'supporting each other through really tough times'

m155piggy

Got about 4-6 inches of snow here in Derby - been snowing steadily on and off all day

katieowl_2

A small sprinling of snow here first thing this morning, but the power was off!!! Has been out all day, and we got it back at 5.45pm :eek: Fun.

I managed to cook dinner using the gas hob and the rayburn. I also made a nice rice pud in the rayburn during the day, and some cinnamon apple sploge to go with it.

We've had the fire on all day, it was warm earlier, but it's starting to get colder now

Might be time for more tea!

mcculloch29

:bdaycake:Happy Birthday to those celebrating! :bdaycake:


Well, Pops has given you the low down on our weather. Light snow falling earlier, but just showers, and all paths that have been cleared have stayed clear. Didn't expect that from earlier forecasts.

Out on the trike, no real evidence of panic buying in the local Mr T's, but like Pops, I was hopeful of YS bargains.

I got some, not massive reductions, but with fresh meat and fish destined for the freezer, some tasty meals in the next few weeks at bargain prices.
Also stocked up with YS fruit and all the special offers.
Has anyone else followed the "food waste" stories in the news this week with incredulity and anger, as I have? Part of the blame must lie with supermarkets with their BOGOF offers and bumper packs of produce.

A friend of mine (lovely person) gives her BOGOF to the person behind her at supermarket checkouts if she knows she cannot use it.

However, if the average British household throws out £480 of produce a year, many must be going way over that to form the average. I probably don't go over £50 per annum - allowing for £1 a week of waste, and that's a generous estimate.

I hope the media don't let this story drop. I want to see less than perfect fruit and veg on shelves in the knowledge it's not been wasted. I don't get a daily paper but I get The Week delivered, it's a summary of the best bits of the news and food waste was the cover story this week.

I'm feeling slightly smug as I've managed to get into a pair of fur-lined waterproof winter boots that I bought online two or three years ago when the weather was really bad. My disability makes finding footwear that fits a bit of a challenge. They have a thick tread and cope well with slippy surfaces - I think I paid about £45 for them and they've hardly been worn but with my weight loss, I hoped I might fit into them again. :j:j

It's funny how our deepest instincts of self preservation kick in with this weather - I've largely stayed clear of cheese and buttery spreads for months but they've gone back on the menu. Weirdly enough, just as I typed that some pundit on the One Show came out with the advice to eat high calorie foods. I've got three bars of chocolate I bought for cooking at Christmas in the cupboard. Hmmmm ...

Beards. I'm not usually a fan, but I thought Pops suited his, actually. Though it's all about how you see yourself and not how others see you.

I'm enjoying everyone's tales of how they are doing - too many to mention individually! Jobhunters, keep on keeping on..

How I use the word 'dead' depends on whom I'm talking to. I have two friends who always use euphemisms like "We lost" or "XYZ has lost their battle " in a certain tone of voice. (Thinking about it, they seem to know a lot of people who die...) The blunt Estonian in me (no nation is more plain-speaking, trust me) wants to say "You mean 'They're dead', I think " but I never have.

So here we have a well stocked food cupboard and working from home, no need to go out. No exciting news to share at all, other than a successful batch of laundry gloop made! :money:
I've only once had a batch of gloop go slightly wrong and that was when I didn't fully dissolve the grated soap in the hot water on the stove before adding the washing soda and borax. Everything needs to be completely dissolved and in solution for it to work properly.

Popperwell

You seem to have had it bad in Wales so well done managing as you have Katie.

I shouldn't have but did a "Little" shop. It will last(Wholemeal Rolls, a little salad, tomatoes, half a cucumber, bread, thin sliced turkey, butter and soft cheese)

But for comfort and little snacks with a cuppa I also bought some teacakes and scones I could make them any quicker or cheaper.

