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

monnagran

Just taking a wee break from churchy things.

Fuddle: I'd go for the microwave if you want to save electricity. My old Dad, who was Mr Scrimper himself, used the microwave for everything. He made the lightest, fluffiest sponge puddings and cakes in it as well as everything that needed heating up. To my mind there are some things that really need a good roasting - Mar's RV comes to mind - but for a lot of things the MW is king!

Mar: explain that if you had a house like your friend's you'd have to have a similarly scrubbed, immaculate, gleaming, sweet smelling and NEW man.

Something I've just put in my magazine -

Three phrases that sum up Christmas are:
Peace on Earth; Goodwill to men; and Batteries are not included.

x

[Deleted User]

I can fix it MAR at very little expense to you other than nuisance value.


1) get feather duster off hook and use it wherever the RV happens to be sitting, whenever he sits, wherever that is!.
2) whenever he goes to sit down, stop him and puff up the seat cushion and the back cushion to make them tidy. Do exactly the same whenever he gets off them and make sure he sees you.
3) Hover wherever he is, ready to swoop on anything he puts down and tidy it away, make sure he puts his cup on a coaster and rush to it with a damp cloth before and after he puts his cup down on it.
4) Take whole rooms out of his use for an hour or two at a time and shut him out so you can 'clean properly'. You don't actually have to do it, just spray the polish tin into the air and he'll never know. This is particularly effective if it's the room he spends most time in!!!

I can practically guarantee that IF you get as far as the end of day 2 with these strategies he'll be begging you to go back to normal, and will breath a huge sigh of relief when you reluctantly do!!! Am I bad? YES I'm BAD BAD BAD BAD BAD!!!!!!! Lyn xxx.

Pooky

Mar - order some kit hen and bathroom brochures and ask him to go measure up for everything so you can do some quotes....he'll think twice when he see how much these things cost.

Just sitting down with a quick cup of tea before trying to fit a days worth of stuff into half an hour! Had to go to GPs this morning with DH then onto the hospital, nothing major, all planned. Then DD1 piped up that the pain she's been having for a few days has intensified and it could be a kidney issue so back to the hospital to the walk in clinic, no not an infection but her temperature is very high and with the pains she having it could be kidney stones so just waiting for GPs to open after lunch to go back and see the GP to get an emergency referral back to the hospital - its farcical! Meanwhile DH has been put to bed, so at least I know he won't fall over again (3 good falls today) so at least I can now concentrate on DD1.

Fingers crossed they can just poke her a bit and make her better, it's her 18th tomorrow and she really doesn't want to spend it trying to pass stones.

ginnyknit

Mar think Lyn has the right idea, drive him mad and he will soon settle down.

savingqueen

Mar that house sounds like a posh hotel, lovely to visit but you wouldn't want to actually live there. Sounds far too clinical for my liking. Love Mrs LW's idea! hee hee You could also set up a new household chart/rota with every minute of a long day (7 days a week) accounted for to get and keep the house up to immaculacy (is that a word?). Make sure he has 50% of the chores as he is soooo keen for a sparkling show home!!


A friend has confided in me that she (and her OH) are nearly £25k in debt and she isn't telling her hubby as he will worry. They are very good friends of ours and now I feel a bit awkward keeping it secret. Won't break a confidence but will encourage her to speak with her DH. She is frugal in some ways but will have a holiday or do some cosmetic house improvements and stick it on one of their credit cards. They also spend way too much on gifts for family as its expected. I have tried to talk with my friend several times but at the end of the day it's her choice, just worried for them, I thought their debt was much smaller.

Being busy all day but nothing much to show for it. It's all the little things like doing cat poo patrol and helping DH with his accounts homework. Jill of all trades me (and mistress of none)! Not even started looking on-line for pressies, will try and start that next


sq

savingqueen

Fuddle - We use our microwave for lots of odd things, defrosting and re-heating meals, making porridge, hot chocolate etc, warming up drinks that have gone cold but don't cook in it as such other than scrambled eggs. When I get some spare time (and can be bothered) will try a cake in it I think. Ours is a cheap and basic model and does us fine, wouldn't be without one.


Actually on same subject, our MW makes little crackling noises sometimes after we have turned it off. I guess we should buy a new one but keep thinking it will do for a bit longer as its still working. No funny smells or burning. Do you wise folks think I should replace ASAP to be on the safe side? Have I answered my own question




sq

greenbee

I think Mar should try ALL the tactics listed.

Including monnagran's...

PRINCESSX87

Glad to hear I’m not the only one who worries that we might go hungry! Still it needs doing, like other’s have said, Its easy to just chuck the new bits on the top and forget about the little odds & ends. Worse case a weeks worth of meals will be sausages, As I have 40 of them.

I often wonder when someone has a home like a hotel, What they have to sacrifice to get it? By all means, Have a lovely home, no one is doubting it - But when you are told that warming pies is all her oven is used for - to me, comes across sad.

I think that men naturally moan, especially if they believe their missing out. I often get annoyed with OH when he compares our home to others. Having a break in somewhere fresh, clean with sparkly decorations for me is just that….A break. I prefer lived in comfort.

I am totally drained now. Still have a stiff neck & back (Believe its down to the cold) and very tired. I have managed to get a lot done today which was unexpected. I have upgraded my mobile for a really good deal, Spoke to Sky and just need OH to confirm the go ahead and that’s everything needed for a least another year. I think I’ll have a cuppa and start writing the cheques for the remainder of this year.

As we’re out on Saturday (If I can manage it of course) I’m hoping Sunday will be a very quite one, We can get the decs & tree down, Have a good tidy round and make a start of the Christmas cards to get them posted. Our postie told us yesterday that the Christmas back log started at the beginning of this month and they are struggling again under the pressure of things. (He works closely with the sorting office which is around the corner!)

[Deleted User]

PX87 one of my old neighbours in Kent had a £3,500 brand new kitchen installed in the early 1980s (hate to think what it would cost at todays prices) with every new fangled gadget and every built in appliance you could get then, and then wouldn't cook in it as she didn't wany it getting dirty. This is the same woman who made curtains to go inside her glass fronted display units as she couldn't afford to replace the dinner and tea services they were using and didn't want her posh friends to know they couldn't afford to!!! The more I see of people, the more I love my dog!!!, Lyn xxx.

alfsmum

Mar as PX87 says, do you think the RV feels he is missing out by not having all that shininess around him? Does he think you SHOuLD be able to have it but might run a mile if he actually had to live in it? A friend's boss had a 'show' kitchen and 'show' cloakroom where nothing was actually used. All the cooking went on elsewhere, out of sight of visitors.

Whenever I think I'd like our house to stay clean and tidy for half a day, I remind myself that this will only happen when our DDs have moved out and all the pets are no longer with us, then DH and I will be rattling round wondering what to do with ourselves and wishing they were all back with their noise and mess :rotfl: