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

prepareathome

Oh Byatt hope DD is ok, sending lots of healing, but its good it has now burst, now she can start healing.

I couldn't use my pantry for anything except not metal junk till 2 years ago as it had a small window in it that had holes in it for air and supposed to keep it cool, but being south facing it didn't really work in the summer and rest of year was damp and any tins or metal went rusty so we had the window totally bricked up, so no more damp and best of all no more draught as in winter the freezing draught from round sides of door was awful no matter what I put over it to try and block it - cold air would just follow whatever it was and pop out where it ended. I gave it a year to dry out properly before sorting it out for dry goods, it never smelt damp because of the air flow but felt best to leave it for a year. Only way I would store anything in damp cupboards would be if they were in totally waterproof and airtight containers and even then not sure if smell would penetrate.

Muffin Man I bought the egg substitute from health food shop in village but am sure you can buy it elsewhere - one I use is Organ gluten free, its made mainly from potato starch but have to admit never noticed the taste in anything I have used it in. I bought my last box in March and it cost me £2.69 and although it says equal to 60 eggs have to admit not found it going that far but still equal to say around 50 eggs so I don't find it to expensive but I only do use it if I run out of eggs as just being the two of us now we don't eat that many so sometimes I want to bake and don't have any eggs in as cannot buy to make like I used to as they get wasted. It has a use by date of jun 13 but I think it would be something that could be used after that but not as yet gone past the date on a box.

Well I am now proud owner of a cast iron frying pan, its one with a lip for pouring so can be used for other things and handle is part of the pan so no screws that need replacing. It certainly is one solid heavy pan. It has apparently been in previous owners shed for about 25 years and was his mothers so he thinks its about 80 years old. No sign of rust as its covered in grease so going to google best way to clean it up then season it. I am totally in love with it, have wanted cast iron cookware for years but before that when could afford to buy such things didn't appreciate them, so all my pans are stainless steel. Occasionally people will post cast iron pots and pans on freegle but first time I have been lucky.

Right off to do some googling

Hugs, love and healingxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Edited to say I see you found it fuddle, thats the stuff I use, good to know health food shop isn't anymore expensive for this as it is rather for other things but handy being in the village no need to go into town to Holland & Barrett which is a dreary trip and have to pay for car parking so usually any extra they charge( health food shop) is still cheaper than that.

prepareathome

Its so cold out there I have put fleeces on all the plants bar lettuce, even thinking of putting fleece over the plants in grow house as did have them open for a bit today as was repotting some of the plants so will be chilly in there and doubt peppers, cucumbers, pumkins and courgettes will be to happy.

Its only just gone 6pm but I am so tired, only been up since 7am and not exactly done much but I think its the migraine, not as bad thankfully due to pain killers but it always does seem to make me tired ( the 3 years I had them almost constantly I slept through nearly)

Yes going to go and put fleeces on the plants in growhouses and then try and sleep I think - or will be on here.

As you can tell am in the chatty period, you must have all noticed I drive you mad with my posts then suddenly I go quiet for a bit then odd ones then repeat I cannot seem to break out of this been going on like this now for a few years...........

Oh took photos of what I did earlier and posted them on facebook album, link in earlier post, I started it to for me to have a record of what I have done each year and facebook cheapest place for storing so many photos, but I do have my own copies as well on disk.

Hugs, Love and healingxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

fuddle

Chat away PAH I havent checked the temp yet for overnight buut the temps recently have been going haywire... it was 16 degrees at one point today and now we're a bit on the dothering side.

So pleased you won and are thrilled with your cast iron pan. I have a griddle pan that is cast iron, the only thing I have like that. It was engagement present and at the time I didn't have a clue what it was or appreciate it.

BitterAndTwisted

What I would do with that cast-iron pan is to wash it with boiling-hot water only, no soap and no scouring. Then whack it in the oven at its highest temp for a bit. If it's already covered in grease you want to keep it on there rather than scrubbing it off and starting all over again. It can take a fair length of time to get a decent non-stick patina on a pan.

Margaret54

Hi everyone:) Have been catching up so did a lot of reading:) Very wet here today but have enjoyed watching the Queen on t.v and how much the public have enjoyed it all too.
We rent here too and have no ambition to ever own our home. My dh and I love our little bungalow, and we recently had gas installed so it is cosier now:) but have a fleece over my legs instead of turnng the heating on at the moment. Watching the pennies as well:) Take care everyone Margaret x

Byatt

Thanks Mrs C, GQ and PAH, I can't do anything to door as rented property and LL's don't like anything being done. I think I'll put stuff in the bedroom.

Pah, thanks for the healing, it's appreciated. DD is very tired but at least the pain is less now.

Fuddle, good for you doing a degree! Is it a distance degree?

Funny how renting and buying has been mentioned as I was getting myself all upset at missing out on buying after divorce. I was going to and had a mortgage all set up, before the crash, and then ex's solicitors started getting all heavy wanting to know how I was getting a mortgage and wanting the address of the house. I didn't want ex to know where I was, so pulled out, but now I think how stupid was I. I could have held fire for a couple of weeks and then gone ahead. I just wasn't in a good place, what with selling my dream home, problems with DD, and on top, my mother dying and being unable to go to her funeral because of my sister and brother causing so much trouble and I didn't want to be the cause of upset at her funeral. Anyway, I made a major mistake in my choices and now regret it. I will never be able to get on the property ladder again.

Oh well, tomorrow is another day...

fuddle

It doesn't matter Byatt though. Your home is your home. You would never own a mortgaged house until the mortgage was paid off anyway. Whether it be a LL or a mortgage company it's still the soul inside that counts. And Byatt, you have one gorgeous soul

Yeah, I'm doing my degree via the open university. I have been lucky enough to get the courses funded thus far as we're one wage family but that is soon to end. It's looking increasingly like I'll have to get the student loan the government has put in place in order to do the rest. That is very scary.

Hi Margaret.

fuddle

I've been looking into the long range weather forecasts for winter 2012-2013 http://www.exactaweather.com/UK_Long_Range_Forecast.html have not got a clue about how accurate etc this site is but I'm taking it as a heads up.

Memory_Girl

Just as well I have one of these then fuddle:



Tidied up specially for you - have now done a full inventory and I am pleased to report NO meeces in my Armageddon Cupboards BUT ...... I did find a packet of Haribo Sweeties ---- YAY!!!!!!!

MG

stiltwalker

Fuddle - are you not eligible for transitional funding? IF you've completed /started a module towards a named first degree before Sept 12 not only are they holding the prices at a similar level (ie £7-800 ish a module rather than £2,500) but they are also keeping the funding options the same (ie grants not loans) OH has had a grant for his next module starting October so they are still going. There is info on the OU website or give your regional office a call, you should have had an email about transitional funding or will get one, I think they are working their way through as people come to a certain point in their modules and IIRC you have to register transitional arrangements by August so you've still got time.

ETA - ooh you've got the spelt too MG - it's really nice cold or just warm as a side salady thing. The AH cous cous are lovely to but you should see how far my 2 small monsters (1 and 3) can spread it around the dining room and OH is rubbish at sweeping it up!