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

flowertotmum

:easter_os to everyone..sorry not been on but have been really busy and enjoying the sunshine with the tots..
We did our own easter egg hunt this morning:easter_ba:rotfl:..took them blumming ages to find 8 plastic eggs...the chickens were very interested at what we were doing..
Well the lotties are looking good bit like a dust bowl so i am praying for the predicted storms and rain today..we had a lovely tea last night on the patio but had to abandon it as the thunder was getting louder and the tots were a bit windy..nevermind it was nice while it lasted...
Got my gas and electric bills ..not too bad considering..am in debit by a few pounds to both..but the electric one is going down by £8 a month..so pleased with that..wonder if it has anything to do with my frugal turning it all off attitude..or my washing machine being a A+ rated one..we will see...
I have been baking like mad and filling my freezer..got some bargains from my DD..a huge beef joint for £4..cut it in half and now have 2 beef joints..she went to asda when it was about 10 mins from closing and grabbed loads..we split it and froze the lot..
Got 17lb of rhubarb so far from the lotties..going to make jam with most of that as i am down to my last 5 jams from last yr..can't wait for the gooseberries to come..that jam is lovely...
Swapped 6lb of asparagus with the icecream man for the same in icecream:D..so thats even better..
Our garden is looking good,we have all our baby plants and seedlings all over..think hubs has taken self sufficiency to heart and is growing enough food to feed the street..:D
I am looking forward to friday with the wedding(not everyones cup of tea)..am doing a little party,got lots of freebies from the papers and poundland have got lots of bits in too..i know lots of people don't really care but i do its nice to have a big wedding to watch..every girls dream to marry a prince and have a huge wedding and dress..my girls are coming down to watch it with me..soppy ole me eh?..
Have stopped shopping at asda..go to lidl's now..cannot believe how much i am saving..only go to asda for nappies..everything else i can get from lidl's..
Bertiebots i love the idea of an edible hedge..what about hazelnuts..our neighbour at the bottom of the garden wanted to remove the privet and put up fences..when i checked the papers(long story but never got to buy house but got the paperwork)..it turns out the hedge was on my land ,he had grabbed 4ft:rotfl::shocked:..needless to say i went around and he ended up having a paddy at losing 4ft of his garden:D..he had to apply to the council to remove the hedge:D..they came out and asked why he had 4ft of their land(mine)..apparently yrs ago when this house was empty for a while he grabbed it and planted the privet,therefore gaining 4ft..why i never know but he did..well he had to give it back:rotfl::rotfl:..should have heard the language:o..but i gained 4ft back..well the council did..greedy so and so..and he had to pay for a fence and the workmen..thats now mywildlife area in the garden:rotfl:he still chunters about it:Dbut he couldn't win not with the power of the council behind me..that was about 5yrs ago..nevermind what goes around comes around:cool:
Right got to go i am having turkey for lunch and its a whopper:D..best check it hasn't got out the oven and legged it...
take care
ftm

mrsmortenharket

I get nappies from Aldi & they're really good flowertotmum. I've heard Lidl nappies are really good as well.
Sorry to just butt in on the thread!
Lisa

blackandwhitebunny

The weather is grey and a bit chilly here, Murphy's law I guess, we were planning to barbecue a cider can turkey here tonight. Like the lady chef in Great British Menu but a smallish turkey bought on boxing day for peanuts. We've been doing chickens like that for years and occasionally do a cider can duck if I find one cheaply.
I'm desperately trying to empty the freezer, I had two offers of bulk meat from two different people, accepted on for a lamb and them it didn't seem as if it was going to happen so accepted another for half a pig and a lamb. On Friday the first lamb turned up and its old season lamb more of a hogget so tastes lovely but its bigger than expected. the second person then phoned to confirm that the other will be arriving the first week of May:eek: In the meantime they both seemed to be not happening and Sainsbugs had loads of good whoopsies - I'm sure you can fill in the rest.
I'm thinking that some might have to find a home in my neighbours freezer for a while. I do have a huge almost empty chest freezer in the storeroom at school that I could use at a pinch but I think that might be pushing it.
Anyway I hope everyone has a lovely day, yellow ball or not.

kidcat

How does the cidercan turkey on the bbq go? Sounds gorgeous, i saw the Great british menu chicken but she seemed to have a special contraption.

flowertotmum

mrsmortenharket wrote: »

I get nappies from Aldi & they're really good flowertotmum. I've heard Lidl nappies are really good as well.
Sorry to just butt in on the thread!
Lisa

Hi there..no apologies necessary on here..:D
I would have them from lidl's and aldi but they don't seem to do her size,5+..all they seem to have is 4's..
thanks though good for future reference in case they have some in i will try them..
ftm

Winchelsea

elona said:

Decided not to stress about everyone having exactly what they want to eat as I am not a restaurant and just play things by ear and relax and enjoy family time.

