All Mouth and No Trousers

As much as I keep trying to put a rational point of view across, there will always be numpties who try and swing it into the political arena, when actually there is no need. It all started with me reading quite a few posts on the netmums site from people- who are employed by the way - who are missing meals and who cannot afford to heat their homes because the rise in costs have pushed them over the financial 'ledge'. People are seemingly quick to blame the current government, when actually I feel the country would still be in the mess it's currently in, no matter who was in power. I don't give a rats if you have a degree in politics, social sciences and social welfare - it's living in the real world that counts, not by reading about it in text books. I am constantly flabbergasted by individuals who spout vitriol about various political parties (depending on their choice) having done them - personally - apparent injustice and in 'their' opinion 'ruined the country' when actually these people, with said opinions, have homes, mortgages, businesses, jobs, are earning a decent living, have food in their bellies, enjoy foreign holidays, had a nice Christmas, go out once in a while, are probably drinking a nice glass of wine tonight whilst watching the tv, have had an education and live quite comfortably thank you very much. So, in essence mate, YOU have not actually suffered in any way then under whatever government you are choosing to give your verbal diarrhoea to? YOU have not ever had to make a choice between keeping warm and feeding yourself? YOU are not on the cusp of being homeless? YOU are not living in a permanent state of anxiety about giving your family their basic needs? Basically then my friend YOU KNOW NOTHING. OK, level head MM - keep calm, free speech and respect other people opinions and all that jazz. No matter what flavour of party is in Government, there will always be mess that has to be sorted, there will always be things implicated that a percentage of people will not be happy with. But rather than blathering on with small minded and selfish - 'oh I am so hard done by' (when actually I am not) - views. Get off your backside and do something to help others. Oh, I am sorry - I am sure your work/holidays/socialising/bone in your leg doesn't allow you the time to actually help does it? But then again your opinion is, that it's not your problem isn't it?!

Menu Plan - February 2013

Spurred on by saving nearly £40 of my grocery budget last month by planning ahead, I have decided to have another go. Here is my menu plan for February - not set in stone as things do crop up, but here we go; 1st - Toad in the hole with mashed potato, veg and gravy 2nd - Lamb curry, rice, naan breads poppadums and pickles 3rd - Out for dinner 4th - Lemon and garlic chicken with new potatoes and vegetables 5th - Spaghetti Bol with spaghetti and garlic bread 6th - Fish, chips and mushy peas 7th - Shepherds pie, vegetables and gravy 8th - Gammon, egg, hash browns and beans 9th - Pizza-topped chicken with salad 10th - Kung-po king prawns with noodles, stir fry veg and prawn crackers (Chinese new year!) 11th - Lasagne, salad and garlic bread 12th - Mediterranean chicken with rice and vegetables 13th - Pizza and salad 14th - Mexican starter, Steak, jacket potatoes, mushrooms, corn on the cob main, tiramisu dessert (Valentines meal with hubby, the children will have fish fingers and chips and farmed off to bed!) 15th - Sausage, bacon, egg, hash browns and baked beans 16th - Tuna pasta bake with salad 17th - Roast chicken, stuffing,roast potatoes, parsnips, vegetables and gravy (Sunday lunch) 18th - Italian sausage spaghetti 19th - Herbed baked salmon with rice and vegetables 20th - Chicken fajita wraps with salsa, guacamole, sour cream and salad 21st - Steak pie, potatoes, vegetables and gravy 22nd - Meatloaf and vegetables 23rd - Chicken kebabs with pitta bread and salad 24th - Roast lamb, roast potatoes, parsnips, vegetables and gravy (Sunday lunch) 25th - Chicken and bacon pasta bake 26th - Sausage and mash with vegetables and gravy 27th - BBQ chicken, chips and coleslaw 28th - Pork loins, new potatoes and vegetables

Maverick Mummy - Cooking

I love food - it's not hard to notice that most of my FaceBook posts are indeed of the edible variety. I was popping on recipes, tips, hints and information on my own page , but people were forever asking for details and I would find myself faffing about trying to find them or type them up. So, the FaceBook cooking page was created, here is the link http://www.facebook.com/groups/530469143650305/ Nothing on it is rocket science, just a basic knowledge of cooking and if, like loads of people, you worry that you know nothing - then there are plenty of nice and helpful people to assist - there is no such thing as a stupid question either. For those who follow my - rather sparse and sporadic blog (which I intend to change in to a regular feature in my life), you will know my feelings on skills being lost as each generation passes so I do sympathise with the people who just have not been taught how to boil an egg or knock up a quick sponge cake. That is where I come in, not by throwing them out to ridicule, but to get them the advice and information they need. Happy Cooking! x