The Compact Challenge 2010 (formally "Need help for a challenge")

415SanFran

Holy Moly How many tupperwares do you have?
Or do you let it freeze them put it into a freezer bag in the shape of the tupperware?

pink_numbers

ha ha ha I have LOTS! I renamed myself the tupperware queen a few months ago... They are only little ones tho.

So how has the last three days been? I've started to keep a log of things I get the urge to buy. I'm finding that what I wrote on the 1st Jan, I'm just not interested in any more, so I am hoping that each shopping urge go away after 2 days.

415SanFran

I have to say pretty easy, but that is more because it has been so cold here, but I did just have a little look on the Avon web site (just to look honest ) but found that I already had everything that I was interested in......That i'll teach me:A

I haven't even looked on E Bay.
BUT, but, but, to redeem myself, my coffee machine broke and I sat and sulked about it, and bemoaned my case to my sister, she went into her kitchen and came back with one of the Rambouts coffee filter one cup things that you just sit on the cup, with the bright idea of just taking out the filter after the first cup and using a fresh filter in with coffee.:idea:
Isn't she a star?:T

pink_numbers

Woooo well done to your sister for saving your day! Are you going to be looking for another coffee machine or will the Rambouts do the job?

I kept myself busy last night by looking at crafting blogs. BAD idea, now I want all sorts of crafting stuff! Never mind, I will refocus my efforts into finding craft projects that I can make from the mountain of crafting stuff I already have.

I am making a bag at the moment, crochet, but it's all going wrong as I didn't follow the pattern... stupid, I know. It's going to be a HUGE bag (by accident, not by design), and I'm not sure how to redeem it yet. I might throw it in the hot wash and see if it shrinks well...

I have looked at few online stores, mostly yarn related (I know, I know, my friend tells me there are places you can go to get help for this), but not actually been tempted as much as I thought I would be. Now that I can't go and buy new stuff, I am more focused on what to do with the stuff I have already.

We also decided to not watch TV... well, not strictly true, we decided to not watch any programs that we have seen already, and because everything on telly IS a repeat, we haven't switched the telly on in two days! It's fabulous.

Less fabulously, I seem to have a cold, an infected throat, and a mouth ulcer... JOY!

It's also freeeeeeezing here! Wonder if it'll snow...

415SanFran

Do you feel any better today? Have you got an appointment at the DRs?
We woke up to a new blanket of snow about two inches think, what about you?

You know I'm not sure about the coffee thing, it worked fine and the good thing is I have had three coffee's this morning and they have all been fresh, rather than the third one being almost cold and having that stewed taste if you know what I mean. but the rambouts thing cost 2.99 for ten, If I can make a holder last a week then this would be the way to go. Its definitely a good stop gap till I see one in a charity shop, but no longer in a rush to find one.

Do you sell the bags that you make on Ebay or anything? Or are they just for you and presents, I can knit, but don't really like it, it does not grow quick enough for me, I wish I could crochet, I think someone showed me how to when I was young, I remember watching a old lady on a tube once started with a tiny scrap and we were on the train for about an hour it covered her lap by the time I got off, mind you see didn't even seem to be looking at what she was doing, she was brilliant, I remember my grandma being like that with knitting, she would be looking at you having a full conversation and all the while knitting, how do they do that?

Not sure that putting it in a hot wash will work! You just know that when you want something to grow thats when it shrinks and vise versa!

TV? Haven\t had one for years!
We download a few of the programs that we liked in the US. Family Guy, King of the hill, and best of all the Simpsons, apart from that we don't bother.
British TV seems to be all soaps (not much good if you don't know who is who) or "reality" stuff. Sorry I don't see what people "get" out of watching other people sitting around arueing for the main part.
All the news and stuff that I want I get off the computer, although one of my boys is addicted to Utube.
Have to say when I have been on the phone to my sister and she has said "Ow can you call me back Eastenders has just started" that really bugs me, when I call back she is full of who is sleeping with who,,,,,,,,,,it really bugs me....ITS NOT REAL I feel like yelling at her.
You may notice as time goes on me and my sister have a strange relationship kinda love/hate,,,,,,,,she is 6 years younger than me so when I left in 82 she was only about 12/13

A_fiend_for_life

No impact man should provide some inspiration and tips.

