Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, Crepes in this petty pace from day to day

[CointreauVersial]

Anything but the C-word!

Actually MM, that sounds a good plan! I did have a list of acceptable meals on the fridge when they were primary-aged and it was quite long, but then everything went to pot when they started secondary and there were after-school clubs and footy training and so on...

I think I may try and get them to give me lists of acceptable meals that they can prepare themselves

I find chucking various veg into the oven v useful. Part of the problem for me is that at 6.40 or suchlike when I should be shambling downstairs to pull dinner together I just don't feel like it.

So lovely to see everyone on Saturday - a real tonic and great fun. Thanks muchly to organising committee.

Rose - your list of acceptable meals sounds pretty impressive to me (gawd know what kind of noise ds2 would make if I gave him a spinach borek ). I currently have spag bol in the slow cooker which is about as exciting as it gets these days. Although your mention of meatloaf has reminded me I used to make quite a good one, will have to find the recipe. And you can hide unacceptable vegetables delicious extras in meatloaf as well.

wilbur DS2 would find a single, growth stunted, macerated pea in anything I dished up. He is so suspicious of food...he examines everything I give him as if he's looking for aliens I have given up with getting him to eat veg...I can't bear the gagging. He will eat veg soup though provided it's totally smooth, and weirdly, copes with spinach in pastry, pasta etc provided it's smothered in cheese too.
Tonight we are having oven baked beef burgers...I hate grilling. I gather DH gave them cheese sandwiches for lunch ( off school for festival at the mo).
I have survived teaching degree drama students....god, they're hyper. But they did seem disappointed when I told them I wouldn't be there next week so HerrD was taking the session . I shall accept that as positive feedback, I think.

Am getting myself in knots about this teaching/interview day tomorrow. They're going to ask me difficult questions about teenagers and secondary curriculum, to which I will not know the answer.

Annoying lot of hanging around, too. 'Informal chat' 8-8.30, teaching 9-9.30, tour of school 11.20-12, then interview at 2. Not sure what I'm supposed to do in the interim. And it's not as if I can do some leisurely shopping or have some coffee - the only thing of note nearby is B&Q.

Good luck Herbs - dont let them rattle you.

Rose - we're having Shepherd's Pie with baked beans this evening. We call it Cowboy Pie

BD hope you are feeling a little better.

I have ordered a Boden cashmere cardi in their 25% off sale. That's my splash out for winter.

I have been arguing tearfully with the university IT staff.

CV, I meant to say thank you for working out the bill on saturday - my mind and phone would seize up when I have had a few and have to divide by 17!

Weekday meals - tip swapping good idea and I like Rose's list. I cheat lots these days when working and put Things in the oven and cook potatoes and veg/make salad. Mince variants go down well (mmmm, meatloaf) so I do them sometimes and hide veg. ds won't eat much veg or pulses so I have given up on weeknights as dh only gets home in time for reheated dried up leftovers anyway. I make myself nice herby salads.

MI? All OK?

And Herbs, good luck....B and Q??

It's off an arterial route in a built-up yet uninteresting bit of my manor. B&Q, slightly dodgy looking pub, the odd greasy spoon and that's about it. I could walk to TK Maxx, however.

Oooh yes Herbs, you could look at the coats!
Oodles of good luck. Knock 'em dead. Not literally obvs.

MI - university IT I sympathise........

Feeling much better, and think a day out has started to shift my mindset (probably ping back on the way to work tomorrow)

Crikey, yes. The IT set-up at the IoE was like something out of the dark ages. And that dreadful word, 'moodle'. Makes my teeth itch, as they say.

Is yours staffed by mildly patronising know-it-alls, MI?

TK Maxx is looking good Herbs! Good Luck - Don't Panic

I made risotto, served with carrots and sweetcorn - huge plates eaten and no complaints!

Glad you're feeling better BD.

Try an LEA provision IT, then uni IT will be looking rosy.

Very best of luck Our Herbs. I've never heard of an interview process that convoluted. B et Q often do have a coffee shop, although I know the coffee is actually good , erm, the environs not so much. TK sounds like a plan. Ignore that GGG one. She's just jealous of your coat collection

Tonight I have made a puff pastry tomato and mozzarella tart acc by bought coleslaw mix ( just add mayo) and crushed slightly poncey baby spuds.
We usually have tacos once a week stuffed with mixed beans, spicy rice and grated cheese dolloped with mushed avocado.
Also a sausage based meal of some description - toad in the hole, casserole, braised red cabbage and, or with chilli laced lentils.

That sounds nice, Cremo. And the braised red cabbage and lentils - yum!

I do my red cabbage and apple in the microwave. Takes 3 mins then Bing in the oven to finish orf.

Try local council IT. In fact don't bother. It is run by 12 year olds whose only vocal noise is urfgh. Or "what you're still using Windows xp!? Fuck."

Hello at last - this time from Cyprus where we are enjoying two weeks in the sun. The internet is a bit hitty missy so I hope that I will be able to stay connected, even if loosely. Sorry I got lost in the mists of time, but life has been hectic with all my visitors. I have had no chance to read what has gone on, so I hope everyone and their families are ok? I'd say I would try to catch up but, to be honest, I am too busy enjoying the sun and sand - it's so long since we had a beach holiday I had forgotten what fun it is jumping the waves. Sophisticated, moi!

NU, how absolutely lovely to 'see' you. You keep jumping those waves - that's all I did on my hols too and I cam back feeling bloomin' marvellous.

Oh yes, we are coming into winter, which means good, solid Central European cuisine. We can have some nice klops, red cabbage, chicken paprikas, goulash soup and other paprika laced delights. Hot beetroot can also make an appearance to DH's horror. Sausage and sauerkraut served with potatoes fried with onion and garlic. Stuffed cabbage. Stuffed peppers. Chicken stuffed with smoked paprika sausage. Cabbage every fashion. Poppy seed roll for pudding. We'll never get off the sofa again.

Monday night supper at Rosebag Towers. No complaints. I can confirm that I did not have chips or a bun halo

Good luck herbs Hate those interview days when you've got to have lunch with the dept. I always spill it down my front....
Did I leave enough money on sat night? If not will someone please tell me....
Waves to nu you lucky beggar in the sun!

I re-engineered a dish my mum used to make the other day, with success. It was thick slices of braised steak with veg, soaked in lashings of Worcester Sauce and brown sugar and cooked for about six hours. Very yummy...

Hers was practically black and syrupy, mine had a little more juice, but a good combination!

Waves at NU >>>

Yum Rose. I'm still in the office and will pick up a burrito in that place opposite our cocktail bar later (if they are still open!).....