'supporting each other through really tough times'

GreyQueen

Glad you've had a lovely day fuddle, you deserve it.

I've been buying Lidl fruit and veg for years and can say that I have never noticed it to be in any way inferior to any other supermarket's veg, in appearance or lastingness (not sure that's a word, but it'll have to do).

And it can be very reasonable. They have a small selection of specials every week, typically about 3-4 ultra-reduced items such as whole cucumbers down to 29p. Last week they had sweet potato on special but that's not one of my thangs. Bananas are always 68p/1lb.

What I find these days is that you have to discard the idea that some of us had (inc me) that certain stores are to be filed in boxes labelled Dear, Medium or Cheap. It varies so much on the day and the price differentials aren't a couple of pence either, they can be 50p/£1 each item. It can really stack up over time.

Getting the groceries in at a reasonable price is an artform in these strange times. Gawd knows what anyone would make of my shopping habits, as I shop most days, for a very few things, and seemingly at random. It all makes sense when you get it into the kitchen.

Right, that's it for a while, better see if supper's done. GQ xx

kidcat

Evening toughies

Well done peanut it sounds as though you have a lovely project

Fuddle - we used to have l!dl, ald!, and all the others in a circle just by our last house and I used to go to them all one day a week - I preferred the quality of l!dls fruit and veg to ald!s as I felt it lasted longer.

Mrs LW I am so behind with any planting, but until my garden is finished I really cant be planting anything at all

ITs been a busy day here today and DS9 is still home from school, after all the shenanigans last night to source his antibiotics it was far too late to get any more than one dose done last night before bed. Today he is worse so I will be keeping him home t omorrow as well.

DS14 was at his neuro assessment again this afternoon and while there I got to chat with his case worker - they have apparently discussed him at their team meeting and are now proposing medication, they say his anxieties are getting worse, he hasnt benefited from therapy at all, in fact he is worse, add in that he doesnt sleep and cant communicate with people properly. So we have to think about it before our appointment.

I can see why he needs it and understand the points but I have to say I am gutted at the idea of drugging him, and feel I have seriously failed him. We took him out of school to help him and yet he is now much worse. She said today she felt that if we hadnt taken him from school he would have harmed himself and been even worse, but it doesnt feel like that.

Monnagran - you do realise a holiday is supposed to be a time to relax and rest and you dont have to keep busy?
I do hope you have a wonderful time - you really do deserve a break.

Oldtractor - well done, it sounds as though you are certainly making the best of a not so good situation:)

monnagran

Kidcat. I'm behind with my planting too. Well, not so much behind as not even started yet. I have some seeds sprouting in the greenhouse, but they are not mine! Going on holiday in May, just when little sprouty things need a lot of TLC, is not such a good idea. I don't have anyone I like to impose on enough to keep everything going. Anyway, I will start when I get back and I'll be eating runner beans in November when everyone else has finished theirs.
As to my holiday, if you could see the dozens of books I have stored up on my Kindle and the amount of music on MP3 player you would realise that sitting on the balcony playing with crochet hook and wool is as energetic as it gets.

Fuddle: Get that application in pronto. It could be the answer to prayer.

x

[Deleted User]

MONNAGRAN I'm still eating flippin runner beans in Springtime - you should see how many we still have left in the freezer - Dont do it!!!!!! Have a lovely holiday and take it easy, you work too hard!!! Cheers Lyn xxx.

fuddle

I'm after some help again

I'm off to see my old boss, retired head teacher, on Friday. I'm very nervous (respect thing, he was my boss and male and I looked up to him) although he knows this and will take the whittle out of my scattiness.

I would like to take a cake, enough to taste yummy but not something that is heavy on ingredients. I though carrot cake but when I looked it was going to turn out quite expensive.

Any ideas?

Peanut2013

Well when I say camper van, it's actually currently just a van. Lol. But once it's clean it has room for an airbed and a travel cot, and the 3 of us are away!

The plan is to eventually convert it into a proper camper with sink, hob, bed etc. Will be years before we get there, but for now we need to get it driving. We tried to drive it home but got a whole 8 miles (woo) before it finally went pop. Lol. OH is like a small child, he's wanted one forever

He has however been banned from touching it until he finishes LO's cot (was a carpenter before becoming a mechanic)

The_Dragon

Why not some muffins? If you did something like orange and lemon ones

JellyBox

For all those eating runner beans they don't want - send them my way :P I LOVE runner beans, could eat them every single day! I have to settle for shop bought ones as I have no garden :P

Hope you've all been able to enjoy the sun today I have been "shopping" with some friends, had a meal out, all you can eat Chinese, not too expensive, and has done me for the whole day, so not too bad. The week's food shop has also cost less than £10, really not sure what OH will eat this week, but I have a freezerful to get through!

kidcat

fuddle which recipe carrot cake are you using?

I have been using the hairy bikers diet one and its gorgeous and isnt costing huge amounts either.
Otherwise I dont think you can beat a sandwich cake - I personally prefer coffee flavoured but I know lots of people love lemon cakes too

fuddle

From BBC good food website kidcat. I do like a lemon drizzle but my cake of choice would probably be coffee and walnut. Ill look into that today. I've never managed to make a nice Victoria sponge. I know, it's the easiest if the lot but always out heavy.

List as long as my arm of chores today. Going to try making tagliatelle with hm carbonara later. Wish me luck!

Also going to do a bloomer. I haven't. Made bread since I moved. Garlic bread but not daily bread.

Hav a lovely day