Handy Household Hints and Tips Part Four

Chopping boards need a clean?

Sprinkle 3 tablespoons of salt on the chopping board.

Wipe down with half a lemon

Rinse in hot water, but don't soak.

 

Does your iron look dirty?

Spread clean paper onto your ironing board and sprinkle with salt

Disable the steam button on your iron and make sure there's no water in it

Turn the heat setting to maximum

Pass the iron over the salt to remove any dirt.

 

Dirty oven? Try this

Pour one cup of baking soda in a bowl.

Dab a wet sponge in the soda and apply generously to the dirty parts of your oven

Using a spray bottle, spray white vinegar on the paste

Wipe clean with another clean sponge.



Clogged drain? Why not try this?

Mix half a cup of baking soda with half a cup of salt, in a bowl

Pour the mix over the blocked drain

Then pour a cup of warm vinegar over it and leave for a few minutes

Rinse with at least 1 litre of boiling water.

 

DOGS NEED A HOLIDAY TOO

 

How do you deal with your dog when you go away? Do you put Fido in a reputable kennels or take him with you? A pet is part of the family. I should have some idea, having owned a boarding cattery for a few years and written a book about it. Before Covid 19, I started to work as a pet sitter but only had chance to look after one lovely white doggy called Stitch, for a neighbour.

 

If you prefer to take Fido with you (do you know anyone who has a dog called Fido?) then why not stay in a dog friendly hotel? I haven’t stayed in any of these, but they sound good.

Craigellachie Hotel in Speyside. They even have a bar called Copper Dog. It isn’t cheap but has what looks like a wonderful whiskey bar and the country walks look appealing.

Overwater Hall in the Lake District. Every doggy visitor will have a homemade biscuit on arrival. Adrian has shared the recipe with owners. There is no additional charge for Fido. Dogs are welcome in one of the hotel lounges and bar, but they don’t allow dogs on seats. The hotel is set in 18 acres and has a woodland board walk. They offer breakfast and a limited dinner menu in your room if you wish to eat with your dog as they aren’t allowed in the restaurant. A dog sitting service can be arranged for rainy days.

Tyddyn Goronwy Camping Park near Snowdonia. Dogs are allowed at this site which is close to the beach. They take tents and campervans. At the moment it isn’t allowed, due to Covid 19, for people living in England to book.

The Grosvenor Arms in Shaftesbury in Dorset. Dogs are welcome in the bar with a full menu, but not in the restaurant. Boutique style bedrooms and dogs allowed in all of them.

Cholmondeley Arms in Cheshire. A very dog friendly hotel with a charge of £10 extra per room. There are water bowls at the front door as well as around the garden, dog biscuits at the bar and even doggie beer available to buy. Well behaved dogs preferred.

New Park Manor in the New Forest. Dogs are welcome in the rooms with doggy biscuits, blankets etc. They do a Paws break.

When booking accommodation it might be an idea to check if they only allow small dogs. Also how many dogs are welcome and check what restrictions apply to where the dog is allowed.

If you are travelling by car, it’s best they are in a container but with room to stand, sit down and turn around. Making regular stops for a leg stretch and toilet break for you and Fido.

 

If you decide to leave your pet at home, there are several options, a kennels, pet sitter or perhaps a relative who will look after your dog.

As I write, hotels are closed due to Covid but restrictions are being lifted.

Dog friendly beaches, all year round, Milford-on-sea, Hampshire, Troon beach in Ayrshire, Sandymouth in Cornwall, Babbacombe in Devon, Perranporth in Cornwall. Watcombe Bay on the Isle of Wight, Lulworth Cove in Dorset. Embleton Bay in Northumberland has a wide beach.

CHEESE QUOITS FOR SOUP

Why not liven up tinned soup with these delicious cheese rings.

Ingredients:-

6 ounces of plain flour

Half a teaspoon of cream of tartar

Half a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda

Half a teaspoon of salt

A sprinkle of black pepper OR cayenne powder if you like things spicy

Half an ounce of fresh butter

2 ounces of cream cheese

2 or 3 tablespoons of milk

A little beaten egg

2 tablespoons of grated Cheddar cheese

Method:-

Sift the powdered ingredients into a bowl. Rub in the cream cheese and butter until it resembles breadcrumbs. Blend with milk to a soft dough. With light strokes, roll out fairly thin and use a round cutter to make rings. Brush over with egg and dip into the grated cheese. Bake in a moderately hot oven for 10-12 minutes. They should be nicely risen and golden coloured. Re-roll some of the leftover pastry if you wish to make more. Serve piping hot on top of soup, tinned or homemade.

 

SHOPPING IN STORE

 

Although I am in my late sixties, I like to get out sometimes for a walk and wear a mask and often gloves. I have avoided public transport since the first lockdown. I live in an area of Tier 2, rapidly moving towards Tier 3 in the UK.

Because I haven't left home for over a week, I decided to go to a DIY store to look for a bathroom cabinet, more to get out of the house, than any need for furniture, as we are renting. The parking was free, so that was a plus point. My OH and I approached the store wearing masks. There was no sanitiser near the shopping baskets and OH picked one up that was wet and gooey. I had a new handbag and couldn't find the sanitiser. We didn't see any security guards and many customers weren't wearing masks. They were accompanied by children running around (we had forgotten it's half term). It was also a supermarket selling tinned goods and biscuits etc. We hurried through the food aisles and up the stairs to the flat pack furniture. They had some nice pieces but we couldn't wait to leave as people weren't social distancing. It was a relief to get back inside the car, remove the masks and use hand sanitiser. Come back online shopping, all is forgiven.

