It was getting tough in 2006 and the workhouse still threatens us in 2011

parsonswife8

It's grey and damp here in Kent too. Never mind, lots to do, including a mountain of ironing. :mad:

Going to make a nice fish pie for our supper. We managed to get quite a huge bag of fresh peas for 50p, so those will make a nice accompaniment to the pie.

redlady_1

We used to have bonfire barbies. Jacket potatoes, bonfire toffee, etc. Then the lads would set off all the fireworks for the kids and they loved it! If you havent had a barbie in the winter then you need to get out there!

flowertotmum

Morning all..hope your all well...
Well this bbq thing is interesting,we bought a new gas one last year,only used it once though...definately going to chat to hubby about it in the winter...loving the idea of using it on bonfire night..brilliant.

As for doing up clothes...my gran would do it all the time..sometimes you never knew what the original item was...i too inherited my grans button box...it too has old suspender clasps in it..my tots love playing with them...so many colours and styles..

Not doing much today,got my dd heather and my gd hollie coming for the day...hoping the weather holds out...got lots of washing to catch up on...

O and revenge is sweet...sonic cat deterents are the way to go....haha nearly had a tena oops moment this morning...sooo funny...

Though i was the only one craving winter foods...soups and stews yummy..all pipng hot served with crusty HM bread...think autumn is definately on the way..my cherry tree has lots of red leaves,hazelnuts dropping like flies and my poor conker tree looks almost naked...there was a nip in the air last night and this morning...heads down,shoulders up..coz here it comes ladies...hubby laughing at me , he reckons i would make a good logistics commander in a war...told him i am at war..with the supermarkets and all the thieving companies that want to part us from our hard earned cash...its us or them and i am going to WIN.
right off to get sorted out...
remember "No retreat No surrender"..
love you all
ftm

rachbc

we too brought a gas bbq - had our one on only one stood in the drizzle the first da we go it. Will brave some winter bbqs!

Sun trying to shine here - as long as it stays dry for my long drive today as the A17 is no fun at the best of times and downright scary in pouring rain! At least I have a lovely picnic made up and can stop at the organic farm shop for a brew and cake so can avoid the plastic services.

About to do a freezer inventory as have reached the stage were I get broken toes from lumps of solid meat falling out when I open the door. I suspect I won't have to buy meat for months. Then quick hoover round and last tidy then the house will stay tidy for 36 hours - til I get back with the kids (they have been with my parents for a week) whereupon the usual chaos will descend again

greenbee

mardatha wrote: »

Question. I love making home made chocolates and putting them in wee baskets for xmas pressies. How early could I start that ? Because last year I left it to the week before and then wasnt well and so they never got made. I have a nice cool dry back room that's great to store stuff in.

I have always been told that if I boil the cream the ganache will keep for a month or more. But even better, it freezes. So I can make up batches of milk/White/dark ganache when cream is cheap and freeze them in small bags. Then when I feel like making a batch of filled chocs I can take out a batch and flavour it as I need it. Of course I then have the fun of trying to remember which shape of which colour chocolate with which decoration is which chocolate!

Uniscots97

greenbee wrote: »

I have always been told that if I boil the cream the ganache will keep for a month or more. But even better, it freezes. So I can make up batches of milk/White/dark ganache when cream is cheap and freeze them in small bags. Then when I feel like making a batch of filled chocs I can take out a batch and flavour it as I need it. Of course I then have the fun of trying to remember which shape of which colour chocolate with which decoration is which chocolate!

do you have any recipes you can share please?

VJsmum

Walking into town last night for a family curry, i passed loads of plum trees where the plums are just dropping onto the pavement, could've cried.

Can't really pick them either as they belong to an estate of houses, not even one particular house, so there's no one to ask. Am walking in again in a bit so i might see if i can nab a few. Such a waste.

gailey_2

bonnie_bumpkins wrote: »

4 loads a week?? Is this man having a laugh at your expense :eek: I'm sure most modern washing machines are built for at least 2 or three loads per day. And if you are a family of 5 (particularly with young children and especially with a baby) then 3-4 loads a day (incl clothes, bedding, towels) sounds about right to me. As for 'commercial' what does he think you are doing, getting paid for all the laundry you do?? :mad:

Oh sorry... Hi - you don't know me, I have sneaked on here recently...

