It's STILL tough and not getting better - so how are we coping?

jediteacher

We've just had a lovely surprise from my in-laws. Having just forked out £1000 to get my car back on the road which my grandmother and mother-in-law went thirds on we have been left without two pennys to rub together but at least we did not put it on the credit card like we have in the past. Anyway, they rang tonight asking if we would like to join them on a five day break in a lovely National Trust property in Suffolk. :j They do not want us to pay anything and in exchange we will cook in the evenings. They really are the most wonderful people. :A We've had a really tough year especially the fact that I've had 3 miscarriages and could really do with a break. It is also a lovely opportunity for them to spend time with their granddaughter. :T

kezlou

so true primrose, couldn't agree more.
Unfortunate;y ceridwen i cannot sympathise, they have more money than sense, hey if i can live on less so can they. I made my mistakes in the past with money and i'm paying my dues. But at the end of the day when vat goes up on food, fuel and utilities who foots the bill the poor folk who live on the bread line. So no, not a chance in hell of sympathy, told one of my sister in laws to get a grip because she was complaining about money. eh no your well paid £40000 + and get most things paid for by your mother. hmmmm wake up and smell the coffee/
rummer hang on hun xx i'm sure your OH will find work soon xxx

blackberries: -i just freeze them as is and wash them when i'm about to use them.
Collected 1lb of blackberries today, the boys ate loads and were going to get more tomorrow. I was so tired though that we had to come back. I couldn't walk for longer than 25mins.So i sat most of the time on a wall while the boys picked them.

I'm off to bed night all x

taplady

Jediteacher - what a lovely family you have:T I hope you all have a wonderful time x

jediteacher

taplady wrote: »

Jediteacher - what a lovely family you have:T I hope you all have a wonderful time x

Ah, thank you. I'm very lucky that I get on so well with my in-laws. Unfortunately my own parents 'abandoned' us really and we were mostly raised my my fantastic grandparents so it's nice to have someone to in effect step into the parent role. :A

mardatha

Judging by the news in todays papers things are starting to kick off. Unless its a no-news day and they have space to fill.. said a loaf was set to hit £1.29 - well I thought it already had. And strikes are getting more likely.
I haven't got any ooomph at all today, the ME is not going away & I feel like a depressed 3 week old teabag. Just tore somebody limb from limb in another forum though -and that made me feel a wee bit better So many people have such fixed attitudes and wont admit they could ever be wrong. One thing about being 60 - you have been wrong so many times that you know it does happen
Reading about Russia stopping exports of wheat - imagine if that was gas, or coal, or oil. It is so easy for life to fall off a cliff these days .

culpepper

Just a quick update...poor puss died during the night we are all very upset .
We would have given any amount of money for him to be alright but he was an old boy and had had enough stress.

ceridwen

Katholicos

Just had a quick glance at your blog - looks nice....and note to everyone "She's got some nice-looking free stationary/e-cards on there:D"

Anyways - I'll have to sit down later today and start planning my share of a communal meal - I think maybe I'll do Vegetable and chickpea tagine - quantity 15 people worth. If I'm lucky there might be a bit of it left for me to bring home as leftovers - on the other hand it might mean that people hadnt liked it..:(. Whaddya think:

VEGETABLE AND CHICKPEA TAGINE
(serves 15)

45 ml olive oil
500gr red onions (thin sliced)
6 garlic cloves (fine chopped)
10 gr ground cumin
375gr ready-to-eat dried apricots (diced)
1.2 kg carrots (diced)
1.2 litres vegetable stock
salt/pepper
3 x 410 gr tins chickpeas (drained)
675gr cherry tomatoes (halved)
20gr fresh corianer (rough chopped)

- Heat oil in large saucepan (good job I have a jam-making saucepan:))
- Add onions. Cook for 5 minutes or till soft.
- Add garlic and cumin. Cook 2 minutes.
- Add apricots, carrots, pepper. Stir. Add stock. Bring to boil. Season. Cover. Simmer 15 minutes.
- Add chickpeas and cherry tomatoes.
- Cook 10 minutes or till vegetables just tender.
- Stir in coriander just before serving.

It says to serve with couscous or bulgur wheat - but I wont bother to take that - as I know we will have "filler food" angle covered by someone else.

Does that sound good?:) - and easy for me to cook?

Prudent

plumduff55 wrote: »

Hi, I have tried many different recipes for Scotch pancakes, these are my favourite


8oz sr flour
3/4 tsp baking powder
pinch salt
2oz caster sugar
2 eggs made up to half pint with milk

Mix all ingredients together, do not overmix.
Mixture can be left to stand before cooking.

Hope you like them

Plum

Thanks for the help plum, I shall give them a go. Do they freeze?

Gigervamp

culpepper wrote: »

Just a quick update...poor puss died during the night we are all very upset .
We would have given any amount of money for him to be alright but he was an old boy and had had enough stress.

Oh culpepper, I'm so sorry for your loss. (((hugs)))

narabanekeater

Culpepper - were all so very sorry for the loss of your beloved catxx