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

Fruball

PurpleHeather - I often throw in a few tbsp of soya mince to Spag Bol and never re-hydrate it first so yes, its fine (plus, none of my family have noticed I used it )

thriftmonster

Gigervamp - hugs - as you say at least the cat had a lovely last year with you with as much food and contact as she wanted.

One of our dogs was 11 1/2 when we took her and we kept thinking - well if she has one nice year........ She's still plodding around 2.5 years later - but it will be terrible when it does happen

They're putting up the shelves in the larder this morning - in between coffee breaks:cool: - so hopefully I can start moving food back in this afternoon. The house being in this state really depresses me.

EstherH

northwest1965 wrote: »

Have you tried dried soya mince Esther? I've only seem it in Tescos. Its good though, you can mix half and half with normal mince. (you reconstitue it 1st with hot water).

This doesnt look good, hope no one gets a bill on the mat on Tuesday
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/consumertips/tax/7981144/PAYE-tax-errors-force-1.5-million-people-to-repay-1400.html

It was the dried soya that I used, I got it in Morrisons. It said 25gms enough for two people so I used 50gms along with the two packs of 500gms turkey mince which I suppose most people would use for 4 persons a pack. Know we would have done before I became more OS. I reckoned that that made it one third soya to two thirds turkey mince. Everybody thought that the lasagne was lovely, so no problems with that amount of soya. See how it tastes in the chilli tonight.

EstherH

Gigervamp wrote: »

We've had a rotten start to the day. The lady who owns horses in the next field to ours knocked to say she'd seen our lovely adopted stray cat Puss down the lanes. It looks like she was hit by a car.

She was such an independent cat that she didn't like coming indoors much unless the weather was really bad, but she did love her cuddles and tummy rubs. She'd been with us for a year and we're so lucky we found each other because although she was a good hunter, she was still very thin when we started feeding her. She certainly wouldn't have survived the winter that we had, so I'm trying to console myself (and the rest of the family) with the fact that she had a really good year with us which is more than she would have had if she'd not found us.

So sorry to hear about your cat Gigervamp. When I was little I adopted/enticed a stray cat into our home and a few months later he escaped out the door on bonfire night, despite us trying to be very careful to keep him in. I was inconsolable. The next day someone found him. We think he must have died of fright because there wasn't a mark on him. I don't think it hurts any less just because you are older.

kezlou

thriftmonster wrote: »

Congrats to Mr Kezlou - do you have a celebration planned - OS of course (involving only 1/4oz mince each!!!!)??

hhahaa

Well i ended up splashing £2.49 on sausages and hot dog buns! Had a celebratory hot dog! Oh how flash we are lol See the money roll!

hmm about the mince i recently made 500g stretch out to 20 portions with lentils etc so i think 1/4 oz would be a bot too flash for us. Might go high off the meat :rotfl:

purpleheather2810

Gigervamp wrote: »

We've had a rotten start to the day. The lady who owns horses in the next field to ours knocked to say she'd seen our lovely adopted stray cat Puss down the lanes. It looks like she was hit by a car.

She was such an independent cat that she didn't like coming indoors much unless the weather was really bad, but she did love her cuddles and tummy rubs. She'd been with us for a year and we're so lucky we found each other because although she was a good hunter, she was still very thin when we started feeding her. She certainly wouldn't have survived the winter that we had, so I'm trying to console myself (and the rest of the family) with the fact that she had a really good year with us which is more than she would have had if she'd not found us.

I'm really sorry to hear that Gigervamp, but it does sound like you gave her a good year. xxx

LilacLouisa

ceridwen wrote: »

Obviously we all have different opinions - its when people "attack personally" or call a perfectly ordinary viewpoint "extreme" that problems start. A viewpoint is not "extreme" because its a different one to ones own. Mine is a very common viewpoint - but one that isnt expressed so much because a lot of us with this viewpoint know there is a big taboo on about expressing it still currently.

I'd probably get an "easier ride" if I came on and advocated Black Magic or legalising hard drugs then people get for expressing concern about overpopulation:rotfl: (hastens to add that I'm against things like that..).

I'm just brave enough (foolhardy enough?) to express the "other" opinion - but I don't attack others personally - not even the modified form of attack that is calling their viewpoint "extreme".

Anyway - as you said - lets just enjoy any decent weather we get - and as another poster said "lets avoid this turning away from being a nice, friendly thread":)

EDIT: see current signature..

It would be such a shame if you felt unable to post any more. I have always found your threads to be very thoughtful and interesting.

It seems you have made a concious decision to do what you feel is right for you, and no-one should think less of you for that. Please continue to post.

Also, please enjoy what looks like being a nice weekend weather wise.

LilacLouisa

Gigervamp wrote: »

We've had a rotten start to the day. The lady who owns horses in the next field to ours knocked to say she'd seen our lovely adopted stray cat Puss down the lanes. It looks like she was hit by a car.

She was such an independent cat that she didn't like coming indoors much unless the weather was really bad, but she did love her cuddles and tummy rubs. She'd been with us for a year and we're so lucky we found each other because although she was a good hunter, she was still very thin when we started feeding her. She certainly wouldn't have survived the winter that we had, so I'm trying to console myself (and the rest of the family) with the fact that she had a really good year with us which is more than she would have had if she'd not found us.

I am really sorry to read this, you must be so upset. As you say, at least she had a lovely year thanks to you.

No matter how long you have had/cared for any pet, when they die there is always the feeling (for us anyway) that it was too soon.

Hopefully you will, in a while, be able to just remember the good times, and smile when you think of her. It`s no consolation I suppose but at least you know how the end came.

My son had a kitten which just disappeared completely one day. They have searched and put up posters, asked the local kids etc. but to no avail. He and his fiancee are now left hoping that someone has enticed him in and kept him.

I am not sure how to end this post, I am not the type to send hugs (possibly a bit repressed) but I do thank you for being so caring to an animal who badly needed tlc.

maryb

Purpleheather you did well to get that much for a fiver at the uniform sale. My DD2 has two more years to go until 6th form when she will wear her own clothes so I really don't want to buy anything new especially as the school jumpers are so expensive - they have a distinctive stripe on V neck so you can't cheat and get them from Mr T they have to come from the official supplier at £30 each!!! And for that you get cheap acrylic. The cuffs always fray as well, that is where they always go.

You can pick them up very cheaply in the uniform sale that the PTA runs but they nearly always have frayed cuffs as well. So I bought some very fine knitting needles on Ebay - the sort they sell for knitting dolls house miniatures. I think they are the equivalent of a size 1mm knitting needle. I picked up the loose stitches on the cuff and knitted a row with some matching wool then cast off loosely using a size 2mm needle. They look like new and will see her through. It didn't take long at all - it was probably quicker than trying to darn them

LilacLouisa

mardatha wrote: »

China and India both had terrible weather this year, but both are beginning to get a higher standard of living, people are better paid now & they naturally want greater variety/better food. China is booming and the workers are even daring to strike in some places for higher pay - unheard of before.
The last of my kale is doing an amazingly useful job. Its in the bloody compost bin, its rightful home !!

That is interesting, thanks. I had read where now things were becoming better for the ordinary people, and apparently they have been developing a taste for dairy produce.

I can`t blame them for wanting more variety, but I wonder if in future they will still be so good at making food go far, I hope so. I think woks are wonderful for hurling veg in and making a tasty meal. :-)