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

ivyleaf

Thank you greenbee We'll definitely call them next time we can smell gas, in that case! I'd thought the CO detectors were sufficient.

[Deleted User]

Morning Toughies, the lurcha has his ping back this morning after being very restless yesterday and uncomfortable enough to keep changing position and moving from chair to floor every few minutes. He's a tough old bird however and this morning seems to be fixed so has gone off for walkies quite happy! It's grey and cool here this morning and we're due some very heavy showers later in the day so I'll be finding jobs to do in the house. We cleaned the ovens yesterday and they look so much better, I've some ironing (I know!!! sorry) to do and I'll continue with soaking and cooking stored beans for the freezer. I've come to the conclusion that all I'll keep as 'dry' pulses on a regular basis are lentils both red and continental as I seem to use them fairly quickly and they don't need any soaking or preparation, but any beans I buy will be soaked, cooked and then frozen as I buy them. I hate the problems that beasties bring and having them ready to use after batch cooking will save fuel too.
Going to cut another batch of asparagus today and I've got some globe artichokes ready to cut too, delicious with H/M vinaigrette to dip into and I'll be making another batch of rhubarb 'Breakfast' jam to go into the store as we've got lots on the lottie.

FUDDLE hope you've just been a busy bee as usual but aware we haven't heard from you for a while and hoping all is well and it's just lack of time, Lyn xxx.

kidcat

Morning toughies - so glad to hear the lurcha is back bouncing

We have an empty living room!! Whoop whoop! Took us four hours dismantling the sofas, then another four to clear the room, but it is done, now just waiting on carpets to arrive this morning, I can move some stuff back then, ready for sofas arriving this evening.
Having done all this the rest of the house is destroyed, but its made me really think about all the mums etc at school who every year are changing carpets and sofas etc?? Are they mad? Besides the cost I mean the work, who on earth would choose this mess and work regularly.

After today I have to start getting DS15 birthday organised, its two weeks away and I have done nothing yet, so mad rush to get everything listed tomorrow and ordered on pay day Friday

Shegar - hope all is ok with you and that your sister is coping with her treatments

savingqueen

greenbee wrote: »

SQ - just to be clear, Carbon Monoxide detectors will NOT detect gas leaks. Gas has a stenching agent added to it (it is naturally odourless) so that you can smell it if there is a problem.

If you think you can smell gas call the national gas emergency number 0800 111 999 (this is not your supplier). Often small leaks don't cause a problem due to the level of ventilation, but can build up e.g. while you are on holiday.

Open windows/doors, don't do anything that could cause a spark, and if possible switch off your gas at the meter.

We once thought there was a gas leak in our street - it turned out that our boiler was failing to burn the gas and so instead of exhaust gasses going out of the flue it was unused gas... but it smelled in the street long before we could smell it in the house.

Thanks greenbee for your really useful post. I knew that the CO alarms don't detect gas but what I didn't know was you can buy separate gas detectors. Seen a gas detector on amyzoom for around a tenner and am going to order one today. I have been known to leave gas rings on which isn't difficult with dodgy knobs and my sense of smell is often poor with my allergies. Good time to remind us all to check batteries in smoke alarms too.

Well done on clearing your living room kidcat, what a job!! Our whole house needs new flooring, only money stopping us but come to think of it, it would be a nightmare clearing any room in our house for new carpets/flooring other kitchen or bathroom.

You always sound so organised and productive Mrs LW, good on yer! Glad our doggy friend is bouncier today

I am not feeling particuarly bouncy, posh cat woke me up very early and I couldn't get back to sleep. The rascal!! I also have a stiff neck and shoulders again on waking, not sure why.

maryb

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

Morning Toughies, the lurcha has his ping back this morning after being very restless yesterday and uncomfortable enough to keep changing position and moving from chair to floor every few minutes. He's a tough old bird however and this morning seems to be fixed so has gone off for walkies quite happy! It's grey and cool here this morning and we're due some very heavy showers later in the day so I'll be finding jobs to do in the house. We cleaned the ovens yesterday and they look so much better, I've some ironing (I know!!! sorry) to do and I'll continue with soaking and cooking stored beans for the freezer. I've come to the conclusion that all I'll keep as 'dry' pulses on a regular basis are lentils both red and continental as I seem to use them fairly quickly and they don't need any soaking or preparation, but any beans I buy will be soaked, cooked and then frozen as I buy them. I hate the problems that beasties bring and having them ready to use after batch cooking will save fuel too.
Going to cut another batch of asparagus today and I've got some globe artichokes ready to cut too, delicious with H/M vinaigrette to dip into and I'll be making another batch of rhubarb 'Breakfast' jam to go into the store as we've got lots on the lottie.

FUDDLE hope you've just been a busy bee as usual but aware we haven't heard from you for a while and hoping all is well and it's just lack of time, Lyn xxx.

Mrs L why don't you can them then they don't use any electricity to store (and they won't go off in a power cut) and they'll be usable straightaway without defrosting. Because I happen to recall that you got a pressure canner didn't you?

have a look here at Memory Girl's blog (LOVE that blog)

http://mortgagefreeinthree.com/2013/06/canned-chickpeas-3-5p-per-jar/

[Deleted User]

True Mary and I'll have to get it out of the store and read the instructions. What I haven't got currently is enough small kilner jars for the right sized portions for the two of us. I've got plenty of bigger ones but find these days that we don't finish off what's in them before they go off. I'll hie me off to the hardware store and buy some little ones, you are right, no electricity means worry free storage doesn't it? Just off to make my Breakfast Jam as the rhubarb on the lottie is a veritable forest at the moment and I can't keep up with eating the amount He Who Knows brings home whenever he visits the lottie!!! Lyn xxx.

shegar

KIDCAT....I appreciate you asking after my sister and I.......Sis starts her treatment on May 8 , so hopefully all will be okay with her , such a worry really though, you just never know , some people get breast cancer and the treatment works and they get the all clear , but some others it goes else where in the body , we just dont know , but hoping for the best ..........

.I had a mamogram 2 weeks ago and im waiting on results , as I also have 2 lumps on the right breast exactly same as my sisters ..........

One good thing is my sinuses are improving , im 4 weeks post op and I was told it takes up to 6 weeks for the maximum benefit, my nose use to drip alot , but thats all stopped now, I also had polyps removed, my 2 stitches are fallen out of my nose , and I go back to hospital May 8 to see the surgeon.........Still a wee bit blocked up at times, but much better .......
KIDCAT.....I bet your glad youve cleared the room out , and its not something you have to do each year...Thankfully I dont like too much furniture and ornaments so I could empty a room with in 10 minuets if we had to , sofas are bulky and heavy arnt they ..?.....We had to take the huge window out to get the sofas in when we bought them.......

LYN..... Glad your lovely lurch is doing well........

OH is what SS call in respite still, they are still doing the paperwork...:eek:...Its only took them near on 5 months , but I just refuse to get stressed about it cos it plays hell with my own health , wears me down mentally......

Ive got 2 hedgehogs that live under the summer house , and they come out every evening just as it gets dark, im so wishing that ive got a male and a female , so they breed , would love to see some little hoglets running about...:D...Theyve got expensive tastes , mealworms ..........ha ha ...My garden is looking lovely all the perennials growing really fast , so is the grass.......Nice to see all the trees in leaf too......

MOLLY....Hope your head op went okay, perhaps you have posted but ive missed it. .....
Hope your all well.....Sheila..

Pooky

Nice to hear from you Sheila - glad you're on the mend - I love hegehogs - we get a few through the garden here, I made sure we made gaps in the fences for them when we moved in. I love hearing them snuffle around.


Kidkat - carpet and sofas look fab....we got the same sofas before Christmas and they are brilliant - as they are modular I move them about a lot so they get even wear, the cat hairs stick well but they get hovered every morning. Just don't lie back too far, with a lap quilt.....you'll be asleep before you know it!


Been running around like a loon most of the morning, did some work this afternoon and then off to be photographers assistant to DD1 in the woods. Left DH at home as it was far too muddy for his wheelchair. He managed to remember to put the potatoes in the oven for tea (just jackets) and picked some leaves from the greenhouse for a salad. Little steps like that really please him (and me).


Off for a slump on the sofa with my jimjams and crochet hook as I'm whacked....didn't help that I had (what seemed like) all the cats in the world on the bed half the night, purring, snorting, farting and chasing mice in their dreams!

kidcat

Shegar lovely to hear you are getting better, sending good wishes for your sisters treatment

Pooky - I can't believe you have the same sofas, what are the odds??

Carpet was late, sofas early!! But all went smoothly, thankfully. Now we have the job of moving the rest of the furniture back in this week, but I would like to do it slowly and give myself chance to think about where things will go.

DS15 did a two hour taster for his college course this evening, he loved the course, but they spent half an hour social time in the canteen and he just sat alone. Was heartbreaking to hear. Am going to speak to the college about maybe arranging a day for him and a couple of the other course people to attend again.

mcculloch29

Good wishes to your sister Shegar. My sis needed a mammogram last week, she is a breast cancer survivor and had been experiencing some severe pain.
She needed a co-codamol before the mammogram to deal with the pain the mammogram would cause her already tender bust, felt completely zonked and numbed from the knees down.

When she told her consultant that she couldn't feel her lower legs he burst out laughing and said 'That wasn't the end of the body we were aiming for.'

The great news is that the mammogram showed nothing untoward, pain put down to possible infection.

A friend popped in unexpectedly late afternoon which was great. Luckily I'd planned something that literally takes 5 minutes to put together from scratch for tea and we were able to enjoy a restful cuppa and chat too.
What the something was, was this:

Liver and bacon stuffing topped casserole:

1 lb defrosted lamb's liver bits from Heron
250 g - 500g cooking bacon (I used value back today that needed using up)
Packet of sage and onion stuffing.
Made up stock or gravy mix, to cover meats
2 finely sliced onions, if liked. (Optional)
Layer liver, bacon and onions in small casserole. Cover with gravy/stock. Make up the stuffing and layer on top.
Cook for approx 1 hour at 150 deg C. Serve with mash and veg.
Serves four.