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

thriftmonster

Shegar - I don't have anything against DDs where the amount is fixed - for example I pay our rates that way. But our electricity amounts seem to be picked by a leprechaun at random - they're usually miles too high and then we build up a credit balance and then they slash them so far it's not enough. No amount of ringing them seems to hit a middle balance. So I decided to work out the gas one myself and just put the money away.

Sounds like a great sports day Stiltwalker. Work today till 3 and then carry on getting ready to go to England on Sarurday - a week with my parents:D

Pooky

Morning all

Mrs LW - Wow, Zebras almost sitting up? Where's that time gone. Glad you enjoyed your visit.

Kez - Sorry to hear about your Dads diagnosis x

Stilty - Yay to sports day tears, for all the right reasons Hope Miss Stilty has relinquished her claim over the paper cut

Shegar - Great savings there - we phone s-ky on a regular basis to see what they can change our package too. This time round there was nothing they could do to get it cheaper so we cancelled the tv and just have the broadband and phone line (which we've got on half price for another 6 months anyway)....They'd chucked the TV in cheap last time but it was due to go back to full price mid month so it's gone. I do like to play them at their own game.

Our Solar pannels have been amazing and this quarters electric was £28 (but the ruddy standing charge was £21!!!!) We've found a slightly cheaper tarriff which should save another £60 a year so have switched, every little helps.

Had a lovely visit from my parents yesterday, we were so busy chatting and drinking tea we didn't notice it was gone 6pm (Dad likes to leave by 4.30pm as he doesn't like the rush hour traffic)....oh well, they missed the traffic the other way round instead

Mr A's for supplies this morning, accompanying DD2 to drop CV's off and then back to crack on with some work....had some more orders in last night so need to get my thinking cap on.

VJsmum

stiltwalker wrote: »

Another busy week here at chez stilty - I managed to step up my role with the parent carer forum at the beginning of the week, obviously didn't sit on my hands quick enough - lol, but I'm actually pretty excited about it - already had a little success with something I've asked for from county so feeling pretty good about it. Had 3 meeting yesterday - OT about the stairlift, a steering committee meeting and then someone from the HA for a new tenancy meeting. Today we picked up the new car so DH is pretty excited!! and then it was sports day this afternoon. DD was in 3 races - the first was the reception sprint - we were kind of, uhh?? DD in her walker?? Well she lined up with the others - then set off with her TA on one side and her class teacher on the other urging her on and the entire school - pupils, teachers, TAs, a few random dinner ladies and pretty much every parent there cheering her on as she trundled down the field coming triumphantly, and very definitely by a long way, last in the race but definitely the biggest winner of the day - I was so glad of the sunglasses to hide the leaking eyes! I am so in awe of my little lass, she really is something else entirely.


Tomorrow I'm at school for TA interviews followed by a different OT and physio for small boy and Friday I'm off to a strategic planning workshop for converting statements to the new EHC plans .... and you know, some people say I don't work!!!


Catch you all later - X

Ooh dear, I think I have "something in my eye". How fabulous :T

[Deleted User]

I think that my little Zebra is an OS child, why? because when you think of the eyewatering amounts of money that are spent on toys and entertainments that are thought must haves for any small enfant these days, what he discovered yesterday was the noise that Opas newspaper made when he turned the pages. I was trying to give him a bottle at the time and couldn't keep him from turning his little head round to see what it was. When he's finished his milk Opa gave him a supplemental piece of the paper and the joy that can be had by a 6 month old just crumpling a page of newspaper for the noise it made has to be seen to be believed, much enjoyment and much laughing all round. The moral of this is ....... buy your grandchild a newspaper because it's apparently much more fun than a rocking horse!!!

fuddle

Feeling immense pride of loved one eh? Cannot beat that feeling. Well done little miss

Only 30 mins work this afternoon and I am thrilled to be honest. Been a bit hectic this week. I just have to hope that all carers are in work and that my phone doesn't go to to get me to cover. One of the negative sides of zero hours - the 'on call' expectation during availability hours.

So the plan is, if all goes well, to clean floors and window sills, do a little ironing, get a wash load on and hang (glorious today), wash the car, crochet, read and chill out a little.

DH didn't catch a thing last night. Never mind. Tea is chicken. Going to cook with left over streaky bacon, some cheddar and a few bits of parsley. I'll do garlic mushrooms and salad leaves (cut and come again from garden) and a few boiled potatoes.

Missing not having elderflower cordial now so will look into some water infusing recipes later on.

fuddle

6 months old! How did that happen!

When I think of the plastic sh*te I had with 9 year old Lyn I despair. Absolutely no need. Part of me wishes I was a new mum now, now that I've changed. I would have been totally different. Never mind. They are still both good kiddies and thankfully see the outdoors as their playground so not gone too wrong thankfully.

Zebra obviously knows that the £25 rabbit with crinkly ears is not at all needed because Opa has paper... wait till he rips it to pieces eh? Cannat rip £25 rabbits up

[Deleted User]

FUDDLE you can make cordials from lots of other things than just elderflowers, you can make syrups that you dilute in the same way from whatever summer fruits are cheapest or in glut at the time. Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, rhubarb, rosehips in the autumn all make a lovely soft drink. It's very easy to do and you can freeze them in smaller plastic bottles to keep them for longer.

Fruit Cordial

minimum 3 lbs of fruit
1/4 pint of water for every 3 lbs of fruit
6 oz of sugar for each pint of juice from the above

put the fruit in a pan with the water and cook gently until the fruit is completely broken down and pulpy. Put the whole lot through a jelly bag, measure the resulting juice and put it in a pan with 6 oz of sugar for every pint of juice then bring it to the boil, stirring until the sugar is dissolved and simmer it very gently for 15 minutes. Leave to cool, bottle and freeze excess (remember to leave an expansion space for the liquid to increase in size as it freezes) and keep the defrosted bottles in the fridge when you're using them. Dilute to your own taste to use as a soft drink or they're lovely poured over ice cream or sponge puddings.


FUDDLE when he gets to the ripping up stage with newspaper we'll teach him to make papier mache and make something with that for him to play with!!!

silvasava

Just popped in to say I made Mrs L's Rhubarb Breakfast Jam with the glut that I had. VERY tangy - just how I like it (hugs pots - mine, mine, mine)
Thanks Lyn :kisses:

kezlou

Stilty just had tears in my eyes, such an amazing lillye hirl xx

Mrs L 6 months already, way to fast.

Pooky honestly the diagnosis is a blessing. Just feel like huge weight has been lifted. He's less tired, much happier and explains so much. My dad is now fully retired from work, so the past hes finally slept in his bed instead of the sofa. Hes smiling and laughing, enjoying being a grandad. So wonderful to see

nuttyp

Morning all, I have exciting news. I am going to be a nanny!!!! Eldest DD's fianc! called last night to talk to me, he is getting them a dog - jack Russell size dog its 9 weeks old. When DD comes home from work tomorrow night he will be there. I am so excited, I miss my mr ben so much he has been gone 2 and half years, where does the time go?
I have been and bought a toy and a bed from wilcos in the sale of course, for it. He is going to be called RATCHET, can you tell my SIL works in a garage!!!
Had a traumatic night at work, a man who was in his 30's was clutching his chest and went red then a dark purple. So I had to call an ambulance, paramedics arrived and he was epileptic and had a bad sezuire earlier on so then got him settled and then took him to hospital. I have a real phobia of someone being sick.
I ended up closing the shop half an hour earlier, just had to much to do and I wanted 5 mins to recover from the shock and have a coffee in piece and quiet.


Fuddle I remember all the fangle dangle toys that all babies should have, needless to say I bought some but others are stupid money. What amazes me is baby proof containers to put your ipad or iphone in.

Well done miss stilty, its nice that all the school accept and admire all that she is achieving. well done to them for being so supportive




Mrs LW omg, 6 months old. Time flies by so fast doesn't it.
Take care all x x x