The One Where Ross Has To Figure Out Clingfilm

[StuckInPollyannaMode]

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How’s that for a title?!

Well, I’ve done a deal on the car. Actually it drives very nicely. I can see it’s practical. And it’s not an old banger.

It’s not very me. But it is sensible, and sensible I must be.

Actually got some kip last night. 9-5.

How’s everyone else doing? Justilou is it warm in Oz? One of my best friends lives there and I haven’t seen her for too long. RandomMess have you managed to have a better night / find out when you’re going home?

I haven’t told him about handing it over to the solicitor and no mediation on Friday yet. Waiting for the notes and financial summery from the mediator first. Hopefully today.

Well hello the overnight gang. And folk who have found me again!

I have basically accepted my sleep is up the creek until I’ve moved. Gave it an hour of trying to get back off again before I caved and came down to snuggle on the sofa.

I feel I might have been a bit unfair on SHL now that I’ve reflected on it all. She did clearly explain and email me the pricing beforehand, and her voicemail isn’t trying to piss me off, she’s just trying to explain.

I know how I’m going to play it in ooooh 6 hours, I’m going to buy me some time and then forget about the lot of it until January. SHL has got my petition ready to serve so that can go in the New Year and then all systems go.

I’m having a lovely time chatting to my mate in Australia during the nights and I’m just embracing it.

I did the last of the wrapping yesterday, I’ve a tip run planned for the weekend, which will make me feel better, whenever I feel overwhelmed I’m doing the breathing someone kindly talked me through upthread - it’s ok. I will be fine. I can do this. Baby steps.

Onto more pleasant matters. Boxing Day desserts. Need to be gluten / dairy free (or adaptable). I was thinking lemon roulade with raspberries, but the kids won’t eat that. Want to give them something nicer than df ice cream! Any ideas?

I’ve been following your threads and I think you sound great, your DD’s are lucky to have you in their corner.
I also can’t sleep either so have been browsing puddings for you...this lemon cheesecake sounds tasty:
www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/raw-lemon-cheesecake

Found you!

So when I knew I'd never afford my lovely fancy wallpaper again I paid for a sample and framed it as art and it hangs in my downstairs cloakroom. I know it isn't much in the grand scheme of things there, but I love still seeing it! I have since done the same with my treasured Cole & Son paper elsewhere too.

Buying some time sounds like a plan.

I can't help with GF but if someone else wants a DF/vegan cake that is easy and nice...

Sainsbury's own chocolate packet cake mix £1 (do double check the ingredients in case they've changed them) and full fat coke 300ml.

Split into 2 cake cake tins. Dairy free spread "butter" icing to sandwich back together.

It can be too moist/sticky and you need to take it out the in whilst moist but it takes delicious and little faff.

How about a “pavlova“ of sorts? Could serve with DF ice cream and fancy toppings?

I have coeliac disease so happy to advise on gf options. Please avoid orange & almond cake. Yes, it’s nice, but was the only option available for years. Friands are great. Choc hazelnut cake. Pavlova (Aussie fave). Heaps of GF pudding recipes on pinterest. Tbf, you can probs buy a freefrom one that’s cheaper and easier to produce yourself.

Nigella does an amazing vegan chocolate cake - worth checking out

Vegan and gf are not the same thing

True but you can use gluten free flour

Please do check ingredients as many of the suggestions here are NOT GF. For the avoidance of doubt

Vegan = no products derived from animals
Gluten Free = no wheat barley or rye or anything derived from then eg barley malt extract

They are not remotely the same thing.

Wheat barley and rye are GRAINS from PLANTS. Vegans can eat them.

All animals and animal products are naturally gluten free. Gluten free people can eat them.

If you want a kid friendly GF desert I’d go for pavlova or something chocolate. With ice cream and / or cream of course.

IME kids are not so keen on lemon anything or cheese cake.

But pavlova, chocolate and cream are (mostly) not dairy free!

I’d do the pav bar - mini pavs with a range of topping and sauce - fruits, toasted flaked almonds, choc sauce (shop bought might be df?) , coconut yoghurt, raspberry sauce, Passion fruit insides, and crumbled gf almond biscuits type thing, and everyone assembles their own. (So you can have CREAM as well, just saying ) Looks Christmassy!

Who puts dairy in pavlova? You do need pure cornflour, some have gluten.

I have no advice to give but you’re hilarious

(Username origin - wife of a small but fabulous man)

Isn't pavlova usually covered in whipped cream and fruit?

I really want MILs homemade raspberry pavlova now 😋

@Daftapath

Isn't pavlova usually covered in whipped cream and fruit?

Yes but it’s just a topping. Lemon curd and coconut yoghurt as a topping instead with berries on top is pretty good too!

I made a dessert recently for me celiac friend (and the non GF/gd)

This consisted of a deconstructed lemon polenta cake, broken meringue/pavlova, fruit syrup (any that you can boil down with sugar), with the addition of ice-cream or a dairy free alternative.

for my celiac friend

"Yes but it’s just a topping. Lemon curd and coconut yoghurt as a topping instead with berries on top is pretty good too!"

Obviously the coconut yoghurt would have to be dairy free!

I at first thought yuck, lemon curd and coconut yoghurt but actually, if I couldn't have cream, it is probably quite nice.

Op, I hope that mediation goes painlessly today. I think you made the right decision to go. Even if out of interest to see how he justifies his 'offer'.

I think the shl was also saying the right things, there is no point trying to mediate an agreement at the same time as paying her to file divorce papers and handle him.

In my experience, the legal fees were eye watering and far beyond what I imagined but a year on (and after almost 3 years of divorcing), it is all water under the bridge now and I would say, worth it to have a clean break and everything settled.

Ok. Mediation done.

He's in a good mood as he thinks I'm going to accept his proposal. He even conceded on a couple of things. And revealed a 5k bonus at the end of this month.

hahahahahaha. But I stuck to my guns. I will take legal advice and come back. Plus, I didn't cry. I bought some time and a Christmas that's the best it can be. So that'll do me.

Back to the food debate. I love cooking and DD1 was gluten and dairy free for 2 years so I"m pretty happy using all the substitutes. If that opens things up a bit!

Pavlova is my default BUT we have the annual Boxing Day Snowman Decorating Competition to get through - which are based on meringues! So meringues will be well and truly consumed during that

I'm going to do some type of cookie with the kids. Anything else I'm open to making... or just going and buying it!

@MadameMiggeldy delighted to have amused

Apropro of nothing, I'm halfway through Lucy Worsley's Victoria book and I can barely put it down - it's brilliant - so recommend if anyone enjoys history.

Ooh - can't help too much with dealing with Geller but I can help with the GF desserts...

Check out glutenfreecuppatea.co.uk
No affiliation other than I use a LOT of her recipes. Her yorkies recipe is bombproof, she has the sweetest tooth ever and all the cake recipes/puddings are fab. Am making her Baileys cheesecake for Xmas this year.

Ooh i've got the perfect mould for those....

@ImpossibleGirl WOW! Oh, I wish I'd known about that site when I was cooking and baking GF and DF for 2 years! Sorted - Orange chocolate log for the kids for Boxing Day.

Just the grownups to go.

Glad mediation went well!!

I hope his better mood lasts as long as possible.