Will attempt my fry up later and perhaps set something away in the slow cooker too and have that tomorrow. Perhaps when I come in tomorrow night from my evening watching a Big Band if they get through all this weather. If I do:p If I get stuck I may have to see if I can stay over in a hotel which I haven't done for over 14 years.

mcculloch29

savingqueen wrote: »

Some good news to share! DH passed his 2nd (of 6) exams last night. He feels disappointed his marks weren't higher as he put so much effort and hard work in but he still passed at the end of the day and I am very proud of him indeed. Tutor said she was pleased he out of everyone passed. He has taken it as her being condescending (as he has really struggled so far) but I said maybe she was praising him for his hard work.

Also I have a place on the interview skills course so very very pleased. Think it is going to be a tough one and something I already feel nervous about - goodness knows how I will cope with the real thing! But one step at a time eh?.

sq:)

Congratulations to your son SQ, that's great news. Also good luck with your course. It's great that these courses are being run - it really will boost your confidence.

Re your son's pass and his tutor's pleasure. I'm with the tutor's words being praise for hard work.

I'm an adult education tutor and all my work for the last few years has been in preparing (mostly young-ish) people for exams.

I've had hundreds of passes, but the ones I look back on with most pleasure are the ones who found it a challenge and saw it through by sheer hard work. Some of them scraped passes, yes, but that didn't matter, they worked so hard and they got there. It's a real buzz for us when that happens.

Not everyone finds study easy, their gifts may lie in other areas, and many who struggle use that as an excuse to give up - the best reward in teaching is to get those students through despite the barriers.

Mrs_Veg_Plot

Hi all, have not posted much this week as time has flown but have managed to keep up with how you are all doing.

savingqueen and stiltwalker I hope you both enjoyed your birthdays.

OMO glad you took the plunge and joined us.

4 inches of snow here which is not too bad considering how some areas in the county have been affected. We did the weekly shop last night so do not need to go anywhere until Monday. Will spend the weekend preparing for my interview next week and keeping warm.

keep warm and cosy everyone and don't go out unless you really need to

stiltwalker

Weighing in on the whole beard thing - DH is a beardy, full in winter (he has sensitive skin and shaving in the cold really sets him off) and goatee the rest of the year and TBH he just looks weird without one!! Every so often he gets a bee in his bonnet about shaving for one reason or another but I can guarantee he is growing it back within a week. He kept it the goatee til after the wedding last year but he usually starts turning into the woolly mammoth about half way through October - I think both looks suit him but he does look tidier in the summer!

nuttyp

Hi everyone, have been sent home from work due to heavy snow. We recieved a call at 6.50 that we could close at 7, didnt get out till 720 due to cashing up.

Im glad im home, tomorrow i have to be in at 11, but it will be weather permitting again.

Hope everyone is nice and cosy, Off to watch tv in bed!!!

kezlou

2tonsils wrote: »

The name of your kitten really made me laugh........I could imagine someone standing outside the house in M'bro shouting Fat knacker......you wouldn't last for long lol :rotfl::rotfl:

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:
i've had some looks, i tell ya !!!
Luckily they were all skinny

Its funny though when i shout all three cats

Fat Knacker a.k.a Tom
Scabby Cat a.k.a Lucy
Claw a.k.a Shadow

Not the best nicknames lol

Fuddle - your too nice, seriously i owe you cuppa and cake!
She's been making me laugh with timothy and all sorts. My partner looked at funny when i burst out laughing after her texts.
New year new start perfect for ya!

So many nice people on here, luckily for all of us to share it with.

Hopefully i will get a placement at the autistic school myself, fingers crossed, if it happens. Then hopefully start a teaching assistant course at College. I've been told its a lovely place to work and some of the staff i've met have been really nice.

Well we have about 2 inches of snow on the street so thats the ice covered and its still snowing. So its looking very pretty out there.

Got to admit i don't do facial hair, i don't mind a bit of stubble, but i prefer clean shaven.

OMO - oh that sounds so weird, would have been amazing to see.
SQ - amazing news !!

mardatha

Got lovely deep blowing snow up here and still coming