make do and mend for tougher times

Popperwell

I no longer have Sky...:(looked at the website in the States but because I live outside of the country I cannot watch...

Popperwell

Here's a funny one...I have thermals and bedsocks in bed this morning and I am lovely and cosy...also the house is not as cold as previous nights...

Anyhow, no sweating...yet if it is cold outdoors and I put the thermals on I am warmish but I find that I do sweat. Does that happen with anyone else and any ideas why?

It is just that there is the suggestion that people who work outdoors especially in cold weather often wear thermals...I have even know people who go out early to play golf or fish do...

2tonsils

I was interested to read about the different ways you plan meals for the week. I usually have a look in the cupboards and freezers and see what I already have before I go shopping. Then I write a list of basics I need for definite. When I get to the shops I buy the offers or the seasonal fruit and veg. I mentally think of meals for the following week using what I buy and what I already have. That way I make use of whatever is available cheap that week...or free in some cases.

I usually take stuff out of the freezer the night before I need it and keep it in the fridge. I decide the meals for the next day at least the night before. If I get something like a whole chicken on the offers I use it for a traditional dinner with mash and veggies the first day, use the cold cuts with salad the following day and then make a soup with the carcass.
I often make chinese style soup....bits of chicken, a stock cube, few veggies, rice noodles and a dash of five spice powder and sesame oil.....everyone thinks its from the Chinese!

If the things I get cheap have a short sell by date I either use them on the day or freeze them in portions if they can be frozen. I can't eat cereal and we have both started having chopped seasonal fruit with Greek yogurt and a spoonful of honey for breakfast. For lunch we have a bowl of home made soup or a nice mushroom omelette. I usually do a cooked meal at night which can be anything from a chicken dinner to a nice home made Korma with poppadums. I have a protein shake and handful of almonds for supper as I need to keep my protein levels up because of all the training.

I would ask people who are trying to save money not to cut their protein too low to save money. Protein is the only thing your body can use to rebuild and mend injuries. Get it from, meat , fish, cheese, eggs, protein shakes, nuts, lentils in combination with other things, get it from whatever you can, but keep the levels up for the sake of your health

[Deleted User]

Hewo Evrywun, is Docky!!!!!! ANTY GINNY youse a gud gurly fer doin rowlies inna muddd, iz funnn yis? ANTY MONNAGRAN iz sew kleva coz Ise hadda eyedear fer layta wen yewse beta wivva backie fing. Ize gointa teeches yew howta chases a dukkies wot livses onna beech, vat is reawy funnnn, butt yew needz ter bea betta wivva backleggies sew yew kan dooa farst runnin fing, izzat wot shey meens bout bein er Qak? Lotsa luv frum yer frend Docky xxx.

kidcat

pops- it may be that there isnt room for air to circulate when you are outside with a coat on.

After a manic few days I was looking forward to a relaxing quiet weekend before next week, however DS14 has his friend staying tonight so big clean up needed, and my friend (who is still moving - taken three months so far) has found some stuff that belongs to us (from a group I used to run) and needs that picking up. SHe has also taken on babysitting her GD all day Saturday and after two weeks isnt coping so has decided to come here for the day with her instead. Now I love babies and dont mind an odd visitor but I get the feeling (she really isnt that baby orientated) that the idea will be for her to sit and relaxx while I entertain baby, which unfortunately isnt going to happen.

DS8 was sent home from school yesterday (temp exclusion) but it looks as though he has caught this bug and that is why he is lashing out - he is always worse when ill. So am considering calling her and explaining that I dont want baby to catch our nasty germs.

Have to go shopping in a bit and not really looking forward to it, we dont need alot but I can still see the bill being high which will grate a little.

Our new parent group officially formed this week and we have signed an agreement on a hall nearby, we have a lovely shiny web site and I have managed to design some leaflets and posters - just hoping we get some new people in and that we can help.

mardatha

:grouphug: You're all lovely , thank you. I can do anything on paper & in my head. I can write lists & menu plans for Scotland. I can use the very last slice of bacon or crumb of cheese. On paper!! It's the doing of it that is the problem If I'm having a bad day - and I seem to be having far too many of them lately) then I turn into a bad-tempered brain-dead slug. If anybody has found a cookbook for brain dead slugs, please gimme the amazon link.
There's so many things the RV can't or shouldn't eat. I sympathise WCS. But so far the wartime cookbooks are the best I've had - because its normal food that we eat. I want to use breadcrumbs and lentils and grated carrots but often just can't face doing it. I really need a kick. And then his BG will be higher than it should be and I stay guiltily quiet re the added carbs in the mince LOL
Maryb I think the only way to have clean hands with one in plaster is to fill the bathroom sink, dip the good hand innit, then use a face cloth to clean the plastered hand. Mind and scratch the soap to clean yer nails
I got yesterday "The Womans Book of Household Management" that somebody on here recommended. It's fascinating but in tiny print like old bibles. Dates from I think 1911 but amazingly modern in outlook.

danetastic

Morning peeps . Up late cos the alarm clock didn't go off this morning ( Dane usually gives a bark at 8 - still to work out why ) . Today he was quiet so think it must be cos someone walking past house . With it being weekend maybe that's. It happening .
Plan for today
Breakfast - grapefruit from AF
Dinner - soup ( home made veg and lentil)
Tea - chick pea Dahl curry and rice with sugar free jelly and natural yogurt for afterters
Going to clean kitchen today but got to be quiet as neighbour still on nights so can't put w/machine on til later
ATM having a coffee
Got season pants for little girl as I have intact boys in the house it she's FAR too young for pups and she's due one soon ( season) getting her used to wearing them and she looks SOOOOOooo cute in them . Swore she would NEVER be dressed in clothes cos she's a DOG but now find myself thinking of a dress for her lol

dumpy

about soup at schools, I do get fed up of people blaming Health and Safety.

It'll be a decision made by someone who doesn't want to either deal with supervising children at lunch who are dealing with hot and easily spillable liquids

or

who doesn't want to be sued by the parents of the child who had hot soup spilled on them because some bright spark knocked the flask over (which probably won't be the child with the soup who can deal with it but the person sitting next to them)

Neither are these are H&s reasons but it's easier to blame them.

Real H &S is about making sure that people are protected at work and trying to ensure that no family should have to go through the experinece of having someone leave in the morning and not come home at night or develop a terrible disease years later ( asbestos)

Sorrry to rant but this really annoys me.

Slinks back into lurkdom.......

kidcat

dumpy - its true, but if falls under the elf and safety policy and thats how its dealt with. Having spoke to a dinner lady this morning at another school she says a formal risk assessment was done and the numbers stacked too high to make it worthwhile. The school dont have to allow it as they are providing hot meals on site.
The number of things banned under the elves is incredible but I dont see it changing any time soon - not while we have a compensation claims culture.

westcoastscot

Mar when i'm not well I can't cook - simple meals for us that are allergy-friendly in our house are fish fingers and oven chips/beans, baked potatoes and tuna/sweetcorn and burgers from our local butcher, with frozen wedgies and salad. If/when we eat these we always have cake/custard to fill the guys, and I always have soup either on the stove or in the freezer.
I try and freeze double meals when I'm well, but they only last so long.
Our grocery budget has risen from £300/month to £400 over the summer, and i'm going to make an effort to bring it down but it may just not be practical.
Remind me again what the RV can/cannot eat and i'll rack my brains.
Agree though - I use wartime recipes extensively - we don't buy any substitutes for dairy/egg free apart from vegan marg and soy milk.
WCS