415SanFran

Hey thanks for the link A Fiend for life. :j

I now know what my reading material will be for this evening at least. good thing as I have not made it to the library because of the snow.

pink_numbers

helloooooo I have finally crawled out of my sick bed. I'm not better today, although not worse, so that's good

Had a very sad news that my first cat (who now lives with my ex) is dying He is such a wonderful cat and will be very sad to think that he will not be around any more.

I once read on the tightwad's gazette that you can actually reuse coffee... so maybe top up the coffee in the holder with some more coffee? Have you thought about using a cafetier (sorry about spelling)? We like them as there's no 'disposable' items like paper filter. We have three big ones (two cups) and three little ones (one cup), we have quite a family here!

I wonder if you can make filters out of muslin cloth? or is that going to far?

I don't sell any of the things I make, I prefer to see it go to someone I know, if you see what I mean? Also, if it breaks, which being handmade it does sometimes, I can fix it for them.

If you think knitting is too slow, you should definitely learn to crochet. I love to crochet because a) it's fast and b) you only have to deal with a thread and one hook, NOT two needles and a thread, which with only two hands, I cannot coordinate myself well enough. I sat my mother down and forced her to teach me couple of years ago. I am so glad I did, as I've gained a skill from my mother that will stay with me. Do you know anyone that could teach you? A lot of people also teach themselves from videos on youtube. I'm going to be teaching two of my friends this year, you're more than welcome to come along! :rotfl:

You are far ahead of me on the TV front. OH and I have been discussing this at length (though my mouth ulcers), and we really can't think of one argument against getting rid of the telly. It'll also save my like £20 a month on Sky (£240 total) and us £180 on TV license, that's FOUR HUNDRED QUIDS! Why we didn't do this before I have no idea... actually I do know why, I was too addicted to telly! (btw, family guy? ROCKS!!)

I do think it's a very British thing to stop everything to watch the soaps. The funniest I found was when I learnt that power stations have to prep themselves for a sharp increase in electricity usage when the soap goes on a break and everyone switches the kettle on for a cuppa. How British is that?

Don't worry about your relationship with your sister, it's got to be better than mine, I have two half sisters and a half brother that I didn't know about until about three years ago :eek:

Yes it has snowed here over night. I can tell because the cats won't leave me alone, trying to steal all my heat! Another NSD for me, but I think it may classify as cheating if you don't spend because you can't get out of the house...

pink_numbers

A_fiend_for_life wrote: »

No impact man should provide some inspiration and tips.

Thank you for the link A fiend for life I read his book last year, although I was hoping it had more practical hints and tips on how to survive a-la-no-impact. Still, I think it's amazing what he did, and he has clearly pushed for changes in others to follow suit.

415SanFran

Hope you are feeling a bit better!

learn to crochet on Utube? You sound like my son! May get him to sort that out for me, but it will have to wait till I come across some wool and a needle, actually I do know some people that knit might ask them if they have on "taking up space"

coffee I would really like one of the old fashioned percolator's that you plug in, but I haven't seen one of those for years. As for the filter I had a linen skirt off ebay that has never fitted right and have just cut a bit off there and used that all day, emptying it into the compost after every three cups, the coffee that is ,not the material.
That was one down side of Ebay that I learnt very quickly if you don't know the brand size X could be 4 different sizes to you and me.

As for the TV I am no puritan! We have been offered LOADS of TVs that is not the problem, but as my sons are so smart on the computers and they watch so little TV they set this up, but I did have the licensing man around asking to look in the house he walked in and said everything was OK. Talking of Family Guy, you know he has a thing for saying "Mister smartypants CALI4NIAAAA
well Rob got a card at Christmas from a girl saying "I hope you will be my Mr Cali4niA in 2010" Only trouble was she gave it to Tom by accident....poor girl!

Sorry to hear about your cat, I do understand that they are part of your family and this situation is very distressing.