Cooking for one (Mark Two)

moneyistooshorttomention

Farway wrote: »

Was this the fridge socket problem?

Yep....:(

Over a day blown to smithereens waiting for an electrician to show up - and he didnt:mad: (but basically a day gets wasted anyway when one is "on alert" waiting for them)

Cue for me ringing another electrician - and he will be coming round tomorrow instead. Think this one should be more reliable....:cool:

I keep telling myself and telling myself that I know I've not been able to rely on tradespeople coming when they say they will since moving (at least some consolation when I'm told "Yep...they do it to 'their own' as well") - and should get on with something else instead (local let-down rate is probably about 50% come when promised/50% let-down merchants) - but somehow I still remain "on alert" waiting for them when promised (as well as the "on alert" when they're actually here). Totally illogical, I know, to get "knocked for six" emotionally by this....when one is trying to get on with Having A Life and it does feel they are disrespecting peoples rights to Have A Life. Usually there isnt even a phonecall to say they're about to let you down - you just have to phone them wondering where they are and then find out...

Yep...p**d off - as you can gather LOL

caronc

Good afternoon everyone,
Just popping in to say :hello:,
My son bought and is cooking dinner tonight - bbq ribs, coleslaw and wedges. I hadn't the heart to tell him I'd had ribs on Monday and I'm sure they will be lovely.:D

I had the "joys" of a medical assessment this morning. You read so many horror stories about how folk are treated at these but they couldn't have been more pleasant and professional. I'm glad it's over though and I'm now pretty wabbit despite a good snooze this afternoon.:)

I'm gradually getting my Christmas stocks together, I buy things I know we'll use if they go on special offer. This week it's prawns and smoked salmon. Both luxury items so to me definitely worth buying in advance if they reduce the price.

[Deleted User]

it was a small local company for my dd conservatory upgrade, she still had a list of snags and luckily had not paid anything, so they were sorted pdq

Money I am so sorry about that electrician problem, they never turn up at 9, it is always 5, if they turn up. My ds uses a website to find trusted workmen, he has been lucky three times. They are not really interested in small jobs. Let it go from you, see what tomorrow brings

caronc

I think I've been quite lucky so far with workmen. I tend to put a shout out for recommendations on our local Facebook page and do a wider search for reviews on the web. I needed to get some work minor done on my bay window roof last year and got a couple of names suggested. I then got several messages from folk I know locally re one of them saying to avoid so I did and the chap I went with turned to be a gem. It's a real minefield though.

PasturesNew

Farway wrote: »

Found some YS sausage rolls, big mistake, they are BBQ ones, vile, looks like bin fodder. Try something new you said, bah humbug

Yeah, that's always a risk... if I found something brilliant I'd stick with it - but most stuff is just "so so", so it's worth trying something new.

I saw cheese/pickle sausage rolls last week.... stared and thought "bet they're actually rank", so didn't buy those.

Farway wrote: »

I also found a sort of nut roast, https://groceries.morrisons.com/webshop/product/Morrisons-Carrot-Sweet-Potato--Kale-Loaf/371151011

Will give a go for Christmas, should be at least two portions in there, and always room in the bin alongside the BBQ sos rolls

I've had the Aldi Xmas catalogue slide into my letterbox and they have some smallish nut roasts, although I was confused by the advert. I won't be getting them, but you might like to check out/compare the price/size/flavours.

p12, Vegetable Nut Roast.
Individual nut roasts with seasonal vegetables, nuts and gluten free breadcrumbs, topped with a rich sauce.
Choose from Beetroot & Brie with a cranberry sauce centre, or
Roast Vegetable, Quinoa & Cheddar with a red onion marmalade.
On sale from 20 Nov
£3.49 for 2x195g 2-pack.

So they are a lot pricier per Kg than the morries one.

I'd just make my own .... in fact I think I will be making a nut roast this year.

[Deleted User]

I will be enjoying a hm croissant later, I had my first breakfast of usual spelt flakes, dried raspberries and cacao nibs. Those additions are just about finished and I will have to see what else I can use as I am on a mission to use stuff up. I have been loving those raspberries and feel ok about the croissant too. Exercise today, later on my bike. I was geared up to go yesterday but had a flat tyre, luckily discovered before I started off. Sorted it, took wheel off and did a puncture repair, then changed the tyre, which I had been putting off. Fingers crossed that all is ok today when I check my pressures. Btw this is something we could all do when teenagers, except I did my last inner tube repair about 50 years ago

No idea yet for food today but I will be careful to eat properly. I have some pesto so will probably mix that into a little bit of pasta, with sardines. Veg is limited choice as I am not going to the allotment but I can do a stir fry of celery, fennel and red cabbage

whiteguineapig

the beetroot ones sound very like the ones i get from tesco (tesco frozen veggie range)

caronc

Good morning everyone,
It was very stormy during the night and I've been awake since the early houring due to the wind noise, so I'm showered and organised pretty early for me:D.

Not CFO tonight and I'm treating my son & I to a Tesco Finest Meal for £10, much cheaper than a takeaway for two and I'll stash the wine with it for my Christmas stocks:cool:.

Lunch will probably be a bacon butty though I might make a quick pot of leek & tattie soup. My son is planning to service his car so might appreciate a warm bowlful as it's baltic outside and the wind is really raw.:)

The winter mice invasion has started:mad:, early this year as it has been so cold. [STRIKE]Three[/STRIKE] Four of the little beggars so far and no doubt there will be more, one of the lesser joys of living in an old terrace house seems to be mice every winter. They lurk in the fire/crawl spaces and chimneys that join the houses and it's something you just get used to dealing with as it's impossible to block up all the potential entry points. A few years ago my neighbour invested in one of the sonar systems that is supposed to deter them. He was sure they were coming to see what the noise was as they were innundated:eek:.

moneyistooshorttomention

Agh! caron....yuk...

Do you have a resident cat?

Also - as this seems to be a communal problem - then could you all jointly ask the Council to send in a pest controller type person?

My last house was a Victorian terrace and I never had any pest problems - there were noise problems and some damp - but at least no "livestock".

caronc

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Agh! caron....yuk...

Do you have a resident cat?

Also - as this seems to be a communal problem - then could you all jointly ask the Council to send in a pest controller type person?

My last house was a Victorian terrace and I never had any pest problems - there were noise problems and some damp - but at least no "livestock".

Next door has a cat but it doesn't seem to make much difference. I'm afraid our local council don't do anything re mice only rats. Myself & my neighbour did get Rentokil out a few years ago, their advice was live with it and deal with as needed. Apparently my home area is notorious for it's mice population. It's only ever a problem for a few months a year, the rest of the time I suspect they decant to the railway embankment:)