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

Igamogam

Ditto with the crab apple jelly!

Igamogam

Mrs_Chip wrote: »

So in the spirit of OS, can I ask what everone will be making to give as presents this Christmas - money will be tight, and I hope to have just a bit of time to make pressies rather than buy.

I will be making biscuits jellies jams chutneys and florentines. Have spent most of the year gathering together pretty boxes, jars and ribbons. We do a secret santa amongst my group of closest friends and the only rule is that it has to be homemade - some of us are good at knitting and sewing and others excel in the kitchen - its a real treat:)

boultdj

twinmom04 wrote: »

Hi I have a apple tree in my garden but they are crab apples, Not very nice to eat. any ideas (apart from giving them to my dads pigs) as to what I can do with them?

Crab apple wine or use in place of cooking apple's for chutney.And the jelly of course.

LannyLee

Igamogam wrote: »

I will be making biscuits jellies jams chutneys and florentines. Have spent most of the year gathering together pretty boxes, jars and ribbons. We do a secret santa amongst my group of closest friends and the only rule is that it has to be homemade - some of us are good at knitting and sewing and others excel in the kitchen - its a real treat:)

Can you pls post a recipe/method for the florentines as these will go brilliantly with my coffee/tea gift sets for my hampers this year, thanks

Rosanna79

OH and I have just meen around Mr T as we were in the vicinity on another matter. OH brought loads of our receipts from H/Bargains, Wilkos, Mr M and other high shops we use to compare prices. Every so often we go to Mr T as I do like the low calorie salad dressings and if as we had today we ahve money off vouchers it's worth a spend on stuff like printer cartridges. It was an interesting exercise and as we are retired these days we value having the time to do these comparisons. I guess that's one benefit of retirement / fixed income etc. Amazing how much we're actually saving by trawling all the different shops on our high street plus the weekly market wehn I'm not out walking with the W/Group.

We also took the prices per pound of the produce we've grown and harvested so far - interesting to see how much we've saved when the cost of growing is taken into account. Amazes me how much one can waste not going with the seasons- we're so used to fruit and veg ANYtime of the year and it's really costing the earth. When OH has produced yet another of his wonderful charts/ breakdowns I'll be gobsmacked I'm sure- he's a chronic insomniac so as out internet is still sead he has to find other uses for his computer!1

Thankfully this should all be sorted by this time next week and whilst I've been very glad of and amazed by my smartphone it's just not the same !

As for Thomas Hardy, I loved reading his books from being quite young and they do seem to transfer quite well to film too. When i was young student nurse on 7 nights c/o elderly ward I once read 4 of his books in the early hours between patient care. It was a long night and they kept me well awake in the small hours - I must add that I have always been an incredibly fast reader.

Anyway I must buzz off as the session in the link is finishing -

TudorRose

Not posted on here lately but still enjoying reading about what everybody is getting up to.

Been trying to use up as much stuff as possible without buying more.
Last week I looked in my wardrobe & found a skirt I hadn't worn for a couple of years so tried it on & it still fitted despite recent weight gain so it was like having a new outfit for free when teamed with a favourite top. It was graet 'shopping from the wardrobe'.
Haven't made a loaf of bread for ages but today a friend gave me a jar of damson jam so I've got one in the breadmaker at the moment so it will be homemade bread and jam for breakfast tomorrow.
I have also been trying to stick to a rule that if it costs more than £1.00 - £1.50 for anything such as cleaning materials, fruit, veg etc. I leave it or look for a cheaper alternative. It seems to work as it makes me think twice before buying.

Mrs_Chip

Hi Redlady

We are upping sticks from London and shifting to the delights of West Wales. We have bought ourselves a mobile F&C van (actually kitted out in a way that can be used for much more), and going to do regular runs to the villages, and the campsites that don't have on-site catering. I am also going to run a separate catering business, there is potential to develop this in a number of ways depending on how well the van business does. I love cooking and snuffling in cookery books, so the menu and product development side of thing will be perfect for me! As this is all a bit of a change of direction, I think it is fair to say I am bricking it!

