'supporting each other through really tough times'

monnagran

Goodness me, aren't people weird? I cannot understand people who are friendly until you are leaving and then cool off. Are they cross that they have spent time and effort in cultivating a friendship and are not going to get a pay off?
And families who can't be bothered! What do they expect of family members? My family have always been supportive without being over-involved. My parents took the view that once we were grown up and married we were responsible for ourselves but they were always interested in what we were doing and loved their grandchildren. I had the mother-in-law from hell but tried to keep things civilised as far as possible. My step-mother-in-law was terrific but very demanding in old age. I take the view that my family is my children and grandchildren and daughters-in-law. I am much closer to one son and his family than to the other but try to be as fair as possible. Perhaps I back off too much but I'd rather do that than interfere. It's like walking a tight rope sometimes and all too easy to get it wrong. I reckon that if we are all in contact and enjoy each other's company when we do meet that's all we can do.

7 week wonder: I find that the harder I work over pastry the worse it gets. I can make 'melt in the mouth' pastry but if people could see the amazing patchwork it takes to get a decent tart base they might not be so impressed. I always do the top first so it looks good, and the bottom bit is lumpy and stuck together with water.
Don't be too fussy - it's the taste that's important.

Felt tired and lethargic all last week and decided yesterday that the weight I am piling on is the root cause. I know some of you have successfully dieted but I have been battling the bulge for 73 years now and am really fed up with it. Got myself in the mood yesterday by re-reading my favourite diet book and today have felt much more positive so have cut out all sugar and some carbs - not all, I was never built to be a martyr.
Is there any one out there who is also in this situation so we can compare notes. I did try the Weightloss thread but they all seem to be much more disciplined than me.

Christmas is going to be easy for me this year. I'm sending my sons a cheque to be used for their families. The only actual presents I have to buy are a couple for some very aged friends and one for a friend who lives miles away (sending her flowers), and some small gifts for DS2 and his family when we spend the day with them on New Years Day. I think it is ridiculous to spend hours thinking of what to get people and probably giving them something they don't want at all, and knowing that they are doing the same for me. All my friends and I agreed on a 'no present' policy years ago to the great relief of all of us.

x

7_week_wonder

Thank you again folks, I thought pastry shouldn't be handled too much, but then I saw a Gordon Ramsey video clip and he seemed almost to be kneading it like a bread dough!

And Kidcat your risotto recipe looks so good. What would I do without everybody's recipes and tips. My life would be infintely less interesting and more expensive without you all. So thank you!

Well my presentation tomorrow has been postponed, but my OH had already said he would cook supper so I'm off for an early bath with a wee glass of wine:)

Have a good evening everyone.

fuddle

73 years monnagran? I have a security blanket that's 73 years old

Kidcat thanks so much for explaining all that in laymans terms. Popperwell you too for mentioning contents insurance in the first place. I've looked at my policy and mine is for £10000. My sofas alone would be £2000 to replace. How stupid!

If you rent privately, who would insure the carpets? Me or LL?

kidcat

Fuddle - if you rent privately then you cover anything you put in and LL covers the rest. But there is a small piece in the majority of policies to cover tenants liability, basically if you smash a sink or similar you would be covered.
I also highly recommend accidental damage cover if you can afford it especially with kids, and check that freezer cover is included if like me you have a large amount of money in the freezer!!

Insurance is such a minefield, I studied it and passed exams in it and I still hate it!!

Oh and dont forget to check the minimum security required - we had real trouble in one rented house that didnt have window locks, we couldnt fit them and couldnt find insurance without them.

Pooky

Insurance is a minefield and with DH having been in the industry for donkeys of years he's seen first hand the perils of being under insured (and worked on some very incredible insurance fraud cases). Needless to say I leave it to him to sort the policies. Before I met him I went for the cheapest cover I could find, luckily it was never called into force but had it have been I'd have been in such a mess.

Christmas - I love it. We've made it how we want it and we enjoy the whole lot. I like the nice treaty foods, the time spent with family, making gifts, the decorations, everything. The Christmas music is already sneaking its way in each day, decorations are being made and the girls are excited (even though they're teenagers). I can't understand why people get to "anti" about it, you don't have to celebrate it.

DH got his legs all confused in a charity shop this morning and was trying so hard not to fall over, in the end it was easier for him to fall and get up than to try work out what was going on but one of the members of staff got really shirty as she wanted to get past, I tried explaining that his legs weren't communicating with his brain and she said "well if you're going to take so long, I'll go the other way" in a really sarky tone. She could see he had sticks and was struggling, I was very angry.

Then I went to the library to return a book (DDs book and it had a fine to pay), the woman got shirty that I didn't have DDs card, that I wanted to pay the 10p fine and then when she mucked it up, it was my fault for having a difficult surname (even though I spelt it twice for her). I stood there gobsmacked at her rudeness.

Some days I wonder how people got their jobs.

Apologies for the negative post...normal service will be resumed shortly

mcculloch29

Going to read back later, but for Toughies in NE & Cumbria, Rummy the racehorse's programme is on at 7.30 this evening. If you have Sky it's on Channel 955, "Inside Out"

fuddle

I've noticed that just before in doing a quote. 5 point this lock, multiway this. Also Is your property 400m from water. Er, we're riverside, I actually don't know. I for see a bit of an insurance nightmare ahead.

As I pack up I'm going to write the cost.

Pooky, your surname isn't difficult. It's written as you say it! Mine is easy but so many people mishear.

kidcat

pooky - he should have tripped her with his sticks!! stupid woman!

[Deleted User]

contents is very tricky, basically imagine turning your house upside down and anything that could fall is contents. We had to include the stove and solar panels. We did room by room and it took quite a while and we did increase our cover by 50% going by like for like. For buildings we had to measure a tree`s distance from the house etc. We eventually got very good specialist insurance and I believe that the total cost of contents + buildings was £460. Pooky is dead right and we were under insured for two years, you know what it is like when you move and have to do things in a hurry. I saw something on tv last year, some poor woman lost absolutely everything because of a fire that started in her neighbour`s house, so no matter how careful you are, your neighbour might not be

kidcat

We had to take buildings insurance when we bought, first time ever and it scared me silly, I spent hours reading everything, my solicitor thought I was mad but I have seen too many horror cases and I had to be sure. Thankfully the mortgage survey specified the sum insured so I was able to use that.