make do and mend for tougher times

kidcat

Its dull and dark here today, after a wet and miserable day yesterday. I did read yesterdays posts but by the time I caught up it was 9.30 and I was exhausted and went to bed. Havent been to bed that early in years but I needed it I think.

Fuddle am really pleased you now have a plan and that your LL finally seems to be facing his responsibilities, I think like with most things there is good and bad LLs and some that fall in the middle. IME LLs that have fallen into renting are usually worse as its not something they planned for or fully researched. The ones who made a choice to do it have usually looked into it properly and understand their responsibility.

Monnagran - think very carefully about it, I dont think its an easy option and can be very stressful.

Am still feeling this virus as is DS8 so instead of taking them to the farm today OH is taking them to cinema.
I took DS14 for a specialist eye test yesterday (cost a fortune) and she has prescribed special glasses to train his eyes to focus properly but also orange tinted. Its the first step in getting his dyslexia diagnosis and it was good to feel we are moving again. It was two hours though and exhausting for us both, he was fidgetting, touching things, feeling the walls and playing with the machinery - none of which is expected in a 14 yr old, so it was hard.

Have begun to use up the chicken mountain and have a chicken in white wine creation in SC, I just chucked some stuff in so no idea what it will be like, but it was last night and I wanted it cooked for lunch time today, I was too tired to mess about with recipes so went freestyle.

DD had her second driving lesson yesterday and seems to be enjoying it, I hope she gets through sooner rather than later with the cost of lessons but also if she could drive it would make life easier here some days.

kidcat

Possession wrote: »

There's about a million recipes for pumpkin on Pinterest Fuddle, muffins, breakfast bars, curries, even fudge. I must admit carving pumpkins is one of the things I'm an old grouch about, I hate it!
DH driving me mad, he's barely slept thinking about the job situation and he's dithering about it now when he should be preparing for today's interview.
Pork chops ready to put into the slow cooker, need to think what to do with them.

Totally forgot to reply to this possession as you originally posted about it yesterday - IMHO its a cuthroat world out there and employers rarely show any kind of loyalty to their workforce, in which case your OH could show the same attitude, Take the three month job if offered and if one of the interviews does come through simply call up and tell them he has been offered a permanent post. That way the 3 month job have the opportunity to make it permanent if they are really keen.

OH found out yesterday that the evening crew at work have all been told not to bother coming in, some have been put onto day crew but rest are on unpaid leave - no work.:eek:

missrlr

It's doing the rounds again, DH was told they are looking to stop the night shift, most are being moved back to days but there is always the risk they say bye bye ..... ensured union membership fee is paid and up to date! Nextdoor works for the union (different bit of the same tribe if that makes sense) so when he is back from hols will be popping by to say hi and pick his brains on the matter.
In the mean time onwards and upwards.

Possession

kidcat wrote: »

Totally forgot to reply to this possession as you originally posted about it yesterday - IMHO its a cuthroat world out there and employers rarely show any kind of loyalty to their workforce, in which case your OH could show the same attitude, Take the three month job if offered and if one of the interviews does come through simply call up and tell them he has been offered a permanent post. That way the 3 month job have the opportunity to make it permanent if they are really keen.

OH found out yesterday that the evening crew at work have all been told not to bother coming in, some have been put onto day crew but rest are on unpaid leave - no work.:eek:

Yes a recruitment agent actually told him to do that today, and his notice period in a job would usually be 3-6 months anyway. So that was the new plan. Then, the agent for yesterday's interview phoned back and said they were very keen on him and he has a 2nd interview for that too, but not until next week, so it's all getting a bit tangled at the moment.
Fingers crossed for everyone who has perilous job lookout at the moment though, it's scary stuff. On the plus side, there do seem to be a lot more jobs coming up than a couple of months ago.

I'm with Scottish Power and have just had an email detailing new price increases and lower annual discounts. I have to say I'm really impressed with how clear they've made it, and they've also said if I change supplier before 3rd december a cancellation charge won't apply. So I suppose i have to look at all that again - drives me crazy, I just can't understand it at all. But I imagine everyone else is putting up their prices anyway.

fuddle

Mrs_Veg_Plot wrote: »

I can stretch chicken and mince really well but can not get the same mileage out of other meats.

stewing steak is ok for making go further. I get 2 meals out of one pack by cutting the chunks down and adding into a veg heavy casserole in the SC.

Possession wrote: »

There's about a million recipes for pumpkin on Pinterest Fuddle, muffins, breakfast bars, curries, even fudge. I must admit carving pumpkins is one of the things I'm an old grouch about, I hate it!
DH driving me mad, he's barely slept thinking about the job situation and he's dithering about it now when he should be preparing for today's interview.
Pork chops ready to put into the slow cooker, need to think what to do with them.

:rotfl: I shoulda known Will go have a neb.

Possession your poor DH has been through the mill for so long (and you!) with finding work... It feels like he's nearly there now. Fingers crossed it all works out and soon because I think the possession household needs a breather x

So sorry to read about precarious jobs again.

fuddle

Please can I have some help?

I'd like to make pumpkin cupcakes, I have a recipe but I would like to add a swirl of icing on the top, like you see on the posh yummy cupcakes like these

I have a piping bag but other than that.. clueless! How do you do icing like that?

Bigjenny

Have a look at this Youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7F0g-FenZ7k

HTH

Jenny

Possession

It's really surprisingly easy Fuddle. If you have the nozzle already, make the buttercream (room temp, don't refrigerate) and practice on a plate, then you can scrape the icing back into the piping bag. Try not to get air bubbles in and apply constant pressure with your hand on the twist you've made at the top of the bag, re-tightening between each cupcake. Once you've got used to it, it's much quicker than scraping the icing round with a knife.
Yes I must admit it feels like a job MUST come out of all this. It will be rather devastating if it doesn't.

fuddle

Thanks bigjenny. how do you make the icing that goes in the bag?

Cross post with P, thank you!

Tawny75

Use half the amount of butter to icing sugar. I normally use 300g icing sugar to 150g butter. Let the butter soften and then beat it really hard. Add in the sugar a little at a time and if it is too stiff add a little milk. You can add colour or flavouring too.

Only fill your piping bag half full as it makes it easier to control, then just top it up.

Another tip, put the piping bag in a glass while filling it, makes it a lot easier.