It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

anguk

nannaC wrote: »

Appologies if this has been posted but before I forget have just peeked on the grabbit board and many thanks to loopy_lass for posting that Asda have rolled back Stardrops to 40p. Whew have now settled down with a cup of tea and a slice of homemade French fancy [that gooey sticky sickly fondant ice/buttercream covered sponge that is sooooooooooooo moorish] will now catch up on all your posts. Love and hugs nannaC

Oh nannaC can I have your recipe for French Fancy please? I love them but refuse to pay the shop price, I tried to make my own but I just can't get the fondant icing right.

frosty

nannaC wrote: »

Appologies if this has been posted but before I forget have just peeked on the grabbit board and many thanks to loopy_lass for posting that Asda have rolled back Stardrops to 40p.

Hi,I went to Asda to buy some stardrops today and was amazed to see it at 20p a bottle,so I stocked up.

thenanny2die4

Ooh, all these cheap bottles of Stardrops. I'm so jealous. Are these the old bottles that the shops are clearing, do you think? The bottle I bought this week in Morrison's was 70-something-pence but the size has gone up to 1litre from 600ml.

wigglebeena

They're probably discontinuing it. And I've not tried it yet!

cw18

More likely rebranding -- didn't I read something a few weeks back that the company that makes it had been taken over by someone else

mummysaver

Just back from a trip to the garden centre - girls wanted to watch the crafting demos they were doing. Anyway I had a browse around the cheap book section and found a fab book, School Dinners by Becky Thorn, reduced to £2.99. It basically does what it says, the recipes are simple and probably mostly what I feed my lot anyway, but the little intros to each of the recipes are so funny. She grew up in the 70s, and so many of the comments sound like the ones made on here. If you see it or your local library has it in then it's well worth a browse, simply for the comments, they've really made me smile! Don't yet know what the recipes will be like, but they look pretty straightforward, and I shall be trying out several of the old school puds - butterscotch tart anyone?!

BB1984

I'm so excited! My aunt came to visit this morning, having previously been at my Nan's. Well, I'd mentioned to my Nan a while back that I wanted to learn how to sew, and she's given me her sewing machine!
It's a Riccar, don't know if that's good, bad or indifferent, but to be fair it prob won't make much difference to my poor skills...! I just got it out and was raring to give it a try, but haven't got any thread I found a video online showing how to thread it up, so hopefully it won't be too difficult.... Where's best to find thread?
I want to take up some too-long curtains, but I suppose I should practice before ruining a perfectly good pair...

My aunt spotted my list of all the things I've got in the freezer - about 50 individually portioned meals - she was very impressed by my "home-maker" skills (said she never thought I was the type......!)

BB

oystercatcher

BB1984 wrote: »

I'm so excited! My aunt came to visit this morning, having previously been at my Nan's. Well, I'd mentioned to my Nan a while back that I wanted to learn how to sew, and she's given me her sewing machine!
It's a Riccar, don't know if that's good, bad or indifferent, but to be fair it prob won't make much difference to my poor skills...! I just got it out and was raring to give it a try, but haven't got any thread I found a video online showing how to thread it up, so hopefully it won't be too difficult.... Where's best to find thread?
I want to take up some too-long curtains, but I suppose I should practice before ruining a perfectly good pair...

My aunt spotted my list of all the things I've got in the freezer - about 50 individually portioned meals - she was very impressed by my "home-maker" skills (said she never thought I was the type......!)

BB

Don't want to dampen your enthusiasm but personally I'd shorten curtains by hand as you'll get a nicer more invisible finish.

Enjoy the machine though. I've still got the one I was given for my 14th birthday ...um...33 years ago !! It was second hand then but still gives jolly good service for my very basic needs!

Oystercatcher

Charis

BB1984 wrote: »

I'd mentioned to my Nan a while back that I wanted to learn how to sew, and she's given me her sewing machine!
It's a Riccar, don't know if that's good, bad or indifferent, but to be fair it prob won't make much difference to my poor skills...!

BB1984, you will find a lot of advice on this thread http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=683165

There are a lot of experienced needlewomen on there who are glad to give advice. Start with something simple and build up your skills. On the thread there is advice on what to start with, which books are worth looking at for new techniques, where to get fabrics, advice about ordering online...anything and everything really.

It's a very useful money saving skill to have, so good luck and I hope you enjoy it.

mumoftwo

Thanks for the stardrops tip, went to Asda and saw them reduced from 40p to 20p. Bought 5 bottles, but thinking of getting some more tomorrow.