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

[Deleted User]

Evening Toughies, tried to post this morning and my computer ate it and said it couldn't find the internet so I've hijacked He Who Knows' now. Docky had his blood tests this morning and the receptionist didn't phone us to collect him, we checked at lunchtime and got a 'Oh yes, he's ready' but he is now out of phase and a bit confused, we all had to do afternoon walkies not just him and Dadi!!! Hope he settles tonight or it's another night on the sofa for me.

DD2 just rang and said was it OK to come home with the Zebra for a night tomorrow, she's visiting a friend who had her car written off in an accident a couple of weeks ago and has concussion so couldn't drive down to DD, so DD is coming to her. How could it not be OK? I asked her, and if we had got anything arranged it would have been put off directly, can't get enough of that Zebra, every day's a bonus!!!

Cold, damp and miserable here today, but then it's November so what else do I expect?

kezlou

Ah so glad to be home quick pop on before I have a soothing bath.

It was a bl%%dy salesmen at dads today.:mad::mad:
I answered the door and scared the carp out of him. Didn't even introduce himself. But he quickly got rid of the contract he had dad ready to sign for a 6k hearing aid!!

At first he tried to fob me off till I said I am his authority so no your obviously not a professional and you have no photo Id.

So they won't be bothering us anymore.
Dementia people coming tomorrow at 11am, so back to dad's tomorrow then birthday party at half four.

Back in a bit hope your all okay x

Softstuff

I'm angry on your behalf about the salesman Kezlou :mad:. I've always been in sales, but have refused to do anything immoral or to sell anything to people they didn't want. Believe it or not, you can be quite successful that way because people trust you and keep coming back.

You're all way ahead of me technology wise with these Karcher window doodads. My windows get an old facecloth and some soapy water (if they're lucky ).

I had a huge dose of luck here yesterday, won a voucher in a competition for an online shop. It's enough to get my MILs Christmas pressie, a bit of something for hubby and new trainers for me. I did a happy dance sitting down.

This luck offsets the bad luck I'm having finding suet. It's nigh on December and I have no pud or mincemeat done, let alone a chrimbob cake. You'd think I was asking for Alien Steaks the way the butchers here look at me.

kidcat

Softstuff wrote: »

I'm angry on your behalf about the salesman Kezlou :mad:. I've always been in sales, but have refused to do anything immoral or to sell anything to people they didn't want. Believe it or not, you can be quite successful that way because people trust you and keep coming back.

You're all way ahead of me technology wise with these Karcher window doodads. My windows get an old facecloth and some soapy water (if they're lucky ).

I had a huge dose of luck here yesterday, won a voucher in a competition for an online shop. It's enough to get my MILs Christmas pressie, a bit of something for hubby and new trainers for me. I did a happy dance sitting down.

This luck offsets the bad luck I'm having finding suet. It's nigh on December and I have no pud or mincemeat done, let alone a chrimbob cake. You'd think I was asking for Alien Steaks the way the butchers here look at me.

Would you like me to post you some? I can easily send it

Kez - well done

Mrslw - am so glad you are having a surprise zebra visit

Have been reading but not had a minute to post, DS10 has come home from school and is almost incoherent, I am worried he is heading for a breakdown so am keeping him off school tomorrow and will go in to have a chat, Then I think it will be a trip to the doctor to have him signed off while we try to get things sorted.

DD8 is home safely, has a nasty cut on her chin but is otherwise ok, was very relieved to have her home and check her over myself.
OH left for work at 3am and returned at 10.15pm, not in a good mood, possibly exacerbated by the visiting cat arriving home with him (she waits for his car) then while he was taking his shoes off she ate his dinner (well some of it!!) so he is in awful mood.

nuatha

Softstuff wrote: »

This luck offsets the bad luck I'm having finding suet. It's nigh on December and I have no pud or mincemeat done, let alone a chrimbob cake. You'd think I was asking for Alien Steaks the way the butchers here look at me.

Could you ask for the kidneys complete with fat? (Then ask them to mince the fat) Of course this only works if you can then use the beef kidney (kate and sidney pie?)

Mincemeat will work with grated butter - has a shorter shelf life and needs refrigeration
I haven't come across a Christmas cake that uses suet? (Or just - just, he says - post op fatigue etc?)

HTH
Back to lurking

savingqueen

Apologies to the professional and decent salespeople out there like softstuff but I have little time for most sales staff especially the door to door or phone ones. Too many people get drawn into paying for things they don't need and can't afford. I never forget a family friend many years ago who felt too embarrassed to say they didn't want a porch built. They were paying the loan arranged by the oh so helpful man for a few years after and really couldn't afford it.
PIL are incredibly naïve with money matters and got duped into putting a lot of money (from when they downsized in retirement) into a scheme to build holiday homes to rent out. They got a "free holiday" to visit the building site with free meals and drinks and the sales people were so lovely they couldn't possibly be anything but genuine could they??? The company kept asking for more money and PIL ran out eventually so they lost all the money they had put in. I won't tell you the figures but they are shocking - would have paid off our mortgage and done all the work we need doing on our house and still had change for at least one "free holiday"!!! DH did try and talk them out of it but they wouldn't listen.

Anyway sorry didn't mean to ramble on . Only meant to say thank goodness you were there kezlou. Your instincts were spot on.
:j re your comp win Softstuff.

Glad DD8 is ok and home safely kidcat. Yes keep DS10 off school until you get some answers. Hope he is calmer tomorrow and the school and docs are helpful. Hugs to you. Poor DH, such a long day and then the cat helping herself to his dinner, I would be fuming too.

I had a couple of hours rushing around after school run and then my lovely friend came over for lunch and a good chinwag. She needed to pop into town and I needed to collect prescriptions so we went together and she insisted on treating me to a new top in primy-ark. She bought one for herself for a night out and I was looking at the same in a different colour. I am so chuffed at her kindness and having something new to wear, so long since I even bought anything from the charity shop.

Better hit the sack, can't wait to snuggle down under the duvet.

Softstuff

Thanks for the offer Kidcat, but it's on the restricted list for customs here and can't be sent in. There are a couple of english importers that do it, but the cost is sky high with postage.

I hope your DS improves with some home time, there's something happened at school to disturb him so? I had a little giggle about your OHs dinner, that'll teach him to loiter.

Nuatha, the suet is for the pud and the mincemeat, I only mentioned the cake because it's another thing I haven't done! Though I wouldn't put it past me to to try putting it in there at the moment. It seems the issue we're having with butchers over here, is they're not really butchers. We asked at one place a week ago and they said to come back midweek, that's when they do "butchery". We went back and were greeted with "oh no, there's never any suet". I think most things are chopped up and cleaned elsewhere before they ever get round here.

Thanks for the tip with butter, it may come to that yet. I do hope to find suet though, because often I don't get through a batch of mincemeat and with suet it's good a year on in the cupboard. Besides I 'd like to have a bit left over for some suet dumplings and a lovely jam roly poly I know you can do those with butter too, but it just isn't the same.

No need to apologise to me SQ, I can't stand that kind of sales. And I've turned down jobs that were that way. It's a good job I'm frugal because principals can be expensive (I'm unemployed right now!) :rotfl:

nursemaggie

So many problems for everyone commiserations for all problems.

kezlou If your dad has no money no one can make him pay for anything he can't pay for. If he does have any money the law is still on his side as he cannot be said to have agreed to due to his mental condition. It would probably be a good idea to get power of attorney. The people coming tomorrow will hopefully advise about that.

Kidcat pity DH did not strangle that cat. I probably would have. It did not ought to be lawful to keep someone at work that long. I am sure it is against the law. I fail to see what a school has to gain by treating your children the way they do. I think I would be going to a higher authority.

Lyn any extra time with grandchildren is wonderful. For some of us chance would be a fine thing. I hope Docky is not too confused. The vets should know better.

Our financial situation seems to get worse. I have had a bill for a further £250 council tax, where do they expect me to get the money from with both of us living on £150 a week? That is just one of a long line of extra bills and now broadband is going up.

Broadband is both DS and mine only social contact. If we have to give it up we may as well go to bed and die.

softstuff yay to winning the competition. Do they have a different name for suet in Aus? I would ask around neighbours or even on here as there are lots of Assies around.

Softstuff

nursemaggie wrote: »

softstuff yay to winning the competition. Do they have a different name for suet in Aus? I would ask around neighbours or even on here as there are lots of Assies around.

No, it's just suet. It's not popular here at all, I generally do the great suet hunt at the end of October, but am very late this year thanks to the op. You can buy a "suet mix" in the supermarket, but it isn't like Atora, it's mixed with flour. Which makes it entirely unsuitable for fruit mincemeat (so I found out 7 years ago when I tried it ) and also very hard to calculate my favourite recipes otherwise. I'll find it, it's just a matter of messing around until I do and it's never the same place twice (apparently it's easier to find where there are more English folks, but that's no where near here!).

Sorry to hear of your council tax bill. I sometimes think the way bills go up councils and companies think we all have a note printing press at home.

nuatha

Softstuff wrote: »

Nuatha, the suet is for the pud and the mincemeat, I only mentioned the cake because it's another thing I haven't done!

Well, its not like you haven't had other things on your plate.
I'm well behind this year - cake is usually made 31st October (pud is made 1st Feb) but neither have happened yet this year.

Though I wouldn't put it past me to to try putting it in there at the moment. It seems the issue we're having with butchers over here, is they're not really butchers. We asked at one place a week ago and they said to come back midweek, that's when they do "butchery". We went back and were greeted with "oh no, there's never any suet". I think most things are chopped up and cleaned elsewhere before they ever get round here.

That's an increasingly common problem round here. At the other end of the scale are a butchers that regard shin beef as best casserole steak (at fillet prices). I've managed to get real suet by ordering whole kidneys (untrimmed) hence the suggestion.

Thanks for the tip with butter, it may come to that yet. I do hope to find suet though, because often I don't get through a batch of mincemeat and with suet it's good a year on in the cupboard.

I'm not making mincemeat this year - I need to dent the stocks from making too much over the last three years

Besides I 'd like to have a bit left over for some suet dumplings and a lovely jam roly poly I know you can do those with butter too, but it just isn't the same.

It isn't. Though I was pleasantly surprised by the texture of the bacon pudding from the Cheap Family Recipes site which uses oil.