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

mcculloch29

Nutty, SQ and Molly, thoughts with you all. Tough stuff to deal with.

Ginny, argh!
Thank you for the Aldi voucher reminder, just about to brave the rain to get mine. The heavens opened half an hour ago, I'm hoping it will ease off.
I feel a bit guilty as it's the only time I go in our local corner shop now, i.e. once a month to get two copies of the Mirror. There was a time I was in there up to 2 or 3 times daily (when I was childminding).

Are any of you devotees of Heron Foods or Farmfoods?
I started a thread on these two stores - I use our Heron quite a lot. Some things are cheaper in Aldi (stuffing for example) but Heron wins on many (18 Oxos £1, Aunt Bessie's / Bisto gravy £1).
I have put in links to the offers pages of both Heron and Farmfoods.

I haven't started a thread in ages so it would be nice to see this one succeed. No pressure!

monnagran

I'm mid-magazine writing so have to visit you all for a bit of relief.
Thinking of you Nutty. Hope all has gone well.

You must be very worried Molly but stay strong. I loved your quote.

SQ: Hope you are feeling better today and that the headache has shifted.

The sun is out here but the sky is quite dark. Strange. I successfully fed my 70 people yesterday but it really does take it out of me these days, It didn't help that the church boiler had given up and we had no hot water for washing up. We dragged a large urn in only to find that it wasn't working either. We ended up boiling numerous kettles and pans of water on the cooker. A dishwasher is on order but knowing that only makes it worse!

A bit of help please. We have just had our new leather sofas and reclining chair delivered. Gorgeously comfortable and I'm sure that I will soon get used to the room looking darker ( our previous furniture was cream - decoratively beautiful but impractical). Now, how do I look after it? I've seen various leather polishes on offer but I'm sure one of you will be able to point me in the right direction.

Back to the salt mine.

x

[Deleted User]

Our old big Co-Op Store closed 5 weeks ago and today Waitrose opened a lovely shiny new store in the building. I went for a look round and I am actually pleasantly surprised at the prices of some, by all means not all, of the produce available. I think you have to be canny as their essentials tinned kidney beans were 80p as opposed to my normal Aldi ones at 29p but I got a huge bag of spinach for £2, 500g frozen blueberries for £2.20 and a bottle each of red and white cooking wine at £1.15p each. I think I couldn't shop there for all my needs but for some things it will make sense. Some things I just can't get other than in Waitrose, they do Porcini Mushroom Stock Cubes which are expensive but make such a difference to the flavour of mushroom based dishes and I've never seen them on sale in another supermarket. I will find when they do their YS reductions and time my visits to coincide with that as that would make more things affordable. We also have an Iceland next door to it so I can pop in there for less expensive basics too.

mcculloch29

Oooh lucky you, Lyn. I like Waitrose for weird stuff and my nearest one is 30 miles away. Someone did suggest it would be good if one opened nearer but nae chance of that, given that it couldn't make a go in Durham City which is quite well-heeled, specialist bread shops, posh cafes and antique dealers on every other corner.

mcculloch29

Leather polish for furniture.
I have used baby wipes and unloved body lotions /creams for many years on mine, with success. I did buy leather polish but frankly, it was just the same result.
I maintain my shoes, belts and bags in the same way, real shoe polish goes on them once a blue moon.

Edit, got my A!di vouchers and got soaked on the way back. Lots of cakes on 30 / 50 % discount this time, slightly disappointed. I went earlier than I usually do, and there were only a few copies of the Mirror left. Word has clearly got out.

fuddle

Durham is chocka block full of supermarkets and lower priced stores at every turn. Durham centre is horrible to drive through and horrible to park and where Waitrose car park is... Ergh, icky! You know yourself M, folks in Durham aren't generally made of money and those that have are more canny than I think we give credit for northerners eh?

In comparison I find the mileage from supermarket to supermarket is quite hefty doon South and that has surprised me. I have found my nearest Aldi but that is in Poole and still quite a trek compared to what I am used to up North.

Waitrose is fab for special occasions and everything I have bought in there has been super quality but I could never do my full shop in there. Waitrose is the only shop that I have managed to get reduced items in. Membership needed Lyn to get your free tea/coffee when you do nip in for something

Monnagran must catch up!!! Our leather sofas are about 7 year old and still look as good as the day we bought them (give or take Alfie's scratches where he would jump up to nose out the window!) I have never treat the leather (I know!) but do have leather cleaning wipes to clean it but its not too often. Enjoy your new bottom rests

[Deleted User]

Already have my card for that FUDDLE but didn't even consider trying for coffee today, all the world and his wife were in there having a look round and drinking free coffee. I'll have a cup next time I'm in there when the newness has worn off a little.

D&DD

Is it just me that's waiting patiently to see if Ginny's put the bacon in the right place lol.. aw shame you aren't down here my eldest has just started work in an opticians!


Fuddle,I'm confused..I know you mentioned Swanage the other day and I thought you were away for the day *I did think it was rather a long day trip!!* but think I have fathomed out now you've moved are you down south with us now???

Floss

Wonder how Nuttyp has got on?

D&DD

Hopefully it's not been too stressful for her Floss I don't know how many tests she was having? Fingers crossed all has gone well Nutty XX


Molly good luck with your op too XX


Princess I'm still puffing away on my electronic ones and it's not ideal but seems healthier,definately less smelly and soooo much cheaper!!!