make do and mend for tougher times

Popperwell

fuddle wrote: »

Good morning. Gosh I hope the sickness wains for people soon. Pops good to read you are feeling a bit positive. We do have a lovely day today don't we Have a cuppa on the door step and watch the world go by in the sun. I plan to do that later!

Took the dog on the school run... cue frantic woman :rotfl: kids treat as they wanted to show him off to their friends but the pup loves kids and was rather excited :eek:

My lovely old lady neighbour has passed me some old jelly and ice lolly moulds for the kids so going to make use of them later. Determined to enjoy this holiday with them, even if I am slightly nervous how I'm going to entertain them. Sis has agreed for £10 petrol money to take us to see the police dogs and fire brigade at her sure start in the next two weeks. I gotta do it for my kids my would rather not spend that £10 but I can't expect her to ferry me around for free, petrol costs the earth at the minute.

NEWS :rotfl: you know my trolley? Well my friend has a bad back but needs some shopping at the coop. She's asked me to take trolley (it needs a name! what should I call her?) so she doesn't have to carry it. Now that's a result

Ok, off to go do some housework. DH home at 5.30 tonight and boy have I missed the daft auld bogger Stewing steak in gravy done in the SC with mashed potato, carrots and peas.

Pops good luck with the chicken and I would get in with that cocktail stick after 3 hours... nice clear juices and it's done, any pink juices or tinged pink skin and it's not quite.

What a cutie!

Fuddle,
That's a nice idea about the cuppa and watching the world go by, at least that is free(but if they can charge, they'll find a way)

I can imagine your looking forward to the return of DH, Mum never lost that...

Have the school holidays still to start? I assume as you did the school run they haven't...

Still sounds as though I should invest in a shopping trolley even one that folds and you pull with one hand(approx £16.99)better for the back but the other night I did manage quite well with a ruck sack and if my shopping is not as much in the future and spread out, the bag will probably do...decisions, decisions.

Some of my food is backing up date wise and I perhaps I will be throwing some items out or risking eating a day or two over their dates...I have some mackerel(fresh)has to be used by 21st(July)Chicken thighs(24th)and the chicken today...hopefully I'll do it!

Did I say though expensive on the roasting bags, Tesco's had 40 steaming bags for a microwave for £2, that seemed reasonable...

May see if I can get some cheap Wellingtons today, I probably should buy a spare pair of trainers and shoes too. I only have one pair of each at present. I probably should invest in some gloves and a woolly hat soon.

If I can find something suitable. Probably thermal and in a grey colour I think...may have to think about e-bay again? Doubt I'll get much choice locally but Tesco's might surprise...ASDA probably has something if I don't mind adding bus/taxi fares...

Then it's the laterns. wind up radio, possibly a head torch, kettle, water purification tablets and then is that it?

I have said elsewhere that though I'll be alone at Christmas:(I hope that I can avoid being miserable and a miser, I'll try and do myself a festive meal and listen to the Chritmas music and for my store room I'm going to try and have a crate with some Christmas goodies even if I eat them after the holiday and if it has gone off I'll drink the champagne I had for Mum's birthday and special occasions that never was used. I did not normally bother with expensive booze and probably never will again...not just for me.

May as well use it up though...any excuse...

Popperwell

fuddle wrote: »

Another plus with the coop is that you can pay money and cheques into the post office.

The PO allows me to access my Lloyds TSB account so I probably can stay with the bank if it closes here.

short_bird wrote: »

I believe you can get money from CoOp banks at the Post Office, I know you can get money from Smile accounts (internet part of CoOp banking). Also, I'm sure you can still pay CC bills by post, with a cheque, if you don't do internet banking.

If you look to the right, there's something on the News section about what the Lloyds sale will mean for the customer. But I'd come back to this in a couple of months as so much is still up in the air.

Short Bird it isn't finalised until November but I cannot remember if that's this year or next year so I can wait and see what happens...may have to pay the cc bill by cheque as you suggest.

Running a car really is expensive now Katieowl, frightening...yes I am thinking of paying my utility bills by DD, I have to pay my ISP that way...

fuddle

Today is the last day of school for my two. I have to say that I'm looking forward to not having to get everyone up, ready, fed and out. That is a plus.

