Monday 19th January

Money_saving_Diva_2

Afternoon friends,

Started reading the thread this morning but it's now afternoon!

Aussie and Marie - really glad to hear Benny and Luca are both feeling better
daisychain - did you find any bargains at the bootsale?
VickyA - so so sorry to hear about your dog *hugs*, I know how painful it is.
Special hugs to PenPin and Smokey
Sybil - hugs to you honey - I have a difficult relationship with my mum too so I do understand.
Hilstep - It isn't too much to ask - you deserve the security and he DID propose, so he needs to get his ar*e in gear and sort out the divorce.:rotfl:
laineyc and all other newbies I might have missed - Good to have you all with us!
Sistercas - recipe to follow hon..

I read the article everyone mentioned yesterday and have to say we stopped buying value meat quite a while ago as the texture and flavour seemed so dodgy compared with 'normal' and after reading Jays article, I can see why.

I am really cold today - didn't sleep too well but the home help comes quite early today so I have to be up and around. Treacle is asleep on the desk next to me with her head on the keyboard, so I had to turn 'num lock' off or I wouldn't be able to type anything! Been 8 days since her last seizure, so really pleased.

BM is on - we spoiled ourselves with a cheese and onion bread mix so can't wait to taste that. Dinner tonight will be pork stir fry with the left over meat from the joint. Well, that is my plan, though my OH was muttering something about wanting roast potatoes again today, so we will see.
I hope you all have a good day - warm to everyone who wants one today and to all those under the weather!

Diva.x

mummysaver

Good afternoon!

Almo - join in and comment and post away about others if you feel like it, but don't feel you have to, some of us (okay me!) twitter on and others keep it brief! My vote would be for silversmithing, you could make your own jewellery and everyone's pressies then!

Tru - we made stars from twigs at the flower arranging evening I went to, just formed them into two triangles, bound together with coloured wire, with about an inch of twig overlapping at each corner, each twig was about 12 inches, then laid one triangle over another and used more wire to bind them together. They looked really effective, I hung a couple of pieces of dried orange and some cinnamon sticks in the hole in the middle. They were sort of Shaker-ish, really nice though.

Hilstep - all I can suggest is ask him? Being left in a sort of limbo feels horrid, but perhaps he doesn't realise that you feel like this? Hope your stairlift gets installed soon x

Thriftlady - turn it off, I do, my dd1 is a pain for getting the school to phone, last time I told a white lie, said I was two hours away! Amazingly she recovered enough to go back and join her lessons! Ooh, just read further on, hope she recovers soon!

Celyn - it's not your fault, as for prolonging things, hmm, now is the time to be really careful that you don't get lumped with all the costs! Good luck with your calculations - the work ones I mean!

Well the bm seems to be doing overtime at the mo, yet nobody ever appears to be eating all the bread! Anyway it's on at the mo with dough for rolls for school tomorrow. No yoghurt needed today, made so much at the weekend! Washing almost up to date, ironing done, yippee! Kitchen swished and swiped, sc full of cottage pie ingredients, dehydrator has what were some sad looking apples sliced and drying now! Dog walked and lunch eaten (beans, mushroom and egg on toast, yum!).

Lunch for kids was hm rolls with marmite, raisins, apple, hm yoghurt with hm apricot and strawberry jam, hm choc chip tray bake.

Dinner will be cottage pie - only realised after throwing everything in the sc that it'll make enough for three, so must do a bit of freezer rearranging! Still extra meals at the ready for future meal plans!

Not much else happening here today, going to have a lazy afternoon listening to the radio, surfing and doing a bit more garden planning. Also need to sort out my hair, it looks quite frightening at the moment, must find my straighteners in dd1's room - wish me luck!

Hugs to all in need xx

Edit:

LaineyC - welcome! OS is great for making you feel organised, the people here are fab at cheering you on and encouraging you.