We have gone from having a very good monthy income to zilch, which is pant-wettingly frightening, but does tend to focus the mind a little!

So being very OS indeed, watching every penny.

Charis

ceridwen wrote: »

Kittie

I think personally that I would want to see records going back thousands of years as to whether earthquakes/weather conditions/other things to do with the planet itself are any different to normal in many ways - so its possible that this is Bad News Time/its possible its the End Times the fundamentalists have been on about/its maybe just how things are and have always been and only time will tell either way as to just which it is of those things.

I am inclined to agree with Ceridwen on this. I am also comforted by the link at the top of the page. It concerns 'greys' and how they might have come from Mars. If, might, maybe, it seems and perhaps appear to be the author's favourite words. The suppositions seem to have little basis in science.

Regarding solar activity, I read only the other day that the sun is entering a quiet phase and the next twenty years will see colder weather. One of the theories may be right and the other is perhaps wrong. Or a little of both, or neither. Que sera sera.

All we can realistically do is plan for the next season and share what we have with our neighbours, as usual. It's how humans in the northern hemisphere survived the Ice Ages according to the latest theory. We retreated south as the ice sheets advanced and went back when they thawed.

I laughed when Ceridwen asked me jokingly the other day 'what is THE most valuable Lesson About Life you've learnt so far' but I reckon it must be that old Scouts' motto, Be Prepared. That and the catch phrase from Dad's Army, Don't Panic.

Charis

rachbc wrote: »

Tell me more about the school garden - my daughter starts school this sept and her school had attempted a garden before - there are 8 raised beds put in but nothing seems to be happening with them - is it run my paretns/ volunteers/ pta/ teachers? Any tips/ ideas on how to go about getting it up and running properly would be great.

I'm sure this lady would be pleased to help you. I've never met her but she runs the school garden at a local primary school and the link is to her blog. She certainly knows her stuff. If you scroll down to the 'join this site' blue button on the right hand side of the page, her contact email addy is just above it.

Congratulations to your DH, it's lovely to hear some good news :j.

HariboJunkie

rachbc wrote: »

Tell me more about the school garden - my daughter starts school this sept and her school had attempted a garden before - there are 8 raised beds put in but nothing seems to be happening with them - is it run my paretns/ volunteers/ pta/ teachers? Any tips/ ideas on how to go about getting it up and running properly would be great.

Here is a link to a post on the Greenfingered board I made a while ago. If there's anything else you want to ask please do. I've run it singlehandedly for 3 and a half years now and while it it VERY rewarding, it's exceptionally hard work and takes up alot of my time. I also do all the fundraising for it with the children. Why not approach your school board to see about rounding up some volunteers?
School gardens are vital as outdoor classrooms and teachers should be happy to encourage you.

We harvested the spuds, broad beans, mange tout, carrots and broccoli today and the children were sent home with armfuls of produce. The school canteen will cook up the rest. :j The garden is like a jungle so needs work before it's put to bed for the winter but our eco garden has been very successful and our experimental mini wildflower meadow has been brilliant.

Nice to see you Tudor Rose :hello:
Well done on your veg Rosanna.
Glad the end is in sight with the favours Ginny.
Good luck with your brave venture Mrs Chip. It sounds fab. :beer: Re Christmas gifts it sounds like you'll be very busy but to give you a few ideas this year I'm making the following for gifts; 4 different kinds of chutney, 3 different kinds of jam, 3 fruit liquers (sloe gin, blackberry vodka and wild raspberry vodka), cranberry sauce, chilli oil, wild mushroom oil, bath bombs, knitted hats and scarves and flower brooches and fabric lavender bags and various home made chocs, truffles and sweets. However I only work for myself part time and I have a low boredom threshold.
I'd better get a move on. :rotfl: