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

Charis

GreyQueen wrote: »

These low-energy bulbs last for a long time but they gradually lose their wattage so won't be outputting the advertised strength of light. I get around this by trading out the most used one (sitting room) for the least-used one (bedroom) as they go west.

What a good idea! I have two very elderly bulbs in the hall that don't seem to have dimmed at all, but I bought eight 'golf ball' size energy saving lamps and after a year one died. When I replaced it with new, the difference in brightness was staggering. The others had lost around 50% of their luminance. I thought it was my imagination that although they are in a ceiling fitting and about six inches (15cm ) from the ceiling, they don't seem to light it up as much as a couple of candles between them. I cant use the conventional size bulbs, as they look ridiculous.

Pink.

ceridwen wrote: »

Hot already....now where were my cordial recipes?

Anyone got any good ones?

Here you go ceridwen

Anyone know how to make homemade fruit cordial?

Elderflower Cordial

This isn't a cordial but I just love homemade lemonade...

6 lemons (juiced)
zest of two lemons
1 cup sugar
6 cups water

Combine in a saucepan and bring to the boil until the sugar is disolved. Cool, strain and refrigerate.

Pink

katieowl_2

GreyQueen wrote: »

Mardatha, I can only muster circa 1000 teabags cos I gave 2 big bags to Mum as I've decided they've changed the blend of Sainsbug's Red Label and I don't like it so much anymore.

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

I've been waiting two years for Sainsburys to get built here, and Spring 2012 is the latest date! Red label tea bags are the one thing all visitors are instructed to bring!

Thank goodness I've trained my self to drink Mr T's fairtrade or Cafe direct's offering (whichever is cheapest on the day!)

Kate

katieowl_2

Charis wrote: »

What a good idea! I have two very elderly bulbs in the hall that don't seem to have dimmed at all, but I bought eight 'golf ball' size energy saving lamps and after a year one died. When I replaced it with new, the difference in brightness was staggering. The others had lost around 50% of their luminance. I thought it was my imagination that although they are in a ceiling fitting and about six inches (15cm ) from the ceiling, they don't seem to light it up as much as a couple of candles between them. I cant use the conventional size bulbs, as they look ridiculous.

You've reminded me...on the list for today is to change the bulb in the dining room! Glow worm in distress would cover it nicely...it takes about 15 minutes to get bright, in the meantime you've found what you wanted and gone. Pretty daft to have to stick the light on in advance to see where your dinner is too :rotfl:

Kate

Charis

Worrying increase in numbers using food banks, particularly young people. Apparently we have a million unemployed young people and there is a 21st century Jarrow March in progress, with some of the great grandchildren of the original Jarrow Marchers in the procession. That figure of one million doesn't include those who don't sign on because they are part of a couple and the other partner's (often minimal) income is deemed enough to keep them both, so no unemployment benefits. Such a sad start to adult life for a whole generation. Note that the food banks are being stocked from the food industry's 'surplus food'.

Mrs_Chip

Katie

Making the trip westwards next week - I coul bring a stash of RL teabags with me

Softstuff

lizzyb1812 wrote: »

Non food poker - are we talking total size of stash or size of stash per person in the home? Cos 200 loorolls for 4 people is 50 each and a singly with 70 has more per person - perhaps Softstuff could ajudicate on this? I hasten to add that I will not be competing as the evidence is already there that my efforts are puny compared to some :rotfl:

I'm not adjudicating, I may yet thrash the rest of them at this game. I have over 14 kilos of long grain rice hidden up my sleeve.

Thanks for the lemonade reminder Pink-winged. I haven't made lemonade in years, and it's just coming into cheap lemon time here.

I read the most wonderful dessert cookery book today over at MIL's. It's Sweet treats by Pamela Clark, an Australian Womans Weekly book. The recipes mostly have very common ingredients, but there's some new and interesting thing in it. Not sure if it'd be available at British libraries, but worth a look. I'd give the ISBN, but that seems to bring up 2 different titles, which is odd.

mardatha

Mardatha my teabag total is 1920 hows yours:)
********************
2000 and will be 2240 tomorrow ! :cool:

kidcat

I fold at food poker and non food poker - you are all way too good for me.

Grandma - GQ is right any accident with an injury should always be reported to the police. And you OH is right too, you need a trip to A&E to check you over for other injuries and also as a record for insurance purposes. Hope you feel better soon.

I am finding it very difficult to budget at the moment - prices rises almost daily it seems and it does scare me.

Its DD 17th birthday next saturday and we have agreed to a party here - again its a nightmare as all the other parties in her group have involved copious amounts of alcohol - which I do not agree with, nor can I afford. So I am going to try to make some cocktail type drinks with small amounts of alcohol in to make the budget stretch and hopefully prevent any drunken teenagers - I have arranged my dad to be on serving duties - and he is very strict!! So any recipes for cocktails/punches would be gratefully appreciated. Am going to serve Softstuffs chickpea curry for the veggies and a meaty one for the others - with the HM naaan recipe posted a few days back.

smileyt_2

I'm very frustrated as I wanted to go on the march in Manchester today, but I have trapped a nerve in my leg and it burns. Plus my calves are so stiff and that's the start of my plantar fascitis, so I daren't spend the day standing around/marching as otherwise I might be setting myself up for weeks of pain. I will just have to be there in spirit. What a missed opportunity - I can never get to the ones in London because of dog care issues and now that it's on my doorstep I can't get to this one either, aaaargh!

Well, if I can't march, I'd better do something useful here. Might go and count my teabags ....... :rotfl: