It's getting tough out there. Feeling the pinch?

pumpkin89

Rosa_Damascena said:

Which? came up with their taste test of mince pies, Waitrose brown butter one came on top this year but at £3.50 for 6 they can stay in the shop as far as I am concerned! In fact, cancel Christmas altogether. Christmas without mince pies will be just another Sunday.

If anyone does fancy trying the Waitrose brown butter mince pies, they are 2 for £4 from today until next Tuesday.  You can mix and match with other varieties too, including the amazing Heston lemon spiced ones.  Worth splashing out on, IMO.

Siebrie

A friend gave me a binliner full of clothes for husband's relatives in Africa. I, of course, had a look and took out 2 thick hooded and lined cardis (are they still called cardigans if they are made from sweater fabric and zip up?), 2 lady's vests and 5 longsleeves. I wear the longsleeves under jumpers, so that I don't have to wash the jumpers too often, which makes them thin really quickly. The colour of the longsleeves really doesn't matter to me. Husband took a cardigan, dd1 took a pair of football shorts 'to sleep in' .

Bluegreen143

I’m doing that with my heating - I’ve always had the thermostat set to 20C but it’s 18C this year. It’s not on all the time though but I will put it on if it feels cold when I have a jumper on. When you’re working from home at a desk all day you do feel it. 

Slinky

We got one mouse in a trap overnight out of the 5 I set. I think our battle with the rodents could last a while. Got the builders to seal up the gaps round the temporary back doors with some foam. Wasn't sure whether trapping them inside was the right thing to do, but I'm inclined to think they are unlikely to go wandering back outside looking for food, it's more likely that we'll get more of them coming in through unblocked gaps.

The chap at the shop I bought the traps from said they're selling loads at the moment. It would appear the good weather we had this year has been great for the not so welcome wildlife which is taking up residence in our homes.

bellabella

Slinky Just to make you aware if its rats you have they will chew through expanding foam easily you need to block all gaps a thumb and a half width or more with wire wool and expanding foam . We had rats in the loft at a previous house running through as we were in the middle of the terrace we never totally eradicated them as neighbours didn't want to pay for pest control but we had pest control in to limit any damage also make sure there is no water source for  them good luck

Rosa_Damascena

Siebrie said:

A friend gave me a binliner full of clothes for husband's relatives in Africa. I, of course, had a look and took out 2 thick hooded and lined cardis (are they still called cardigans if they are made from sweater fabric and zip up?), 2 lady's vests and 5 longsleeves. I wear the longsleeves under jumpers, so that I don't have to wash the jumpers too often, which makes them thin really quickly. The colour of the longsleeves really doesn't matter to me. Husband took a cardigan, dd1 took a pair of football shorts 'to sleep in' .

Is this with said friend's blessing? It may well cause friction otherwise.

wort

Re mince pies, unfortunately gluten free ones are all around the 4 for £2.50/£3.00 mark ! As is a gluten free bread .
just to say though the dates don’t matter if you can freeze them the same if you make them bake lots and freeze then take out as needed. 

Thanks for the mushroom recipe 👏🏻

Auti

Thank you @wort for tip on freezing the mince pies - do they still taste as good once defrosted? I have no idea if they react differently because of no gluten.

Elisheba

I've never thought of freezing mince pies before. I wonder if I bought them in the after Xmas sale if I could freeze them for the year?

TheAble

Siebrie said:

A friend gave me a binliner full of clothes for husband's relatives in Africa. I, of course, had a look and took out 2 thick hooded and lined cardis (are they still called cardigans if they are made from sweater fabric and zip up?), 2 lady's vests and 5 longsleeves. I wear the longsleeves under jumpers, so that I don't have to wash the jumpers too often, which makes them thin really quickly. The colour of the longsleeves really doesn't matter to me. Husband took a cardigan, dd1 took a pair of football shorts 'to sleep in' .

Was there anything left for the Africans...?