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

ceridwen

kittie wrote: »

suzid :grouphug: I hope the positive energy comes back to you and dh soon. So many `users` in this world. I so hope that there is karma and that the quiet helpful ones get rewarded one day. You should change your DH`s e mail address and only give it to good friends and family. Nasty e mails can grind you down

I'll echo that thought to change the email address if at all possible.

I would think this is one of those (few) occasions where I think a little "white lie" is justified - if need be. That is - telling the employer that he could no longer afford an Internet connection - so the p.c. has gone.

There are times where one is entitled to say "No" - and it doesnt come easy to refuse requests/emails/etc when one is used to being "helpful" and thinks that is the way to be basically. But - there ARE times where the person asking/contacting is being downright "cheeky" (or worse:cool:) in trying to make a request/maintain contact. At that point - the answer is a resounding NO - or total silence.

That employer is breaking the law re days off and I do suggest putting a query in re this on the Employment Forum on MSE. There ARE legal limits as to how many hours one can work/days one can work without a day off and it sounds very much like that employer is breaking the law.

I admit to getting really upset/angry at just how many employers are "taking the michael" over the last few years and just relying on a workforce that is too cowed into submission by fear for their jobs to turn round and go "The law does NOT allow you to do that" or "Try it - and wait to get your appointment with the Employment Tribunal:D".

So - SUZID - I do hope things work out for your OH soon and do put up that query on the Employment Board. There is a barrister called SarEl who frequently comes onto that Board - shes straighter-talking than I am even <ahem>:o - but her heart is in the right place and she might well come in with advice on this.

*************************

On a different topic - for those interested in fermented foods - I've found me a new blog - with some very tasty-looking recipes involving these:p

http://blog.culturedfoodlife.com/

ceridwen

SUZID

Check this out -

www.tuc.org.uk/tuc/rights_main.cfm

Rosanna79

Hi everyone,
It's been great to hear everyone's cat stories and like Mardatha I always talk to cats on my walks around my local area if they don't come and say hello first. Sure someone's going to call me a batty old bag one of these days ! I just love cats!

Our little princess is sleeping a lot, eating a lot because of the steroids and continues to enjoy OH's lap as much as possible. I was concerned that he hadn't really taken in the seriousness of the situation but he does seem to realise that her days are limited although we hope to have her for a little while yet.

It's 2 1/2 years since her brother died and earlier this year a very 'polite' boy came visiting, apparently well nourished but always hungry. He earned the nickname of Henry Hoover on account of his constantly hoovering up any leftovers!! Our cat decided she didn't like him and his quiet meows and subservient behaviour weren't getting him anywhere. He disappeared for a while. This morning as our little girl climbed up on the wheelie bin he appeared miaowing very loudly as if to say 'I'm starving' but studiously avoiding the wheelie bin! He polished off a tray of dry food that ours won't eat any more and went on his way.

It's almost as if he senses there'll be a vacancy coming up and wants to put himself on the waiting list!! Quite bizarre- he has no collar so at some point in the future I would have to get him scanned for a microchip. Our last cats adopted us so perhaps 'word gets around' on the cat network!!

Ceridwen
OH calculated that we've around 400 square foot of beds etc that is probably doubled by all our containers so perhaps upto 800 square foot. The fruit and veg yield of 250 lb weight was quite good last year I think.

It's a constant learning curve each year as to what does well and where. We've learned some more valuable lessons this year to help plan an improved layout for next year. Tumbling tomatoes seem to be a real winner here and as long as I don't grow yellow ones OH is happy- he seems to regard yellow tomatoes along with purple carrots and green cauliflowers as not 'proper' for some reason!!

We also grow a particularly compact cabbage called Minicole which suits 1-2 people and can stand for upto 4 months. SIL was saying how enormous a lot of cabbages are these days and how impossible she finds it to fit them in her fridge. Giant veg are OK if you've a family to feed but are not so cost effective in the 1-2 person household.

I'm having to study Kitchen Garden magazine on how to make a 'clamp' for storing carrots as there'll be loads yet. I've dried the onions for weeks now and will plait them soon. Our local vicar turned up one day 3 years ago and taught me how. He's an ex Grimsby Docker with a very practical turn of mind- very useful chap to know with a wealth of 'grow your own' knowledge.

The potatoes will be eaten before winter but have saved a bit on the weekly shop. Will get a big sack in before winter as it's handy to farm shops around here. OH is a potato head refusing to touch pasta or rice so it's taties all round at our house! One experiment seems to be working well as I grew lots of sweet pepper plants from seed. I use a lot of these and they're not cheap so it's great to see about 10 already well on the way to being the right size. They're a 3 rd crop in our 8x6 foot greenhouse.- Had limited success last year.

Has anyone noticed prices escalating at Heron- a local freezer shop to use? Oh was quite indignant at the % increase last week.

Nuala
I've used Lakeland Poach pods for a few years now, having previously owned a metal poacher pan. I bought the poach pods at a local DIY/kitchen type shop of all places . I boil the kettle first and pour the water into a pan, quickly spray a squirt of a 1 calorie oil into the pod, then break the egg into a separate cup first before pouring into the greased pod.

I then place the pod carefully into the pan, taking care that the pod is as still as possible in the water before turning the gas ring on under it. Putting a lid on the saucepan I bring the pan back to a low boil on a medium heat. It takes a couple of minutes or so to poach the egg to my taste and I've never found it a problem to lift the pod from the pan By hand.

Sounds like a lot of clat I know but I do find it works well enough. It really depends on how much of a hurry you're in before breakfast or whatever - but then I'm retired so I guess I take everything at a steadier speed these days??:rotfl:

Managed to do a 2 mile local walk again today and took in the local charity shops en route as well as the fabric shop in our high street. Thinking with all the double glazing to make ceiling to floor winter curtains, preferably in fleece. Fabric shop seems the best bet to get something suitable, that'll fit- It's straight sewing so should be a breeze ( I Hope) -

Initial outlay should save on fuel bills as despite being completely double glazed, cavity wall insulated and loft insulated the bills were still large last year. Boiler works about 87 % efficiency which the regular service man tells us is fine so it'll be watch this space this winter I guess

ceridwen

Rosanna79 wrote: »

Hi everyone,
It's been great to hear everyone's cat stories and like Mardatha I always talk to cats on my walks around my local area if they don't come and say hello first. Sure someone's going to call me a batty old bag one of these days ! I just love cats!

Our little princess is sleeping a lot, eating a lot because of the steroids and continues to enjoy OH's lap as much as possible. I was concerned that he hadn't really taken in the seriousness of the situation but he does seem to realise that her days are limited although we hope to have her for a little while yet.

It's 2 1/2 years since her brother died and earlier this year a very 'polite' boy came visiting, apparently well nourished but always hungry. He earned the nickname of Henry Hoover on account of his constantly hoovering up any leftovers!! Our cat decided she didn't like him and his quiet meows and subservient behaviour weren't getting him anywhere. He disappeared for a while. This morning as our little girl climbed up on the wheelie bin he appeared miaowing very loudly as if to say 'I'm starving' but studiously avoiding the wheelie bin! He polished off a tray of dry food that ours won't eat any more and went on his way.

It's almost as if he senses there'll be a vacancy coming up and wants to put himself on the waiting list!! Quite bizarre- he has no collar so at some point in the future I would have to get him scanned for a microchip. Our last cats adopted us so perhaps 'word gets around' on the cat network!!

Ceridwen
OH calculated that we've around 400 square foot of beds etc that is probably doubled by all our containers so perhaps upto 800 square foot. The fruit and veg yield of 250 lb weight was quite good last year I think.

Got my calculator out then - and that came to 3.2 lbs of food per square foot on average that you have produced per year. Hmm...reet...extrapolated upwards that would be 32 lbs per 10 square feet - so a "growing space" of 5' x 2' would mean 16 lbs of food per year (ie not bad:D). Hmmm...goes off pondering...

So - 3 plot-lets of 5' x 2' would be 48 lbs per annum. Make that 5 lbs desired each week per person would be 25' x 2' worth of space......hmmm....well....all else being equal....

************************

...and re the cat....think we'd better "put out the welcome mat" then for the new one....sounds like he/she has worked that out as to where their new home will be:rotfl:. Congratulations on your new "resident" in advance:rotfl:

***********************

Food thought for the day - decided to take some tatty old vegetables and steam them. Mix in a bit of sauted onion and garlic. Top with chopped up tomato and put some tahini sauce over the top and finish with breadcrumbs. 20 minutes in oven and decision that it was going to be either clidgy and a bit yuk or otherwise. 'Twas nice...nom...nom.....will be doing that again...still sitting here licking lips...

Mrs_Veg_Plot

Mrs_Veg_Plot wrote: »

Afternoon all

Today have made autumn tomato chutney, spicy red onion chutney and apple chutney. Just need to clean the kitchen up (I am a messy cook) and then start blanching and freezing runner beans and a very large cabbage.

Forget the very big cabbage, when I cut it open about a third had been munched away, probably by the catterpillar and slug I found inside it :mad:.

All jams and chutneys are labelled and OH is busy trying to fit them on the shelves in the garage.

7_week_wonder

lucielle wrote: »

Please can I have the recipie for the chutney?
Thanks
L

This comes with the warning that I haven't actually tasted it yet but..........

Spiced plum chutney

675 g plums, stoned and quartered
450 g onions chopped
225 g cooking apples, peeled, cored and chopped
1/2 pint malt vinegar
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground ginger
good grind of black pepper
2 teaspoons ground allspice
1 cinnamon stick
115 g sultanas
175 g soft brown sugar

Put it all in a big preserving pan. Bring to the boil and simmer, uncovered until thick (it took about 50 minutes)

Spoon into sterilised jars and store for at least 4 - 6 weeks.

This made 4 x 340g jars with a little bit left over.

Not much else to report here. I think I will have to put a call out at work for old jam jars as I've only got about a dozen left and I still have: plum jam, rowan jelly, mint jelly, blackberry and apple jam to make. Eek!

Any suggestions for a "Different" filling for a chocolate sponge cake? I'm on cake duty at work this Friday and I'm making a new recipe (cous-cous cake - stay tuned for details if it's any good) but I want to do a tried and trusted recipe as well. So I thought I'd make an easy chocolate sponge, but faniced doing something a bit different for the filling.

scottishminnie

Back after a busy weekend. I had a spot of last minute babysitting last night to help a friend out so in an effort to entertain a 6 year old I thought she could help me decorate some cup cakes I had made earlier. Not having any children of my own I thought that as long as I wrapped her in a pinny we wouldn't have much mess - gee, was I wrong.:eek: My kitchen ended up like a scene from a bad kids movie and she managed to adorn herself in edible glitter before rubbing some butter icing in her hair. I guess I should have thought about tying it up first:)
Despite the mess we both had a ball and she left very happy and clutching some reasonably passable cupcakes. I was exhausted - I take my hat off to all you mums out there, I don't know how you do it.

For those of you suffering with various debilitating conditions and illnesses I can only offer my thoughts. I tend to take my fitness and health for granted and it doesn't do me any harm to be reminded how fortunate I am.

I'm working my way through the freezer at the moment so we are having some "interesting" meals. Tonight we should have had cream of vegetable soup and then chilli. Instead we had chilli then pineapple cream whip. The label on the cream whip must have fallen off and the soup was an old label. Hubby thinks it's hilarious - mystery dinners!

VJsmum

Oh we sometimes have mystery dinners, too!

TOnight, tho we had chicken stew made with things that would have just been thrown in the old days (apart from 2 tins toms and a carrot!)becuase they were a bit past it. Iwas truly amazed at how much meat came off 2 chicken carcasses.

Have decluttered the porch of old shoes and we can actually get in it now, and there is room in the shoe cupboard! Gave it a lick of paint while we are at it with some old paint found in the garage. Simples!

purplelila-2007

mizzbiz wrote: »

Just musing through this in the Daily Fail http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2018401/Families-face-fall-living-standards-bad-1970s.html

I've also been reading the 'Old Money' thread, which is fabulous. I think there are a fair few on here that remember how things were, how to survive etc, judging by that thread. On the other hand, I know most of my pals would just not be able to cope if things went backwards like that.

I think, personally, that everytime we have an economic recession, the following 'boom' is even better than the last - just looking through history a bit and joining some dots. SO I suppose we just have to hunker down, try and manage and, like you say, a bright light at the end of the tunnel is on its way!

We're still waiting for 'recovery' out of the recession though . As an adult this will be my first recession ,as I was a child through the 1990s and a baby in the 1980s.
I get the impression having spoken to people who have experienced recessions in the past that this one is longer , and deeper? And just worse all round ??

ginnyknit

Scottish Minnie that sounds like an excellent evening, I bet your little friend will ask to come to you more often

We often have mystery meals as I forget to label them, usually chilli and pasta cos I think its spag bol :rotfl:

Had a few hours to myself today, thanks to Dd's fella for taking OH fishing for a while. So ran into Manchester for fluffy socks from Primarni and totally resisted the temptation of the Northern Quarter craft shops ( mainly because my feet were tired and I was very hungry). Other than that just the usual trying not to spend money day. Need to refill the freezer this week so will need some bargains from somewhere, am going to make basic mince, lentil and veg stews to add sauces to at a later date. Found that if I whizzed up onions, carrots and the odd spud that are looking sad in the processor they padded out meals really well.

Off to look for a recipe to use up a whoopsied pack of ricotta