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

kitschy

Have we discovered the new Twinks? I think ChocClare's Chicken (don't try saying after finishing the bottle you opened to cook with) might be the new signature OS recipe

silvermaid

Hi ChocClare,
I'm trying the chicken recipe tonight when we have DD, SIL & 3 DGSs along with OH and me. I'm hoping the DGSs will give it the thumbs up. They can be rather picky but then love Thai chicken curry, Chicken tikka and Chinese ribs, so here's hoping:)
Thanks, Silver x

GreyQueen

:wave: Hello kitschy and any other fellow red-heads, with our occasional but spectacular tempers. Treasuring the image of an enraged and high-heeled Kitschy clearing that trainer from her office. I don't often do heels as I'm nearly six foot in my socks and I get vertigo if I wear anything other than flats.

Well, managed to get sunburned on Saturday on the lottie, which is the downside of the red haired/ green eyed/ cream-skinned combi. Will have to get into the summer wardrobe soon, which is lightweight but covers as much flesh from the sun as possible as can get a severe sunburn in 10 minutes even at this latitude. People who have seen it happen barely believe their eyes. It's a pain as I love the outdoors. And they wonder why I don't do beach holidays!

There's genetic evidence that all modern humans who came out of Africa in the first wave of migrations interbred with Neanderthals and are 2-4% neanderthal on the DNA. And, guess what......they were pale-skinned green eyed redheads! No wonder its a recessive gene. I am Cavewoman, hear me roar. Where'd I leave my lump hammer (it's in the lottie shed to remove the temptation to stove I.B's skull in with it).

fedupfreda and charlies-aunt yesterday was INSANE in my call centre too and not helped by losing network connections to one of our regional offices, the one with the people in it that we needed to get hold of. A member of the public went out there and banged on the door until they dealt with him although I had told him repeatedly NOT to, it isn't an office that is open to the public.........:rotfl:

Planted 3 double rows of broad beans last night and would you belive it, after 48 hours soaking, some of them had started to germinate! Have half-buried 4 pint plastic milk bottles in the row so that I will use them as slow-seep water tankettes when we have the inevitable drought in 2-3 months. There was a second-shift of lottie holders arriving after their days in the office world and gardening til dusk and it was very companionable.....

Outwitted Idiot Boy by going to bed at 8.30 pm and managed to get about 7 hours sleep by staying in bed 10.5 hours. Housing officer emailed to say he'd visited yesterday and IB didn't seem to be in (which implies he thinks he might have been but not answering the door..) so he left him a stern pre-prepared letter about his behaviour... IB came in at 2 am and woke me but it was a little better than other nights and I feel almost human (and a little bit neanderthal ) today.:rotfl:

Small confession: Fell off the h.m wagon last night and stumped for fish and chips as was exhausted and had been on the go for 10 hours with only 3 hours sleep. It were grand.

MaLarkin

Good Morning All

ChocClare really looking forward to trying your recipe but I'm waiting until we are on holiday with the family. Hoping they'll be as impressed as everyone else has been with it. Thanks so much for this, an easy, cheap and tasty recipe is a treasure beyond price, so easy to get stuck in a rut making the same thing each week.

Took my dog out early this morning. Very grey and overcast but I did enjoy it. Trying to get fit the OS way by walking. Can't afford the gym and anyway prefer the outdoors, it's good for the soul as well as the body. May not feel that way later when I'm stood at the till with aching legs.

Love to all Ma

catznine

Good morning!:)

Been a while since I've posted but what an awful couple of weeks! Started on a Friday when a couple of friends were run over while crossing a road, both in hospital but will take a while to recover (broken ribs, pelvis etc) It could have been so much worse, both the colliding cars (yes there were 2) are write offs! Guess I've got tough friends!

While still in shock over that, we hear that one of our dd and sil-to-be's friends was missing in Japan, he is an english language teacher there on the north east coast. Thanks to his friends ingenuity - they rigged up a computer and router to a car battery and they managed to get messages out over the internet to let their folks know they are ok. All the phones went down but luckily the internet was ok. At first they didn't realise the enormity of it all, they thought it was only a local disaster. The village next to theirs has been totally washed away!

There is no water supply and no fuel to be had so they are marooned in their village but so far ok. I think for now that they will be more worried about the nuclear problems. :eek:

He has also mentioned on his blog that despite the depths of despair around him, he has "not seen a single case of looting, fighting, argument, even a raised voice since the earthquake. Everyone has just got on with the business of helping their fellows with as little fuss as possible! It is utterly admirable!"

It has certainly made me think that while the housekeeping money may have to be cut and other economies made, at least we can go to bed feeling fairly safe, no aftershocks to deal with, water supply intact, roof over our heads. I can turn over in bed without pain from broken bones and I am really, really going to try hard not to complain about our lot.

