Cherry takes the reins

badmemory

I wouldn't just throw the eggs away.  Just test them in a bowl of water & if they float then throw them, if they sink to the bottom they are okay to eat.

ETA  It is all to do with the air space in them.  It gets bigger as they get older so they are more likely to float.

Cherryfudge

Thanks @badmemory, I did just that... and they floated! Such a shame, I hate waste but somehow missed that I had these to use up.

I'm now trying not to buy eggs until I'm ready to use them, even if that means a separate trip to the shops (which are nearby so not a huge commitment).

Honeysucklelou2

Thanks for posting the foodbank calendar...gives lots of ideas. Well done on making your own crisps. I hadn’t thought about using the potato peelings. Must give it a try...wonder if it works for Apple peelings!?!

Cherryfudge

Oh now... apple peelings dusted with cinnamon and sugar?!  

I think with practice I could do a better job of the potato peel crisps, as I over cooked some of them and they tasted a bit different because they were peel not centre. I think if I'd added spices, I might have done a better job, but I'll be making them again.

Today was a day off from the church cleaning. I got a bit of tidying and yet more laundry done before work, and we had a good shift. I wasn't shift lead but discovered a problem about an hour before the end of the shift that took two of us two hours to resolve as far as we can, so another lot of overtime to claim.

Tonight is clear, bright and cold out. DH has had the heating on morning and night (which I'm glad of). I steered clear of the shops, using up yesterday's pasta salad for lunch and making overnight oats for tea. I may try counting my November NSDs.

Spending: nil
MS stuff - overtime earned, stayed away from the shops, slowly making space in the kitchen cupboards so I can see and use what I already have.
Things to be thankful for: beautiful autumn weather, not needing the heating on in the daytime, lots of laughter at work.

Cherryfudge

I'm having computer problems tonight so I hope I can make a coherent post. The battery has long since died and we 'replaced' the computer over a year ago with one that DH now, but this one has kept on going, so long as it's plugged in. Twice tonight though, it's switched itself off.

I've been at home all day: a real November day with rain and not enough light. It's not been too cold outside, apparently: the condensation appeared outside our windows during the day. I did a couple of mending jobs: a favourite jumper of DH's and a favourite mug of mine. DH has been out for a birthday card, out again for a bike lamp and yet again for groceries. He was going to go for a run, but it's been too gloomy.

I have put the Christmas cake fruits to soak in brandy. I'm not going for a long steeping time this year as I just want to get the cake done. While I was in the kitchen I cleaned a few shelves, threw out a bottle of cordial that somehow didn't taste right, and some nuts that had gone rather rancid, then turned my attention to what herbs and spices I have and what's actually in date. The results were salutary. More than three quarters were past the 'best before' date. That in itself doesn't bother me as I go by whether they smell/taste/look in okay condition. However, even with my tendency to keep everything, I can see that if I have spices from before the pandemic, they aren't likely to be used up in the reasonably near future. I've kept the best and added the rest to the compost. There are now nineteen jars awaiting recycling!

We decided against the bonfire tonight as it's chilly and wet, but we got a photo of A, H and baby N waiting for the start. I hope they enjoyed it - the baby copes very well with ear defenders!

So, nothing spent by me, though a couple of unknown amounts to declare. I discovered that instead of turning my electric heat pad off, I'd turned it up and it must have been on since the socket was switched on this morning! Just when we were proud of ourselves for not having the heating on, too. Then DH confessed he'd left the hot tap running for a couple of hours (he can't hear it once he's out of the room). So all in all I think we've spent rather more than we intended today.

Oh, and DH reported that our chippie now charges £9 a portion for basic fish and chips.

However, there's plenty to be thankful for: having enough to pay the bills, having space in the spices drawer at long last, DH accepting mushy peas that grew in a tin rather than the ones in a tub from the chippy, being able to watch the town fireworks from the top window as we did when the children were small, but with the beautiful birch tree in the way now.

Cherryfudge

Just realised I'd not had a text reminder to pay off my Credit card so I hurriedly did it rather than pay interest on Monday. I checked my phone and definitely no message.  

Honeysucklelou2

The dried fruit here ends up soaking in brandy for weeks because I don’t get a big enough chunk of time to make it😆. 

Cherryfudge

Honeysucklelou2 said:

The dried fruit here ends up soaking in brandy for weeks because I don’t get a big enough chunk of time to make it😆. 

I bet it's amazing when it's eaten!

Cherryfudge

Today didn't go quite to plan. I couldn't get to sleep last night (I was comfortable enough with the temperature I was at, but somehow needed another degree or so to nod off), so I overslept. DH went to 'actual' church and I watched online. In the afternoon I had intended to bake the Christmas cake but the tin I wanted has disappeared. Cupboards, larder, under the stairs? No. Ask family? They haven't got it. I even texted my super-sociable friend in case I'd lent it to her for a party or something. At this rate I'll be buying another, but at least the fruit gets longer in the brandy.

The plus side was turfing a couple of boxes out: for some reason there was out of date skimmed milk and minced vegetable protein under the stairs, so those have both gone. Some plastic lids went in the recycling and DH is going to see if the charity shop can use some little measuring pots that originally came with laundry liquid. That's a couple of small boxes gone, and I won't miss them because those things must have been there ages.

DH made us a sausage casserole for tea and there's enough for a meal tomorrow as well. I did get another jumper and a shirt mended: good to have them back in commission not cluttering the place up.

Spending:
Electronics (new battery for computer) £21.

MS:
Mending done. New battery is cheaper than new laptop! Heating on morning and evening but not in the day.

And things to be thankful for: a productive quiet weekend at home, a really challenging talk this morning (plenty of food for thought and action), first fog of the autumn (probably from bonfires but atmospheric), and clear later.

Cherryfudge

The new computer battery arrived today and DH has fitted it. I'm still plugged into the mains (old habits die hard) but it's good to know I could unplug and go elsewhere - this room gets cold once the sun is off it. Yes, we have sockets elsewhere, but not a suitable table.

After another lie in, I really didn't get much done before work. I was shift lead again (no surprises there) but actually had a pretty straightforward shift apart from someone calling in sick for tomorrow. I've spent much of the evening contacting staff to see if I could get cover and ended up thinking I'd have to do it myself, but it turns out I can't as I've promised my friend we'd go to a fundraiser for a charity she supports. I'm already on a training course in the morning and H is coming in the afternoon so it's going to be busy for a day off.

I did have a brief chat with a senior manager and am quite pleased with myself because I really have reservations about some things I associate with this person, but I didn't give a thing away. I've questioned one or two things in the past, but I won't make progress with arguing my case if I get their back up.

NSD. How many is that this month? 4/7. Better than usual!

And things to be thankful for: work is always warm! It's easier to stay warm at home when I'm warmed through already. Managing to get a bag of clothes out and donated: a bit more space in the house. These seriously nice chocolate hazelnut biscuits I got cheap on the market as factory seconds. Another birdfeeder filled ready for the winter weather.