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

lizzyb1812

paidinchickens wrote: »

Boxing day last year we played Pictionary and DGD wanted a go (she was 4 at the time) after 10 minutes of doing the most detailed picture I have ever seen her draw I had to say "I give in what is it?" she replied "I don't know Nanny" and it had the whole house in hysterics for ages!!

Aw PIC that's lovely . We used to play lots of card and board games - favourites were Cluedo, Monopoly, Buccaneer and Colditz. Later on it was Scrabble and I know that my brother's competitive streak helped improve his spelling as a result.

Porridge - I've enough for 80 or so servings and as I don't use it every day that will be enough for now. Although I did put it in a bolognese this week for the first time instead of lentils and was very pleased with the result so my consumption may increase.

My pup loves it when the post arrives and tries to claim it as his so I'll remember the tip about ordering enough to make a proper parcel if I ever need to buy meds online - thanks.

Kimsmum

Had to go to the post office earlier so popped into Mr As to see how much their oats were, and they had 1kg of Porridge Oats for 75p so 10 jumped into my basket. thats all I got as didnt need anything else.

Its very cold, dark and damp here at the moment.
Hope everyone is okay:)

kidcat

Fuudle - dont stress, you have learnt a lesson about boilers which means that if you move you will have more knowledge - knowledge is power!! And you have shared said knowledge and empowered others, being an only child with a mother who has no practical capabilities whatsoever and with a dad that worked away I learnt very young how to do more practical stuff (could change a plug at 9) but have to admit I often cheat and let my dad do i t now (I figure he owes me for all the plugs I changed when he wasnt there !!!:rotfl:).
My OH now is not very practical either so I am busy passing my knowledge on to all my children boys and girls in the hope that they will pass it on too!

VJsmum

paidinchickens wrote: »

Board games are so retro/old school so I have been told :rotfl::rotfl:

As a family we always take two packs of UNO cards and normal cards with us when we go out. These have been a god send over the years especially when delayed at airports, waiting for trains, ferries etc. Having three boys with us at all times it was an easy game for all their ages.

Ooh we love Uno - and it isn't only the kids who play it. We;ve had about 10 adults playing at one time when we've been camping. I once held a hand of 52 cards :rotfl: - and i didn't have the most points at the end!!

prepareathome wrote: »

I must check and see if any yarn shops in Chester as might be worth a run down there one day if there are.

Used to live in Chester wish we still did. And Shrewsbury - our aim is to get back to Shrewsbury to live, but have to wait till the kids leave now. We lived in Hoole in Chester which had a nice little shopping street where you might find yarn shops!

Reminds me that i wanted to buy a bingo set for next week when niece and nephew come for christmas - I think they'll like that and i have prizes! COuld get them into Uno too - hmm, i think we might have pictionary somewhere too. Getting excited now :j

Just had a lovely invite to some friends for dinner - it's my OH's oldest friend and his partner (male) who is the most excellent chef = RESULT The friend likes us cos we were so unfazed by his coming out - in fact we said "Thank god - about time too, we've been waiting years for you to tell us". He is my DD's godfather and they have invited her to stay for the weekend next year sometime and she is beyond excited :j:j

Had a lovely soak in bath and am off to Lichfield to browse for some stocking fillery type pressies and some cheapo bingo / lucky dip prizes. The nicer part of christmas shopping now the pressure is off.

Mrs_Chip

Morning All

WMF - sorry to hear about your poor dog, I would never have thought of that as an issue for buying online! Luckily our cat shows no interest whatsoever in things coming through the letterbox, and I have a difficult enough job getting the tablets down his throat, there is little chance he would eat them by choice. A good warning for dog owners, hope your doggy is home soon.


Feeling totally non-festive, I seem to be getting my ususal winter fug early. Very fed up and no pleasure in anything. I must shake myself, there is a lot to do, presents to make and food prep to be done . More decs to put up too, but can't be faffed!!! I just want to curl up under the duvet with a packet of plain choc digestives.

I have managed to drag myself off of the sofa long enough to make Pork Pies (I want to give a couple as presents). I have never tried making them before, and I was surprised at how easy the pastry was to make and use, and the end result was pretty good. I was not sure about the meat filling but OH, a 'professional' pie-eater, deems it excellent. So will make a couple more at the end of the week to give away.

I have decided that having a cold house is not helping my mood, even wrapped up against the chill it is just depressing. I think we will have to relent an have some heating on during the day next week otherwise I am going to be a right mizzog:o.

Hope everyone is managing to keep warm and not too manic (the week before chistmas used to see me going frantic with shopping and present buying - thankfully not this year!)

gailey_2

Morning guys

Half the time im unsure if there is a logical reason for the rises its just supermarkets being greedy!
Must admit mine are not huge porridge loves I buy the oats to bake with.
Hubby prefers the small packets oats so simple as they handy for work

I think someone should start a thread with the oldstyle ftse with core lines whats up whats down!

Are oats rising everywhere? I have brought small pack 500g from lidls for 39p.

We have a few asian supermarkets in the innercity.,
maybe its wise to shop around and buy in bulk.
Maybe even try as cash and carry like macro or costco.
new cash and carry opened here on industrial estate says public welcome

Ohh its cold here. Had crap night sleep as hubby decided to let girls sleep in our bed dident want to disturb them so me and baby slept in toddler bed again!
wish they did extendable beds outwards yopu can get ones that extend in length!
Guess all the co-sleeping keeps us warm they like little hot water bottles.

This morning shock horror hubby washed up and cleaned the kitchen was just too tired last night

We decorated the tree last night and had mini row.

hubby picked a rubbish tree and paid £35 for it , no base!
he dident even try to haggle which annoyed me.
Last year we got biger with base for £35
its not the height its just not very full or nice shape.
But it looks good with new reduced xkmas decorations brought in jan sale packs of baubles for 20p!
chuffed at my levels or semi organisation this year!

Took kids: to christingle at 10am this morning got time wrong not until 4.30:o of well least we keen.

Past the big house on main road old couple make jam and sell in the porchway.I honesty dont haqve time to make jams to add to dads hamper and theirs looked nice got victoria plum for £1.90 hopefully nicer than supermarket and cheaper than farmshop!
Might get couple more jars from them in week as they doing jellys and other assorted jams mosty from stuff in their own garden plus im supporting local economy. They were lovley showed the girls all their xmas decorations they really impressive.

Only thing is they clingfilmed the top so plan to put lid on and peice of checked cloth and elastic band make it look nice.
I will make dad a few chutneys though and possibly jar apple sauce.
doing him some cherry brandy later.
seen blackberries on offer somewhere cant remember where?

Going to be brave and try making a gingerbread house.
ideally would like to make 4 one for us and 3 for pressies.

Sorted out sky broadband today sadly they equally muppet like as virgin and very confusing!Im not technie and hubby leaves it too me.
Its been a real hassle but will give us monthly savings on phone line.
1 lady said talk un limited meant calls to mam in wales were not free but the bloke said they were!Now need to cancel virgin as it will save us approx £40 a month.
What annoys me is I need a wirless adaptor now just to get the broadband to work with the tv which seems a con as they dont supply that I have to buy it but I imagine others have same problems as most people have tel point in hall and tv in lounge!:mad

Toddlers pottytraining going well but she spends so much time in bathroom as thinks it fun we lost another toiliet roll down toiliet yesterday she chucked my baking soda in washing up bowl

Realised when going out today eldest had new coat given by a freind and baby had a cardie given to us. ssid to eldest we so lucky to have such kind people near us feel have good network these days.

However a close freind recently been really distant and only ringing when wants something. Trying not to let it bother me but am annoyed slightly.I dont think I done anything wrong. I understand shes busy barly get a a chat in playground and she says she phone but never does:(.I expect she will ring next week when she wants free childcare!
Maybe im too sensitive and soft.Dident speak to her for whole of november which was horrible month as we were all ill and had problems with toddlers nursery so really missed my freind:(.
Im now chosing not to phone as always seems to be me making the effort!

Im xmas shopping found few nearly new toys ebay to keep costs down:D:D.

got to get stepson a phone think found one its so confusing.
hes asked for smart phone. worries me as hes prone to losing or damaging his phone.

Found fixed 12month contract with free phone which gives him 100 free mins, unlimited texts and internet which seems good deal and if go through quidco get £40cashback. it is quite generous but with free texts if hes in trouble which sadly he frequently is he can contact us and hes uses internet a lot which uses lots pay credit.
Plus means we getting him something for xmas and speading the cost over next 12months and getting free phone.

Want to get him few smal things
but have no idea what a 13 year old boy wants or likes?

Has anyone ever had the tefal jam maker? wondering if worth the price as struggled to make much this year and this would save time.
Think overtime would pay for itself

Ragz-We sound like we very similar sadly situation glad im not only one making hm baked goodies.

Kidcat-You so thourghtful and kind maybe I will do similar at end of year or next xmas!Glad your son was ok at school.

prepareathome

wmf wrote: »

Hi PAH - that's a good point re ordering other stuff - unfortunately I did that but they posted the prescription tablets separately for some reason - maybe they processed them separately IYKWIM. The other stuff arrived today and yes the postie had to hand it over:(. He's been really concerned since he knew and asks every day for little doggie.
It is a saving buying stuff online though.
W

Oh forgot to say I did ring them and ask them if they could please put everything together in one parcel, very helpful and they assured me they would and they did.

I never asked how is doggie today, sorry head not on properly.

Right still not moved from my pit and hubby is home :eek: and here was me saying to him yesterday that we must go out as soon as he is fed and watered, if not he falls asleep on the couch, and me now not even showered, I need a big kick, all accepted

kidcat

Gailey - if you buy the smartphone there are free apps he can download that will make tracing a lost/stolen phone easier - having two teenagers who regularly lose phones it really odes help.
Ideas for presents - I have bought Ripleys book 2012 from book people £4.99 for mine, sweets always go down well too and will pick up some smellies for him this week. Art supplies are another good one for mine anyway. Otherwise accessories for new phone, screen covers, phone cover etc are usually only a couple of pound and will help prolong life of new phone too.

prepareathome

gailey wrote: »

Has anyone ever had the tefal jam maker? wondering if worth the price as struggled to make much this year and this would save time.
Think overtime would pay for itself.

Would it be a better idea to buy a bread machine, as lots of them have a jam making option. No sure if there are different jam makers - did a quick internet search and found a tefal one for £67, you could get a bread machine for that and have a machine that can be used for jam, bread, cakes, dough etc - even if you don't want to do bread at the moment, its always an option. Might not be suitable for you, but just an idea.

Rowan9

Doggie home! Vet called about half past 12 and we shot off to collect her. Is usual self. Tests again later in week but vet expects them to be fine.
Other dog was at vet this morning as her eye has kind of dropped - horner's syndrome. Pretty common in retrievers so is expecting it to go in few weeks. Otherwise we wouldn't do tests on her as she's old and becoming infirm. What a few days with these dogs.
Not hungry at all. I always feel sick if worried rather than eat. have had cornflakes. Going to dd's and her OH for a meal tonight. Wasn't sure what would happen but will go round with dog for a while.
many thanks for good wishes.
OS has been continuing mostly as I've felt too ill to eat. DH has had things like beans on toast.
W