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

nuttyp

KIDCAT - fingers crossed OH is offered the job. Words of mouth is often the best way to get employment.

Thankyou everyone, for the kind words. It is a trip of a lifetime for us and we will be doing it old style - as in making our own food and buying multi packs of drinks to take with us. I am so excited - its just 388 days!!!!!! im not counting honest!!

ginnyknit

nuttp I am so pleased for you, such lovely news. Im sure with your skills you can make it a bargain holiday to remember :j

Kidcat, good news for you too, Im guessing it would have been good to have him home but probably better to have him working IYKWIM.

Its very quiet here without my pusscat, he used to meet me when I came home from the shops, but will get used to it. OH is ok now but it took a couple of days to calm him down.

Pooky hope your hubbys pain has lessened as the day goes on and he manages to get comfortable.

My neighbour left me a bag of veggies yesterday off her daughters allotment so had better get cooking as I would hate to waste anyone of it. Just found the 6 eggs I had lost so lemon curd cake is on the menu later - yummy!

FairyPrincessk

NuttyP great news! I'm so pleased for you!

Kidcat, good luck to your OH.

I've had a productive morning, if the afternoon is equally productive I will be very pleased. Roasted pepper and basil soup for tea. I've missed it over summer as I only make it when I can get the peppers for a reasonable price and roast them in big batches. I've got two bags worth in the freezer as well.:j At the moment, the peppers in the garden look like they might actually produce so here is hoping! I think I'm loosing the battle on the broccoli plants. Between those little white butterflies and the aphids I can't keep up with pest control. Ah well.

Pops, I'm sorry to hear you're tired and not able to get around. I hope the foot rallies quickly. You're such an inspiration to me, as I'm far too likely to stay in--your outings have really spurred me on to make more of an effort.

AOT, it is so hard to advocate for yourself when you're ill. I hope the hospital straightens up and gets her the proper diet ASAP.

Hugs to any who need them.

Popperwell

I feel a woose being floored by something like a pain in the heel(well the back of my heel)but a few little niggles of late, silly things like a numbness in the tip of my little finger. But over the years some symptoms disappear and are replaced by others...sometimes they are worse/sometimes not as bad.

I had periods where my hands or feet would kind of contract and become clawlike and I had to place them in hot water. I had times where I had a tremour...I just tend to accept what happens and live with it.

Just seen your post FPK thanks. I will rally around I'm sure.

I'd like to see surrounding counties but its the time it takes to get into them. You have to add at least an hour onto the journey at either end. And need to be sure that there is a connection to get home.

An example? I thought I may go to Scarborough(the same bus that got me to Whitby)but you arrive so late you have to come home almost as soon as you arrive.

Remember the blogger who lives on a limited food budget? A Girl Called Jack? She can be seen here talking about her blog and cooking one of her recipes...

http://www.theguardian.com/business/video/2013/aug/12/jack-monroe-cooking-breadline-video?CMP=twt_fd

PRINCESSX87

Thanks for the kind words everyone. I have spent the afternoon looking over our money & debts and hopefully there could be light at the end of the tunnel if I get moving on things this week.
I have called certain welfare departments & have been told that we’re not entitled to a whole lot. Housing benefit & council tax benefit is key to making sure that we stay afloat. I have contacted them today and have an appointment for Monday. So, Its looking like we might finally get all our affairs in order then. I’m also going to find out why we’re not entitled to half of these assistance benefits, On one hand, I don’t feel we’re in enough of a position to claim, There is many worse out there. But on the other hand, I cant let us get into that situation because I’m burying my head in the sand.

OH has also been told today that as from September, He’s being moved on the new 0 contract hours, I don’t know whether I should worry about this, But right now, I haven’t got the energy too.

We’ve got online banking, Which we are using to keep control of our money but nothing is showing on them to suggest where the money is going to. Hence why I called the bank only to be told that items are “pending” and until they either get declined or cleared it wont show who it is that’s taken it.

I’m also thinking I need to start teaching myself new skills in order to bring our spending under control more. Things like, Creative / cooking is one. I could bake a lot more - But the truth is I’m unless with it. So I tend to just avoid stepping up & trying. I looked at our last shopping total and £9 was on baked goods for OH lunch packs. I have the equipment & the time so its just putting it into practise.
On that note, Does anyone use their S/C for baking bread? A neighbour was telling me this morning that she does homemade goods in that rather than forking out for a bread maker & alike? If so, This is something I could try as I’ve been holding off making & baking…?

Whilst I’m here. MRSLW: Congrats. I’ve only just noticed the news. You’ll be fab! Xx :j

Nuttyp: WOW! Disney is a dream of mine, Still a big kid at heart! Xx:rotfl:

Popperwell

I think I have worked out my heel problems...:)

"A quick search on the internet suggests a few possible causes...bursitis, calcaneal apophysitis or achilles tendonitis. Hopefully, rest will put things right but it would appear there is a connection to gout and as you know some months ago I was affected by that.

I don't necessarily like self diagnosis but as I am very careful which sites I visit I am usually right."

kezlou

Fantastic news nutty !!!!!!!!!!!!! :j:j:j:j:j

Princess post whenever your like!! Were all here for you!


I'm saving up to go away in October to Blackpool. I'm still determined to get the holiday paid off and have a fantastic time with my family.

Went to morrisons today, never again. Spent just under £60 and came out without potatoes or as much as i wanted. Five carrier bags of nothing :mad::eek::mad:

Wish i had just got the bus to sainsbugs or te$co they are far cheaper. So angry as thats most of our budget already. Spent £85 so far over the past two weeks arghhhh


I know one thing those carrot cookies are lush, they so sweet and don't even taste of carrot! The boys like them too Just made another batch of 12 ready for tomorrow. Bought a pack of 50 frozen sausage rolls so cooked all them.
so along with the above some biscuits, crisps and sandwiches. Hopefully they will be enough to last the whole day


Just put a a massive casserole dish of mince in the oven. Its 800g of mince with carrots, cabbage and mushrooms. Its a lot of meat, but i thought batch cook it. Have it with dumplings, mash, turnip, broccoli and carrots. Another day the same or in a pie. Just see how many meals i can make out of it.
i don't use that much but i forgot i don't have a freezer

Popperwell

PX87...some do seem to fall between help and no help. I'd say if you are neither rich or poor is actually the worst situation to be in. You have to be v rich and need no help from the state or so poor you can claim everything.

I wish you some success with your appointment on Monday.

No hour contracts are hated by most employees and loved by employers. They say 2million are on such contracts at present. Any rights that workers often have are non existant on such contracts.

Twitter is full of examples where people are suffering and it is discussed a lot...in fact I have found some interesting but frightening information on welfare and what's happening in the work place but is not reported in the media in general...a lot of things are happening without many knowing it is.

Cooking bread in the slow cooker is possible(I have yet to do it myself)a quick search has found a few recipes and sites but would this help?
http://www.food.com/recipe/couldnt-be-easier-slow-cooker-bread-112579

ArthriticOldThing

OOOOH Thunderstorm over head and rain coming down in 'stair rods' as my mum would say. Very heavy and noisy.

Am sorry to hear you're not able to get out as much at the moment pops. My OH had severe pain in a heel that prevented him walking (and he was a great walker) to the point where had injections from GP for it. But he eventually was prescribed a kind of shaped, leather insole for his shoes and it cured the problem immediately. Hope you manage to get some relief and can get on your travels again. You make me feel ashamed of myself as I can easily find a reason not to go out.

I do not like this wet weather. Everything seizes up and protests when I try to move.

I've had some of the minestrone soup for lunch and it was very nice - but still and awful lot left.

Think will go and watch the rain for a while.

kezlou

Oh i'm so chuffed !!!!

Just checked into Ipsos survey site and guess i have loads of points. So i checked on the rewards and guess what i found, leisure reward vouchers which can used at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. So i converted over 6000 points into £50 worth of leisure vouchers!!!!

Oh yeah so a family ticket of 5 cost £120 so with the vouchers will be £70 to pay on the door. Or if we don't use them for that a meal out or put them towards Legoland!!

so pleased i checked