make do and mend for tougher times

VJsmum

SDG - hope you feel better really soon
Softstuff - hugs. I was in a situation a bit like that with Mum - though hundreds of miles rather than thousands. Awful

Mrs_Veg_Plot wrote: »

Have started a basic sewing course at the local college and ave been shocked at the price of material. I do not usually go to the local market simply because I do not usually go into town. I went this weekend and there are no longer any material stalls. Went to the next town and theer was one small stall with a very limited supply of mainly small pieces for quilting. Where are the best places on line to buy material?

Mrs VP

Abakhan is oft quoted

http://www.abakhan.co.uk/

I have been there in person rather than on line and have always found it excellent.

The great house clean and tidy campaign continues

Our bedroom and bathroom this morning and the lounge this afternoon. OH is tackling the office.

DS bedroom and other bathroom tomorrow and then only DD's (:eek:) and the spare.

DD has started her new job today - lifeguarding for a local swimming lesson provider. £8 an hour - excellent for a 16 year old, even if it is only 2 hours.

Popperwell

Softstuff wrote: »

Currently sat here not really knowing what to do. When mum phoned she said dad was much worse in hospital. He was so bad last night he wouldn't let the nurses call mum in, apparently he didn't want her to see it if he died. He seems to have settled some now, but lord knows what's really going on.

She's told me not to fly back right now, since they still don't know what's really going on. And I can't stay indefinitely, so he could be ok while I'm there... Or if I go and come back, then he gets worse, I can't fly repeatedly... not at around $2500 a trip.

So really I'm just here to moan a little, since I'm not able to do anything practical right now.

Oh, and in other minor news, a bird crapped directly on my head. They say that's lucky, but I wasn't feeling it.

That's so difficult Soft Stuff, you must feel so mixed upand so helpless. You need a hug

There is no way to make this easier just offer love and support.

Sadly we all have to face a similar situation or have had to...

I heard someone say on the radio yesterday that we rush grief in today's society and that we all have our own way of coping and that it can take 5 years for many of us to come to terms and often the second year can be worse than the year that follows such a sad event.

They mean well but just like someone suffering depression there is nothing worse than being told to "Pull Yourself Together!" If we could we would, we don't ask to feel down or be sad.

So I won't say don't worry because you will and that is similar to saying the other thing. Thinking of you...

7_week_wonder

Softstuff, please accept a big hug from the new kid on the block. I really feel for you, we were in a similar situation with my dad last year, but I was lucky that I could get to them (just a couple of hundred miles) and had a very flexible job that meant I could stay down south for as long as need be. It's awful trying to concentrate on anything else whilst you are waiting for news.

Take care.

Popperwell

Anyone drink/use Alpro. I have never ever purchased it, don't think it's cheap to buy so being thrifty perhaps not such a good idea but their website has lots of ideas that could be adapted for breakfast and probably ordinary milk could work.

Does it have it's own taste? Is it similar to pouring yogurt?

http://www.alpro.com/uk/breakfast

betony

Just been on the Sainsbury's site; the basics chopped tomatoes that were 31p but went up to 35p a few weeks ago are now 39p :eek:

They must realise that so many people are buying basics stuff now instead of more the expensive brands that it's worth increasing the prices to compensate. They have us over a barrel, don't they? :mad:

katep23

7_week_wonder wrote: »

It's definitely autumn here so alas the heating has had to go on for a couple of hours a day (it was getting quite damp in the house and being cold makes me *so* miserable, but I still worry about the cost) so to cheer myself up I made soup inspired by a posh tub I'd seen in the shops. It turned out better than I was expecting so here's the recipe:
North African Veg Soup
1 kg mixed veg (needs to include an onion, but otherwise whatever's lurking in the fridge)
1 litre stock (veg or chicken or whatever's to hand)
1 teaspoon ground cumin,
1 teaspoon ground tumeric
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 large teaspoon harissa paste.

Chop all veg, fry onion in a large saucepan for ~ 5 mins, add other veg and saute (fry with lid on) for another 5 mins. Add spices and harissa paste and stir, add stock, bring to boil and simmer for at least 20 mins until veg are tender. Blitz in blender/with stick blender. Eat some for lunch and put the rest in the fridge for lunches during the week It was scrummy, though I say so myself!

And finally a question, does anyone have any recommendations for good stock cupboard food from Amazon? I've got quite a lot of vouchers, and I tend not to buy that many books (get them from the library).

Thank you for this - have just made a pot in the pressure cooker. I added some whoopsied neck of lamb that needed using up and swapped half a teaspoon of harissa paste for some lemon tagine paste (also whoopsised) then chucked in a handful of green lentils and a handful of pearl barley and it is lovely and filling!

Would second the suggestion of arbella pasta from Amazon, not much more expensive than value pasta from the supermarket but much nicer and less starchy.

Byatt

Just had a message from Softstuff, her mum called her a short while ago...to tell her that her dad has died. She will of course not be on the thread for a while.
I'm so sorry Softstuff...take care. xxxx

Possession

Oh...(((hugs))) Softstuff. So sorry.

fuddle

Oh no softstuff I doubt you'll get a chance to read our messages but you are in our thoughts. Really sorry to read such sad news.

Florence22

I'm so sorry Softstuff xxx