You're so right elona. In our house there were always two choices - eat what I have cooked for you, or GO WITHOUT! - i.e. eat it or leave it. The outcome was that none of our 5 children were fussy eaters, as any leftovers would soon disappear into one or more siblings! (or their father!)

Charis

lostinrates wrote: »

The pears are going to replace a tree I have wept over losing, a beautiful oak which looks like its reaching out to embrace the house, but sadly, his roots are reaching out to destroy the house. we'd hoped to get away with a root prune but its not looking like that will suffice.

Could you get a local craftsman to make you something from the timber as a souvenir, in exchange for the rest of the timber? They make some wonderful pieces. One local chap here made a wardrobe that looked like part of a forest, using the grain of the wood to carve a tree. Pure Narnia.

ceridwen

mummysaver wrote: »

Bertie - I had the same thing with a neighbour, he actually thought the land was his though and had his solicitor check it out! I planted a lavender hedge, quick and easy and doesn't need much attention after initial watering and establishment!

I guess that thought had crossed the mind of a few of us actually - as in "I hope this guy doesnt think any of Bertie's land is his.......".

To which - personally I would check out exactly where the boundary lines lie (and keep a copy of owt I found readily to hand) and establish that my land definitely WAS my land. Having worked that out in advance (because some neighbours can be would-be "land grabbers":() - then got on and plant up all my hedge at once (getting in friends to help ensure it was a quickly done job if need be). The latest neighbour dispute I could see in the Press was of a neighbour having put up a garden fence a foot or so into the next door neighbours garden (justice was done in the end - and it was ruled that next doors garden WAS indeed next doors garden:)). It was obvious from the photo though that the garage owner would have a boundary going down exactly in line with the garage wall - so why the awkward neighbour WAS awkward in the first place is difficult to comprehend.

in Bertie's place - if a piece of land is bang in front of her sitting room window then obviously it MUST be HER garden - but I would get on and put that hedge up quick to remove any possible doubts from the neighbours' head about it. I would object to someone going past near my window needlessly and trying to treat a piece of my garden as if it was theirs - I would be a lot less calm about it than Bertie is, because I would be worried about this conduct.

So - definitely hedge up as soon as possible. If it says the plants concerned should be in by end March - I'd think "Well - April IS only a few weeks later than that - I'll get them in anyway now. They may not do much till next year - but its a good idea to have them there in place now."

If it has been safely established that the land is Berties and theres a couple of choices as to when to do the hedging - one involving time the neighbour will be there and another when hes due to be off on holiday - then pick the time when he is on holiday. Even assuming someone is quite clear/evidence is there/etc that they are right and it is their property - it is still a good idea, if circumstances allow, to have work done at the "easiest" time. (Obviously I wouldnt do anything personally that I wasnt legally entitled to do....). I know the wooden fascia boards on my house needed replacing - and I chose the time to do it in between the adjoining neighbour dying and that house being bought by someone else to get the firm in doing it and ensured they were swopped for upvc ones (ie done for a lifetime - end of....) - so there couldnt possibly be a problem or anything about my workmen getting access to the next door garden to do that side of the house. By the time someone else owned the house - job done...and I dont have to bother myself about what happens that side of my house ever again - as no-one will ever require access from my house to paint wooden fascia boards.

ginnyknit

Having that quiet day I promised myself. Been in and out of the garden since 10 am and got a lot done. Then i watched dear old Hugh FW and realised I may need a lot more plants to make a difference so planted a pea hedge round 3 edges of a bed with broad beans in the middle. oh just managed to make me a netted frame for my cucumbers, I am so hoping they work as I love them and think they are now a luxury food to buy :mad: Im just glad I trawled Wilkies and co at the end of last season and bought all my seeds for pennies otherwise the garden would be bare now

Had some bad news, my nice Sil has had a terrible time with breast cancer and the resulting treatment has done her great damage. Oh's brother (her Hubby) is looking after her and is being amazing, am very proud of him.So I just made her a posy of silk flowers with a little lavender bag in the middle - similair to a Tussie Mussie I believe- and am going to send her a little care package.

Anyway off to plant out my cucumbers as soon as it cools down and ponder on life while I dig. hugs to all

blackandwhitebunny

kidcat wrote: »

How does the cidercan turkey on the bbq go? Sounds gorgeous, i saw the Great british menu chicken but she seemed to have a special contraption.

We have a special contraption as well but not nearly as sophisticated as hers. we bought it in the SAfrican shop in London. Its a heavy metal grid square with handles on two sides and a beer can sized ring in the middle. Its about 8" square. You place the can in the ring and the chicken / duck / turkey on top of it and then BBQ it in one of those round BBQ's with a lid. The chicken and duck have both been fantastic so we have great hopes for the turkey. Its a 5-7 portion one I don't think we could do it with one of those whoppers that you get.:)