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

Pooky

Morning all,

My goodness it's a warm one! All the doors and windows open. Got 3 loads on the line already but not sure if I'll get any more dry, the sun doesn't get high enough to hit the washing line this time of year (which isn't normally an issue).

We won't be doing anything halloweeny, DD1 is still in Edinburgh with her BF, DD2 has outgrown the whole trick or treat thing and DH is off to play star gazing with his club this evening (at a castle so maybe there might be some ghosts lurking?? ) I shall be popping a sign on the door asking for no trick or treaters. We happily took part when the girls were younger as they loved to see all the costumes but there's plenty of other people in the village they can call on.

Lots of work to crack on with, housework is all done, YS brisket is in one of the SC and a rack of ribs from the depths of the freezer in the other with lots of sticky BBQ sauce. The brisket will get divided into 3 meals, sliced with mash and veg tomorrow, pie filling and shredded into a chilli. It was a bargain bit at £4 but if it will do 4 of us 3 meals then it's even more of a bargain.

savingqueen

Fuddle, those are brilliant ideas! I have nothing planned for tea tonight and we need something quick and easy as going trick and treating with DH after he gets home so those "fingers" are ideal. DS7 doesn't like hotdogs so will do a slightly different version for him.
We only go to houses that are obviously open to T&Ters. There is an unspoken code down our road and those nearby - if a house has decorations or a pumpkin outside, its fine to knock, if not you simply walk on. Everyone seems to adhere to this and actually it is a once in a year opportunity to be friendly with people you live by and don't usually talk to. No tricks are ever done either and if they were it would be a little kid waving a spider in front of an adult to "scare" them! Little groups of family and friends walk round and definitely nothing sinister or inappropriate goes on, it's very sociable.

Possession

LOL Fuddle I had to read your post again because I thought you were putting your hotdogs in the hedge which seemed rather wasteful and not very OS! I made those gloves thingys for a Halloween party DD had a couple of years ago, they were very popular.
Both of my children have halloween parties to go to 20 miles apart so I will be spending my evening driving them around. I would have liked to say DS couldn't go to the one 20 miles away (meanie mum that I am) but TBH he hardly ever sees friends from school and as this is a new friend I'd like him to go and socialise. The trouble with secondary school friends is there's such a big catchment area and they live far apart.
OS advice needed. I'm thinking of doing a couple of Christmas fairs near me. As well as doing snowman soup in cones, and possibly pots of gold and chocolate sleighs, I will also make fudge and peppermint creams. I could do reindeer food as I already have some little bags. Any other fairly frugal ideas? I'll also make some single cakes to sell just on the day, which need to be frugal but quite high impact. I'll make some of those lovely large meringues with colour swirled in them but what would be a good use of the egg yolks?

Pooky

Possession - check the fairs have availability before you get to much stock made up - I know that you have to book a year in advance for most of the ones round here.

Possession

There's a couple of charity ones which are advertising stalls on a local networking site Pooky.

Pooky

No idea on the egg yolks but how about cakes/biscuits in a jar - as in the dry ingredients with a pretty label on with instructions?

Cake pops?
Chocolate stirrers/spoons
Chocolate pizzas (I've made these before with the Lidleeeeee choccy, added smarties and grated white choccy on top as it was setting.

fuddle

Could you make candy canes Possession? My two go crazy for them and it's something I don't mind buying them - home made would be super.

Also how about home made dog biscuit treats as a pet gift for Christmas?

cornishchick

:rotfl: I'm proud to announce I'm below average :j
In my gas and electric use age
I received an email from British Gas telling me I was below average and it made me giggle.
Halloween . I'm working tonight, so no trick or treating for me. To much distress for my guys. They don't like the witches and stuff. So gate will be closed so no one can knock .

And it's another first so just need to get through it. Working seems the best way.

Possession Can you freeze the egg yolks for when you make the mini cakes?

How about also making paper Christmas decs, using old books, I did that last year, quick to make and look great. Just be careful on which book, I gave my uncle one and it had swear words clearly showing . Luckily he saw the funny side!:o

Working tonight as it needed covering at the last minute, so I did a deal. Ok, as long as you get my Sunday covered, which means I can go to my friends retro 60s party and stay out late .

Hugs to everyone , x CC

Possession

All good ideas, thanks. I will hear tonight if I have a stall and if I do I'll go into production mode. I have been quite down this week and it will be good to be busy again.

nuttyp

Hi all,finally I am home x. We are moving DD into her first house that she is part owner off with her fianc! and the local housing trust. It means she has a forever home and more importantly a house that is warm and safe. The rent/mortgage is less than a hundred pounds a week so compared to the local renting amounts its a bargain.


Re the homeless person, as most of you know I work in a bookmakers (gambling) shop. So I see another side to the homeless situation. We see a few and some become more memorable than others. To think that some of them pick drugs and drink over food and water has always amazed me. We offer free tea and coffee but we have to draw the line at just giving them away. We talk to the local police if we feel anyone is vulnerable, if we don't see someone for a few days we mention it too. They have a network of places they can contact, maybe speak to your local pcso ?? I did ask the police if we are ok to offer anything and he said a hot drink or food is ok but never cash as if they have an addiction your just funding that not helping. There is sometimes a lad in the shop doorway opposite, I give a free drink and sometimes a few biscuits. Other than that, and a smile and a hello - you ok????


I have nearly made my first felt decoration - it a set of mickey mouse Disney ears lol.


Will b e on later peeps, take care all x