If things get tougher?

HariboJunkie

kbarty wrote: »

I've started gathering up the leaves falling in my garden (which seem never ending this year for some reason!). Apparantly if you pile them in a black bag with draining holes and leave them that's all there is too it. We'll see I suppose! At least it's free. I think it takes a while, 18 months or so. If you google leaf mould, or composting leaves it throws up a few things.

In my experience it doesn't take that long. I've been doing this for a few years and it produces wonderful leaf mould. It does break down alot though so make sure you pack the black bags really full.

Softstuff

ceridwen wrote: »

But - I will stop there....as I know many people believe that it is a person's "individual choice" how many children to have - even some people who say they are environmentalists. Those of us who worry about overpopulation know we will never change other people's opinions no matter what we say/no matter how much evidence we produce - so will be just left with "heartsink moments" every time anyone announces they are expecting Child No. 3 or beyond. I know all we can do is ask people to be responsible and then try not to be depressed for too long any time someone announces they don't intend to be.

I'll stick my head above the parapet and hope it doesn't get shot off.... I'm child-free by choice, and am stunned both from a societal and environmental perspective how many people consider having kids, multiple or otherwise, to be a right or entitlement. It's the largest responsibility any human can undertake, and with the current state of the world I'd never take it. The world has finite resources, and can no longer support an ever expanding population. The idea that we need more kids to support us in old age no longer rings true either, they'll be too busy with their own needs and own families.

Like you Ceridwen, I'm waiting for a "no-kids benefit" and additionally a "non-maternity leave" where I'd be able to volunteer for a charity or do social work for 6 months! I won't hold my breath.

ceridwen

Hi Softstuff

I certainly second the idea of "non maternity leave" - think that would mean I'm due about a year? It would be lovely to have the chance of work of my choice - if only for a while - before I had to "get back to the grind".

Ever since I started work way back when - the only breaks I've had were involuntary ones (ie spells of unemployment). Apart from that - it's just been full-time work from the get-go to when I get the blessed relief of retirement.
It IS hard knowing one has never ever had any work one actually likes - well I have - but it's never been of the paid variety. I used my spells of unemployment to at least take the chance of doing work of my choice (of a voluntary nature) - but the rest of the time its a case of fitting in what voluntary work I can manage with what time and energy I have left after having to do a full-time job. I do struggle sometimes to find that time and energy for at least a bit of voluntary work - but couldn't bear to think that the only work I'd ever had was boring/badly-paid/low level/etc - so have to try and do this in order to have the chance of some work that is interesting/useful/reasonable level.

Roll on retirement - I am so TIRED of forcing myself in the door at work for absolutely nothing, other than a little bit more money than I would get on the "dole". Wouldn't mind QUITE so much if it was at least reasonably-paid:cool:

It would be nice too to have back the money I had to pay out MYSELF for a sterilisation operation to ensure that that was that once and for all - by present-day prices I would think my sum total cost for absolutely everything (inc transport and hotel for two people) would probably be about £1,000. Not a lot - but it would come in handy to have that money back - and I do begrudge the fact that I even had to pay for the operation itself - I asked the NHS - but got turned down quite forcibly (some sort of formula that existed at the time of multiplying your age x the number of children you had as to whether they would do it. I pointed out that the whole idea was for me not to have any children at all - and having to have some and hand them over for adoption would somewhat defeat my object) - so they gave me no option but to pay.

Softstuff

ceridwen wrote: »

Hi Softstuff

I certainly second the idea of "non maternity leave" - think that would mean I'm due about a year? It would be lovely to have the chance of work of my choice - if only for a while - before I had to "get back to the grind".

Ever since I started work way back when - the only breaks I've had were involuntary ones (ie spells of unemployment). Apart from that - it's just been full-time work from the get-go to when I get the blessed relief of retirement.
It IS hard knowing one has never ever had any work one actually likes - well I have - but it's never been of the paid variety. I used my spells of unemployment to at least take the chance of doing work of my choice (of a voluntary nature) - but the rest of the time its a case of fitting in what voluntary work I can manage with what time and energy I have left after having to do a full-time job. I do struggle sometimes to find that time and energy for at least a bit of voluntary work - but couldn't bear to think that the only work I'd ever had was boring/badly-paid/low level/etc - so have to try and do this in order to have the chance of some work that is interesting/useful/reasonable level.

