Champagne Lifestyle on a Lemonade Budget.

Prinzessilein

janb5 wrote: »

Prinzessilein - just to say your special gingerbread recipe which you posted many moons ago has given us so much pleasure so please thank your Mum too!

It is simply the best........!

I am sure fellow MSE`ers would love to see it too so I am adding it here,


Oh...and here is the recipe for Mum's Gingerbread....it is all in imperial measurements...and uses the standard German idea of using plain flour and adding baking powder.....it is one of the yummiest ginger cakes I know - and is deliciously squidgy! (It also freezes beautifully...I cut it into slices and freeze individual portions....Mum freezes the whole cake)


1lb Plain Flour; 8oz Brown Sugar; 6oz butter; 3/4 lb Golden Syrup; 1/2 pint Milk; 1 egg; 3-4 tsp ground ginger; 2 tsp ground cinnamon; 1/2 tsp ground cloves; 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg; 1/2 tsp bicarb of soda; 2 tsp baking powder; 1/2 tsp salt


In a saucepan, warm the butter, syrup and sugar until dissolved. Cool until the mixture is lukewarm and then beat in the egg. Sieve the flour with the spices, salt, bicarb and baking powder - add this to the mixture a little at a time. Warm the milk a little and add this to the mix stirring until the mixture is well blended and smooth. (It will be rather thin and runny - this is normal!)...Divide the mixture between two greased and lined 1lb loaf tins (the tins will each be about 3/4 full) . Bake in a preheated oven. Gas 3 to 3 1/2 or equivalent. Middle shelf for about an hour. ...check the cakes with a fork - if it comes out clean they're done...if not ready then cover the cakes with baking parchment and bake for 10 minutes more (sometimes takes 2 more 10 minute cooks)

xxxxxxx

Awwww thank you!

Mum will be coming here in about half an hour...we always spend Sunday mornings together - I will let her now that her sticky-gingerbread recipe is remembered so fondly!

No champagne here....but I WILL be making the 'good' coffee and we will enjoy a chocolate from a (bargain!) Hotel Chocolat box...whilst doing some hand work and reading aloud.


And sympathy for all who mentioned sensitivity to cleaning products...definitely an issue for me......I might start looking at getting someone in to help with things like cleaning the bathroom floor come the New Year.

butterfly2507

My "champagne" moment of the last days was buying 5 Harry Potter themed Christmas Cards for £10 :rotfl: Did I need them? No. Do I want to see my friends was when they get a Christmas cards from "you know who"? YES :rotfl:

lessonlearned

Good morning.

Champagne moment........ I tried my new bath out this morning. Bliss. Added some magnesium to the water to ease my aches and pains. :rotfl:

Have unpacked, got the washing machine going and am trying to clear up some of the obvious plaster dust. Despite the plumbers efforts at cleaning up and keeping connecting doors shut plaster dust gets everywhere. It can't be helped it's in the atmosphere and usually takes a few days to disappear. At the moment everywhere feels "gritty".

The only problem having a nice freshly done room is that it makes everywhere else look shabby.:rotfl: Never mind a quick clean through and then get the Christmas decorations up and it will look better. I must admit my fingers are itching to start decluttering but I'll wait until new year.

Anyway welcome to the newbies and those that have come out of lurkdom. It's nice to see so many eager beavers determined to have a good time, even if many of us are skint. Ha ha.

Re cleaning products, there are some really nasty chemicals in some products and toiletries So it's a good idea to try and make your own if you can.

I always wear good quality flock lined rubber gloves for wet work and fabric "work" gloves for things like tip runs. I tend to fling open the windows when using bleach to dissipate the fumes quickly. I often wear mouth and nose masks too. I am allergic to dust mites so always wear a mask when lifting carpets etc.

That's why I like houseplants, they can really improve air quality and reduce the harmful effects of computers and electronic equipment. Peace lilies and spider plants are great for offices or studies.

