The Tougher Thread continues.....

Mrs_Chip

Evening Laydees ... and gent'lmun (once you are settled in Smiley might have a couple of questions for you ).

So many new peeps, how much more fun are we going to have!

We took advantage of a dryish day to continue our assult on the Ash tree mountains in our garden, so knacked again! Also got a bit of the summerhouse treated with wood preservative, so a good days work all round (bought the tin of stuff 18 months ago :rotfl:).

Home-made chilli tonight, Mr Lidl mince bought half price last time it was on offer, on nachos with cheese on top. Yummy and cheap!

I need some good cake recipes please - it is our neighbours 86th birthday next week, he has been so good to us (took out our defunct wood burner and sealed off the pipes, pop riveted some stuff on the van that needed fixing before EV came - at 86 !!!!!) so going to have a little afternoon tea party - please post me some nice ones! He likes a cream cake I am told so going to try making some choc eclairs, and will do scones, but open to all other options.

Clare - Buffy's great isn't it! Envy you working though all those episodes!

VJsmum

Since i moved my place of work 2 months ago we, ridiculously, have 2 cars sat on the drive all day as we both take the train. One of those is a company car :rotfl:

However, there are times that we need 2 cars. I am sure it would still work out cheaper to hire a car or use taxis for those occasions but somehow we can't bring ourselves to get rid of one. We are using a lot less petrol though.

We are having HM soup and HM bread tonight - the second night this week, as the freezers are so full i don't really know what's in them, let alone trying to fit more in. We had to have some whoopsied curry from mr M last night as i couldn't fit it in the freezer, but i couldn't resist as it was a third of its original price. It is a bit daft to buy stuff cos you can't get in the freezer to see what's in there.:rotfl:

Still, the soup is an excuse to use up DDs cake she made yesterday as pudding - it went a bit wrong but i'm not chucking it. A gallon of custard will cover the defects

I am ploughing thro the do we / don't we solar panel threads at the mo - such a lot to consider.

Mrs_Optimist

Absolutely LOVING this thread peeps.

Have had a lovely day off work today. Visited my parents, took mum shopping, hoovered the house (ahem well half the house) and have freezer meals for tea so I don't have to cook! Now, freezer meals in ths house are leftovers from another meal, put in tupperware boxes and frozen - so most definately NOT of the expensive shop brought variety!). We have a choice between us of 1 x corned beef hash, 1 x Chicken Curry & Rice, 1 x Spag Bol and 1 x Chilli & Rice. Will wait to see what OH, DD, DS choose and I will have whatever meal is left. Also bought a chocolate orange fudge cake today, reduced to a quid, which I will have as an early birthday cake (I will be - ahem - 38 on Saturday). So all in all, a lovely, relaxing, frugal day. Looking forward to a few glasses of vino later whilst DH is out at footy, and I may well come back and bore you all to tears with my lifestory !!

It is so true, you don't need loads of money to enjoy life, it is the simpler pleasures that make life pleasant.

Gingermillie

Hi, another long time lurker crawling out the woodwork. I think this is the third it's tough thread I've followed so I do feel like I know a lot about you already.
As a bit of background I'm 27 and live with my OH and a small evil genius of a dog. I love cooking from scratch and learned most of what I know about cooking, housekeeping, gardening and dog wrangling from watching my parents and a tough as nails great aunt who we lived with for years. She's survived both world wars and spent the second one feeding the firemen while Southampton was being bombed so I'm pretty sure she could knit a meal for 5000 out of grass clippings if she put her mind to it!

Frugalista

HariboJunkie wrote: »

Would like to see Frugalista posting more often though cos I can see her lurking. :cool::D

Ooops!! So you spotted me hiding in the corner :o:o:wave::o:o:D:D.

I'll try to make more of an effort in future .

Loving the new thread - and all the newbies posting, too.

redlady_1

Mrs Chip...the best cake I ever made (and am often asked to make) is Mary Berrys chocolate mousse cake! It is a heart attack on a plate but if you like choccie then this is the baby for you!!!

lizzyb1812

HJ - love the cat links :rotfl:

Cleggie - You deserve a night off after your good samaritan day. Hope your pal's finger is OK.

A quick trip to drop some stuff at the flat my friend recently moved into turned into a 6 hour marathon trying to get into the flat after they locked themselves out :eek: Miscommunication between the HA and the locksmith led to long delays and much waiting for phone calls that never came. Still, it's sorted now, but I'm cream crackered. Cleggie I know just what you mean about waiting around being tiring!

HM soup with HM bread for tea - was going to be squash soup made with the recently harvested squashes until I remembered a couple of pots of an earlier batch still lurked in the freezer. Must remember to eat as well as freeze stuff This year's squash have hardened off very nicely so I'll store those to use in the winter months.

suzid

Wow, a new thread, and so many new people to get to know, how fantastic.:T:j:j Welcome one and all :wave:.

HJ count me out when it comes to cleaning this thread as I'm already up to my elbows in disinfectant and anti-bacterial spray as A1 is going through a 'difficult' time. I'll say no more :eek:

Well folks - just got off the phone with DS2 (in the RAF) who has just heard he's been promoted to Corporal :T:j:D. So pleased for him and isn't it odd when we were all talking about the forces yesterday. He's now got to wait and see if he's going to be posted to another base, but hoping not as he only moved to the current one in January.

Crumbs I thought our budget was tight Kimsmum but I salute you managing on such a small one. As long as we all support each other, it doesn't seem so bad, just a challenge to attack with gusto and ingenuity (and regular instalments from smileyt to keep us laughing).

Pay day tomorrow so I'm going to get the main stock and then just get fresh items each week till next pay day. Finally decided on the house insurance so won't have to tackle that job for another year. It was less than I'd feared after getting such a big hike up with the car Ins.

So pleased your DS got his travel sorted Katieowl, was feeling quite worried on your behalf.

Have a good evening all.

Northern_Lassy

Hello...another de-lurking newbie:j

I love this thread so much x

DD was off sick yesterday so we had a girly couple of hours making fleecy slipper socks from a rather fetching but very old primarni dressing gown....so please may I stay ??:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

SDG31000

Mrs Chip I reccommend Nigella's butterscotch layer cake. It's my favourite cake ever, so I daren't make it as I scoff the lot. It's one of those cakes that is incredibly rich, but you find yourself reaching for another slice. It's in the How to be a Domestic Goddess book.