If things get tougher?

BilberryCharlotte

Nomad25 wrote: »

Funny how these threads set off memories of past times, and these recollections of other posters, trigger thoughts of things each of us did when young.

After reading yesterday's posts, I got a vivid image of taking a bath in my grandmother's house with gas mantle lighting!

Also remember living in the scullery/kitchen and dining/family room with a coal fire and heavy curtains at doors and windows to keep heat in. 'Front' room only used for 'best'. Family gatherings must have been so cramped.

Blimey Nomad25 - gas mantles, those are words you don`t hear much these days. I remember heavy curtains at doors and windows too, and the `best room`.

When I met my husband, he was the oldest child of five, and his mother always kept the front room for best. Unfortunately his father had a vile temper, and used to knock the kids about, I always felt it might have been so much more pleasant for everyone if the front room had been available for the parents to sit in, leaving the kids to do their homework in the living room. I absolutely hated going there.

Fife_Flyer

katieowl wrote: »

I've also been eying up 'Self reliance - A recipe for the New Millenium' by John Yeoman....it's been out for a while but it's still £16.10 and the used copies are still over a tenner....Anyone read this??? Worth buying???

Kate, I have this book and think it is a worthwhile read. Many of the ideas and much of the 'advice' in the book are fundamental and ones that many of us on MSE already know about and/or practice. The author makes reference to some of his alternative ideas that may have some substance, though I couldn't help thinking some may have been a little tongue in cheek...

I think the main emphasis of the book is about becoming less reliant on mainstream society rather than out and out self-sufficiency.

He does recount some his own personal experiences that are interesting to read about.

All in all though, I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and came away satisfied that I been entertained and had learned something.

Rather than go out and buy it (and I hope I am not breaking any rules here!), I'll gladly pass it on to you if you'd like to read it.

David.

shaz_mum_of__2

My hubby told me about the ahem................diy central heating at his house growing up

take 1 empty marvel milk tin(remember them)

drill with holes

paint black

fit over light bulbs:rotfl: :rotfl:

The idea was the can absorbed the heat from the bulb and then radiated once turned off

No wonder he gets bronchitis

We take so much for granted nowadays , and central heating and tv killed family spirit ........................IMHO


Shaz

ceridwen

Fife_Flyer wrote: »

Kate, I have this book and think it is a worthwhile read. Many of the ideas and much of the 'advice' in the book are fundamental and ones that many of us on MSE already know about and/or practice. The author makes reference to some of his alternative ideas that may have some substance, though I couldn't help thinking some may have been a little tongue in cheek...

I think the main emphasis of the book is about becoming less reliant on mainstream society rather than out and out self-sufficiency.

He does recount some his own personal experiences that are interesting to read about.

All in all though, I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and came away satisfied that I been entertained and had learned something.

Rather than go out and buy it (and I hope I am not breaking any rules here!), I'll gladly pass it on to you if you'd like to read it.

David.

Yep...I think its a good read myself and luckily managed to buy a copy back a coupla months ago at a very reasonable price. Thats a generous offer there to pass it on to you - worth taking up methinks.

mary43

Originally Posted by mary43
Think I'm coming under the 'grumpy old women' title...................lol

Bilberry - will resolve not to 'grump' today..............aches and pains seem to have, well -not disappeared as such but not as bad. Kids still in bed recovering from hectic weekend and sunshine, oldest one should have gone to work (no I will not grump at him !!! - but will calmly enquire as to his laziness..........lol) OH has been out and informed me its too hot to do anything............well thats good enough for me. Gave to rack my brain to make a birthday card for sons 40th birthday and have some christmas stuff to work on (-yes I know its summer but I'm trying to keep costs down come winter)

Saw an article in the Sunday Express about a book recently been written (can't remember the author) saying we have until July 2015 (I think I got that right so correct me if I'm wrong-OH's recycled the paper)before all sorts of catastophes may occur -war over water (not oil), famine, flood......oh you name it and it was there !!
How true it all was I've no idea -there seemed to be a lot of 'possibilities' so I'd prefer to be optomistic about the future.

guineapig

I would like to add that I too have the John Yeoman book "Self Reliance" A recipe for the New Millenium.

