A new 'tougher' thread... and so it continues

rosieben

taurusgb - sorry meant to say in my earlier post but got excited by the NL - will be thinking of you and sending positive for tomorrow


I'm glad my memories of multi coloured NL's are right, I remember thinking how beautiful it was, thanks for the replies

modern_millie_2

Hi all, been AWOL for a few days, hope everyone is OK and surviving the weather.

taurusgb, best of luck for tomorrow. Hope to see you back on here soon.

Gailey, nice to hear from you again - you sound as busy as ever!

GQ, hope your labrynthitis is better - had it in my twenties, felt life I was falling down drunk half the time.

Reading your posts with interest, Grandma, as we are also hoping to move next year and looking at low cost ways of sprucing up the old place. Some emulsioning done, made new curtain for the hall from same fabric as we have in the living room, think we have had too many different colours in the past, so trying to simplify. Need to refinish the wooden worktops and maybe put doors on the kitchen units - these are open with baskets atm. Maybe a new cheap carpet, or may have to make do with cleaning the old ones. Fabric remnants for cushion covers! Should keep me busy for a while.

I don't know what to think about Europe and propping up the Euro - can see problems either way, either becoming too isolated or banking sector too vulnerable. Think we need Europe for our exports though. Ho hum. Awaiting developments.

Forgot to mention Byatt, hope you get your meter problem sorted soon.

Watch out for that weather everyone.

Rainy-Days

I read in the newspaper today that many people over 40% of them will go into debt one way or another to get through Christmas. It just beggars belief really.

I try and space things out as much as I can for Christmas and birthdays and that is really how we muddle through it, but to go into debt - thats just madness. I have been buying Christmas food gradually over the weeks. We do not have children so I guess we win a bit more on the heads up side of things there. I also put £200.00 away in the bank to cover us through January so that the food shopping is paid for in cash and not being hammered on the credit card. One of our neighbours works for M&S in the food section on the tills and she said that you wouldn't believe how much people rely upon the credit cards during this season. It all has to be paid for.

I got all our Christmas cards posted off today second class so they will get those in good time. Just makes a little difference to planning ahead and not having to use first class at the last minute.

We will have a comfortable Christmas and hopefully a January 2012 as well knowing that we have a 'buffer zone' of cash to tide us over until next pay day. The sales money I have set aside as well so I can pretty much feel okay about that, but I have set my limit and I am not moving it.

katieowl_2

tink1981 wrote: »

Can't remember who mentioned it but was wondering how you make mango chutney with nectarines? Is it the as a mango chutney recipe but just using the same amount nectarine?? Spotted some on whoopsie earlier and need to pop back for milk so thought I might pick some up and give it a go if there are any left.

That was me! I kind of scaled a recipe up, worked out the g. in mangos and then used that weight of nectarines/peaches. My original recipe called for three large Mangos weighing about 4lb...but they would have to be massive to weigh that amount :eek: I used five pounds of fruit instead before skinning and stoning. They also steeped the fruit in the light brown sugar (350g) overnight first, but I didn't bother with that. I stick finely chopped chilli, Nigella seeds, tumeric, cumin and coriander seeds, stick cinnamon, mustard seeds garlic and finely chopped onion or shallot in too, original recipe also calls for fresh ginger, but not having any when I went to make it I just bunged some powdered ginger in, then it uses malt vinegar (400ml) and simmer the whole lot down to a chutney. The recipe is in the WI book of Preserves, but the modern one by Carol Tennant...think they may have it in The Works ATM.

I've now used this recipe three times, twice with peachy things, and once with actual mangos, it does taste a bit different, but not much, and it's delicious either way.|


Kate

ragz_2

Didn't go swimming. My thyroid meds seem to have messed up (or I did) and I am feeling tired and very very moody - poor kids and DH

Fuddle - We got our last rented house free cavity wall insulation (and loft, didn't qualify for the free boiler which was what I really applied for!), they were fine about it as it adds value to the house in a way and they don't have to pay for it. We went through WarmFront. It was pretty simple and rather fun to watch!

I don't understand the whole EU thing, maybe I should go and read some news...

kidcat

Taurus - sending warm wishes for tomorrow, hope all goes well.

Softstuff

Taurusgb, sending love and warm wishes, I'll be thinking of you too.

I'm in the middle of making last minute non-food gifts and still filling the freezer too.

Made a lovely appliqued hand towel yesterday. It's the first time I'd tried sort of free hand sketchy machine stitching too. Very pleased how it turned out.

Running out of ideas of things to make a bit. No-one here would like the novelty gifts that seem to be popular in England (Reindeer poop etc), so I'm a bit restricted.

Hobsons_Choice

Taurusgb: Hope all goes well tomorrow.
Ragz, I'm on thyroxine as well but some days it just doesn't seem to work - so neither do I.
Tink: Hope you're feeling better soon.
Hugs and Jingle Bells to all that need them.
Rain and strong winds here tonight in central England, batten down the hatches everyone.

oldtractor

I'm another thyroxine taker.

elona

I am hypothyroid too but things seem to have settled a bit- fingers crossed.