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

YorksLass

@sammy_kaye18
Just checked and there are only 12 in the series, not 14 as I first thought  .  I'm looking for Vols 11 & 12 in The Australians series by William Stuart Long - Vol 11 The Nationalists and Vol 12 The Imperialists.  I can find them on second hand book sites but they're a little on the pricey side and outside my budget.  I did get some of the others (ex-library editions) from the CS so, who knows, I may come across them one day.  There's no hurry as I've plenty of other reading material to be getting on with!

Bread is all sorted out for the coming week as I made a large white loaf yesterday and a large wholemeal loaf today but will freeze half of each and there's various other bread-y things in the freezer too - baps, naans, wraps etc.  I've sliced and pickled a small red cabbage today (2 jars) and, looking through my stocks of pickles and chutneys, definitely don't need any more of those for a while!  Not too bad for tinned/frozen veg, fruit, salad and cheese but will need fresh milk, green leafy veg, potatoes and bread flour so will do a small order for delivery next week.

sammy_kaye18

YorksLass said:

@sammy_kaye18
Just checked and there are only 12 in the series, not 14 as I first thought  .  I'm looking for Vols 11 & 12 in The Australians series by William Stuart Long - Vol 11 The Nationalists and Vol 12 The Imperialists.  I can find them on second hand book sites but they're a little on the pricey side and outside my budget.  I did get some of the others (ex-library editions) from the CS so, who knows, I may come across them one day.  There's no hurry as I've plenty of other reading material to be getting on with!

Bread is all sorted out for the coming week as I made a large white loaf yesterday and a large wholemeal loaf today but will freeze half of each and there's various other bread-y things in the freezer too - baps, naans, wraps etc.  I've sliced and pickled a small red cabbage today (2 jars) and, looking through my stocks of pickles and chutneys, definitely don't need any more of those for a while!  Not too bad for tinned/frozen veg, fruit, salad and cheese but will need fresh milk, green leafy veg, potatoes and bread flour so will do a small order for delivery next week.

I shall keep an eye out for you @YorksLass I will probably be going down there to have a look around anyway at some point. One thing I dont have now is reading material and I always find it relaxing and theraputic when Im reading, especially with a fluffy blanket, dogs and a hot drink! Perfect way to relax if you ask me - bonus points if the weather outside is rubbish too. 

Sounds l ike you have had a productive day with the bread. I seemed to grow a huge glut of cucumbers so I had cored and frozen them in the freezer so I have been slowly adding them to things like stews, soups and smoothies. I did have a load of peas and green beans too and most things I have peeled I have kept in a bag in the freezer to make a soup with. At the minute I am busy using up little bits in my fridge as I seem to have a few bits still from christmas etc that are coming to their use by date or odds and ends of things Ive used. 
I was given greek salad cheese but Im not quite sure what to do with that at the minute but I dont want to waste it.

zcrat41

dreaming said:

otb666 said:

i had an interesting day with my toilet as the flush went and I was occasionally using a weeks worth of water in a couple of hours overnight.  Luckily I can check my daily usage online and I could see the jump in usage.  Got the man out who fixed the problem so only used about £14.00 extra water in total.  But will keep monitoring my usage as could have gone on for a lot longer if I did not have my smart water meter

I had an email from my water company a couple of months ago saying their records indicated I may have a leak (I have a smart meter) so I went round checking what I could and was just thinking I might have to call someone out when I suddenly noticed a very slight trickle from the outside tap, which also has a short piece of hose attached. The only thing I can think is that when I had my gutters cleaned the week before the water company notified me the guy hadn't turned the tap off properly when he used it. I know it was ok before as I had lagged the tap with bubble wrap just prior to the gutter clean. I must admit that I had a lot going on health-wise and had got out of the habit of checking my usage online. Back on it now.

That's the most efficient water company I've ever heard of. The road outside regularly springs a leak and pours water. It's often days, sometimes weeks before it's solved! 

zcrat41

Morning all. I'm after some advice please. My 88 year old Nana has had a fall and is in hospital with a broken hip. She is too far for me to visit (I have young kids and there are lots of other family). I'd like to post her a little pack of things but can't for the life of me think what to put in it. The kids will write letters and do drawings. A book? I don't really know what she likes.  What home made food could I post? 

Would love any suggestions

ladyholly

What about things like scented wipes, sweets (as long as she likes and is able to eat them),  magazines. Home made food would be nice - how about some tiny cakes in a plastic tub, individual fruit juice cartons. Remember at 88 and largely immobile she isnt using much energy. When posting you have up to 2kg for £3.35 or 10 Kg for £6.95. Just check the size of your parcel. If she has a lot a friend or family some notelets and stamps so she can keep in touch if she doesnt have and be able to work a mobile phone.

Whatever you send her I am sure she will love simply because you have gone to the trouble of doing it and are thinking of her.

YoungBlueEyes

Would she appreciate something to pass the time? Some books/magazines/puzzles? Or is she a knitter/crafter? Something as small as her own glasses and hand cream could make a big difference. If she has a mobile does she have her charger?

When daddy was in hospital he was grateful for the baby wipes I took him. They couldn't shower him frequently so the wipes meant he could maintain his dignity. Wipes/books/glasses would have been his top 3

Longwalker

Sorry to hear about your nana, hope shes home quickly 

When MIL was in hospital, and bedbound, it was her personal hygiene she struggled most with so I second the body wipes. I heard about these recently ref=sr_1_7, which I thought a blooming marvellous invention, she might appreciate those as well

Sweets, sucking sweets. I find the heat of hosptials to be very stifling and make my mouth so dry and the lukewarm water and tea served doesn't touch it. Hand and face cream is a must for me as well. 

Check with the hospital policy on food stuff, our hospital only allows food to be taken in at visiting and removed again, not left 

Bluegreen143

When my nana was in hospital and very depressed about being there, my husband suggested sending her a mini digital photo frame loaded up with photos of all her family. She ADORED it and was so, so happy to get it. It was a different situation as she was very ill and we all knew she wasn’t likely getting out (which is what happened), she was very down about everything but the photo key ring really seemed to make her day when she got it ❤️

sammy_kaye18

@zcrat41
Sorry to hear about your nana. I hope she makes a swift recovery for you all. 
I know when I was in hospital having my little ones that I couldnt get to the shower very easily so wipes were helpful. 
Something comforting like a fluffy blanket was also really reassuring to me too because I didnt like the thin blankets they gave me. 
Does she has plenty of fresh clean clothing? bed socks etc? 
Books or puzzles to pass the time?
Maybe you could send her pens and notelets with a few stamps so she can write you little messages back etc to have some form of contact 

zcrat41

Thank you for all these lovely suggestions - especially the digi photo frame. They are all very thoughtful. @Bluegreen143 we are possibly in that situation - she has a few different cancers and has just contracted a tummy bug so she's in for a a fair old stay even if we do look on the bright side