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Frugaleer Festive Fun

987 replies

Unescorted · 05/12/2020 15:21

I went to post and realised we had nearly run out of room.

old thread here

Bring the sparkle on....

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ememem84 · 28/12/2020 15:03

@Taytocrisps oh god the life admin. It’s never ending.

I need to make a list too actually.

As of January were embarking on our renovation project. Being downstairs in our house.

Unescorted · 28/12/2020 16:30

Life that is good news! I stress each time I get a sniffle at the moment.

Wolf the meet up in the YSP is a fantastic idea.

tayto life admin sucks. My new years resolution is just do it.... what ever it is, doesn't matter how crap I am at doing what ever it is I am just going to give it a whirl if it tickles me or needs doing.

Today I have been practicing embroidery... including a sort of needle painting. DD now wants me to render her drawings into stitches.... she is going to draw the outlines for me. I think she is hoping to then put them in perspex layered with the drawings and the digital images....

I have also stripped the wallpaper off DS' room. Tomorrow is plaster and sugar soap...

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Wolfcub · 28/12/2020 18:29

Tayto you've reminded me I need to write back to solicitor and decide whether to cancel holiday - they are on my early January to do list

I got very irritated on our walk today, no one with any sense, no one giving anyone else space. I may have sworn under my breath at one group of five adults who took up the whole width of the path refusing to pull in and forcing us into the mud before they walked right into us. Morons, no wonder the covid rate is so high

Unescorted · 28/12/2020 18:41

wolf it is frustrating isn't it. It is really busy here too - I think that there are people who are getting their last walks in before they have to stay at home. At least I can roll out of bed and have a bimble.... maybe not until the days get longer but that is sooner than most of our visitors. I am not so forgiving of our local MP who travelled up from London on the day T4 was announced (he tells us he did not know - like yeah mate.....) and has been out and about being "local" having been parachuted in from a London councillor seat. I am not a fan......

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Mrsmadevans · 28/12/2020 19:34

@ememem84

£35 for the privilege of riding the pony in the bucketing rain. I swear I’ve never been so wet I. My life!

I’m now watching the real housewives of jersey. God help us.

Do you know any of them Em
Mrsmadevans · 28/12/2020 19:35

Spent £40 on a lightening deal of a dvd player for Mum for her birthday. She's 89 on Feb 2nd so l thought give it her now 🤗

ememem84 · 28/12/2020 20:09

mrs no. Although one of them (kate) seems to think everyone knows her.

The island looks beautiful though. They certainly had some fab days for filming.

SnugglySnerd · 28/12/2020 20:23

We had a tiny bit of snow today! Enough to look pretty and make the dcs excited but not really enough to play in. We managed a snowy walk and a few snowballs.
I have officially eaten too much now. Especially cheese and chocolate. I have started looking through all my cook books for some healthy inspiration!

ememem84 · 28/12/2020 21:26

@SnugglySnerd me toooo!! We left dms house on Boxing Day with a bag for life full of takeaway boxes of leftovers. Cheese. Puddings. Meats. Stuffing. Pigs in blankets. Cous cous. Slaw. no smoked salmon though

Slowly working our way through it. Tonight’s dinner was pasta bake with a ton Of veggies. Then after kiddos went to sleep dh and I had chocolate rum torte. Which Dm made. Yummmmm.

maddenlightfoot · 28/12/2020 22:31

I was heard to declare tonight, 'I think I've reached my peak festive fatness'... (20 mins later)... 'ooh, Aftereights!''

I've just signed up to the budget tool, Emma. Does anyone use it? Should I go beyond the 7 day trial? I'm terrible at budgeting and she's already told me I've spent hideous amounts at Greggs this month - will it become a love/hate relationship? (Love Greggs / Hate Emma?)

northender · 28/12/2020 22:38

Sculpture Park has been on my to visit list for ages now. Yes to a frugal meet up! I'm also looking forward to visiting the new RHS garden in Salford. Hoping mum will let me take her with RHS membership I got her for Christmas.

