I have lost my OS ways, help!

FZwanab

CyclingLondonSaver wrote: »

What would you lot recommend as a cheapish washing powder/liquid that's good value for money? I'm wondering if it's worth buying one of the branded ones in a pound shop. Or is it better to get a stain remover of some sorts, to use with the washing powder? Open to all suggestions though! :T

I always used Ariel biological powder but switched to Aldi alnat?? Green box biological powder as it was recommended with which? And it works a treat. I have sensitive skin and it is fine with me. Only if I have heavy stains eg. Biro, egg, blood etc. I would throw in a scoop of fake oxi powder or napisan which is cheaper than finish.

CyclingLondonSaver

Thanks FZwanab for the washing powder tip - I shall bear it in mind when I next buy some washing powder.

Today was a NSD for me. Went to a friend's for brunch - was planning to go out but we ate at his instead as I didn't want to spend. Brought him some homemade brownies in return which he liked. Then rushed home and hosted a friend at mine for late lunch / early roast dinner, using the bits I picked up yesterday. He was very happy with his full roast and I have some potatoes, veg and Yorkshires left over for the week.

Am hoping for a red meat free week next week - I'm actively trying to cut down. I'm going to stick some bits in the slow cooker later so I'll have gingered chickpeas for work tomorrow. Also need to iron some work clothes. But having a little sit down and chill first... much needed as I've been non stop socialising all day

Hope you've all had an MSE and OS day

Caterina

Good morning,

A warm welcome to lucielle and FZwanab, good to see you posting, hope you enjoy the thread!

Villagelife I look forward to hearing more about your veg plot, we are slowly sorting the neglected allotment and it will be good to have some inspiration.

Icey when you have little children a tumble drier is a Godsend, don't feel guilty about it! We gave ours away, after years of good service, when DS started, in his teens, to dry ONE favourite T-shirt for an hour at a time. After telling him repeatedly not to, but (OBVS!) meeting deaf ears, we just freecycled it and it went to a family with small children, much to our disgruntled teen's disgust LOL!

CyclingLondonSaver good luck with reducing red meat, if you google Meat Free Monday there is a lot of info about reducing meat consumption in general.

Well, the building works continue and I am about to go downstairs, face the builder and tell him that it is taking an unreasonable amout of time and I also hope to renegotiate the price. We feel that he does a good job, but because he is Italian and has never worked with Victorian houses he is unnecessarily careful (he finds wooden structures very puzzling!) and over-meticulous. Because we pay him per day he does not have a great incentive to hurry up, either - although I have to say he is scrupulously honest, not taking the mickey, but no incentive to finish either. Wish me luck.

Apart from this, my OS plan for today is (hopefully) a NSD, keep fit class, then I have a cookery lesson courtesy of my elderly Indian neighbour who's invited me to learn how to make Pakoras. I look forward to it.

Then work with the boys, dinner to be cooked and eaten (chick peas are already in the pressure cooker boiling away), preparing the oranges for marmalade, then bedtime. If DH is not too tired after his evening bootcamp we might watch the catch up of the last episode of Last Tango in Halifax.

Please don't mind me not posting much, I have so many things going at the moment and very little laptop time (that reminds me, got to set laptop up in bedroom). A friend of DD is staying with us for a few weeks because she needs temporary accommodation, I am so NOT relishing it, but she needs help, pays me a small rent and has agreed to do me a full house cleaning per week, so it might be ok. Cross fingers for me please.

Have a good OS day.

villagelife

I have had a NSD today which is needed and I was tempted to buy some crisps when I walked past shop so pleased with myself.
I had homemade soup for lunch which warmed me up and made afternoon more bearable.

Had a talk with a collegue and feel I have made progress with using a chair that doesn't hurt my back.My boss is leaving in 15 weeks and counting! The stress will definately lessen then.

I've got to do some ironing tonight and then hopefully try and make my winter coat more presentable - not sure how.
I must also make marmalade as I have oranges ready.

CyclingLondonSaver

Evening all! Yum villagelife, very jealous of your imminent home-made marmalade. I only really like it when it's home-made rather than shop bought.

Today was a NSD for me. Left work only slightly late thankfully. Now just sat chilling, I need to get up and work out some dinner soon. Probably turkey breast with leftover veg and potatoes from yesterday.

Not only was today NSD, I am in fact up £20! Well, £20 worth of Waitrose/JL gift card anyhow. I was part of a focus group a few months ago and the organiser sent the gift card through to say thanks. Working out what to spend it on. Not sure whether to pick something up I want (like a shower speaker) or use it on general food shopping next time I pop into Waitrose.

Caterina

Good evening,

Laptop set up in bedroom YIPPEE! I can type on a proper keyboard finally, instead of balancing the ipad on my boobs and get RSA in my wrists trying to use their rubbish "keyboard".

Villagelife SNAP re. oranges, quartered and pressure-cooked. Now I just have to pinch all the pips out, measure the liquid, cut the skins in thin strips and voila, ready for cooking. But not tonight, too tired and sleepy (what's new LOL).

CyclingLondonSaver I shall let you know when I make it, if it comes ok we meet half way between your neck of the wood and mine (I am in Greenwich) and I can give you a taster jar!

The pakora cooking lesson went ok, I must have eaten a couple of dozens, fry and eat, fry and eat, this afternoon I was STUFFED! But they were delicious. I brought back home a large amount, most of which is in the freezer and it will make lovely snacks and accompaniments for curries. Now I know why hers are always so much tastier than mine, she puts TABLESPOONFULS of spices and fistfuls of salt! I used to put pinches of spices and no salt, no wonder!

She grinds her own garam masala but she does not have enough English to tell me the names of the spices. She kept saying she put them in the machine to grind, I was like "what do you put in the machine" and she was like "I put them in the machine", in the end I gave up, I shall ask her DDIL, she will tell me. When I brought them back home still hot the builder tasted a few and loved them. He is another taste-adventurous Italian!

DH is at bootcamp and I am dragging myself to bed, I am so sleepy I could fall asleep sitting here on the chair.

Ah, before I go, it was a NSD, the first of the month!

Good night.

amandaatnumber7

Icey77 wrote: »

Great!!!:T

The only thing I have found is that if you use a tumble dryer (unlikely with MSE I know but!) the stain will be set and nothing will get it out then

My excuse is that I have 2 kids and to get anything dry with building works and naff weather is impossible :mad:

I don't have a tumble dryer so in winter my house looks like a chinese laundry :rotfl: But we are lucky as our winters are not very long

Hubby is going fantastically on the veggie garden,, he's really getting into it. We've already got a few fruit trees but planning on planting some more. He also planted a grape vine on the weekend :T
we are slowly getting towards our goal of being self sufficient (semi as I cant have chooks due to council regulations or a cow obviously )
I've borrowed a bread maker and making hubby some GF bread its definitely trail and lots of error but I'll find a mix that works sooner or later
Well Mum's just arrived so I'll be off have a lovely day everyone

Caterina

Good morning,

Amandaatnumber7, how exciting about the veg progress, it is such a good feeling to be able to "shop in the veg garden" when you are missing something for your dinner! Pity about the chooks, though. That's one of my plans in the future (after the house is finished), a little chicken coop in the back garden, probably an Eglu because London is inhabited by Urban Mr Fox!

Today OS plan:

I am taking it easy this morning because I had a mystery shop last night, dinner with wine, 2 small glasses and that was enough to give me a disturbed night.

Next two days are early starts so am still in bed today for an extra rest. But not for long as I need to make DH sandwiches, he is seeing the GP for some throat problem he has, but not until 9:50 so he is still here, having breakfast now.

I cancelled a bit of work I had (accounts for my doula friend) as I can do that at a later stage. I need to spend the next couple of hours writing the mystery shop report. The meals are lovely but they are not free, as some people think, I put a lot of work in the write-ups.

Then it is Marmalade Day! I need to put all the jars in the dishwasher for a final sterilisation, might as well, as there are other bits and pieces of crockery to wash anyway, rather than use the oven.

No shopping needed today but I shall defrost some milk to make yogurt tomorrow. I need to use up the cheesy old yogurt, any idea what I can do? I might just make some scones if I have time.

5pm yoga class, if I feel up to it, then dinner to prepare, I have some cooked chickpeas so there might be a veg curry in the offing (will defrost a few pakora from the other day's pakora lesson).

Quiet evening in, watching the catch ups of Call the Midwife and Last Tango in Halifax.

Have a good OS day.

CyclingLondonSaver

Evening all!

Caterina, I live on the Isle of Dogs so just on the other side of the river! I'm also very intrigued by your mystery shopping/dining, how did you get involved?

Yesterday was a very bad day for me spending wise . Ended up meeting the boyfriend out for a drink then we went to a Japanese restaurant. I tried to keep it cheap so only spent just over £20. Kind of regretting it today, but the food was really good. I am now resolving to myself - no more eating out! Bad me!

Had my free health check from work today. They took loads of blood - 7 vials! - and I didn't have anything to get my blood sugar levels back up. Meant I had to pick up a chocolate bar and a drink from a Tesco, but that only came to under £2 and was a necessary expense. From tomorrow I have to keep a food diary for a week as a follow up which should be interesting.

Evening plans for me will be to cook some dinner - taken a piece of salmon out the freezer - and relax. My slow cooked gingered chickpeas has provided three lunches so far, and should see me through Thursday and Friday lunch too. Not bad for a meal that cost less than £2 overall to make

amandaatnumber7

Caterina I love Call the Midwife and other shows like Land Girls and Upstairs Downstairs

CyclingLondonSaver I don't envy you I hate getting blood work done, I had to get over my fear of needles when I did fertility treatment but I still can be a bit of a sook about it lol

Talking of needles my littlest boy DS3 had to have his next lot of immunisation needles today he didn't cry too much and nor did I

Still taking me some time to get use to these reduced wages but I think I'm getting on top of it as far as the grocery shopping is concerned. I'm confident about the day to day but I worry about having enough to put aside for birthdays and Christmas - yes I'm already stressing about Christmas I feel like a crazy lady!!!!
I have spoken to DS1 about the fact that money is a little tight as he is old enough to understand - he's 14, but I have reassured him that I do have some money aside for school camp so he's a happy lad

My girlfriend and I are having a garage sale on the weekend, we're having it at my house. It'll be great to finally get rid of the clutter in the front room and hopefully get a little bit of cash too, fingers crossed. Its much easier having it at home rather than dragging everything out to a car boot sale but you don't get as many people come by.

Well both the little boys are having an afternoon sleep I should get my gloves on and do some housework while I can as this place looks like a cyclone has gone through since I've banned tv in the mornings

Have a great OS day x