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

Kimsmum

Taurusgb, Nice to see you posting, get plenty of rest and let the family take care of you.

Ginnyknit, Postive thoughts for your OHs recovery from surgery.Also dont forget to take care of yourself.

Prepareathome Good luck with everything you want to achieve, you can do it.

Sammykaye Sending you some((( hugs)))

Well its blowing a gale here at the moment, so dark also heavy rain.
So I am going to stay in the kitchen today and make a couple of pots of soup
Pea and ham and veg with chicken stock. Have some vegs that need using up.Then later put them into containers and freeze them so we have some ready meals.Plus will make a shepards pie and some chilli.

I have an appointment at the hospital on the 26th jan for some treatment on my left shoulder and left knee I have osteoarthritis in both and I am in alot of pain. Not sure what they are going to do. Then two weeks later an appointment with a lung specialist. I have had a cough for the last three years and my docter though it was my chest but all tests and xrays say its clear.They now think its my lungs so I have to go for tests.

Hope everyone is safe and warm, its not nice out there at the moment.

jamanda

I've been reading all the posts, but haven't been posting simply because I don't know what to say to those of you who have endured such appalling treatment from "friends and family" and also those who have lost little ones or who have poorly children.

I just wanted to say that you have made me very, very aware of how lucky I am and, to be honest, it has brought home to me how tough it is for some.

On a brighter note, I'm trying to declutter the utility room to enable SIL builder to have a look with a view to installing a new toilet and shower. Go on, guess where I keep my tins (lots), plastic tubs of baking stuff, hm jam, pickled onion stocks, bottled apples, hoover, brushes, mixers, liquidisers and all other housey carp that I have nowhere else to put. He [STRIKE]threatened[/STRIKE] promised to visit this weekend and I absolutely daren't let him in. He is a pernickety person and will be horrified if he looks in there. May never sleep again. DH did point out tongue in cheek that there are only two of us, and did I know something he didn't.

So, am trying to find homes for everything which is amazingly difficult as I don't have much storage in the kitchen (no units, just two dressers with cupboards at the bottom).

Where on earth do you keep the marg tubs for freezing, tupperware type stuff, mixing bowls, etc. etc. I can't manage without them and have absolutely no idea where to hide them.

I'm starting to think we'd be better with a gazunder and jug and bowl.

sammy_kaye18

jamanda wrote: »

Where on earth do you keep the marg tubs for freezing, tupperware type stuff, mixing bowls, etc. etc. I can't manage without them and have absolutely no idea where to hide them.

I'm starting to think we'd be better with a gazunder and jug and bowl.

Could you not box them all up and keep them under your bed? Or just pop them in a bag away in your bedroom until he has gone? I know we have quite a few tins lurking around the house as we simply dont have space in the kitchen to store everything.

jamanda

Thanks, but there is no room under the beds. Have beds with drawers in and they are very full of bedding, towels, knickers, etc. Not all in the same drawer mind.

I can shove them in the front room for a bit, but I still have nowhere to put them when he has done the work. We (DH) are having to dismantle the ugly but extremely good and spacious shelving system DH installed, and while we will be gaining a loo and shower, I will have lost the utility.

This is going to drive me crackers.

Kimitatsu

jamanda wrote: »

Thanks, but there is no room under the beds. Have beds with drawers in and they are very full of bedding, towels, knickers, etc. Not all in the same drawer mind.

I can shove them in the front room for a bit, but I still have nowhere to put them when he has done the work. We (DH) are having to dismantle the ugly but extremely good and spacious shelving system DH installed, and while we will be gaining a loo and shower, I will have lost the utility.

This is going to drive me crackers.

Do you have a garage or a shed? I put all my spares in big plastic boxes (wilkos are great for them) and then store them in the garage. They are waterproof and airtight so they stay clean, then a quick rinse before I use them and we are ready to go.

Ginnyknit - sending lots of hugs, and hopefully your OH will recover quickly.

TaurusGB - try not to get frustrated with yourself, its great that they have all learnt to fend for themselves a bit more, so why not try meal planning for the week with all of you? I let my boys have a rummage through the cookbooks or the site which lets you type in the ingrediants you have and then gives you some recipes? It takes some of the pressure off you then too

Sammykaye - do YOU want to have a crack at the job? If you do why dont you fill in the application and send it off? There are so many people applying for jobs nowdays that you may not even get an interview but you know you just might - and it would do your self confidence the world of good You can back out at any point until you accept the job, but given time Owen may see the sense in your actions and it would get you out and about and meeting other people.

Prepareathome - you go for it girl, and do what feels good to you. Dont let anyone else tell you you cant do it or feel that people look at you in a demaening way, because more often than not they probably admire you for getting up and doing it in the first place. I bought a treadmill and just built up the amount of exercise every day until I felt comfortable, some days it was hard but I kept saying to myself something everyday is good.

Kimsmum - hope you feel better soon, have you asked for a referal to a dietician? Osteoarthritis can be inflamed by diet and you can help some of the symptoms by looking at what you eat, I have osteoarthritis in both knees so know how debilitating it can be.

