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

prepareathome

PolkaDotsAndLace wrote: »

My red lentils are £1.10 for a 500g bag (Great Scot ones from Asda - they don't seem to do any others instore) which I find quite pricey - I think I'll have to have a look out for value oats when shopping today and report back on the disappearing oat situation.

How does everyone make their porridge? OH tends to have to Oat So Simple sachets before work just now, more expensive, so if there was a quick and easy way to make porridge with oats I'd like to get him to try it! I know it'll never be as quick as a sachet, but i can't see him spending more than 5/10 mins making porridge in the morning. Though it would still be good on the weekend.

50g oats, 210mls milk, put in bowl in microwave on high for 5 mins - its what I do when am to lazy to stir in pan and comes out perfect, some days I add a bit more milk some days I don't, I then sweeten with a teaspoon of manuka honey, bliss......yes was brought up on salt, I do come from Scotland, but love it with honey. I have actually put 50g amounts of oats into tiny little pots I have all ready to use, so again on lazy days don't even have to weigh. One thing I find compared to Oats So Simple is you do need a slightly bigger bowl as expands more.
You could try it out at home to see how much oats and milk he needs then it can be put out ready in the evening.

I have found one portion of oats in SC is not really good as even on low its to warm and it dries up, but is ok for a few portions. My mum used to put it for 6 of us in an oven dish on lowest in gas cooker and leave all night and was ready piping hot in the morning, bliss as it made kitchen so warm in winter and only heating in house was the coal fire.

Forgot to say checked around here price of Oats seems to be the same - Mr S still 99p for kilo not their basic one, next one up and have to admit it does make a nice porridge so bought another pack. I have bought cheaper oats before but found I needed more to make up enough porridge so found it false economy, 50g of these make a nice big bowl, even enough for hubby on the odd occasions he has them. Broke till Tuesday so will buy another few packs then just in case the price rise hasn't filtered down to us yet.

Oh did I have fun in the yarn shop - I have a secret, I love handling yarn and the shop used to still set out as it was when it opened in 1919, all wool behind counter so you had to ask to feel it, but now they have changed to open plan, so you can just go up to the shelves and handle any yarn you wanted so I had a field day, I only go to the shop about once a year as buying on-line is usually so much cheaper, but there I can feel the yarn so I know what its like for future. They had a half price sale on, so I had £40 earmarked for my trip but just in case I took £40 from my sealed pot and ended up spending £69. They had almost the exact colour for the Bella Mitts am knitting DGD12 so was very happy. Did splash out on a couple of balls of silk yarn to knit daughter a scarf, that of course was not in the sale, but I spent a happy hour in there and came out if not satisfied ( would have like to buy more) happy with my purchases. So made a start on the mitts as only got a week to do them and a few other things.

prepareathome

Katie, am so sorry to hear about your friends cousin, you friend is just so lucky to have you as a friend, you are definitely not useless, you went there, not only held her hand, but cooked for her, a lot of so called friends would maybe call round but then vanish. Hugs and love to you

grandma247

((hugs)) katie

littlecal

Katie,she needed you,and you were there,that's the important thing.(((((hugs))))) to you both.xx

gailey_2

Afternoon guys

so sorry to hear bad news about freind katie least she has support from you.

Greyqueen I pay over £1 a bag for 500g small bag in supermarket.
have brought from healthfoodv shop while ago but cant remember price.

Kids driving me crazy they bored and making mess.
Im trying to sort out there room
whilst buying 2nd hand bargain presents off ebay.

Anyway was in ok mood until my mam phoned.
shes not spoke to me all week wanted to catch up as me my mam and little sister xmas shopping in bath tommorow.

Theres a direct bus from high street just 15mins walk takes us directcly to bath seemed less hassle as parking a nightmare and expensive in bath I know as used to live/work there.

