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

FairyPrincessk

jem--no worries--that day sounds fantastic! I want to come to the next one! Have fun blackberry picking!

Kittikins

Mrs Chip, sorry to hear about Little Al, he was so cute, RIP little one x

PRINCESSX87

Morning everyone.

Today’s the day!! I have woken up feeling positively refreshed and for once feel I can tackle anything. So wish me luck! I’m diving into the debts today and everything is getting reassessed.

Speaking to OH last night & we decided that there “has” to be some extra pennies laying around to push against another bill. So, With that I mind, I going to spend sometime today changing my S/C plan and speaking to one of their advisors to see what we can do.

Sorry to hear about lil Al. it’s a shame that these things happen but at least you know you done your up most for the little fella. Well done Chip Family xx

Fruit picking brings back so many fond memories for me as a child. I was great and come the summer holidays the old gals a few doors down from us used to give us kids a whole £1 to fruit pick for their jam making & the jam would be delivered to all of us in the neighbour hood!!

Its amazing to think back just how easy life was then, As children, The thought of a £1 & jam on toast was cool. Our parents allowed us to come back filthy with stained clothes & skin!!

Oh the joys.

Hugs to anyone that needs them, Off for some breakfast before my busy midmorning..

xxxPxxx

alfsmum

Good Morning Everyone,

MRS CHIP, so sorry about little Al but he obviously had a gentle few days in your tender care and passed away without any of the less pleasant things he might have faced if left to fend for himself.

MONNAGRAN, I hope things aren't TOO upsetting for you and that the situation is resolved with the best possible outcome for you and the Rev. Why does petty politics have to invade so many walks of life? So often it seems to be a case of jealousy, one upmanship etc and life is too short for that. I am sure that you will be greatly appreciated wherever you go; does the Rev have a say in that or are you 'sent' wherever there is a need? I think that's a lovely sentiment that you are only rich in those things which cannot be taken away from you and as long as my little family are healthy and happy, we will get through.

I was hoping to get to the lottie today to check on the blackberries (yes, GQ, people Do pay two pounds or more for a tiny punnet of them from the SM, I have seen it with my own eyes!) but was woken at 4.37 by the cat and am feeling a bit groggy still. Think I may have DD18's bug coming on as my poor head is thudding. Still, I'll see how the day goes. Have to hold together for a work-related phone call this morning, then can relax for a bit. I too feel the change of the seasons and want to make the most of harvesting what I can. I will hang my head in shame and say I wasn't very OS during the heat wave, I just went with whatever was easiest. I don't think the mini heat wave will spread far enough west to bother us this week, but I hope it stays dry. I am trying to get all the sofa covers and other heavy items washed and dried again before the autumn as they're a nightmare to dry thoroughly and there's no way I'd waste money putting them in the TD. Thankfully that hasn't been used since about April and our energy bills have reflected that.

Ah we'll, onwards and upwards as far as my head will allow. Have a good day all and (((hugs))) to those who need them.

Mrs_Veg_Plot

Mrs Chip sorry to hear about little Al, a short but happy life.

Morning all. Mr VP and I have decided that as I am now on 2 weeks leave and we are not going away we will get on with the decorating that needs doing. Yesterday we prepped the living room. We just need to sand the areas that we polyfillered yesterday and can then get on with the painting. As we have most things we need in the garage it will not be costing the earth and we should be able to afford to do the living and dining room plus the hall if time allows.

I made 8 jars of beetroot chutney yesterday and Mr VP found two jars of HM chutney that had been mixed in with all of the empty glass jars. I am very pleased with that little find as we thought we had eaten the last of the HM chutney weeks ago.

I also need to make some jam this week as well. I froze a lot of the strawberries we produced this year so will try making that at some point this week. I have not made strawberry jam for years as the last time I attempted it it was a failure. Wish me luck.

We picked 6lb of blackberries at the weekend at the lottie. We used one of the hoes to reach all of the higher branches leaving the lower branches for anyone who might come along with children, although it did not look as though anyone else had been there picking them and we barely made a dint in the amount that are there a ready to be picked.

We harvested 6lb of French beans from the lottie that makes 13 1/2lb in two weeks. They are all prepped and in the freezer. The couple we share the lottie with do not have a freezer so I freeze all of the produce that we do not eat fresh and they come and shop from my freezer.

Right I'm off to get my scruffs on ready to wash walls and get painting.

savingqueen

Morning all,

Sorry to hear about Little Al Mrs Chip. He must have enjoyed all your love and care, lucky little fellow in that respect. Hugs to you.

