This is YOUR Chatbox!

[ZIZI]

well the rogue van trader parked his for sale van outside again yesterday. Downstairs neighbour went to the next door neighbour last time and got it sorted (neither downstairs neighbour or next door neighbour are blokes you would want to be stuc down a dark alley with). Girl downstairs told me that next door says it isn't theirs which I don't think any of us believe, so I put a large note on the windscreen covering the for sale sign politely pointing out that this is it a car showroom and would they please show some consideration and park the vehicle in a place that does not cause inconvenience and obstruction to others. I put it on the at 7.45 this morning, it was still on there when I got back at 8.45 but about half hour ago I was at the kitchen sink and noticed it had gone. Of course it might not be anything to do with my note.....

I have so many tomatoes from my garden that I decided to make some relish. It is simmering away as I type. I tasted it just now and Ithink I have overdone the chilli and paprika - it is mightily HOT!

I have a lot to do today, just put some washing on because the weather forecast said it is going to be dry and warm this afternoon but looking at the sky I am not sure they are telling the truth. I have to take the ironing fairy's hangers and transfer them to proper hangers, go through my tee shirt drawer and put some out for the charity shop. I also need to go through my work clothes and a) see which ones still fit b) see which ones I still like c) decide if I am going to buy new ones (best not as I think husband will not be happy about it).

I put the TV on a while ago to watch the news and the Jeremy Kyle show was on. Do they just shout at each other on that show? Why are they all so ugly? I only had it on for ten minutes and foundI had a headache! I had a telephone call from a JK researcher a few years ago asking me if I would go on there as my brother, the one I am estranged from, and his wife were going on there about him stealing her inheritance (they spent it all, £40,000, in a matter of months) and having cyber s@x, I still haven't found out what that means! I refused thank goodness. Igot a telephone call one day months after from a friend telling me my brother was on the show and to turn it on but I couldn't bring myself to!

[Nanto2girls]

I never watch the Jeremy Kyle show, can't be doing with it, although I know a few who are big fans of the show.

the weather here is sunny ,and a bit warmer.It was like winter, when we were in town earlier.

[Qwerty]

Back from my overnight stay with 3 other friends 2 of whom had birthdays, had a lovely time bucks fizz on the train up seeing as the journey is only 40 mins long we had to drink it damn quickly such an effort and had to eat cheese and biscuits with it too but we managed it. After booking in early our rooms wernt ready so they looked after our luggage and we went for a swim the water was nicely aired we then decided to go in the Jacuzzi which was very warm and bubbly I kept floating off my seat, we had robes to wear so laid on the sunbeds with coffees snugly warm but made the mistake of having one more swim the water was freezing cold then I had to dash into the sauna to warm up. then it was beauty spa time I had a back massage for half an hour laid on my front which was good as I am sure I was dribbling out of my mouth and not a pretty sight but it was heaven I have promised myself one on a regular basis then a half hour facial which I have never had it was marevellous didn't wash for 24 hrs lol.
At our evening meal in the hotel we were told all drinks for the evening had been paid for we didn't know who, I was a bit worried what I might be expected to do for this kind gesture had a lovely bottle of wine well 2 really and a coffee and Baileys to go with it , found out later it was the partner of the girl who is 50 this month he had left his credit card details with reception she was mortified she hadn't drunk more!!!!
The following morning a swim so we were as fit as fiddles, only to spoil it by having hot choc and fat rascals in Betty's then caught th train home.
OH picked me up from the station after saying "hello love"
oh by the way the boilers goosed I thought yeah I am home ! so no hot water till next Tuesday, so not much cleaning going on there

[Nanto2girls]

Sounds like you enjoyed it Qwerty. Hope it made you feel relaxed ,you deserved it.

Pity about the boiler.

[Oma]

Glad you had a good time , Typical about the boiler you go away enjoy yourself and come back to that xxxx

[ZIZI]

Must be something in the air, I have just had to have someone in for my boiler. It needs replacing really but if we are having the kitchen done next year I want to wait. Boiler man says it will hold out, it is just old and objecting!

Made a moussaka for dinner tonight, meat and aubergines waiting, topping will be done just before putting in the oven. Roast pork for tomorrow, chicken for Monday. chicken is my favourite but I really don't like the smell when it is a couple of days old, so it needs to be eaten quickly. also got steak and liver and bacon for during the week. We have a freezer full of stuff including a lovely French trimmed rack of lamb!

I asked husband if he wanted me t get him some ready meals for when I am away and he gave me one of those looks. "I don't actually think I am going to starve with what you have stuffed inthe freezer darling". Yep point taken apart from the stuff like the rack of lamb I have home made ravioli for reheating, home made sauces, Bolognaise, sausage casserole, you name it, it is in there......

[Nanto2girls]

Your freezer sounds like mine ,well stocked. Taken a chicken out for tomorrow, only 3 chickens left now. I have never cooked a chicken in the slow cooker, but I am tomorrow.Last week, I cooked a gammon joint in the slow cooker, and hubby thought it was a lot nicer than roasted in the oven.

[Plantaholic]

Home made pasta, wow Zizi

[Nanto2girls]

Hope everyone is well.

Washing nearly finished,chicken in slow cooker, going to clean the bathroom later.

[Pearl5]

Morning all, looks like it might be a sunny day, hope I haven't spoken to soon.......

Nanto, I have a slow cooker, but have only used it to make casseroles, so let me know how your chicken turns out would like to hear, how long would you cook a chicken for? would love to use mine more, I just think if your using mince etc where would all the excess fat go, because normally on the hob you would pour it out, think I will have a look around for recipes...

[Oma]

Morning everyone lovely morning might be going out for lunch just waiting for SIL to tell us where he has booked but he wont be up yet Pearl we use our slow cooker a lot the other night we had stewing steak slow cooked with sliced onions and sliced potatoes in gravy . I am not a lover of steak but i do like it done like this it just melts dont need a knife to cut it thats for sure , chicken stays so moist too

[Gemini]

Hello, just passing through to say hi, from sunny Stratford on Avon

[ZIZI]

Hi Gem hope you are having a great time.

All this talk about slow cookers makes me smile. I haven't used mine for years. When we had the shop and the three boys were at home I used it all the time and had to put a note on it warning the boys that what was in the pot should stay in the pot until I dished it up. More than once I went home to find half of the meal missing!

We have just been talking about the proposed new kitchen and have so far decided on integrated appliances including a washer drier, a new schuzzer which is a waste disposal to other people as ours is quite old now and is playing up. Also planning one if those boiling hot taps so you don't have to have a kettle. The one thing I do not want replaced is the flooring as it is quite new (and expensive). There is not a lot of room in there to play with though. Every time we talk about it we think of something else we want! Good job the mortgage is coming to an end or we would never be able to afford it.

[Nanto2girls]

Hello, just passing through to say hi, from sunny Stratford on Avon

Hi from sunny Yorkshire, hope you are having a nice time.

[Nanto2girls]

Chicken was lovely Pearl5. just copied the following from the internet.

If a dish usually takes: 15 - 30 mins, cook it for 1 - 2 hours on High or 4 - 6 hours on Low. 30 mins - 1 hour, cook it for 2 - 3 hours on High or 5 - 7 hours on Low. 1 - 2 hours, cook it for 3 - 4 hours on High or 6 - 8 hours on Low.

I put the chicken in at 6am, and took it out at 1pm. It was cooked before then, but I left it as you can't really over cook anything in the slow cooker. last week, I cooked a gammon joint in it, and hubby thought it was nicer than oven cooked.
Iv'e had a slow cooker for years,but only recently started cooking joints/chickens in it. Omas recipe is nice, and I do another one with sliced potatoes, sliced onions and sliced extra lean corned beef. I tend to fill the slow cooker, and portion meals up for the freezer. As for cooking mince, I buy the extra lean mince, and make cottage pies for the freezer, or you could make chilli or bolognese. Loads of recipes on the net Pearl. you can even make cakes in the slow cooker,but I haven't tried it.
I buy slow cooker liners from Amazon, makes washing the cooker so much easier.

Forgot to say, vegetables do take longer than meat to cook.

I hate cooking, and using the slow cooker makes cooking less stressful for me.