Mrsmadevans · 28/12/2020 22:49

Em l agree the island looks so beautiful ❤️

Unescorted · 28/12/2020 22:55

north RHS Salford is on my list too.

em we had a sad lack of smoked salmon too. I might order some from the Torridon Smokehouse - we camped up there one year and stopped by for of the best oak smoked salmon ever. She does mail order so if you love smoked salmon it is worth ordering. Warning - not frugal.

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SnugglySnerd · 28/12/2020 23:07

I'd love to go.tonthe Yorkshire Sculpture Park. is quite far from us though.

Have restrained from opening another box of chocolates tonight and only had one beer. Feel slightly less stuffed now!

lifelongfrugaleer · 29/12/2020 07:09

I didn't sleep well at all due to sheer gluttony yesterday. And back to work feeling for today

northender · 29/12/2020 07:36

Back to work today & not feeling it.
Tayto I run a list like that all the time, it really helps keep focus on what needs to be done. I rewrite it regularly so that things don't get lost .
I've never been to Beamish, but dm has been a couple of times and loved it. I remember hearing about something similar in Yorkshire but based on an existing French place in the Vendee I think.
The JO turkey & ham pie on Sunday was lovely, made my own rough puff pastry too. Last night was turkey fajitas, tonight a curry & that should be all the turkey used.
We are planning to do cocktails and canapés for NYE. Just the four of us, but thought we needed to make an effort.
Went on estuary/coast walk yesterday. Managed to get there earlyish, before half the county descended
No spends since Christmas Eve. Need a small top up today.

Wolfcub · 29/12/2020 09:21

RHS Salford is also on my list. I was booked to go for opening week but it's been delayed

We have snow l!

Need to help dm with some stuff later

Might make a cauli curry for tea as a break from cheese

Gensola · 29/12/2020 09:22

@Unescorted the Burren smokehouse in Ireland also does the most incredible smoked salmon I’ve ever eaten and does mail order too. It is honestly so delicious but £££. Also not sure they can post to us now because of Brexit.

I’ve made a meal plan and got a friend to drop off shopping, she couldn’t get everything and is insisting on going back today to get the few bits she missed. COVID test at 1030 - not looking forward to it, I had to have one before IVF and it was horrible!

Plans for today - mega laundry loads which have built up somehow despite lack of Christmas parties/adventures. Sort out boxes under bed and clear wardrobe (I always do this around NY).
French homework - I’ve signed up for the C1 French exam in June so need to get from rusty GCSE to fluent in that time Grin this is so I can talk to MIL she can’t ignore me and pretend not to understand me

ememem84 · 29/12/2020 09:24

@Unescorted

north RHS Salford is on my list too.

em we had a sad lack of smoked salmon too. I might order some from the Torridon Smokehouse - we camped up there one year and stopped by for of the best oak smoked salmon ever. She does mail order so if you love smoked salmon it is worth ordering. Warning - not frugal.

ah we had smoked salmon. but dm didnt put any in my leftovers bag. selfish keeping it all for herself

i'm not even going to google torridon smokehouse. i doubt the fish would travel well anyway....

Unescorted · 29/12/2020 09:36

Gen thanks for the heads up. I will give them a try.

Wolf, North and anyone else... it sounds as if we have a post COVID meet up party list to do there.

Hugs out to those who have to go back to work today.

I was going to go up to the foodbank - but I am snowed. Which is very pretty & pleased for DD who missed teh last lot of snow.

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Girliefriendlikespuppies · 29/12/2020 10:04

Hi all hope everyone is well? See you're all enjoying the post Christmas left overs!! I love left overs, we've still got a fair amount of turkey to get through!

Things here are still tricky with dd, going to speak to Camhs tomorrow as feel we need more support. Have had a couple of low days about it but know I need to put my big girl pants on and gear up for the upcoming battles. At the moment everything is okay ish but the ED/anorexia is like a sleeping bear and it only really kicks off when you start prodding it!!

I spent £140 on a coat in the Joules sale 😬 it's not arrived yet but looked good on the website. My old coat had broken and I need something warm, comfy and waterproof for all the dog walks we do.

Have also spent a bit on my mums upcoming 70th bday. Need to make her a cake and am seriously lacking in inspiration 😕 might go to Hobby Craft to see if they have some cake toppers.