I will have to watch myself though because when I don't need to go out, I don't make the effort and subsequently I get down and spiral into a grotbags. So I'm wanting to have entertained kiddies and a smile on my face. Effort, effort, effort... and when I need a rest, chuck 'em in the garden!

Oh speaking of which. I'd like to swill and scrub my garden patio to rid of any horrid doggy induced residual yakkiness before the kids go out there to play. My mam has said Jeyes fluid but she thinks it's a nasty chemical. Does anyone know if it's safe to use with dogs and kidsbefore I make a trip out for it? Otherwise, would stardrops do? I have a lot of that.

prepareathome

Pops have you room in your freezer for the mackerel and chicken so then you don't have to worry about using them up - you can freeze the chicken individually, its what I always do with everything from packs of meat to chicken every piece frozen separately so I can just take out exactly what I want - does mean on days when I have bought rather a lot YS as these days its only time I usually buy fish, beef, lamb, mince, chicken or sausages I can come home and stand there for half an hour just getting everything bagged up and if I find a full chicken ys I stand and cut it into portions ready to be cooked as some point - same with joints I cut them into two or three depending on the size and then all are frozen, my freezer is full of little packets of things.

It means if I fancy one thing and hubby another I am not cooking to much of one thing - hubby does not like meals that i have cooked and frozen, not because of the taste but they take so long to reheat in the oven - to him if its frozen it should be like a pizza and not take more than 25 mins top so quicker to cook and have it ready on the day. If we both are having the same then I just take out double the amount and it means I can take advantage of buying bigger items that would be to big for two and save even more money.

paidinchickens

I use jeyes fluid and I don't think it is as bad as it used to be, we have dogs, cats, chickens and children and they are all still alive.

paidinchickens

tin has picture of a dog and patio and only says keep away from feeding areas. It was on offer at Mr Ts but I don't know if it still is.

katieowl_2

Fuddle, I was pretty sure it said for cleaning kennels on the Jeyes tin, but not sure where mine is....but I found this:

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061204055436AAwcBsX

So yes it is OK!

Kate

[Deleted User]

POPS - if you cook the things that need using up and pop them into the freezer in individual portions, you will save on fuel as you can re-heat in the microwave and it will give you ready done things on the days when you are tired and don't feel like making the effort to cook. Keep drinking the champagne, each time you do you'll be toasting Mum and she'll be sharing it with you, it will be a lifelong link which you'll be able to grin at eventually. Hope you're feeling a bit brighter today, Cheers Lyn .

Popperwell

fuddle wrote: »

Today is the last day of school for my two. I have to say that I'm looking forward to not having to get everyone up, ready, fed and out. That is a plus.

I will have to watch myself though because when I don't need to go out, I don't make the effort and subsequently I get down and spiral into a grotbags. So I'm wanting to have entertained kiddies and a smile on my face. Effort, effort, effort... and when I need a rest, chuck 'em in the garden!

Oh speaking of which. I'd like to swill and scrub my garden patio to rid of any horrid doggy induced residual yakkiness before the kids go out there to play. My mam has said Jeyes fluid but she thinks it's a nasty chemical. Does anyone know if it's safe to use with dogs and kidsbefore I make a trip out for it? Otherwise, would stardrops do? I have a lot of that.

You'll be fine...enjoy a little bit of down time...it won't last long...

If you can use Jeyes in a gardenI'm sure it must be pretty safe...It can be used of childrens toys...

http://www.jeyes.com/en-gb/our-products/jeyes-fluid/

Popperwell

prepareathome wrote: »

Pops have you room in your freezer for the mackerel and chicken so then you don't have to worry about using them up.

The mackerel has no instructions on it regarding the freezer just a date. It can be eaten hot or cold. So it's obviously been cooked. It is in shrunk plastic. The chicken thighs are also cooked and can be eaten cold or heated in an oven or microwave but no mention about freezing.

I'm not sure how to warm the mackerel if I decide too. I don't know if it's a boil in the bag type...so may eat it cold.

I'm still a bit confused about defrosting meat and fish(I keep seeing that you should put it in a fridge for hours to defrost)and yet they say you can defrost in a microwave(which I have never done)

It helps wghen it is a bought product in a box and says you can cook straight from the freezer without defrosting...