Not mentioning the T word at all

CCP

I'm sorry to come on here and whinge, I really am, but I went out to my car earlier and it's got a flat tyre for the second time in a month. :mad: The AA refused to help because my spare tyre is still flat from last time - apparently they won't re-inflate a flat tyre, only replace it with your own spare :huh: - so I'm currently waiting to see if the nice man from my local independent garage can find anyone who can come round and help me. If not, I guess I'll be ringing round the very small number of my friends who drive to see if anyone's got a pump they can lend me. (And, if I find out that the two flat tyres aren't a coincidence, woe betide whoever's been letting them down! :mad:)

Anyway, cars aside:

Mrs Chip - that's really good news. I'd be tempted to come and help myself in exchange for some HM gingerbread!

PIC - I've considered getting rid of my own TV licence several times as I usually only watch non-live TV: sadly I'm addicted to Formula 1 motor racing and decided that that's worth the licence fee to me (sad, isn't it? ).

Ceirdwyn - I've been meaning to say that I love the quote in your signature as that's my favourite TP book. It's part of my annual Christmas routine: put up tree, make mulled wine, settle down with wine and rather dog-eared copy of Hogfather.

katieowl_2

Car failed MOT needs welding, but hey, at least here in Wales they can do it. We couldn't find a garage in London to do welding for love nor money. He'll call me back later with the damage after the welders had a look at it.

Went and stocked up on working dog food VAT free from the farmers co-op earlier, and got a doz of those fake logs from Aldi, the delivery box held a dozen so I just hefted one into the trolly.

Checked out Mr T's clubcard deals...can manage to get some 'finest' wines on two for £12 - so £6 a bottle, but if I use my double up voucher that's basically costing me £3,so that looks like a deal? Couldn't see anything else to be honest on the small electricals, or personal electricals I'd use. I think I'll wait though to go to my nearest big store next week, and do the deed in person, as I want to make sure they actually HAVE those wine deals on the shelf before I cash in the vouchers... 2 for £12 is valid until 22nd, and you have to cash in the double ups by 1st Dec. I'd have liked to do something with them other than pickle my liver...but hey, I won't be drinking all of it myself

Also give everyone a heads-up I noticed last night that I'd not got any Clubcard points for my Mobile...I happened to find the last statement too, and there weren't any on that either. I got through to the right department today, and she confessed there had been some problems with that...so if you have a Mr T's mobile service check you've been given points for your top-ups etc? I still don't know how long it's been like it for, but she says they will backdate any points they find I've not been given for six months.

Kate

rising_from_the_ashes

Well, I have today made myself a promise .... I will never clean the kitchen floor with a nailbrush again! I have arthritis in my hands and I can hardly move my fingers today:( (so will be brief!) - apologies if I don't respond to everything I want to! (I am reading tho':)).

DM arrived with the dresser - it's fab and I'm in the process of filling it up:D.

Of course, I've had to reorganise every cupboard in the kitchen - there was no order to any before and everything was just crammed in where I could squeeze it in.

Having the extra space has meant I can now have properly organised cupboards:T all my baking stuff is in one (was 3 before:eek:), tinned, staples etc etc.

Hoping it'll make keeping track easier & help with grocery shopping as I'll not think I need something and then discover I've already got a load in another cupboard!:)

Mrs_Chip

Katie - What are the Aldi logs please, how do they work and how much? .

Sorry to hear about the car, but at least there is someone who will do it, and not at London prices. We have found that when a welsh person says something will be expensive, it's never that bad, as we are used to the awful cost of getting anything done in the SE.

CCP - We were always getting flat tyres in London as there are so for some reason the roads are littered with discarded nails - used to cost us a fortune as the tyres were nearly £100 each, and when it's a new tyre that cant be fixed it's infuriating!

The gingerbread recipe is so easy and quick, I taught OH to make it as I kept having to send it into his office. Its good as a pud too so very versatile.

I am paying keen attention to all the info on floors, I hate doing them here as they seem to take forever to dry out (due to the damp air I guess) so dont want anything that is going to be difficult to clean.

