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

mama67

stiltwalker wrote: »

Oh, most definitely full Ginny! I ate at a 1 star place some 15 years ago and we ended up at the pub afterwards eating crisps and drinking beer as the food had been good but the portions so tiny (only 5 courses!!) we were still hungry. Totally different experience this time - the portions were still tiny, but there were so many courses that by the time we'd got to the end of them we were pleasantly stuffed.

My Dad's first headship was in Boston so we lived there from when I was 2 1/2 to 7 1/2 so I know Skeggy well, except I couldn't say it so it has always been called Degmess in our house. We famously dug holes on the beach on boxing day as my parents insisted on going out somewhere on Boxing day - by eck it were cold!

I grew up in Spalding, so used to go to Skeggy regularly, my Nan had a static at Mablethorpe so we used to have our annual holidays there. I now live approx 1 hours drive from Skeggy.

Mrs_Chip

Just back from my birthday dinner outing. For once we had a meal that was delicious, generous portions and very reasonable prices (cue one happy OH ).

Saw a forecast before we went out and the area of worst disruption was below that big arrow on the map, most of the south coast. Lets just hope it's not as bad as they are saying .

kidcat

Happy Birthday Mrs C

We are home after a seven hour marathon drive, traffic was awful and there were branches down already blocking roads. Goodness knows how bad it will get tomorrow, so my plan is to get on with making everything secure in the gardens and dig out the candles etc just in case.

stiltwalker

Glad you home safe and sound Kidcat - X

Mrs_Chip

Welcome back Kidcat, glad you had a good holiday - it looked like you had a great week!

burtha

Happy birthday mrs c ...

gailey_2

Evening guys.

Hope every ones ok.

Happy belated birthday mrs chip

Margaret you so lovely, 6 kids sounds like they all done really well and emigrate to sunnier climes.Hope lots of grand kiddies for you.

Thanks everyone for advice on small boy do crafts ad cooking with him at home, he has many toys.summer was easier as they lived in garden going to start doing some more sensory boxes for him again. As hes not speaking and hes clingy he finds large groups people quite daunting so its finding the right place have to take him baby group next week as twice a month i run a support group for breast feeding mums he loves babies, I know its just a phase just very tiring one.
Middle ones bored and wants to do more a shes just missed starting school by 16 days.

I saw something on local fb group about sunday worst storms to hit city since 1990 I was 10 then and dident live here then so don't know what to expect.

Re steamers got one off local group pampered chef black with plastic lid and holes said can do rice in it as my rice on hob is awful also says can poach egg and do chicken or fish in it anyone tried? its to go i microwave.


I may hit launderette tommorow as have mountain and line dryings not been very fast and have laundry everywhere, took my old dryer for granted.

Well contrasting few days good and bad .

yesterday it wasent raining so made most of it walked a few miles to nearest tesco metro brought few essentials, noticed few rises, minimal reductions and dident bug huge amount.

Nearby is old victorian park with flowers, bandstand, sensory garden play area I went in quest chesnuts as all around outside are trees but only one was chesnut rest were conker s dident get huge amount.

Pondered why more people dont forage hubby says its more an education thing.

I think most important things can teach my kids be kind, polite, caring and how to cook, do a decent shop and forage as then they never go hungry or be without friends to support them.

the sun was shining down at park we amazingly had whole play area to ourselves, Middle child in nursery so small boy all to my self as splitting myself in 2 sometimes 3 at park can be a challenge.

I then picked up free really nice looking slow cooker off fb group, kids ate their tea was feeling positive then hubby comes home and tells me energy bill going up 8.6%.

Then today was going to be hard had to attend council offices miles away 2 miles each was wasent quite sure where exactly they were and had 2 kds with me.

I woke up started irong eldest uniform with hubby telling eldest hurry up as usual.

Plugged in the iron started sparikng gave me a fright don't know if it was wet as hubby overfilled it yesterday

Anyway its taken out half the electrics to the house.

Oddly kitchen and hallways fine. lights throughout are fine but plus on landing, lounge, kids rooms are not working.

So no tv in lounge.

Hubby totally stressed by this left dopped eldest off went to work told me to phone agents but knew it be tricky as in and out house all day.

We left half 9 amazingly made 2nd bus link by minues arrived early had potter about.

But 4year old was in a strop and 2year old small boy going too fast on busy high street.

Got to council offices early waited ages whilst some woman opposite moaned to her friend that she wasent getting enough benefits, that her neighbour ahead of her in queue was a sponger and that her grabdon finally got work placement for 4months if he behaves himself.

Was quite relived when got called to private office not at the counter revealing everything to all and sundry. This council office had police desk too so no trouble.

Got into office young lady was nice but kids were restless small boy managed to crash into wall whlst 4 year old announced she was bored.

Thankfully they now have enough evidence after month half and will process out claim but sad the commson will be ticky and need to go there once a month oh joy.Buts its some positive news just waiting fo tax credits now.

The agency he did shift for 2 weeks ago still havent paid him.
Also old employer promised travel expenses would be paid today and not been and hr managers not rang back ad now on holiday for a week!

There was park opposite never been so thourght let them run off steam,

They seemed to enjoy it but had to get back do lunch before pm school run.

Waited for 1st bus some really nice people at bus stop made fuss of kids.

Got to local high street went into agents told them needed a sparky.
The lady said landord gong in next week discuss the oustanding probles with propert since april so who know what will happen.
She laso said hes agreed move rent date 4days dident the other lady ket me know i said nope comunication useless as usual and she sighed least one person in thate agency is decent and understaands how crap they are.

Then waited for 2nd bus told kids dont go too far as we were only going end of rd had small boys scooter and shoppng bag as ran out milk again.

Anyway little sods ran to back but there were sat there niceley i could see and was watching them.
Then a bloke got on and started saying come here they being naughty, i could see them so went rushing to back as was going up accidentally tapped woman with scooter she went mental death stare said very sorry. Got to back and he was like you must sit with your child make sure he behaves but he wasent doing anything and said you need to make decision to which i said yes mate im getting off at next stop as he made me feel really uncomfortable like he was bit mental and wanted to get off early , not even my stop as was going down apologised to woman again who gave me deathly icy stare like I tried to hurt her thanked driver who was nice but felt like nervous wreck.To be honest not first time people been rude on bus seems most people hate kids and feel they have no place there if they were being naughyt I could understand just made me feel stressed and sad.

That within 24hours wanted to go back house and hiberate.

I worred about woman.might avoid that route for some time

Got in did little bit housework , kids were tired yet we hadto walk 1.2miles each way school but took some stale bread for ducks that always breaks up journey a bit.

By time finally got in was 5pm and hadent stopped all day started getting tea on. tried to move lounge, diner around and tidy but take leg kept collapsing then hubby came home.

Got kids dressed as 7pm had halloween disco organised by nursery for charity which girls been looking foward to all week.

Kids worse same costumes as last year small boy refused to wear them.
The drinks were pricey but food included in £5 family ticket and living in affluent are had buffet of rocket and ham which made me chuckle nice ham not value and spinach and riccota pizza.

Girls had lovely time i enjoyed seeing them happy but small boy was tred to left at 9put kids straight to bed.
Hubbys fallen asleep too.

Did some washing up.

now for 1st time today on computer stuffing face with chestnuts.

My mums rang twice have no idea why asking awquard questions about his work. Said she brough girls new duvets and curtains quite unexpected but nice all same and when can she can come over as she deprived of grandkids but shes in wales and bridge cost plus petrol plus time and only hubby drives makes it awquard.

Agreed she can come over next week as if she has a go about house might just have breakdown. shes a neat freak.

Im trying to sort out house its more clutter than dirt and somethings need a paint.I get burst of energy but been bit down and tired lat few weeks been a struggle was tidy for inspection.

So this weekend

1)sort laundry
2)declutter , deepclean living room.
3)depeclean ,declutter kitchen.
4)give bathroom good clean
5)sort out small boys room and our wardrobe

Next weeks half term than goodness need a break.

Made a lovlely leek and potato soup yesterday so might make some more soups and do reductions hunt sunday.

Molly41

Possession wrote: »

Forgive me a short, sharp aaaargh!
Weddings. I seem to be surrounded by people asking me for ideas on what to put into their bridesmaid's preparing for the hen night basket, no we already have ideas for their preparing for the wedding basket and their wedding gift, but we do need ideas for favours and table presents, and how much should we spend on flowers blah blah blah. ???? Is there no economic crisis? Is it necessary to go out and buy 5 sets of 6 different pamper sets and 100 table presents? If you're getting married and starting a new life together could the money (presuming you do actually have it) not be better spent on something else?
Sorry, apologies to any wedding planners. I've just reached my wedding discussion capacity today and I can't say it in real life.

I had no wedding favours and my DD was my little bridesmaid and my son my page boy - they had a Rupert and Winnie stuffed toy so very easy x

Pooky

Morning all

Looking forward to the clocks going back, not keen on these super dark mornings. DD1 had to be at the train station for 6.50am to meet friends and go off to ComiCon in London, they're all dressed up, they take it very seriously. I've got an unspecified amount of people staying tonight depending on train times etc, I'd much rather they all came home together and stayed here than trying to get taxis/connecting trains at silly o'clock. Need to dig out the air beds!

My BM failed for the first time yesterday, it made a perfect loaf, I left the machine to cool for a couple of hours and popped the next one going, I'm not sure what happened but it was just a big crumbly dry mess. DH watched me measure everything out so I know it wasn't me...will try again later.

Got a builder coming tomorrow to do some quotes for some essential brickwork repairs, I've got a figure in mind so hope I'm not to shocked by what he comes up with.

Warm here overnight, it was still 16 degrees outside at 10.30pm, I kept kicking the duvet off, inside thermometer is reading 20degrees in the kitchen, at least we don't need the heating!

Mrs_Chip

Morning All!

Gailey - Rice on hob is easy if you follow this - it has never failed me, and makes perfect fluffy rice

Measure rice - I use a mug, but whatever size for the amount of rice you need. Put the rice in a saucepan that has a lid.

Use the same mug to measure water, you want 1 plus a half measure.

Put on high heat without the lid. Watch for the water evaporating, and little pits in the top of the rice, with most water gone. It does not take long to get there.

When you get to that point get a tea towel and put the saucepan lid on it, and gather up the edges, then put the lid, with the cloth, on the pan. You want a tight seal on the pan, but be careful that the cloth cannot catch on the heat. I upturn a smaller saucepan onto the lid to hold the flappy bits of the tea cloth, and then put my heavy cast iron pot on top of that, I have a notion that putting weight on the top helps, but that might just be me being slightly potty!

Turn off heat and leave the pan there for 20 mins minimum. Will keep like that for up to an hour and still be warm. Take off the lid and fluff with a fork just before serving.

I don't bother to rinse the rice, nor do I add salt until after it is cooked.


Kate - love the bag! How did you do the text in the end, it looks embroidered?

Well. times are a changing - had a discussion this morning with OH (he started it) about prepping for potential storm! never been know that he showed any interest/concern about our abilities to cope.

One thing I have done is check the state of the tide over the weekend. Thankfully they are very low. If it had been at the top of the tides, with the low pressure and the wind we could have seen a massive amount of water heading our way - phew!

Hope everyone has a good weekend, and have battened down the hatches!