'supporting each other through really tough times'

Possession

DH has taken my two out to spend their xmas money, and I am alternating between tidying up and surfing the net. Bliss. Not planning anything strenuous for the next couple of days but I do need to have a look what's in the freezers so that I can meal plan a bit.

monnagran

Prudence: We have sea breezes here too. About Force 8.

MrsCD

Not too bad up here today apart from a bit of rain ealier. Maybe it's on the way Hope not. Still thinking of the folks who have been washed out of their homes. It must be horrible.

Glad everyone here has had a good Christmas. We had to wait for our DDs to wake up as well, but we decided to start opening our presents anyway (well they're older now and not that bothered if we waited or not!)

I have successfully avoided all food shops/sales, even at work
and I know we have enough fresh food in the house to last at least another week so I'm having a lazy day, catching up with a bit light washing, finding homes for my presents, etc., and dinner will be leftover Christmas sausages and bits and bobs that need to be used up today. All the leftover veggies and meat went into the freezer on Christmas day so I can use them up on Sunday for dinner.
Stay warm and safe everyone, and Happy New Year!

[Deleted User]

Afternoon Toughies, we too ventured to Ikea this fine day, I have to say it was a really pleasant experience too, not at all crowded and no one cross. I got a new saucepan ta dah!!!!! Not very exciting but necessary. The rest of the sales were dire though, I'm sure I recognised things that have been out for the last couple of years and were out again this year too but not the crowds of people I had expected. The biggest dissapointment was Waterstones and they didn't have a sale at all, just a few current books at half price and it was in both local branches so I didn't buy anything!!!!! However we are now home and enjoying a nice cuppa and I've just put a root veg gratin in the oven for supper with some sliced beef reheated in gravy which will go down nicely. It was nice to walk the lurcher in the dry this morning, the heavy rain is making life uncomfortable, thank heavens for wellies and waterproofs - now if I could only persuade the boy to wear his coat and walk at the same time......... not going to happen though!!!!! So the utility room is always festooned with damp doggy towels these days - thank heavens for utility rooms too!!!!! I shall be glad to get back to normal routine after the new year, I love christmas but don't like it to last for the length of time it seems to these days. I liked it when it was just two days and then life as normal! Hope you are all well and dry and happy, Cheers Lyn xxx.

kidcat

We have had leftover roast for dinner and everything else has been frozen, there is enough meat for four more big dinners and a pie filling too.

We do however have a mince pie glut, having made 48 myself and then my dad turned up with the church leftovers (all home made) so I am seriously contemplating freezing them too, will they be ok?

Definitely no guests tomorrow - which I am a little relieved about to be honest, I will need to go out tomorrow to buy yet more bananas and some eggs tomorrow but nothing else.

[Deleted User]

KIDCAT - I don't see why cooked mince pies shouldn't freeze perfectly well. They might go brittle (pastrywise) if you keep them too long but they should be perfectly fine as long as you don't keep them in there too long Cheers Lyn xxx.

kidcat

Thanks Mrs LW - I am sure I have frozen them before, but it was a while ago.

GreyQueen

monnagran wrote: »

Prudence: We have sea breezes here too. About Force 8.

Oooohh, sea breeze, 40 degrees, we can but dream. I'd love some proper heat and a balmy sea breeze. It's mild here but has been raining for many hours. Keep checking to make sure that I'm not developing mildew somewhere about my person.:p

I went out in it (of necessity into town) and the rivers are so far up that they're starting to top the banks. Getting a bit woo-woo down there in the valley. Glad the parental units roost on a hill though Dad was joking about where to buy gopher-wood in case we need to build an ark. I was thinking old pallets might be feasible.....?:rotfl:Or at lease more available.

Still a bit poorly with a cold (Day 12 and counting) but will get there in the end. Am applying medicinal chocolate to the problem and sleeping lots. All this shall pass.

We're still stocked up on grub and will be on the gammon again tomorrow. Out guest left this afternoon and Mum has unilaterally gone on strike so the kitchen will be closed unless the rest of us able-bodied adults get our arrises in action.

Good for her. You can get bored with the same old same old so she's now lolling in a recliner with the newspaper and a tin of Woses chocies.

Alrighty. going to look at the rest of the web and see what's been happening. Hope everyone is warm and well.

Love and peas, GQ xx

Pooky

Cor Blimey, I'm shattered. Had a lovely few days but I'm now relishing the prospect of no guests arriving tomorrow.

DDs are playing silly games on a console (I can't even work out how to open it to put the discs in). The house is a tip but I have got 5 loads of washing done between guests, cooked another full christmas dinner today and have managed to put most of the left overs into the freezer....just need to portion the meats up into bags. Im guessing I've got around 10 meals for the 4 of us worth of sliced meats, all the odds and ends will get mixed into one box for pie filling. I've blitzed up all the left over cooked veg and made 3 boxes of bubble and squeak mix. Lots of nice simple meals ahead this month.

We've been given so many sweeties, I shall put most of them away for later in the year, several boxes will get rehomed when DDs go to various friends over the next week or so, teenage girls can eat sweets like they're going out of fashion.

I'm now going to recline on a sofa, read a book and drink copious cups of tea....so rock and roll!

savingqueen

Evening toughies,

Well this is the first day in about 2.5 weeks, I have felt reasonably well and DH finally getting better. I empathise with you GQ but as you so aptly put it - "all this shall pass". Its a lovely feeling when you feel better after feeling 'orrible for days on end.

Well we had a nice trip out today. MIL -for all her faults and by golly there are many - has been generous this year and sent us a cheque for £100 for us to share. We did feel a bit uncomfortable cashing it but she sent it for her grandchildren so we spent it with that thought in mind. We bought kids a shared pressie for £30 from her, £10 each will be squirrelled away in their savings accounts and the remaining £50 went on a trip to the cinema (actually saw a current film and not the usual old releases for a bargaineous £1.50 entrance) and a pizza lunch (topped up with our money)

So a non cooking day today, just sandwiches and nibbles this afternoon. Done a load of laundry and just enough housework to satisfy myself - our lovely neighbour will be popping in to look after the cats and the place had been a bit neglected. DH is supervising kids' baths - realised they haven't had a bath for ahem a while, we are all out of routine being off school.

Off to BIL and family tomorrow for a rare visit and stay overnight. I am mainly looking forward to it but a bit apprehensive if I'm honest. They have very different lifestyles to us - we are the "poor relations" and I really don't think they have a clue how most people live. I am trying not to worry as I usually do and just be myself. They talk a lot about their many holidays and all the expensive activities the kids do and although we are happy, our lives sound boring to them I know. They really don't get me or DH at all and their kids hardly speak to me despite my best efforts. Well its only for a couple of days and then I will appriecate being back home - I am finding I don't like being away from it for too long these days. Not sure if that's a good thing or not but its how I feel. Perhaps I need to get out of my comfort zone more?

Better go and sort a few things out before I can settle down for the eve.

sq:)