CCP

I've just had a phone call from the lovely, lovely man at the garage: I've got to drop the keys off on my way to work tomorrow and he'll then come round to my flat and fix the tyres for me while I'm at work. What an angel. :A

lizzyb1812

I had lunch outdoors today like Mrs Chip - took a sandwich and a small flask of tea and the pup and went to one of my favourite local walking areas. Walked a bit, had lunch, walked a bit more, then home. I can't walk him for long as he's so young, but the picnic kept us both out in the fresh air and sunshine. Red sky tonight but forecast does not back that up - back to cloud tomorrow. Oh well, the autumn sun was nice whilst it lasted.

PIC - I believe that if you have your TV detuned you can avoid having to pay the TV licence. There was definitely something on here about it a while ago.

Commiserations to those with vehicle problems - I've had my fair share of those, though not recently, touch wood. It makes you realise how much you rely on them.

Good to read about flooring alternatives too - the rhino-stuff sounds like it's worth finding out more about.

It's inventory day tomorrow - freezer and cupboards - as I keep buying what I've already got :( Then it's back to proper menu planning.

katieowl_2

Mrs_Chip wrote: »

Katie - What are the Aldi logs please, how do they work and how much? .

Sorry to hear about the car, but at least there is someone who will do it, and not at London prices. We have found that when a welsh person says something will be expensive, it's never that bad, as we are used to the awful cost of getting anything done in the SE.

Aldi logs are these: http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/special_buys3_21767.htm
Basically they are giant firelighters...they burn for two hours. Not very frugal but for one of those really cold miserable days when you need heat now (like if you have a cold) they get it going quick, and although it says not to burn anything else with them, I have and I'm still here I bung on a bit of real wood as they go down, and it's enough heat to catch even quite a damp bit of wood. The ones Mr T sell are £3.99 or something?

Very true about Wales, they are good like that here, and the first option is always to attempt to fix it? The OTHER car just cut out on me when I went to pick DS up from the bus, I stalled as I'm not used to driving it and the electrics cut out, think it's because OH hasn't driven it much, and I had everything electric running We got a push over to the side, and DS and I managed to get it started by turning everything off. Think we'll pull the battery out tonight and charge it.

Mrs_Chip wrote: »

The gingerbread recipe is so easy and quick, I taught OH to make it as I kept having to send it into his office. Its good as a pud too so very versatile.

And do you have a link for that recipe? We loves gingerbreads :T


Kate

Justamum

Mrs_Chip wrote: »

Lovely OTMen came at 8 and did a lot of rubbing of chins and measuring. After several different ideas that included winching a tank down in a net, they think they will be able to take the old tank out through the house and bring a new one in the same way (subject to more measuring being done back at base) :j:j:j. It would appear this option is substantially cheaper than the others :j:j:j and they can possibly do it Monday :j:j:j.

I have promised copious quantities of HM cake (I will make DS Damp Gingerbread, infallable and delicious) and a victoria sponge I think. Twinks are also in order, they would charm any workmen!

At least you should have oil in time for the really cold weather! I haven't been able to catch up, but did the neighbour's insurance people agree to cover the cost?

You sound really lovely making all those HM goodies for the men What is Damp Gingerbread though?

Mrs_Chip

Damp Gingerbread is a recipe from Delia's Book of Cakes - heres a link to a blog with it on, my book is in London.

http://www.thriftygobbler.com/recipes/article/damp-gingerbread/

I ice it with a runny glace icing made with lemon juice,and scatter chopped stem ginger over. I never have to cook it for as long as the recipe says, you need to check it and turn the oven down a bit if it is cooking too quickly - mine usually takes 25 mins! And the mix is very very runny!

Thanks for the link to the logs Katie, I will look out for them!

I don't think the neighbour's insurance are going to play ball. as the bill is (hopefully) going to be under 4 figures we will not worry quite so much if they don't. We will try though, as a matter of principle!

katieowl_2

That's so weird Mrs Chips...one of the other gobblings on her blog is "Why I'll never eat pine nuts again" That happened to ME a couple of months ago! Extremely unpleasant, and like her, I discovered it by googling "Horrible taste in mouth" thinking I had some exotic disease
Had I eaten pine nuts recently? yes I HAD...and it's not something I've eaten much of in the last few years. A packet of mixed fruit and nuts had them in, and they were coated with a sticky glaze so I'd have never noticed if the nuts themselves tasted odd...it lasted about a week. Made eating a rather unpleasant experience, instead of the deep joy it is usually!

Kate