make do and mend for tougher times

Pooky

Today I managed to watch the most amazing sunrise, the colours were just stunning, took a food parcel to a friend, brought our weeks shopping for £23, did a good hours worth of exercise, cooked a lovely dinner and spent some proper grown up time with DH (not in that way you smutty minded people )

Then I had one of those phone calls that rocks your foundations....from college, to DD1, where was she, she'd disappeared after afternoon break. The logical part of my brain was saying "she's a sensile girl if there's a problem she'd be in touch" the illogical part was saying "last thing we did this morning was row about the length of her skirt". Luckily it all turned out ok, one teacher told her she could leave as her work was all up to date, the other teacher didn't know!!!

I think I aged 20 years in 2 seconds and believe me, I don't need any more grey hairs at the moment!!!!

Popperwell

fuddle wrote: »

I've been thinking about my small pleasures today in an attempt to make me appreciate what I have got. I love:

being with my family
snuggling with my doggy
hot chocolate
bubble bath
candle/fairy lit rooms
a good book
baking

A new/different house, a baby, winning the lottery, buying myself and family 'stuff' or being a lady of leisure won't alter at all the very things that I love to do... I can do these right now.

A bit of a pointless post for you all but good for me to write it out to make sense of it all. I don't like feeling down or that things are out of my control. Off to go look at free romantic novel downloads for my laptop. A bit of escapism needed tonight I think

Even as a bloke many of the things on your list are the kind of things that meant a lot to me and why I miss them. I love/loved simple things so I totally understand where you are coming from...

Popperwell

So I spent money...I knew that I would when I went out at teatime and spent more than I should but is this good and will I get quite a few meals out of it?

I was going to buy three types of Quorn items normally more expensive if purchased seperately but purchased as a group they were £5.50 but for approx £7 I got 18 richmond skinless sausages £1.75(Quorn sausages only had 6 in the packet)I got some frozen sliced chicken breast almost 500g for £3(the Quorn chicken pieces were approx 365G and two chicken breasts approx 425g were £2.10)and again I got some turkey mince for £2.75 approx 500g again more than in the packet of Quorn mince.

So I did spend an extra £1.50, totalling £7 but I do have more for my money and can probably stretch the food further and get a few extra meals and it is real meat.

Do you think that was good or do you think that I made a mistake?

Found out today the new Aldi that is opening is one of the largest in the area even larger than the one in Darlington so perhaps it might be larger than the others nearby...so when it opens I may get more for my money but equally what a pity my income is so limited anyhow.

We should be thankful they are here but looking at it another way the fact we need such a store could show how this area is struggling and how much such a store is needed and that they think this area is a prime location for their business and to make a profit.

I hope that there is room for both to survive and one doesn't close(Tesco's and Aldi are virtually next to each other)and we have a Heron's freezer shop at the other end of the town which may mean it will struggle as people may have no reason to use that part of the town.

I said I wasn't eating but I may have some fruit, cereal and milk soon and a limited edition Muller Fruit corner and if I stay up late I may do a chicken or sausage casserole in the slow cooker.

ginnyknit

Have just made granola as I am fed up with the price of cereal in the shops. Got the idea from the co-*ps free mag and basically chucked in everything I could find, nuts dried (hm of course) fruits, raisins, seeds and then mixed it with honey and vegetable oil. No way was I using olive oil. then baked it in the oven -filled in a gap nicely. Am now cooking some chocolate buns using an AP packet mix up. Added a bit of fresh baking powder to see if I could lighten them up a bit, so cross your fingers.

All this is , I think, a reaction to the news tonight that there will be more cuts in store, have decided I will survive and save as much real cash as I can. So when this batch is cooked everything will be switched off that i can and out will come the wooly socks and I will knit myself a life :rotfl:

Popperwell

Good luck Ginny...I saw some Granola I fancied but it was a small packet and cost nearly £5, found something almost similar for £3.50 and a larger packet and if I add fruit it is virtually the same but when Aldi's open:)


My freezer and fridge are full but tidy. I need to tidy the cupboards may try and get more cans and bottles into some of them. Get the food store organised. I have 50 toilet rolls and 30 boxes of cereal:eek:

Approx 12 cartons of fruit juice, the same of UHT Milk and approx 30 bottles of water! Lots of coffee and teabags too...even some booze:p

D&DD

Ginny I'm still using up my big bags I got from Approved yonks ago and they're still coming out well suet mixes etc I do the same just add a bit of yeast or baking powder depending on the mix I'm using will definitely buy them again

Pops Lettuce Soup
Recipe is from my civil war cookbook..well it would be wouldn't it!
1863 no less lol
cut up the white parts of two or four lettuces as needed,a quart of stock,free from fat and boiling.into this throw the lettuces and a small onion chopped fine and a tspnful of salt.
let it boil about 20 minutes,thicken with 2 tablespoonfuls of flour,first rubbed smoothly in cold water.and a little soup added to it,then strained before putting into the soup.then throw a small bit of butter not larger than a walnut let the soup boil once more and serve.

I usually sprinkle with any fresh herbs I have to hand too its quite a light soup and nice with some crusty bread

Popperwell

You remembered:)Sounds good and how easy is that?

If I can get my interest in cooking back, I have so many great but simple recipes I will never live long enough to have them all, I hope that I can avoid needing to go into a care home and still manage myself independently for many years to come. I saw what Mum was given to eat in supposedly one of the best in the area...I would give up. I even took food in for her and she liked what I had much better.

Thanks...

I would use Approved Foods but I seem to have difficulty spotting the bargains others find...

D&DD

Pops have you got any of the ziplock bags from MrT I find are best I freeze any extra soups flat in these its a bit tricky at first but once you get the hang of it it saves freezer space and at least you have a homecooked meal handy with a chunk of bread
I go through stages too here even where I don't bake/cook much but I can't get away with it for long as my lot don't really enjoy shop bought stuff.
Maybe set aside a batch cook day thats what I usually do and go mad with mince :rotfl:chilli,spag bol,shepherds pie
Then another day for chicken and build a stock of homemade dinners up that way?

kidcat

Evening all - its been a mixed bag of a day, was up late getting ready for DD18 birthday, hanging balloons banners etc, fell into bed at 4.30am for two hours and then up to celebrate. DD, OH and I all went for a lovely breakfast as she wasnt in college until later.
Then we got news that my cousin has been rushed into hospital, it transpires she has an ectopic pregnancy.

We went ahead with our family dinner and had a lovely time but it felt odd knowing her parents are sitting worrying about their daughter whilst we were celebrating.

And the oddest moment of all was whilst shopping for last bits today DS14 picked up a book and asked me to buy it for him:eek: unheard of, he has never ever asked for a book, magazines when he was younger but never a book. So I bought it quick, OH nearly fell over when I told him (my parents asked me to repeat it - and then asked to see said book!) and then asked how much it had cost - no idea I replied, was so stunned he wanted it I just paid!!!!:D

Emalou - ((hugs)) I have no real advice to offer other than already given re ACAS etc. I suppose I would say if the choice is that you can live on one wage where you are now and manage or have to stay in current job in order to move. The choice is clear - is the house worth the job - and that is something only you and your OH can decide.

modern millie - how sad your employer is cutting all their staff - I hope the new job works out for you.

Mardatha - knitting furiously in you chair, are you feeling any better at all? Did you get to see another GP? One suggestion is maybe to ask one of your kids to go with you - you could sit meekly while they rant at GP etc, it sometimes works better that way, no idea why. (assuming you can sit meekly that is ):D

Valk - scott, what a lucky boy,


DD6 teacher called me this evening and I have to say my first words were Oh no whats she done? :rotfl: Turns out he needs some help this week, which I agreed to do, but its made me realise that with all the issues with school and both boys I do always assume the worst:D

Popperwell

D&DD wrote: »

Pops have you got any of the ziplock bags from MrT I find are best I freeze any extra soups flat in these its a bit tricky at first but once you get the hang of it it saves freezer space and at least you have a homecooked meal handy with a chunk of bread
I go through stages too here even where I don't bake/cook much but I can't get away with it for long as my lot don't really enjoy shop bought stuff.
Maybe set aside a batch cook day thats what I usually do and go mad with mince :rotfl:chilli,spag bol,shepherds pie
Then another day for chicken and build a stock of homemade dinners up that way?

That's a good idea D&DD,
And those bags probably have a better amount inside them as probably when I make a casserole I am probably really eating a meal more suited to two people...then again as I am eating only one or two meals daily or a meal and a sandwich or snack at least I get one decent meal.