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

ArthriticOldThing

Another favourite recipe of my sons was OH's Corned Beef Hash. He made it with sliced potatoes, sliced onions and corned beef (cut really thinly and spread out). When times were extremely tough he would cut down on the corned beef and add butter beans. Layer the lot in a casserole dish, finish with potatoes on top, add beef stock (from cubes) and bake in over for hour or so til top layer of potato is brown and crispy. can be served on its own or with veg on side.

Most of my frugal dishes are also better in cold weather. A lot came from my mum and involved suet; such as: dumplings with any type of stew and leek puddings, bacon roll - my sons liked this so much the oldest once brought his Spanish girlfriend home specially to taste it.:rotfl: Suet pastry can also make delicious sweet things like jam roly poly and spotted !!!!!! (with raisins or currants).

Last month I needed to have a conversation with HMRC about underpayment of tax and once they understood my financial situation they were very helpful. I was terrified when I got the letter in case they were going to demand immediate payment or a high repayment plan but I got lots of support from everyone on here and need not have worried. So take the plunge and talk to them fuddle. Its better than worrying.

Its lovely to have the support and advice from everyone on here. Wish it had been available while I was bring up two boys with hollow legs on my husband's pension.

Now its time I put the breadmaker on again.

savingqueen

Morning all,

Deep breaths FairyPrincess, everything will be ok in the long term, just get through today as calmly as you can and let us know how you get on at the docs later. Will be thinking of you.

I am enjoying reading the tales of getting through hard times - not enjoying that you had those hard times of course! Despite all the family stuff I have going on, I am so grateful to my parents for providing us with everything we needed as children, we never went hungry and although parts of the house were cold (outside loo for a few years until it got enclosed in a very basic DIY leanto for example) we had plenty of clothes, blankets etc to keep warm. I understand and appreciate much more now how difficult things were bringing up children in the 70s on a factory wage in London.

Talking of family, I received some sad news last night. A very short and to the point text from my sister to inform me a very elderly uncle had a massive stroke and died shortly after. I hadn't seen as much of our uncle (cousin actually but always uncle I guess due to big age difference) in last few years, always at the big family occasions but happy memories from childhood, he was a larger than life Cockney "geezer", always ready to joke and tease everyone but a gent underneath.

Its not only the news in itself its the contact with my wider family that always hurts, I feel excluded from them all. I am not sure I will be able to attend the funeral with the kids off school and my 2 brilliant friends who would have had the boys away on holiday/visiting family soon. My uncle was the person geographically closest to me and if my mum and sister come down for the funeral they will only be a couple of miles away.

Anyway I can't get down with the kids at home and too much to do so brave face on. More laundry to do and rain forecast later so need to get the next load on line. Promised to take boys to park too so some fresh air will clear my head.

Still haven't caught up with many posts, will try if I can. Onwards and upwards everyone, all for one and one for all.

sq:)

kezlou

morning all!!!!!!!!!

Had a lovely listening to the rain. So peaceful

Its still raining now, so ds2 is already looking for his wellies so we can go jumping in the puddles and dancing in the rain

fairy princess take a deep breath hun and let it out slowly,take one thing at a time. Light a candle put on dusty springfield her album "breakfast in bed" is amazing or joni mitchells "blue", close your eyes and relax.

sq so sorry to hear about your uncle hun xxxx

princess the MIL is a witch, what an awful woman :mad::mad:

Fuddle Oh snap thats what i did for OH's birthday lemon curd cake, when it cool a little drizzled loads of icing of it. the heat of the cake made the icing melt it was soo lush. We then had ice cream and custard with it
Love the idea of the fish banners xx


OH is dropping me off at my friends house and picking another friend and daughter up to take to her house too. Saves us the taxi fare there
I know sound awful, shes appears to be a lovely woman and her kids are cute. Shes called me a friend already, but i take a while trusting people. Luckily shes the same! We met a very close mutual friend who house were going to today.

