make do and mend for tougher times

VJsmum

Yayy - a working at home day.

Which is going to be a "not working at home day" I owe them 6 hours this week but they owe me about 60 so they can whistle!A level results day so a busy time for most at work (tho we got the results on Sunday), but there is clearing. The Uni has 800 places to fill :eek: A level results are down and the fees are up - so an interesting time ahead.

I have to finish a sewing project which is going to take most of the day and then get DS to the uniform shop to be measured for a blazer. The school has changed its entire uniform from sweatshirts and polo shirts back to blazers, white shirts and ties. The shop is going to be a nightmare.

I am off on my hols again next week (I know, I know) but this is a caravan holiday in Wales. DS and favourite niece (I can have a favourite niece, can't I? Tho I absolutely adore all my nieces and nephews, this one is rather special) are volunteering on a steam railway. I am hoping to get some relaxation time while they work. I think it likely that my 6 hours owed will get repaid as well. 16 year old DD is staying home alone for the first time this weekend :eek: OH will be back in the week. I am coming back for a day to go get GCSE results with her. I am also off in a month to do some teaching in Korea so i have that to prepare.

Welcome back GQ - and don't read about the runner beans :rotfl:

katieowl_2

Hey Fuddle.... here is a horror story for you. Not blaming the child of course, but pointing out what I said about social services deciding which bits NOT to pass on is obviously alive and kicking as a practice!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2188970/Six-year-hell-couple-kept-dark-adopted-girl-s-abused-childhood.html

Kate

Popperwell

I've avoided beef and corned beef ever since the scare about CJD but the other week my auntie cooked a meal and it could've been beef mince for all i know...so if it's going to get me it's too late now...so it's been years since I had a corned beef sandwich or pie or hash so to h*** with it.

I used to like it so I bought some higher priced sliced corned beef as opposed to tinned CB and I will eat it and hang the consequences...it should give me a few more meals and snacks to have a go at...

mardatha

I'm busy painting eyeballs on a worm and an octopus . RV is saying why don't I do some HOUSEWORK instead or faintfaint try cooking. He's dead catty for a man!
eyeballs here - http://www.flickr.com/photos/mard_soap/

manchestermargo

Morning All

Fuddle, I usually just press the scone mixture lightly with the side of my hand. Think this keeps the mixture light, if you know what I mean!

Welcome back GQ love Yorkshire myself. I was married to a Yorkshire man for 24 years so know the county quite well.

Have a good day all.

MM

Possession

Oh dear I've already forgotten all the things I wanted to say to people.
Thecake - hope you get some lovely cuddles with your cat today.
fuddle - I don't roll scones either, the less pressing the better. I use this recipe:
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1729/ultimate-scones
I would use either clotted cream or M&S extra thick double cream mmmmm.
GQ - You obviously didn't go to the right places for the Yorkshire tea terraces. Well hidden on the Moors somewhere. I once spent 6 hrs driving up a foggy mountain in Penang to see a tea plantation and when we got there it was closed. Bit of a disappointment. But the school where I taught in Japan had their own little tea fields (everywhere rural in Japan grows a bit of tea) and little old ladies in very strange hats used to walk up and down cutting it with scissors.
Grandma i'm glad your BIL got his money. It really doesn't sound right what the LL is doing but TBH it sounds as if she doesn't know what's going on rather than her deliberately trying to rip people off. perhaps if someone in authority points this out she might sort it out.
I'm sure there were other people I wanted to reply to, maybe it will come back to me! At least there is a bit of sunshine here today.
DH just now got a phone call for an interview today for 6 weeks' work on some hush hush project. Great - except that it would mean we'd need another car, something we were hoping to avoid until he got a 'proper' job, and we'd need it by Monday morning!!
DH has gone off to be stressed about it. Sigh.

grandma247

GQ good to see you back. Are you a spare time spy or maybe even Mafioso :eek:? could explain them following you:rotfl::rotfl:

I don't think I said welcome back Vjs mum. I am glad you had a good time in America. It is not really a place I ever wanted to visit but DS2 has been twice and loves it.

Fuddle I can't remember if someone else said it but one secret to good scones is a light touch. Weirdly DH made better ones than I did.

Mar they are soooo cute.

SDG31000

Morning all

fuddle I use a mix of Nigella's and Delia's scone recipes. My advice is to use buttermilk as the liquid (It's normally by the milk and cream in the supermarket and about 60p a pot). Keep the dough thicker than you think it should be, at least an inch thick, and scones need clotted cream.

Welcome back GQ

mardatha I love the new soaps and melts. The octopus reminds me of the alien baby from Men in Black.

smileyt I hope Bruno has a swift recovery

I'm putting off starting the cardi I said I would knit myself and knitted 5 little hats last night instead. I did have to go and buy a bottle of smoothie as I was knitting them too small to start with and needed to check the size. I now just need to source some bobbles as I'm not making bobbles that small.
I also picked up some half price YS minced lamb and turkey mince, so shephard's pie and turkey meatballs need cooking at some point today. I'll put some into pots and freeze them to take to my Auntie's on saturday. She still isn't eating properly so I thought I would make her some "ready meals" for those times she doesn't want to cook but still needs to eat something. Cake has been requested as well.

I'm trying to find some get up and go this morning but have failed so far. I've put DS2's old blazers and ties in the washing machine and I'll take them to school next week when the uniform shop is open in case they want them to pass onto someone. His last blazer was a 38 inch chest and I'm hoping that they will actually have one to fit him. He needs them bigger to give him enough length in the arms.

More tea is required I think.

Take care everyone xxxx

betony

Just a quick message to The Cake I went through almost the exact same thing with my special, very affectionate boy, Spike, almost 4 years ago and so can empathise with you. Take comfort in the fact that you gave him a wonderful life, and he did the same for you, and give him as many cuddles as he will allow. The last days with him will be very special and something you can look back on with love.

Sending you and your boy hugs and best wishes. xx

Malfiore

Just made my first food bank donation! Feel pretty good. Now to clean the house as a reward