'supporting each other through really tough times'

suzybloo

Fuddle - try the poundshop or homebargains for rat bait - I got mice bait from there and it works just as well as the more expensive ones.

For dishwashers I find they are not too bad on electric -Ours is on every second day, so when you weigh up how many basins of hot water you would use to do the dishes as you go, the fairy liquid, the washing of dishtowels etc there is not much in it - and its amazing how quick your kitchen looks so tidy after mealtimes!

I shop around for the dishwasher tabs, at the moment I am using Tescos value - when there was a glitch they were 25p a box, and with things being rinsed before they are put in the dishwasher anyway find they are ok. Try homebargains, etc for Finish - the co-op are another place that have bargains on theirs often too.

Pooky

Morning all

Fuddle - dishwashers aren't too bad power and water wise, depends on the energy rating thingy. Our new one is AA rating it as its so tiny it's on two times a day but only when it's daylight so our panels are generating. Water wise, I think DH worked out it was less than 4 bowls of water which is what I'd typically use in a day. We buy the dishwasher salt and tablets from LidI and use white vinegar instead of rinse aid.

Frosty here in places this morning, I raked the coals over and got the fire going again, quite a treat for a Sunday morning (fire doesn't normally get lit until after lunch).

LunaLady

Just wanted to pop in and say what a great thread this is

Off to go and read from the beginning.

7_week_wonder

Morning all,
Why does it always happen that when I've planned a wee lie-in I wake up early:o Oh well, I've put some bread on, made my shopping list (including lots of diluting juice and a top up of OTC meds to ward off evil bugs) and am sitting drinking tea and catching up. We were out at a friend's birthday yesterday. Nice to catch up with some old pals, but OH is nursing a gentle hang-over.

Today is operation loft. The joiner is coming tomorrow to lift floorboards from one bit and put down a walkway in another so we can get super-duper insulation put in. The good news is that we have such tall joists that we can put some floorboards back down afterwards. But we are still trying to have a sort out.

Beccatje I'm so sorry to hear about your OH's job. It's becoming a horribly familiar story these days.

PIC - if I lived nearer you I'd certainly come and help search for your cat.

I need to fill up the baking tin this afternoon and fancy doing something flap-jack/biscuit like. Any suggestions for people's favourites? I've got most store-cupboard stuff - oh and if it could use either little chunks of fudge or chocolate chips that would be fabby as I've got a couple of bags of those.

Opps far too much nattering. Have a good day everyone.

ETA welcome lunalady. If you are going to read from the beginning I would strongly recommend making a *large* flask of tea - you may be some time!

Popperwell

paidinchickens wrote: »

If you just said every success Fuddle that would have been lovely but the "whether believed or ignored" could get peoples backs up.

Sorry if I have taken this the wrong way, but I'm sure Fuddle has said she is not ignoring you and I don't want any more arguing on here.

If anyone has energy for arguing you can come and help me look for my cat instead

PiC

Not intended in any other way than a good way...what do I know...and nor was that part you mentioned said to Fuddle...

Enough.

If I lived nearby I'd try and help you, hope your cat is found safe and well...

Feeling in a reflective mood because it is Remembrance Sunday and it is always a touching time for so many reasons...

fuddle

I'm always filling the bowl up to hand wash so it might even out. Ours is tiny too - GQ I reckon I could give you a run for your money with shoe box towers

Want to see the kitchen? It's a far cry from my farmhouse and rustic feel but when you've lived with for 3 years
it's a dream. I know, it's disgusting isn't it. We've decorated everywhere else but the tiling just always seemed to be out of our reach and maybe secretly narked that we should do it anyway I suspect.


There's grey lino too.



Two words. Halogen and oven... where am I going to put it?! :eek: :rotfl:

No more about the house I promise.

Well todday I'm going to try out the carrot muffins as per We'll Eat Again, but going to use tinned carrots as I need to, erm use some

Cottage pie for tea and the worst bit is mam is coming today. I'm going to be strong, I know what I have to do

Possession

I thought dishwashers were actually better than washing up because of water used but I don't know where I've got that idea from. We've just had our water bill though, and in the time that we've stopped the business and stopped all the extra washing up of things that couldn't go in the dishwasher, our direct debit has gone down £35 per month.
I have bought broken dishwasher tablets from here, recommended by quite a few MSEers:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/newbould59/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=25&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2654
There don't seem to be any tablets at the moment. It's only good for buying in bulk though as you can save a lot of postage by buying multiple packs, so great if you can buy a year's supply at once. Otherwise, Aldi Magnum ones are very good.
Roast beef dinner today with a bargain piece of beef, looking forward to it already!
PIC I hope kittie turns up today.
Fuddle the new kitchen looks fantastic!

RosiePuddingPaws

Morning

Just lost a post so hope it doesn't turn up now I'm sending another!

Beautiful morning here today. Cold, but sunny.

7WW I'm with you on the baking today. I'm going to attempt (drum roll please) my first batch of Twink's hobnobs. Do they freeze well? I don't want to leave them in a tub on the counter as I'd just eat them all!

Fuddle - I think that must be the best before and after transformation of a kitchen that I have seen in ages!!

RPP

VJsmum

Morning all - back from a fab day in "The Smoke". DD's birthday treat (from her birthday in July) and she said on the way home that it was the pinnacle of one of the best weeks of her life. Much of that was to do with school, too. As some of you might remember 6 weeks ago she was crying, shaking, having panic attacks about school that we thought we might have to bring her out for a year, and start again next september (she is 16) - so a massive relief all round.:T

Today we have to do some chores - especially in the garden. THe leaves need picking up AGAIN, you wouldn't believe I filled 2 wheelie bins last Monday. and I want to dig over the veg patch and pull up beans, corn etc. Is it too late to manure it? Tomorrow's forecast is awful so I have to do it today. And some laundry - though I'd caught up on Friday it soon piles up again. As I'm off to Seoul again on Thursday, I need to pack for that - the weather there is very similar to here so i need to think carefully and make sure everything is washed as I only have a limited amount of work clothes.

Everyone has decided they don't want Turkey for xmas but just gammon. I don't like gammon much so I'm going to buy a small foil pack turkey breast for me. Watch them all eat some It's a shame as my butcher does a lovely rolled turkey crown but it will be too big for us and we are going away on boxing day so won't need much food. In fact the going away boxing day thing is quite liberating as I walk round the shops saying "no point buying that" to rather a lot of stuff. We aren't back till 3rd January so there really won't be any point. I will put decorations and tree up (I collect christmas tree decorations on my holidays as souvenirs) and we will have some nice things on christmas eve and christmas day but not too much of the "extras". I have decided to make a cake though. I'll make a square one and give half to dad in his hamper. That way ours won't be too huge - we can take some for our picnic on the plane!

Having paella for tea with some YS chicken, chorizo from ald!, YS prawns - yummy.

And, of course, lest we forget, I will pause a while at 11 o'clock as

"at the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them".

shegar

RosiePuddingPaws wrote: »

I just popped on to the thread about whether people have their CH on or off. Can't think why, but, if anyone else has looked at it, why are they all so smug that their heating is off? One recent poster is saying they are wearing two layers (no harm in that) but that their living environment is at 10 degrees. Where is the pleasure in living like that?

This probably resonates since my heating has had to be switched off for a few days since, following a boiler service (by a firm that appears to be trying to rip me off by condemning the boiler), an oil leak developed. It took me a day or so to get a recommendation for a decent plumber and they have very efficiently fixed it today. It took two and a half hours and I dread to think what it will cost but it is so very nice to be warm again.

It did mean that I have done my first shop sticking entirely to my list. Well, its hard to go wrong when you only have milk, bananas and a sticky bun (to celebrate!) on the list! I shall be living out of the stores for a good few weeks.

So many people seem to be going through so much at the moment so here's my hand too Mar.

RPP

I always read the heating thread, and im quite amazed at some people on it.......

I think lot of people use it as a" competition", to see whos got the coldest house, who can stand the cold for the longest, and who as nearly died cos they are so cold by not using the heating.....:eek:
I dont always think it because they cant afford the heating , its seeing who can survive without the heating on........

I dont care what I have to give up in life, but it will never be the heating come what may, its so important to keep warm for so many good reasons.......................

I know this is a MSE thread but Martin dont want people to die through not using it............

On that note, its cold here this morning after a frost, but its wall to wall sun shine right now, and guess what ive got the heating on and im not miserable because im happy to be warm whatever the cost.............Sheila....