Safely into a frugal September saving as we go...

[northender]

New thread. Thought I needed to get back on track.

You’d be ok here too em as long as the trousers were trousers not jeans

Although someone did comment on how bright the boss’ clothes were yesterday! But more because you needed 😎 rather than it breached the dress code

Not jeans. 😀.

I love them!!! This will be the first time I’ve worn them. I bought them last year while preggo with dd. And this is the first chance I’ve had to wear them. Yay.

They are fine

Morning everyone 😀
Off to MumBobs now 😄
Just popped up to check on house,feed the birds and spray weedkiller on the weeds.
Should be a NSD today with a bit o lord CK 😁
Weather is beautiful 🤩
Have a lovely day everyone 😀

Like be the mistardio jeans Em 🤗

Oh Love, that really is bad luck. With your DC you are already 4 people, right? That doesn’t really
Leave much!

Would you consider relocating the reception to a place where you could have more people (I think the rules are still different in covid-managed venues, is that right?). But cost, hassle.. assuming you can even find somewhere!

I was worried that I wouldn’t like M&S at Ocado. Unfortunately I like it rather too much, it seems

Wolf I'm probably not the right person to reply to the pack lunch query but if I had a teen son I would think a couple of rounds of sandwiches with a protein type filling (meat or eggs) plus bananas/flapjack/crisps.

Having done a lot of reading around what teens need food wise which has been an eye opener. Most teens need a 1000 more calories a day than an adult 😮 this is due to brain development and bone growth. So a typical teen needs at least 3000 calories a day. My dd needs closer to 4000 calories as she has to regain all the weight she lost, I would say on a good day she manages 2500 😕 she was weighed earlier this week and has gained a small amount which is better than nothing but still a long way to go.

I also hasn't realised how losing weight has such a dramatic effect on the brain, it can completely change size and shape especially in children and teens!

Anyway we're plodding on here, dd seems to be enjoying school for now which is good.

My bank account is looking very sad due to too many spends on dd, the garden and random stuff. Am reigning it back in now.

Have started clearing the living room with the plan to decorate it ASAP. I will use some savings for paint supplies, Wolf I know you've recently decorated, what colours have you gone for? I having a large(ish) living room/dining room and am thinking I might do one wall a green colour and possibly a blush pink on the other walls.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-meeting-with-others-safely-social-distancing/coronavirus-covid-19-meeting-with-others-safely-social-distancing

@Lovemaltesers

wolf I just send him in with a sandwich and a bag of crisps. He likes simple sandwiches so this week it is ham. He has a couple of rounds of toast for breakfast and grazes between getting home and dinner (our main meal). It is generally healthier than that sounds.

em that outfit would be fine at ours. We have gone from being suited and booted to wear what you like but make sure it is not too scruffy unless you are at home and then make sure it is decent. For most internal meetings people are in their jim jams or garden scruffs.

DD has got her room allocation - she has been given the best in the bubble so it has already been designated party room. It also happens to be right next door to the gate that is a 30second walk to the studios. They are working out how to manage cooking and eating together.... I suspect the next few weeks are going to be expensive, although my brother is already putting together a kitchen kit for her. You can tell she is the first of this generation to go to uni. In a nice aside - her cousin is going to Oxf Brookes so they will be able to meet up.

In theory I could see if the wedding venue would let us stay for reception but that would be £2k. This doesn’t include food so then booking external caterers so minimum £65 (at least) per head. But it really does seem like a lot of hassle, not necessarily choosing things the way you’d want relative to cost and we can’t take time off to sort it next week.

I don’t really fancy going to a restaurant where other people will gawp at us in wedding dress or get to listen in to speeches etc. I liked the privacy of keeping my mum away from the general public as she comments on people sat nearby and I hate going out with her 😂

Girlie l didn't realise the Teens needed quite a much as that l knew they needed more but not that much. Good news re your Dd and her school . Your colours seem to be the trend of the moment

Good news on the weight gain girlie. Baby steps. Do you feel you are getting to the root of it?
unescorted how organised your Dd and her flat mates sound! I love the idea of the kitchen kit from your brother. When my godson went to uni last year I bought him a student cookbook and a mug as the book used a mug for all measurements rather than scales. No idea whether he used it, but it felt like a good pressie.
Em the trousers look good. I'm so glad I have a uniform.
Day off here today although I have been on the laptop as things are so hectic at work. Ds failed his driving test this morning. Perfect all the way through & then a mistake at the end. I've lost count of the number of times I've said he'll come through this stronger, it feels like school of hard knocks on steroids! I felt quite down, but managed to drag myself to the gym & enjoyed it.
Have done well this week with the meal planning and reckon I can do next week on the relative cheap too. Tomorrow won't be frugal though. Dh & I both have an annual leave day & are going for lunch at our favourite cafe which is closing soon. Then at night out for tea with friends who are bringing their Dd up to uni here from Somerset.

Girlie good grief I never realised they needed so many calories either. Great news on dd gaining a little weight.

Colours wise I'm all shades of white - frosted dawn in the living room, office and attic and the hall is going to be absolute white (dulux nothing posh). I know Life has recently painted a wall a lovely green shade though.

Very long day here and ds has come home and thrown things and carried on despite having three hours to chill with dgps first. So I'm now having anxiety related chest pain and am going to cancel virtual drinks with friends this evening because I just don't feel up to it anymore.

Ah North poor ds, how has he taken it?

Or poor ds North. Infailed first time around, it is disappointing.

Girlie thatbis a heck of a lot of calories for teenagers! Our lot already eat us out of house and home and they are all under 7! How on earth will we feed 3 teenagers???

Ahh North your poor Ds, it's so hard to pass first time, so stressful, my Dd1 took 4 tests in all. She made silly mistakes , changing lanes on a roundabout during the test
l didn't believe her when she came in and said she had passed
All the best for him for next time

Me NSD

DH £30-ish Pizza Hut, we brought almost a whole pizza home.

Oh north poor ds. I failed twice. Rolled back down a hill in hill start bit and argued with the examiner about whether I made the right decision on a roundabout. He won. (In my defense he said to take the first available exit). I took the second as first exit was a closed road. So technically I did what was asked....

North I failed first time - almost back at the test centre and then nearly caused a major accident. Not my proudest moment. Since then I have only had one parking ticket and a slightly dented bumper (car vs fence post). 2nd timers are the best...

Ds is currently destroying the house. I cannot cope with this shit today

@ememem84

Oh north poor ds. I failed twice. Rolled back down a hill in hill start bit and argued with the examiner about whether I made the right decision on a roundabout. He won. (In my defense he said to take the first available exit). I took the second as first exit was a closed road. So technically I did what was asked....

Surely you would have also failed if you had driven down a closed road though? That sounds like a lose-lose situation. I am quite annoyed on your behalf!!

As well as damaging the paintwork in the hall with huge black marks and destroying loads of his belongings ds has also ripped in half an entire albums worth of precious photos of him and my parents. I am devestated

Wolf - I don't know what to say.

Bloody hell wolf thats awful, he sounds so angry. Is he getting any help with managing his emotions? Are the school any use?

Being a mum is shit sometimes 🍷