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

smileyt_2

Mrslurcherwalker Bruno says to Doc, "It doesn't matter how crackers your humans are as long as you can train them."

I happen to be exceptionally well-trained in dispensing kisses, cuddles and biccies :rotfl:.

Well, I've just popped on quickly to ask - what is the best OS way of cleaning a greasy oven and hob? The lad I have with me in supported lodgings cooks roasts and greasy meat curries _pale_ so the oven and the back of the cooker are greasy. Bleurgh! I haven't eaten or cooked meat for nearly 23 years so I've never had to clean a really greasy oven (veggie and vegan food isn't as 'mucky') as I haven't eaten meat since I left home. And my mum never let our oven at home get dirty.

Anyway, I have asked me laddo twice to clean the oven and today is his last chance. Otherwise I am going to take all the greasy shelves out and DUMP THEM ON HIS BED!!!

Well, I probably won't but that's what I feel like doing.

On the OS front I have - malt vinegar, lemon juice, bicarb, soda crystals and salt. I was wondering if a thick paste of bicarb and lemon juice would do it?

Any suggestions gratefully received. I shall pop back on later to see if any of you geniuses have any ideas. For now I have to take the dogs for their walkie and mop the kitchen floor. Such an exciting life I lead lol!

gardenia101

LavenderBees wrote: »

Yes, Jaspie's short hair stood on end. So did mine! :eek::D Charlie-old-boy came out to see what was going on, and for a second looked like he was going to take the dog on, but then 14 years experience kicked in (he can be a little slow these days), and he also ran back inside. Jaspie hid behind old-boy, who was not impressed at being used as a [STRIKE]human[/STRIKE] cat-shield. It was chaos! Glad we're all inside safe and sound for the night.:)xx

My adopted cat, 6 dinner Sid, would have seen him off. Hes the hardest cat around here & I've seen quite a few dogs slope past him with their eyes cast downwards :rotfl:. A visitor to next door often brings a selection of her 5 dogs with her & lets them run free up & down the street :eek: & into everyones gardens (I have lovely neighbours but soemtimes they aren't the most thoughtful). Cat just sits on my windowsill & looks - & dogs run off back into next doors back garden & stay there! Like something out of a film

Winchelsea wrote: »

Gailey - I'm another one glad to see you back. Hope all the colds are on the mend now.

Think I may have asked this already, but do you know about the Bristol OS meet-up on 31st March? Would be great to meet you along with all the others!

Nice too see you back too Gailey & I was also wondering if you will make the Bristol meet? I'm planning on going at the moment.

Just heard Whitney Houston has died - how sad. I remember shuffling around drafty scout halls with a spotty boy to some of her songs, & having a good old bop with the girls to other songs.

I'm feeling a lot more positive after my birthday wobble - thanks again to all of you who posted comments - can't tell you how much I appreciated them. Cat was also lovely - he sst behind me, put his front paws on my shoulders & nuzzled the back of my neck. Bless. He has this knack of knowing when I'm sad & comes along to cheer me up - animals are clever aren't they?

Fingers crossed for Wales this afternoon. I had juat sat down last night with a small beer after having done all the chores, ready to watch France - & they cancelled the match. How rubbish for all of those who spent a fortune getting there.

Hugs to all & have an extra :coffee: as its Sunday!

Catbells

gardenia101 wrote: »

Morning All

Yesterday was my birthday (43) & very few people remembered . My ex OH always gets me a small gift "from" our 2 children, which is lovely, & he can't forget as its also his b'day which doesn't help. While I don't want him to have a miserable b'day & am glad he had something nice planned, it also reminds me that his life is "fun" (can't think of a better word) wheras mine isn't a lot of the time.
...

I was so wrapped up with my frozen pipe yesterday I didn't read all the posts properly. I kept seeing birthday cake pictures and now I know why. Hope all the good wishes brightened yesterday for you gardenia and a belated happy birthday to you. I had a big birthday last year (60) and decided to go for it. My 40th was dogged with divorce and OH didn't organise anything for it. My 50th was slap bang in the middle of a serious family illness where I was chief carer so nothing happened. For my 60th I invted the top 20 people in my life to a meal out and it was fantastic. Just the right amount. Apart from my children I only have one family member who I am close to but have some lovely friends. I thought if I dont do it no one will. Be good to yourself.

smileyt

Well, I've just popped on quickly to ask - what is the best OS way of cleaning a greasy oven and hob?

