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

Pooky

Morning all

Welcome to all our newbies!

DD1 arrived home at midnight from her jaunt to Edinburgh, so it's been a slow start this morning (I'm normally fast asleep by 10pm) Don't expect to see either DD until nearer lunch time. The joys of teenagers.

Need to do a freezer stock take today and make a meal plan up to start utilizing a bit more of it. Lots of veg needs using up too so will do a couple of big trays of roasted veg for soup/freezer. I think I have 20 packs of locally made, organic sausages in there...could be more and I know I have more to come this week. (A friend ordered a cut and is paying me in meat that she swaps with her friend for her HM cakes).

Started crocheting myself a new snood on Friday night, whizzing along with that and it should be finished this evening, comes from wool that someone gave me, a chunky soft purple, will look fab with my grey winter coat (if it ever gets cold enough to wear it!!)

Airthrey

I have one of the fold up bags in my jacket pocket which is fine as long as I'm wearing that jacket. Also have some cotton shoppers which live in the car and I'm now getting better at remembering to take them into the shops. I had a major op earlier this year and have to be careful not to try to carry too much - mustn't overpack the bags.

Jazee

All this talk of bags. I'm another who just has a small bin so use carrier and charity bags. I stood in the shop last night and watch while the assistant put my shopping in a carrier bag and it wasn't until I was back at the car I realised I had my proper bag over my arm. I'm not sure I was 'with-it' enough to drive, good job it's only a couple of minutes. I was so tired after a day spent gardening.

Anyway, just having a cuppa after an hour in the gym. The day started with rain, but it's sunny now so later I'll plant the rest of my bulbs.

kidcat

I keep shopping bags in the boot of all three cars which works until OH takes them out of the car he uses for work. It means I only use the plastic shop carriers when I walk over to the shops from school.
I mainly have jute bags now, but I still have a good few of the ads@ green fabric bags they were selling for £1 for four many years ago. I wash the bags regularly in the machine on cool cycle and it does seem to keep them all in good condition.

We are having dreadful amounts of fireworks, and one of our kitties is terrified, saying that the noise from last night's was so bad even the other two kitties were worried. Have got our feliway plug out and will be switching it on later to see if it helps. That's the problem with bonfire night being mid week I guess, it will spread over the whole week and two weekends. I really don't see why they aren't banned.
We usually by a small box with no noisy ones and just small pretty ones for the garden, but I would happily forego them to save the noise and distress every year.

For anyone with a Costco card the offer on beef I think ends today, but is well worth getting, I picked up a lovely piece of beef which I cut into two. Froze one and we had the other roasted yesterday, it was beautiful and no waste at all.

fuddle

We had a great deal of enjoyment with our fireworks last night. We were courteous and sensible. I too am one for pretty ones not the noisy ones and for that reason I am pleased they aren't banned. Living up North I saw an awful lot of antisocial behaviour due to firework/halloween season. Living here is completely different so I can understand why they aren't banned. Not everyone acts with disdain or disregard for others. It's the age old debate isn't it? Should the sensible ones be stopped from doing just because others choose to behave in a negative way.

I soaked the apples in boiling water monnagran but think scrubbing them should have done the trick :rotfl:

Unfortunately I suffered a very bad IBS flare last night. I was extremely worried and in an awful lot of pain. I used to associate them with stress but I am not stressed and haven't been like I used to be all year. It has to be diet related really. I will be watching closely.

When I sign off here I am going to look at changing over from chicken to turkey. It's leaner in fat and, I think, price. It's something I haven't really cooked with.

DH is out on a bike ride (bike is from cycle to work scheme) and I am doing a few chores. We'll regroup later, don our wellies and head for a walk along the beach on this dull, blustery day.

Have a good day all.

[Deleted User]

Ooooohhhhhh!!! we've just used my Tosco clubcard points with the boost double up thingy to buy me a new slow cooker!!! We collect it tomorrow afternoon from our local Tosco Express branch which is walkable and it's going to cost me £1.35p. Much better than buying a piece of cheese for Christmas with them and they were even listing some vouchers I didn't know I had which were still valid. I've been thinking my very old Tower Slow Cooker is taking longer and longer to cook things of late and used DD1s last week when I was up cat sitting and it cooks chunks of veg while in mine I have to slice into penny thickness and they still sometimes don't cook properly. I'm into the 21st century with this one I think and my old one is 1960s vintage, woohoo, I'm sadly excited, doesn't take a lot!!!

mardatha

Just showing face, been reading and you lot are keeping me cheerful and sane ... erm -ish.

[Deleted User]

Stop fibbing my little Scottish pal, we're all as batty as a box of frogs, I don't see any difference in you either!!!

chickens11

Welcome Airthery, I too have quite alot of plastic bags and use them for small bathroom bin, in the kitchen I have a large bin and like most other posters on here use a bundle for around a £1.........
I like Lyn and Kidcat keep jute bags in the car boot so where ever I go Ive always got shopping bags with me instead of having to pay 6p......
Ive had my jute bags for at least 4 years , they are wearing very well , when you think of the amount of shopping thats gone through them......

We have a sunny/cloudy day and very windy, it was a cool start and I had to put the heating on for the first hour , I may well light my open fire this afternoon , that will be the first time this winter, weather has been so good , and when you think back 20 odd year ago , we always had to put the heating on when the children went back to school from the summer holidays in September.........Children always went back to school in their winter coats.......
LYN...Well done on the nearly free slow cooker , that will come as a gift to you ....
FUDDLE ....Im like you sick to death of the fireworks already going off, my dog seems to run around the house and the walls barking with fear :eek:.....Why people have to start letting them off a week before bonfire night and 2 weeks after I dont know.......They are not what you call cheap....
POOKY ....I bought a lovely snood grom m&s a few year ago its lovely ,BUT the dam earings keep get caught in the wool :mad:....
My foot is healing nicely , still tender , I do put little pressure on heal then tip toe, I need to get this foot alot better as quick as pos cos I have other foot operated on November 24 th........So ive actually written off this year as im not going to be walking too far after having both feet operated on with in 5 weeks of each......Im gald its winter time as the anount of outside work is not as great as summer.......Ive got my MRI brain scan this coming saturday the 8 Nov and also got flue jab first thing morning........I hope you all have a peaceful Sunday catch you all later....Sheila

kidcat

Fuddle - if you have a wholesalers near by its worth looking into membership - I buy a huge turkey butterfly for Christmas that costs so much less than chicken. I cut it into sections, one half to be used over the Christmas period then the other side I cut into two huge sections to be used over the following couple of months. But its just as feasible to cut it into other sizes, likes chunks or slices and use instead of chicken.

Have had a mad sort out of the cupboard of doom - there is now three bags of shoes for recycling, one bag of coats and I can get the hoover back in there now

OH says weather is going to get very cold this week, so have loaded car for winter, blankets, drinks, umbrellas and portable DVD player - would have helped the day I got trapped on the motorway with the boys.

Someone has stolen the weights from all our tyres, its costing me a fortune, I had the big car redone this week and they were stolen the same night. So I have ordered CCTV and am waiting for it to arrive before having the wheels redone. But when thats sorted I plan on having the garage do a winter check on all the cars tyres.

ETA - sheila glad your foot is healing nicely, and that its not long till your scan