I absolutely love yoghurt and a bargain. Where’s the connection you may ask?

In, or rather just outside, the nearest bigger city, about 30 km from my tiny village, there is an antiques and used market hall.

I love this place where I can brows bits and bobs. Somethings are wonderful. I’ve bought an amazing leather satchel in the past and a couple of document cases as well as a near perfect wooden painting box for around a tenner! By far though my best bargain (only just beating the painting box) was a yoghurt maker.

Now me and my family have been, through necessity, on a very strict budget over the last few years. This represented a slightly impulsive buy as well as a bargain and a bit of a gamble for me. It didn’t cost much but the shop was closing and I was dithering because I just wasn’t sure if I should spend the 10 € for it. Yes our budget was that strict! My daughter said “just buy it mum, the shop’s closing” So I did and after calling into the big supermarket on the way back home and stocking up with a good quality full fat milk and a live yoghurt to start me off, I was on my way.

It’s so easy to make. My maker had seven pots with lids and still had the new stickers on it. I felt so excited. As soon as I could, the same day, I made my first batch.

I just mixed the live yoghurt with the milk and used a stick blender to make sure it was all mixed up properly. I did it in two batches because I didn’t have a container big enough to do it in one!

Then, pour the mixture into the little pots and put them into the maker without the lids. Pop the lid onto the maker switch on and wait.

It takes 12 hours so when I make it I have to time it all so it will finish when I’m around to put the lids on the pots and get the delicious yoghurt into the fridge.

It is wonderful stuff and I just love the creamy thick yoghurt that I make. I have recipes for frozen fruity yoghurt as well as flavoured non frozen but my favourite is just as it comes, natural. Yummy. I call it yoghurt o’clock and the kids just laugh at my enthusiasm!

Today was the day I made another batch, after not making any for a few weeks. I started late so I have to stay up until midnight for it to be ready.

Just after I’d put my yoghurt on, I heard the cry, mum there’s no water!!! There wasn’t a drop of water coming out of the taps.

Let’s not panic yet. I grabbed my computer and searched the water company’s website for any news on works in the area. I couldn’t find any scheduled work but often the water company sends and email if any work is planned. I logged in and there was an email saying that there was work going on which would mean low pressure or no water until 3 pm.

I also found a text from them on my phone. It looks like a burst pipe or other emergency, unforeseen incident. It came at the wrong time of day for pasta as we didn’t have any water in reserve so it was a good old sandwich to keep us going.

I kept checking until around 2.30 pm when the rusty coloured liquid started to trickle through. I ran it off until it was clear and did the first thing any self respecting person would do, I put the kettle on for a refreshing cuppa!