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

lizzyb1812

Memorygirl - I have been following your blog for a while now - the curry base is fantastic - made a chickpea and potato curry with it tonight.

Mardatha - sorry, no cat pee soap required here. But have you thought of putting your obvious talents to making sweeties?

Kidcat - what can I say - your determination to do the best for your children despite overwhelming obstacles is awesome.

Have been offline for 48 hours + so have just caught up - lovely stories of childhood - good and bad. Has anyone else noticed that as they grow older the back of their hands look just look like their mother's?

And to end on good news - growing broad beans for the first time this year and I've got pods :T

grandma247

Kidcat well done for breaking ds out of school.
How on earth can someone be said to have been trained for something when they have not actually worked at it? There is a world of difference between reading a few books and attending talks or lectures and actually doing the job.

Byatt

Kidcat, my DD had a teacher like your son's in her first year after reception class. I don't even want to talk about it because it still upsets me so much. The teacher was a bully, she told me one day after DD had gone back to school after being ill, that it had been so much better in the class without my DD being there. DD was 5.

I struggled on with the school for too long, basically changed to another school when her next teacher in year 2 suggested I did so.

It wasn't ideal, still had problems, and eventually home schooled for around 18 months. Have you considered home schooling? Your son sounds as if he is so much calmer when with you, to sit in the car like that reading is excellent.

MG, love your blog, very inspirational!

mardatha

Oh god if I could make sweeties I'd be the size of a house!! I have got a recipe for Turkish Delight somewhere but I daren't make it ....

Uniscots97

I made apple turnovers earlier (thank you folks for the recipes I received), packet of puff pastry and apples that hadn't been eaten and didn't want to throw them out. I did them as rectangles to get more filling in. Yum.

kidcat

Oh Mar you have to try it and possibly share the recipe too!!!

Have just returned from an Ikea wander, DD17 and I went ostensibly to look into a new bed for her but more for the wander and a gentle laugh, was stunned to walk out onto drive and find three ducks sat next to our car though, we fed them some bread and left. Have come home to find them just across road on grass verge looking like they may be planning on staying!! Kids will be thrilled in the morning (although the cats may be more so!!!):rotfl:

Byatt we have talked about it and it may well come to that yet but would rather we didnt, as effectively I would have no time off at all and that would impact on all the other kids but mostly DD6 who is already put out that I dont spend as much time at her school as DSs:)

Store cupboards - I have a big walk in cupboard in the utility room which holds loads. I store for many reasons, one being weather but originally began when my OH job looked likely to go. I decided to stock as much as possible in order to cushion the blow. I have found the store cupboard really helpful at times, especially at the moment with OH off work.

fuddle

So pasta's, rice, cous cous, powdered milk... tins? That sort of thing. Hmm flour too. I am relying on flour now an awful lot more than I used to. What is he 'shelf life' of flour?

Any help would be fab.

mcculloch29

Hoosh... you lot sure go for it on the talk front... what a wonderful, inspiring, touching, heart-tugging set of posts.
Feeling grateful for my loving parents, seeing the up side of having had to make do and doing so much arty-crafty stuff with the kids when they were small as it was a cheap activity!

kidcat

Fuddle I am still using flour with a sept 2010 date:o its seems ok, I add a little extra baking powder to the SR version.

I would suggest cleaning fluids, washing powder, washing up liquid, toilet rolls, toothpaste, soap, shampoo and shower gel as good staples. They never go off and increase so significantly in price that if you can buy them on offer its real value for money, I am using washing powder at the moment that I paid £8 per box for back in January, I bought 6 boxes and then used a voucher for £10 off too, so effectively paid a little over £6 per box. The same size boxes are now selling for £20 so I have really saved a bundle. (I still have three boxes in the loft too!! - havent told OH, just got DS14 to slip them up there quietly:D)

Cereals are another good one too and maybe powdered milk.

SDG31000

Morning all from a very, very wet Leicester :eek:

Last night I made 30 shortbread crown biscuits, 2 pints of lime jelly, 2 pints of blackcurrant jelly, 3 pints of strawberry jelly and the base of a strawberry trifle using a whole pack of trifle sponges, a punnet of strawberries and 2 pints of strawberry jelly. I'm having my first tea of the day and then I'm going to make custard for the jelly and start on the cupcakes...at least 45 of them and some wheat/gluten free ones.

So I say bring it on rain. No way is that lot going to waste!

Kidcat I just want to say well done and brava :T If your son's teacher isn't up to the job then she shouldn't be doing it. Why should your son and the rest of the class suffer due to her incompetence. It makes me so angry.

Ginnyknit I hope the curtains turned out well

Mardatha good luck with the Turkish Delight. Just be warned that making it involves a heck of a mess. I had sticky stuff and the cornflour/icing sugar mix covering the whole kitchen when I attempted it.

Well sitting here isn't going to get these cakes baked. Take care everyone xxxx