'supporting each other through really tough times'

greenbee

How about oatcakes?
http://mortgagefreeinthree.com/2012/12/trendy-oatcakes/

Popperwell

As frugal as we all try to be. When having to use a car, bus or taxi when on a fairly tight budget it is great if you can avoid adding petrol/fares onto the cost of the food.

The kindness of others is often how/why I am able to do some of what I do such as the live music night on my town. That is something that I really appreciate. But hope I can repay. A car is no longer a luxury.

I don't think that I need anything else for my festive meals at Christmas. Unless I think any of my fresh veg looks sad...

mcculloch29

War and Paracetamol... one of the best predictive texts ever...
What a great thread to have given so much good advice to Fuddle.
To all of you who give so much from what they have, huge respect - I wish cynics could read this thread.

Unixgirl x fingers - I haven't heard about my job but the new contract for the existing job is finally starting. I won't see any pay for it until the end of Jan or probably Feb though.
My senior manager did a conference call with me and another tutor last night and told me she would give me a glowing reference if need be.
I've got a feeling it went to another, though.
I posted this on the 5 OS Pleasures thread earlier:- :j:j

Incredible luck this evening. DS asked for Jamie Oliver's 15 minute meals book for Christmas. A lot of the meals involve a food processor -son had looked at J.O's online, £150. :eek: at the moment.
Guess what Amazon offered me to review on Amazon Vine? The very model.

DS is having a rough time at the moment, I hope that this will help to lift him. Hopefully it will arrive Saturday or Christmas Eve.

All the items on Vine are offered to a number of reviewers, and it's first come, first served. You have to be really quick for the good stuff.

I don't have super-fast broadband and the netbook is temperamental, so I sometimes miss out. On the Vine forum, some reviewers had said that they had decided not to take the food processor they were offered, as they already had one.

I am very, very grateful to them and posted my thanks.

I've had some really good stuff from Vine - an expensive steam generator iron, some fancy bathroom scales, a phone, but this is one of the best. I've also had some stuff that wasn't so good - and I'm not allowed to dispose of it either.

Popperwell

Great news McCulloch.:)Fingers crossed regarding what else you mentioned regarding the job situation too.

meme30

Morning all, I hope you are all safe and well and not affected by the flooding.
Fresh shop, cooking first ham and a pantomime today. Or I should say 'Pampermine' as my GDD3 would say.:D
Sounds like you gave your LL a wake up call Fuddle. Good for you.
Mcculloch:- That's brilliant!
Katieowl:- when our DD's started to live with their BF's we bought them both Electric Screwdrivers. They fitted the 'bloke' gadget thing and our need that they were more practical in their own house. DH always had to go and fix or put up things before then!
Lisakay:- That's really bad, no wonder the children were hungry. I'm pleased our grandchildren take packed lunches. At least then we know what they eat.
Sevenup:- I'm so pleased your daughter is with you, that carer should be sacked! Is her friend all right?
Smileyt:- What bargains! love that shop!:)
Unix:- Hope you get some good news today.

7_week_wonder

Good morning all - and Happy Solstice!

Fingers crossed for Unixgirl, I hope they let you know today and put you out of your misery!

Lisakay - good on you for kicking up a fuss, keep us posted on the take-over bid.

McCulloch - wow on getting that food processor for your son: that is some lovely karma!

Well I can report that KatieOwl's lemon berry cake is fabby - even without the lemon juice (oops!) We tried a bit late last night and will do our best to get through it before the 27th when I will bake one "for real" for my friend.

We had a lovely surprise last evening. OH volunteers and runs a weekly class/tournament for beginners at his club. All of the beginners are adults, and I think they really appreciate the effort he puts in, some of his students have started a team and are playing in the local league and are not doing too badly. Anyway, last night was the last night of the season so he took a couple of bottles of cheap fizz along for the guys. Whilst he was pouring he heard a rustling and turned round to be presented with the most amazing hamper! They'd made it themselves and it contains chocolate pannetone, a stollen (from Falko's - for anyone who knows Edinburgh), chocolates, a brie, some chutneys and a whole bottle of whisky. It is amazing!!

Today will be spent mainly in the kitchen: I have biscotti, twinks hob-nobs, a venison casserole and the Christmas red cabbage to make!

Have a good day everyone.

sevenup01

Morning everyone and Thank You! My daughter is fine now she is over her own rage and she has booked an appointment for monday to discuss the situation with social services. I believe the other girl is also ok and has possibly gone to her mums too. I am just waiting for my daughter to move into her flat and then i will be filing my own complaint. This is to my local authority as they have repeatedly failed to tell me when they have moved my daughter to different carers and inform me of any changes. I am still waiting to hear about the move before this one! As for review meetings etc - i tend to find out about them when my daughter asks what time i am getting there and i sit there looking blank because i know nothing about it.
Anyway.
School dinners - They sound shocking! No wonder so many parents make their first stop the local sweet shop after collecting their children from school. Obviously would be better if they took a sandwich with them though.
Today we are visiting Santa:j:j:j. I dont know whos more excited - me or the children?

Uniscots97

Hello All, no news so far. I'm in munch mode as I'm a bag of nerves. Roll with haggis and brown sauce and a large bag of beef hula hoops. OH, My Mum, My Gran, friends all have fingers and toes crossed. Mum says to stop torturing myself going over what I should have said.

I got out of edinburgh ok yesterday, it was so much nicer driving. Yes the train has its up side i.e. I can just switch off but I prefer driving and my own space, can listen to the radio and sing (badly) if I want to.


Stopped last night to get fuel before picking OH up at a little independent garage. Its busy as its used as a truck stop too. Went to pay for my fuel and the 3 young women behind the counter were discussing how to tell if a dog had been recently fed and what to do. I suggested a few things then realised there was a puppy behind the counter! Turns out a man came in and dumped it on the counter and left! :eek:. One of the women went after him but where he'd parked him car she couldn't make out his registration. It was a gorgeous little Jack Russell/terrier cross by the looks of things and about 3-4 months old. One of the ladies picked him up so I could see and he was scrabbling his paws to get to me. Such a cute wee thing, how could anyone be so cruel? One of the ladies was going to take the puppy to see if it was chipped in case its been stolen as a present then dumped as whoever it was intended for didn't want it (Nice eh?).

Well keep your fingers crossed for me.

mama67

Softstuff wrote: »

Good luck Unix.

You are indeed a softy Smiley

Re Xmas and Birthdays, my birthday is at the beginning of February. It's too soon after Christmas for most and too close to Valentines to be separated. Rather than worry about that, I went a stage further and we got married on my Birthday. Thus combining as much as possible into the one day!

My birthday is end of Feb and most years it means that during Feb/Mar it is Valentines/my birthday /mothers day all within 6 weeks

Softstuff

It's not really seasonal, but we had a Japanese pork and pumpkin stir fry for tea and I just wondered if anyone wants that recipe? (It's seasonal for us because we got a free butternut squash from the mother in laws garden!)