But no little sister knows best and wants to take car.
They couldent possibly walk 15mins oir take the bus.
shes on about park and ride I know nothing about it.
Just hoping dont go wrong.
Hate the way they always call the shots if it goes wrong no doubvt they shout at me and say they never going bath again!

As if the prospect of shopping not stressed me enough and get another 2 classics!

Apparently making biscuits/cakes at school means im showing off and shame im not as good round house as I am baking? How is that called for.
My house is not dirty its cluttered at times as baby toys quite big and the girls have lots of toys but it stressed my neat freak mum out and she hates coming over which she doesnt do that often anyway!
So my house is crap.

Also as not seeing xmas plan was my sis drive mum and her boyfreind over to mine.
Was going to do lovley homemade tea thourght be lovley.
Hubbys thankful hes working boxing day as mums drives him mad and he considers little sister spoilt!
well now its change of plan. she wants me to come over to hers an hour away with the 3kidas as she cant leave her hubby, she wasent bothered about that last week.
I said hes welcome to come over too but his sons there too.
They couldent possibly come over. they never have!I think shes embaressed by state of my house.
As shes saying well sisters posh boyfreind cant see your house.
I always tidy and clean like pycho before they come round.
but its never good enough, feel like im never good enough,
Mum gets stressed out asnd hates kids at her as they might break something or mess it up.
I hate going over hers as she makes me feel very much like an unwelcome guest laying riot act moment we get through door on dos and donts! There lounge is tiny so how we fot me 3kids, stepson, sister, boyfreind and hubby in who knows its completly nosesensical-is that a word?

I did say easier for who its not easy for me.I then get the its your fault you dont drive thrown at me as hubby would have to drop us all off very early in morning before he goes to work!
I may have said maybe its best if you dont come then I will gove the kids their presents!

Shes made me feel rubbish as usual. should be used to it by now.
My sisters the perfect one im the black sheep who had 3kids and does not drive.
people treat me like 2nd class person as I dont drive they look so shocked and horrified just cant afford it right now dont go far .

My mum wont drive on motorway so comes over on train. sometimes hubby picks her up station or she gets taxio as refuses to take bus.
Other time sister drives her.
her husbands never driven her or picked her up which I consider odd.
Sometimes hubby picks her up or drops her off home but its an hour and about 60miles each way.
she maons its too expensive to see me and the kids ast same time booking her foreign holiday for next year. Fed up of her moaning shes broke!

We normally go over aunts xmas day and meet mum and sis there.
But aunts going away and having everyone over new years day instead.
mum reluctantly babysits but no doubt new years day she be telling everyone how great she is with kids and people will say your mam so helpful with the kids when infact she only sees them once a month if that but thats my fault too. Its reason I live 60miles away!

Right best go toddlers put criisps all over carpet
eldest got glue on tv table
need to declutter upstairs and attempt to make house look like showhome when they come over tommorow as shes bound to inspect the kitchen and bathroom.

Want to feel relaxed and happy at xmas. now im stressing.
wondering if me and sis freaky kids we must of had toys, made mess,.
sisters neat freak now.
All; i remember is mum shouting at me everytime i had fun making stuff.
when shes comes over shes more concerened with cleaning that playing with the kids!

kidcat

Gailey - I really do sympathise, our house is exactly the same, stuffed to rafters with kids stuff. When we moved my parents kept complaining at amount of stuff - they only had me so really dont get how much stuff four kids have. If my case they have bought a huge amount of the stuff as well.
When I was sick a few weeks ago I think my parents finally got how much I do as they insisted on a list of my daily jobs, by day two they gave up trying to keep up and just did what was urgent - getting kids school, fed etc. It made me laugh as OH and my two parents couldnt keep up with all that I do in a normal day!!
I think you just have to learn to ignore it to some extent, either your mum will get it or she wont - you can lead a horse to water but you cant make it drink!! Maybe start small and rather than wait for her to set conversation or tell you whats happening at Christmas - take the lead and announce your plans, tell her when you are visiting (when its convenient for your OH to be with you) and invite her to visit you (again when it suits you). If she says she cant come/busy be firm, apologise and say thats a shame. But do not offer any alternatives on her terms.

charlies-aunt

katieowl wrote: »

Her Uncle, the cousins dad is dying in hospital, The cousin was himself getting chemo, and of course earlier this year her husband left her. Happy Christmas.Kate

(((Hugs))) to you and your friend - what a tragic situation and so difficult to come to terms with. You have been a fantastic friend in her hour of need.

