'supporting each other through really tough times'

Nargleblast

Not much of a technobod I'm afraid, but mine is fuchsia pink with a sort of black circle print on it. Might Google it and see what the pattern name is. (I can Google!)

Rowan9

Sitting here in glorious sunshine catching up on news. Sun now but we have had some real April showers at times today including hailstones which left the ground white.
Mardatha - hope you are feeling a bit better. No doubt you have snow:p.
Had a sleep as soon as I got in from work and feel better for it now. Tea was an easy peasy tinned tomato soup and bread with goats butter. Normal service in the kitchen will be resumed tomorrow.
Our doggie has decided on good manners at the age of 9yrs. It's a real joy to walk her now. I have my DD to thank as she walks her at lunchtime and should be a dog trainer. This one is my 5th (dog not daughter ha ha) and my most challenging but is a lovely wee soul as well.
Ok, off to give that lovely wee soul a joint stick.
Have a good weekend folks - think it's to be cold but hope dry.
W

Nargleblast

Well, having Googled myself to insanity, I can only conclude my Rolser is a discontinued design. However, I was amazed at all the vibrant colours and patterns available - the old fashioned tartan trolley is truly dead and buried!

We had a few hailstones earlier but I still managed to get a washload of towels out and dried in the sunshine. Roll on summer!

JellyBox

Been lurking for the last week or so, keeping up on the reading but not posting. Sounds like hugs are needed for many, so here they are ((hugs)).

fuddle - your bit about the high chances of a child getting hurt really rang alarm bells. It sounds like you'd be better off out of there, I agree with the idea of getting a really basic job just to get the pennies, whatever you do, don't get caught up with a situation where you felt something was wrong, but couldn't express your concerns and then end up being seen as jointly liable for it.

Things have been good here, managed some lovely bargains recently, including about 11 meals and three weeks of lunches for OH out of a £3 chicken however, I cannot make a stock that actually tastes of anything. Anyone fancy helping an utter idiot make a good stock - don't assume any knowledge, I cannot for the life of me work out where I'm going wrong!

mardatha

I can't make stock either jelly. Or gravy.

VJsmum

Ooh I have the opposite problem, my stocks taste too erm chickeny

I just chuck a carcass in a large pan, throw in an onion quartered (not peeled), some celery chopped a bit, some carrots not peeled but chopped a bit, the ends of the leeks (if I have any) or any rough old stuff I happen to have, a couple of garlic cloves and some herbs and then boil the [STRIKE]fu[/STRIKE] erm boil it alot. Pick the bones for any meat I missed and then strain the lot. I chuck the bones and the veg, but i know not everyone will chuck the veg.

HTH

Regarding the BBC story, I agree with you, GQ, just thought it was interesting

What else was i going to chip in with? Oh yes, shopping trolleys. I bought myself a cheapo £15 one in case I was too embarassed to use it. It seems I have no shame and it doesn't bother me in the slightest. I am a few months off the big 50 so not ancient and, like GQ, cannot see the point in lugging heavy bags and it means I can make the most of Home Barga!ns and £land deals. I have seen a groovy bright yellow vinyl trolley with a huuuuge smiley face on - regrettably it was in Paris and the shop was shut, but I am hoping to be there again in the summer so can't promise i won't grace Eurostar with a rather unusual souvenir!

I thought about using my cheapy one to cart the gear I'm going to need for Glastonbury but I have nowhere to store the trolley once the tent is up - from photos of past years there isn't room to swing the proverbial cat. I'm not even sure there'll be room for my Kelly Kettle.

maryb

My stock always used to be really dull until I started doing it per Gordon Ramsay's method. If you google Gordon Ramsay cooking videos, you'll find it. I think what makes the difference is adding garlic and thyme. I always used to add onion and celery, parsley etc but it never tasted as good as it does now

JellyBox

I used to have to lug trolleys filled with newspapers when I was a paper delivery girl, do they not kill your backs and shoulders?! I have a selection of differently sized backpacks to take me through all tasks, and certainly my big one is ideal for festivals and travelling, I've had over three stone in there before and still found it relatively comfortable to carry, even if I did have to prop it up on tables etc to get it on!

Also - back to stock. How long do you boil it for? I did basically what you said, but mine tasted of basically nothing. Is it perhaps because I strained it when cold? Did I maybe take out all the flavour somehow?!

maryb

I use a pressure cooker to do my stock and I usually give it about 50 minutes. That extracts all the goodness and calcium from the bones - they literally crumble. I think if you were doing it in an ordinary saucepan, you could do it on a very low heat for several hours. A slow cooker would probably be more fuel efficient, if you were doing it the slow way

elona

GQ

Have you thought of trying on freecycle for a fridge for supergran?