Unescorted · 29/12/2020 10:17

girlie I think of all the scary things that happen to kids as they grow up ED / anorexia was the one that scared me the most. I am not sure I have the parenting tools to cope with it. I admire your calm approach.

em if we had had smoked salmon there would not have been any left over....

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ememem84 · 29/12/2020 10:23

ooh Girlie which coat?

i bought a yellow rain coat from Joules last year in the sale. i'd been lusting after it for ages and it was reduced to £65 i think from about £130. i love it. must not check out joules sale as don't need anything

i'm wfh today and dh is also home but not working. he's tidying the house. however, so far everything has come out of the kitchen, and he has now started on the bedroom. what usually happens when he declutters/tidies is that he moves things out of cupboards and dumps them on the dining table.

he's got annoyed with me so far because i've dared to venture into the kitchen to get a cup of tea. apparently i should be working and not interrupting him.

he also needs ibruprofen as his back is killing him. and keeps asking me when i'm going to the shop. ive said i'll go when i take a lunch break. but have also suggested if he needs to go sooner he can get me the things i need too. funnily enough, he doesn't want to go to the shop and queue....neither do i really but no real other option here

Taytocrisps · 29/12/2020 11:50

LSD so far - approx. €4 for bread.

I went to put air in my tyres yesterday and it turned into a complete fiasco. My local garage is tiny and someone always parks in such a way that they're blocking access to the pump. So I usually drive to the nearest town to do it. Sure enough, there was a big white van blocking access to the pump at my local garage. So I drove to the nearest town. The first garage just had a basic pump - no display for showing or setting the PSI. So I drove to another garage a bit outside the town. A nice big garage with a pump and display. What could possibly go wrong? I proceeded to unscrew the tyre caps and place them carefully in a pocket in my handbag. The last cap was really tight and I struggled to unscrew it. In the struggle, my handbag somehow tipped upside down and my wallet and face mask fell into a puddle beside the car! After a lot of swearing, I retrieved the items and proceeded to inflate the tyres. Opened my handbag and discovered I only had three caps - the last one was missing. I checked all around the car and even got on my hands and knees (on the damp, muddy ground) in case it had rolled under the car, but no sign of it. I got into the car and took a deep breath and found it in the bottom of my handbag. I have resolved to buy a tyre inflator in Halfords!

In other news, I've been mainlining crackers with Port Salut cheese and Ferrero Rocher. And watching lots of movies and reading lots. Last night I watched 'Planes, Trains and Automobiles' with DD. I'd recorded it off the TV and DD (Generation Netflix) was complaining 'cos we had to fast forward the ads. I told her she was lucky we had the option of fast forwarding the ads and in my day you had to sit through them Grin. Today I'm recording 'Emma' on BBCTwo and I'll watch it tonight. No ads 'cos its on BBC Smile.

A lovely day here today - sunny and not too cold.

I asked DD for a starter cross stitch kit for Christmas. She got me an embroidery kit instead. I'm not sure if I'll be able for it - I did a tiny bit of embroidery in primary school but that was a lonnnng time ago. I didn't say anything though as I didn't want to hurt her feelings.

life so pleased your test is negative.

madden your love/hate relationship with Emma made me laugh.

Another mention for The Burren smoked salmon. It's fab. I visited the smokehouse there a few years ago but it never occurred to me to order from them. I just checked their website and it's €13.50 for 180g Shock. By comparison, Nolan's smoked salmon in Tesco is currently €5 (normal price is €6.80) for 170g. I know the one from The Burren is organic so you're not comparing like for like. But even so, it's very expensive. Maybe next year for a Christmas treat...... I did order some tins of sardine pate and we're working our way through them. I've been really missing sardine pate since our holiday in Portugal in 2019.

Good luck to everyone who is back to work today.

Girlie I'm sorry DD (and by extension, you) is still struggling with the eating disorder. I really wish there was something I could do to help. Sending you virtual hugs and Flowers seems so inadequate.

ememem84 · 29/12/2020 13:23

I went to the shop.

Dh is making frittata. My lunch officially ends in 8 minutes.

In my hour break I’ve folded and put laundry away. Been to the shop. Thrown more laundry in the machine.