It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

chevalier

kidcat wrote: »

Now have so much more space, both in cupboards and on worktops. And I am feeling much better for it to, it is almost cathartic,

Located candles which are now stored with torches and batteries, and then organised all the BBQ stuff into an area, meaning that if electricity goes off for any reason I could use the BBQ to cook! this is something I have been concerned about for a while, having an electric cooker, but the BBQ idea occured yesterday. Have checked it over and its ok and there is still gas in bottle, although I am considering buying another bottle just to be safe.
In absolute emergency I would guess that it could be brought inside and used as heat source too.

You would not get much heat from it because you would have to have ALL the windows open, and even then that might not be enough ventilation. There was a story not long ago of 3 fishermen here that brought the barbie into their cabin. 2 of them died and the 3rd one only survived as he was closest to the door and managed to crawl out. They died of carbon monoxide poisoning.

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chevalier

MRSTITTLEMOUSE wrote: »

We don't have snow but it's so cold and frosty.My hubby who works 30 miles away has just rang and said it's been snowing realy heavily for the past hour.I suppose by the end of today we'll have some too.
I just can't believe how this winter has reverted to what winter should be instead of the the damp,mild and miserable ones we've had for such a long time.
You just can't beat a cold and frosty morning and the joys of keeping warm during winter.So much more healthier for you too.

And one of the good things about a prolonged cold snap is it kills off a lot of bugs and viruses too:T
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chevalier

Hawthorn wrote: »

The two youngest....DD and DS3. They have lost all of their school jumpers. Bear in mind, that only a month ago I purchased three each (at £8 a pop) They are labelled, but they go missing never to be seen again. I got the message through about this when I started to charge them half of the cost from their pocket money. That did the trick even with the youngest one. Also could you ask the teacher to do a label check after registration. Might turn up some of your lost jumpers.

Hub is going to need new boots soon (he's a PO, so needs good quality comfy hard wearing - not cheap) It always used to be that posties, got doc martens via Royal Mail, is this not the case any more?
I'm washing the same two jumpers and jeans over and over again so I have clean clothes, you could post a want on www.freecycle.org and you might get some clothes for free?
Oh, and my boobs have grown again, meaning new bras needed. My old ones are uncomfy, and worn out. I feel for you with this. Mine do change. Perhaps getting an M&S fitting so you defintiely know what size you are, and then buying a couple of good quality ones might be the way forward? Ie keep their shape better?

QUOTE]
I know I am a bit behind on the thread and hope things are better now
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cw18

fletch3163 wrote: »

That's how it is for us these days actually. Some days you meet yourself coming in as you leave. Husband's in at half 6 and I'm out at 7. Absolute madness. How on Earth one's supposed to conduct a marriage is anyone's guess

mardatha wrote: »

well it cuts down on the chances for arguing :rotfl:

My parents used to have the children around school, but elder DS was more than a "bit" of a handful so they started to feel too tired to continue - to the point they said we'd have to make alternative arrangements when he started secondary school. Clearly I wasn't going to argue about this (I'd have had 12 years of free before & after school child-care by then), but have you ever tried to find a child-minder for an 11 year old when they've not had the child through primary school !!

In the end my DH took voluntary redundancy so he was home for them (I earned considerably more, plus his part of the factory were working up to possibly needing to action compulsory redundancies). 18 months later we re-located 35 miles down the road to get closer to my job, and he then started to work nights so that he was still home to chase the boys out to school and make sure they got home safely/on-time.

He'd be out at around 9:30pm Mon-Fri, and in at 6:30am Tues-Sat. I'd then be out for the bus to work around 7am Mon-Fri and in at 5pm those days (by which point he'd have gone back to bed for a couple more hours - getting up around 7pm for something to eat). This meant we didn't see much of each other for a few years (until illnesses and redundancies kicked in), but I have to agree with Mardatha that we argued a lot less during that time :rotfl:

The main problem was school holidays, as he'd have the boys at home all day while trying to catch some sleep as well. An odd week (half-term) wasn't too bad, but the Summer was a nightmare :eek:

chevalier

diamondgirl78 wrote: »

Whilst I agree that this country as a whole has "bigger things to worry about"; as the owner of a small independant shop, I'd hope that individuals would continue to support small businesses like mine wherever possible. I always try and do this, but it is hard to do sometimes

We always think that the small shops will be more expensive - but it isn't always the case. I guess lack of convenience is what counts against us, after all, who these days does all their shopping on the high street? If you value your local shops, now the phrase "use us or lose us" has never been more apt.

Totally agree with this. Even if you only buy the milk at the shop or the newspaper or whatever, every little that DOESN'T go to the big 4 does help
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mama67

My local shop/PO has started selling meat from a butchers in the next town approx 10 miles away.

It is delivered on a Tues & Fri and you can order anything basically they sell in the actual butchers.
All meat is is from local farms so supporting the local farmers as well, and this is just as convenient if not more so than driving the 15 miles to the nearest supermarket.
Closest actual butchers is approx 8 miles away so good all round as loacl shop is just a 3 mile round trip.

They also have a delivery once a week from a fish merchant off Grimsby Docks, same again really as the docks are approx 10-12 miles away.

I have figured it out that even allowing for the little extra as it is the butchers and fish merchant rather than a supermarket the petrol saving outweighs this and the product is far superior.

mummysaver

Patchwork_Quilt wrote: »

It's been interesting catching up with this thread.

When I was a SAHM, I was often called a 'lazy housewife' and asked to look after other people's children or sit in whilst workmen came to other people's houses. I never did and I still feel cross about it.

I feel that the best person to look after a child is its family.

I work nights, and it's amazing how many people think you are free to look after their children during the day! Sleep anyone :rolleyes:

My family have never been around to provide child care or help out, nor have they wanted to help, so I have used friends and babysitters when necessary. Now my older children are big enough to babysit the younger ones.

I am lucky in that I have a job that doesn't impact too much on the amount of time I spend with my children, though it does mean I'm often in bed very early! And as for housework, well .......

wannabe_sybil

I am going to start reading this thread now, in instalments. I shall post again when I have finished. It may take some time to cover 147 pages!

lillibet_dripping

wannabesybil - having read all about Little Bear's antics on the daily, I'm not sure you have time to read the entire thread:rotfl:

I am trying to do the same thing! The only way I know of to track where I have got to is to press the 'thanks' button . That way, I know when I start to see thanks again, I need to start reading from that point. Apart from the (very OS:rotfl:) paper and pencil, I'm sure there must be a way of 'putting a bookmark' at the point you left off - can anyone help me out?

I have enjoyed reading this thread so much - we can all be so resourceful when the need arises!
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kidcat

lillibet_dripping wrote: »

wannabesybil - having read all about Little Bear's antics on the daily, I'm not sure you have time to read the entire thread:rotfl:

I am trying to do the same thing! The only way I know of to track where I have got to is to press the 'thanks' button . That way, I know when I start to see thanks again, I need to start reading from that point. Apart from the (very OS:rotfl:) paper and pencil, I'm sure there must be a way of 'putting a bookmark' at the point you left off - can anyone help me out?

I have enjoyed reading this thread so much - we can all be so resourceful when the need arises!
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I use the thanks button as a bookmark too