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

mrsdwhite

Hi all :j
I'm a lurker on this thread, never posted until now. Feeling a bit fed up and thought I'd join if that's ok?
I invited my parents to stay with us over Chritmas as they never have before. Which is fine, but we run a pub and that means working Christmas Day, normally we are done by around 4:30/5pm and have the evening to ourselves but this year our illustrious leaders have said we have to open the evening as well. That was going to be ok as our deputy was going to have the daytime off with his kids and do the evening so that we could have the evening off with our dd and my parents. He handed his month notice in last night so now I have some serious organising to do :mad:

On the more positive side I'm pretty much done with Christmas presents, just need some little bits and I'm done. Not bad for the beginning of November, but pleased as well as I had a bit of a spendy half term so need to reign myself in to get back into budget!

Also, we had our first proper frost last night meaning I can finally start to use my parsnips from the allotment! Seems like a lifetime ago I sowed the seeds :T

the_cake

Welcome mrsdwhite! Glad you have come out of lurkdom. Your Christmas plans sound challenging - you seem very organised though. I think visitors like to be given (small?) tasks to do, it makes everyone feel involved, as though it's a team effort. I know I do this at our Christmas, even young visitors are given something and it makes for a good feeling by the time we sit down to eat. You just need to allocate carefully ... I don't let my sister get bossy and tell everyone where to sit, for instance!!
Softstuff - recipes, yes please, any that work well for you would be hugely appreciated, many thanks. The Shiraz sounds lovely, but it's a bit early at the moment - might pop back for it later though, thanks!

ginnyknit

Hello Soft stuff - :T:Tmortgage paid off - WOW!

Welcome mrsdwhite, everyone here is a kind soul and you will get lots of support.

Off to Mr T shortly to spend my sky voucher. I spent 2 hours doing n online shop the other night then found it wouldnt accept the flipping voucher :mad: So I has a list and will stick to it.

Nipped to argos last night to pick up a bedside cabinet for DD then I had to call in Hobbycraft, it would have been rude not too was very good and just bought some Scandi fabric - half price and 1 ball of wool, yes 1 ball Im so good :rotfl:

[Deleted User]

Cold has arrived in style SQ I'm very antisocial and spluttering and coughing like a good'un! Never mind, everyone else has had it so I'm just trying to be in the fashion!!! Going to try for a nap this afternoon after I've taken the hound for a stroll for a bit of fresh (and it is fresh out there today Brrrrr) air. Slow cooker stew is almost done which is much quicker than my old slow cooker and the kitchen smells lovely as there are lots of leeks in it. We'll have it for supper this evening as He Who Knows has just had some rolls for lunch, I'm so not hungry though but am enjoying hot drinks so more tea is in the offing very soon!!!

fuddle

Welcome back softstuff I have missed you and your recipes.

Welcome Mrsdwhite, looking forward to getting to know you better and joining in on the ups and downs... anyone who has the wits and energy to run a pub is a canny person, although I don't envy you!

Lyn so pleased your slow cooker is running to an acceptable time for you and can appreciate it's hard work. Enjoy your grub later, keep warm and keep ok. So many of us are dreary with this and that at the minute. Here's hoping that the colder weather with kill off some of the festering and thriving sniffle bugs!

Eldest DD is making scone based pizza at school so the children people will have that with a side of chicken pasta, DH and I will have a pizza from the freezer. We always have an emergency pizza in, just inase something happens and we can't get a meal prepped or cooked... tonight though, the emergency is laziness.

I am about to have a sneaky mid afternoon hot chocolate and rest before the school run and the evening chaos ensues

mcculloch29

Ivyleaf, I was a new Army wife who got the Katie Stewart book as she couldn't cook as well. I'm pretty sure we tried the corned beef recipe you mention. There was one involving corned beef and tomato ketchup in a sort of shepherd's pie too. I haven't bought corned beef for at least 10 years.
Hello again Softstuff, sorry you got messed around at work but at least you won't have the worry of returning to work as you recover from your op.
Loving the cookery book recollections. I wish I had the one that came with my Mum's Main gas cooker in the 1950s. That cooker was completely dismantled and cleaned weekly. When Mum died in 1991 it still looked about a year old, it was so pristine.

monnagran

Hang on to your hats. I'm about to have my first go at posting a picture of the Christmas Sockings I make. I may be some time.

x

monnagran

monnagran

Gosh they're very tiny. I'll get better. been sumooned downstairs. I'll be back.

Knit_Witch

They look cute though!