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

greent

Emptynester wrote: »

Of course I will now have to become even more like my Grannie and start to take zips out of old trousers before I get rid of them. I admit I had to buy a zip this time but I thought I would aim to salavage zips in future. I have given myself a good talking to and will only keep one zip in each colour. I hope I remember this when the first zip becomes available as I am not planning on throwing any of his trousers in the near future lol.

You'll need to keep one zip in each colour and each length..:D

greenbee

JIL - you're missing a square bracket from the start of the last bit of the quote marker where you cut and pasted. It says /QUOTE] and should say [/QUOTE]. Hope this helps.

Florenceem

mardatha wrote: »

Very interesting re Starvation Mode, thanks for that. I can go for days too without eating, I get too tired to eat and live on tea. I find it really hard to eat 3 meals a day, so amange on a tiny splodge of porridge breakfast and then the tea at 5 o'clock. And I never lose more than a couple of lbs no matter what I do, even going onto skimmed milk. Sick to death of bloody ME actually, its like being half dead.
Wondering how the mild spell will cause food prices to rise ? I can remember last year they said the cold spell would do the same thing LOL. Why does nothing on earth bring prices down!! And I believe oil prices have spiked and that will go up next.

Know how you feel about ME. I was diagnosed in 1995.

westcoastscot

Morning all, just popping in to welcome back haribo and offer hope that Mar is feeling perkier today. It's my long day at work today - not looking forward to the drive, its windy and murky out there.
Have a good day,
Kimsmum so sorry to hear about friend's Mum - i had a scare myself recently and its reminded me to live in the moment

WCS

gardenia101

ginnyknit wrote: »

OH is doing ok but kept me awake for most of the last 3 nights and I am so weary. Just crawled to Mr A for cornflakes for him and now want to sit down in a dark corner and rock gently :rotfl: Need to take my multi vitamins and eat something.

Glad to hear he is on the mend - but hugs to you! Can you catch up a bit & nap during the day?

Going to Dd's to fix her washer later, at least seeing DGS should buck me up. Apparently he is giving free kisses to anyone who wants them :j

Yes please - could do with a kiss as haven't had one for soooo long (my own kids don't count :rotfl:)

VJsmum

GreyQueen wrote: »

I remember some parts of the early 1970s tolerably-well, esp seeing this woman in the supermarket with a trolley packed to above the top with bags of Tate and Lyle sugar- just sugar-

I think that was my MIL :rotfl: My OH reckons she caused the sugar shortage on her own

There must be something in the air as I have no energy either today and for the last couple of days. Normally I am full of gusto - whoever he is. I was off yesterday with a tummy bug but think i will have to go in today as I haven't really got a reason to be off - I just can't seem to get the energy up.

I don't think you'll ever be able to move, GQ, you would get too bored after all the activity round your way.

Sorry, for those who have had bad news. Kimsmum - what a terrible shocker. Just goes to show that you never know what's around the corner.

Hugs all

sammy_kaye18

Mardatha - hope your feeling better soon.

GreyQueen -

The weather has gone 'orrible today and looks all grey and rainy but I hope it gets better for the weekend as I am trying to do a little each weekend towards prepping the lottie ready for growing. Have manure to spread and fork into the ground so am hoping for bumper crops this year. I think with the economy the way it is, every little thing we can do to help ourselves will help.

I agree. Anything and everything in challenging times. I sat here last night and priced up a load of compost from wilkinsons to get delivered - I cant get it all home so will put in an order for that in February ready to get planting out in March and grab a bag or two next month to start my seedlings on their merry way. I have two different types of tomatoes - one for cherry and one for big beefy tomatoes - we dont even at tomatoes in this house but my mother in law loves salad and my boyfriend and son love things like pasta and pizza so they will get used.

Really do fancy trying the cream/ butter/ butter cream thing - although get a feeling it will be a good workout for me though as I don't have a mixer - although poundstretcher may change that! Am I right in thinking its double cream I'd need. May need to invest in a butter dish too I think and a pitcher of some sort to keep butter cream in.

Think today I will be rearranging my kitchen. It looks awful cramped and Im not convinced Im making the most of its space as the biggest counters are crammed and Im sort of wedged between cupboards to cook. Plus I need to fit child door locks to the cupboards - not for the baby as you might think but the dog is now decided to take it upon himself to cupboard raid me so they need dog proofing.