Roll on retirement - I am so TIRED of forcing myself in the door at work for absolutely nothing, other than a little bit more money than I would get on the "dole". Wouldn't mind QUITE so much if it was at least reasonably-paid:cool:

It would be nice too to have back the money I had to pay out MYSELF for a sterilisation operation to ensure that that was that once and for all - by present-day prices I would think my sum total cost for absolutely everything (inc transport and hotel for two people) would probably be about £1,000. Not a lot - but it would come in handy to have that money back - and I do begrudge the fact that I even had to pay for the operation itself - I asked the NHS - but got turned down quite forcibly (some sort of formula that existed at the time of multiplying your age x the number of children you had as to whether they would do it. I pointed out that the whole idea was for me not to have any children at all - and having to have some and hand them over for adoption would somewhat defeat my object) - so they gave me no option but to pay.

I'm 30 and not allowed sterilisation.... apparently I'm plenty old enough to decide *to* have kids, but not old enough to know *not to*. About to attempt to get hubby a vasectomy in February, but being as he's only 25, don't hold out much hope. Paying for it in my mind makes economic sense (since we won't have to pay to support kids), but is certainly unfair since I could get pregnant and have many children delivered and medically cared for for free

I can't stand my job, but fortunately hubby and I intend to retire early and live frugally, so I can do whichever voluntary job fulfils me most then. I work 60-70 hour weeks at the moment, yet am paid for 40, so that doesn't leave room for much else. Oddly enough, if I had kids I could take maternity leave then have flexi time.... harrumph.

ceridwen

Hi Softstuff

I see you are in Australia. Don't know what the situation is there. In Britain - we have Marie Stopes Clinics - where I was able to get sterilised at a reasonable price/no problems at all (I was in my 20s at the time) and it all took 3 weeks from me realising that they had started doing this for anyone wanting to to sitting back in a hotel bed eating my grapes - sorted.

Maybe something like that is available in Australia - if not, perhaps your next holiday could be in England?

www.mariestopes.org.uk

EDIT; see they are there in Australia too - so no "air miles" on your conscience.

Softstuff

ceridwen wrote: »

Hi Softstuff

I see you are in Australia. Don't know what the situation is there. In Britain - we have Marie Stopes Clinics - where I was able to get sterilised at a reasonable price/no problems at all (I was in my 20s at the time) and it all took 3 weeks from me realising that they had started doing this for anyone wanting to to sitting back in a hotel bed eating my grapes - sorted.

Maybe something like that is available in Australia - if not, perhaps your next holiday could be in England?

www.mariestopes.org.uk

EDIT; see they are there in Australia too - so no "air miles" on your conscience.

I'd never thought Marie Stopes was here... I'm on the site now and might consider getting me "fixed" rather than the other half.
EDIT: it appears sterilisation is only by referral from your GP. In my case, he's irish, catholic and has already told me he can't understand why any woman would want to.
Vasectomy it is then!

[Deleted User]

wow. This woman is inspirational. I couldn`t do it

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1086413/The-REAL-Green-Goddess-The-eco-friendly-granny-lived-cooked-food-heating--lightbulbs-35-years.html

[Deleted User]

softstuff. My dd absolutely never ever wanted a child and has been happily married for 5 years. Last year at 37 she weighed it all up and decided to give her dh a baby. 5 months on she is an absolutely besotted and very happy mum. She will not be having another baby. Never say never.

Re vasectomy, my dh had one in 1978 and it has been absolutely problem free and was extremely re-assuring for me

oystercatcher

LOTS of women change their mind about not wanting children.

Life changes, relationships change and good old hormones as well.
That's why they won't sterilise early in life. It's hard to imagine thought patterns changing but they can and do!

Oystercatcher

mummysaver

Afternoon! To any of you who are stockpiling assorted foods, D&DD?! Well I trotted off to Morries to get some marmite cos it's cheapest there at the mo, thanks to the OP, anyway value plain and self raising flour are still 33p a pack there at the mo, it's 43p in Mr T's and Asda! Also chick peas in the ethnic section are 18p a can.