I'm usually nice but every now and again something really gets me going :rotfl: Seriously, would the DIY shop tell a bloke he could only use his drill once a day, or he would become a fully fledged tradesman?? Perhaps another visit to the shop, with children in clothes with yesterday's dinner down them, baby might be sick on him..... he needs a dose of reality.

I can't see this rant stopping :eek: so I'll say bye for now...

BBx

Wish I did get paid I be rich!Wasent his personal opinion its what the manufacturers of the machines think people do a average wash of 4loads a week god knows where they got that figure.
Reason I askedis ours is dying so when itsreplaced needs to be onewith bigger drum.need to start trying to save for new machone as its essential as launderette miles away.Hubbys never ever been in launderette.

Thourghtweather forcast nice butquite bleak.
I need to start making jam and other stuff for xmas.
we only have blackberries and plums to forahe here.
tempted to try the nettle vidka as attempting the elderberrywine.

really need to start baking and batch cook more since beenon diet finding we eat different things but kids still like theircakes and biscuits.

I have a mental list every time imoin charity shop or carboot.
i need to dust off my sewing machine and start sewing again.
want to do so much round house.
bidding on few 2nd hand bits furniture.

Havent used sc or bread machine yet and feeling guilty:(
just feel as if never enough time to do the extras but need tomake the time!

ceridwen

'Morning all....wot no sign of GreyQueen yet?

Well - having duly given a lotta thought to it - I've sent off an email in the relevant direction offering to join in some communal food-gathering from forageable fruit.

Came to the conclusion in the end that the only way to stand a chance of the "most wanted" fruit being distributed equally was to try and make it a "community venture" thing - so just a question of the "community group" letting it be known that various trees are being communally foraged and hope that works at stopping any Greedy Guts from taking the lot.....

Much prefer the idea of "some for you" and "some for you" and "some for me" and the surplus getting given to "good cause" type directions than having to try and get in for a "personal fair share" before 1 or 2 people grab the lot.

Also - have never got the nerve personally to ask householders with trees they obviously arent bothering about...but if we were asking as a group to receive as a group, etc, then I could summon up the nerve...

It aint gonna be a perfect system - because "theres always one" but I guess its the best we can do...

SDG31000

flowertotmum wrote: »

Morning all..hope your all well...
Well this bbq thing is interesting,we bought a new gas one last year,only used it once though...definately going to chat to hubby about it in the winter...loving the idea of using it on bonfire night..brilliant.

As for doing up clothes...my gran would do it all the time..sometimes you never knew what the original item was...i too inherited my grans button box...it too has old suspender clasps in it..my tots love playing with them...so many colours and styles..

Not doing much today,got my dd heather and my gd hollie coming for the day...hoping the weather holds out...got lots of washing to catch up on...

O and revenge is sweet...sonic cat deterents are the way to go....haha nearly had a tena oops moment this morning...sooo funny...

Though i was the only one craving winter foods...soups and stews yummy..all pipng hot served with crusty HM bread...think autumn is definately on the way..my cherry tree has lots of red leaves,hazelnuts dropping like flies and my poor conker tree looks almost naked...there was a nip in the air last night and this morning...heads down,shoulders up..coz here it comes ladies...hubby laughing at me , he reckons i would make a good logistics commander in a war...told him i am at war..with the supermarkets and all the thieving companies that want to part us from our hard earned cash...its us or them and i am going to WIN.
right off to get sorted out...
remember "No retreat No surrender"..
love you all
ftm

*puts my Wallace and Gomit tea cosy on my head, wraps a wonky homemade scarf around my neck, fills my pockets with carrier bags (for foraging) and jars of homemade jam and hoists my broom over my shoulder*
Private SDG reporting for duty.

I wish I could get my grocery bills down, but cooking for 14 people once a fortnight adds £60-80 to my monthly bill. Our friends, their kids and grandson come for dinner and it's like feeding a swarm of locust. I wouldn't stop doing it any time soon however. My friend's life makes Eastenders look tame at the moment and she needs the break. It puts my worries into perspective if nothing else.