The OS Doorstep - a helpful and supportive thread in these tough times

savingqueen

Morning campers,

Glad the kitties are ok and you got out in the sun kez.
Well done Mrs Chip and Ms Pooky.

Ginny - Nurse SQ prescribes plenty of armchair rest and soaks in the bath. Not enough exercise my arris!

Stilty - take it easy love, get well soon.

A grey and chilly day today but more sun forecast tomorrow so am staying in today, well other than school runs and going to the gym this afternoon. Washing can wait until the sun comes out!

Another work blow for DH, he has a meeting today about pensions. Basically the final salary scheme is being scrapped in line with so many other places I know. Before we get the finer details, all we know is we will get less pension later, sigh. The pension was the big thing keeping DH motivated in the job as it is getting more and more stressful there. Our joint pension arrangements are woefully inadequate as it is as DH started his very late and I haven't paid into one since I became a mum. Still as long as DH keeps his job, we will manage. Well even if he doesn't we will also manage. I might enjoy a bit (a lot!) of moaning but I will not let us be defeated.

Our council now turn off the street lights in the early hours to save money. Green side of it is good but not sure about the safety aspect - we are a big town and the roads are full of unmended pot holes (more cuts) not the mention the crime rate aspect of it. They are building on lots of green spaces too which means more people, less green space and more pressure on local services. Ok rant over...

Happier thoughts... kids are happy, DS7 ok with school again and cats are snuggled and cosy. I am sitting here with the "emergency biscuits" (sticks out tongue to the healthy eating plan this morning!) and a large cuppa with my oversized dressing gown on. Will potter round plumping cushions and arranging flowers before heading off for a round of golf, some light luncheon and a stint in the spa.... the nanny can collect the kids. In the REAL world I will try and shift some clutter, do dishes, sort clean laundry and some other equally boring chores... my life is non-stop glamour

take care
sq

[Deleted User]

Morning Toughies, overcast here today and cooler than yesterday by a long way but, not actually cold. I did the early morning walkies today as He Who Knows has gone off to annoy the local fish population at the country club pond a couple of miles away and I didn't even need gloves. Not nearly as pleasant to be out in as the last weekend though!!!

FUDDLE I'd opt for fresh meat over frozen every time as you can see what you're getting, I always wonder with uniform frozen squares just how much injected water they contain, which makes the initial price cheaper for what looks like the same amount of meat but when defrosted you might end up with half that weight being liquid so not the bargain it seems. I'd try it once and see how it compares with the fresh you're used to when you've defrosted it.

GINNY it's no wonder your blood pressure is higher with your workload and responsibility levels is it? My friend and fellow dog walker has just been put on medication and she's the least likely candidate for high blood pressure I've ever seen, she's 5 ft 1", size 10 and takes a heck of a lot of exercise every day and eats really healthily too. Still, it's one of those things that are better dealt with than left isn't it?

Have yourselves a good one everybody, Lyn xxx.

kidcat

Ginny - put your feet up

SQ - if its not one thing its another it seems for your poor DH, hopefully the news wont be so bad today

I have had my electricity statement and its bad, very very very bad. It seems my suspicion last week that the drier is not working properly is very much a reality, the bill for the quarter is almost £500, its usually £220 so its a massive shock. Since we moved here I have dropped my weekly meter reads, due to the drop we had in utilities. Have a man booked to look at drier today, but if he says its going to be expensive to fix then I am chasing him and ordering a new one.
Whilst summer is coming and most washing can dry outside, neither of the boys will use towels not dried in the drier. They both will simply refuse to wash etc so its just not worth the arguments of not having the drier.

Have got to seriously cut our usage down for the rest of the year, so I will be digging our electricity monitor out later today.

Pooky

Morning all

Grey and gloomy here today and the sea fog keeps rolling in and out . Hey ho.

I've just given DDs rooms a good going over, my goodness they can hoard clutter....I've left big piles of stuff to sort with post it notes on and they won't be allowed anything electronically gadgety on until it's all sorted!

Whilst I was in the dejunking mood I emptied my larder and gave everything a good wipe down and reorganise, got a carrier bag full of stuff to chuck, a few sauces we don't like, the last of the couscous mountain (I don't think I'll ever be able to eat couscous again) and a few baking bits that have been open way to long.

I haven't made an AF order for quite a while and I'm determined not to until more of the stuff is used up. 23 bottles of peppered mayo should last quite a while though

The cubed beef from F@rm foods is lovely, it makes a lovely substantial chilli. The one I tried from Mr As was really manky and very gristly (could have just been that pack but I wasn't willing to try again).

ETA - ouch Kidkat, that is high!

CC - if you're reading, I hope everything's ok?

fuddle

Mr A is the stuff I was thinking about. I will stay clear. You have both confirmed my thoughts.

Kidcat if you do end up buying a dryer I would advise spending a little more on it and opting for a sensor dry. Remember we saved for one when we moved? I had my eye on one and did my research. The one we have senses when the load is dry and knocks off automatically. I was skeptical at first as dont like being told how much as I tend to think marketing/consumerism/brainwash when being tight and making my own mind up is suffice but my drying times are considerably lower with this machine - plus its a condenser so not one bit of moisture in the air (and will be used to water the grass - although nothing delicate as I suspect there will still be washing powder residue in there)

Edit: has anyone looked at A Girl Called Jacks recipe book as yet? Im wondering if its good wholesome home cooked food i.e. nothing too different or exciting (Im hoping not as were mince and dumpling eaters )? Is it worth a reserve at the library to suss it out?

kidcat

Thanks fuddle- our dryer now is a condensor and I looked yesterday at possible replacements and had settled on sensor this time, still hoping its a cheap fix rather than replacement, but my head is saying I may be better just biting the bullet.
I think McCulloch is trying the Jack recipe book - she has posted a few reviews of recipes she has tried.

Still waiting on the repairman and am not impressed with the service - I have called for a time update and been told they have no idea and cannot get hold of him to ask or even cancel. I have to go out to collect DS15 in one hour, if they call while I am out they will have to come back or leave it. I did explain when I booked that I only have a couple of hours in due to various school runs etc and the woman promised he would be here late morning, no later than 1pm.

cutestkids

FUDDLE I have A girl called Jacks cookbook, it is very much things that are easy to both source and make. There are lots of vegetarian recipes and good breads and soups as well. many of the recipes would be very easy to adapt to what you had in as well so not too rigid.

maryb

Kidcat, my lot also hate line dried towels but I find that if I chuck them in the drier for 10 minutes with a wet microfibre cloth they fluff up well enough to meet their standards and it saves quite a bit. I'm drying on the line already but as our garden doesn't get much sun until later in the spring, when the sun is higher in the sky, they don't dry completely even after they've been out all day so I have to finish them in the dryer. But the saving is worth the faffing around

kidcat

mary - in the summer I manage to get them part dry then finish in the drier, but my garden is still blinking a disaster area after the rain and winds, its still sodden and a mud bath. Really need some good dry weather to soak all the water up.

Possession

I hear you Kidcat. I shall be so glad when I stop sinking into the mud when I go into my back garden.