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

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FLOSS we grow borlotti beans on the allottment purposely for drying and until we had the dehydrator, when they were as dry on the plant as they were going to get we picked them off still in the pod and put them in a heap on the biggest tin tray we posessed and stood that in the utility room where the boiler is and it runs very warm so they dry nicely. When we were pretty sure they were dry enough we popped them out of the pods and stood the podded beans on the tray, on top of the boiler for a week to make sure they were really, really dry for storage. You can do the last bit on a baking tray in a cool oven for an afternoon, that finishes them off nicely too!

Comfort food in the lurcha household is home made lentil soup or home made leek and potato soup with some nice bread, goes down a real treat on dreary days!!! Cheers Lyn xxx.

VJsmum

Perhaps it's the moon! We are coming up to an equinox, it does funny things to people. Mind my OH seems alright!

Bloke at work is being an a7$e though

Just looked it up - full moon tomorrow, that'll do it!

Popperwell

fuddle wrote: »

I just wanted to say never underestimate the powers of egg and chips when you're feeling down. Such a cheap, yummy meal. I enjoyed it last night - one of the easiest and cheapest meals that was loved by all

Sorted...I agree, I cheated and purchased some chunky oven chips last night half price. But cheaper than a portion from the chippy. I had them with a salad last night...

I have to use them quickish as no room in the freezer but if used up they are ok for a few days...

I was wondering what to have with them for tea later and you've solved it...good old egg and chips.

I say cheaper than the chippy but I probably pay back any saving by the energy the oven uses...

Popperwell

I'm too good to be true it seems going by the descriptions of the Male sex on here:rotfl:but I only have myself to please these days...

I hear the weather is to improve in the next day or two so the theatre trip and the other to Alnwick may go ok...

Its Bingo night, I may try and extra book tonight...:eek:

OK what can I tell you about the trip yesterday...

I visited Coxhoe a kind of village approx the same distance as Durham is from here. Very little there but I found a traditional sweet shop selling all those sweets that you love, even American sweets. If anyone lives locally give it a try, its called Bonsai BonBons. Its been open 16 weeks and is doing well(they are on Facebook)

I went to a Community Centre once run by the county council but now in the hands of a charity and called Active Life. I wish them every success. I hope it does well in these hard times. I'd use it more if I lived nearer. I was greeted and looked after, they gave complimentary tea/coffee/biscuits at the end of the concert and complimentary sweets at the start.

I say I would use it more but as because of health issues/lack of family I would have no use of the keep fit facilities, function rooms sadly but for those who do it really deserves to be supported. The lack of bus services makes evening visits difficult for me.

It is a village and it is trying to do more than my own town does. If it was here I'm sure it would do well.

The concert was lovely, again anyone in the North East if you see the band Misspent Uke advertised go see them or book them, they are enthusiastic fun loving "older" people and they play such a wide variety of songs to please all.





Met a kind of local personality from the days when we had continunity announcers in vision on the TV. What a lovely person. Local Northerners may remember him, Neville Wanless.




I only had a quick chat but will have a longer one next time I go(which I intend to)It turns out his daughter is manager of the centre. He always came across as a gentleman on TV and I can say that is so in "Real Life"

It really was a lovely day...all those who attended in the audience and the staff were so friendly. What seems to be missing so much these days. Or the truth is as proven here...it still exists if it is given the chance to show itself.

Possession

Mrs_Chip wrote: »

Possession - how about a Caribbean style curry - Fry off chicken, cut carrots, onions, potatoes, sweet potatoes, BNS, peppers (all colours) into nice big chunks and fry off, then add curry base, madras is good, stock or water to just cover and simmer till the veg are softened and chicken is cooked. Add some coconut milk or powder near the end. It makes a lovely gently spiced dish which is is very comforting. Any veg can be added really, the smaller stuff nearer the end of cooking.

