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

PRINCESSX87

Kezlou,
I wanted to clear up the bruise comment I made.

When professionals see bruises on legs, arms & head 9 out 10 cases they understand its caused by educational hazard, Learning curbs, Trips, Bumped heads happen to every child.

If these happen at school then the staff should be filling out a accident form each time anyway. Some children are more accident prone than others. So don’t get worrying there.

When I said bruises, I meant, The finger tip marks on skin, Thump marks on their backs ect. There is a completely different sign for abused children to those who are active healthy children who do fall over.

I personally, From what you’ve wrote cant see SS taking the complain seriously enough.
So, My lovely, Just enjoy your children and let those morons carry on making their selves look ridiculous!

In regards to medication, That’s a whole different ball game, But the point remains the same. If SS did come out to “assess” then they will see you’re a mother with great intentions of bringing your children up in a happy stable environment. No good professional in any field would dare look down on anyone who may have medical issues if they don’t have just cause.

If you want any further advice, Just give me a shout hun x

[Deleted User]

ELONA do you remember those early Birds Eye adverts that said birds eye foods would let you make time to do the things in life that you wanted to do? I know my mother siezed frozen food with eager hands and also things like the Vesta packets of curry and paella but she was born in 1920 and hadn't had the machinery in her life to make the chores easier, I can remember getting the first vacuum cleaner, until then it had been hand swept with the broom and dustpan and brush, and I can remember life pre the twin tub when it all was hand washed , hand rung and hand ironed, so I'm not surprised that time short housewives siezed every opportunity to lessen the load. What does puzzle me though is why we are still doing the convenience, ready prepared food thing in 2013 when we DO have all the aids to make life easier, maybe that's where the conditioning has been effective that most of the population don't see a need for an alternative to processed food. If you throw in the fact that no cookery or household management is taught in any school these days it's no wonder people take the easier but more expensive option for food is it? Cheers Lyn xxx.

kezlou

princess thanks again
i understood what you meant regarding finger tips etc
Luckily for me the school also know he bruises very easily.

My medication isn't as much as others, but to be honest i think i need a higher dosage. Instead my GP is preferring to go down the counselling route as she knows i can't stand putting chemicals into body.


Its a gorgeous day, have a few loads of washing out already. We were going to go to barnard castle, but don't think we are. Instead the lads are outside playing paper airplanes.

OH is wiped out and i'm so proud of his race result!
So i've said right lets chill today, maybe go bramble picking by the beck. Then get all ready for trip tomorrow.

Were unsure about tomorrow as the people who caused trouble with us on thursday are going to be there. OH said he doesn't want to get involved. I said to him, lets just go our friend S is going. i'm not going to say anything to them, lets just enjoy the day.
He's still unsure but i think we should go because the kids are looking forward to the theme park.

Had a phonecall off the head of the trips / family fun day and she personally called to say i hope your still going on the trip tomorrow. If anything happens, anything at all just tell the staff and we'll sort it out.

So i'm determined to take us all, even if OH doesn't come along.


Lynn i make pastry but have to admit OH prefers the jus roll pastry, says it tastes thicker. But he adores my sweet pastry and crumbles. My dad says use lard it will thicker, so next time i will just use more butter and not roll it too thin.

pops i'm not sure if this will help, but i place a couple of cushions under my legs to raise them up. this really eases the pressure on them. Oh and having a couple of wheat bags on my knees is lovely too. The combination gives such a feeling of relief, maybe worth a try .


Jem i just buy the cheapest trimmings of salmon, they reallly tasty. Lovely or cold, sometimes we have bagels with soft cheese and strips of smoked salmon on top hmmmmm very moreish

FairyPrincessk

Elona,

There was a wonderful documentary on the BBC awhile ago about the advent of "branded food" in the Edwardian era. While pre-packed food had been around before then, this is when it really took off. Of course, Upton Sinclair's The Jungle really shook consumer confidence and this is when brand trust was born. Consumers were encouraged to view packaged food with a brand name on it to be more trustworthy and superior in quality. They gave a fascinating example of tea. While it had previously been sold loose, often blended by local grocers who had their own distinct flavours, PG tips got the idea to market what had previously been seen as inferior product as a superior, cleaner and assured product to feed your family. The package was supposed to be a guarantee that the product was contaminate free. I, personally, suspect that this heavily influenced the way pre-packaged foods were marketed in the 70s when there was a huge increase in what could be bought "ready" or "almost ready made." Interestingly, some of the first packet cake mixes could be made with only water, but they were rejected by housewives who felt adding their own eggs, oil and milk was more wholesome. These days, just add water is seen as even easier.

In the 70s, I think there was absolutely a campaign to show that cooking was hard and time consuming--and maybe it is and was without modern appliances--but reading accounts on this board of what people ate in times of yore, I see a lot of things on the order of egg and chips, liver and onions--things that don't take a lot of time. I think they MADE cooking harder by changing our expectations of what constituted a full meal while simultaneously trying to play up our well-conditioned expectations that food in packages meant that quality was assured.