Sybil - sometimes relatives can be very hard to love, or even like much, I know exactly how you feel, my family are very difficult! Good luck with the listings x

Specs - congratulations on the job, well done you! I get excited about the new Argos catalogue too - I really really need to get out more!

hilstep2000

Hi all,
Thanks for all the comments and advice, much appreciated:T
Got the bank to sort it out. Very nice lady called Cathy, could see it wasn't DD's fault, but theirs.
Anyway, all written off, and now definately closed account!:rotfl: All because someone didn't do their job properly.

mioliere

Hi all and welcome to LaineyC - you'll enjoy it here and pick up lots of OS tips and advice.

Hi To Garden Millie, too. I'm not sure if you've posted on here before, but welcome to you.

Specsappeal - congratulations on the job!

Blairweech - well done on facing your fears at the dentist.

Halight - how ridiculous that you have to be on the dole for six months before you can have any training! If you're keen to train now, you should be allowed to. Good luck with everything.

I've done all my chores, apart from starting the stew off this afternoon (oh, and the ironing which keeps trying to catch my eye), and I've been shopping. I can't find a pressie I had put by for DGD's birthday this week, so it will have to do for next year - if I ever find it. She loves animals so I bought her a lovely book about wild mammals in our half-price bookshop. I popped into Sainsbury's to get some of their basics choccie - I didn't know they did white choccie, so I bought some for DH because it's his favourite kind. I hope it tastes OK. The milk chocolate one tastes good, especially for 27p a bar. I also bought some Christmas cards in there for 10p a packet of 10; not much to choose from but a great price, and I also bought a really good project folder for £1.23, which will be ideal for keeping my Christmas and birthday presents and cards lists in. It's something I've been looking for for ages; not OS really but will save me aggro and time, so not so bad!

Well, I just have to decide what to have for lunch; probably a cheese and tomato sandwich and some flapjack.

(((Hugs))) to all.

KathyXX

Edited to say well done, Hilstep and DD - a good result with the bank, but how typical that they got it wrong in the first place!

justpeyton4now

Good afternoon dear friends. It's a cold, windy and wet day here. Even furchild Bree isn't keen on going out and she loves her walks. As for me, I'd be happy to crawl under a blanket with a cuppa and a book today. Perhaps later on.

Have the week's meal plan finalized. Tea for tonight will be hotdogs, chips, a green veg and pickled beetroot. Not the healthiest but easy which sounds good today.

Dishes are done and put away and kitchen cleaned from top to bottom. Flat is tidied and just need to do the hoovering as far as cleaning goes today. Was going to handwash a few items today but will put off until tomorrow hoping for drier weather.

OS, just a wee bit of ironing to do this afternoon. Going to get my bread dough made for baking tomorrow. DH apparently really does like HM bread at the rate that it's going. Will make a tray of brownies or something easy for afters. I "saved" DH by eating the rest of the bread and butter pudding I made for last night. It was a bit dry and I certainly don't want him to have to suffer through it again tonight. :rotfl:

Brain is on extra slow today so a big welcome to those who are new. You won't feel new for long as the lovely people here will have you feeling like you've known them for all your life.

Lots and lots of hugs to those who want and/or need them today. And thanks for the hugs from all. They surely felt wonderful. :grouphug:

Peyton xxx

wannabe_sybil

Also

Celyn - keep that foot put down ! Weigh it down with a brick ! Do not let it up !

Have listed six things. Hmm. What is a zillion minus 6?

Don't know how little bear is sleeping. Normally I am aware of all his little sighs and singing, but the building site is making too much noise. The dust is also giving me sneezes. I am sure he is asleep, but how asleep? All mums know this question. It means, do I have time for a sandwich before he wakes up?

And I have to go to the Post Office, and it is raining. And little bear does not approve of rain, he thinks it is wrong! But he does like splashing in puddles with his new wellies, so I may get to the Post Office, which is very very near, but with a very muddy little bear.

Hugs to all.

mummysaver

Sybil - I have a lovely vision of your LB in wellies, a duffle coat and a big black felt hat a la Paddington! Have you tried waterproof trousers and a big but thin waterproof jacket - I used to put the trousers on over the wellies so the drips didn't collect in them, and the coat over the kids proper coats. Now I struggle to get the three big ones wearing coats at all, though dd1 did take her brolly this morning, that was more to do with the fact she'd spent ages doing her hair I think!

