[Sarah Ann]

Lou - ask at your local supermarket, they are often very pleased to get rid of a few empty boxes - my local Netto and Lidl keep them at the front for people to help themselves - failing that, ask your removal people if you can rent some boxes off of them.

[BritinNJ]

All the snow is disappearing now HOORAY! But it's raining like huge cats and dogs so we'll get wet when we walk later on.

Sarah, glad to hear your feeling a bit better cold wise, 12 hours sleep, you must have needed it.

CG, lunch and ice cream Yep, there was nothing on telly last night, I ended up watching a fella on HGTV buy an apartment in Boston and when it ended I realised I'd seen the bloody thing before...it was expensive too. RSG, how on earth do you afford to live there my woman?

Lou, second that idea from Sarah about the boxes, if you're near some big department stores as well, you can always ask them, all the y do is flat pack them and throw them away.

Michelle, you are our egg woman... you always make me want eggs...mind you, with this weather, I'd like to have eggs, bacon, sausages,mushrooms, fried tomatoes....the list goes on

Google told me fatchicks didn't exsist too... but the second time it found it

See you all later, off to curves we go.

[Sarah Ann]

Oh my GOODNESS!!!! I had to Google to get here as well because my favourites link to 3FC keeps disappearing. I love Googling I always get weird stuff. Has anyone ever taken a look at the website at the top of the list that comes up when you search 'fat chicks' on Google. Its called Fat Chicks in Party Hats .... its totally bizarre.

To the people who have been PM-ing me about my recipe for flapjack... gas mark 6 is 400 degrees fahrenheit or 200 degress celsius. The best kind of oats to use are the biggest you can find, whatever you do DO NOT USE THE INSTANT KIND, demarara sugar is a pale golden brown crunchy sugar. Its nice to know that so many people out there enjoy my posts about Ellie - but please stop lurking - come and join in the conversation.

[lou1978]

woooooooooo .... i found some boxes!>... from gumtree !...
got about 30 or so... was fun as the bloke lived on the 4th floor & we couldnt park v close lol... but all ready to go..... woo. saved a few bob!... always a bouns especially as we have £-0 and its not pay day for another 2 weeks grrr...

looked on freecycle too..but not much on there...

hope everyone is having a good weekend..

lx

[WaterRat]

Okay, Sarah, I'll at least show my face today. I really do enjoy Ellie stories, and Michele's about her dad, and ewwww on the Guinnes Marmite! I don't like either Guiness or Marmite!

I've run into Frus and Helen on other threads, and read your monthly chats a lot. I've been to the UK twice, the last time in 2005. I'd love to come again, but the exchange rate is astronomically in your favor right now. Sigh.

Red - I'm originally from the Boston area (Braintree) and am a Red Sox fan too. And Chris, my niece lives on the Cape in Marstons Mill (or is it Marston Mills? ) I've lived in Alaska for the last 34 years, though.

Anyway, thanks for the invite.

[BritinNJ]

Hi Water rat, so you've been a lurker eh? Welcome to our chit chat time.

I live about four miles away from Marston Mills...only been on the cape for under a year though.

I always wanted to visit Alaska, I've had friends who have lived there, AF. And my hubs went a few years back and was so impressed by it's beauty. One day we'll get there for a visit.

I've been out on a date tonight with hubs. We went to a local bar for St. Patrick's day. It was packed but we had a nice time sitting chatting and a pipe band was playing for a short while, listening to bagpipes always makes me well up though, makes me miss my Dad. We've decided we should do a date night once a month...could be tricky seeing as he's always gone for two weeks out of every month

The rain has stpped, not a spot of snow left, hope that's it until next winter, Spring is in a few days... bring it on I say.

Hope you're all having a great weekend.

[Sarah Ann]

Hi Pat It wasn't just you.... there were others.... come on the rest of you, don't be shy - come and say hello!!!

Chris, I totally agree about the date thing - me and DH try and have a proper 'date' about once every couple of weeks - usually going to a pub or restaurant that we haven't been to before - we take turns in chosing. The original plan was for a once a week date but it hasn't worked out - life always seems to get in the way somehow.

I'm a lucky girl - yesterday's weather forecast showed that we are due to have some awful weather so when I woke up early (5.30) and the sun was shining I got out there quickly and gave the dogs a long walk just in case we do have laying snow tomorrow (which looks unlikely now). I just got home when the heavens opened with freezing cold sideways rain - the sort that takes off the top layer of all exposed skin - if I'd been walking at my normal time I'd have got soaked.

The Chavs were at their stupidest last night... they had some very strange looking visitors to stay and on their stagger back from the pub they thought it was hysterical to stand outside my house (at 1.30am!!!) saying (in high pitched voices) 'Night night Kevin, night night Sarah, night night George, night night Fred, night night Ellie'. This went on until Mr and Mrs Chav and their visitors had ALL had their turn while the others giggled. Idiots.

[peacock 2]

Oh Sarah Ann- Well if you want to stoop to their level you could always rouse them early in the morning - early for them with their sore heads that it. Is it time to mow your lawn - do you have a noisy mower or can you borrow one in readiness for when they next hit the pubs? Or is you house terraced/semi detached so you can put on all your appliances - washing machine, hoover, food processor etc.

If you meet them in the street - start yawning and say you cannot stop, you have some sleep to catch up on because some really selfish people were making a **** of a noise outside your place.

Waterrat- hi and welcome! I also have wanted to visit Alaska - ever since "Northern Exposure" I loved that series.

[lou1978]

you should have got the chavs up early.. im sure they would have loved that with a dead cert of a hangover.. haha....

did all the ironing last night apart from a pair of trousers i want to take up .. they are a little bit too long.. its odd as other trousers same length from monsoon are fine... maybe they had the wrong lable... ???

yup so far escaped the snow!.... jen is packing for a wee trip to rotterdam... 2mo shes only going for one night... then i think we have to do the shed.. we didnt do it yesterday lol... and then a guy is coming round for removal quote.... see what they have to say.. cant be worse than picnicks.. as jen once called them (a well known co. starting with P..)

reet better get on!>...
anyway better get on....

[lou1978]

great minds ehy peacock

oh & welcome to all the new ppls!!

[Sarah Ann]

Lou, you might be surprised. Last time we moved I got three 'removalists' in to give quotes and Pickfords turned out to be the cheapest.

Ha! Great minds think alike.... I just felt the need to ... be creative... to drill a few holes in a few odd bits of wood hanging around in the garage... I couldn't do it IN the garage of course (because of the mess ) so I did it in our shared drive in the exact bit which is closest to their bedroom window without actually standing on their garden - then I went and did it again in the back garden at the point nearest to where their visitors are sleeping it off in the Chavs' caravan which they have permanently parked in the middle of their back garden. Did you know that when a drill hits a knot in the wood that it makes a high pitched screaming noise? Well... the Chavs certainly do now! (note to self: buy more wood with knots in it) They are definitely awake now.

[lou1978]

mwahahahaha....

[2frustrated]

Hello!

Well Guiness marmite is, er, just like Marmite! Although I thought it was a lot runnier than the usual stuff. Tasty anyway!

Yesterday we went to Borough market and I saw a girl I went to school with in Darlington I actually saw her at the careers day a couple of weeks ago, but it's amazing that I bumped into her in London!

I bought hiking shoes in Snow + Rock that were reduced and I wandered in Topshop just to have a look because we're going to a wedding in a couple of weeks and I bought this really really long black jersey dress that is backless for £25. It looks fab, but then I had to go to La Senza to get one of those backless strapless bra thingies. I don't hold out much hope for the little bit of tape that you get to hold the thing on with! I think I'll be duck-taping it on!

We met our friend for dinner last night and had a lovely meal at this pizza place in Clapham. I had parma ham with figs and mozzarella for starters Then DH and I shared a calzone since we'd been stuffing our faces with food from Borough market Then he invited us back to his and we (I) ate most of his chocolate digestives I'm such a sucker for them

This morning I made DH come out for a run with me to help burn off the digestives, easter egg and Reese's peanut butter cups We did a little run and it was all good! I am now feeling a little bit more positive that I can still run after a good long break and I think tomorrow I will apply for the Amsterdam marathon and book the apartment place.

For lunch I made artichoke pancakes with goat's cheese and sour cream. They were phantasmagorical AND there's enough for me to take to work tomorrow I have had my apple butter bubbling on the stove for the past 2 hours and I've now decanted it into 2 jam jars. It tastes fantastic

For a little afternoon snack I made popcorn cauliflower I'm thinking I'm a bit of a freak... but it was what I really wanted! We have all sorts of goodies and treats in, but no, cauliflower for me!

Not sure what's for tea, but I have the ingredients for an apple and brie calzone, however DH isn't very impressed methinks since we had a calzone last night I might just settle for that brownie I bought yesterday with some nice ice cream!

[lou1978]

yup i thought it was runnier too..... but milder than normal.. like u dont "taste it" all day.. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm......

mm popcorn cauliflower..(not sure what that is)? u trying to tell us something ???

[Sarah Ann]

Frus, that parma ham, fig and mozzie starter sounds yum! I'm 'off' of calzone since the last one I made... mixed grain outer stuff with blue cheese & pear.... tasted great but I felt a bit moby for the rest of that evening and the next day.

Runny marmite... maybe not such a great idea.

Popcorn cauliflower is roasted cauliflower but cut in to smaller chunks. Basically cut cauliflower in to small florets, turn over in a little extra virgin olive oil (one tablespoon does a whole head of cauliflower) then roast for 30 mins (small florets) or 45 mins (for larger florets) until golden brown. I mostly scatter mine with teaspoon each of cumin and fennel seeds before cooking but its nice with some cajun seasoning or garam masala.

Yayyyyyy!!!! DH has been offered a job which DOESN'T involve working weekends all the time - just one in every four! It will be wonderful to have 'normal people' weekends .... if he decides to take it, that is.