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

Cheapskate

Morning toughies, we're all shattered due to the heat, too, and our forecast says it'll be about 19 degrees overnight - that's near normal daytime temps for here, !!!!!!! :eek: I tend to open the windows wide early in the morning to let in cool air, then close them (or nearly) and pull on curtains to try and keep the cool in as the sun creeps around the house.

Sorry to hear of poorlies, especially in this weather, not much fun.

I've started the sea kelp, too, after all the good reports (sorry it's not working for you, Pooky) and someone's (MrsLW?) comment about it being half price in H&B - got the last 2 on the shelf! Will see if it's any help for my pathetic energy levels, and am trying to cut down on carbs as I know from experience that it really helps.

Try and keep cool today, hope any of you with vulnerable rellies or neighbours are happy that they're ok.

A xo

mardatha

I'm finding lowcarbing quite hard to stick to, although I lost 10 lbs the first fortnight - because I can't seem to find enough food that I like. Got "the Carbohydrate Addicts Diet" book and am thinking of trying that instead.
We've to get sun all day and a high of 22 here, magic

PRINCESSX87

Morning all,

I wondering what people's take is on this?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2367617/You-pay-youre-dead-What-tax-rebel-74-told-council-finally-gives-attempting-collect-arrears-lifetime.html

The reason i ask is that we're all worse off atm. But i really don't know how i feel about this. On the one hand, i agree fully with her that times are tough and their should be more help for people that needs it, But further down the page it states she has £16k of savings therefore - should she pay??

Interested on everyone's views?

[Deleted User]

MAR I'm trying it again and trying to keep the expense down at the same time. I found a big pack of sliced chicken offcuts (ready cooked) in I*eland for £1,75 which I've been having for breakfast with some big sliced tomatos at 39p a lb, lunch is tending to be salad, mostly home grown with either M&S cooked chicken leg or tinned tuna or hard boiled egg and ham, and supper will be protien of some kind, last night we had pan cooked cod in ham with courgette salad and some peas so I'm finding it relatively easy to do but, I think it is an easier plan to follow when it's as hot as it is now, without being hungry. It will most likely not be so easy in the colder months when you feel the need for substantial meals to keep warm. DD1 has lost nearly 5 stones in a year from being Paleo, she stuck rigidly to it for the first 9 months and now if she wants a potato occasionally or some rice she will have a small portion, doesn't do wheat though, if whe wants something carby she has oatcake or rye bread, but not much of either. She is maintaining her new weight very easily, never being more than 4 lbs either way so it can be done. Cheers Lyn xxx.

mardatha

Cheers MrsL, yes salads are ok when you're not hungry. My prob is nibbles lol - NO SWEETIES!

Mrs_Chip

I think nibbles on LC are easier than when on a low fat/calorie counting diet - I used to have peanuts, cubes of cheese, hard boiled eggs, salami sticks, cold frankfurters.... and the odd sugar-free boiled sweetie!

And in winter I used to make a huge dish of something akin to a pasta bake, using low carb penne pasta (Dreamfields, which was expensive but wonderful) and a meat sauce, any LC veg and mayo as the white sauce. With cheese on top and baked it was delicious, lasted me for days and very comforting. Similar to Cheeseburger Pie for the hardened LCers here!

Pooky

Morning all

Shegar - I took the tablets for three days, about an hour after the first one I started feeling uncomfortable and that built to really bad gripes for the next 4/5 hours, than began to wear off. It happened again the second day but I thought I'd persevere and tried again yesterday but no, they don't like me and I don't like them.

I've had several PMs for the remaining tabs do I'll pick a name at random later.

I can't do no/low carbs, it would make me target to a very swift end from any one of my family members (I'm not pleasant if I've not had my carbs). I cut out bread quite a while back, just the odd bit now and then (any form of yeast gives me dreadful indigestion). I just don't feel sated if I've not had my carbs.

Lovely day here, not to hot yet and a nice breeze. I'm off out for lunch with a friend, she needs to offload so I suggested a walk along the shoreline and a paddle whilst we chat then either a bag of chips on the harbour front or pop to one of the lovely fish restaurants (I love fish but DH is allergic so we don't have it in the house very often). Will be nice to have a break, DH isn't coping with the heat and isn't sleeping well so he's got his grump on. DD1 is here to take the brunt, but she's in a foul mood too so I'm glad I'm going out!

DD2 has work experience for the next 5 days, she's at a primary school. She was very nervous this morning but looked so lovely all dressed up smart.

maryb

I can't cope with low carb at all - by day 3 I feel life is just not worth living. Low fat gives me really bad joint pains. The 5:2 diet seems to work quite well for me but funnily enough I find it harder to do in this very hot weather even if I drink plenty.

But as it happens, I'm mainly eating grilled meat and salad because it's hot so not hugely calorific or carb heavy anyway:undecided

ginnyknit

I lost 7 stones on low carb several years ago and loved it,never eaten so well in my life. At the time I was a roving manager for a charity and spent my life on trains and buses but had so much energy it was ok. A butty shop near one of my shops did an avocado and bacon salad which I used to treat myself to and it was yummy till I realised I was allergic to avocado's huge migraines! I always carried a bag of dried apricots to munch if I was peckish. Have put a couple of stone back on through being at home so I might just try it again, of course in those days I was a very large lady but low carb was the only thing that ever worked for me.

savingqueen

Hi everyone,

You would have laughed with me this morn, trying to get thick suncream on 2 young boys who find it totally impossible to keep still with stripey cat (who thinks he is also a human boy) trying to join in much to boys' merriment and my annoyance! Suncream + fur - not a good idea!

Kid's last day today and I am still running around (in slow motion because of the heat!) getting last bits. DS9 has had a massive, sudden growth spurt and some shorts don't now fit so mission impossible yesterday to buy new. Found a couple of perfect pairs, he tried to try them on and they are way too small. He looked like a mini hulk! Great to see him finally filling out a bit, explains the massive appetite he has but now need to return said shorts. cross all limbs they have age 11 in stock! His sun/swim thingies (like longer swimming costumes) are way too tight and nowhere had any in his size, so will have to just keep applying the suncream on him

Just had a one to one meeting for my volunteer role, signed the volunteer agreement, had my photo taken for ID card, just need a new CRB and reference - also given a big folder to read through over the school hols. If I get everything this pm, fingers crossed then have Fri to pack, get cats to cattery etc, we are planning to leave super early Sat because we have a 6 hour drive with no air con :eek:

Off out this eve - my 2nd eve out this year to a celebration eve for my courses/training to be presented with certificates etc. need to try and get glammed up a bit whilst cooking tea.

Bit worried about my friend. Her disabled DH has been told he is "fit for work" (he really isn't) and taken off ESA immediately and has to apply for JSA which will take time to come through. They have 2 young children to feed and HB etc stops as well til new claim assessed. Their youngest child is full-time in Sept so my friend will be spending her last summer with the kids before she (hopefully) gets paid work job hunting otherwise they will loose benefits. We have out bathroom fund savings we could dip into to help tide them over but they are very proud and would need to be desperate to ask us. I want to get them some food shopping before we go away but don't know if they would want that/let me. What would you all do?

okey best get off to town

take care everyone
sq:)