Things are slowly returning to normal chez Skiffle. After a great deal of faf, my new kitchen is almost complete. A complete flat pack kitchen was delivered on the 7th, and left in my living room. No one showed up to do anyrthing about it. Phoned landlord, who said someone would come round in a weeks time. Whinged about having a living room full of kitchen, and that i had cleared everything out of kitchen, ready to have new one installed. An hour later, landlord called back to promise someome would be round next day at 8 in morning.
Workers duly show up on time. Take drawers out of old units and mess about for an hour. Then announce they do not have right tools and are going home. This at 9 am ! When questioned, workman remarks he has a job on in the afternoon. resist tempation to ask if he keeps his tools at Land's End.
Later contact from landlord to say that workman has announced he is a plumber and cannot fit kitchen. Complain to landlord about state kitchen is in. This Monday, fitter shows up to start assembling kitchen, followed by plumber next day to do sink. So far, they have needed to borrow 1 drill bit, I screwdriver and large rubbish bag. Have taken revenge by snaffling 3 rolls of masking tape and assorted screws.
Kitchen is now mostly functional and rather attractive. It needs tiles behind (vile and loathesome) cooker and by dark, granite-effect worktops. Will also be repainted, probably in cream and white like the rest of the flat. It's rather like living in a block of ice-cream.
I now have working surfaces around 3 sides of small square kitchen. It's very energy efficient. I can stand in the middle of the floor and touch two worktops, sink and cooker, and can open the fridge, both cupboards and two drawers without shifting from the spot ! And I'm only 5' 1"

Skiffle - I know exactly how you feel. A functional kitchen is so important and it doesn't have to be big to be so. I had my kitchen (less than 12ft by 12ft) done last year and I still can't believe how wonderful it looks! When I moved in with the Dodo (15 years ago on June 16) the floor was concrete covered with floor paint. The kitchen units had been salvaged from a skip and the overall effect was awful.

Don't worry, said the Dodo, I'll get it done. Nothing happened.

I bought a range cooker 4 years ago hoping this would encourage him but nothing happened.

When I asked for at least the floor to be tiled, (the house is so old it doesn't have foundations nor a screed under the kitchen floor) the Dodo said that he could get some more paint which was used in warehouses and could take a fork lift truck. It was forcefully explained to him that I did not have any plans now or in the future to use a forklift truck in the kitchen.

So last year, I finally took matters into my own hands, rescued a butler's sink from a skip, bought a linen press (which I converted into a cupboard), an enourmous antique plate rack, a side board, bought the floor tiles and called a builder in. Three days later, I had the floor laid and the sink fitted - I painted the walls, put the freestanding items in, I assembled the sideboard, I put up the shelves above the cooker and I had the kitchen I wanted! And I paid for the lot - it's my kitchen!!!

And doesn't the Dodo know it!

Happy cooking!

AuntySassy:

Seriously impressed. That sounds like a fine kitchen. I like mine being small as I'm the only person using it, and I can work very efficiently - I shan't have to go very far to get anything.
Mum's kitchen is a long one. The pantry is in the hall at one end, and the fridge/freezer is in the back hall at the other. As the bread is some 25' from the milk, getting breakfast has to be done in an organised way. Time and motion experts would have a fit trying to use the space really effieciently

I dream of having a house with a hall, a landing and a pantry! The front door opens directly on to the front room, the back door likewise with the kitchen - or it did until the Dodo had a small porchy thing built for coats etc. The landing is about 3ft square , stairs and wall along two sides, doorways to the two bedrooms along the others.

I get so cross when I open the mags to see articles entitled "how to turn your landing into another room" - like to see them try with mine! Now there's a point - I could write in and offer them it!

Items that so far appear to have been lost during renovation/redecoration:

1 model X-wing assembled from kit.
1 Kenner toy X-wing
cheque book for current account
power lead for printer
jar of short-grained rice for puddings
paper light shade
last remnents of sanity


Reward offered for return of printer lead.

You can find the X-wings, Skiffle ... stop relying on technology and just feel the Force ....



- - -
I am very interested in the Universe. I am specialising in the Universe and everything surrounding it. - E. L. Wisty

Well, probably the remnAnts of sanity would be better found on another site, but...

- Currer Bell



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Revolt! Revolt! No matter why or when,
It's novelty--old novelty again.

Oh no - you've lost your pudding rice! Can't live without mine - nor tapioca and semolina!!

Had an enourmous bread and butter pudding at the weekend - yummy!

Oooh, bread and butter pudding. I have a good microwave recipe for that. Can never get rice pudding to work in the microwave though. I do good rice pudding in the oven; nice, thick, 'once-slice-or-two ?' pudding. My Mum's is even better. Made with full cream milk and left to cook gently in the AGA. Mmmmmmm.

with a crusty skin on top of the pudding? oooh, fab.

I love bread and butter pudding, as well as steamed pudding with golden syrup... I want to try the one with a lemon baked in the middle....



PSD

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This is the work of an Italian narco-anarchic collective. Don't bother insulting them, they can't read English anyway.

The one with the lemon is Sussex Pond Pudding, I used to have a microwave recipe for that which was delicious. Haven't been able to find the damn recipe in years though.

You can not cook puddings in a microwave - I'm sorry but it just does not work!

Puddings cook in proper ovens and that's that!

Sussex Pond Pudding... Mmmmm.

(Stops to wipe drool off of keyboard)

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"Warning! Product may contain Newts!"

Still haven't found the pudding rice, but did unearth some porridge oats, and made a bowl, topped with some rather crystallized golden syrup.

AuntySassy: the Sussex Pond puddings I made in my microwave were delicious.

I don't think Americans can really appreciate a Brit's love of puddings

My favourite pudding - Medieval Pudding.

Quarter pears and place in a shallow dish. Pour over 2 large tablespoons of runny honey, sprinkle on almonds and cinnamon and then put in a hot oven for 25 minutes - wonderful! And so's the aroma - but it only works in a proper oven!!! :-))

Oooh, that sounds gorgeous... *makes mental note to buy pears on next shopping trip*



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That which does not kill us makes us stranger.
(Llewelyn the dragon, Ozy and Millie)

Sarah

I've nothing against using proper ovens too. I couldn't do any baking in the last one I had, as the door didn't close properly. Still I made some lovely sponges in the microwave.
Come to think of it, haven't seen my twist n turn cake carry for ages. It was so useful, as it was deeper than ordinary cake tins and the cover clipped on to a flat base, so it was easy to get at the cake.

I've nothing against using proper ovens too. I couldn't do any baking in the last one I had, as the door didn't close properly. Still I made some lovely sponges in the microwave.
Come to think of it, haven't seen my twist n turn cake carry for ages. It was so useful, as it was deeper than ordinary cake tins and the cover clipped on to a flat base, so it was easy to get at the cake.