Wow. What an essay---needless to say, I think your comments are fascinating. This is a topic I love thinking about--particularly in the context of how it has affected the way we buy, cook and eat food--how we spend our food money and how it impacts our nutrition.

As for pastry--I'm an utter failure. The last time I tried to make it from scratch I ended up in tears with flour all over the flat. The next time, OH told me I should try the packet mix. That, too, ended in tears. Much to my shame, I buy the ready roll for now, but I've determined that one day--perhaps starting in January I will just practice the stuff until I get it right. I have no doubt that if I weren't given the option of buying it, I would have figured it out by now--and I also have no doubt that if I made it from scratch I would have a much better idea of what was in it--quality assured packaging aside!

kezlou

FPK honestly i've been trying to make pastry for years. When i had a freezer i would a spare pack of shortcrust pastry and puff pastry as a back up.

I can make shortcrust but its a long time and a huge amount of mess. I swear the flour gets everywhere, but tastes delicious in quiche and pies.

Puff pastry i honestly have given up on, its just far too much hassle.

A very easy recipe using ready made puff pastry is this.

Roll out puff pastry, spread tomato puree on, heard cheese, toppings bung in the oven, Once the pastry rises its pretty much cooked.
So in other words a pizza using puff pastry. Its really nice too and works work well cold and sliced for lunch.

So glad you enjoyed the loaves

Pinkdebster

Just popping my head in to say hello to everyone. Currently still laid up with an infection in my feeding tube and all I seem to do is sleep!! OH insists I listen to my body (for once) and do what it's telling me to do so that we can go away and enjoy the holiday but I feel so guilty that I'm just lying around whilst he beavers away!

He's been working such long hours and has spent the long weekend working in the garden rather than resting. But he seems happy. I made him an apple crumble last night which is one of his favourites to say "thank you".

I've read through all the posts but can't possibly comment on everything since I last wrote so will just send hugs to everyone who needs them (and also for anyone who doesn't!).

xxx

Popperwell

I have made pastry but being single tend to buy it when on offer...then again its been a while since I have made anything that has pastry in the recipe. having all the gadgets and a pair of hands perhaps I will do more a the seasons change and meals become the kind more associated to that time of year.

I purchased my first panini(sp)rolls/buns on Saturday from Tesco's in store bakery...I kept seeing them advertised a lot when in Redcar in the local cafes and was asked by others what they were(I was right in my guess)I think I could make them too. All my plans, I'll be doing well if I succeed.

Whilst in Durham I ordered my free ticket to attend the Lumiere(sp)light festival in November and decided the Friday night was a good one to attend(The saturday was already almost sold out)

I booked a concert for February next year(plenty of time to save up the money by then)The music and stories of a sixties pop star Gerry Marsden of Gerry and the Pacemakers...and really inexpensive lunchtime concert on December 20th(weather permitting)someone singing jazz standards by people like Ella Fitzgerald etc...

I feel like going out now but with Bank Holiday bus services it late in the day and there is nothing going on locally. So I may stay put...

I have never owned a camcorder and with my interest now in where I go and posting things on You Tube/My Blog I am thinking of buying a cheapish one just for that purpose as using the digital camera for that purpose soon sees the battery run out. A camcorder battery lasts much longer...we'll see...

FairyPrincessk

Kez--I'm so glad I'm not the only one. What a nice topping for puff pastry! I do a similar one with whatever soft cheese and veg I've got on hand-it makes a nice treat with soup sometimes.

As for your medication, in my view if they see you are doing positive things to look after your mental health then they will consider that sorted. Unless you posed some sort of immediate threat to your children--sunch as extreme cases, like severe PPD where a mother is at the end of her rope they try to find solutions the help the parents cope rather, and you're not anywhere near that sort of situation! I really don't think you should be worried about the medication at all--they will know that in this case your illness is not affecting your children's safety and they will see it as a sign you're an excellent parent that you're looking after your mental health.

Popperwell

Pinkdebster wishing you well...you need hugs too...Kez its too late now but for the first time ever many of the street performers who were at Durham at the weekend were appearing at Barnard Castle today at Scartop(thats a little park/children's play area)close to the Castle and near the shopping area.

Thank you for the advice regarding cushions and wheat bags...what is it about being able to sleep during the day but not so well at night?

Anyone in the Teeside/Durham area if you can see them in the local green grocers/markets look for Stokesley tomatoes, they are well priced but are the juciest/tastiest tomatoes I have had in ages...I brought some back from Redcar on Thursday...wish I had got some more...approx 12 for around 60p

FairyPrincessk

Hugs Pink! I agree with your OH, take it easy! I really hope you're feeling much better in time for your holiday!