It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

Sylvan

I think we started using our sycamore in the rayburn about 6 months after it was cut. We used all the brash as well, for kindling.

fedupfreda

mardatha wrote: »

There is a sort of apathy in a lot of people now, and a lazyness. Is like spoiling kids isnt it? You arent doing them any favours by making life easier sometimes.

Too true - but where is the incentive to 'pick yourself up by your bootstraps' when someone else will always pick up the bill....:think: :doh: oh of course, its us, the taxpayer, that does that..:wall: but then I can see why they do it - its a darn sight easier than working a lousy job for long hours with a pittance pay at the end of it (hang on a minute, I've had to do that for years....:mad: )

Its difficult when the 'chain of work' is broken - children see their families sitting at home all day every day and think this is normal. So they have no 'blueprint' for work, and the cycle perpetuates. It doesn't help that there seems to be a whole industry devoted to perpetuating the cycle. I know that there are many people on benefits who have no other option and are completely deserving of the little help they receive - but I also know for a fact that there are a fair few who milk the system to their advantage, therefore draining the system of the help which could go to those in genuine need :mad: I hope the current economic situation gives government the impetus to sort out the inequalities in the system - but I have little faith in any government these days....

Btw I have no wish to return to the days of the workhouse - one of my aunts worked in a place where they locked up unmarried mothers - the tales she told my mother would make your hair curl :eek: probably one of the reasons I waited so long to have children - it put me off for quite a while.

bellybabe_2

happytails wrote: »

Just wanted to say my mass cooking day went well yesterday, we have plenty portions of cottage pie, scouse, pasta sauce and casserole to eat over the next few weeks

Am I right in thinking scouse is tater ash/stovies/corned beef stew? I made some for the fisrt time in years last week. Put it on the table. OH looked at me in horror, but then ate two helpings. DSs looked at me in horror and didn't eat it. DS2 (7) didn't even pick up a fork, and after some time got down from the table, saying he had to go upstairs and pack, and did anyone know where the suitcases were? :mad: He proceeded to pack his toy parrot and a thomas magazine, asked for our phone numbers in case he got "scared, lonely, or needed directions to the train station", then thought about the fact it was dark and cold, and decided he would leave "at 7.30 tomorrow morning". I pointed out he had after school club, so he said "Hm...I liek after school club...maybe I'll go on sunday." I said we were going to a party on Sunday and he'd miss it, so he then decided he'll stay till next weekend. Then he said "I'd better go and unpack then" and went to bed very hungry.

So I don't think my scouse/tater ash/etc had quite the desired effect. :rotfl:

Mardatha, I'd love to know what the chancellor's gas & elec bill is on his place in Rutland Square. Reckon he's on a prepayment meter, or managed to get a fixed rate just in time...?! :mad:
BB

grannytwice

hi happytails ,your, marathon cook sounds like a good idea, well done can i ask a silly question what is scouse? and how do you make it.....thanks

elizabunny

Haven't posted for a couple of days and although I didn't think things could get much worse what with DH 4 day week and DS1 Redundancy, but it did! Well, I know we are all really struggling and lots of us here are doing really well, coping, keeping cheerful and being supportive to others , but what really gets me is when someone thinks they can just come along and take what belongs to someone else. We went to London to visit DS2 for his Birthday, a lovely day for all of us, out and about enjoying the run-up to Christmas, and epecially so, as we only get to see him once every 6 weeks or so. To cut a very long story short my purse was in my handbag when we left home, my handbag was kept securely around my neck at all times and I never took my purse out once during the whole day, so I'm fairly sure I didn't lose it, but when we arrived home, it was gone. Along with the usual things we all tend to carry in our purses, were photo's of my family and other little things that were special and important to me and that can't be replaced. All I can say is 'shame' on the people that do these things and to every one here, take great care of your belongings when out and about especially in these difficult times and the run-up to Christmas. We all think it can never happen to us -but it really can and it gives you such a shock. My DH who is my greatest strength says we'll get over it and we will, but it's another lesson learned. On a lighter note, it was the next day before I realised the purse was missing and I spent the whole day searching through the whole house just to make sure I hadn't suffered from a mad moment of memory loss and put it somewhere stupid like the freezer:eek:. Although I would have loved to have found my purse -I'm also quite relieved that I'm not completely losing it ...... yet.

exlibris

Bellybabe - I like your 7yr old's attitude! He is very practical young man to take everything into account. I also think you handled him well. It won't hurt him to be hungry once and may make him welcome home comforts - even if it is hm scouse

cuddlymarm

Hi

Scouse is stew. Lots of spuds, less veg and meat (cooked til it all goes squishy). Blind scouse is where you don't put in any meat.

My OH said they used to get blind scouse on a Friday because his gran was a good Catholic girl (but really it was cos the money had run out so no meat til pay day)

Cuddles:rotfl:

little_miss_moneysaver_3

used to, but unfortunately I can't get there anymore without assistance and there is no one around in the daytime to take me. Also, more market stalls in my market started doing bowls for a pound instead of a cheap price. As a single person it just wasn't worth it! What would I do with 15 bananas? Actually I did buy them once and made myself sick :rotfl:


I love the £1 a bowl thing. For things like veg that won't keep i normally chop them up and freeze them. And fruit if it's looking a bit off i'll make a pie or crumble. Or throw them in a casserole

When I lived nearer my sister we used to pick the bowls then divide them between us so we got more variety and a more manageable amount. Maybe go halves with a neighbour?

But today I did go to Mr Ts and visited the whoopsie section, good job I got some bargains on fruit and veg. Got 2 punnets of plums for 20p each. Also some toms on the vine reduced from £1.48 to 30p Can't imagine spending that much on tomatoes! Got some mushrooms for 20p each. Needed some for Thursdays spag bol anyway and i'll freeze the rest. I'm chuffed!

Saying that i'd better go and make a crumble from my "whoopsie" pears!

Caterina

Bargain_Rzl wrote: »

Well the first 7 you could have one a day for a week...

And the rest you could make into banana cake, banana bread, etc (and freeze it if you don't fancy it).

Recently my fave use for bananas is to chop one up and mix it into my porridge of a morning - top with a sprinkling of demerara sugar :drool:

I reported the market stalls of Woolwich Market (many years ago) for this practice, as it is contrary to the consumer interest, as you cannot know how much produce you are buying for the £1 they charge and so you cannot make comparisons.

I spoke with the local council's trading standards officer and they said that I was in the right and that they would investigate.

Still, at least 10 years later, same practice is widespread in that market, so much for anyone enforcing the rules :mad:

If you ask the market stall holder whether you could have, say, 5 bananas for 35p (in a 15 bananas bowl for £1) and they refused, and there was no alternative, you might be able to complain to your local trading standards officer.

I know, there are just so many battles one can fight, though!

Best wishes

Caterina

sharronloves2spend

MMMMM just come out of lurkville to tell you all what scouse is, well its stewing steak stew thing with potatoes in it and veg and gravy. It's usually served with red cabbage and reminds me of being really small. I think it's just the scousers way of a beef stew (hence the name scouse).

It a lovely winter warmer and filling

HTH sharron