old style pastimes

Gettingtherequickly

As we are now into holiday season, it may be possible to do some volunteering. I volunteer in evenings, but I am sure the office would appreciate an extra pair of hands to answer phone etc now that staff numbers will be getting a bit thin (they consider holidays to be very important to re-charge batteries) for a couple of months. You should get your expenses paid and help a good cause!

VJsmum

I was going to suggest Aldi plums as well - i bought two lots last week for jam, should get 5 or 6 jars for less than £2.

Also your local Pick your own fruit farm may have jamming fruit that is a lot cheaper than PYO - i got strawbs and rasps last week from there and made perfect jam (if i do say so myself )

Can you knit? I am currently knitting a long chunky cardi with wool from Kemps (thanks Mardatha ) for less than £30 (wool i had priced up in the local coop haberdashery shop came to £80 :eek:)

Sort stuff out for a car boot?

Maggie_Bob

Something I'm doing that I don't think I've seen suggested yet (sorry if it has and I missed it) - learn to play a musical instrument.

I could never get the hang of the guitar, but I picked up a ukulele for £10, and I'm now able to strum out a few decent tunes on it (plenty of videos & online tutorials). Hubby picked up a penny whistle yesterday (for about £3, so more than a few pennies, but still not a lot) and I'm already getting the hang of that (I used to play the recorder as a kid - seems some of that knowledge stuck in my brain somewhere!):dance:

Allegra

CupcakeLisa wrote: »

might look at some bread making - its something i have always wanted to do but i think its too difficult

No it ain't.

Buy a bag of strong white flour (68p in Asda or Tesco) and a packet of dried yeast

Empty out the bag of flour into the biggest bowl or saucepan you've got. Add a tbsp of salt and a tbsp of yeast.

Pour in 1.5 pt of hand-hot water

Mix together with a wooden spoon until the dough starts sticking together

Turn out on to a floured work surface; knead for 10 minutes, until the dough is springy and elastic

Cut into 3 equal-ish lumps; knead each individually, shape into a loaf and put into a bread tin (no worries if you have no tins, make "free form" loaves and put on greased baking sheets)

Leave to rise for 45 minutes in a warm place

Put into a pre-heated oven on 220 degrees C, bake for 20-25 minutes until browned on top and sounding hollow when the crust is tapped

Let cool down and try not to eat all in one sitting !

[Deleted User]

The trouble with me is that there is never enough hours in the day for all I want to do.I have part care of three little DGS and in a few weeks when they break up it will be four, for almost four weeks until we all go on holiday, so once they break up I shall be thinking up things for them to do.They are making a list of places they want to go to,luckily no too far and I do have a seven seater car which helps.Most of it will involve picnics and country parks as its free and they can run their energy off.But myself I always knit when watching t.v. but often there isn't much I want to watch anyway so I listen to the wireless.This I can do whilst I bake,sew knit or even do a jigsaw.My local library has started lending out jigsaws which is handy.
I always have a book with me where ever I go even if its to pick the kids up from school I have a book in the car in case I'm early I am reading Orwells 'Road To Wigan Pier' at the moment in the car.Today I have baked some cakes and washed the insides of the windows whilst listening to the wireless.its so much better than just sitting staring at the 'gogglebox' My late dad wouldn't have a t.v. in the house and I was grown up and married before I ever had one and I can't say I had missed much.i do like to watch history programmes and the odd play or if I see it a good detective series but I probably listen more to the wireless as I can get more done that way.
But my best love of all is definitely reading you can lose yourself in a book and its just so relaxing to me anyway.
P.S. my 15 year old grandson Ben plays the guitar and wanted a ukelele as he said its the 'coolest' instrument that all the kids want at the moment so i treated him to one a few weeks ago and he is getting on great with it.

Maggie_Bob

JackieO wrote: »

P.S. my 15 year old grandson Ben plays the guitar and wanted a ukelele as he said its the 'coolest' instrument that all the kids want at the moment so i treated him to one a few weeks ago and he is getting on great with it.

Wow - for the first time in my life I am 'cool'! :rotfl:

Fizzbitz

I love to read, do needlecrafts of any kind, watch dvds, write, keep my journal, bake, make jams etc from donated fruit and fly my kites! A pack up, bottle of water, occasionally a bus fare, kite and away I go. Sometimes I even come back with some foraged goodies!

Fizz

CupcakeLisa

Allegra wrote: »

No it ain't.

Buy a bag of strong white flour (68p in Asda or Tesco) and a packet of dried yeast

Empty out the bag of flour into the biggest bowl or saucepan you've got. Add a tbsp of salt and a tbsp of yeast.

Pour in 1.5 pt of hand-hot water

Mix together with a wooden spoon until the dough starts sticking together

Turn out on to a floured work surface; knead for 10 minutes, until the dough is springy and elastic

Cut into 3 equal-ish lumps; knead each individually, shape into a loaf and put into a bread tin (no worries if you have no tins, make "free form" loaves and put on greased baking sheets)

Leave to rise for 45 minutes in a warm place

Put into a pre-heated oven on 220 degrees C, bake for 20-25 minutes until browned on top and sounding hollow when the crust is tapped

Let cool down and try not to eat all in one sitting !

that sounds really easy...def gonna give it a go. my oh could eat bread with every meal so might save us a few pennies

Xaniwoop

Thanks for reviving this thread it really inspired me to turn the telly off last night and I made myself a new skirt from a a torn pair of jeans and some leftover fabric.

I modelled it on this: http://www.clothingattesco.com/ages-1-7-girls-clothing/cherokee-denim-patchwork-skirt/invt/kc112529/&bklist=icat,4,shop,catgsale,kids-sale

It only took a couple of hours and I think it looks great, my camera needs new batteries or I'd post a pic

VJsmum

Xaniwoop wrote: »

Thanks for reviving this thread it really inspired me to turn the telly off last night and I made myself a new skirt from a a torn pair of jeans and some leftover fabric.

I modelled it on this: http://www.clothingattesco.com/ages-1-7-girls-clothing/cherokee-denim-patchwork-skirt/invt/kc112529/&bklist=icat,4,shop,catgsale,kids-sale

It only took a couple of hours and I think it looks great, my camera needs new batteries or I'd post a pic

What a great idea!!! I could do that!