I bought it because, I thought it would be a useful addition to my personal "reference library" and indeed it has been.

My own paranoia is lack of water and this book shows you how to distill it, & how to make an emergency water filter.

He does a chart on how long you can keep certain foods, how to make soap at home, how to companion plant, all kinds of things that are useful if you want to be more self sufficient.

Over the years I have bought lot's of books and very few of them get to stay on my bookshelves, this is one of them.

Maybe someone with more computer savvy than I, could start a thread about the books that we have all found most useful or helpful& maybe why?
Books's we wouldn't want to get rid of?
I am not sure where on the site it would be appropriate to put it:o
Let me know if and when it get's going so I can add my 10 cents please:D

BilberryCharlotte

mary43 wrote: »

Bilberry - will resolve not to 'grump' today..............aches and pains seem to have, well -not disappeared as such but not as bad. Kids still in bed recovering from hectic weekend and sunshine, oldest one should have gone to work (no I will not grump at him !!! - but will calmly enquire as to his laziness..........lol) OH has been out and informed me its too hot to do anything............well thats good enough for me. Gave to rack my brain to make a birthday card for sons 40th birthday and have some christmas stuff to work on (-yes I know its summer but I'm trying to keep costs down come winter)

Saw an article in the Sunday Express about a book recently been written (can't remember the author) saying we have until July 2015 (I think I got that right so correct me if I'm wrong-OH's recycled the paper)before all sorts of catastophes may occur -war over water (not oil), famine, flood......oh you name it and it was there !!
How true it all was I've no idea -there seemed to be a lot of 'possibilities' so I'd prefer to be optomistic about the future.

Hi Mary

I am glad you aren`t so achy today, and why shouldn`t you grump?, sometimes a good old moan makes you feel better afterwards and realise just how much there is to be grateful for.

It is a bit too hot to do much at the moment isn`t it, I try to do some work early in the day and later in the evening. I have sort of adopted the continental approach and try for a siesta of an afternoon.

I make cards too, I love doing it and feel it helps to keep my fingers from seizing up. In the craft shows I have heard people who sell their cards say they sart making them in June, so it seems it is never too early. There are some really super ideas for just about everything on these boards too. I hope your son has a lovely birthday.

I have heard a lot of these dire prophecies too, let`s just hope they are an overly pessimistic view. Perhaps we should hope for the best while trying to prepare for the worst, whatever it may be.

I do think our lives will change to some degree though, and I consider that I have been particularly lucky to have been young in the 50`s and 60`s when there was so much optimism, and even for the working class there was the promise of so much to come. It makes me feel sad that my children may not have that, but if we are lucky and we do our best, they will still enjoy life.

mary43

I was brought up from 40's onwards so remember a lot from how folk lived then. Hated the ice on the windows and it seemed the only way to get warm in front of the fire was by turning my legs into a sort of mottled red pattern...........mind you that was before the days of loft insulation,draft proofing etc. (I think -not something I took much notice of then except I know it was really cold in the winter. Hot water bottles were a must but weren't they awful to wake up to in the morning all cold !!
Financial hardship through the 70's taught my kids a lot so they're not wasteful at all, just the opposite in fact.I hated them going without things that they're friends had but maybe it was for the best in the long run
I'm a great believer in things happening for reasons that we may not be aware of at the time.
We have to prepare for all eventualities I think and it pays to err on the side of caution. The increase in household bills worries me =thankfully the mortgage will be paid off in October but by then everything else will no doubt have increased !
Mustn't grump though.............told myself I wouldn't, even when I was trying to print something out for my son and the ink ran out !!!!!!!!!!!:eek: No....I kept my cool andjust muttered a bit.......................lol

mardatha

A booklist seems a very good idea to me yes GP .

katieowl_2

OK I'm going to start one off.... give me a minute!