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

savingqueen

sounds like you need a hug too FairyP, you are so determined you will get through - stubbornness has its uses (I should know!) but don't forget to treat yourself extra kindly and make some down time a priority however busy you are. Lovely to hear about your kitty, I love the RS song.


Princess, don't be hard on yourself, its Sat morning and you've already cleaned the kitchen which is more than I have done! FairyP's suggestion is a good one - you are in control of what you say and do and if you don't want to talk about something you DON'T have to, simple as that. Change the subject and if that doesn't work develop a tickle in your throat that needs a drink or some other little thing, distraction is another technique. If you feel yourself getting angry, a few mins in the loo to breathe slowly helps me. Or a sudden need to make an urgent phone call, check the car is locked or similar so you can have some space.
sq x

[Deleted User]

I popped into the local town this morning and our EARLY LEARNING CENTRE had a closing down sale on. I don't know if it's just us or if the whole chain are closing but it might be worth a visit as they had some 50% reductions on which would help birthday/christmas presents in the coming year.

FairyPrincessk

Thanks for the hugs. I've had a nice day, spent the morning with kitty, tidying etc. and then went into town. Have bought a pattern and fabric to make myself a dress. It is ambitious as I haven't made something like this in years, but doable and ensures that in the coming weeks I always have a project to hand when I have a few hours to myself.

Thanks for the elc tip, Mrs. LW. Will check it out for pressies for niece and nephew.

mcculloch29

I checked about the Early Learning Centres closing; almost all will go by next year - just 27 will be left.
That's a shame.
When I was a childminder I loved their selection of books and art materials, but then The Works opened and that was it, basically for those two. The other things I liked were the selection of role - play toys, cheap outdoor toys and musical instruments.
I can remember at one point they wouldn't sell Barbies, then a few years later there she was...

I've just discovered a Jocasta Innes cookbook that I didn't know existed, Eatability. I have both her The Paupers' Cookbook and The New Paupers' Cookbook.
It didn't come up on an initial search in Am@zon, but I checked our County Library online catalogue for Jocasta's books and there it was. I looked again on Am@zon and bought a copy for 1p, (£2.80 postage). Paid for with survey vouchers. Result!

paidinchickens

Morning

For those that don't know it's another free listing weekend so get sorting!

PiC x

fuddle

The only Jocasta Innes I know was an interior designer - same lady?

Beautiful weekend. The Southen sun is different to Northern and I k ow I sound like I've lost it completely now but honestly, it is! Everything is bright, really bright. I've never known spring so lovely.

I'm just having my break at home (girls are out exploring with dad) and found DH has finished redecorating the kitchen it's so crisp and clean now. We're well on the way to getting a home now

One of my ladys is struggling to pay her rent as her housing benefit has been cut and has fallen victim to bedroom tax. She's also got a Atos (is that it?) meeting coming up that she needs me to take her too. I won't go into her medical needs but there's no way this lady can work. I'm seeing first hand the horror that these measures are causing to genuine claimants who have had a change in circumstances and now need help. She's put into the systems believing that it would prop her up should she need it instead its forcing her to seek council housing and cut the care she needs. I'm going to spend some time this week trying to educate myself in order to help her - you know what the rediculus thing is? That she has medical evidence that she has a progressive disease... Can TPTB in the world of benefit access medical information and if so, why can't this info be enough without making needy people jump through hoops?!

Ok, calm. Er, we're now national trust members so can get free access and parking on days out. We live just down the road from a NT place so we've now got somewhere to go when I have a longer break on a weekend so I can get some family time in when my weekends are taken with the job.

DH is making a chicken dinner and typing this has reminded me to tell him to keep some chicken for the planned curry tomorrow evening!

I do hope those of you who were struggling yesterday have found some strength and happiness today.

[Deleted User]

Yes, Jocasta Innes wrote recipe books too,the first Paupers Cook Book was better than the revised one for me, I'd like to get my hands on another copy, my first one wore out and fell to pieces!!! It really is a wonderful day down here isn't it? I sat out in the garden this morning and had my coffee and He Who Knows has been in the greenhouse potting seeds and has planted the first of this years produce in the polytunnel, the peas had 100% germination and they're in against the netting so hopefully we'll have an early crop. I've got the first globe artichoke head showing now and 4 pink noses of asparagus in the bed we planted a couple of years ago Mmmmmm yummy!!! We picked the first of the early rhubarb too last night and I've made 2 crumbles with it today.

FUDDLE well done on your National Trust membership, it will give you no end of lovely places to visit wherever you go and free entry (I know you've paid the membership fee) is great. If you take your picnic with you you'll have super days out for the whole year, enjoy! That poor lady, thank goodness there are people like you in the system and in her life to help share the burden and make changes if you can, go thet Fuddle!!! Lyn xxx.

FairyPrincessk

Afternoon all,

Lovely day here. MIL and FIL came for breakfast. They also *think* maggie is a girl but say she is a bit ambiguous. Guess we'll have to ask the vetty person with whom she is soon to become acquainted. Shhh. She doesn't know about that yet! She was brought several presents of new toys.

One of their relatives has recently passed away after an illness. The situation is perhaps unusual in some ways and they're working to clear the house as the nearest relatives. They asked us round today to see if there was anything we could use, otherwise it will go to charity. We've come away with some lovely things and it will be nice to put them to use. Unfortunately I didn't know her well, but from what I gather she was full of life and had a soft spot for animals and various charities. I think she'd like to know her things were going to good homes. She also had a number of plants but I thought some of her friends and neighbours might like to have those but I've offered to re-home them if no one else would like them. While no one seemed to be attached to her saucepans I thought some might have given her the plants or remembered them and want them. She didn't have many close friends or family, and I'm afraid MIL and FIL are at a bit of a loss about what to do with much of the day to day stuff.

However, among the things is a brand-new pressure cooker. It didn't have a booklet with it. I'm having a look online to see what i can find, but any suggestions in the mean time? I know they're brilliant for cooking dried legumes but not sure what else I can do with it. Oh wise ones of OS, tell me what you know!

[Deleted User]

FPK perhaps they could offer the best of the everyday stuff to a local homeless shelter or womens refuge? or if they are on Freecycle/Freegle offer it there it's amazing what people will find a use for. Pressure cookers are so useful and you can make most things in them at a fraction of the time and fuel costs of conventional cooking. Try your local library for a book of pressure cooker recipes and have a look in your local charity shops, M&S did a very good book some years ago which I have seen several times in boot fairs and I have a copy of it on my shelf too 'All Colour Pressure Cookery'!!! If you contact the manufacturer they will most likely be able to send you the instruction manual for your model and you can get spare parts for them at hardware stores. The most likely thing to wear is the rubber seal in the lid so whenever you wash it up, dry it thoroughly and oil it with a tiny bit of cooking oil this will protect it and it will last longer. I've got a Good Housekeeping book with a chapter on different types of pressure cooker and how to use them and if yours is a Prestige High Dome I've got the actual user booklet, He Who Knows says we can scan either or both and send them to you if that would be useful, let me know, Lyn xxx

FairyPrincessk

Thanks Lyn--it isn't that particular model, but it is currently available to buy new on-line, so I will contact the company and look into some recipe books for it.

I know they are thinking of offering some of the furniture to a hospice, but will mention the shelter idea as well. Some of it is in poor condition, but some of it is quite lovely but just not suitable for anyone she knew. There is a lovely dining room set, but it is huge--might be nice for a shelter if they have the space!
OH and I have offered to go round and pack up things that are obvious--i.e. the stacks of paperbacks can be boxed/bagged for c.s. etc. but she was quite a collector and also had her mum's things as well so the sheer volume of it is taking its toll!