'supporting each other through really tough times'

mcculloch29

Argh - only just spotted Mrs VP's post re the Maths. Have pmmed you.
Cannot offer advice on driving in snow other than what I use on the trike. Cycling in snow and ice is not really recommended but the trike can handle packed snow and ice far better than I can on foot.

Have good tyres with plenty of grip and have them slightly under-inflated for extra traction.
Use higher gears for the same reason ; brake VERY gently and far earlier than usual.
Remember to breathe to keep relaxed and alert!
No sudden moves if at all possible; be resigned to everything taking three times as long...

mardatha

Wed night to go down to minus 10 here, minus 12 up north EEK!

Popperwell

Well, I hope the weather is kind and mild here as I have my prebooked shows...Wednesday a Geordie/Celtic Folk night with the Happy Cats(memeber of the group was in Lindesfarne)Big Band of Syd Lawrence next Saturday and the live music night in the company of mcculloch29:)on Tuesday.

And tonight I may venture out to see the first concert by a newly formed town choir. Until I get there I don't know if it is free as there is no mention of tickets or a price...

bearcub

My Mum is a little like your grandad, I think. She just has to know exactly what she has in her bank accounts - not that she's a miser, but she's concerned that she may not have enough to pay for anything that needs doing. When she moved to be close to us, she was 83 and had lived in the same house for 60 years. She was downsizing to a cheaper area (almost anywhere has cheaper property than Surrey!), so she was going to make quite a profit - and there's absolutely nothing wrong with her brain. She was constantly worrying if she was going to have enough to pay the agents, the solicitor and the removal firm, and still have some for any work she might want done on the new house. I lost count of the number of times I explained how much she'd have left. Happily, she's now stopped worrying so much.

Mrs_Veg_Plot

Thanks for your pm mccullock29. All tests now completed,just the interview to go on the 24th.

fuddle I know what you mean about walking the kids to and from school in bad weather. As kids we had to walk just over 2 mileson a main road to school and back in all weathers (to a house that was not centrally heated and a school that had a ancient coke stove that had to heat 2 classrooms). Having sat and thought about it after reading your post I can not actually remember any of these walks so no traumatic memories

Popperwell

You may be interested in following on Amazon if they are still free(e-books)they were in the early hours of this morning...

They all start this way PRACTICAL HOUSEHOLD USES OF. Then they are all followed by either Bicarbonate of Soda, Vinegar, Salt or Honey.

Popperwell

Anyone on here eat Mutton. I'd quite like to and it is cheaper than lamb. There was a programme on tv a few weeks ago trying to make it popular again but it seems very difficult to get even butchers and certainly not in supermarkets...

May soon by trying to cook a gammon joint in the slow cooker(Aldi's have a small one for under £3)probably big enough for one person and who knows I may do it coke as many say that is nice...then again they have one in a foil dish with a honey glaze supplied with it...

Something new for me to try:)

If I am showing an interest in food I think I am starting to get more like my old self...

kidcat

MrsVP - how did the tests go? Did you do better this morning?

Am still really struggling with my back, had to take DS14 today for school shoes and trousers, he is trialling an hour a day after his unit this week. They were supposed to be taking him for the hour and I collect from school however they changed the plan on Friday to say that they would take him for Mon- Wed but I would have to do the rest. It means I will be have to drive to his unit at 11.30 pick him up, drive to school arriving around 11.40 and then collect him from school at 12.30 - wont be worth me going home in between as it takes 15 minutes each way

Am not impressed if I was working I wouldnt be able to do it - and it means my day is going to revolve around transporting him, no idea what I will do if one of the others needs me. Discussing it with DS today and he has flipped and has demanded I take him every day so I dont even get a few days this week.
Am not sure how long I will be able to sustain it - if at all, sitting in the car is agonising, and I think I can manage the morning and afternoon runs but the idea of sitting in the car for over an hour may well be beyond me.

No sign of snow here yet but I am told we are due it tomorrow - am almost praying for it, and for it to be very heavy and schools to close, just to give me a few days to let my back ease down.

Popperwell

Wishing you well Kidcat...seems the new year is continuing much as the previous:(here's hoping it improves.

GreyQueen

Mrs LW, I use the bain marie (bm) part of the steamer set for all sorts. This was a present (birthday or Xmas can't recall which) from Mum & Dad in about 1987 and it's the most useful thing I own, saucepan-wise.

I tend to steam the spuds as well as other veggies and have used the bm for all sorts; reheating FB pies, heating shop bought things like tikka & rice, re-heating portions of all sorts from bulk cooking sessions. It really goes get things piping hot.

Heck, I've even warmed desserts in it, how OS is that? If you fancy one of these but money's too tight to mention, they do turn up in c.s. (saw one a couple of days ago).

A few years back I dragged Mum to a boot sale at ridiculous o'clock but she forgave me when she got a large 3 tier pan in excellent nick for £6. She uses two of them when we have company at hers, or sometimes combines parts of 2 different ones to make 4 tier versions. She also balances a Pyrex plate on the top one (and covers with the pan lid) if she's got something which is ready to eat but the rest isn't cooked. An example being bacon and egg; bacon cooked first and held over on the Pyrex then the eggs. HTH.

Been a good little OS-er today and did some mending and some alterations, which meant that I had to clear off my little table which unfortunately attracts Stuff like black velvet attracts fluff. It's now accruing neat piles of Stuff to Do Tomorrow.

Library books, returning of. Debit card info, bank a$$-kicking of. Something else, utility company,whinging about.

Sheesh, some days I feel I could gainfully employ a PA. Luckily I have background in admin type jobs and can navigate my way around a bureaucracy.

:mad: I've been reading more about the tech which makes contactless payments possible with your debit card and I am NOT a happy bunny. Interested parties can look it up on the interweb when they get home, but it's seriously-worrying and I will opt-out if possible and create a stink if I can't. And possibly hit the offending chip with a hammer to disable it.............

We have no snow yet but there were a few sleety bits in the shower earlier. Hard drizzle, if that makes any kind of sense. I'm stocked and ready to hunker down.

Hokay, hope everyone is warm and has sweeties (those who've not given them up). It's officially COLD as both of the parents' cats, even the longhaired outdoorsy one, have been indoors all day hanging over the rad or snuggling in armchairs. One of those cats barely even comes indoors for months at a time, she's such an outdoor critter, so if she's inside it's baltic.

Time for some tea, I'm thinking.