make do and mend for tougher times

GreyQueen

kidcat wrote: »

Had shock earlier when I discovered that we are down to our last tin of tomatoes, no idea how that happened but need to do some serious restocking in that dept.
Does anyone know if its cheaper for me to use a kettle on the gas hob to boil water or to use the electric kettle?

:eek: OMG, let me send you a care package!

It's said to be cheaper to boil water on gas than by electricity. I have a stove top kettle on my gas cooker, the kind like a dome so that it has a very big base. I put about half an inch of water on it and boil it on my big burner and it's so quick. Can judge by the weight exactly how much to fill it to fill my small teapot (about 1.75 big mugs' worth).

I feel for you about those friends of your DD. Many years after the event, Mum told me that one of my little playfriends, when we were about the same age as these girls, had gone into a cupboard in our kitchen and stolen some cash put aside there for the milkman. Wasn't a big sum, but it was an indication of her character. We weren't friends long. As an adult she's been convicted of theft several times, as seen in the local rag, and it's usually thieving from a vulnerable individual where she was in a position of trust. Little c0wbag.

fuddle wrote: »

DH and I have already talked about that. When we can buy again we want to be able to get a house with a garage so we can convert into a living space for the kids when they're older. I do like the idea of a large cabin like thing in the garden. Oh, woodburner in there... scrap that, the kids can have the house, i'll live in the garden :rotfl:

I know of one family who had their teen son in a cabin out in the garden. It was set up as a bedsit-type thingy but not plumbed so he used the bathroom in the house. He was very popular with his friends who used to come and hang out. It was done because there wasn't enough bedroom space for him and his younger siblings and the family couldn't run to a bigger home. Don't know if the Council would like it if the knew so probably best to keep a low profile if you're thinking about doing it.

Popperwell wrote: »

Red salmon is still expensive(Tuna too to some extent)but they had cans of tuna chunks in brine, sunflower oil or spring water(4x185g)Oriental And Pacific brand for £3...

Hi Pops, don't know if you have access to a L!dl but they have Nixe pink salmon in the tall tins at £1.89 and very tasty it is, too. I get it for Mum and Dad as they don't have a L!dl where they live. The daft beggars even let their cats have a share.

Well, it's been 31 degrees here, 31 degrees at the parents' place and I'm just about fit to drop. Didn't eat a cooked meal until after 7 pm as was too hot. I've had h.g. tatties, my broadband beans (heh!) and some salmon which wasn't h.g. but which I got a good price on just before Crimble as a whole side and sectioned and froze. Nomnomnom. That's not too bad nutritionally, pity about the choccie bar I had this morning, though!:rotfl:

I think I have finally beaten the tax credits into submission; after 12 different award notices and about 4 of my hours on the Helpline, they finally seem to have done it properly this time. I shan't hold my breath as I've had a fresh notice every day this week, so there may be some more to work their way thru the system. Oh, the waste of trees and time is enough to make me weep. And my hair is turning whiter by the day............:p

Mar, I have 18 boxes of teabags, how's your stash?

Oooff, hope I'm gonna be able to sleep tonight in this heat as I'm still recovering from the holiday. People with ME should holiday at home in bed, anything else is too tiring. But Yorkshire was lovely even if they do lie about the tea coming from there.

Hope everyone is OK, esp PAH. Laters, GQ x

smileyt_2

GreyQueen wrote: »

Oooff, hope I'm gonna be able to sleep tonight in this heat as I'm still recovering from the holiday. People with ME should holiday at home in bed, anything else is too tiring. But Yorkshire was lovely even if they do lie about the tea coming from there.

Hope everyone is OK, esp PAH. Laters, GQ x

Greyqueen it is no lie. The teafields are there, but they are hidden by an invisibility spell and only actual tykes can see them or work in them. Ask nurse, she will tell you it's true.

:rotfl:

I second the get well soon wish to PAH, xx.

Popperwell

I'll give that pink salmon a try(Tesco have their own pink salmon in a very large tin for that price...)I nearly bought it today...

Its going to be a warm night, I have been known to diverse myself of bedclothes and...I used to run the large fan I have but now watching the electric, not sure I can run it...

What an admission three times I have talked to different energy companies and their call centre staff admit they cannot afford to use the gas CH except for approx 1-2 hours daily if very cold and they're selling it! They are also working earning a so called wage...

