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What’s your skill/tip that you always feel smug about when it pays off?

269 replies

PepperPepperMan · 28/07/2021 21:01

Reading the comments on a FB page, included things like, taking boiled eggs with you on days out, taking a wet flannel out with you instead of baby wipes and hot dogs in a tea flask with rolls and sachets of ketchup.

I was always really disorganised on days out with DC Blush what did your mum/nanna do as a little survival tip that you carried forward?

OP posts:
cupidsabsolutepsyche · 28/07/2021 21:19

I don't have any nanna tips but I'm here for the placemark and now I'm going to steal the hotdogs idea, that's genius! Taking a flask of tea/coffee wherever we go out has paid off so many times. And a roll up waterproof blanket.

Shapesorted · 28/07/2021 21:23

Jason Manford?

PepperPepperMan · 28/07/2021 21:26

@cupidsabsolutepsyche

I don't have any nanna tips but I'm here for the placemark and now I'm going to steal the hotdogs idea, that's genius! Taking a flask of tea/coffee wherever we go out has paid off so many times. And a roll up waterproof blanket.

Apparently, you can buy little food flasks for the hotdogs which stops your tea flask from tasting of hot dogs... That is genius Grin
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SweatyBetty20 · 28/07/2021 21:27

It’s not a hack or anything but I have a genius cure for hiccups that a stranger did to me on the top of a London night bus when I was hiccuping because I’d drunk too much Magners too quickly. It really freaks people out when I do it. Small children are always surprised and I tell them I’m a witch.

(Tip: squeeze either side of the hiccuper’s middle fingers!)
(Tip 2: don’t explain what you are doing beforehand!)

Mommybunny · 28/07/2021 21:27

When DS was a toddler he and DH and I were going on some long car journey but would be home that night. I insisted on packing an extra set of clothes that DH kept insisting with equal conviction were a ridiculous waste of time and space. When DS was carsick all over his clothes I tried very hard not to say “Ha! Told you so” while I was putting DS in fresh clean clothes but I’m afraid I did not succeed.

PepperPepperMan · 28/07/2021 21:28

@Shapesorted

Jason Manford?

Yes, that's the one.

I was reading about taking a wet flannel out in a sandwich bag or even a frozen flannel in he bag on really hot days and just thought, I wished had someone to learn such things from when I was little to pass on.

I feel my DC have missed out on a hard boiled egg on the beach Grin
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Michellebops · 28/07/2021 21:29

Really simple but when attending an all day wedding I always make up some sandwiches.
Especially if not part of the wedding party, and you're left for hours between the service and the meals that it's usually canapés or nibbles which let's be honest if it was an early afternoon wedding there's a chance you've missed lunch with hair/make up and getting everyone organised.

Came in handy so many times 🙌🏻

PepperPepperMan · 28/07/2021 21:30

@SweatyBetty20

It’s not a hack or anything but I have a genius cure for hiccups that a stranger did to me on the top of a London night bus when I was hiccuping because I’d drunk too much Magners too quickly. It really freaks people out when I do it. Small children are always surprised and I tell them I’m a witch.

(Tip: squeeze either side of the hiccuper’s middle fingers!)
(Tip 2: don’t explain what you are doing beforehand!)

I've just tried to do that on myself to practice for when I next get hicups but I'm guessing it doesn't hold the same weight Smile
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SweatyBetty20 · 28/07/2021 21:32

@PepperPepperMan yes it does! I’ve done it on myself ever since! You need to squeeze fairly hard for about ten seconds.

BikeRunSki · 28/07/2021 21:33

I read the hotdog one on here years ago, and ha e always had a jar of hotdogs on since. We’ve just packed up to go to the beach tomorrow. We’ll be taking a flask of hotdogs, a flask of hot chocolate and some bread buns.

Not quite the same but …
Storing sets of bed linen in a pillowcase
Double layers of waterproof sheet/top sheet/waterproof sheet/top sheet on toddler beds and cots

thefirstmrsrochester · 28/07/2021 21:34

Was coming on to say hotdogs in a flask.

Hot choc in a big flask, can of skooshy cream, mini marshmallows and flakes for DIY fancy hot choc.

HeyMicky · 28/07/2021 21:34

Before my DC had their own watches, I used to move the wall clocks an hour forward before a day out or big event.

Then when we came home and they were over tired but begging to stay up I'd grant an extra half hour but still have them in bed early.

My mum did the same

AnyFucker · 28/07/2021 21:35

To stop a sneeze press hard on the groove between your nose and mouth

Eleoura · 28/07/2021 21:35

Following my mothers lead, I always carry a small packet of tissues, a pen and 'JIC' (just in case) money. All my handbags, have some notes/coins in them for 'just in case'. Pre mobile era, I could ring home from a payphone, or have money for a taxi, or cash if I didn't have a card on me etc.

BikeRunSki · 28/07/2021 21:36

@Michellebops

Really simple but when attending an all day wedding I always make up some sandwiches.
Especially if not part of the wedding party, and you're left for hours between the service and the meals that it's usually canapés or nibbles which let's be honest if it was an early afternoon wedding there's a chance you've missed lunch with hair/make up and getting everyone organised.

Came in handy so many times 🙌🏻

I did that once when we went on a dead cheap skiing holiday with antisocial flight times, and I was the only person who’d realised we weren’t going to find anywhere selling food in an alpine village at 3am. Gent too guilty to eat them!
Agadorsparticus · 28/07/2021 21:36

I do the 3 sips of water upside down to cure hiccups, works everytime guaranteed. (Take a sip, don't drink, touch toes, head to the floor and sip slowly).

Baby wipes I store upside down in the drawers, the next wipe is anyways damp

ladygindiva · 28/07/2021 21:36

Not me, but my best friend. She has an horrendous bed wetter amongst her kids, and she used to multi dress the bed ie she put a sheet, waterproof sheet, sheet etc many times over on the bed so when her child wet the bed she just peeled the one wet layer off and it was all good to go. Brilliant.

BikeRunSki · 28/07/2021 21:37

@thefirstmrsrochester

Was coming on to say hotdogs in a flask.

Hot choc in a big flask, can of skooshy cream, mini marshmallows and flakes for DIY fancy hot choc.

That’s our picnic tommorow !
coodawoodashooda · 28/07/2021 21:40

Always have frozen milk and bread in the freezer.

trevthecat · 28/07/2021 21:40

@heymicky that is genius!

ureterr1blemuriel · 28/07/2021 21:41

I freeze tube yoghurts for kids lunchboxes - pop them in just before they leave and they act as an ice block whilst they defrost

Chunkymenrock · 28/07/2021 21:43

Putting a layer of frozen peas over the cooked mince before you put the mash on, in a cottage pie, is my best tip!. Stops the mash sinking in! Also works in fish pie.

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PepperPepperMan · 28/07/2021 21:44

@Eleoura

Following my mothers lead, I always carry a small packet of tissues, a pen and 'JIC' (just in case) money. All my handbags, have some notes/coins in them for 'just in case'. Pre mobile era, I could ring home from a payphone, or have money for a taxi, or cash if I didn't have a card on me etc.

In my clubbing days, I used to put a £20 in the bottom of my shoe or in my bra so I always knew I had money to get a cab home at the end of the night.
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motleymop · 28/07/2021 21:45

I'm confused - squeeze both sides of one middle finger? You say fingers plural. Need to know!

PepperPepperMan · 28/07/2021 21:49

@motleymop

I'm confused - squeeze both sides of one middle finger? You say fingers plural. Need to know!

Use your left thumb and finger next to your pinky to squeeze your right middle finger whilst using your right thumb and finger next to it to squeeze the left middle one - try it!
OP posts:
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