Margaret54

Katieowl you are being a wonderful friend . I am so sorry to read about what has happened. Bless your heart.
gailey love, please please take good care of yourself and ignore the negativity from your family members. You are always on the go love doing everything for your own little family and are a wonderful Mum. I don't drive either love, don't wish to. I always took the bus with my 6 children or the train. Take it easy take time in the evening for a long soak in the bath, let dh mind the children and relax love please. I was always made to feel I wasn't good/clever enough with my Mother too, only cared about my sister, who had no children.
Have a lovely Christmasxx

gailey_2

Thanks kidcar/margaret

Think im bit sensitive as hubbys rarly here, we behind this year and been stressing about a freind who seems to have abandoned ne saying she wil ring and doesnt, never comes over, rings when wants something.

My toddlers forever having tantrums
my 5year olds forver bored and making mess
babys wants to move all time yesterday lost him under dining table he cant crawl but he can drag and roll.

I have along list of aims
rarly achieve them all.

kidcat you made me chuckle.
occasionally hubby says they have too many toys and clothes
but they have lot less than other kids i know its just we dont have a playroom to put it all in!

At 31 I should be used to mum being insensitive
just the if mums saw your house they wouldent be so impressed.
Think if was asked name 3good things about your daughter she would struggle.

fed up of them chaging plans and trying to call shots.
dont want a row but if she wont come over think im goingf to refuse to go there boxing day as would have to leave house at 6.30 when get there she would shout and be stressed out saying house not big enough for so many people
so her loss. but then shes like you will be alone boxing day if hubbys working but honestly dont care was going to nip up co-op for bargains anway.

spent half hour cleaning toy kitchen. any idea how to get permant marker pen off painted wood?

I changed the bedding
laundry next
then toys

binning some things that broken/tatty.

will scrub bathroom.

unsure how much will get done.even when done wont be good enough.

All i get is dont agree with breastfeeding or cloth nappies.
cant believe i dont iron! I iron as I need.
cant believe im an awful pta mum!

hubby says shes jealous as im the better mum!
younger sister now doing 2nd degree mums so proud, no kids and going out with a rich chap but mums subbed her for years!

Not sure how hubby cope with all 3kids alone tommorow?

eldests cheered me up. I want everyone in world to have a nice xmas.
As some people dont get xmas and thats not fair.
How you know this? school no saw it on the charity adverts!

best crack on determined to achieve!

Margaret54

Was in Belfast yesterday (went on train at 9.30 as it is much cheaper at that time ad got my return ticket) and couldn't believe how dead the city looked. Lots of shops with sales on, but only saw some prople with Primark carrier bags not the usual dearer ones. For the Sat before Christmas this was strange to see. I was in a chemist and the girl said the place has never been like this. The day was dragging by she said I don't think there is much money to be spared this year.
When I was home I went to the local Boots chemist and was able to use all my points for an extra gift for my son, also a lovely cinamon /spice candle and Boots own brand of cold/ flu capsules. The branded ones same ingredients cost £2 more. Still had a few pounds left in points. Then went into shop next to it to buy a large 2litre of Cola. £1 89 each but if you bought the 2 2litre bottles wrapped together they were £2.80 The young lad was packing the stuff and told me if I took the 2 bottles over they would ring in as £1 eah so got the 2 bottles for £2 Yayyyyyy:)