General Chat

Thank you for that AnnG. It looks very useful and is on sale for about half price at www.careco.co.uk. We need things to make our lives easier!

google Kitchen Genie

The Kitchen Genie is a 5 in 1 multi-opener and a super handy kitchen aid for those with arthritis, weakness in one or both hands or reduced grip, giving you the leverage to open bottles, jars, ring pulls and twist-off caps with minimal effort.

This is what I have and the lever is very useful for the tins like the mini tuna.

I have got a link for it but if I put it on here it will be too long and throw the thread.

The south east has certainly had more than their fair share of good weather this year Gloucester, in September, had three times the normal amount of rain. No wonder the garden has been so soggy. Although, to be fair I think here at some times we had it dry but dull when there was rain elsewhere in Glos.

I have got a kitchen tool, it is light green I think it may be Joseph. It has a funny hook on the end, quite strong. I can put it into the pull ring on the small tuna tins and lever the lid up, it seems to work easily.
Yes slept quite well last night, achy today, not sure if that was sorting out holiday stuff (bending over it on the bed) or picking up the stuff left by Jake but I am achey today in my back mainly.
I have made 5 Christmas cards today. That actually doesn't help an achey back but I can't sit and do nothing.

Yes Mel very similar to the one I've ordered so I'll see how I get on with it .

I leave my airfryers as i have the bigger one son gave us and the small one i bought on the worktop as I use one or the other two or three times a week and the slow cooker ,I have a piece of gammon to cook in the slow cooker, never cooked it in there before I usually use the pressure cooker but I thought I'd give the slow cooker recipe with sugar and cider a go but I need to buy some cider .

It's been nice and sunny ,I even sat out for a little while but the wind was a bit keen so I gave up and came in .

Afternoon All,

Dull here with rain expected and 13 degrees. I've read we are due snow here in about a week's time too......I hope they've got that one wrong. My purple Michaelmas daisies have only just started to flower and are later than last year, so snow would probably finish them off as the plant doesn't look as bushy as last year either. I'm splitting and moving it next spring to a better position as it's too tall for the space it's in with a shrub overhanging it.

Yes, AnnG I was really late for me last night. I tend to go to bed later later when OH is further away at matches in case I have to go out. (once I had to go up the M1 and meet him at the services as he'd gone without his wallet). Last night I was hunting for a photo I wanted to send Fitz and OH was still up late with the pain in his side. It is a bit better again today and tomorrow he'll hopefully get an appointment at the docs. I have those little tins of tuna too and it's hard to keep hold of the tiny tin when trying the ring pulls. I have tried putting a spoon handle through the ring pulls to lever them off and often resort to a tin opener in the end. I hope you had a good night's sleep.

I found some old Johnathan Creek I hadn't seen before this week Mel. I fell asleep before the end of an episode twice (in bed) before I eventually saw the end! Luckily I'd taken my glasses off at some point and they weren't on the floor.

I hope you get on ok with the tin opener Mandy. I just remembered watching my grandmother using one of those with a point on that you that you had to thump with the palm of your hand to break through the lid surface and then lever up and down to cut round the edge! I used to struggle with those key things on the corned beef or oval tinned meat tins that you pushed a metal tab on the tin through and then turned the key to wind the metal strip onto it. I sometimes had to resort to pliers! Thanks for mentioning the programme. It sounds good so I will record it next. I've decided to make a pendant I like that suspends from an arrow shape, but I don't think the kite beads I have are the right colour so may have to order some.

I aught to have a clearout in my cupboard under the kitchen sink. I was looking at some of those extender shelves you can fit under the 'S' bend and tighten like you can with those curtain rods. I could store things on one like the dishcloth packs and other lightweight things. I must check if there would be enough depth underneath on the shelf below first and have a clearout.

I have to say Mel, if I put my air fryer and slow cooker in a cupboard they would get forgotten and be unused.

Mandy is it this one?

