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

katieowl_2

BTDT Pooky!!! It's a shock to the system when the CB and stuff stops. This is one of the things that makes me cross when they bang on about Earning or Learning...truth be told we still need to pick up a lot of the bills for them...so we end up financially supporting the little darlings! When DS was in College last year, I had to stump up a fiver every week for his bus fare home...Don't tell but he managed to sneak on the college bus to get there (they know they do it, but turn a blind eye methinks - the guys driving these busses live in the real world) or it would have been a tenner and he'd have had to leave even earlier! Then there was petrol to drive him to town, food for him to take etc... The year before it was FOUR days a week.

I'm sitting here trying to work up some enthusiasm for baking today, need to make a list of what I've got to bake, and make sense of it all. Had my first cup of tea, while I got DS up and it's light now, so better get on!

Kate

FairyPrincessk

Morning all,

Have only read back a page so I had time to post.

Big hugs, it sounds as if many need them.

SQ, I'm appalled at how your OH was treated. Perhaps and "I'll show her" attitude would help him get through this particular bump? I've used that one myself a few times.:D


We had a very busy weekend. I did work things Sat. Morning while OH was off with the pupils playing a football match. We met up with a friend in town in the evening and then OH woke up Sun morning with a cold. We did chores, more work and I got ahead on the cooking for the week. I did a quiche, two loaves of bread and a chicken, veg and barley soup. OH has a parents evening tonight so I'll have a slice of the quiche when I get home and we'll have it for lunch tomorrow with whatever salad I make up tonight. I also had some leftover bits of puff pastry from earlier in the week so I made some cheese puffs, a few with cinnamon sugar and a few with honey and ground almonds for little treats during the week. I was too tired to do any buns or cakes so I used up what I had and we'll have treats without too much faff!

Pops, what a lovely loaf! Every time I've attempted sour dough I got a similar result. However, I haven't tried it in this kitchen, where I seem to have charmed the bread fairies as my loaves are coming out nicely again (last house seemed to have mischievous bread elves, always causing problems:()

Ugh, I must get my bottom into gear. I'm covering someone else's teaching this afternoon so I've only got the morning for my work and I've got so much of it to do!

[Deleted User]

Morning Toughies warm again here this morning and with blue sky showing in patches between the clouds, it looks like being a decent drying day and the washing is nearly finished in the machine. We had a really nice weekend with DD1 who came to visit, didn't do much except natter, potter and walk the Lurcha but it was very nice and relaxed and I think we all feel better for it, isn't it astonishing how little it takes to make you feel content?

Lots of us have been feeling really low, stressed, unloved and unhappy over the past few weeks so I thought I'd start the week off with a great big HUG for anyone who is in need of one for whatever reason and send you all some happy thoughts to make you feel loved. I so hope that life improves for you all, health inproves for you all and happiness arrives in buckets on each individual doorstep to make everyone feel better and lift the clouds away from the sun for you all, so Lynnie Hugs and Lurcha Slurps are winging out from both of us in unlimited amounts for everyone!!!!!

We had the skeins of geese winging in over the house on to the river over this weekend, it's always the end of summer when they start to arrive in numbers and today the weather forecast is saying that temperatures will drop substantially towards the end of this week, I think I'm just about ready in terms of preparation and mentally looking forward to frosty mornings and cooler nights, it will actually be a pleasure to not feel too warm in bed at night and want hot food during the days. I made a big vat of Carrot and Potato Chowder yesterday from one of the Marguerite Patten wartime books to do us for lunches for a few days and as they have reinstated our free bus to Sainsburys I'm off for a visit this morning as I haven't been to a Sainsburys for well over six months now. I'm hoping they still do thier packs of cooking bacon as Mr.T seems to have stopped them altogether along with the 48p everyday tubs of drinking chocolate and my stocks are run out. Have a very nice day all of you and I wish you only good things and contented happenings, Love and Hugs Lyn xxx.

mardatha

I don't know why we can't get some decent weather !! All we've had is pewter grey clouds sitting on the roofs for nearly a week now and the dark days really get me down.

[Deleted User]

I'll send you some sunshine MAR, and a nice little breeze to blow those dark clouds away, Lyn xxx

PRINCESSX87

Morning everyone.

