If things get tougher?

gsysezz

Coal on the island is about to rise by £4 per bag from 1st October!! I'm stockpiling a few bags but sadly can't afford too much. I've also got a huge lot of logs in from a tree my Dad had chopped down at work. I've also invested in a nice warm duvet at a bargain price in Amazon's clearance. Unfortunately I didn't realise it's 2 duvets you put in together. Sounds like a bit of a nightmare but if it keeps us warm.....

mardatha

Ours went up £3 a bag --its now £15.50. Mrs Mac, I learned to knit when I was 4 but I never, ever learned to crochet to a pattern- I can do the stitches ok but when I string them together I go to hell. All my crochet blankets ended up going round and round in circles getting wee-er every round
Am starting to wonder what's going to happen meself, after watching the news today.. Interesting times, indeed.

rosieben

gsysezz wrote: »

... I've also invested in a nice warm duvet at a bargain price in Amazon's clearance. Unfortunately I didn't realise it's 2 duvets you put in together. Sounds like a bit of a nightmare but if it keeps us warm.....

I bought a similar duvet a couple of years ago, they're very bulky! I solved the problem by having the thick one underneath my bottom sheet and the thin one on top (and my lovely big fleece blanket at hand if I need extra); so far its been warm enough (and this is a cold old house) but I shall swap them over if I need extra warmth on top.

mardatha

God what a lot has happened since I joined this forum...what a lot of like-minded friends I have found. I think that along with learning to live on less, comes CONTENTMENT. That's the key to a good life, and if you're constantly wanting this wanting that worrying about this worrying about that --then there is no room for contentment.
The last time, ie the miners strikes/& the 70s blackouts --I was in a highrise flat in a city with a 2 wee children, I coped and enjoyed it as an adventure.My dad was a miner caught up in the strikes and the solidarity was amazing. This time I'm a granny living deep in the country, quite remote.No kids, no health and strength, but more willpower & more wisdom..and this too will be an adventure !

MRSMCAWBER

Hi all -just posted this on the preparing for winter thread but I have more to add on here :rotfl:

Just nipped out and come home with a great thing for keeping the cold at bay... Its for my mum -I always worry about her tripping over her blanky... this one opens up into a normal blanky but then zips up so far and has little studs to make the sleeve bits -plus it will come up round her neck :T she has arthtitis so feels the cold and suffers more in winter... should keep her toasty n warm -and it was only €7.98 -about £6.40 ... they only had beige, brown, cream combo -but im sure she won't mind:D


They also had all manner of slippers -from the bit puffy quilt ones to ones with wheat bags in the soles that you zapped in the microwave .. I was tempted -but i just can't keep anything on my feet -no matter how cold they are

My mum rang Southern gas/leccy and they are sending her the monitor so she can check her fuel consumption..they have taken her readings and if she can reduce it by 20% she will get £25 off her bill and if she can reduce it by 10% she will get £15 off her bill -all for free :T so thankyou to the OP.. can't remember the name now -sorry

Mardatha -glad its not just me who can knit -but struggles with crochet -I would be happy with just single chain :rotfl: I have been practicing but still takes an age -and I seem to lose stitches :mad: but im not giving up -I WILL make a crochet blanky

zarazara

mardatha thats an excellent post. very very true.

lilac_lady

My friends are I used to joke about buying "the big slipper" as Billy Connolly had a funny story about it. (We said "we'll know we're old then"!) It's a big sheepskin-like lined huge bootee to put both feet in when you're sitting down. It'd be ok till you stood up, forgot and fell over! Bet it's warm though.

moanymoany

If you want to learn to knit or crochet, pop over to you tube and type it in - there are masses of them.

[Deleted User]

MRSM I`m here. I cast on 150 stitches with a crochet hook that was 2 sizes bigger than I used for the normal crochet and that gave a good loose base edge, although if I were doing it again, I would use one 3 sizes bigger. Then change to a smaller hook eg size 4 for dk yarn. I did put a couple of links on the thread but that was weeks ago. youtube shows a good demo on double crochet and there was a good link that wasn`t videa. Dont` forget to crochet twice in the last space and make 2 chain then crochet the first dc into the second space. I tried a few times until it came right with a nice straight edge

crochet is 10 times quicker than knitting. I am knitting squares now and it is taking ages and sewing them together is potchy

I have more info on emfs etc but later after eating. I got the second hand powerwatch book and it is superb and easy to read. I`ll find an amazon link later

MRSMCAWBER

Thanks Kittie

Im not giving up YET ..I keep doing 10 stitches -trying to do a couple of rows -then lose the plot -and some of my stitches :eek: ..now I know why -derrr -I need to crochet into the ends twice... sounds obvious once you have told me :rotfl:
I have tried watching videos and written instructions/diagrammes on tinternet -and working from a book -but it just won't go in to my brain it will be a long time before its quicker than knitting ..right im off to do battle again -wish me luck (im gonna need it)