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

nuttyp

Morning everyone, had to be up really early today as DD needed to be at the market to start work on the flower stall. All the little old ladies like her as she has a little chat with them.

OH has been attempting so see about our week away in Oct, not looking good so far. Even looking at lateish deals looks like it will be a no goer. So we may emulsion the lounge, see an exciting life here too!!

My cushion being made from a curtain sample are coming along slowly. Theres enough fabric for 2 cushions and a small table cloth. Its from one of those made to measure curtain sample's. I even have one up at our little window!! Cheapest curtain ive had for a while.

I have work this afternoon for a late shift, not overly keen but im sure I will be ok when I get there. Must pack my sandwiches!!

Take care everyone x

FairyPrincessk

Should taste lovely, fuddle. I sometimes add a pinch of oregano, and I always put a pepper in. I think it is one of those nice "flexible" foods. I don't know if bagged or tinned is cheaper. On the surface, bagged you get more for the price you pay, but I suspect with cooking costs that it about evens out. I also find that having tinned saves me money because it is quick which means I'm less likely to grab a pricier food for convenience.x

Popperwell

I agree Fuddle...I hope to at least get a holiday down there in the next few years...I am more in that get involved with life mode attitude...as I eat less, I would even consider self catering but it may be easier and nicer to have meals cooked for me and have some social contact.

A coach trip would probably be the easiest solution too on cost and ease of travel...then again I did once use National Express so that could work too.

Pooky

If you buy dried kidney beans you have to follow the cooking instructions on the pack as they're full of toxins until fully cooked. I normally buy them dried and do a mass cooking session then freeze them in portion sized bags. Nice and easy to add to dishes but I always have a few cans in store for times when freezer space is at a premium.

Just visited a large local bootfair, lots of bargains to be had and I picked up some great bits to shove away for DDs for Christmas. Blagged myself a lovely little footstool for 50p, it's got a cracked bun foot and needs recovering but all solvable. Also found a beautiful leather rucksack, it's very soft, a dark conked brown with lovely padded straps....50p because according to the stall holder it's unusable as its lost it's magnetic popper. A cople of stalls on I picked up another bag, handy sized to hang in my craft area for stashing bits in, 10p and it's got a magnetic popper in it that won't be required!

Now need to crack on with some housework whilst DH goes back to bed for a while, he's not having a good week. Hopefully after a snooze he'll be happier and more comfortable, want to try and get him to the swimming pool later or tomorrow morning for a float and a sauna, should help relax him.

Molly - I can imagine how scared you must be about your op, hope everything goes ok x

Mrs_Veg_Plot

mardatha wrote: »

Any Scots on the forum - Aldi is selling square sausage for 59p a pack. very handy for the freezer.

_pale__pale__pale__pale__pale__pale_

Madatha square sausage to me is what kale is to you

EstherH

FUDDLE: I understand how happy you are with your picnic table as we have done similar things ourselves. Little things can enhance you life. Where you live now sounds quite idealic with the river behind your house, but the thought of living somewhere like Dorset is wonderful.

POPS: Its good to read you being so positive these days. Hope you do manage a trip to Dorset at some point. Coach trips are good for those on their own and with out their own transport I think and when the cost of petrol, food etc is factored in, can often be good value.

Have a good day everyone. Esther x

Popperwell

I really am quite positive Esther and feel much more like I used to be(comfortable in my own skin)if that's the right expression.

I would even consider a trip at a time other than Summertime too.

[Deleted User]

Mission mousie successfully accomplished and mousie no2 is in my possession. I also found some beautiful cream coloured cotton cellular blankets the right size for a moses basket at £2.49 each in B & M so have got 3 and a cream fleece with a bear on for £1.99, as they say in the ad every little helps!!! Kittens are very sharp aren't they? I think he's missing his Mum and being quite naughty at the moment, I may have to give him time out in his bathroom in a minute, I need a puncture repair kit I think, ouch!!!

FUDDLE would it help to see yourself as a person who has regained her eyesight in a world of people who cannot see when it comes to your family? It's kind of how I see the world and try as we may there will always be those who just cannot understand why we choose to live the way we do. I say choose because that's the bit they really truly cant get, if we'd been forced into it and I know some of us have they would see it differently, but to choose this rather than be part of the materialistic mainstream is baffling to most folks, hope that helps.

KIDNEY BEANS certainly on the face of it a bag of dried beans is cheapest but then you have to soak them, cook them, cool them bag them up and freeze them. If you take into consideration the fuel, bags and electricity to run the freezer it probably doesn't make a lot of difference between dried and tinned. The most basic tinned kidney beans are still fine, so I opt for tinned as cheap as I can find them for the convenience factor as well as the cost, Cheers Lyn xxx.

Pinkdebster

As a long-time resident of Dorset, I can definitely recommend a visit out-of-season too. Especially if you want to visit some of the lovely coast we have around here. For me, nothing beats a visit to the coast in the middle of winter on a cold, clear crisp day

EstherH

Re: Kidney Beans. I once bought a pack of dried from AF, but never got round to doing anything with them and in the end threw them out and believe me I throw very little food out. At about 20p a tin it was just always more convenient to just use those. Esther x