Well better drag ds1 out of the bath so OH can get in.

FairyPrincessk

Big hugs SQ. I hope you can sort something out if you do want to attend, but if not, I know your Uncle knows you will be thinking of him and with him in spirit.

Thanks for the thoughts, test booked in for Thursday afternoon. Been out for a quick and damp look in the garden and have found my first radish, a bit puny, but it has calmed me down and reminded me of all that is steady and comforting in life.

[Deleted User]

FPK when you're there at the surgery this afternoon, when you're waiting to hear about your uni affairs, when you're dealing with the faceless bureaucracy of immigration departments and anything else that makes you feel stressed and distressed know that we are with you, holding you in a circle of care, holding you dear and soothing your fears. It also applies to everyone else who feels unsettled and fearful. We are a family, and it's what we do best is try to hold each others problems for a little respite to the sufferer. Never feel alone and afraid, always there will be folks who care for you and care about you because you are part of this wonderfully eclectic gathering of diverse souls in the OS world, love and hugs Lyn xxx.

FairyPrincessk

Thank you Lyn. You are so right. It was being on this forum that gave me the kick to go ahead and book the test--it is what I would tell any one of you to do, and I feel much better for having done it.

Kez, I've gone for Billy Holiday, might do Joni Mitchell's Blue next. I don't have the Dusty Springfield, but I'll keep my eye out for it. OH gave me a vinyl player for my birthday so I could hunt down records in Charity shops.

Right I have cleared my desk and will get some work done and pop in later.

jem132

Fairy princess dh has got the very basic of phones but was meeting with his supervisor at his job so was going to email it with him but he's phoned in sick for 2 weeks. Arhhhhhh. I've emailed it but don't think they will accept it.

Good luck at the surgery.

Have fun kez

It's bloody freezing time for warming foods me thinks mmmmmm

Could I have your recipes for lemon curd cake please that myte chear dh up when he comes home to a nice warm tea and pudding xx

nuttyp

Well ive just done my first attempt at the lemon curd cake, I made the mistake of opening the oven door to early. It has a sunken middle . It will still taste the same ?? First load of washing is on, and ive had a quick hoover.

My mum is going on holiday with my sil and the 3 kids today, my brother cant afford to have a week off work so my mum is going to help. At the weekend my brother is going for the day to see them. As an added surprise they have invited another lady and her 3 children to stay a couple of nights. They weren't able to afford a holiday so its a nice jesture for the kids. I think they are brave 6 kids all in the same caravan!!

Must get some work done....

elona

Savingqueen

I am so sorry about your uncle and hugs to everyone having a worrying time.

FPK
Sending positive vibes for officialdom etc.

I came down with DH's cold last night and felt horrible. Came downstairs to make three breakfasts (none for me), did a massive pile of dishes and made huge pot of potato and leek soup. Also have pizza dough in breadmaker for pizza whirls for lunch (no time to make ordinary dough). Was just about to put my feet up with a hot drink when youngest asked what was for lunch and when I told her she started objecting we were going to be having that at the weekend as well etc etc. My throat hurt too much to snap that she could do her own cooking or was perfectly welcome to go out in the rain herself for something as I am not setting foot outside today!!! So I just suggested (very maturely - not) that I throw it in the bin :mad: and and stomped upstairs with a hot drink .

Might just turn it into garlic bread instead and then make more dough for rolls later if I feel more up to it. Should have made the ungrateful so and so's beans on toast or egg but running low on bread and eggs and wanted to manage on what we have, more fool me.

Hugs to all and have stopped feeling fed up and got at.

mrsmortenharket

FairyPrincessk wrote: »

I too like this thread because I don't have to pretend. I don't feel I need to make out that I'm trying for a delux lifestyle, but nor do I feel I have to apologize for the luxuries that we do have and how fortunate we are. I like that the members cheer for the good times and help out through the bad.


Right time for bed. Hugs to any who need them.x

I lurk on this thread & love it x