Someone told me recently about ICI soda chrystals which cut through grime and grease so I would recommend them for your job. they are also great for cleaning grimy sinks along with a kettle full of hot water. I can almost see your hob gleaming!!:) I've also got some really strong kind of acid chrystals somewhere at the back of my under sink cupboard..which I keep for special occasions!

Byatt

Catbells, hope your frozen pipe problem is sorted out soon; that is a worry.

It all came to a head when my friend's husband offered to come and look to see what the problem was. The kindness was too much and I burst into tears. By the time he arrived I had mopped them up and had a good face on. Later I went round to a friend's and she gave me (another) cup of tea and sympathy and wimp that I am I blubbed again. Then my daughter rang and was supportive too. Friend offered a shower which I will take up tomorrow. We all think its a frozen mains pipe which must have been laid too close to the surface when an extension was built before I moved here. I have to wait until the thaw happens (over the next few days). Thankfully the CH is working and the kettle!!! I have become an independent woman over the last ten years or so but these little unexpected events where you are helpless to do anything make you feel vulnerable and exposed. Sitting back and expecting the worst and hoping I can get any damage caused from the insurance is all I can do.

Thanks

GFN123

Good luck with the pipes Catbells, hope they get sorted. Good to hear you feel a bit more cheery Gardenia, and good news also from smileyt!

Well another freezing morning and very grey here. OH is still banging around trying to make the wine rack. We're off to his parents later for a Sunday lunch.

Yesterday was such a lazy day. The Aldi steaks were absolutely delicious. In OS style I used up a red cabbage that was close to turning and made braised cabbage as a side. I forgot to do any chips though so we inadvertently had a low carb dinner! :rotfl:

If we're want dinner later (lunch is bound to be huge!) I plan to make up fishcakes with some smoked mackerel and the leftover cabbage. OH was laughing at me yesterday as after dinner, and pudding, I said I was thinking about how yummy breakfast would be - scrambled eggs and croissants! I always think about food and the next meal

Hope everyone has a good Sunday and is not too frozen

[Deleted User]

Morning Bruno, us hopes your stapleses is still behavin an not poppin off all over the place an makin your bed uncomforetable.. I has tried so hard to train my peoples proply but vey still keep draggin me out for oh so cold walkies wen I wud much raver stay in my armchair. An worstest still van vat vey wont let me munch all ver nummy fings I finds under hedges or onna beach - I dont understand it at all. Mind you Mumi is really good at Necky Scritches so I sposes it culd be worse. Try an stay in one piece today - Frum Doc xx

greent

smileyt - get him to spray the oven lightly with water and then sprinkle a good layer (heavier where mucky, just a sprinkle where 'ok') over the oven floor of bicarb. Leave for an hour or so and the 'mess' can be wiped up (I use a 'rough' cloth) You can mix the bicarb and water to a paste and 'paint' it over the oven, but I find spray and shake easier Paste is better for doors, I guess - I can usually clean my glass door with bicarb and wul on a green scourer.

Shelves - I just scrub mine in hot soapy water with a metal scourer

Hob - I always just use vinegar and water spray on mine (leave it to soften any major baked on bits) If necessary a drop of wul to counteract lots of grease.


Gardenia - extremely belated birthday wishes from me x

Lots of people needing hugs and support - sorry - I'm terribly forgetful nowadays of names - I really must make a note as I go along!


ETA: And I'm peeved I can't make the Bristol meet - we go on holiday to Cornwall that day - it's a shame it's not earlier, as I could pop in for a bit on the way down! (DH even suggested that himself - shock!! )

VJsmum

Re oven cleaning

Not very OS but I'm afraid i resort to Mr Muscle for the oven iteself and oven pride for the racks. Stardrops does the top and the pan stands go in the dishwasher.

Poor old Whitney - same age as me and with a child. Not a fan but a sad, I feel, and no-one deserves to die so young.

We have a day without a plan! That doesn't happen often. I do have marking to factor in somewhere but I think a nice coffee in the bath first. Oh and the ironing too - but I'll do that watching call the midwife later

Half term this week, DS is going to soccer school run by Aston VIlla. It is at his own school, so half term is going to be spent at his own school for nearly the amount of time he would have been there anyway :rotfl: Still he loves it, and I have to work a couple of days so it keeps him busy. DD will be fine with her DVD's and her laptop as she was in Poland last week and will want to catch up. She is off to London on Wednesday to see Les Miserables - it will be her third time but she loves it and bought the ticket with some christmas money. OH will work in London that day to act as escort. I'll take her out tomorrow and Friday so it's only Tuesday and Thursday she will be left to her own devices. At 15 she will be happy with that. DS at nearly 13 is always harder - too old for childminder too young to be left alone for any length of time so thank goodness for Aston Villa.:T

DD made scrumptious Lemon Meringue pie for yesterdays pud - we had friends over and they loved it. Quite an :money: meal as the lemons were in Aldi super 6, we did sausage casserole with whoopsied sausages, with carrots that had been reduced to 50p in Mr M and spuds from the farm shop.

We don't seem to have the sunshine of yesterday, but i am looking forward to it being somewhat warmer this week. I believe we may even hit the heady heights of 8 or 9 degrees!

Ah well, brekkie over - time for that coffee and bath. enjoy your day everyone.

BigThelma

Hello all, I have been skim reading to try and catch up and will apologise in advance if I miss anyone but would like to offer belated happy birthday wishes to Gardenia, glad you are feeling a bit better now and Catbells I hope things get back to normal soon.

Smileyt, I also use bicarb for greasy hobs but um, I have to admit I have yet to actually attempt cleaning the oven so the less said about that the better I think...

Had spag bol last night but made without stock cubes (and mushrooms) as wanted to give a portion to baby but it tasted quite bland. I know you can get salt free stock cubes but we only had chicken flavour and didn't think that would go well with minced beef. Got briskett in the slow cooker right now so looking forward to that, haven't had it for ages and its usually really tasty.

Got to arrange some settling in sessions for baby at nursery soon. He's at the clingy stage so that will be fun but hoping once he gets used to it he will enjoy it.

Ok, just heard him slamming his little feed against the cot so better go and get him up. Have a good day everyone.

kidcat

Am motivated this morning (doesnt happen often!) so when kids trashed rooms first thing, I made them tidy before going downstairs for breakfast, worked much better than yesterday when I tried feeding them first, but once Ds is in front of TV I cant budge him. I now have two bedrooms that are fully tidied and organised and it all only took about 30minutes.:j:j

I signed up to the which magazine deal a few weeks back and yesterday received the magazine by registered post - very very puzzled why registered, then remembered that there were £15 John Lewis vouchers inside:j. Am going to see if they can be used on kids shoes and if so, will save them for August when the big shoe buying session takes place.

Havent set foot inside a shop for days now :j as I simply havent had time, but will attempt a quick Aldi run today to grab two fruit trees and some bits.

Oven cleaning - I use soda crystals and a little warm water usually, although if I am rushing/ or if its really bad (like at the moment) will resort to oven pride. It was my intention to keep on top of it when we moved in - but I was told it was a self cleaning oven bt didnt know how it worked, so kept putting it off. have since found out its not so it will have to have a really big clean up this week.
Will do a roast today and then put oven into soak as it were ready to rinse/finish tomorrrow.

Made baked semolina yesterday but it was nothing like school - semolina was the only dessert i liked from school so was a little disappointed. Schools was more runny and certainly not baked so will need to investigate more to use up the approved food supplies of semolina

Bigjenny

Hi Kidcat

The school semolina you remember was probably made using a double boiler and dried milk something similar to this recipe http://www.schoolrecipes.co.uk/index.php/school-dinner-recipes/66-miscellaneous.html,

We used to make it like this when I worked in a school kitchen omitting the cocoa, pan was a b*gger to clean after though.

HTH