Shipshopp Innovated Tin Opener UK - Stainless-Steel Manual Can Opener for Large Cans - Ideal Kitchen Gadgets Good Grips Magnetic Can Openers That Work for Arthritis Hands, Black

Mandy I have that down on my list of thing to watch and its written but the person who writes All Creatures Great and Small. There's also another period drama on but its on U (UKTV) and I don't know where to watch that if I even can.. It says its on from Monday serise 1 and 2. Its called The Alienist.

I'm also going to watch Charie Cooper's Myth Country but I think I may have seen it before. Thhats on BBC iplayer.

Got the dreaded corner cupboard out in the kitchen and a few things have gone in the bin already and lots needs a wash. I had a devil of a job to get to the back so reached in with a sponge and my long handled wooden spoon. I want to see if I can get my air fryer in there where I can get it out easily. May even be able to get the slow cooker in there too. Can't do the bottom cupboard as I can't get down to it and if I did I would'nt get up again.

Morning all,
Cloudy here this morning but the sky is really bright didn't seem cold when I now went out to the bin .

Vera the cake was lovely Colin said and I could definitely make it again ,I wonder who Old Harry was :-D was your meat tough .
The tin opener I have is a culinaire magican but I have a job to turn it and once its on the tin I have a heck of a job to prise the handles apart again .

I like the look of Ann's tin opener and I've found one like it on amazon so I'll get son to order it today .
What are you going to make with your beads Ann ,I like to see your beading .

Oh there's a new programme I think you'll all like on channel 5 Monday night 9 o'clock called The Hardadres set in the 1890's about a working Yorkshire family becoming part of the Upper class ,6 part series .

Morning girls,

13 degrees here and pc says partly sunny and then its changed to rain coming. I think its covering itself with all weathers to it can be right at some point today.

Ann I don't go to bed untill about 1.30am but I do tend to fall asleep watching the telly and nearly fall off the chair!! It was 2.06 when I woke up at the table last night watching Lugvig so I shall have to watch that again now as I missed alot.

Those openers that take the whole top off the cans are very lethal especially as we now recyle them and have to wash them out with no dish washer. I bought one once but when I realised what it did it went straight in the bin.

Ann and Mel, you were both up late last night.
good morning, I had a good sleep last night so feel more with it today (it won't last!).
Dull here this morning, dry so far and 11 degrees. Nothing planned but plenty of small jobs that can be done.

The actual tins (cans?) that annoy me are the ones with the loop in the top that you pull to peel back the top. One lot I have are the very small (WWatchers) tins of tuna and sweetcorn, just a single amount if you are weight watching or like me, only need a small amount for a sandwich. The rings are much harder to pull than they used to be or else they just snap off.

Oh I'd forgotten those kind of can openers Mel. They are lethal and easy to cut yourself on. I don't usually cut the lid right off so I can bend the lid into the can out of harms way once the contents are emptied and with those can openers you ended up with the can as well as the lid being sharp.

I dont like the can openers that take the side of the can off I think they are dangerous as whats left is so sharp. I have the old conventional twisty key type one but did buy a new one as the old one would'nt go around the can anymore. I had a great one years ago that was on the wall and you pulled it out and turned a handle but when we moved into the cottage there was'nt space for it on the walls of the small kitchen. Its probably up the potting shed.

Mandy, I used to use a Culinaire "Easi Can" and then it went missing one day so OH bought a new tin opener that was a great chunky, heavy thing and I couldn't get on with it at all, so I went out myself and bought another "Easi-Can". My wrists and hands are not very strong but I get on well with it. Of course it's impossible to say whether you would like it but it might be worth a look. I think they are not very expensive. How did the cake turn out? We both like a fruit cake too though I haven't made one for ages. I laughed when I read you thought it might be dry as Old Harry as I had only just said to OH that our meat might be tough as Old Harry.

Is it just a conventional ballcock and arm in your cistern Mel? If so, it sounds as though you just need an adjustment to the arm. Will you get the plumber back?

I have done a few minor jobs today and managed about 15 minutes in the garden. I didn't do anything strenuous, just cleared 3 troughs of annuals that were about finished. They were the sort that barely have any roots so I didn't have to bend and tug them and more or less just picked them up. I do think my back is very slightly better today, although I have to rest for a short while after every job.