Catz x

Lavandula

Feeling rather gloomy about the state of the world at the moment...perhaps I should stop watching the news. Economic and environmental hard times are ahead of us:(. Also I'm very busy at work (at least I have a job I suppose)

Anyway, planted some onion sets, radish and beetroot in the garden at the weekend. Toms have germinated and got some free sunflowers seeds in the post today:j

joeck68

catznine wrote: »

It has certainly made me think that while the housekeeping money may have to be cut and other economies made, at least we can go to bed feeling fairly safe, no aftershocks to deal with, water supply intact, roof over our heads. I can turn over in bed without pain from broken bones and I am really, really going to try hard not to complain about our lot.

Catz x

This is sooooo true - and I'm just amazed at the resilience and bravery shown by the Japanese, no wailing or hystrionics, just getting on with tying to sort their lives out. I for one feel very lucky not to have to face a disaster like that, and I too have made a resolution to stop moaning, and try to adopt the same resilience in the face of rising fuel and food costs. :silenced:

GreyQueen, your posts make me laugh so much - have you thought of writing a novel / a blog? you have a very natural, and very readable style of writing.

Chocclare, your fame is spreading far and wide with your Chinese Chicken! :T In fact, I have sent the recipe to my SIL in Australia, and MIL in South Africa, so it has gone global! Re: the earlier queries about which wine to use, I used a cheap red, and it was lovely, and then, just to compare, I used a cheap white, and it was equally lovely. I can also vouch for it being simply delish eaten cold as part of a packed lunch - much like BBQ chicken, but remember to pack plenty of wipes as it is quite sticky!!

Lovely weather again today, very mild, currently have the heating off (yay, no more adding to British Gas profits) and the back door open to let the fresh air in. I've got a load of washing on, ready to get on the line, so no tumble drier needed either (I try not to use it much anyway, but our house is quite damp, so drying clothes on the radiators isn't such a good idea).

Have a lovely day everyone, and I'll try and pop back in to read what everyone's up to - I find if I take my eye off this forum for too long, it tends to run away with itself, and I have masses to catch up on!
xxJo

mummysaver

Morning all!

Thank heavens that my neighbours are lovely, one can be a gasbag, but he is always nice! I just cannot imagine what possesses some people to behave in the way that they do, and bringing up children to behave badly and spitting at others, well, words fail me!

I used a mini bottle of white cooking wine that best friend picked up at a cooking show for CCCC (chocclare's chinese chicken!), think that it had the flavour without the alcohol, worked brilliantly! Hadn't thought about serving cold, will make a great summer dish with salad. Going to try a veggie version as feel that I am missing out, kids have stuck it on this week's menu plan again!

Stocked up on tinned toms last night, despite seeing posts about 15p cans in Asda and multipack offers in there, I just couldn't find any in either of our local Asda branches, luckily found some del monte toms last night at work (Mr T's), 4 pack for £2 and bogof, so 25p per can. They were just stuck on the end of an aisle on a shelf, there were none with the normal tom section! Anyway, we now have enough to keep us going, and hopefully my tom plants will produce plenty of fresh ones to last over the summer!

Sorting out flooring today - putting laminate down in sitting and dining rooms, so off to buy it later, have priced it up and it's great value and so easy to clean - always a bonus as I loath housework, and the kids tend to spill everything, they've inherited my clutzy tendencies I think! Also some seed planting later, found a little bag of assorted packs tucked away on the bookshelf of all places, so will have a go with those!

Have a good day all x

gailey_2

Morning guys

Hope everyones well and had nice relaxing weekend.

Trying to catch up.

For cooking I usually buy sainsburys basics or cheapest wine I canfindnothing Icouldactually drink.

Did read you can freeze wine into icecubes.

Mostly I cook with red and never drink red so no temptation there.
Usual recipie for leftover white wine is rissoto bianco from jaimies italian requires approx 2glassses.

Another top tip with summer on way highly unlikly senario I know
but leftover wine:rotfl:.When weathers hot I love a sparkling wine or cava as seems nice andlight. But usually high percentage andcant drink whole bottle to myself and doesnent keep as cant put corkinit and not lose the fizz.
Have sucessfully used flat cava in cooking not quite as decadent as cooking with champers but always wonder when see champagne recipies are they mad and I prefer cava.

Had to chuckle at grumpy moany pensioners remarks.
I seem to be a magnet for them every time im on the bus/bus stop.
Or the death stares at the doctors waiting room when my toddler dares make a noise.Dident think they could use their free bus pass during peak times which would be commuters.

Greyqueen-glad you out smarted idiot boy was hoping council would have evicted him by now and re fish and chips everyone deserves abreak some time.

Dollydaydream-few months before xmas money wastight and we over indulged at farmfoods for about2months both ofus were sick of frozen food by then its ok once/twice a week but quite depressingif had to eat it all time.With 20quidwouldgodown aldis/lidls get somefresh veg/fruit,tinned tomatoes,stock,pasta and do things like

baked potatos with cheese and beans with salad.
pasta with tomato sauce and cheese with chopped ham or bacon
sausage or chicken casserole with mash as can get nice pack sauaages for quid or pack chicken thighs/legs for about 1.99.
Huge fanof the swartz or colmans mixes to always stockup when they on 3for 2.
Omlette or frittata with frozen ovenchips.
I do cauli/broccoli bake with frozen veg just add cheesesauce and bake.

Well everyone seems annoyed and surprised babys not here yet,dont know how they think I feel.
Got to make it to thur 37weeks to have homebirth.

After mistakingly failing t opick eldest up from school friday and her telling everyone I was having the baby then somepeople thourght I had.

Yesterday hubbys dayoff so sent hubby on both school runs.
so this morning I get still no baby.
My ever helpful nosy neighbour asking me lots of questions and telling me I look huge!

Yesterday had severe back pain my mam and hubby were worried I was in labour. Got midwifes appointment friday.

Yesterday made management decision to let my mam come over and clean she enjoys it, is better at it and im just sooo tired.
Took 18month old to gym she was naughtiest baby in class.
Fot eldest rainbows uniform shocking £42pounds!:eek:

Hubby started to build the new flatpack draws dident read instructions,spent all day swearing at it and nearly broke it was so mad with him:mad:

Packed a hospital bag just in case but realised im not ready at allfor baby and started panicing.Im ok for clothes folded 28 0-3 babygrows in all fairness most were 2ndhand but still.

So today plan is

catchc up with dirty washing
put all cleanwashing away.
irona few schooluniforms incase ihave baby and someoneelse is incharge of kids.
packchangebag for youngest.
sort out nappy basket of doom andshoecupboard.

The spare cupboard upstairs and cupboard of doom downstairs total mess.dont want anyone seeingit.
need to organise kitchen better so someone else could easily find stuff.
mams cleaned kitchen and bathroom-still need to clean fridge and organise and list the freezer.
Sort out shoe cupboard and match up socks.

maybe its extreme nesting but feel anxious that not done big foodshop or got few last min birth things.

Anyoneelse think time isues just as tough as money?

Theres the expression cash rich and time poor.
I feel cash poor,time poor.
days just slipaway.
weeksturn into months.
stuff gets put off

Frustrated as hubbys working lots of hours again this week.
his deputys off and got important visit.
Hes also had to do alot for his mam latly.

Eldest has 4birthday parties coming upluckily orgnanised for that got cheap pressies,cards and wrapping paper for that.:D

We need togo asda living,foodshopping,argos and boots before babys here!His next day off is sat.

Also got to pickup carrycot brought on ebay.

But sat is also 1birthday party,do his mams shopping and nearly new sale!

I got some super bargains at nearly new sale sunday.
Plus took kids to last day of funfair.

Cooking admit havent done much.
yesterday hubby had shop brought pizza for lunch followed by fish and chips frozen for dinner.
me and youngests had roll for lunch and both kids had spagetti with chopped ham and garlic bread for dinner.

Have no idea what to do for hubbys tea tonight got some frozen home made readymeals in freezer somight do that.

Watching pics ofjapanon tv makes me feel so sad and appreciate what we do have.

Its the budget next week,strangly cant wait.
Alawasyknewaprilbe the key as its when the cuts bite and lot of people seem to be in complete denial since last spending reveiw.

We still havent booked this years holiday we waiting to see how we get on as want hubby to pay lump sum off credit card this month and we need to pay for the furniture.

jediteacher

The anti-social behaviour officer at the council finally got back to me and we at last have an initial court hearing for the family from hell on our street. It will be in three weeks time. A small step but at least we are moving in the right direction. They were served an eviction notice last August but they are contesting it and this is why it has taken so long!!!:mad: How ridiculous is that - they should have been forced out end of story especially as this is the 8th time they have been moved due to anti-social behaviour in the last four years! I did query why the council actually let them into the house to begin with knowing what they were like!:mad: Ah, well at least we are getting somewhere - my fear is that the court will rule in their favour and we're stuck with them.

We would like to move home but just cannot afford it at the moment. Long term we want to buy a bigger house in the next 3 years but that does mean we will have to pay off a large chunk of our debt and do up this house. Considering we are overdrawn every month and have another baby on the way we are living hand to mouth at the moment - just like many others.

My friend made me laugh the other day as we are going to apply for childcare vouchers from my hubbies salary and she warned us that we would get less if we applied at the beginning of April. Had a look at the website and it is only the people on the 40% tax bracket that this changes for we actually would be £50 better off if we wait to apply as we are the lower tax bracket. I did tell her we were nowhere near the top tax bracket and she was genuinely shocked - goodness knows what she thought what wages we were on. Her idea of having no money is not being able to afford to go onn holiday for the third time in a year - whereas we have only gone on holiday when my in-laws have paid for us. I worry about having enough money for the groceries let alone a holiday!:eek:

I'm going to try Choco Claire's recipe today as I have some chicken thighs in the fridge that go out of date today. Will see how it goes.

Giong to pop into Lidl as they have some cheap wellies for £3.99 for my little girl as she needs a pair that need to stay at nursery and we have one pair that I need to have at home.

Right back to the mountain of laundary!