How to Get Through The Tough Times The Old Style Way.

fedupfreda

redlady_1 wrote: »

Evening fellow tight wads!

What a weekend at Chez Red. Another cracker! Ended up in the smoke to see Madame Butterfly. I have always wanted to see it. Anyway, we get there and as I had to go shopping first (and the OH looked shocked when I mentioned it - men!) we only had time for some sarnies. So this old dear had shoved her walking stick on the shelf at the side of the room. I have no idea how many people were crammed into this room but it was alot. When I went to remove said stick so I could put the sarnies and drinks down she nearly freaked! I only went to prop it against the wall. Told me not to hurt her stick :eek: Then promptly started ranting!!:eek: Jesus, I dont half attract them. I went to put it back down thinking I cant be doing with this and anyone would have thought I had just killed her family!!! :eek: Needless to say I lost patience. Just because you are old does not give you the right to think you a) own the place and b ) be so bloody rude! My grandparents wouldnt dream of behaving like that.

Sadly such behaviour is becoming more commonplace these days -maybe because they themselves have,at some point, been on the receiving end?

My own particular pet hate is the morning bus journey into work - 8.30 am and there is always someone loudly ranting about how packed the bus is, no one gets up to give them a seat etc - and they are usually elderly. Well, if you know the bus is packed at that time of day, and you don't have an appointment to meet - or a job to get to - why travel then? Wait until the morning rush is over! (sigh)

BTW I am well aware lots of people have to work well beyond the age at which they would previously have retired, so, like the rest of us, they don't have a choice other than to put up and shut up.:( Rant over

(Another call centre slave here - GQ - I think today has been one of those days. It must be the sun - brings them all out. Its been manic today )

Hugs to all who need it. Catch you later.

silvermaid

I'm making ChocClare chicken tomorrow. I am looking forward to tasting it after what has been written about it:)

Came home and got washing off the line. Big towels all dry:)

Have got a BIG, BIG pot of chicken & vegetable soup, so that will be supper and lots will go in the freezer when it has cooled.
Now need to make lentil soup. Think that will be lunch tomorrow as I'm working at home.
Need to make more bread as we are almost out.
Liked your ideas Ellidee. I tend to have some cans of white wine (bought while on offer) and that is usually enough for any recipes I make, but think I will put cheap vermouth on my shopping list.

born_blonde

Please don't keep Port it starts to oxidise when opened and soon tastes horrid. ( sadly you need to drink it all up)

mrswive

We've just had ChocClare's chicken and it was delicious! I used cider as I didn't have any wine and it turned out really well. We had it with rice with onions, peas & peppers and used the sauce from the chicken to pour over it. I can't believe how easy and tasty it is, thanks CC. A definite addition to the menu!
lt's also, healthy and low calorie - does it get better than this?

kitschy

mama67 wrote: »

I used 2 packs to do my white one and have got the same sort of deep Violet that was on the pack.

Did you wiegh the dressing gown first as the more material to dye the lighter the colour.

hth

Thank you - yes I did weigh it, but I think now the problem might have been that it's synthetic and I didn't read the bit that said it wouldn't work on synthetic fabrics - doh!

kitschy

joeck68 wrote: »

Another thing could be whether you use fabric conditioner when you wash, as this can sometimes affect the way a fabric absorbs dye - I always give stuff a really thorough wash with some soda crystals before dying - mind you, I usually want a more subtle colour and end up with it being too bright :eek:- so I have the opposite problem!

Nope - no softener in this house! Hey ho

GreyQueen wrote: »

joeck Idiot Boy d*mn near got a 10 lb lump hammer thru his skull last summer, courtesy of moi. I am a redhead (but greying fast) and have the temper to match. Only lose my rag once every few years but it's not a pretty sight. One of things I do in the local authority call centre where I work in answer the anti-social behaviour hotline and I hear things that'd curl your hair....only thing that surprises me is that more people DON'T murder their neighbours. The housing officer had an email from me first thing this morning and emailed back to say he is going to visit him this afternoon. I'm home now and there's no sign of life upstairs, will be going to the lottie after 4 pm to plant beans.

:hello:Hello from a fellow redhead! If you're anything like me, you have a very long fuse and then enter the danger zone! Only happened once recently, when I had a trainer removed from our office because she was shouting at a room full of our disabled clients. I stormed the length of the office in 6 inch stilettos and demanded she leave immediately, much to the surprise and delight of our clients, who are used to seeing a much nicer and caring side of me :rotfl:

Big hugs to you and Jedi, please look after yourselves xxx

floss2

GreyQueen wrote: »

Cheat recipes: I'm always on the lookout for things to serve friends which have a lot of bang for your buck, as a Canadian gal I once met so wonderfully put it. Particularly after veggie ones as I'm entertaining a "mixed" audience Sunday coming. Anyone got something simple, economical, filling, low-calorie and vegetarian I can offer them (big ask, I know.....:))....

How about an aubergine daube? Caludia Roden did one years ago (we have it on a scrap of ripped from the Radio Times!) and it is lovely, and is even nicer the next day. This recipe is a bit american, but it tastes gorgeous!

charlies-aunt

purpleheather2810 wrote: »

Anyway I had a look today and I got some M+S smart wide leg brown trousers and a purple/pink floaty kaftan-style top. Both in excellent condition for €7. I have tried them on and they are both a bit tight though. Would it be wrong to try and get my money back??!!

Provided that you still have the labels on - take them back most CS are fine with returns ..... after all, if you're buying trousers & aren't wearing the right shoes or are buying something to go with something you already own - you need to try them at home with the right shoes, accessories, belts etc.

Or sell them on ebay if they are nice - the M&S trousers would be snapped up

The sizes on labels are not a good indicator of what size they fit - I'm a 14-16 but have sizes 10-18 in my wardrobe....plus a few medium/large mens items:)

ASB neighbours - stuff I hear from tenants at work (in housing call centre) makes my hair stand on end. Its so sad that a few can make many peoples life a misery

Christina_F

Where can I find the chinese chicken recipe pls?

ChocClare

Frugalista wrote: »

A few questions on ChocClare's chicken dish -

Is the wine red or white, sweet or dry? We don't drink wine so I'll have to buy a bottle specifically for this recipe.

Will cheap and cheerful do?

How long will the remainder keep for?

Can I use anything else (instead of wine) without compromising on the taste?

I can't wait to try it as everyones comments have been glowing.

Originally it was white and not dry but I have used every single variation under the sun and don't find it makes much difference - the recipe has sugar in, so it's not a problem. I don't generally drink white wine so it tends to be red at the mo!

If you only use wine for cooking, you can freeze it very successfully - I freeze odd bits in ice cube trays and then empty them once frozen into a plastic bag which I keep on hand in the freezer. One cube = 1 tblsp. I do the same with leftover cream (though that goes in a different bag)

Christina_F wrote: »

Where can I find the chinese chicken recipe pls?

Rosieben has put it on the grocery challenge now - hang on a mo - it's here.

I am so pleased everyone likes this. It's been my secret weapon meal for years - perhaps I shouldn't have let everyone in on the secret of how dead easy it is :eek:

Oh well... I'll have to come up with something equally easy and good that I won't tell you lot about now :rotfl: