'supporting each other through really tough times'

Pooky

Possession wrote: »

Good news Lisa! SevenUp sorry your having a hard time with DD. Hopefully she'll calm down when the house business is all sorted.
Just a dusting of snow here too. The children tried to have a snowball fight but it was a losing battle really. Lovely to get up to a clean and tidy house though, if ever there were an incentive to keep it that way, this is it. I really want someone to pop round for a coffee just so I can proudly show it off, but it ain't gonna happen.
It's DH's turn for cake wednesday at work this week so I had better think of something to bake tomorrow.

I'd pop over but it's a bit of a distance!

We woke up to a good dusting of snow too, it's been lightly snowing since 8am but its not really adding to it. DH has been very restless all night after some bad news yesterday so I've packed him back off to bed for the morning. Hopefully he'll get some sleep and feel a bit more with it at lunch time.

Mince in the SC and I shall make dumplings later and a big pile of steamed veg. Might even make a sponge pudding as I've got a real hankering for one.

Gave the fire a good poke this morning and managed to get it back to life so it's roaring away with free wood (saves having the heating on) and the kittens are running in and out of the snow leaving muddy foot prints everywhere!

DD1 is having problems at college with an on going dispute between groups, one boy turned up at her work yesterday and followed her round for a bit, she felt quite intimidated as you can imagine. Waiting to see what the college are doing about the disputes on campus before I go charging in but can see a meeting on the cards very soon.

Possession

You'd be most welcome Pooky but it is a bit far for a coffee. Hope DH is OK and DD's problems get resolved.
It's raining here now so goodbye snow.

Popperwell

Great news Lisa:j

It's great on here but often a pity that we are all seperated by distance, we really could help so much more "In Person"

Its another world Pooky and so sorry to hear of what seems to amount to intimidation. Hope it gets sorted. It kind of shows that many though adult in age really still haven't grown up. Hope it gets sorted soon.

I knew it was a mistake to say "No snow here" now we have quite a covering but as I write it has stopped again(but for how long?)

It's quite cold indoors so more hot drinks, layering of clothes and diving under the duvet. There were some real horror stories from callers of all ages, singles or familes on radio show last night struggling to stay warm and pay for the little amount of heating they are already and once again after seeing utility bills rise becausse the companies increased the tarifs.

The Government adding a kind of Green Tax, the upgrade of the National Grid(being charged to us too)they've announced another levy today, something to do with windfarms so we will see another rise.

So if you can think of another way to heat rather than using gas...go for it!

[Deleted User]

Morning Toughies, no snow here but very cold rain and the house feels colder than usual too. Have just been right through the house dusting and vacuuming and cleaned bathrooms and sinks all over. Have a lovely big pan of lentil and bacon soup simmering away on the hob and it smells very nice and savoury so that will be lunch for a few days.

LISA super news re the chance to try out the new job, wish you all the very best for tomorrow when you start, will be thinking of you.

FUDDLE and KEZLOU you two helping each other out is heartwarming, bless you both, you are good people!!!

POPS and anyone else with snow take care of yourselves and make sure you eat properly and stay warm in this cold spell, and if you do have to venture out to work, school or shop, specially if you are driving be extra careful and get back safely!!! Cheers Lyn xxx.

cdm

Hi Pops, what radio station was that on last night, please? Wondering if I can listen again on i-player maybe? Thanks.

cdm

Whoops...sorry, I was a bit rude there...should've addressed you as 'Popperwell'...am only an occasional poster, shouldn't have been that familiar!

cdm

Ooh, MrsLurcherwalker, that wartime date & choc pud sounds very yummy!! Would you mind sharing the recipe please? Thank you. :-)

kidcat

lisa - great news

pooky - that needs nipping in the bud now, if he has turned up at work that is stalking which is now an offence I believe, it may be worth a call to the police just to get it logged. Likelihood is police will call the college which will in turn add weight if you need to go in.

Managed to get to see GP today and now have more painkillers and a physio referral!! Finally SHe says its clearly in spasm now which is why its so bad but the general pain I have needs to be addressed.

[Deleted User]

Hi there CDM recipe as follows

Steamed Date and Chocolate Pudding

3oz Self Raising Flour + 1 tablespoon cocoa
3oz fresh breadcrumbs
2oz margarine
2oz sugar
1 egg
4 oz cooking dates, chopped

Rub the margarine into the flour and cocoa, add all other ingredients and mix well to a medium soft consistency. Grease a pudding basin (1 pint one or 1 and a half pints) put mix in, cover with a piece of greased greaseproof paper/baking parchment with a pleat in it to allow for expansion. Then cover with foil also with a pleat. Tie it tightly round neck of basin and steam for 2 hours.

Hope you like it, Cheers Lyn x.

2tonsils

Popperwell wrote: »

On My Own,
I'm making the effort but you know, I could quite easily being on my own slip back to simple fare. I probably could live as Softstuff says on cereal/porridge, some fruit, toast and jam/marmelade and honestly not tire of most of my meals being similar(In fact after Mum passed away last year)that's pretty well how I was feeding myself.

Perhaps with a salad sandwich thrown in...in fact if I did that I could probably reduce my food bill still further and I suspect many are already living that way...you know...cereal, beans on toast etc...

But since adding the slow cooker into the mix, my other stock recipe is to chop up some chunky veg, add stock or gravy granuals and do stews/casseroles with a small portion of meat added.

Nothing complicated and often meals are thrown together and can be done with the minimum of effort.

And well having managed to get vegetables reasonably cheap and many items reduced(yellow stickered)that I would not bother with or reduced so much I'd be silly not to try and have something a bit different.

Nothing wrong with simple, it can still be nutricious and tasty. But I do try to make the effort to vary what I eat and have something a little different. After all I may as well try something new whilst I am able and keep thinking if/when I probably end up in care as many single and older people will, they'll give me pretty basic simple unadventurous food then so enjoy your food now.

It would be different if you live in one of those smart village type places where because you have a lot of savings they are more like hotels but most are not. I know from Mum's short stay in supposedly one of the best NH in the area on my town, I wasn't impressed.

Well, it actually seems slightly warmer(last night)parts of my home I could see my breath indoors when I breathed out:eek:
That doesn't happen often, I have been reasonably cosy in bed and slept quite well...and a few minutes ago looked outside, still no snow...famous last words of course.

I don't feel quite as good as yesterday but not too bad either...so I'll still take that as a positive...:)

I'll have an early breakfast(Cereal, fruit, toast)and then tonight it could be liver and bacon with some extra vegetables added. And I follow it with a small pot of(yellow stickered)Roly Poly.

Still early so may get some more shut eye or watch a bit of catchup TV on the internet.

You'll manage OMO I'm sure...we do some of our own signature dishes to keep costs down but we also look for bargains to save time too and though it is fun to cook and say "I made that!" If we can find shortcuts that cost very little and are inexpensive, I'm sure most of us would.

Pops please don't cut out the meat and fish...living on carbohydrates is not healthy....your body need the protein for health and repair. It is the only food (protein) that can be used to rebuild the body and repair it. I am already worried that you are not getting enough protein during the days you are having mostly carbs. Many people in the UK eat a diet that is high in carbs and low in protein and it does affect their health in a negative way. Cutting costs is counter productive if you end up unhealthy because of it, whether its cutting food costs or cutting down on heating.