***New*** Thrifty Gifty Money Making for Christmas and all occasions 2011***

NickyBo_2

Good morning everyone I've been visiting my parents with DS so I've just caught up on the last few pages. Great car boot result Giggles!

After slacking and putting off my review writing I finally knuckled down last night. All the things I want to review aren't in the catalogue so I've put in 4 suggestions that will hopefully be accepted soon. I started writing 2 reviews, 1 for a microwave but I got bored halfway through so started reviewing some more of DS's toys. I can write the toy reviews really easily but household things are a real chore!

DS is at nursery all morning and DH is at work so I have the house to myself - a rare treat! I've decided to have a kitchen morning - I'm going to bake blackberry and apple loaf and then have a go at spicy blackberry chutney. These are the recipes I'm trying out if anyone's interested:

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1967/blackberry-and-apple-loaf
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2643/spicy-blackberry-chutney

bunbun2

I am home:j now I can get back to proper money making:j just have to unpack and do the washing and shopping first:(

I will catch up later but would like some advice if possible - most probably from elysia and claire but anyone else's opinion would be good. About a week before we came home I ordered 2 3ds from amazon. I got them delivered to the home address and thought if they were delivered before we got home they would be taken to the post office as I am sure they are delivered via RM. they were inside the house when we got home so I assumed the neighbour who was feeding the cat had taken them in. OH was talking to her last night and she told him they had been left in the recycling bin. I don't want to get anyone in trouble but there was over £200 worth of stuff. they were under cover but could have got wet, the bins might have been emptied or someone could have taken them as they would have been there a while. Obviously I will check that they were delivered by RM but if they were should I tell anyone?

Off to get ready to go to mr T. be back later

cha97michelle

Morning guys.

I'm definitely up for the last week push. I'm still down in London at the moment, but we are going home this afternoon. I've had a frantically busy weekend with the in-laws two wedding anniversary party's so we are quite tired, but I am sure I will soon get on when we get back. I can't remember how far I had got on with reviews, and I have only pasted them across while we have been away, but it's written in my diary.

I can't see me getting a lot done today, but I will be back in the game properly tomorrow.

Savvybunny2009

Good morning all, still feel like I am waking up but been up since 7am. Will be raring in an hour or so lol. So far managed one on viva but looks like it's going to be a bad week for surveys, there isn't any on any of the sites yet. On the bright side items listed yesterday are doing really well in ebay but neither of the buyers who won items yesterday have paid, after trusting one who had a non payment strike in the past grrrr.

Edit - Still not awake bunbun, mum's other half is a postie and would never leave them in a bin but it is classed as a safe place ironically. For items that high value amazon surely sent them special delivery so it does boggle why they weren't taken back to the RM office for collection. From what I hear with the rollout of new changes it will be a miracle if we get post every other day. Our postie doesn't usually deliver post on friday and saturdays as it is.

elysia2003

Bunbun - as far as I know (OH is still on his walk) they are supposed to keep them in a safe location but we've had parcels behind bushes etc when it's OH's day off. I would check they are working and not damp etc, and if you feel you need to make a complaint to RM do it in writing, if they are ok but you still need to say something - go to the local sorting office, the desk clerk will have a word with your postie. It's not on really, anyone could have taken them - they didn't have to be signed for either, so it would be your word against theirs. Glad your back home hun we missed you. How's OH doing? Has he thought whether he's going back September?

Michelle - you have a safe trip home. Do your washing etc, and put your feet up today. Back to money making tomorrow. We missed you too.

Nicky - thanks for the recipes. We went blackberry picking again. I'm getting fed up of the sight of them now. Need to make jam again today, and made apple and blackberry crumble for pudding yesterday. Yum x That chutney sounds nice.

Rufus - Nothing survey wise for me either. Well done on your other review. I'll be over to rate in a mo. It's a shame about the weather isn't it? A lovely day today, but supposed to rain for the rest of the week. Grrrr

elysia2003

Savvy - they weren't special delivery - they were tracked as leaving the office which is something different. Bunbun had them, a neighbour posted them through the door - At least that's what I thought she meant anyway.

I'm going to check viva next to see if there's any for me, if you've done one already. Thanks for telling us.

Savvybunny2009

Sorry I assumed they were special delivery due to the high value of the items, amazon use royal mail so it would be logical they would send them through a service that insured them correctly. Thank goodness they weren't collected by the bin men or someone walking past.

Skiergirl

I've noticed a couple of you mention jam making and I wondered where you get the recipes from ?

Also, how much equipment do you need to get satrted ?

Thanks x

elysia2003

SKiergirl sorry I didn't reply earlier.

I do lots of jam making. Dependant on what fruit you're using you either need jam sugar or preserving sugar. It will tell you on the back of the packet. The recipe I use is there too. If you fancy something special I have a big recipe book and I can look some up for you. I have a big jam kettle given to me by my neighbour, but I usually just use my biggest saucepan. It must have a thick bottom though.

I've been busy reviewing all day as there were no surveys anywhere for me to do.

NickyBo_2

My baking went well The blackberry and apple loaf is gorgeous! It's so moist and absolutely full of blackberries, I highly recommend it. The chutney has also worked well, but I had to simmer it for a lot longer than stated in the recipe. It worked well in the end so that's what matters. I've made a jar for my Dad to start off his chutney basket as it was so popular last year, I want to do different recipes this time rather than just repeating what I gave him last year.