For those looking for WI details you can search for your WI here:

http://www.thewi.org.uk/section.aspx?id=11

There are none near me that are during the day which is a shame really because its something I would have loved to have done.All of them are in the evening which seems a little short sighted and perhaps the reason why they have a reputation for only being for the older generation.

The wind was absolutely howling here last night, for the first time ever I was worried that we might lose bits of the house but thankfully not! More my fear than anything else I think as the house has been here for 300 years, but it was indicative that the weather was going to be really bad last night because the chooks and ducks had put themselves to bed by 4!!

A day baking today for me, have promised the boys honey and walnut loaf and oatmeal/apple biscuits later, so cottage pie for tea as that uses up some of the veg we have.

Anyone got any ideas as to what I can do with pate that needs eating up? I dont think you can freeze it, so any suggestions would be great

Hugs to all that need them x

Uniscots97

sammy_kaye18 wrote: »

Morning all

Well I was in the doghouse last night due to me looking at another job online.
It was for 20 hours a week in the local hospital as an evening records clerk so I'd of worked from 5 - 9pm Monday to Friday and would have been bringing in £510+ a month in wages but boyfriend went nuts, said I couldn't work it as he didn't finish every other week until 5pm so wouldn't be home in time, said he'd only see me for an hour in the evenings and I was selfish as he's stopped working every Saturday (he works every other now) so he can spend time with us. We never do anything though and most his Saturday is spent playing games on facebook, sleeping, out motorcrossing with his friends or picking his other son up........so how that is quality time with us I have no idea.
So needless to say I didnt even finish reading the application - I just went to bed.

Fed up because this is a man who said if I had/found a better paying job than he has then we'd swap places and he'd stay home to look after the kids etc. Clearly that wont happen then so going to see if I can maybe craft a few things and sell them on. Have been sellign on a few unneeded competition wins on ebay so suppose I'll try and supplement my income with things like that and my couponing which I seem to be getting good at thankfully.

Feeling rather deflumped today - not sure if its the weather or last night but just feel a bit down so decided to have a day baking - might make some fruit loaf, cheese twists, some cakes, flapjacks and try a new recipe for jam drops which look nice.

oh and I need to clean too and then go to work for 5pm.

Sammy if it's going to mean extra income go for it, he needs to learn that its quality of time spent together not the quantity. Him of facebook or playing games isn't time spent together even though you're in each other's comapny.

katieowl_2

katep23 wrote: »

After enviously reading about you all making butter and regularly haunting the reduced section in my local Mr M's, I finally found the Holy Grail that is reduced double cream (2 pots of 600ml each for 19p :j)

And I have made butter - can't believe how easy it was or cheap, I got about 700g of butter for 38p.

One question, if you want it salted, when do you put the salt in? Duh, feel silly having to ask.

No such thing as a silly question! The salt goes in after you have washed all the buttermilk out of the big lump. Knead it in to the butter before you wrap it up. I left mine unsalted as I can use it for cakes:j so not sure how much to use, I'd go easy with it personally and prolly use sea salt - about half a teaspoon per 1lb seems to be the suggested amount.

Kate

modern_millie_2

Jamanda, can I just echo what you said, some very brave people on here coping with al sorts of difficulties - puts things in perspective - good luck to you all.

I'm having a quiet day today catching up on things (including this thread) - had a good day yesterday, OH took the car to the garage with a suspicious noise - expected at least £60 bill - this is a local garage we have not tried before - mechanic found a stone in the braking system, and charged....£10! Will definitely be going there again!Have been struggling to find a decent garage, so have been using the main dealers, which is really expensive.

As others have mentioned, trying to get out more, so will be going for a walk today, despite wind, and tomorrow have new knitting group . Am going to make the effort and chat to someone I don't know, am naturally reserved so need to try harder I think. Not going so much for the knitting as forthe company! Prepareathome, hope you get in to the drama group, sounds good fun.

Have to confess to a couple of purchases yesterday- bought boots from M&S and a coat in the sale, both very practical and should last a long while, cost £50 in total but I had £20in vouchers from Christmas and surveys. Only make a big (for me) purchase like that about once a year, but still feel slightly guilty! I know a few years ago I would have spent at least double in the sales though, so some improverment!

Right, need to get washing out of the machine and decide whether to risk putting it out. Wind still blowing a gale.
Have a good day everyone.

Fervent37

unixgirluk wrote: »

Sammy if it's going to mean extra income go for it, he needs to learn that its quality of time spent together not the quantity. Him of facebook or playing games isn't time spent together even though you're in each other's comapny.

Sammy_kaye both unixgirluk and Kimitatsu have summed it up beautifully.

mumto2monkeys_2

I am having a sulk.

I was successfully heading for my 4th NSD of January when I got an e-mail through saying now that DD has dropped a year at school, she needs a blazer.

So that's £23 gone. Sigh.

She's not even there today as she's wiped out from the last two days she did.