THtourguide

The situation: I just lost my job and as part of my job my home too. I work for a funeral director and live above the shop that I manage as I am the resident receptionist. I have been dating a guy since August and he totally understands that my savings will have to go towards a deposit on a new home and I am job hunting with a passion. I can't really afford to buy him a Christmas gift that I had planned but want to put together a "Christmas stocking" of little things so that I don't look like a Scrooge but also don't have to spend a chunk of my savings that I need for a deposit on a new home. I know he is still planning to buy me a gift, and I don't want to appear thoughtless/heartless not to give him a little something, please can you help me with suggestions of things to put in this "stocking"? Thank you!! Any ideas and inspiration would be amazing...

I am not a breeder and do not intend to breed my dog, I am adopting a dachshund in October after she has weened her last litter of puppies, she will then be spayed. I just wondered how many litters a decent breeder usually allows before "retiring" the dog?

I've been drinking a lot for the last 8 months since my husband left me, at least 1 bottle of wine per night and much more on the weekends if I am alone. I came to a realisation on Monday when I woke up on the floor, freezing cold, not washed since Saturday morning that I need to stop, I have not had a drink since Sunday night, the shaking has stopped (mostly) but I cannot fall asleep and have night sweats/shivers which wake me up when I eventually do drop off to sleep in the early hours. I have no GP and my working hours make it impossible for me to seek medical help, can anyone advise how long it took them to over come similar symptoms or so. I am determined, I have resisted all urges to buy alcohol when I would normally back down. I know I am not the only one out there to struggle with alcohol abuse and would really appreciate some advice from those who have been through the same experiences.

I hate goats cheese but when I hate a food I always like to try it a few times just to make sure I do hate it, tastes change after all. I have found the cheeses I have tasted either taste like manky goat or like the smell of a goat pen, perhaps they are too strong? Can you recommend a mild one that might change my mind? B/F loves goats cheese and I want to make him a goats cheese and caramelized onion tart this weekend and does it taste different when cooked? Like blue cheese is so much nicer when it is cooked!

Every day I say to myself "Right, tonight I am going to cook something really nice for myself" but inevitably I end up eating ham and cheese toasties. The B/F says I should cook as it is healthier and cooking for yourself shows you care about yourself, I just cannot be bothered when it comes down to it. Do you cook from scratch every evening a decent meal?

I am a very nervous cook, I lost all my confidence in the kitchen and am slowly gaining this back, I tried a new thing for me yesterday, pulled pork, I was so worried it would turn out horrible and was delighted when it tasted great! Have you ever tried a new recipe that you had doubts about but it turned out better than you thought. I will most definitely be cooking pulled pork again, it was delicious!

I have 22 minutes left at work today, it has been deadly quiet hence being on Answers and I am starving!! I am sitting here obsessing about what to have for lunch, facing a fish and chip shop and the "£1 for a bowl of veggies" stall, what are you having today?

Mine is Bloody Mary, it's my favourite Sunday brunch treat, but I like it super spicy, loads of Worcester Sauce, Tabasco, lime juice (never lemon for me!!), celery salt, ice, and a tiny dribble of red wine over the top, lush!!! Not that I am a day time drinker normally, but Sundays are for chilling out and being self indulgent after working the other 6 days of the week!

I am very blessed, after years of doing jobs I did not enjoy I was offered a job just before Christmas that I am really enjoying, the best Christmas present ever. Do you love or hate your job? What do you do and if you had a choice what would your ideal job be?

I really hate goats cheese, it's VILE and so many vegetarian recipes call for goats cheese, what can I use instead? I like Feta but it does not have the same melting quality and I am newly vegetarian (1st week), really struggling as everything is goats cheese with mushrooms, how boring!!!

what do you like to have as a starter to your meal? Do you have a speciality appetizer that you make when having dinner parties?

I am thinking about resigning from my job, if I leave before working my entire notice period will that leave me open to legal action? I have no holidays left and will have been paid my last salary by then, can I just walk away? It will be about a week short of my notice period.

I am researching funeral customs for faiths other than Christianity for a job interview on Friday this week, I am familiar with the Christian customs as this is how I was brought up but the company I hope to work for deal with a very mixed spectrum of faiths and I need some help with customs of Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and other faith's traditions, thank you.

Still honing my cooking skills!

Meatball sub made with home made meatballs etc...

home made burgers

Burritos

Thank you

We have 135 attendees for the office party this year, the seating is not pre-planned and I cannot give them a card with V on it as this will either be lost or forgotten...any suggestions to make life easier for the waiting staff?

I've never had pulled pork before but have made some, now what do I eat it with?

Dilemma: new man (who is a great cook) and I am a rubbish cook. I am cooking him dinner on Friday and want to make bruschetta as it is easy and he adores Italian food. Main course is sorted but I am looking for "different" toppings for bruschetta other than the normal tomato based ones, he has no allergies and does not seem to dislike any foods, please help me impress my new fella!!! Thank you