I'm going to prop myself up in bed now as it's telling me it's had enough for one day. I don't feel ready to sleep yet but I've got 2 books on the go and plenty of programmes to watch on iPlayer so they'll keep me going until I feel sleepy. I hope you have a better night AnnG and the rest of you sleep well. Night, night.

Evening All,

A nice sunny day again and quite warm. I like it when it's like this as it isn't too hot but makes you feel like doing things when there's nice sunshine.

Mandy I will send you a pic of my tin opener. It's a sturdy one that grips well on the side of the tin, but I can't see any make on it unfortunately. I have had trouble with tin openers too. Some don't cut through the lid, others seem to twist off the tin or you can't seem to position them to grip. I didn't really like an electric one I had years ago and used to hope we didn't have a power cut when I needed to use it! I bet your fruit cake will be nice. OH really loves a fruit cake. When I've overcooked one and made it dry we've had it with custard! lol. You have got a few jobs done today. I've had my beads out again and decided what to make but need to sort out if I have all the kinds of beads I need to make it.

Mel do you think you need a more robust mower for cutting all your grass? My sister's OH used to mow for ghe council and had a quite small tractor thing that towed several sets of mower blades at once. First a Kingfisher and now Nuthatches! We never see anything like that here. Was the cistern making the noise straight after the plumber did it? I hate it when the water doesn't shut off properly, especially with being on a water meter.

I hope you have a better night's sleep tonight AnnG. I'm sleeping better lately, but have had nights with no sleep sometimes and felt useless the next day. I hope ypur leg is a lot better now.

Hopefully you have eased up today Vera and not aggravated your back. I know how hard it is looking at jobs you want to get done, but know it's too soon!

Well my cake finally cooked the recipe was one I haven't done before and it said to cook it at 140 for an hour and a half ,we'll it was no where near cooked so I upped the oven to 160 and it finally got there ,I bet it will be dry as old Harry I thought 140 seemed really low ,I must remember to change the temperature on my recipe .

Can I ask what tin opener everyone uses ,my tin openers are useless I must have spent ten minutes trying to open a tin of tuna ,after a few choice words I got there but I'm really cheesed off with the two I have ,one is like a flat one that opens the tin or should open the tin on the side ,the other is one of those cheap basic ones and to be honest I use to use that one with no problems ,I have been thinking of getting an electric one but I remember having one years ago and not getting on with it ,I don't know what it is with me and tin openers they just don't seem to like me ,or me them :-(

Afternoon all.,

Lovely sunny day and warm out in the sunshine, got all my washing dry and folded ready to put away .

Thank you for Colin's birthday wishes Ann I have a nice Manor house fruit cake in the oven now and I'm sure Colin will enjoy a slice later .

Good you have the plumber coming Mel I'm sure he sort your cistern out sounds as if something is sticking or not cutting the water off properly.

Anng you'll be ready for an early night after that bad night's sleep .

Vera I hope you've behaved yourself today and not done anything to aggravate your back ,trouble is with a nice sunny day you feel like doing something and then you pay for it later .

I cut the front grass when we came back from sons and washed a few pots that had the cucumber plants in so I've done a bit now sitting having a cuppa .

Morning girls,

A beautiful sunny morning here and its 11 degrees but still feels quite chilly. I have Norman and Norma Nuthatch at the bird feeder together. I got a pic of the two of them there the other day and I think BIL was trying yesterday but not succeeding as he was standing out there too close. They were coming one at a time and not two together.

I have to have a good clean up today as the boikler man is coming on Monday afternoon and the kitchens a mess as its where I live most of the time and cast in here too and paint.

Still not happy with the new cytern inards Chris the plumber put in as it spend most of the day swizzling after I flush it. I do so hate it when you get an annoying noise that carries on and on.

Good morning all
Sorry you had such a bad night AnnG. Will you be able to have a little nap during the day? It’s cloudy and 9 degrees but I haven’t stuck my nose outside yet to see what it feels like. I haven’t got any plans today apart from booking a delivery for Tuesday from either Sainsbury or Tesco. I’ll see what my back feels like after I’ve got dressed and had some breakfast before I decide what else I can do.