It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

cw18

I get my Stardrops from H0me B@rgains/Qu@lity S@ve

Caterina

wigglebeena wrote: »

Are there no other lazy swine like me out there who would jump at the chance of retirement, spent learning languages, tinkering about with a guitar, foisting my company at weekends and holidays on friends and family, and yes, a bit of volunteering?

Bring it on! If only!

Me! Me! Me! :j

ceridwen

elizabunny wrote: »

Afternoon everyone. Been very good today and done some batch cooking and DH has really given my old cooker a good scrub O/S of course and no nasty chemicals, just elbow grease, soda crystals and a few drops of stardrops. It's about as close to gleaming now as it's going to get because it's 21 years old, so I think I've had good service from it. It does need a new hot plate now and a bulb for the oven and without doubt it's soon going to give up the ghost, so I think I'll have to start budgeting for a replacement very soon. We have some of our kitchen appliances insured against breakdown -but not the cooker and I feel I have to keep making excuses for the age of it when our repair man comes out, but as he says, if it's working ok why replace it. My thoughts exactly -so hopefully I might get another few years out of it. I wonder if my next one will last as long...............

I take the view that "if it aint broke - dont fix it" - as in I wont replace household appliances until they have well and truly had it - as I gather newer models are deliberately made not to last very long at all (built-in obsolescence and all that). I have a fanheater which is about 30 years old and so basic that even I can manage to clean it out once in a while. My house has a gas sitting room fire that has kept going okay for the 20+ years I've had it (dont know how old it was when I moved in) and it really throws out the heat. My washing machine must be about 15 years old and not so much as a repair (touch wood!). I'm not going to tempt fate - I'll keep them all till they're "in bits". Why waste my money for more modern-looking versions?

Caterina

I agree so much, Ceridwen! Altough I cannot really match your 20+ years of keeping machinery, I have appliances that have lasted me for over 10 years and I have no intention of replacing them until they die a death.

I replaced my mobile phone 3 years ago after having an ancient Alcatel (a real brick!) for 5+ years, and that only because I needed a reliable one when I was on call for births. My "new" one, I hope, will last me for many years to come - no frills, does what it says in the name - mobile phone: can call and receive calls on the go!

The only appliance I am planning to replace is the CH boiler because it is desperately inefficient (and it takes upwards of 1 hour to get enough hot water for a bath). Much as I am a "3 minute shower" person and do not have baths often, occasionally I would like to treat myself to a nice long soak!

pagangirl

Only been missing for a few days - so many posts to catch up with ! Had the dreaded flu bug but feeling better today :j

On the subject of retirement - I would retire now if I could afford to (55) - it really bugs me that single people are discriminated aginst right down the line Don't get me started on that one :mad:
(I think Ceridwen will back me up there)

Thanks to Primrose & Mummysaver for the advice over indoor greens - will now investigate the seed company. Will give salad greens a go too when the weather gets a bit better.

Hugs to all those in difficulties especially TiddlyWiddly and Lavidaloca - been made redundant in the past (twice) - you are on the best site for advice !!!!

What a brilliant post from Vanya - her parents must be really proud of her.

You made me laugh with the story of the exploding eggs Mrs T - I remember years ago on a visit to my mum's, she was hard boiling 2 eggs, and with us both sitting talking she forgot about them - there such an explosion it sounded someone had been shot! I didn't know the eggs were boiling anyway, when we went in the kitchen the pan had boiled dry, the eggs had popped and hit the bottom of a wallcupboard - the smell was unbelievable ! :eek:

We laughed about it later but not that night!

ceridwen

pagangirl wrote: »

Only been missing for a few days - so many posts to catch up with ! Had the dreaded flu bug but feeling better today :j

On the subject of retirement - I would retire now if I could afford to (55) - it really bugs me that single people are discriminated aginst right down the line Don't get me started on that one :mad:
(I think Ceridwen will back me up there)

Tell me about it pagangirl - you're right there that I would back you up. Council Tax - dont get me started. Higher bills generally - ditto. Financial help available from the State - I'd be here all night if I got going on that one...:cool:
The only financial plus side to being single is one that I am very aware of at present - ie if I ended up on benefit again...then I would be given my benefit indefinitely (and not just for 6 months) - so that is the one silver lining to the "financial cloud" of singledom...one retains financial "independence" no matter what - rather than being expected to be supported by someone else after 6 months unemployment (even if they cant afford to do so) - and of course vice-versa.

Anyways - glad to hear that you are feeling better after that bout of flu (touch wood - I've only had it once - that was enough!).

ceridwen

Speaking of how we are coping - I've just been having a discussion with another Old Style poster on here and we were wondering how Iceland is doing now. For any others interested - I found:

http://www.topix.com/world/iceland

In short Bjork is out to save Iceland and they are going to take the U.K. to the European Court.

grannytwice

Just had my working hours reduced to 13hours, boss has decided to close shop early, trying to look on positive side, grow veg as i am lucky enough to have a garden will spend more time with elderly family, but it did come as a shock makes you wonder if some employers are using this credit crunch as an excuse to do what they want , not sure, feel a bit let down as it came out of the blue and hours have to be implimented immediatly, ahh well will just have to make the most of all the advice on this board to get us through at least i am still in a job, i do have a contract of employment for at least 17 hours i dont know if that makes any difference or not but must admit i'm a bit scared to say anything as dont want to risk losing job altogether as there is not much work round here and a lot of bigger firms are paying off people so i'm luckier than most. keep up the good advice its makes such a difference and keeps us all going, old style is a great virtual community.

elizabunny

mrssnowy wrote: »

Interesting posts,make you think and see things from all angles.
I work 29 hours a week,am carer for DH and a volunteer with several different groups.
Dying to reduce work hours (I am 58!)to fit every thing in,but younger work colleague just leaving to go on to pastures new,so I'll have to cover 'til a replacement is found.
'So much to do ,so little time to do it in'

By the way ,where can I get stardrops from?

Hello mrssnowy, I usually manage to find Stardrops in Sainsburys, Morrisons or Wilkinsons, hope this helps. I usually pay somewhere between 65p or 75p I think -sorry I'm hopeless at remembering the exact price of things -still working on that one:o

mrssnowy_2

pagangirl wrote: »

You made me laugh with the story of the exploding eggs Mrs T - I remember years ago on a visit to my mum's, she was hard boiling 2 eggs, and with us both sitting talking she forgot about them - there such an explosion it sounded someone had been shot! I didn't know the eggs were boiling anyway, when we went in the kitchen the pan had boiled dry, the eggs had popped and hit the bottom of a wallcupboard - the smell was unbelievable ! :eek:

We laughed about it later but not that night!

Happened to me when a student nurse, in the days when we made teas on the ward,- stank the ward out for visiting:rotfl: :rotfl: