If things get tougher?

Fife_Flyer

ceridwen wrote: »

Well - I'm planning on getting the accessories as well - so I can cook in a saucepan on top of it - instead of my cooker hob. Hopefully I'm getting it right in thinking thats what one does. The basic Kelly Kettle on its tod would only do (as far as I can see) for boiling up the water for a drink.

Ceridwen, thank you for sharing your ideas on how you intend to use the Kelly kettle. I hadn't noticed the accessories available for the larger of the two kettles that includes a frying pan and saucepan. What an ingenious idea being able to boil water for drinks and cook food at the same time, using the same heat source and only one lot of (free!) fuel.

I expect that cooking on the kettle will limit one to fairly simple meals, though that isn't necessarily a bad thing - just like camping at home as I think you mentioned.

Would you be so kind as to relay your experiences with the kettle once you start using it?

Uniscots97

Olliebeak wrote: »

Hello Unixgirl - sorry didn't realise that you meant they needed activating after washing in order to reproof them. See what your OH meant now.

I've always used Nikwax when washing outdoor wear jackets and fleeces but never had to tumble them afterwards.

Here's the link to their website:

http://www.nikwax.com/en-us/index.php

and it includes an on-line competition for nikwax samples. You can enter every couple of weeks and the answers are on the website. We've had a few samples from them using the same name and address each time.

Ollie xx

Thanks Ollie, I told OH about what Berghaus said and he didn't believe me! He said "but the shop told me....", felt like saying yeah the shop told you that thinking you were a mug to believe it. .

I'll check out nikwax, thanks.

Margaret54

Hi everyone:) I have bought from charity shops since when we were on a very tight budget, and the kids were small, around 1983, I reckon. They were invaluable to us at the time. The 6 children were always dressed well, and I often got compliments on how well I managed to turn us all out . I still go to the charity shops and they are adults now, but I still love to visit these wee shops. I can afford to treat my hubby and I now but we are savers and doing what we can to spend less etc. I got a pair of black calf length boots in a war on want shop in Belfast exactly 12 tears ago for £4.99 and I still have them:) I also have boots more stylish which were in a sale in town for £13 and I have worn these ones also. The older ones were made in Germany and are fleece lined, and are so cosy and warm. I have never had the heart to throw them out, and I love them. The soles are great too and have a good grip on them, which is great when the weather is icey etc. I was also in a charity shop at the weekend, and came away with a lovely like new pair of curtains lined as well, with tie backs and a swag for the top, and a new pair of flat sneaker type pumps brand new which will be great with jeans, and two tops which are really nice. Oh and two skirts as well. I love to rumage through them, and it is a pleasant few hours while giving to a good cause too. I will always shop in them no matter what savings we have. You can pick up great bargains and also brand new gifts handed in can make lovely Christmas birthday presents too.

[Deleted User]

2 years ago via the grapevine, I heard about the potential for what is happening in the economy and I have just heard some very scary stuff re oil. We are going to see oil heading to $245 a barrel.

We can`t play at saving energy, this is for real. Almost everything we use today has its roots in oil. From fleece to washing up bowls. We are going to have to get back to basics ie natural fibres and simple foods, no more taking 1 tsp out of a fancy jar and leaving the rest for a year. I am doing no more of that and haven`t done for a while.

Nomad25

I'm posting this question on 3 boards [here, silver saver and ms o/s - although that might sort of duplicate.

OH and me were talking about this yesterday:

Thermal underwear - who makes the best, most effective and as a 3rd consideration, economical? Oh yes, any tips or experiences? :rolleyes:

I reckon we going have to get some in for the winter.

Primrose

Nomad - Damart always used to be one of the leading sellers of thermal underwear but I suspect lots of the better chain stores now sell it too. Possibly good sports shops and stores like Milletts will stock it too, but I always find Milletts' stuff very expensive although their Peter Storm range is good. Frankly, with the rocketing price of oil, I reckon shares in thermal underwear producers will be the only ones rising in value this winter!

[Deleted User]

these people nomad. I used to get damart but this is much better and there is no junk mailing either. I have ordered twice in the last month because the quality of the first lot was so good. It arrived by return

http://www.britishthermals.com/?gclid=CMHqwPb405QCFQWR1QodOkojkw

ceridwen

kittie wrote: »

2 years ago via the grapevine, I heard about the potential for what is happening in the economy and I have just heard some very scary stuff re oil. We are going to see oil heading to $245 a barrel.

We can`t play at saving energy, this is for real. Almost everything we use today has its roots in oil. From fleece to washing up bowls. We are going to have to get back to basics ie natural fibres and simple foods, no more taking 1 tsp out of a fancy jar and leaving the rest for a year. I am doing no more of that and haven`t done for a while.

And wasnt it only earlier this year I seem to recall that we were all feeling scared at oil reaching $100 a barrel? The phrase "putting all one's eggs in one basket" does feel rather apt at the moment with the way that just in a matter of decades we have become so dependant on oil (after all those previous centuries without it).

I know it has felt "wierd" for the last few years to walk round the shops and see them crammed full of goods - and many of them so cheap...it has felt a bit "Alice in Wonderland" doing so and watching people walk around leading late 20th century/early 21st century "life as normal" - whilst I have been busily trying to get my finances straight/house sorted/etc "as fast as my little purse would carry me". Now its time for The Great Reskilling - for all of us - where we have to pick up those traditional skills that very nearly got lost...thank goodness not quite though.

Well...kittie...you are our resident "expert" on fuel moneysaving - so all further tips you wish to give us are more than welcome...

love
ceridwen

(who is still hoping for another new blog on the scene at some point;) )

mardatha

I wonder how many people are wishing now they had learnt to knit ? I used to be a fair isle knitter but all the wool shops closed down, and by the time I doscovered the comp and online shopping, I had lost interest in knitting !

[Deleted User]

I think it`s important to focus on this as a challenge instead of being scared. There are still a lot of us original os`ers about and we survived before and will do it again and we will teach anyone who is open-minded and who wants to know. It wasn`t the price of oil when we were children, it was the fact that technology was not advanced

Cotton and wool were our basic fabrics together with viscose, then crimpelene made an appearance and that was the start of the slippery slope. All this started about 50 years ago, a slow rise up but it looks as though it is going to be a cascade back down

I don`t know how else to help re energy costs Ceridwen but I am tweaking my own use here and there in tiny little ways: I use the ecocamel showerhead and the force is powerful so, today, I decided to turn down the on/off knob and the force reduced but was still very good. I am using my pressure cooker for my veg instead of the steamer, 5 minutes on high pressure and the green leafy veg are in the steamer basket over the potatoes and carrots, which are in the 1/2 pint of water. The result has been perfect so that saves 15 minutes of energy.

I put my camping kettle full of water outside today as I was expecting sun but it was cloudy all day. When the sun shines hot then I can get the water to be hot enough for non-greasy dishes. I decided that there has to be a similar but better way so did some googling and found solar showers and ordered a few as I thought they would be good heat absorbers and I`ll just take the filling cap off to pour into the sink and they pack up small. I hand washed some grubby eco cloths today and rubbed with household soap with a brilliant result so at the very least the sun-warmed water will do for some hand washing and dishes.