Nutty - good for you sticking to your guns with your days off. Have a wonderful lunch with your mum and girls - special time together, what could be nicer?

Good luck to the decorators, Mrs Veg Plot, nutty and anyone else I've forgotten.

Loved the sound of your wartime breakfast and games jem - you are an inventive mum! Might have to copy your idea one day...

All this talk about blackberrying and we haven't done any yet (still have a couple of little pots frozen from last year). I promised to take my boys out today as we were indoors yesterday and I got a reasonable night's sleep last night, hurray! So its either the woods for blackberries or a free historical building with nice garden I have found out about, bit of a long drive. Will make a picnic either way, have lots of fresh fruit/salad that needs eating and kids eat more of it outdoors.

Still haven't arranged to see kids' friends but didn't want to in case I didn't sleep properly again, I can't cope well without sleep and still feeling a bit anxious at the mo. Trying not to be hard on myself with all the stuff I "should" be doing.

Can't go out yet as waiting for a hot wash - soaked all boys' old school shirts overnight in the bath to get rid of stains and brighten up. DS9's will go away for DS6 and DS6's will be bagged up for my friend's little boy, one less thing for them to fork out on.

DH put in for his last annual leave (year ends in Aug so need to use up), his is off Thurs and Fri so with the bank hols some lovely family time together. Then he has a few more, 3 I think days off just after the kids back to school so we can spend some time together, just the two of us and we can take the boys to school together and DH can see them at their swimming class. DH having time off with us/me is one of the things in life that makes me feel happiest, along with being with our boys and seeing friends.

Had a couple of OS questions to ask but forgotten them now, will come back to m I'm sure.

Have a good day whatever you are doing? Where is kidcat, is she on holiday? Some others missing too.

edit: Princess - glad you are feeling good this morning - have a brilliant day!


sq:)

Pooky

Mrs C - so sorry to hear about Al, at least he had a happy time with you x

Jem - sounds like your boys had a fab day yesterday, well done!

All this talk of blackberries and the ones here are still green, we're going to head off to a local country park this afternoon to see if theirs are any riper (also hoping for elderberries as we got lots there last year) DD2s Bf will be joining us so I shall send him up trees and down ditches

Need to keep an eye on fluffy kitten, she had a bird yesterday and ate everything aside from the beak (gross) and this morning she's looking very uncomfortable and is eating grass. Hopefully not another blockage but need to keep a close eye on what emerges (sorry TMI)

Right washing machine has finished, I need to get on with hanging that out and then crack on with the chair I'm upholstering....so fiddly but it's looking fab.

kezlou

Mrs Chip aww i'm so sorry to hear about alfie

Jem your day sounds fantastic! My boys would love that.

A couple of years ago one Christmas we did that, minus the carrot cookies and blackberries.
We spent the day playing charades and board games.
Never thought of doing that in the summer

Monnagran, fuddle and the rev are welcome at mine anytime.
You know whenever your back here ignore your sisters house, come to mine and we'll stare longingly at the gas fire wrapped in a cosy blanket drinking hot chocolate. Better than a large cold room with a wood burner anytime! Alfie will love running round the becks!

Just dropped the boys off at playscheme, so i'm free till 3pm.
Being very naughty i stoles last pack of cheese and onion crisps to make sarnies with. Its a very guilty that i indulge once every six months.

kezlou

Princess you sound very positive today!!!
go get them chick!

FP - oo please i could have your bagels recipe to, we adore them in our house!

None of our blackberries have ripened yet, they still all green

jem132

Thanks the boys really enjoyed it and have just asked are we still on war time racisons???? I think we will be taking a trip to edan camp.

We have decided to make a bigger veg box for our back garden so we can grow more of our own so there goes my savings for my winter boots!! It will cost us £45 to build a veg bed round our back yard. But the boys are so interested in growing our own I will forsake them lol.

As I am thinking of home education at some point soon this will be a big learning tool for them for little cost when you function on the cost of veg today. Do any of you home school???

I have found the most amazing apple trees so will be collecting those when they are ready.

I have a new American fridge coming on Thursday so haven't been shopping this week so we can fill it on Friday I am also doing a massive shop at tescos with the £5 if you spend £40 x2 ill put it through in 2 transactions and save £10.

Well iv cleaned the kitchen and painted behind my old fridge as my new one is going in a different place .

Things are very tight with my new purchases in the last week but both are needed.