Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

silvasava wrote: »

GQ - on those stubby side bits on your watch are there any small holes that go sideways? If so maybe you could thread some button thread through in a loop & then use them to hold the watch in place on a band. Or use them to sew the watch to a band? Not explained myself too well!

No, the explanation made perfect sense and was the first thing I looked for when the strap-removal revealed that it had been anchored onto the 'spurs'. Alas, the holes that the screws went onto only go part of the way throught the 'spurs' as my thought was to thread something through.

I shall take this as a lesson in not buying a watch which cannot have strap-replacement done simply.:rotfl:

princesskitty29 wrote: »

Thank you so much for your advice GreyQueen and joedenise. Somebody actually contacted me from Freecycle last night to say they had a sewing machine, apparently it's about 25 years old but still works fine doing basic stitches so it might be good to start practising on.

:j Hooray, 25 years old is a mere baby.

Best advice when it comes, as it will probably have been sitting idle for some time, is to go to a haberdashers/ sewing shop, and get a bottle of sewing machine oil. DO NOT use random lubricants like WD40 etc, use the proper stuff. Then look for small holes in the casing (if you have the destructions it should tell you where) then put clean cotton rag to use for the first sewing.

Oh, and there will almost certainly be a build up of fluff in the slot where the bobbin sits, so remove with tweezers or cautiously vacuum.

Don't be surprised if the tension is all over the place at first (signs would be the bobbin thread making lots of loops on the underside of the fabric as you sew, or the top thread rucking up) You'll need to experiment with it to get it right, so don't be disheartened if it's a bit trying at first, and don't commit anything other than scrap fabric to it until it's running smoothly.

Best of luck, I'm so pleased for you!

Good Morning, Everyone, hope you're all ok. I opened my curtains this morning to a winter wonderland, beautiful, but I'm grateful that I don't have to go outside!

Cheerfulness, don't be too impressed by my organising skills; I (mostly) live on my own and it's easy to clean, sort out food, sew, go to bed with a good book and a glass of milk etc., when there isn't another body around making the place untidy and the bliss of being able to choose the house decor without anyone's interference. Note to self, must learn how to do smiley faces on computer!

I hope you've caught up with your sleep, Cheerfulness, I had a good night and am rearing to go again. Lemon and orange barley water for the grandchildren, catch up on rug quota, and daughter-in-law's dress which was ok after all. That's a must today because she made me a lovely rust/orange/grey notice board for my kitchen at the weekend.

I do agree with you, Lynplatinum, it is a bit too much doing a roast for one. and of course, any money we spend on food in a week, isn't necessarily just for that week; it gets 'carried' forward; a bit like the noodles I had last night - they've been 'carried forward' for months!

Right - breakfast time - a baked egg seems like a good idea, and then I've son's quiche to look forward to for lunch, followed by chicken for tea - so will have to find time to exercise if I still want to get into my lovely clothes!!

Have a good day, everyone - I do enjoy all your posts.

Viv xx

Here's a fantastic recipe from the original 'Pauper's Cookbook' - unless you hate chilli I've never fed it to anyone who hasn't demanded the recipe - it freezes well/slices etc., so is good whether there's one or a lot of you, and although it's made with mince (it works just as well with soya if you're vegetarian), it's special enough to give to guests. I hope you like it after all that preamble!

Hot Meat Loaf - will easily feed 6 or more depending on how hungry you are.

Meat loaf

One and a half lbs minced beef, half a cup of breadcrumbs, moistened with half a cup of red wine (red wine vinegar works just as well but use less), two tablespoons each of finely chopped parsley, onion, celery leaves (or celery), a clove of crushed garlic, teaspoon salt, pinch of paprika and black pepper, a beaten egg to bind.

Sauce: half a cup of tomato ketchup, quarter a cup of wine vinegar, tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, two crushed garlic cloves, two teaspoons chilli powder/flakes - halve that if you don't like it too hot, teaspoon salt, pinch of black pepper.

Make the loaf first by mixing all the ingredients thoroughly. The original recipe tells you to shape it into a loaf and put it on a greased baking tray; I find it easier to bake it in a loaf tin. Heat all the sauce ingredients together for a minute or two, pour over the loaf. Bake for one and a quarter hours 180 degrees/gas mark 4. Great with jacket potatoes and buttered carrots.

Oops sorry about that, don't know why it jumped out of order.

At last I've thought of a way to make do, or make another use of something - those big p-lastic tubs that bird seed and suet balls come in can become planters for sowing lettuce and herbs in a few weeks. I've found some seeds that say they had to be planted by December 2013 but I think they may still germinate. I've put some on damp paper in a plastic pot in a drawer to test if I'm right. If not I can always order some more but as there seem to be most of the original 5000 seeds left in the packet, it seemed worth a try!