make do and mend for tougher times

kidcat

Possession wrote: »

Fuddle we do teacher and TA gifts, usually fudge or something.
This year though the new Head has instigated a no-presents policy. Bit of a shame I think but it will at least be cheap!

I wish DD6 school would do that, the competition is incredible, beautician appointments, dinner for two at posh hotel, weekend at country cottage, beaverbrooks vouchers the list is endless.
I did try one year to run a put a pound into a gift for teacher each - thinking we could buy a lovely bouquet and some next vouchers - but all that happened was they did the pound then bought a gift as well.

craigywv

D&DD wrote: »

Found it thanks Byatt sorry Craigy still trying to catch up! I put mine in around 8 weeks ago but stick them in now they should be fine still.Have you somewhere sheltered (against a wall maybe if in bags) or have a piece of fleece to hand once they get going for any frost.What variety do you have? We've got carlingford and nicola this year.

Carlingford is what im doing this year i get a good crop from these usually so fingers crossed they should get us through the winter.They beside a high wall so well sheltered and some in greenhouse just incase they dont work out,just in from planting them coffee time me thinks:)

katieowl_2

Margaret54 wrote: »

oh katieowl I am the same I say the wrong word a lot of times every day. I tried to laugh it off but it is worse now. I have fibromyalgia and with it the brainfog. I say a word and it comes out another word but beginning with the same letter. My gp has referred me to a memory clinic but waiting on the appointment.

Pretty sure mine is cause by my brain going at 90mph when the body is doing about 5mph brain/mouth lag in other words... because it happens when I am writing by hand too....I'm several steps ahead of what letter/word I'm currently forming in my head, and my hand keeps trying to keep up with my brain, resulting in a mess on paper. Much easier for me to type, in fact I think I may be loosing the ability to hand write entirely :eek: does anyone else have this problem?

Another fairly good day at the market for me yesterday, I'm getting such nice feedback from people, which really makes the effort worth while. The downside is that on my days 'off' I'm still cooking as I'm experimenting with new stuff. Today's experiment is a GF/Vegan pastry - chilling in the fridge at the moment. I have some pasty filling left over from Monday so will use that up in the experiment - and we'll call that tonights dinner! LOL!

I had to go pick DS up from college last night as they had a special extended lecture, which was past the last of the busses home :mad: NOT only that, but they then went an HOUR past the time that they said they'd finish, so I got there for seven, along with several other mummies, and we stood there like lemons for an hour waiting for the lads to turn up!!! I didn't get home until gone 9pm so I hope they are not going to make a habit of doing this! The only consolation was, that on the way home, I saw my first ever live badger! So I was made up about that!

I've got tons of housework and washing up to do, so better get on with that instead of chatting to you lot

Kate

2tonsils

I am afraid I am finding it impossible to even think about Christmas at the moment. Not only is it still 27 degrees here, there are no Christmas products in the shops and I think its going to be the most understated Christmas ever with the austerity measures in full swing.

It's usually a quiet family celebration here with just family or a few friends. The village band come around and play carols in the village streets and there are a few Christmas lights. The children get their gift at New year and not on Christmas day here. Most families meet up, have a meal and then play card or board games.

Most people have chicken egg and lemon soup, with boiled chicken or steak cooked on the open fire, with salad and bread and dips.

Some British bars here do a Christmas day meal with the traditional food (imported of course) but last year it cost 40 euros each which added up to the cost of our food bill for a week. We did our own meal and invited friends around to share it with us and had a lovely time. A normal British type Christmas dinner is no good to me anyway as there is so much flour and gluten involved in it.... I couldn't eat most of it even if I went. I have the same problem with British style buffets at parties, its mostly based on sandwiches, sausage rolls and snacks.

Just about to pop off and make a hm rice pudding in the SW. It looks like we are going to get some storms here, the sky is black and its very hot and humid. Better go and bring in my washing from this morning, it should be dry in the hot breeze..far cheaper than a tumble drier would be.

Have been sorting out my autumn clothes and getting some ideas on how to combine them on pinterest...what a great site that is! Its almost cool enough in the evening to wear sleeves now...hurray! Still not got any firewood as they haven't started cutting it due to the hot weather still being here.

Feeling much better now I have got over the virus, OH still has a cough but seems much better in himself. I pity any old folks or children who get it as it knocks you for six!

[Deleted User]

I am flipping cream crackered. I`ll just say that 9 trays of bramleys are dehydrating, large christmas cake in the oven,washing on line, french seeded bread baking in bm, mince casserole is simmering, dishes washed and dried, 19 x 1kg bags of organic flour ordered + 3 x 2.5 kg bags of the same. So I have been like a blue assed fly trying to find lock n lock boxes for them all, tea out of 4 and other things out of others and I still have to wash the boxes and re-pack everything I have taken out. Flour has priority this winter and it keeps very well in these boxes in a cold draughty shed-type area. Yes, I know it`s of my own making

Had a long power cut yesterday with pre warning so went to visit waitrose 20 miles away, for something to do. lol, dh kept looking at prices and ingredients and said a few times, wow it certainly justifies what you (ie me) are doing so I felt glad that we went there. So now I don`t think he will mind the extra 10 boxes in that shed

oh yes, nearly forgot that I picked up 2 packs of marzipan and got to checkout when I looked at use by date ie 11/2012 :eek: what the heck are they doing, pulling the wool over. Ok would be fine if christmas cake was used up in a week but mine lasts for about 4 months. Got to be alert all the time

Am so looking forward to sitting with knitting later on

tessasmum

fuddle wrote: »

Good morning

I'm in a dash but wanted to check in with you. Teachers? Do you gift teachers at Christmas? If so, what? Saw some Roses in Coop for £2 on offer. I'm tempted to just get some and then it's done with but the savvy in me thinks I'd like the girls to bake something, but then the stingy in me though it'll probably cost more in ingredients than buying the Roses.

As we can see, I'm fine today... back to pondering meaningless daftness.

Fuddle, I made little open trays last year from thick paper, and then put a scrunched up piece of tissue paper in each one. On that was laid about 6 pieces of home made fudge and then the whole thing was put in a cellophane bag from Lakeland [cheaper alternatives are out there, I hope!] and tied with a scrap of ribbon. A little home made label attached to the ribbon listed the To and From info, with ingredients listed on the back for those that needed to know.

I am going to do the same again this year as the fudge was very well received, although I am probably going to make it three home made truffles and three pieces of fudge as I have found a crackingly good recipe for Ferrero-Rocher type sweeties. I have done a practise run of these [photos on blog] and they came out very well.

The "home made" impact of this does make it memorable, though, and people ask for more...

The_Dragon

when gifting food items PLEASE remember potential allergies!

katieowl_2

The_Dragon wrote: »

when gifting food items PLEASE remember potential allergies!

But conversely if you KNOW someone has an allergy/intolerance a well thought out and researched home made food item is a cracking gift, bearing in mind the dreadful offerings in the supermarkets!!! (and have you seen the price of vegan chocolates!)

I sell quite a bit of GF and Dairy free stuff in the market, and it's really lovely to see peoples faces light up when they discover they CAN eat something! I do a dairy free/GF mini rocky road choccie, but I know you can make truffles with coconut milk, and they are lush (Aldi do a dark choc that is dairy free!)

We did food gifts for the family last year and my eldest DD did a fantastic job of making treats for everyone, that were tailored to the various allergies in the family. I got some fantastic GF florentines, and DD had dairy free stuff. She's also made some vegan treats, although I find that the most challenging.


Kate

fuddle

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

Morning FUDDLE - DD1 who teaches does get given little things at christmas but the things she values most are the little homemade things that the kids she teaches have made themselves, in her book (and those of many of her colleagues) the little jar of jam/chutney or packet of biscuits says far more to her than a bottle of wine or box of chocs!!!!

Buy the ROSES - it will make you HAPPY!!!!!!!

Cheers Lyn xxx.

Der - Did you mean Roses Chocs and not flowers? Ise a Numpty I thought you meant flowers for you!
Scenario 1 - Flowers - buy buy buy and enjoy!!!
Scenario 2 - Ignore advice to buy as just plain lunacy and bake bake bake!!!
Good job you know me isn't it? Cheers Lyn xxx.

Yes Lyn, Roses chocolates You're a corker and I love being around you x

Having been to work and seeing the excitement of the teaching staff over schools Great British Bake Off (selling cakes to raise money for African charity where they enable children to have a school meal) I am going to bake a gift! I was thinking something simple like twinks hobnobs, cellophaned and ribboned with the girls doing their thing on the label. Probably more than the Roses but what he heck!

I bought 2 chocolate muffins (you know, to show my support ) and just scoffed them both with a cuppa and double

I have good news! I have received my confirmation with the social housing division and I can now bid for 2 or 3 bedroomed properties. I am very pleased to see on the letter a warning about the proposed bedroom tax too.

Our grading is non emergency and the lowest tier so realistically it will be a very long time before we'll hit lucky but it's a start.

Edit: pops I'm looking at the grading for this council (different to ours as we're wanting out of the area) but it says you'd be given top priority (not emergency but ahead of many other) If you're an under occupier with 2 spare rooms! Good news though, worth keeping a look out for something in your area, if the rules are the same for lvn'

Popperwell

katieowl wrote: »

Much easier for me to type, in fact I think I may be loosing the ability to hand write entirely :eek: does anyone else have this problem?

Yes, I can go along with that...it feels wrong when I attempt to write by hand.

Then again I have no one to write to...