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

greenbee

I think you lot will probably be able to help. I'm finding that some things I cook in the slow cooker are very bitter. I think I've narrowed it down to green peppers in casseroles... is there anything I can do or should I leave them out?

kidcat

Meme - wonderful news.

Greenbee - there is a SC thread somewhere that has loads of info, if no-one here knows then they will probably be able to help.

Am exhausted having had several days of total rush, added to DD breaking up with boyfriend - turns out he has been ahem overally friendly with her friends (both male and female!) I was very proud of how she has handled it but it has all added to the stress and long days.

Have a funeral tomorrow so another long day - will be extraordinarily grateful for Easter holidays.

prepareathome

[QUOTE=katieowl;51978211
I've just about finished "Twopence to cross the Mersey" and I can't recall much I've read recently that gave me as much rage on the poor girls behalf. Her mother was a beast!!! I'm kind of seeing my grandmother in the woman, so maybe she was a product of her/the age partly, although I think my GM would have been very scathing of the !!!!lessess of Helen's parents.

Kate[/QUOTE]
Just want to say I met her when she came back over for a visit ( she moved to Canada) and had a chat with her, she was giving a talk at our local library and then tea afterwards. I took my own copy of Twopence Across the Mersey and she autographed it. A lovely woman, only small, tiny and such fantastic memory of growing up, I can barely remember most of my childhood, but no bitterness against her family or anyone. I hadn't realised she died just a few months ago.

maryb

I had that with peppers as well. Red peppers as well as green. In fact I think I'm in the minority but I think slow cooker food often tastes really quite rank - no idea why. I use a pressure cooker now. Makes meat gorgeously tender in 20 minutes

katieowl_2

prepareathome wrote: »

Just want to say I met her when she came back over for a visit ( she moved to Canada) and had a chat with her, she was giving a talk at our local library and then tea afterwards. I took my own copy of Twopence Across the Mersey and she autographed it. A lovely woman, only small, tiny and such fantastic memory of growing up, I can barely remember most of my childhood, but no bitterness against her family or anyone. I hadn't realised she died just a few months ago.

Oh how wonderful. I just spotted that she died recently too - 92 a good age though for one who was so malnourished and poorly when she was young.

I've just sat here and done 'needy friend' a Mr T order...I sent her a very small cheque at the beginning of the month so she could feed her dog (not as generous as it sounds as he's to come to me if she can't look after him anymore :eek:) I told her I'd be MUCH happier sending food as the bank can't snaffle that, and she's finally agreed. She didn't ask for anything exotic or frivolous, and I know she's usually really good with her pennies. Does anyone know what happens if you tell utilities (British Gas I think) that you simply do not have the money to pay your direct debits any more??? She's got various appeals lodged, and is getting help navigating them all - including one for unfair dismissal for being sick from the Nhs...so fingers crossed, and she's also looking into getting work as a care home assistant even though she's a qualified midwife, as she thinks that may be easier to pick up quickly.

Kate

VJsmum

Byatt wrote: »

As for the falling; I do it in the street too! On my way to uni one day, and carrying a backpack full of library books, I fell flat on my face. I was weighed down by the books, and it was right in front of a group of marines (I was trying to walk by looking alluring :rotfl::D). I thought, shall I just lie here, maybe people won't notice. :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Working in construction, I generally crane (pardon the pun) my neck to look at what's going on at any building site. Once on holiday in Austria with a backpack on I was looking at a building site, slipped on a piece of metal sheeting and the backpack meant I went splat on my face. I landed on my chin cutting it open. OH was only concerned about the blood on my t shirt and made me change it! In the street, in front of the building site. We went to a pharmacy who called a taxi to get us to the hospital. Whilst waiting someone brought me a glass with clear liquid and their only english was that it was natural, so I didn't know whether to drink it or dab it on! I figured it was natural so I drank it. I wonder if they still talk about the mad english lady who drank that liquid! :rotfl:

Byatt

VJsmum wrote: »

Working in construction, I generally crane (pardon the pun) my neck to look at what's going on at any building site. Once on holiday in Austria with a backpack on I was looking at a building site, slipped on a piece of metal sheeting and the backpack meant I went splat on my face. I landed on my chin cutting it open. OH was only concerned about the blood on my t shirt and made me change it! In the street, in front of the building site. We went to a pharmacy who called a taxi to get us to the hospital. Whilst waiting someone brought me a glass with clear liquid and their only english was that it was natural, so I didn't know whether to drink it or dab it on! I figured it was natural so I drank it. I wonder if they still talk about the mad english lady who drank that liquid! :rotfl:

VJ, did you ever find out what the clear liquid was?? :rotfl: Those backpacks are a liability!

Katie, I've never known the utilities to be very understanding, but it's always worth a try. They may adjust the monthly DD and you/your friend should ask that they not add on extra charges for late payment etc.

meme30

Thanks everyone. It's been a stressful two weeks but you have all helped. Reading your posts every day has kept my spirits up, and put perspective back into my brain. :T
I am thrilled that DD is ok, and it's going to be such a lovely thing to look forward to.

Kitcat:- Hope you are ok today, funerals do bring their own particular stresses to life.:grouphug:

Katieowl:- I know what you mean about the abuse of part-time job laws. Employers are happy to use you but are more than happy to deny you full-time employment rights. All these people who are going to have to find 24 hours work instead of 16 to qualify for WTC are up against this. I would imagine the utilities will put a pre-paid meter into your friend house. This will mean she pays the debt as she goes, but, it costs a lot more to use.

I really don't know what to say to all of you who have fallen flat on your faces. Smacks of sheer exhibitionism! :rotfl:
The worry is I now have to add accident-prone to the description of the decrepit/struggling/hoarding(oops! nearly wrote hoaring!:D)/frugal/thrifty and whoopsie stalker folk who write their thoughts on here.

Memory_Girl

Greenbee - I have asked my Moroccan Chef mate about green peppers (I figured that the tagines he makes and our slow cookers are not too different)

He skins green peppers - they are red peppers that are not ripe yet so haven't developed the sugars yet and adds a smidge of honey or pinch of sugar - much as you would if cooking tomatoes, or "sours" the mix with preserved lemons or vinegar and herbs.

Who knew? LOL

MG

greenbee

Thanks MG! I will tell OH and then hopefully he will stop moaning about the SC making things taste funny (my dad says the same about the MW if he sees stuff cooked in it!) and we can avoid adding green pepper skins!