Crazy Cat Lady Chapter 3 - A New Beginning

Honeysucklelou2

A large saucepan will suffice for preserving - I've used the biggest pan in the set I have. Thermometers can be useful but the setting point of jams and jellies can be determined by the "wrinkle" test. If you put a spoonful of jam on a chilled plate and gently push, it should wrinkle when it's at setting point.

crazy_cat_lady

Honeysucklelou2 wrote: »

A large saucepan will suffice for preserving - I've used the biggest pan in the set I have. Thermometers can be useful but the setting point of jams and jellies can be determined by the "wrinkle" test. If you put a spoonful of jam on a chilled plate and gently push, it should wrinkle when it's at setting point.

Thank you - all things I am determined to learn in time. I'd completely forgotten what a kitchen goddess you are. The scientist in me wants to know every tiny detail before I even consider taking a chance. :rotfl:

crazy_cat_lady

Morning all :coffee: :hello:
As much as I have loved being on holiday, I really enjoyed sleeping in my own bed last night. After getting everything done and unpacked and relaxing for a couple of hours I thought I might have a fairly quiet day on today but I've woken up and suddenly seem to have loads of really annoying little things to do that are going to keep me busy for most of the day. However, I know if I write them down on here then I'll get most of them done as it makes me feel more accountable.
:undecided Basic housework - hoover, wash dishes, washing, meal prep
:undecided Pop to the vet for naughty tortie's special food and medicine as she's been a bit sickly since we got home.
:undecided Drop ds at his dad's, pick him up later and take him to his friend's for a sleepover
:undecided Put dd's new drawers together now that she's finally cleared space for them
:undecided Try and catch up for a coffee with bestie
:undecided Decide whether to go to minor injuries and just get my wrist checked over. It's 3 weeks since I fell on it and still very uncomfortable.
:undecided Decide whether or not to go to my school reunion tonight. It's a long way out of my comfort zone to go to a night out on my own, but I didn't have a good time at school in terms of friends. I don't know yet...
That's lots of stuff so I suppose I'd better get on and make a start.

beanielou

Indeed grief for the life you thought you would have.
I still feel it occassionally after 20 odd years!!

crazy_cat_lady

Oh my goodness - yesterday was utterly hectic. I decided that I would attempt everything on my list but I seriously underestimated the amount of time I would need to do it.
I dropped ds off at his dads (who is obviously very ill again - I can tell just by looking), then went to minor injuries. It was a bit of a wait but they had a look and told me that I've damaged my FCU tendon (indeed) - and I need to try and rest it, with only gentle movements, for the next 3-5 weeks. This will be almost impossible as it's my dominant hand, but I'll try my best. Then me and dd popped to my bestie's house for a quick cuppa and catch up before heading off home to assemble her new chest of drawers. Try doing that with a dodgy sore wrist. It took hours, and still wasn't done by the time I had to go and get ds from his dad's. It took me ages to get through the traffic, and I decided to get the kids a quick MaccyD for their dinner as I hadn't done anything at home foodwise. I quickly got changed and ds packed a bag to stay at his friend's house. Then I dropped ds off and caught the bus into town for my reunion. It was ok, better than I expected, and I think that I put a lot of demons to rest just by going. I had a few drinks, and came home on the second to last bus, sat down and finished assembling the drawers before I went to bed. Completely non stop.
As a result, today is looking awfully busy as well. I need to get dressed and go to my tutoring session in about half an hour. I really need the money from that today... Then I'll need to fuel the car and buy a couple of essential groceries for the week ahead. I don't need much as the freezer is quite full so hoping that I can spend less than £20. Then a long list of little jobs in the house - I need to do some food prep and freezing, finish the washing, prep my school stuff ready for tomorrow and get the old drawers dismantled and out into the rubbish. Can't really complain as I've relaxed for most of the six weeks - just have made myself busy for the last weekend :rotfl:

apple_muncher

I don't expect you will be able to rest your wrist much, ccl. I damaged both of mine (I was riding dd's little scooter to pick her up and was stopped dead by a fat twig - I almost went over the handlebars!) And I bought 2 wrist supports from b00ts. They reminded me that I was injured, and also served to remind other people...

beanielou

Take care of that wrist

crazy_cat_lady

Another pretty busy day... Although not quite as bad as yesterday.
I have done the required tidy up in preparation for my cleaning lady coming tomorrow, and all traces of the previous drawers has gone from the house (mostly into recycling). I did 2 hours of tutoring, followed by the grocery shopping at Aldee - got almost everything on my list and popped into Mr A for the 2 things I couldn't get there. While I was at Mr A I fuelled the car, then popped it through the car wash (I know that is not MSE but it does save time). Got home, made dinner, finished folding the washing, packed my school bag ready for tomorrow and changed the cat litter.
Spent a couple of hours on catch up tv - bake off and casualty, and have done a small amount of crochet. I have a wrist support which I am wearing when I'm not washing up or crocheting - it does help with the pain, but I can't crochet with it on. I'm just about to go in the shower now, then I'm going to watch the Bodyguard, read in bed for half an hour, then sleep. Wish me luck, and I'll see you on the other side tomorrow evening

beanielou

I think the Bodyguard is fab.
That lovely Scottish accent

wishingthemortgaheaway

All the best for back to school. I know how you all feel.