Right back to the dusting and then some brunch and then I'm off out.

janb5

I can`t lay claim to this cleaning liquid which another poster gave but it is effective and relatively inexpensive.


General purpose cleaner - 1 part washing up liquid, 2 parts lemon juice, 4 parts white vinegar and 5 parts water. ( I use 50mls, 100mls, 200mls and 250mls respectively to make 600mls of cleaner). Stir together in a jug and decant into spray bottle. Use for kitchen surfaces, paintwork, bathrooms, toilets etc.

Lemon juice can be picked up really cheaply in Lidl. Ocado sell the huge bottle of white vinegar but I dont use Ocado

This is great as a daily cleaner and fab on windows.

Graciefields

I clicked on multiple quotes so that I could thank your individual suggestions but don't know how to insert them. Oh well never mind.
Thank you for the info re anxiety and the menopause, I never knew. I presume I have gone through the menopause because I am 53 but I had a Mirena Coil fitted so stopped having periods ages ago. I do remember having hot sweats for a while around 5yrs ago. Thanks for the suggestion about cleaning my space and getting out etc.
I've not had many champagne moments this week as I've been pretty ill since Sunday night. Dr prescribed me Naproxen for my shoulder and after taking it for 4 days I got the most awful stomach pain. Turns out the medicine damaged the lining of my stomach. A week later I'm feeling much better but not 100%
On the subject of Child Benefit and married tax allowance. I had 1 child and was married but could never understand why I got the benefit. It was my choice to have the child and I would not have expected the taxpayer to contribute. And I do think it discriminatory that married couples got tax allowances.
Going back to anxiety, I am wondering if I should get medication from my doctor. I'm wondering if Anti Depressants might help me as I have been feeling kind of hopeless. But maybe I should crack on with what I said in my first post and give all the suggestions a try first before resorting to medication.
Thanks again for all the great advice.

moneyistooshorttomention

Gracie - you're my new bff - for being so honest and fair.:T You are pretty unique in being so - there's not a lot like you from what I can see.

Hope you're feeling better soon ((( )))

candygirl

GRACIE there's no harm or shame in trying anti depressants.I wouldn't be here without mine They take 4-6 weeks to start working though x

Lifeofdreams

Dear Graciefields

Is your anxiety related to menopause? Have you been on the menopause Uk website their is some great information there. You can also refer yourself to increased access to psychological therapies for your anxiety (talking therapy) which can be provided over the telephone or face to face. Usually cognitive therapy is provided. Alternatively if you go to your local library they should have books on prescription ( self help books for anxiety recommended by NHS).

Anxiety can be so debilitating. I hope you get the help you need. A lot can be linked to the menopause. Sending you a virtual hug💐

joedenise

candygirl wrote: »

Welcome home 'LL.So glad you had a fab time, n you like your bathroom.Have you still got a bath?I struggle getting in n out of mine now, which is a shame as I love it:( When I get mine done, I think I might have it taken out, n a bigger shower fitted .Decisions decisions :rotfl:
When you get time tell us all about Adrian :D

We've had bathroom done recently and have got rid of the bath and replaced it with a big shower. We've been living in our bungalow for 18 years now and in that time we've probably had 2 or 3 baths in that time so decided we'd rather just have a decent sized shower.

We're so pleased with it and with the job our builder done we're now having our kitchen/utility/dining room made over and getting him to do it. Not the cheapest but a thorough job.

Like LL we're going to have it done when we go on holiday in January for 3 weeks and hope the worst of it will be over, at least the dusty/ dirty stuff!

Denise

caronc

Good evening everyone,

Definitely worth a chat with your GP Gracie, it can only help.
LL - bath sounds blissful:D. I can completely relate to the dust everywhere situation but inevitable after building work.
Only champagne moment today was giving my HM bramble vodka it's first filter. It smells and looks wonderful though very potent. Most will be given away as gifts but I'll keep a small bottle for me:D. Recycled bottles, brambles from the garden, a bottle of cheap vodka and some sugar - definitely "champagne on lemonade budget":D