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

Popperwell

Possession,
I know that they have to watch security but I thought that the torch barer would be out in front. If you can find spot where you are raised from the ground slightly looking down would be better as people move out into the road and your view then gets blocked.:mad:

I wanted to see the torch relay as it is a bit of an historic event but I'm not really bothered about the Olympics themselves so will not be watching. But hope those who are looking forward to them do enjoy them.

Fuddle, I like your meal plan, even as a single person, I think that I could do a lot of them and they would not cost much to buy the ingredients or to cook them.:)

How about cutting and pasting the plan and e-mailing it to yourself?:p

fuddle

Aha! popperwell, you're good. I will do that, email it to myself.

I cook from scratch every day. I'm at home all the time and have four mouths to feed so it all goes, plus the dog gets some of the meat stuffs too. I've tried to get it so every one likes everything (excpet the chilli and curry nights, kids will have fish fingers, beans on toast etc) but all other meals are enjoyed by us all. You'll notice the lack of variety of veg :cool: My lot will only eat carrots, broccolli and peas. I'm happy with that, as long as they eat some veg.

It's a combination of low cost meat stuffs/easy to get, non expensive veg/grandma's day meals/store cupboard basics. I'm really happy with it, I feel organised and don't need to spend a great deal on my meals. Definitely usable for families and single persons.

Off I go to email myself :rotfl:

Popperwell

I e-mailed your plan to myself too:)

The variety of veg you mention seems good enough to me, I used to cook from scratch a lot but often cheat these days...frozen veg works and I get a few meals from one bag.

The local freezer shop has some Bird's Eye Steam veg(4 portions in each bag)two for £1.50(approx 19p a sachet)pop into the microwave...sorted. In my case though I like a joint of meat there's too much for one and then the cost of cooking it but some sliced meat can do the trick.

So a meal of pork, vegetables, potatoes, gravy I could probably do that for around £1(and just have to cook the vegetables and the potatoes)and be ready in perhaps 20 minutes. Possibly a dessert for between 25p and 50p. Some meals are less than that.

I reckon my daily food budget is around £1.50-£2 that's quite tight...but generally I manage...for now...

Evie74_2

Well, I'm back from the torch procession. We were right at the front, and would have had a good view but for the 9ft square giant pushing forwards and standing in front of us in the middle of the road :mad: What is it with some people? He would have been able to see perfectly well standing alongside, but no - he felt he was more important than anyone else and just had to stand in front of my little DDs so they couldn't see a thing :mad::mad:. DH managed to get a picture (with said giant taking up most of the shot) but all in all it was a bit of a letdown.

There were lots of tacky merchandise sellers (why do they think a balloon with a picture of Dora the Explorer or Mickey Mouse on it is an appropriate memento for the day?? Why were people even buying them?!) and a convoy of sponsors' lorries, and the flame itself was kind of lost in the middle of it all. Very strange, and all over in an instant.

I'm glad I went (I would have felt I was depriving the girls of an historic experience if I hadn't) but it was a bit... well, empty.

Ho hum. Back down with a bump and time to serve the dinner (roast chicken, roast potatoes and veg; sponge and custard for pud).

Evie xx

[Deleted User]

Hi POPPERWELL - we live like it's the thirties too - but it was our choice and not necessity, so I understand how hard it must be not to have the choice. We took a good look at how we were living when the last daughter left home and decided that we would make changes. We had a woodburner installed and no longer run the CH at all, the boiler only comes on for an hour morning and evening to heat water, if we get chilly it's on with another layer or do something strenuous to warm up. We have blankets to snuggle under on the sofa. We grow lots of our own fruit and veg, like so many on here and find that helps lots. We had a water meter installed and are now monitoring all water usage, saves heaps. We had all the insulation that you can put in because the local council had a deal for pensioners. We got Low energy bulbs for the whole house and scrupulously turn off appliances, not leaving any on stand by. I will only run the washing machine with a full load, I do the same with the dish washer and we don't have a tumble dryer either. Like so many of us I cook from scratch all the time and use 'built in' leftovers to make lighter meals for suppers. We have lots of home made soups,and lots of bubble and squeak, mashed potato makes wartime cheese rarebit and also potato cakes, it's not a conventional lifestyle but it suits us. It must be difficult for you catering for one but, you are important too and it's so easy to say 'oh it's only for me' and feel it's not worth the effort. It is though and you will stay in better health if you do look after yourself and feed yourself properly. That should make you feel more positive and hopeful. There is a better future, you can make it so and you will, because you are strong and resourceful and a fighter. Look after you Cheers Lyn xxx.

fuddle

We didn't have any of the merchandise sellers but the floats before hand were a let down. They just drove past us waving. What was the point of them? You know what made our day, the chirpy police and the motor bike riders hi-5 ing the kids as drove by. I was lucky enough to be stood where the torch was passed over and the girl let my DD's have a picture taken with her and the torch so that was good but the procession - just a waste of time as fr as I could see.

Popperwell

Evie74,
Sorry that it was a letdown for you as it was for me:(and sorry for your daughters(I'm considerate and would have thought about them)

So you had the same experience, tacky items being sold(we had tin referee whistles, plastic flags, inflatable torches and something that looked like a table tennis bat and seemingly saw more of the sponsor's lorries:p

But none of the merchandise had the Olympic logo on it so I guess it was not officially sanctioned and it was someone making a quick "Buck"

I have a feeling the best place to see the torch is in a big town where it ends it's run for the night and they some kind of show and I assume there are vans selling fast food etc...:p

They said if you stood on the left hand side of the road there would be souvenirs being given out as they passed by(I assume keyrings and the like)I never saw any...

Popperwell

fuddle wrote: »

We didn't have any of the merchandise sellers but the floats before hand were a let down. They just drove past us waving. What was the point of them? You know what made our day, the chirpy police and the motor bike riders hi-5 ing the kids as drove by. I was lucky enough to be stood where the torch was passed over and the girl let my DD's have a picture taken with her and the torch so that was good but the procession - just a waste of time as far as I could see.

So it wasn't any better for you either Fuddle...so I'm not alone...glad you got the photo. I wondered if it was just that our town was being treated as an afterthought and they bother more in the larger one's like Durham, Middlesborough etc...but it appears not! The floats were a waste of time weren't they.

I noticed the police were praised and it was seen as a good public relations exercise.

Evie74_2

Popperwell - they said the same thing here about merchandise etc being given out on the left hand side, but we didn't see anything being given out. There were plenty of sellers - not just the balloons, but flags and inflatables and medals etc. Very expensive and really just cheap plastic tat. The girls had brought their own flags (leftover from school/nursery jubilee celebrations) so weren't too put out when I wouldn't get them a balloon.

I am constantly amazed by peoples' lack of manners and consideration for those around them. I would never push in front of someone like that man did, especially not children. Manners cost nothing, as my mother would say.

Evie xx

Popperwell

Mrs Lurcher Walker,

For what I use and the amount of clothes I go through(and I tend to stick to the same selection)I can probably hand wash as I used to but seeing as I have a washer, I save everything up and maybe have a wash perhaps every three or four weeks.

I don't always change what I wear every day I am afraid, the only good thing about a washer is that as it has a spin cycle the clothes are much drier than I could get them by hand so whilst I am here(I hope forever)and have access to a washing line in a garden they dry quicker or if I have to put the tumble drier on, I only need to use it sparingly and not for long. By hand they often took days to dry and if the weather is bad...forever.


What I already have will probably last me the rest of my life.:p
Yes, I hope the future is better than feared and I have always been a fighter and usually positive in attitude. Must try and remain so...

So far unless the budget gets even tighter I am eating reasonably well and even more so it's important having health problems but when I do come into Mum's meagre savings things will be tough(as I will even have to pay for my medication)and yet it keeps my condition stable and me alive...)

I'll have to invest in one of those cards that cost approx £100 annually(more money to find)and that would be like me paying for two months of medicine and getting the remaining 10 months for free.

And yes though I will eat soup, baked beans and so on, I am still making the effort and have a variety of meals.

What costs the most(but should not be totally given up)is meat so I eat a lot of fruit, cereal, salad, vegetables, cheese, fish, potatoes...and portion out what I buy.

If I open something and the instructions say that it should be used in a couple of days, as it's in the fridge, I'll risk another day or two especially if it's something that is to be cooked thoroughly, otherwise I would not always get through all I buy or I'd have to avoid buying it because I know more would be thrown out. It's common sense as much as anything.

Nothing wrong with the suggested meals you have mentioned.

I often only use one light in the evening(an energy saving one on the landing)shining into all the bedrooms, on the landing, down the stairs into the hallway and the toilet and bathroom. Sometimes leave it on for safety through the night but if I wake in the early hours, I will turn it off as it starts to beccome light outside.

Thanks Lyn...

Popperwell(Anthony)xx