuel used in the car will need to fill up today.
Also need fruit today

Apparently the Sainsbury's 25% off is 11 August

That's so stressful Lonely but it looks like they are trying to avoid redundancy. Fingers crossed.

Not sleeping is the pits Wolf, I hope your day is kind to you and that you can catch up tonight.

Hope everything goes ok today Lonely.

Wolf, could you brain dump everything onto paper, it might help for a more restful sleep later. Do hope you can get a nap in too.

Morning everyone.

I'm at the counsellor for 12. I'll have the ear chewed off her .

I'm taking a day off tomorrow to bring DD and her pals to the beach. It's supposed to be dry but cloudy. Oh well, at least I won't have to worry about them all getting sunburnt! I'll bring a picnic and buy us all ice creams. Pity my picnic basket hasn't arrived yet. I got a new flask and cool bottle recently, so I'll get to christen them.

We've booked a girlie weekend away (my sisters and my SIL) to celebrate SIL's 50th birthday. We're staying in Sligo - west coast of Ireland. I haven't visited Sligo much so I don't know much about it, other than the area is very much associated with the poet W.B. Yeats. In fact, our hotel is the Yeats County Inn Hotel. It will be nice to explore somewhere new.

I did an early morning catch up.

Sayaka good work on stockpiling the rhubarb

Happier that burn sounds nasty but at least you didn't have to pay for the treatment. Can't believe Trocaire now take payments via tap .

Girlie sorry the doctor wasn't much help.

Snuggly glad school's out and you can enjoy the break. Not that it will be much of a break running around after three small kids. But at least you can just focus on them and not teaching as well.

Lonely fingers crossed for this afternoon. If your hours are cut, would you qualify for some/more benefits? Or make and sell more crafty things? It's such a worry.

Curvy sorry to hear about your mum's cousin. Fingers crossed for your uncle. Glad you managed to sort out new accommodation for your holiday. Is it a seaside resort or a holiday in the countryside? You're such a mean mum making your DC wash all the glasses they've used . Hope your DD feels better soon.

em the brunch with your friends sounded lovely. DS seems to be flying it with the toilet training. I can't believe DD is turning one! Remember all your angst over a possible pregnancy? Enjoy the lavender sprigs - I love that scent.

Unescorted best wishes to the boys (your DH and DS?) for their epic cycle. I'm assuming you live somewhere in England. Cape Wrath sounds very American - I had to look it up also.

Seacow sorry the beach trip didn't work out as planned. It's a shame when you try so hard to find activities to suit DS, but then it ends up stressing him out for one reason or another. Big hugs - you're a great mum! Sounds like you've been busy cooking and baking. You got a great reduction on the house insurance.

mummy good work on the sofa sale. The George pig wellies sound so cute.

Wolf big hugs to you too. You must feel like a zombie.

Hello again everyone, hope you're doing OK.

wolf lack of sleep is just the worst. I hope you've managed a nap today.

tayto your weekend by the coast sounds lovely!

I had some very good news yesterday. I had a phone call from the airline I had booked my holiday with (to SE Asia in August) and they have allowed me to cancel and I'll be getting a full refund! I wasn't expecting it at all and it's such a relief. It's a couple of thousand pounds so it will make a big difference to me.

Having another nsd today. I've made bread, done an online aerobics class and some more of my duolingo language course. Feeling much more positive after my news yesterday.