I have been trying to have a quite weekend to gather my thoughts. Cant say its worked completely but after speaking to some of the nicer “family members” & hearing their troubles I think I’ve come to relies that WE could be in a much worse situation.

I think the key for me, Is to try and do “things” that will take the spare time up in my day. Going to work at the moment is a no-no! I cannot guarantee that I could arrive on time, Provide the work needed ect. So, My OH suggested I try some sort of home education.

So, Over the next few weeks I think I will be checking into some courses I can do at home.
I’m also interested in learning some further OS / home life skills. Sowing is something of interest therefore I feel yout*be will become a friend of mine. I have tried before but let it slip.

Today, I have the pleasure of 5 loads of clean washing that requires ironing.
I’ve also just finished preparing the garden for the winter, Just one last cut of the grass and planting some winter shrubs & its done.

alfsmum

mRSLW , reciprocating on the hugs and slurps, hope you have a lovely day and finds some goodies at Sainsbobs.

MAR, I would send you some sunshine but we don't have any yet today. Yesterday was gloriously warm though, crazy weather but lovely not to need the heating on. Like Lyn, I am almost looking forward to the autumn chill that's forecast but it will come as a bit of a shock to the system.

Thanks for everyone's kind wished regarding my Mum. The main hospital have kept her over the weekend but can't keep her non weight bearing as she insists on pottering about. Hopefully she will be assessed today and a recommendation made. I didn't manage a nap yesterday so am still running on autopilot. I was emailing people at 5am yesterday to cancel Mum's milk, cleaner, day centre place etc. people will think I'm mad. (They probably do already)

Had a quieter day yesterday to try to recharge , just being a taxi for Dd16 and doing a very small shop of fresh stuff. Will get an online food shop this week to stock up on essentials then I won't have to fit that in as well.

Should get the results of Mr Puss cat's blood test for suspected thyroid problems today so there will probably be a prescription to pick up.

Belated thanks again to KIDCAT for offering the safety boots which were sadly too small for Dd16. Managed to get a pair at the Country store so all Ok now, also forked out for nurse's shoes for Dd18. No end to the expenses at the moment.

POPS, well done on the loaf. There's an article on the Daily Moan online today with one of the Hairy Bikers testing bread makers. Apparently David Cameron said he didn't know the cost of a loaf because he makes his own in the bread maker so the HBiker tested a few models. Will add the link if I can find it.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2447729/Which-posh-breadmaker-Mr-Cameron-really-use-The-PMs-fan-So-asked-Hairy-Biker-devoted-baker-SI-KING-opinion.html

Off to ring the hospital now for an update.

Have a good day everyone. enjoy your break KIDCAT.

kidcat

pooky we have lost CB and TC for DD18 as well, and as katie says she isnt costing us any less to keep If she moved into halls the grants and lans wouldnt cover the basic costs, ie rent and food, so we would still have to pay towards her keep. Its all a mystery how the government expect kids to survive these days. There was talk during the conferences of cutting under 25s benefits further, who on earth do they think is going to pay to keep that generation fed and housed? Jobs are hard to get especially for younger ones, its all very bleak for todays kids.

Alfsmum - hope you get good news from the hospital today.

Pops - your loaf looks fine to me, mine usually look just like that, not that I have had chance to make any recently.

Monnagran - thank you, I hadnt realised the Isle of Wight was so close - my geography is appalling

Popperwell

Thanks everyone...
I think you are right, lots of alternative types of bread to try and it will be fun.

Trying to stay upbeat as things are reasonable...for now...but as many on here are saying(and I know politics can be a heated topic)in general its scary what seems to be happening, what with the NHS, now the plans for the under 25's and today's report about rushed care for the vulnerable often lasting 15 minutes if that...:(

I try to avoid a lot of the news and yet often we need to know what's going on in case we or our loved one's are affected in some way...

Thinking of making soup today...I have some vegetable soup mix to be used up...

[Deleted User]

Hey Ho change of plan, stood like a lemon at the bus stop from 10.10 until 10.30 and no bus arrived. It's supposed to be there by 10.16 so have come home again. He Who Knows has phoned the bus company (it's a local private one) and they say there is no problem that they know of, so will phone us back. Never mind, I've got plenty of odd jobs that can be done. It's odd though because the brochure a friend gave me last week with the times of the busses on says the service started on the 9th of September, oh well onwards and upwards as they say, Cheers Lyn xxx.