Sounds lovely Mrs C and I have some tins of coconut milk from AF to use up.
Pooky, trouble is the children don't like couscous. This partly explains why the mountain is still higher than Ben Nevis.

lobbyludd

Popperwell wrote: »

I say cheaper than the chippy but I probably pay back any saving by the energy the oven uses...

pops - my electric oven is huge and runs at c.2Kwh at top temp (so uses 2kw if run for an hour) chips take 20mins and my electric costs just over 10p per Kw, so it costs me about 7-8p to cook oven chips, less if I have other stuff in the oven cooking at the same time.

I *think* i've read you (or someone!) worrying about costs of cooking food before? I used to worry too, but got one of those electric monitors for free from my electric provider and now know that it costs lots less than I thought - haven't worked out the gas yet though!

It's really important to have hot food when it's cold, it warms you up from the inside.

cornishchick

Well I am still in my dressing gown and it's 6 of clock.:)
but the BM is on for pizza and the tomato sauce is on, DH is having his kip and will be down soon, actually I think this has been the laziest day I've had in weeks.:)
Sun has come out and the wind has dropped.
Hope you're all having a good day.
Hugs n love CC X

monnagran

Lots and lots of love and hugs to all with problems - and there seems to be a lot of us at the moment.

It's been a funny couple of days here. Yesterday the Rev and I went to the mainland to see the middle Big Boss about where the Rev might go for her next appointment. The Rev was remarkably calm considering she doesn't really want to go at all and the whole town here has a view on the subject. I, however, had great satisfaction in telling the BB exactly what I thought of him. He didn't say much but I noticed a great change in his patronising tone of voice afterwards. It won't do any good but it made me feel better.
We then had an uncomfortable meeting last night where people stood up and questioned the middle BB and the very little boss over their inept handling of the Rev's case. That didn't do any good either but the meeting seemed to have extended into my lounge today and I have had a succession of irate visitors re-hashing last night's meeting and generally emoting all over the place.
Thankfully the Rev is off taking a friend off to Uni, and won't be back till tomorrow.

I am planning to boil an egg for tea and spend a quiet evening knitting. Bliss.

x

Mrs_Chip

Evening All

After a grim start to the day, it has been a glorious afternoon. We had to take a lady across the county to see her husband who is in a home, and deliver some books to a lady nearby. With time to kill before picking up the first lady we pootled on down a country lane and found a smashing place, National Trust, to park and overlook a valley with the river running through in a huge loop, quite a stunning view. I wished I had my camera with me, curses!

I have a problem of the rodent variey. We had seen what we thought was a mouse in the kitchen, but the trap was left alone. Then, the other day the little blighter showed his face and he (or she) is a shrew! No wonder the chocolate biscuit did not cut the mustard!. I put some dried mealworms down before we went out this afternoon, and they have all been hoovered up. I have no idea if the critter is trapped in the kitchen, or if it can get outside, and so I am a bit bemused about how to eject it. It's too cold to leave the back door open. I might try baiting the humain trap with mealworms to see if it will go in. Has anyone else ever had shrews in the house?

shegar

mardatha wrote: »

Shegar I empathize. The atmosphere in here would stiffen all forms of life. We had a row yesterday and the way he spoke to me was not on. I wouldn't talk to anybody like that and I'm not havin it. So we are each sitting on own couches in icy silence. I should be visualising pink fluffy vibes but unfortunately it's more like machetes....
For your information anybody who has ME - the govt have put out an advisory that organ donors who had ME cannot donate. This the same govt who are trying their hardest to make us believe its all in the mind..

Oh dear mar , sounds as if it is catching , lots of other posters seem to be in the same boat, it must be
( PMT mens week )....:eek::rotfl:........Well hubby as slept on and off all day , so that will help him (and me):cool:.........He still got bad back , but says the amitrytaline seem to be relaxing the muscles like the dr said , so at least something is working.................Ive just put him to bed with all his meds , even if he dont sleep its good for him to rest , he as a tv in there , and being a bungalow I dont have to keep going up and down stairs to check on him...............................So its time I sat down and rested my poor sore feet, uh........

I also cant be a donor cos im insulin dependant diabetic..................Sheila ...