Well I've just remembered to throw the dough into the moski so the rolls get a second rising, I feel like I live on a timetable of cooking sometimes!

purpleivy

Weather is poo here today as well. Fortunately didn't start till we were back in the car on the way home..apart from the last stop.

Been an expensive day so far, ds needs kit for D of Ed. Well he needs a good waterproof anyway, just for general use, boat trip at Easter, camping, school. ALso got waterproof trousers, microfleece and breathable t-shirt, which will be useful. All good quality. All from the sale rail, so was £143 instead of £200. All have plenty of growing room. It's much easier to get sale items in good quality now that he can just about get away with small adult size. Everything a bit long, as he's rather short!

Food wise good so far. We need to buy bananas. Mr M also have half price branded beans advertised, so here's hoping they have some in. Mince in gravy from the freezer along with skanky veg (won't look skanky by the time I've done with it!) to accompany.

salad trays in the fridge need a good wipe out as well.

SAD is getting me down rather, off work today and tomorrow, seeing doc on Friday.

katholicos

redruby wrote: »

katholicos, a huge thank you to you, :T the book which you kindly sent has just arrived, will sit down this afternoon and start it, will post mine as soon as mum has finished it, thank you .

Well I have two loads of washing on the airer in the conservatory with the door open, so its getting a bit of air, have emptied the dw, and reloaded with breakfast things, hoovered through, mopped floors, just waiting for the floor to dry and will then make some soup, think I might try roasted onion and garlic. Also got some cookies to make and the potatoes and veg to prep for tonight.

I have put the stewing steak in the sc with a bottle of guinness, a large glass of red, 3 small onions, a spoonfull of horseradish, mustard, and a large splash of worstershire sauce, smells lovely, I will thicken it later with gravy granuals and top with some hm puff pastry which I had in the freezer. I was going to do mash but dd said she is fed up with that so will cube some spuds and roast them with garlic and olive oil :drool:

Well floor is probably dry so onwards.

Hugs to Hilstep and Celyn xx

You are very welcome RedRuby and remember what i said, there is no rush at all for you to send that other book to me, I am so pleased we got to swap with eachother and am delighted that there is such a lovely, friendly group of people posting on the OSboard.

Quick update on my earlier post: I made the pizza (will cook this for tea tonight) and the hobnobs (YUM!) and then i made dropped scones for the first time in years (YUM!).

It was snowing like a blizzard when i just dropped my daughter off for her Geography exam, but wouldn't you know it, as soon as i got back home it stopped!

Typical

Bargain_Rzl

Afternoon all,

I had a busy weekend - got up early on Saturday morning to go and queue for a day-ticket at the Royal Opera House (they sell them at 10am for that evening's performance). It was quite busy as the performance had sold out other than the day tickets. Managed to get myself a standing-room ticket with a really good view for £12.50, and the show was fantastic.

It took some effort to get out of bed that morning what with the rain battering on the window (at least the place where you queue for tickets is undercover!) And of course today was more of the same weather-wise, plus I had the bedroom telly on and saw the BBC news item about it being the most depressing day of the year :rolleyes:

Once I did manage to drag myself out of bed and into the shower, I felt fully human again and am in a really positive frame of mind today :j

Just had a portion of delicious Kashmiri chicken curry for lunch, out of one of the Anjum Anand books. I am batch cooking regularly at the moment to build up the stocks in the freezer, however due to storage constraints (i.e. a freezer full of raw ingredients) I am unable to do as much as I'd like. I've been way under budget for the last few weeks on general spending, thanks to not really having any social plans, and should manage to do almost as well this week - but next week is going to be manic as I'm out four nights out of seven! So I am attempting to get to a position where I don't need to do any cooking next week at all.

Tonight I need to pop to Tesco - wish I'd got round to it over the weekend because I'll be without my wally trolley if I go straight after work, and of course it's all heavy, bulky stuff I need :rolleyes: Still it'll be good exercise dragging it all home in carrier bags on public transport!

Must get back into the habit of going to the gym. Got a rude shock last week when a mate posted loads of pictures of me on Facebook from 6 years ago, and I saw how much weight I've gained _pale_ Anyway, hoping to go tomorrow.

Hugs to those who need them,

Rzl xx :wave: