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

GFN123

meme30 wrote: »

Love fish cakes, is it an easy recipe?

Very!! Simply, mix cold mash with fish and anything else, allow to chill in the fridge for around an hour. When you're ready to cook them, simply form the 'cakes' and dust in any flour and fry in hot oil for about 2 mins each side, until golden brown

You are of course meant to use cooked fish, so I simply use this recipe to use up tinned or smoked fish. Fresh stuff I like to eat on it's own, personally, but you can cook off any fish you have, flake it up and use that.

Smoked mackerel was lovely - of course it's quite a strong flavour so I used 2 fillets to about 5 or 6 potatoes (mashed) and this made 10 fish cakes. I used up leftover braised cabbage mixed in as well, but any cooked shredded veg would do I reckon.

With tinned tuna or salmon, I add finely chopped spring onions, coriander and grated ginger. This makes a nice Oriental style taste and you can use sweet chilli dipping sauce to dress it.

Really you can experiment with any flavours you like. If using tinned fish, allow it to drain really well as you want the resulting mix as dry as possible so it sticks together. I've never found the need to bind with eggs doing it this way.

HTH

gardenia101

BigThelma wrote: »

Finding it hard to keep baby entertained at his age, he has started having little tantrums when he doesn't get his own way which can be quite funny but also a pain in the bum when you are on your own all day with him. Long walk in the pram coming up tomorrow I think.

As much as I love my kids now, I did have my struggles with the baby/toddler years as I found quite a big chunk of it mind numbingly boring *prepares to be shot down in flames*

My way of coping was to go out somewhere each & every day, even if the weather was rubbish. It was a lot easier for me back then as my sight problems hadn't impacted enough to stop me driving, so we spent a lot of time & money as soft play places etc. I was also still working at least 1 day/week (until childcare costs & hours made it madness to continue) so I still had a bit of "normal old life" which was good for my sanity.

I also had problems with weaning me DD (but none with my DS who still eats anything & everything except potatoes). She just wanted to be BF & didn't seem to like much else, so refused to eat for months on end, unless it was porridge (Mardatha would be proud of how much she could put away :rotfl:). In the end we had the Childrens' Society work with us for a few months, videoing people trying to feed her, which showed that it wasn't just my problem, as she refused food from most people. My GP & HV had been telling me it was all my fault & that she was picking up on my stress levels about food, so although it didn't sort the problem feeding wise, I certainly felt a lot better about it all!

She is still a swine to feed sometimes - she can make a meal last well over an hour if she doesn't like a particular food (that she liked the week before :mad:) & if I let her she'd just eat carbs all day. Now shes at high school this is starting to be a problem again as the school are quite happy to take her money & feed her rubbish - they do have decent meals on offer but she can choose to have a pizza slice, biscuits & cake with pop day after day... Did try sandwiches but she just binned them & didn't eat all day so not sure what the answer is?

The one bit of possibly useful info from the Childrens Society lady was to add a soft cheese triangle into food where possible if you wanted to increase calories/fat/calcium - that is one thing I did get away with And also sit down & have some of their food to eat at the same time.

smileyt wrote: »

I'm going to do a bit of cross-stitch and then some ironing before bed. I'm attempting this http://www.cross-stitch-corner.co.uk/christmas-moonlight---maia---thomas-kinkade-124-p.asp it's the biggest stitch I've ever tried. I've already done the sky wrong but I'm not unpicking it, it will have to stay wrong! It was supposed to be a Christmas present for my sister last year, ahem! If I start now, perhaps she'll get it this year..... Ooh, did anyone see that pig fly past? :rotfl:

Wow Smileyt - that looks a challenge! It also took me far longer than I thought to finish a cross stitch & I have quite a few projects left to finish! Glad to hear Bruno is mending nicely.

Gailey - my neighbour is doing SW at Bath at the grand age of almost 40. She is loving it. She also has 5 kids (18-6) so finds childcare difficult during placements as her OH is often on call with his job. What she hadn't really thought about though was the difference in holidays - Bath has a 3 x 10 week semester timetable so her holidays weren't always the same as her kids' schools - she had planned on using pre & after school clubs but couldn't as they were closed for some of her course. Hope this doesn't affect you too....

Catbells

scrabbles Just popped on here to say I made the dish you recommended yesterday and it was really lovely. thanks. Going to make the one recommended by MrsLurcherwalker this evening to eat with some fish I got from the market.

Byatt

Catbells, glad the water is sorted. I rarely cry, but when someone is kind to me, everything bubbles to the surface and I burst like a dam! My *big* birthday is next year and I am going to plan something, not sure what yet, but I have time! I hated reaching 50 but for some reason 60 doesn't bother me.

I find getting older brings with it new pressures; for instance all those older women on Dancing on Ice or Strictly, who always impress me with their energy and bodies, but then people's expectations of you are raised and although the young are under pressure, if things keep going on as they are, with cosmetic surgery and other face/body enhancing procedures, I will be 80 and still be expected to "look good for my age" or dance around with a leotard and smile fixed to my face!

A comment was made on Dancing on Ice about Rosemary Conley who is 65, the commentator said, " I don't expect there's many 65 year olds who could do what Rosemary is doing..." in a patronising tone. Everything is measured by how you look, what your physical ability is...whereas there are lots of 65 year olds, holding down jobs, supporting family, looking after grandchildren, but who probably couldn't ice skate. Not sure I'm clear on what I'm trying to say!

I know what you mean about turning 60 and feeling the need to look good. Its hard though when (if like me) you have put on a few extra pounds without trying to. I sometimes think the older women on Strictly are trying to prove something. At the same time if you look good why not flaunt it. Maybe there is a middle way. At our age you realise that the clock is ticking and you want to do things NOW. I also find I am more at ease with things - know what I want and who are my friends. People who I thought were friends but have turned out not to be I have distanced myself from over the past few years and concentrated on the ones who really have been friends. Its mutual. I haven't got grand children yet and I'm sure that must make life sweet for you. I'm looking forward to them as I see my friend's with theirs. There's also the worry for them in some cases that they or their husbands have developed illnesses. That's the downside for our age group but I wont go there! Health really is important - more than looking 45! Take care all.

gailey_2

Having a lovley relaxing morning

did one lot washing
cwtched up to toddler in bed watching peppa pig
baby actually slept for an hour bless him hes still poory
spoke to hubby eldest dropped off fine and really happy to spend few days with nanny, not sure what times hes home.

waiting for netmum lady hopefully come round and buy stuff then think wrap us all up warm and walk up to morries for cheap veg/fruit as aldi super six not great this week , get baby more yogurts and see if co-op have any reduced plus we out of squash and butter.

VJsmum

gardenia101 wrote: »

As much as I love my kids now, I did have my struggles with the baby/toddler years as I found quite a big chunk of it mind numbingly boring *prepares to be shot down in flames*

No flames from here - it is one of the great taboos "thou shalt not find thy child boring". I said this the other day but Kathy Lette's quote about watching your plants photosynthesise hit the nail right on the head. The other one is that you instantly love your baby the minute you set eyes on it. Whilst for many, I am sure that is true, for me the birth was so traumatic that I don't think I felt anything. I might have been worried about that, except for the fact that a friend had told me that it might not happen, that "instant rush of love". I do say that to expectant mums now - don't worry if it doesn't happen. However, I was like a tigress and would have killed anyone who came anywhere near her without my permission. The love comes in time.

I was never one for craft activities - playdough, painting etc. I would always get the stuff out, sit there with them, they would play for all of 5 minutes and say "you finish that mummy" and bu88er off somewhere else. So I'd be sat llike billy no mates playing with it as there'd be hell to pay if "it" wasn't finished :rotfl: Luckily we could afford things like playgroup so they got all of that there. They also went to the childminder two days a week and she was brilliant for that sort of thing. One thing I always enjoyed doing with them was cooking and they didn't get bored with that. Fairy cakes cook really quickly and then they could have fun with lurid coloured icing! Going out was an option too - ball parks have their uses. I could take my marking and sit there for an hour or two with a coffee whilst they played. In my home town we are well served with things for kids - cinema, bowling, loads of playgrounds of different types, ball parks, country parks, farms, national trust (we are members), swimming and snow play - and now they are older skiing, ice skating and theme park (my 2 received an annual pass to our very local theme park for xmas). Mr T vouchers were used for living museums, space museum, zoo, conkers (a sort of outdoor activity place). Not everything costs and not everything costs a lot - the ball park was a couple of quid each plus a coffee.

my sister is not into taking her kids anywhere (tho she can afford to do some activities) but they often spend their days just at home with tv or computer games. They live near the beach but never go. As a consequence my very intelligent niece can appear to be quite dim - she is brilliant academically but has no concept of the wider world. My kids moan llike merry hell about us dragging them here and there :rotfl: but they've learned about the civil war and priest holes by going to NT houses, they've learned about nature from the farms and conkers, about history from living museums, science from the science museum - all without even knowing they were learning it. Most of this cost little or nothing or making good use of vouchers, 2 for 1's etc. Pack up a picnic and a flask and bob's your mothers brother

With regards to eating - when kids were littler they ate alone as OH got in too late for them. I would be with them but not eating. Once DS got to high school i announced we would all eat together when OH got in from work. We eat at the table without the telly on and we talk. I really feel those 20 minutes or so a day are invaluable. Of course we talk at other times :cool: but this is 20 or so minutes, sometimes longer, that we can discuss our day or if anything is bothering us (or them specifically). If we have guests for dinner then the children eat with us now - that way they learn to be completely at ease in all kinds of company. Though we do allow them to leave the table if the boring adult talk starts. However if the wine is flowing and tales of things mum and dad used to get up to start being discussed then they won't budge! All information is then used as evidence against us "Well Uncle cliff says you got really drunk and ...."

This child rearing lark isn't easy though and ideals are just that - ideals. I've probably painted a cosy picture, but it isn't always like that. We have our disagreements and our fights. Now the kids don't really like coming out with us. Bike ride? Forget it. Walk? Don't make me laugh. National Trust? :rotfl:
But - shopping (DD)? Bring it on. Football (DS) yes please. Theme park (both)? :T

DS has gone off to soccer school this week. He was up and ready and really looking forward to it. DD and I are out to lunch and a bit of shopping. It's a hard life

gailey_2

kidcat wrote: »

Oh boy, have just ordered two laptops for the kids birthdays next month, have got an exceptional price and offer but I think OH will blow a gasket when he finds out - although in fairness last time we discussed it he said - you go ahead do whatever, so I have! Will need to be very careful with spends for rest of month as I still have the party food to buy and the entertainer for DD party to pay. Dad got the party boxes out for me last week so they are all ready and I plan on doing exactly as last year, make up one box per child and then have plenty of drinks on offer in pop top bottles. Have hired a gym for DS birthday and the instructor works with the local autistic group so is ideal, its the group DS has just started attending and another of his friends go too, so I think it will be ideal - its costing more per head than DD as he has only a few friends but I am hoping its worth it for the experienced trainer and the familiar environment.

BIg Jenny - have decided to wait until tomorrow and try the basin method for the semolina - kids think I am mad they wont eat anything like that at all, they wont even consider rice pudding :eek::eek:- where did I go wrong??:rotfl:

Sounds great hun sure they love the laptops and they good deal.

Party sounds fab.

you such a good mum even on bad days remember you do so much. im sure kids and oh appreciate you.

mardatha

I always found the best way to get an awkward wee brat to eat was to dish the food out for everybody else and say firmly "you're not havin that cos yer too wee"....
after 5 minutes of screaming then give them some and say oh well just this ONCE then

scrabbles_2

mardatha wrote: »

I always found the best way to get an awkward wee brat to eat was to dish the food out for everybody else and say firmly "you're not havin that cos yer too wee"....
after 5 minutes of screaming then give them some and say oh well just this ONCE then

I LOVE it! No kids of my own but I can see how that would work perfectly :rotfl:
How are you now Mardy? I hope you're better (((hug)))

Unexpected knock on the door this morning brought my mega-order of Andrex. It's double puppy points until the end of feb so guess who's about to open up all the packets and store them in bin-bags?

Catbells glad you liked it!

Mrs L and Doc your posts are fast becoming the highlight of my mornings! :T

Not much to report here. My taps are so sparkly after my escapades with the vinegar that OH's mate mentioned it to OH :rotfl: I thought they were taking the mickey but OH swears not.

I hate Mondays too. Hope everyone has a good day x

stiltwalker

mardatha wrote: »

I always found the best way to get an awkward wee brat to eat was to dish the food out for everybody else and say firmly "you're not havin that cos yer too wee"....
after 5 minutes of screaming then give them some and say oh well just this ONCE then

:rotfl::rotfl: Not that I ever have any trouble getting my monsters to eat but I shall tuck that one up my sleeve just in case.

grandma247 - That's so funny, it's exactly what I had to to with DD even at nearly 3 and having been self feeding for just over a year she still gets half way through the meal and dumps the contents of her plate on the table in front of her. She's just got glasses to, I'd always just put it down to the bendy wobbly fingers though and the actual difficulty she has picking stuff up, maybe the sight thing was contributing too. 4.00 shortsighted in both eyes so pretty bat like! No wonder it took her so long. Didn't really bother me apart from the funny looks I used to get (well still do for the mess she makes) when we eat out as she's such a big girl for her age. I also had a bit of a panic before DS was born as I could see my self with a bottle/spoon in each hand!

Well made a good stab at one essay last night, just got the conclusion and tweaking to do so must get a good chunk of the next one out of the way today. Also need to do the final checks on DD's DLA form, copy it and send that off. Need to get to PO to send that, DD's nursery registration forms, OH's Disabled Student Allowance form as his assessment came through. Looking at the percentiles on the tests I am so proud of how much he has already achieved as he is operating very low down thanks to his dyslexia.

So must go as got a bust day and can't be dawdling round here all day! :whistle:

kidcat

Mardatha you sound just like my nan:) my cousin only ate sausages for a time, and during a family emergency he was left at her house unexpectedly, she had no sausages in and my mum was panicking that my cousin would starve, my nan smiled cooked some spam and put it on table, announcing that she had bought special flat sausages in honour of the occassion, my cousin wolfed it down and was back for more:rotfl::rotfl: He was 15 when she died and was stunned to find she had tricked him - until that day he genuinely believed it was flat sausages!!

We have very few meals together except on big occassions, OH is in from work too late to manage it and I find I end up cooking at least two meals. I find I cook for the littlies and while they eat I am cooking, clearing kitchen and they are at table with me nattering away. We then sit with the eldest two to eat when littlies are in bed.

We had a lovely trip to the cinema this morning Ds was very well behaved (well for him anyway) and it was all fine, having pre booked yesterday we walked straight into our seats and sat down, meaning no long wait for the tickets or for the movie to start so no chance for Ds to get bored and think of things to do.
Was absolutely bowled over by the number of pizzas delivered to people watching the movie - cannot believe the cinema sell pizzas to eat whilst watching the film or the prices - it would be cheaper to have dominos deliver I think

Ds has a cough that has got worse today and he is sounding very hoarse so I called GP to ask for an appointment to be told that they have changed the system and that I would have a GP call me and they would try to deal over the phone, then they may arrange to see him after that. I pointed out that I have to arrange sitters if I am taking him into the surgery so sitting waiting two hours for a doctor to call and then be told to take him straight in was not entirely possible.
I may have also pointed out that on any number of occasions I have asked GP for stuff over the phone and they have pointed out that it is impossible to diagnose over the phone so had they suddenly discovered super powers. She got a little snotty and said that the only exception was children under 5 and was he under 5. I answered no, but he is disabled - autistic, she immediately says bring him in at four oclock then!

Is it too much to ask that if GPs are changing their appointment systems they should write to their customers and inform them -after all I expect the same if my power company change their procedures.?