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

Mrs_Chip

Gosh. it seems everyone is going through it, one way or another!

Just been out on a futile hunt for logs. Someone told us there was a place up in the valley but they did not have any. The last lot we bought were supposed to be seasoned, but were still quite heavy and dont burn unless they have been kept on top of the stove for a few days. It beggars belief, we are surrounded by woodland, but winkling out a decent supply is a nightmare. May get some more numbers tomorrow, but I want to see (and feel) them before I buy this time.

Weather here is cold and damp, and very grey. Quite unpleasant, but at least no snow.

I have defrosted a whoopsied piece of bacon but now wondering what to do with it. Whatever I do I will make some lentil and bacon soup as well.

Mr OG's 93rd birthday tomorrow. We are going out for lunch with friends (and hopefully his DD and DSIL, but weather may bu88erate that plan) on Saturday, but can't let the day pass, so will make scones and have them with HM butter and Jam - was hoping to find some more whoopsied cream to turn into clotted, but no joy . And pressie ordered online on 31st has not turned up :mad:.

I think I need a cup of tea to warm up my hands- they are freezing!

nuatha

SDG31000 wrote: »

I need to make some banana cake this afternoon and work out what sticky, gooey, sugar and cream laden delight I'm going to make DH for Valentine's Day. It generally has to be lemon based to keep him happy and I'm running out of fresh ideas. He would he very happy with a lemon roulade, but I'm tired of making them. He would be even happier if I made him one a week.

<fx slips out of lurkerdom>
Given the weather, a sussex pond pudding?
Nigella does a lemon polenta cake which I've served with a limoncello chantilly cream or a lemon layer cake (lemon or plain sponge, layer with lemon curd and whipped cream)?
Or to ring the changes on the lemon roulade, use a lemon sorbet as the filling - basically a posh artic roll.
<fx slips back into lurkerdom>

katieowl_2

nuatha wrote: »

<fx slips out of lurkerdom>
Given the weather, a sussex pond pudding?
Nigella does a lemon polenta cake which I've served with a limoncello chantilly cream or a lemon layer cake (lemon or plain sponge, layer with lemon curd and whipped cream)?
Or to ring the changes on the lemon roulade, use a lemon sorbet as the filling - basically a posh artic roll.
<fx slips back into lurkerdom>

Can second lemon polenta cake as a fab one! I've been making it for the cafe and it's flying out! GF as well for those that need to be GF. I'm using the River Cafe recipe, which is for a huge cake, but it looks very similar...minus the drizzle. You do need to get the finest grind of polenta though.

Kate

THIRZAH

Plenty of suet in our Tesco today alhough they have moved it from the top to the bottom shelf.

prepareathome

Thank you every one hugs to each and every one and extra hugs for those who need them.

Well forms are now filled in, the guy from the benefits advice team popped out earlier and got me to fill them in, he is blazing but said I am not the first not by a long way, and they are preparing a case against the council on behalf of both the people who were told they will not receive any benefits as council have decided they don't want to pay them and also over the loan carry on. So they said someone from their legal team will be in touch and if I can find any paper work that would be great - they don't hold out much hope as to me actually getting any of the money back, but he does hope compensation which they are going for will be as much at least as what we paid back. So I feel a lot better, he is sending the forms back with a letter quoting the correct legislation - they have them printed out ready these days. He told me between council and DWP mainly with DLA they could do with another 100 staff but they cannot get any more funding from the HA. I thanked him so much for coming out straight away, he told me he counts us as a family in need and knows the council will drag their feet over it - they are supposed to have a ten day turn around if you hand the forms in at one stop shop but it never works and usually actually means forms go missing travelling from them to the benefits office ( I am sure its done on purpose) as then you have to resubmit new forms and they rarely back date.

On a sad note, one of the drivers at Alans work lost his wife today, she woke up 6 weeks ago complaining that her left leg felt dead, that way if you have been sitting on it and nothing seemed to sort it so went to drs who sent her to hospital and after tests it was discovered she was riddled with cancer yet no pain, loss of weight nothing except that dead leg feeling. My cousins husband last year felt unwell on a Thursday evening, just not right a bit worse on the Friday so my cousin got him to doctors who got him to hospital, he had a scan and while they were waiting for the results he slipped into a coma and died on the Sunday morning, still not knowing he had cancer. A warning to everyone never think something is to minor to bother the doctor with.

Chemist didn't sell the gingigel and had not heard of it, but told me to rinse mouth with warm salt water over the weekend and if no better go to doctors on Monday or if gets bad go to emergency dentist or A&E. He said my gums do look rather swollen and inflamed.

One good thing even after the shock of the way the woman spoke to me yesterday ( she did say her name but I have forgotten it) I never for a second felt like going to buy some cigarettes, ok couldn't afford them, but didn't even want them and still don't.

Hugs and love everyone:A

ginnyknit

Microwave jam

I got the recipe off the thread I think. basically use the same amount of fruit as sugar - which means you can use up 200 grammes of fruit.

Use a deep bowl, microwave fruit for 5 minutes then stir in sugar and micro for a further 12 mins. I added a couple of tbs of lemon juice to the strawberry as its low in pectin. Bottle as usual but tbh I just scalded out the jar and lid because this jam doesnt spend much time sitting around - it disappears.


I really like the idea of using up whoopsied fruit and ending up with what I call a 'clean' food ie. no additives or any chemicals. And it goes really well with the pot of reduced clotted cream I got - utter luxury :T:T:T

Mrs_Chip

So glad PAH that the forms are done and something is happening, crossed everything here that things get sorted.

How very sad about that poor lady. MIL, who had been diagnosed with inoperable bowel cancer woke up one morning (in care home, intermediate care supposedly before coming home) with a dead arm. She insisted it was nothing, and had just slept on it. We had a hell of a job convincing her to go to hospital, but she did finally. Next day I noticed her hand was cold and mentioned it to her doctor, but he brushed it off. This went on for a couple of days until her hand was grey, When I said to doc and finally they took notice. Hour after we left they phone to say she had had a scan and it was clot in shoulder - common problem with cancer it seems. But up to that point they had done nothing to treat or at least show any idea they knew what was happening. The end of one finger went black and when I asked what they were going to do the Dr just said- oh that will drop off:eek::eek::eek:. Poor MIL was in a terrible state. Very shortly after we were told he had moved to another hospital - all planned of course. MIL never did get home, we have no idea if she would have had longer if they had acted promptly as soon as she was admitted.

shegar

grandma247 wrote: »

It is chucking it down with rain here.

Its not raining here, we had a very frosty start again and have loadsa snow still here from the weekend, its been so cold day and night it wont thaw out, talk of more snow on way tonight again , the temp today hasnt even managed to get to 1 degree.:eek:...........

jackel

Hi Does anyone know where I can buy shoe dye these days ? Have searched in Supermarkets, Wilkinsons, Pound type shops with no luck. Have two pairs of odd coloured leather shoes which would dye and desperately need a black pair. Thanks in advance to anyone who can help. Jac x

katieowl_2

Preparedathome that is brilliant that the man came out to you so quick, and that they've done it to loads of people and are 'on the radar' is fantastic to hear, as maybe now something can be done:T
(Still got the pitchfork ready though!)

Warm salty water is very soothing too though - but do take his advice though about seeing a dentist or A&E, mine was excruciatingly painful when it was bad...I couldn't believe it wasn't actually a tooth. Kept moving about so I couldn't pin it down to any specific place, just somewhere at the back, couldn't even tell if it was top or bottom. I told my dentist I'd been using salty water, and he said it's fine for relieving the symptoms but doesn't 'cure' the problem, only an antibacterial mouthwash would do that. The gingigel I've mispelt but this is it: (http://www.boots.com/en/Gengigel-Gel-20-ml_13856/) it's got something in it that's supposed to rebuild the gum tissue, it's soothing anyway.

Hope things improve for you now this guy is on the case.

Kate