make do and mend for tougher times

fuddle

I've got some smart price yoghurt grandma the plain kind. I drizzle it over the fruit with honey anyway, never thought you could make ice cream with it. We have one strawberry ready (pitiful huh :rotfl:) and a few blackcurrents left to harvest. We'll pop them in and make some ice cream tomorrow

MrsL



I've been out my dog and left the kids with grandma :rotfl: I'm relaxed now. Still roll on my bath time in peace.

Going to read my new foraging books tonight curtosy of the ovely MrsL, he who knows these things and Docky. Are the elderberries out yet?

[Deleted User]

Love the snails FUDDLE - hope they will go up on the fridge to be admired by all. Elderberries are only just green and beginning to ripen at present, probably won't be harvesting them until late August, early September. You might find Rowanberies beginning to be ready - if you do give one a squeeze and if it's soft enough to give under your finger pressure, it's ripe. Have a recipe for Rowanberry Jelly if you want it. Well done that puppy for calming Mumi down wiva niyse walkies - Good Boy Alfie !!!!! Cheers Lyn xx.

paidinchickens

elona wrote: »

Fantasising about sticking an apple in his gob as I am fed up. Wonder if I am too old to run away to the circus;)

That made me chuckle as I have those moments myself

Forgot to tell you all.

The Ronseal saga

If you remember the last time we had a week of nice weather I painted all the fencing, gates, cat fostering pen, trellis etc. At the end of the week when I was feeling mighty please with myself as I was still in a lot of pain (nerve damage) but it was a huge achievement for me and then it all ran in the rain

I was gutted to say the least and truth be known I cried for ages. The customer service was worse than appalling and they accused me of all sorts, a long long time later and a lot of arguing and letter writing, quotes and losing of recorded delivery mail I sent they have agreed to cough up £300 and sent 6 tubs of stuff to do it again.

I know I should be over the moon but it shouldn't have had to be done again, they shouldn't have treated me so badly and they are still not admitting fault :mad:

It will cost £300 to pay someone to do it as I am unable physically or mentally to do it again.

So no better off just raised blood pressure

PIC x

Popperwell

I'd love to put my fan on but not sure what it costs energy wise so just have the blinds and curtains drawn. That may be a luxury I have to forego...

That carry on over the council tax is a worry when they bring it in(especially if I have to find the bedroom tax)

They will get me out of here I am sure...I might manage(with difficulty if things stayed as they are now...but I know that they won't)Smaler properties are rare around here and I like this raea and have lived here over 50 years...I know people have to move and do what they don't want to even when working but its still a wrench when you have to.

Here I am near the shops which when you have mobility problems is handy.

I know I am ill and have health conditions likely to get worse but I am too young still to get possible extra help(I'm not in a hurry to be a pensioner)it will happen soon enough, I'm the wrong side of 50 but if I had been born sooner I might've been left alone by the DWP and other people that deal with such matters. And I would not be affected by the increase in the retirement age.

I've signed up for duel power with NPower I couldn't be bothered to mess about any more.

They think my electric and gas combined will be £80 per month but it could come down still further when they see some meter readings and because I am doing it online/Direct Debit they have saved me £145 approx(so he quoted £960 annually)I don't know if that's good. Yesterday, the other advisor suggest it might be £65 per month and come in around £850 but we'll see.

I could not use the gas or electric any less than I do...

I know many on here have health problems but we sometimes have to do some task but it needs doing and we cannot call in the family(because we haven't any)or the professionals because it costs money.

So when you mentioned about the fence painting I can imagine how that took it out of you and though you'll do something like that once in a blue moon, it's awful to think that's the kind of thing the DWP or similar busy bodies would say that proves that you are fit.

That's what stops me attempting to do the odd job. I even worry as slow as painful as it is for me to walk I'll get the same treatment. No one knows what an effort it is and if I succeed what I am like when I get home.

But if you don't try, they think you are lazy, if you try it goes against you. You cannot win...

They probably think I am on the pc all the time but I do a bit, go away and come back. I couldn't sit for hours and hours but it's my way of staying in touch with the world and trying not to be bored spending so much time indoors, alone...

Popperwell

So is there anything from AP that I would find useful as a single person? I never find the bargains or items that seem to be worth having?

Popperwell

Chicken Thighs today...
They've only just gone over the use by date so I am risking them, they'll not go off within hours, they are already cooked. I may pop a couple in the slow cooker and try and do something like chicken in red winewith a sachet of herbs and stuff I have, add some veg, onion, potatoes, bacon and mushroom and see what happens...

Not sure how long to leave it on for and whether to do it at high or low temperature but I don't care how long it takes to cook...

There's only me but the sauce will probably do the equivelent of a meal for upto 4. If some has to be thrown away, so be it.

elona

PIC

Well done on sticking up for yourself and getting a refund.

I think they should have sent you massive apologies and an equally large bouquet for the distress they caused.

Have cheered up now as realise DH 's compliments are all a bit backhanded and he does not mean to upset me. Maybe he really thinks I was a carp cook for over 20 years on purpose :eek:

Don't think he has any idea how much AF saves us or he would not grump so much. He does now realise how much we save by going to L*** and A*** and also how nice the special fish, meats etc are so that has mollified him a bit.

Bought some flowers the other night as glads were half price and dd had not realised they still had to bloom so wondered why I had bought green sculptured things and put them in vases.;)

Had to explain how different the "sculptures " would look in a day or so.

Fuddle

There is only 45 mins to go and you can all do a "dance of joy" when she goes. Maybe wait till she can't see you though!

Still no sight of sleeping beauty, expect she will surface when evening meal is ready. Chicken Korma is her favourite.

Hugs to all

fuddle

pic hun, think of the positive side. You're going to get your fence all nice.

kezlou

Just had to post these, i'm so chuffed. I found something the slugs haven't eaten!




Also these by the front, after the disappointing news about a job and went out and found these blooming





Sorry if there to large if the admin wish to remove them, its fine Oh and i'm rubbish at taken pics as you can tell lol

fuddle

I can't see 'em kez