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

savingqueen

Hello everyone, apologies if I miss any important posts, just a little bit frantic here:rotfl:

Kidcat - how are you love?
Cornishchick - sending hugs, just because.
Thinking of you both.

lowlights of last couple days: one friend has hurt her back and her OH has flu (hopefully just man flu, not sure). Another very dear friend is very poorly, she has been pushing herself too hard whilst ill and now is worst (nothing serious I should say). DS10 is being a pain, no other word it (although next door has plenty of alternatives for her daughter, hearing a lot lately and it is dreadful) and DS8 is struggling with school and friends, not helped by the change in routine etc.

highlights: carol service; lovely cuppa at a friend's house; able to help poorly friends out; lovely reactions from tiny gifts given out to people not expecting (like office ladies); able to buy a few bits for foodbank. Also went to school nativity as a friend's 2nd ticket person. My kids too old for it but one of hers who I am no 1 in line childcarer is and some other friends' kids and some I used to hear read. So very sweet. One child took a tumble, one dressed as a snowman, another as a tiger :eek: and Jospeh was doing some very groovy moves to the songs. Monna, I thought of you!

just been to a supermarche and fairly quiet.... so nice and unexpected. Need to hang washing, get casserole in SC, wrap some gifts (typed gits first!) and then a caf! meet up with another mate on way to school run. must dash....

SDG31000

Morning all


Kidcat I hope whatever was troubling you has been resolved. We are all thinking of you and wishing the best for you ((((((((((hugs)))))))))


I hope your mouth is feeling better mar

((((((((hugs)))))))))) and much love to everyone in need of it.


Well I'm stressing myself out again. Every year I say no more making presents for people and every year is the same. So far I have made a triple batch of choc orange shortbread dough and two lots of mince pie pastry and I've had enough already :eek:
DH has a stinking cold and looks like death reheated a dozen times, so I'm making him rest. Thankfully DS2 is being a darling and helping. So everyone has a jar of his epic hot chocolate mix to look forward to. Unfortunately he has used up all the chocolate I brought yesterday, so it looks like I have to brave the shops again today.


Still to make is whisky and Christmas spice popcorn, gingerbread reindeer, sweet and spicy nuts, pistachio and white choc spread, marshmallows, 2 fruit cakes and white choc and cranberry shortbread. Also the mince pies and shortbread still need baking.......someone please send me some kitchen elves to help.


Wish me luck please xxxx

kezlou

Sdg ouch that's a lot to do

The tree is up!!! Room has been completely cleaned and painted so its done for Christmas.
Ds2 picked the tree because the top of it looks like a cats tail lol

Totally skint but we enjoyed our weekend of cutting the tree, decorating it and having hot chocolate and cake at the garden centre. Still having finished Christmas shopping, but to be honest I'm not fussed. The children all have presents so I'm happy.

Made some Xmas decorations with bits of the Christmas tree, ds1 loves them, he's not into big lights and things. Ds2 is chuffed with the stickers and snow soar on the window. Amazing what joy £4 can bring to a child

Can't wait till Friday no more school who hoo
Know its sound daft as soon as 2pm comes we can walk out and breathe ahhhhhhhh


Mar ouch your tooth sounds awful

Possession don't rush into caring, trust me on this, it'd not easy and is so so stressful.
Instead focus on moving home and enjoying Christmas / winter holidays.
Take a fair amount of time to think about it.

When your the main carer everything is put on you and the responsibility is immense. Please don't feel obliged to take the role on.
I did that and more and ended up in an awful mental and physical state. Instead take your time and enjoy some down time.

SDG31000

The pistachio and white chocolate spread is a disaster. I've left with two mini jars of very expensive grainy sludge and a hand blender with a blown up motor. I only switched to the hand blender after my main blender started to smell like it was burning and that thing can handle ice cubes and making smoothies out of frozen fruit.
:mad: :mad: :mad:

Knit_Witch

SDG31000 wrote: »

The pistachio and white chocolate spread is a disaster. I've left with two mini jars of very expensive grainy sludge and a hand blender with a blown up motor. I only switched to the hand blender after my main blender started to smell like it was burning and that thing can handle ice cubes and making smoothies out of frozen fruit.
:mad: :mad: :mad:

Oh blimey! sorry about the blender and is there no way the spread can be salvaged? turned into something else?

SDG31000

Thanks Knit Witch.

DS2 and I are brainstorming ideas and trying to come up with ways of using it. I'm thinking as puff pastry twists like cheese straws, mixed into shortbread dough or using up yet more chocolate and making truffles. I'm just annoyed as pistachios cost so much and I feel like I have wasted them.

savingqueen

Lovely to hear about your tree kezlou and brilliant that your living room is ready in time for Christmas.


Oh no SDG! Don't be hard on yourself, stuff happens and if it tastes nice, it can be used for something else - truffles mmmmmmmmmm.


getting there with my Xmas stuff but only by the skin of my teeth - still have cards to finish so will do those eve and wrap gifts I am giving out tomorrow. My brain froze at the cashpoint and I entered 2 different wrong pins before suddenly remembering the one I have been using for ages. realised afterwards that the wrong pins were previous ones. Good job Christmas only comes once a year eh folks?

mardatha

Would it do as cake filling SDG?

Possession

SDG it sounds like it SHOULD be lovely so I'm sure it's salvageable. I'd be the same, pistachios aren't cheap. And while we're on the subject, somebody give me a slap. I have sooooo overspent my food budget this month. I keep seeing lovely things and thinking ooh the children would love those. Must stop! I'm currently baking a huge ham that was yellow stickered at 3.50 though so at least that's frugal.
I've got a nice 8 hrs' work from an old school friend so that will keep me going along with prepping for Christmas before the children finish school, and cleaning as the house has turned into a bit of a pit again.
Kez I hear what you're saying about caring. I will see my friend again this weekend but we're busy organising a party so I doubt there'll be time to talk about it. Her FIL would still have his morning and evening official carers though. If she does mention it I'll try to get a feel for what they actually want. I certainly haven't decided one way or another yet and as far as I know neither have they.
I can smell burning. That's probably not good from the point of view of the ham.

fuddle

I have a little bit of news. I am no longer a carer (or won't be in a few weeks). I have applied for, and successfully gained, the role of Care Coordinator for the company I work for. I will be office based but will still be delivering care in our community when I am on call... but no more 28 hour weekend shifts I will be on call every 3rd weekend and then filling in as opposed to wall to wall care.

I am about to wander into the realms of full time working mum and all the problems associated with it but my kiddlers are 11 and 7 next year. I am ready and very excited that I am about to wander back into a professional role.

I will need to be very organised, sort out Slow Cooker meals and make lunches for myself that won't mean putting on more weight with being desk bound! :eek: