How long will this lot last?

greenbee

zippychick wrote: »

Had to chuckle at that. Isn't it garden leave? I just had visions of you gardening for 6 weeks non stop :rotfl:

Congrats on getting employment. Sounds like a good plan to be getting on with! Once you start, you will feel so much better :T

My contract says it's gardening leave... I did wonder whether the gardening was compulsory, but didn't get round to doing any I was very lucky and was offered the new job the day I went on gardening leave, so it's all worked out well for me, but the new job involves a lot of travelling, so i'm going to have to be much more organised that in the past. And the house is currently at the chaotic stage of being reorganised I've only got a week to sort it out :eek:

Maybe Ames could do my mealplans as practice

zippychick

Glad you are finding it useful. Sometimes its nice to have others input

Re the SC watery dish - there are various ways of thickening stuff up - *tries to think* . You can make a cornflour paste up - water and cf, and stir in. You can add some instant mash, ummm..... is flour and butter another one *yes - buerre manie* - linky

Tahini is ground sesame seed - like a paste. Strange thing. Quite dear too i think

Good you have a chair - shame its not the right height. I suggest measuring and putting an ad on freegle - asking for a chair and putting the suitable height. I would explain what its for - you would be surprised how helpful people can be . That way, if you get yourself a nice cushion, you can sit and cook for however long you need to. If you get to the batch cooking stage, you really can get away with spending an hour or two on prep, and letting things simmer away developing flavours. You could make something that can also be changed easily into something else - building blocks for the freezer - great thread.

Re the FP - they are great. If you had one (and you can try with sis one), you could prep your own veg if you did it once every 2-3-4 weeks. I'm sure you like to be as independent as possible where you can - just an idea. If you were chopping veg, you only need to wash a couple of things. Is the chair sink height?

Re freezing hummous - ask here . I would say you can actually but that's a guess. I cant see why not.

Meal planning - i use the concept loosely- mainly because i do batch cooking days and build up so many portions for the freezer. Now im in the habit of taking dinner out the night before for the next day. You can do it to as much detail you need .

If you are using the SC, there is also this thread which is really useful - SC quick qs - so pop in there with tomorrows dinner idea, and list your ingredients or idea and ask for help? or the general quick q thread

What did you think about the bread idea? NO knead? See if you did make your own bread, and had another milk long life, you could potentially avoid a trip to the shop for a week or so - if you bought a weeks worth of bananas. Avoiding the shop as much as possible is another secret to avoid temptation!

I;m not great with cooking fish, but what about this soup in the SC? I would recude the water - liquid - as you wont lose much moisture when it is cooking. Substitue the tofu for something else. Or could you poach the fish and flavour it and have wilted spinach?

Ames

zippychick wrote: »

Glad you are finding it useful. Sometimes its nice to have others input

Re the SC watery dish - there are various ways of thickening stuff up - *tries to think* . You can make a cornflour paste up - water and cf, and stir in. You can add some instant mash, ummm..... is flour and butter another one *yes - buerre manie* - linky

Think I'll get some instant mash as a cupboard basic, or see if sister's got some, I think I'm going to inherit quite a bit of stuff from her in about a month!

Tahini is ground sesame seed - like a paste. Strange thing. Quite dear too i think

Good you have a chair - shame its not the right height. I suggest measuring and putting an ad on freegle - asking for a chair and putting the suitable height. I would explain what its for - you would be surprised how helpful people can be . That way, if you get yourself a nice cushion, you can sit and cook for however long you need to. If you get to the batch cooking stage, you really can get away with spending an hour or two on prep, and letting things simmer away developing flavours. You could make something that can also be changed easily into something else - building blocks for the freezer - great thread.

I've been referred for an OT assessment, one of the things I've been told to ask for is a perching stool so I can cook easier. I think I've looked at that thread before, then realised that it's only any good if you have freezer room! I've asked on freegle for a small chest/under counter freezer but no offers, I'm going to keep looking and if nothing in a few months then I'll get one new - dad works for Curry's so I can use his staff discount. Then I can just do a monthly shop, and freeze milk and everything, as well as having room for 'ready meals' - hopefully home made ones. I'll have another look at that thread when the freezer's got some room though, I remember there were a few ideas I really liked.

Re the FP - they are great. If you had one (and you can try with sis one), you could prep your own veg if you did it once every 2-3-4 weeks. I'm sure you like to be as independent as possible where you can - just an idea. If you were chopping veg, you only need to wash a couple of things. Is the chair sink height?

Yep the chair's sink height, that's what it's mainly for, so I can sit to do the washing up, saves me getting a bad back ache. I've just bought a paring knife, ex used to use big ones for everything but I'm sure a smaller one will be better, easier to clean and stuff. I didn't realise you could prep veg in a FP, I'll def be borrowing sis's!

Re freezing hummous - ask here . I would say you can actually but that's a guess. I cant see why not.

Meal planning - i use the concept loosely- mainly because i do batch cooking days and build up so many portions for the freezer. Now im in the habit of taking dinner out the night before for the next day. You can do it to as much detail you need .

If you are using the SC, there is also this thread which is really useful - SC quick qs - so pop in there with tomorrows dinner idea, and list your ingredients or idea and ask for help? or the general quick q thread

I'll try that thread in the future while I'm meal planning, tomorrow's food idea is a restaurant! Dad's introducing us to his girlfriend. But I'll ask about some of the things for next week.

What did you think about the bread idea? NO knead? See if you did make your own bread, and had another milk long life, you could potentially avoid a trip to the shop for a week or so - if you bought a weeks worth of bananas. Avoiding the shop as much as possible is another secret to avoid temptation!

Not sure about making my own bread, if it's quick and easy then maybe. Although I prefer wraps to 'real' bread, just a taste thing. I could try making my own loaves and freezing slices so I can have 'on toast' meals. I've decided to get milk and basics from tesco - I find they're really expensive for most things, so refuse to buy lots! If I go in for milk, I come out with milk. Any other supermarket, I go in for milk and come out with two bags full of stuff! Plus it's nearer, so less petrol costs, and I can get clubcard points for things I'd buy anyway.

I;m not great with cooking fish, but what about this soup in the SC? I would recude the water - liquid - as you wont lose much moisture when it is cooking. Substitue the tofu for something else. Or could you poach the fish and flavour it and have wilted spinach?

I think I'll just do the fish how I always do - wrap it in foil in the oven for a while. Then I've just got to put the potatoes and veg in a roasting tin too, no prep and since I line the trays with foil no washing up. I'll be back earlier than I planned anyway - I thought it'd be a late one, but we've got to be there for 2, so I'll be back by early evening. I'll have to remember to take a flask of coffee though, so I don't pay stupid services prices.

Thanks again for all the advice! I'm thinking this might actually be achievable! I'm having a social services assessment next Friday, so I'm hoping I can get help with food prep through there. The last assessment I had though (which I've complained about and got this second one) they told me to just eat microwave ready meals for dinner and skip lunch. So getting them to chop some veg and do some washing up is going to be a big leap! I'm working on plan B's though, hence this thread.

Ames

I've just made up my muesli, but it's got waaaay too much fruit and not enough oats, would it work if I put some of the oatso simple in?

zippychick

Yeah.! Can't see why not? Waste not want not?!

zippychick

Re instant mash - i have the very basic value stuff for thickening emergencies! Think it's 20p-30p a bag? Something silly like that

Regards the perching stool - I would keep asking on freegle - however frequently you are allowed to ask. Can't do any harm! On mine there is always freezers up for offer - wish I could give you one of those . Thats good you can wash up sitting though

Yeah FPs can prep veg differently. If I make stew, i grate my carrots and onions - there is a grating attachment - throw in, whizz whip, done! Or just chopping with the big blade - run it as long as you need to get the veg chopped how you need. It may take time to get used to it but I would encourage you to try it out ! If you are chopping a batch you will probably need to rinse the jug bit out in between changing veg - just be careful, those blades are very sharp (from experience)

Let us know how Dads girlfriend meet goes! Good luck. Enjoy the food being handed to you on a plate - brilliant.

Bread - entirley up to yourself I just know people are put off with the idea of kneading, but I was just letting you know it isn't always necessary . Do you ever get to tesco for the reduced items? There is 3 reduced areas in mine - fridge , bread and veg area. (and the to clear shelf). I see loaves for 20p sometimes, so that would be worth buying and freezing the odd time :money:

Hope you dont mind me asking - but whats the story with someone telling you to eat ready meals? I would make sure they knew you are essentially against additives, and how you want to eat fresh food - on doctors recommendation? Can your doc back this up? Maybe ive picked it up wrong. But being told to eay ready meals, that would make me soooooo cross. :mad:As would skipping lunch. I would maybe arrange a phone call with your doctor there - see if they can offer advice or support on how to get the most out of these visits?

Of course, it's absolutely achievable. And you've got us to help you now :A

Olliebeak

I've noticed a couple of people having problems standing while doing tasks in the kitchen.

Do you have an 'OT' at all? In our Local Authority it's possible to get a 'perching stool' from them - not sure if other LA's/Health Authorities operate in the same way. These are height adjustable, have non-slip feet and the seat is 'angled' so that your aren't actually 'sitting' on them but 'perching'! They really help take the strain off your ankles/knees/back when doing any 'standing' tasks. Some of them look very clinical, but there are more modern designs.

Ames

Thanks Ollie, I'm on the waiting list for an OT assessment, top of the list of things I want is a perching stool! I got a letter from them the other day saying there's a long waiting list and giving me a list of places to buy from myself. Except, at least one of them doesn't sell equipment, and I already knew about 'looking in the yellow pages'!

Zippychick, I had a social services assessment a few weeks ago. I wanted help with food prep, showering and getting dressed on bad days. She told me that as I had no reason to go out I didn't need to get washed and dressed each day, and that as for food as long as I could put a ready meal in the microwave I don't need to cook, and if I'm having a bad day I can just skip lunch. She also said that showering less than once a week, going to bed wet wearing my dressing gown and being shattered from it for two days afterwards was me coping well. Apparantly if I get help with all these things I'll be losing my independence because it's better for me to do it myself. So, half an hour after she left I'd emailed social services, and copied in my councillors, saying how that was unacceptable. She came back a week later with the written report. Half of it was blank, and a lot of what was answered were (wrong) assumptions. Then the things I had answered, she wrote something else down - I told her I showerd less than once a week, she put I shower 1-2 times a week. So, I emailed the guy dealing with my original complaint, and this time copied in my councillors and MP. I put in every question that was wrong or not answered, and also went through the social worker guidelines and highlighted where she'd broken them. The outcome was I'm having another assessment next week with someone else. I'm annoyed that they're obviously not taking the complaint further, it seems to just be being brushed under the carpet, but hopefully after next week I can get some help. My health trainer was appalled when I told her and she's complaining about the social worker too, but I don't think it'll get anywhere, they're obviously just closing ranks.

Olliebeak

Ames wrote: »

.......Zippychick, I had a social services assessment a few weeks ago. I wanted help with food prep, showering and getting dressed on bad days. She told me that as I had no reason to go out I didn't need to get washed and dressed each day, and that as for food as long as I could put a ready meal in the microwave I don't need to cook, and if I'm having a bad day I can just skip lunch. She also said that showering less than once a week, going to bed wet wearing my dressing gown and being shattered from it for two days afterwards was me coping well. Apparantly if I get help with all these things I'll be losing my independence because it's better for me to do it myself. So, half an hour after she left I'd emailed social services, and copied in my councillors, saying how that was unacceptable. She came back a week later with the written report. Half of it was blank, and a lot of what was answered were (wrong) assumptions. Then the things I had answered, she wrote something else down - I told her I showerd less than once a week, she put I shower 1-2 times a week. So, I emailed the guy dealing with my original complaint, and this time copied in my councillors and MP. I put in every question that was wrong or not answered, and also went through the social worker guidelines and highlighted where she'd broken them. The outcome was I'm having another assessment next week with someone else. I'm annoyed that they're obviously not taking the complaint further, it seems to just be being brushed under the carpet, but hopefully after next week I can get some help. My health trainer was appalled when I told her and she's complaining about the social worker too, but I don't think it'll get anywhere, they're obviously just closing ranks.

And they wonder why some Social Services Depts are getting a bad name! She needs disiplining, retraining and/or a Sensitivity Course - what a wally!

Hopefully, at least one of the councillors that you've contacted will be on your local authority Social Services Committee.

Ames

Yeah, I agree she needs some kind of disciplinary training, but when I phoned the department to make an appointment last week she answered and didn't seem at all bothered when I gave my name. They didn't address any of the points in my complaint, just said they'd give me another assessment with someone else, so I don't think there's going to be any action taken at all.