GreyQueen

smileyt wrote: »

Greyqueen it is no lie. The teafields are there, but they are hidden by an invisibility spell and only actual tykes can see them or work in them. Ask nurse, she will tell you it's true.

:rotfl:

I second the get well soon wish to PAH, xx.

LMAO.

Gosh darn, I'm always holidaying in Forn Parts. Wasn't there some magical Irish place which only appeared at certain times? Someone help me out here, I'm sulking because I'm too skint for Pimms and eating basics tinned pineapple as a consolation. What is the critical temp at which homo saps melt? I already feel as if I would be in the red zone on a car temp gague. Urgghhhh!

ETA Pops, call centre staff are prob on NMW or not much above it. It doesn't pay very well. But it's indoor working with no heavy lifting, and I've done worse jobs.

Popperwell

Most of our economy is relying on the NMW and then people still have to try and apply for help from the State...

Even if I have to throw out my pork meatballs, too near the useby date...I think I'll have corned beef, new pots and baked beans or instead of beans have a salad...followed by fruit...probably the right kind of meal for this weather...

Probably have a coffee but mine are always very weak...there's no rush, I'll be up awhile yet!

kidcat

PAH - flat cola works wonders for settling upset tums, hope you feel better soon..

Pops - thanks for the Tesco tip, will be toddling there tomorrow as I like at least ten tins in for general use, not just store cupboard.

Pops - energy company staff are not on a brilliant wage and of course they receive no discounts on the product unlike supermarket staff, or mobile phone company staff. When I worked for 02 all their staff got substantial discounts and discounts for friends and family too. This worked for mobiles,landlines and broadband, added up it makes a good saving on the monthly bills. I have never heard of anyone who works for an energy provider saying - oh yes we get 20% staff discount, although I suspect if they did we would all want to work there!

GQ - will look into a stove top kettle,

Possession - am so jealous, I could handle a glass of Pimms now

Popperwell

kidcat wrote: »

PAH - flat cola works wonders for settling upset tums, hope you feel better soon..

Pops - thanks for the Tesco tip, will be toddling there tomorrow as I like at least ten tins in for general use, not just store cupboard.

Pops - energy company staff are not on a brilliant wage and of course they receive no discounts on the product unlike supermarket staff, or mobile phone company staff. When I worked for 02 all their staff got substantial discounts and discounts for friends and family too. This worked for mobiles,landlines and broadband, added up it makes a good saving on the monthly bills. I have never heard of anyone who works for an energy provider saying - oh yes we get 20% staff discount, although I suspect if they did we would all want to work there!

GQ - will look into a stove top kettle,

Possession - am so jealous, I could handle a glass of Pimms now

Tell me how you come on with the kettle KC...the offer on the tomatoes and tuna...they had placed them on stand alone areas and not on shelves. i hope your local store have them...

You know how you can always learn something new...


We often say how gyms often seem like torture...

I found this...not connected to anything we've been talking about(I know)

http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/138136

fuddle

I'm seriously thinking about a kelly kettle to boil during the day outside using finds on the dog walks. It might sound extreme. I don't know whether it's worth the outlay. I guess it depends on how much it costs to boil the kettle.

Evie74_2

Fuddle - I don't know how much a kelly kettle would cost but it might be cheaper to just boil the kettle once in the morning and pour the lot into a vacuum flask for use throughout the day.

Evie xx

stiltwalker

Can I also fess to a teensy bit of an annoyance with those hairy personages - not that it's not good to see a non cheffy bloke cook, but I've never made it through a whole programme without turning over.

DS crashed out in his pushchair while we were looking round the art/craft thing so now of course he is wide awake - last time he did this we had he pleasure of his company til gone half ten. We managed to resist almost all the amazing art work however DD was so taken with the snails on one stand - made with reclaimed metals- and they had small ones for between £5 an £7.50 so we told her she could have one. She completely enchanted the artist by proceeding to take about 10 minutes to choose which one she would like after carefully considering every single one on the stand, she changed her mind 3 times but we got there in the end and she picked a lovely one in copper with screws for the little antenna. I only wish all the gastropods around here were as cute (and as not alive!!!)

FIL is coming out of hospital on Monday. MIL managed to get a care plan in place that she is happy with even though we had a bit of a set back when FIL told SS hat he was perfectly capable of managing and didn't need any help! MIL had to ring and get them to come and see him while she was there and to point out in no uncertain terms that he was going senile and she couldn't do it on her own.