GROOMING YOUR CAT

 

 

Grooming plays an important part in caring for your cat.  It varies from breed to breed, of course.  Some require daily brushing and combing (usually the long haired breeds), whilst others need grooming less often.  Cats spend a large part of their time grooming themselves naturally. As they grow older, it becomes more difficult for them to reach certain areas as they become less flexible, so it is nice to help them by assisting with the grooming process.

 

It is best to get your kitten accustomed to being groomed from a very early age.  Gradually build up the amount of time you spend grooming your kitten until it is quite happy to allow you to brush it.  Eventually the kitten will enjoy being groomed and will come to see it as part of its daily routine.  If you approach grooming as a chore then so will your cat.  It may even put up a bit of resistance, resulting in grooming becoming a task you put off.  If your kitten becomes accustomed to being handled, then it is less likely to feel nervous when making future visits to the veterinary clinic for an examination.  Your kitten will feel comfortable being touched by people.  It also makes any visits to the surgery less stressful for both you and your cat.

 

When you are grooming your cat, it is also an ideal time to check it over for any lumps and bumps.  You can also check the skin, by parting the hair, to see if your cat has any skin problems such as fleas or any sore or inflamed areas that may require treatment.  Also remember to check the cat’s eyes, ears, mouth, nose, feet and nails from time to time.  If your cat stays indoors, the cat’s claws will need to be clipped regularly.  If your cat goes out, this will not be necessary as it will probably keep them in trim itself, and outdoor cats need longer claws for protection.

 

Indoor cats should be provided with a scratching post to keep their claws short.  If their claws are too long they can catch on the furniture and if a claw becomes torn, it would be painful for the cat.

 

Long haired cats look very pretty but do require a lot of help with grooming.  If you have a long haired cat, use a wide toothed comb to remove any dead hair.  If you find a knot in the hair, gently tease it apart using your fingers.  Try not to use scissors and if the hair is very matted, you may have to take the cat to a veterinary surgeon to be shaved, most likely under sedation.

 

Dolly

 

Short haired cats need very little grooming but it is best to brush them regularly so that they become used to being brushed.  A rubber brush would gently remove any dead hairs.  Some of these short haired cats have delicate coats and skin, so be careful when using combs and brushes that you are not damaging the cat in any way.

 

Kasper and Amber – Bengals

 

Before you actually start using a brush or comb on your cat, use your fingers to loosen the dead hairs, by going through the coat in the opposite way to the hair growth, just like a massage.  This helps to stimulate the natural oils in the skin that give a nice healthy shine to the coat.

 

© Janice Ascott

 

10 WAYS TO MAKE THE HOUSE SMELL BETTER

Get plenty of lemons at the ready

Some vinegar too

 

1. If you have buyers coming to look around your home, they will be wise to the smell of fresh coffee or bread baking. Instead, what about boiling up some cinnamon sticks with brown sugar.
2. There’s always the good old scented candle for the bathroom and kitchen.
3. Onion smells can be reduced by popping them in milk. Lemon is good for getting rid of fishy smells.
4. Dried mustard mixed with water is good to take fishy smells from the chopping board.
5. If there is a burned food smell in the kitchen, try boiling half a lemon in an open saucepan.
6. Try roasting citrus peel in the oven at 180 degrees C for a fresh kitchen smell.
7. Smoking as gone out of fashion for a lot of people, but then some still do smoke. Try neutralising the smell by leaving a bowl of vinegar in the affected room overnight.
8. Keep your rubbish bin smelling well by popping some cat litter under the bin bag and changing it every month.
9. Pop a box of baking soda at the back of the fridge to keep it smelling well. A piece of charcoal also works well.
10. Do you have a waste disposal unit?  Try ice cubes and a splash of vinegar or what about lemon or lime peel to rid it of smells.

How do lovers cope during lockdown?

I was just reading about lovers making love in a supermarket car park.

None of my friends have admitted to having a secret lover in their senior years. But it set me thinking. How would you contact each other with your spouse in lockdown with you? Would you have a secret phone? Would it be hidden and switched off? Would you have a secret email address? How would you access your lovers messages with your spouse looking over your shoulder, especially a jealous partner or worse still, an abusive one you were planning to escape from prior to lockdown, with or without the support of a lover.

Meeting up in a hotel has become impossible. Meeting up in a bar or cinema is a no go. Even if you get to meet up in a mutual friends house/garden, Should you be using your mutual friend's wine glasses and cutlery? Surely you wouldn't dare kiss and hug your lover in case you unknowingly have the virus and his daughter has just had a baby and vice versa?

Would you risk it for a quickie in a car park or in the woods? I know I wouldn't, but many people are young, energetic and miss a good sex life, or maybe just a bit of romance that is missing at home.

It's a difficult time for everyone. Most especially those grieving for their loved ones lost to this terrible virus but lovers must feel a little helpless and wondering if it's all worth the risk.