As The Workhouse Approaches....How To Do Everything To Avoid It, the Old Style Way

betony

starsandmoon wrote: »

Does anyone know how to feeze leeks? Do I blanch them first?

I'm from the North East, where we know a thing or two about leeks! My mother and grandmother ( and probably her grandmother, if she had a freezer ) never bother to blanch leeks. Just chop them into discs and freeze in poly bags.

Rowan9

Cooler up here today but that is fine by me!
Lovely hear of all the veg growing in your allotments. While I love the idea of it, I know I wouldn't actual;ly like the allotmenteering (ie the hard work!). We have allotments by us at the side of the park and I do like seeing people doing their stuff there.
Been to Te$co this morning and bought the pack of tuna which gives you a 5p off per litre of fuel. We hardly use the car at all now and I can't remember the last time we put in any but it is nearly empty so I'll make use of the coupon.
I bought a gammon to put in while I'm roasting the chicken. This is new for me as I usually buy those p!ddly little packs of cold meat for DH's sandwiches or salads so it should be a bit more :money:.
Bought their market value granny smiths for 80p but these don't look as good as the ones I've bought before. You have to look carefully in the bags to see that the quality is ok and I was too slap dash today. I've been buying their passata lately instead of tinned tomatoes - nice and tomatoey and only 29p a carton, so a bit cheaper and less heavy to carry than tins. Bought more of the cheapie penne at 17p although I bought quite a lot when it was only 9p. Not sure if it will go up further in price. I find it fine for arrabiatta etc.
Kittie - thanks for the old thread on sprouting seeds. I read it last night. I bought alfafa seeds for sprouting a couple of weeks ago in the health shop but hadn't got round to doing them. They are over £1 there per small box so it is a huge saving to sprout stuff at home.
Have good days all. Welcome to newbies - you won't be new in here for long!
W

scottishminnie

Ventured out at lunchtime as someone mentioned Habitat in Glasgow were having a closing down sale. I'd never been to Habitat before so off I went full of expectation. Boy was I disappointed - the sale was mostly around 20% off and the stock looked to me like Ikea goods with a Habitat label and ten times the cost.
I'm not knocking Ikea at all but it certainly wasn't what I thought it would be.

I did find myself holding a large clear plastic bowl (for dessert or fruit) and then thought it was still £12 and I have managed without it until now so I don't need it at all. I'm now back in the office feeling quite pleased with myself. I'm learning at last:)

redlady_1

I need to pick some brains please. I have a very small window (about 15 inches wide) and I want a curtain pole for it so I can wrap some voil around it please. I just cannot find one anywhere. Is anyone able to help please?

judy_

redlady_1 wrote: »

I need to pick some brains please. I have a very small window (about 15 inches wide) and I want a curtain pole for it so I can wrap some voil around it please. I just cannot find one anywhere. Is anyone able to help please?

I would use a bamboo cane cut to size. I have 'proper' curtain poles for my curtains and behind I use bamboo canes held on with cuphooks for voiles/extra curtains/fleece for warmth in winter.

ChocClare

redlady_1 wrote: »

I need to pick some brains please. I have a very small window (about 15 inches wide) and I want a curtain pole for it so I can wrap some voil around it please. I just cannot find one anywhere. Is anyone able to help please?

What sort of curtain pole? You can buy "ends" separately - in which case you might just as well get a broom handle and cut to size, with the "ends" on?

floss2

redlady_1 wrote: »

I need to pick some brains please. I have a very small window (about 15 inches wide) and I want a curtain pole for it so I can wrap some voil around it please. I just cannot find one anywhere. Is anyone able to help please?

Find a piece of dowling in B&Q and then find a nice assistant who will cut it for you, and attach with cup hooks Can you tell I've done that myself?!

ifonlyitwaseasier

scottishminnie wrote: »

Note to self - don't ever read the Praise and Vent board when at work - this thread (particularly post 15) caused hysterics on my part and I very nearly drowned my keyboard in tea. I'll stick to perusing the old style board while getting set up in future - it's so much more genteel:D

oh


my


goodness




i need to scrub my brain and eyes, anyone got an OS remedy??

JosieJump

I used a cafe rod for our small window but I'm not sure if these are still in vogue.

Just popped to H0mebase in my lunch hour and they have bedding plants and some veg plants half price so I used my nectar points to get some geraniums and lobelia to plant in some spare pots.

jediteacher

GreyQueen wrote: »

jediteacher what's been done to your neighbours sounds a lot like a closure order to me? We had one done here in Shoebox Towers on a crackhouse (crack flat?) and they sealed it up and they were never allowed back in; guess it went to formal eviction at some point afterwards. It was before my time here but SuperGran told me all about it and it sounded horrendous. The woman of the couple in there was entertaining gentleman callers, too.

So pleased that you'll have a peaceful summer but just hoping the Family from Hell don't decide to move over to this part of the forest. We have a few candidates for that title already.

GreyQueen it is a closure order and the house is boarded up with large A3 posters on it from the Justice of Peace explaining that the family (and it lists them) are banned from the property. The silver lining in this cloud is that we have got to know more of our neighbours and it feels like a real community now. I've also become good friends with the people who were living next door to the neighbours from hell - they are Polish and it gives me a great oppurtunity to speak my native tongue.

My little girl took a nasty tumble at nursery today and has scrapped the skin off one shin completely, her palm and is covered in scratches. Poor thing has sports day tomorrow and she's been really looking forward to it but at the moment she says it hurts to run. Hopefully by tomorrow she'll be back on form.

Whilst shopping today I had quite a few people stop me to look at baby Daniel which was lovely. Everyone kept saying how big he was for a 6 weeks old baby but that he was adorable. Made my shopping trip quite enjoyable and it was nice to meet so many friendly people.

On a more OS note still nothing happening to my veggies - not holding much hope for this years bumper crop!:(