'supporting each other through really tough times'

mcculloch29

Possession wrote: »

McCulloch the Hairy Dieters cookbook has some nice-looking recipes for pies which use bread dough as pie crust. You'd just need to adapt the recipe slightly. http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/low-fat_minced_beef_and_34423

I just spotted this post - I love the HBs and their recipes! Thank you. I looked at the recipe and it's very adaptable, I already have Quorn mince rather than meat in mind as it's so much cheaper and can be just as tasty with the right additions.

mcculloch29

Smashing news Fuddle!
I am thrilled you will be able to keep Alfie. I knew the amounts allowed for childcare are still quite generous, I had a feeling you would be OK. After-school clubs were a bit of a nemesis for me as a reg. childminder, but I couldn't have carried on indefinitely, so they did me a favour in the long run.

I have to work another 12 years, until I'm 67, and that would never have happened with childminding, I couldn't do it now.

Another thought, don't turn down the thought of a cleaner to help to keep you sane as well. I know it's an extra expense, but my goodness, it is worth it. Mine was £10 an hour for a couple of hours a week and as we're in similar areas you should be able to get one for around that.

cutestkids

Thats great news Fuddle, good luck for Monday

savingqueen

Evening all

Good luck for Monday in case I forget tomorrow fuddle. We will want to hear all about it when you have time! Great that you can keep Alfie in the style he is accustomed to hee hee. Everything is falling into place now. New home, car, job... who knows what other good stuff is lined up for your future!

I have had an interesting day, even a little adventurous! I was up and out early just after 8 to an all day event, an open day/conference ran by the charity I am involved in. A really positive and inspirational day, met some good people etc. Attended a women's workshop led by a famous fashion designer and business woman and she has offered to stay in touch with us all. Not sure if that will happen or what that would entail but she has intrigued me. I am open to all sorts of ideas at the moment and grabbing my chances to try new things.

Only downside to the day was the charity are desparately short of funds (lost government funding, a major source of income and a sign of harsh economic times) and they are hanging on by a thread. I am going to see if there is anything I can do, only be a small thing but if we all pull together?? I am thinking a big coffee morning, baking tons of cakes and charging people to eat them! Also have a fair few spare toiletries (used to be a "ding dong" lady) so could do a raffle as well.

Oh and had a big scare driving! It was raining and I started to pull onto a roundabout - a particularly sharp turn and the car spun out of control. I completely forgot all driving advice and panicked. I just screamed at the top of my lungs as the car spun round to face the opposite direction! :eek: Fortunately no cars in front and the 2 cars behind were a distance away and stopped in good time. It could have caused a pile-up. I managed to gain my composure and do a 3 point turn, gave a thumbs up to the 2 cars who looked relieved for me (the drivers that is, not the cars )

Then one of the warning lights came on. Got DH to check manual (left at home ) and said ok to drive, just need to get checked out later and avoid high speeds, rapid acceleration. Left the conference early whilst still light as worried about the car breaking down in the dark - most of the journey was on unlit roads. When I turned on the headlights nearer to home, the dashboard didn't light up so assumed lights weren't working (they were when I checked at home). The light was fading but I couldn't drive faster due to the warning indicator being on. Got home ok but was very relieved! DH drove an hour later to the chippy to treat us to fish and chips and the indicator warning light has gone out. Assuming the jolt the car got caused it.

sorry that's a long one. in my PJs now chilling for an hour and then bed

sq:)

7_week_wonder

Just popping in to say evening all!

SQ - you are having far too much excitement at the moment! I hope the car didn't give you too much of a fright. Enjoy your chilling out - it sounds like you deserve it.

Fuddle - that's great news that things are coming together with your job, childcare and Alfie. Try and be prepared for the fact that you are going to be exhausted for at least the first week! Well I certainly have been ever time I've started a new job.

And I can't remember who it was who posted a recipe for peach cobbler ages ago: but I made it tonight and it was fabby! So thank you very much!

Hope everyone is having a good Saturday evening.

bluebag

Dippypud wrote: »

:mad: Sorry to bump in -

just heard this ... :eek:

http://www.keeptalkinggreece.com/2013/03/16/insane-eu-bank-depositors-in-panic-as-they-pay-for-cyprus-e10bn-bailout/

bleddy Wall Street :mad:

This may cause a right panic across the Eurozone, lets face it if the gov can just dip into your savings account, take 10% and call it a tax, what fool would leave the rest of their money sitting in the bank.

This will not end well.

savingqueen

20 mins stiltwalker - is that a world record? Seriously though he is only a wee fellow and I can see from his point of view why he wouldn't be impressed by glasses. Hopefully seeing how big sis wears her so well will rub off on him eventually. Us parents need a lot of patience! (we are currently getting teenage style strops from DS8 nearly 9 going on 13!!) Glad you all enjoyed the break away.

Hugs Bexim - hope you feel better soon.

Pooky - glad you have heating again, especially with a cold. Get well soon.

7ww - yeah I know! Even a tweet about the workshop with a really lovely comment about the participants and photo with me in on said famous person's twitter thingie.

However - fear not! I have had more than my fair share of non-excitement and plenty more non-exciting days to come, Tomorrow's highlights include: deciding what to cook, quick pop to supermarche for tiny shop, baths all round... shall I go on?! Now Monday is a different day entirely but will post about that tomorrow .

oh and at least I can rule out stuntwoman as a career!! (need the rolling face icon here!)

Hope everyone's ok? There seem to be lots of missing folk not heard from in a while.

sq:)

kidcat

stiltwalker - totally forgot to comment earlier, everything is so busy at the moment, Ds glasses, have you got the ones with the headband on? I know a few kids who have swapped to them due to their age and it has worked for them.

stiltwalker

Kidcat - he's still small enough to have the curly back ones - tried him with headband sunglasses and he can whip them off in a second, the band just gives him extra leverage! Just got to convince him that he wants to wear them - it took almost 5 months with his sister then -bang- overnight they stayed on all the time! Got him up to a couple of minutes before they came off so that is progress.

SQ - glad you are OK.

Fuddle - fab news, good luck for Monday.

Hugs to all and take care - X

kidcat

I dont envy you we had the same issue with Ds when he got his - but he was too old to even try the band. We had weeks of tripping back and forth to the opticians because he had destroyed the glasses every few days - then suddenly he realised he could see better and he settled. We still have breakages - usually one every few weeks but they are either accidental (OH broke the nose piece on Friday whilst cleaning them) or in meltdown.