Right but for now I will sit and chill. Have my coffee, my SIL has taken Ben to school for me this morning and is picking him up, baby is sat eating her fruit salad breakfast - whoopsied pears, apples and banana with a few stray strawberries thrown in for good measure.

x

mrswive

Another convert to bargain cream -> butter!
I've been reading with interest and thought I'd have a go and, lo and behold, in Waitrose yesterday afternoon there were trays of cartons of double cream reduced to 19p. I got one to have a go; OH came home to find me furiously shaking and fell about laughing! When he picked himself up, he took over and within minutes we had butter - have to say we were both well impressed. We went up again in the evening and got another 4 cartons and spent the evening shaking on the sofa and now have 4 pats of butter (actually each batch only took about 15 - 20 minutes, taking it in turns, which I don't think is too bad). They weigh in at about 200g each and, an added bonus was over a pint of buttermilk, which is also delicious.
A quick question - I also got a pork hock reduced and am going to cook it today. Any recipes?

gardenia101

Byatt wrote: »

This may seem an odd question, but as I've started listening to the radio more rather than have background noise of tv on, I have noticed that I can't listen and do other things. Now as once upon a time I could study and listen, I'm not sure if my concentration is shot because of too much tv, or whether there is a knack, or do you just listen and not do anything?!

Think it is an age thing, sadly. I remember the days at university when studying with the radio on really seemed to help with essays. Now I can't even write a shopping list if I'm listening :rotfl:. I love radio 4 (most of the time) but can't do a lot if it is a programme I want to hear - maybe washing up.

School dinners - my DD 12 can happily spend over £5/day :eek:. We have a squid card system but as yet there isn't the facility to set a daily spend limit on the card & as the minimum top up is £10 I don't feel I have much control. I have shown her how much she spends but she just doesn't "get it" & says the prices aren't always shown (= she can't "see" them so they can't be there) & she doesn't have time to add it all up (= she is rubbish at maths). Not sure what I can do about it as after 6 years of doing sarnies I can't bear the thought of going back to them, & I like her having a hot meal.

They are also not allowed to take in hot food/drinks in a flask (elf & safety) & they have to store their lunchboxes on a shelf in direct sunlight so in summer their stuff is warm even if I've put an ice-pack in. Shame as Gailey has come up with some excellent ideas for lunchboxes. I do provide a snack bar (usually from Approved Foods :T) & water, but that gets eaten as well as everything else!

My DD has always been the awkward one - my DS 9 is such a doddle in comparison :rotfl:. He will merrily eat anything except potatoes & is far more amenable. I'm supposed to have my first volunteering session tomorrow, which will be my first "job" in over 18 months. But DD is off school again with earache/bad cold so it looks as if I'll have to let them down . I know she can't help it & I do feel sorry for her being in pain (honestly even if it doesn't sound like it!) but her timing is just amazing. Last month it was my hospital appointment, the month before it was my summons to the jobcentre - both were the only days in the whole month I had to be somewhere & both were the days she had some genuine illness :mad: . Amazing - I hate appearing to be such a flake too.

Gailey - I went to a residential college in Abergavenny years ago (?The Hill). In a beautiful location, but I don't remember there being much to do even back then (1996-7) except walking. We did go a pub crawl (obviously this was before kids) & I got asked for ID - & I was the oldest there at 23 :rotfl:.Only time I've ever been asked.... I couldn't imagine living there with young kids & although I want to live somewhere more rural, it will be after they have flown the nest. Much more to do in Bristol isn't there?

cbsexec wrote: »

By the way I admire you for all you do in your life and hope 2012 is good for you and your family - just don't tire yourself out, enjoy life as you never know what's around the corner.

That is so true. Kimsmum - your post illustrates it only too well, sadly. Hugs to you & Mardatha. I think when my time comes I'd prefer for it to just "happen" & not linger - but I feel that may be worse for those left behind with no time to prepare.

saratoga wrote: »

Right I'm sorry if this a bit random,but I have just eaten one of little chocolate circle sweets with hundreds and thousands on,and shot right back in time to when I was about 12 and we used to eat hundreds and thousands sandwiches,tell me I'm not weird and at least one other person has done this!!!!

Yum - I remember these . Not sure I'd fancy one now though, & I'm not going to tell my kids about them as that is what they'll want for tea!

I have HM butter envy :rotfl: & like GQ can't find reduced double cream anywhere to have a go. Does the HM stuff keep as long as shop bought & is it freezable?

[Deleted User]

Morning campers, hope everyone as is poorly is feeling better today. I think you are right on the bread Byatt and I also remember soap being hard to come by, but that wasn't a problem because the power cuts meant you had no hot water anyway! Changing subject entirely, when my girls were small we used to have 'Giants Picnics' which comprised only things you cound eat in one bite. I made tiny cakes in sweetie cases, coctail sausages, tiny sandwiches - normal slices quartered and then quartered again,little gem biscuitsand baby cheese biscuits, such fun - I'd forgotten about it until reading some of these posts. Childhood revisited, thanks folks!