'supporting each other through really tough times'

GreyQueen

:think: Hmmmm, I was thinking Easter Island for Nursie; small, in the middle of nowhere, colourful local history (inc cannibalism) and some really large statues to dust.............?

Went to Wilkos today and took advantage of their half-price seeds and got 9 pkts for £3. Well pleased. I have even got some cabbages, which I don't normally bother with because of the voracious cabbage white butterflies (or rather their caterpillars) and the ravening woodpigeons.

Howsomever, a coupla weeks ago, I'm sure I heard a snippet on t'radio about how the butterflies were in trouble, and even cabbage whites are reduced in numbers. I admit I grinned evilly at the prospect of fewer of the bliddy things, but I have seen them at pestilential proportions in the past few years.

Experimentation has revealed that even chickens won't eat their caterpillars, and that's saying something, given what they will eat.

Haven't been lottiewards today as it's raining on and off and I felt a bit weary and didn't fancy it. Have attended to the dark arts of domesticity, washed my mane and shopped. Have made out like a bandit and am about to cook a huge vat of chilli which should see me fed for the next few days.

And I have so many good books on the go that I barely know which way to turn. Why are weekends only two days long, please? It's nowhere near long enough.

Hokay, hope everyone is having a good evening. GQ xx

Fuddle, as per Mrs LW, Nursie is available for hire. She used to be one of the Hereford Hooligans, IYKWIM. Until she was discharged for being too dangerous.

[Deleted User]

GQ we've had quite a few Brimstone's around in the woody bits and across the common for the last week or so since it's been that bit warmer and you know what Moomin says ' If the first butterfly of the year that you see is a yellow one, it will be a good summer!!!' so here's hopeing he's correct, Cheers Lyn xxx.

GreyQueen

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

GQ we've had quite a few Brimstone's around in the woody bits and across the common for the last week or so since it's been that bit warmer and you know what Moomin says ' If the first butterfly of the year that you see is a yellow one, it will be a good summer!!!' so here's hopeing he's correct, Cheers Lyn xxx.

Many moons ago, I returned to my lodging house and my landlady, her toddler and her cat were sitting on the front step enjoying the spring sunshine.

LL to toddler; "Look! The first butterfly!

Child looks and smiles delightedly.

<< cat jumps forward, snatches butterfly in midflight and crunches it down right in front of our eyes>>

Toddler: "Wahhhhh!!!!!!!"

It's a funny ole world, innit?

[Deleted User]

Not if you're the first butterfly of spring it would appear!!!!! aren't cats clever?

kidcat

Fuddle - you can get by without microsoft office - there is a freebie - open office which is fine or you can even use google docs which is free with google.
If you are looking at cheapie internet access type machine you can pick up a google chrome book for a reasonable price.

Mrs_Chip

Hi Everyone!

Just popping in to say hello after a very long break - I read now and again, sorry everyone seems to be having troubles of one sort or another.

Fuddle - no need to buy Msoft Word/Office etc - download OpenOffice, which is just like the Msoft Office suite, just a few things different enough to make it legal. It is quite bona fide, it's open source,. which means free and for everyone to use and develop, and you can save docs in Word format so that anyone using Word can read them - it really annoys me when PC shops try to sell Msoft products when there are just as good free on the net.

Business going ok, but a number of van related big bills wiped out our entire profit for the year so quite disenchanted. OH is doing alot of volunteer driving for which he gets motor mileage and that keeps the wolf from the door - just! We will give it this year and if we cannot make any money we will give it up and do something else.

Hope you are all managing one way or another, it seems nothing has changed economy wise, apart from for the worse, so I am sure all your OS ways are being stretched to the max..

kidcat

Mrs C - I was only thinking of you this week - am so glad you have posted.

So sorry you lost your profits - but last year was your first year of trading so I guess it was never gonna be brilliant, awful though for the amount of work you both put it. Hopefully we will get a better summer this year and business will improve.
I know its becoming fashionable here at the moment to have a party with a catering van who serves fish and chips - loads of weddings and baptisms I heae are doing just that.

Possession

Hello Mrs C, nice to hear from you. I sympathise with the van - it was needing to get our heater renewed and 2 breakdowns which put us in the same position. Best of luck to you both.

[Deleted User]

Hello MRS CHIP, I was wondering how you were too, so lovely to hear from you again!!! Sorry you've had some problems to sort out and fix, hope this season is a much better one for you. It was you who had the car disaster in the car park wasn't it? I hope that is all sorted out as well, stay with us, we missed you, Cheers Lyn xxx.

GreyQueen

:T Great to "see" you again, Mrs Chip, people were wondering how you were. Sorry that the biz has been a bit rocky and here's hoping that the coming months (and coming years) will be better.

I have just assembled what will be a huge pot of chili con carne which will feed me for the week. Apologies to proper cooks in advance in case this isn't a proper recipe but the 6-7 or so large portions in there cost out as following;

500g best beef mince £2.20
2 tins tomatoes .40
2 tins kidney beans .32
1 tube puree .29
huge onion .05
misc peppers (est) .40
teasp chili powder (est) .01
1 grated carrot .05
some leftover oats .05

Total £3.77.

The reason for the estimates is that I spent a £1 yesterday at Magic Greengrocer and one lot of my 3 for £1 was six huge onions and I used one of the six. Another was some peppers and I got some more peppers today (and carrots) among another £1's worth. The chili powder was bought by the pkt when J Graves was closing down and was very cheap. The leftover oats were about 3 dessertspoonfuls left after my breakfast portion and I wanted them gone as I want to wash and reload the oats container with a fresh pkt. After letting it air-dry overnight.

I don't like mixing old and new in a containers and always like to wash them up between refills. Mum brung me up not to do that.

I'll add greens and other things to eat with my chili as I go thru the week and may freeze some.