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

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FUDDLE most things are coming to the end of thier growing season by now, you can plant autumn broad beans supposedly for an early crop but to be honest they have never been very successful for us and we find the spring sown ones catch up and overtake them and give a better crop. You could, if you wanted to improve the nitrogen levels in the soil plant an overwintering green manure crop like clover for digging in in the spring, we tend to spread the compost, get in a load of manure from the stables and spread these on top and let the worms pull it all down to fertilize the soil for next spring and rest the soil over the winter, Cheers Lyn xxx.

With the garlic, try it and see, you never know you might get a nice little crop next year and it won't cost you much either, Lyn xxx.

VJsmum

fuddle wrote: »

Glucosamine? Is it likely to help creaking knee joints. One major concern for me at the moment, especially as I can't retire till at least 68 and wanting to go into home caring, is arthritis. My creaking knees are scaring at 34. My grandma had Osteoarthritis and pretty badly in her old age. We lost her at 72 and my Aunty died having battled crippling rheumatoid arthritis for 18 years at 60. Is arthritis hereditary? There's no sign of my mam having either it at age 57

People used to think it was but my doctors have all said not. My mum got chronic rheumatoid arthritis at 38 but so far none of the 6 of us children have it and we are all older than that now. Generally it doesn't kill you either, so I think the relatively early deaths of grandma and aunt probably won't be connected.

Rheumatoid, though, is an auto immune illness so I guess may mean a general weakness for other illnesses. My mum died at 74 from COPD, and latterly the arthritis was the least of her worries.:(

But - I am not a doctor

katieowl_2

Pooky wrote: »

Morning all

Trying out a f@rmf00ds turkey crown for lunch today, I buy mine from the butchers for Christmas but its getting to be silly money now and I need to try some alternatives. I cooked this one yesterday and it's got a lovely flavour, but is slightly dry. I'm sure gravy and roast potatoes will improve it greatly. There's tons there's too so will make for plenty of meals this week. Butchers one of the same weight is around £35, this one was £9. Got to be worth a go.

Pookie, I vowed I'd never cook a whole turkey again after cooking a couple of breast joints last xmas (or maybe the xmas before, I didn't cook dinner last year!) I looked at the stuff on offer in Mr T and the stuff they'd got in for Xmas worked out loads more expensive than the ones they had normally for about a fiver in the foil trays!!! (IIRC they were two for £8 or something like that!) so I cooked two of those, and cut them up in the kitchen, and we didn't look or feel short changed Christmas dinner was done/cooked in about two hours instead of the usual all day fiasco. Plus it has to be loads cheaper on cooking fuel!!!

Kate

fuddle

The Rheumatoid saw the battle axe of my aunty demise into a housebound mouse for fear of picking up illness after illnes. She wasn't strong enough to cope with hip replacements that she desperately needed. They did them while she was awake. Her wrists and hands just didn't work any more due to seizing up. No I agree, the rheumatoid didn't end her life but I suspect that due to the weakness it caused it meant she caught an infection that did.

No, the osteoarthritis didn't end my grandma's life either, I know it's not life threatening. Her death was so sad. She was a stickler for her flu jab as she had asthma. One year she went for her jab while she had the flu (she was obsessive about making sure she had it and my guess is she panicked at having to miss out so pretended she was well) - the flu jab and the infection was too much for her frail body to cope with. One minute she was with us, a real trooper, the next she was in hospital and then very quickly she died. A big shock and so sad at the circumstances.

With my dad dying at 39 and my mother an alcoholic I can't really get a good indicator of what family conditions I could inherit really.

purpleheather2810

fuddle wrote: »

Toughies can you help me with planting seeds?

What, if anything, can be sown and then planted (edible) in these months. Tall order I guess?

Garlic? Read that you can over winter that outside but 1) can I do it in a pot diameter of about 10 inches and 2) can I do it from a clove of super market garlic?

Wonderful cutest off to source wick

Coming out of lurkdom to suggest pak choi, winter radish and mizuna.

Popperwell

Morning All(Just)
What an awful day...dark, windy and raining. Only have to venture out tonight for the bingo and a turn. If that event at Darlington(open concert)for around 6+ hours is still on the performers and crowd must be made of stern stuff.

The house isn't warm but not cold yet(with the help of my quilt)and plenty of clothes to help keep me warm. Hot drinks/soup too.

I hope my plans are not scuppered next weekend with the weather.

Indian Summer?

ginnyknit

Wanted to share my wonderful news with my O/S friends. My Ds came home from holiday in Las Vegas and announced he and his girlie got married while they were there :j:j They had the ceremony in the Little White Chapel and loved every minute of it. I did have a chat with them before they left in a round about way saying it was a fab idea to run away and get married somewhere that meant something to them. This not only saves thousands of pounds but saves me worrying about OH struggling through a big wedding and all the kerfuffle the planning brings. Obviously I could have done the whole thing with dresses, cake, invites and decor for a lot less but do i really have the time and energy for all that.

Dgs was here when they told us and was jumping up and down in excitement - goodness that boy understands more then we think. They have just gone to pick up the engagement ring which was being re-sized. Have had a peek at the disc with the photo's on and they look beautiful. They even managed to buy frames with scenes of Vegas on that are not tacky so Mums and Grannies can have a pic each.

Between DGs finding his voice and the marriage we have a very happy household here.

Ps the weather is awful and getting worse by the minute.Im actually quite chilly so am off to put more woolies on.

savingqueen

Hello toughies,

Well not the best of days yesterday, felt rotten and took to my bed for most of the day. I had to let DH cope with the essentials. Came down to an utter tip this morn but DH took the kids to dance class (sort of things he isn't keen on doing) and into town and he did the dishes and made a sheps pie. He wouldn't think to put some laundry on or tidy/sweep up etc but I was so grateful I didn't have to cook etc I just smiled sweetly at his efforts.

I was thinking we used to be more a team with house and kids but these days as Official Professional Household Controller, somehow virtually ALL associated tasks seem to be left for me. Aren't I the lucky one? ha ha. I need to get the house into shape with better systems and delegate more to all 3 of them.

Today still feel a bit grotty but fine for pottering about doing chores. laundry and supervising a mound of homework for DS9, Sheps pie is big enough for tonight's dinner too as I couldn't eat much yesterday.

Also looked into the area we were thinking of moving too and weighing it up so more yesterday - had too much time on my hands - can't waste time just being ill eh? Conclusion drawn that probably not the best idea unless we get stuck with the awful local secondary school. So back to the drawing board. I have found some better options but not many homes to choose from in those areas and we would be further still from where we are now and my friends. DH was disappointed as he thought we were ready to get the ball moving but I am not jumping from the frying pan into the fire!

Anyway making plans still to get the house sorted which is a huge project but will benefit us all whether we go or stay. I am on the edge of feeling down and defeated tbh but have enough fighting spirit to keep pushing the negative feelings away and keep on going. You guys are my inspiration and my children the best reason for doing so.

Kids at the park with DH, better get back to some housework and then a bath.

sq

savingqueen

MANY CONGRATULATIONS GINNY AND FAMILY!!! Brilliant news. Wishing the happy couple every happiness in their married life and future together.

:smileyhea

Possession

Congratulations Ginny, lovely news.
In the middle of The Great Homework Weekend here, it's never ending, I'd better get back to it.