really old style living?

littleowl

mardatha wrote: »

LOL Betony dont worry pet ! he is indeed a grumpy old git. But I think he will train up ok. By the time I'm about 109 he will be OS :rotfl: Today he is sat in his chair, bored and not talking.
Yes, containers are a much easier way to grw veg I think. Will try the square foot gardening plan next year. And I've got over half a doz odd containers besides the builders bags, so can do extra tatties in them. It's not easy judging how many tatties/onions/wotever you need per person per year.

Hi Mardatha. What is RV interested in? It does seem a shame that he appears bored - that can make life very dreary and it overflows onto making others' dreary too. Can you invite a spark of interest in something - anything! Doesn't need to be what you agree with but if RV could find something to engage him his outlook overall might well change.
I can mind my own business if you prefer!

seasalt_2

notjustlaura wrote: »

seasalt - There was a really good thread on here comparing the merits of home-baked to shop-bought the other day if you've time to have a wee search.

Thanks laura. Will have a look.:)

ETA Yay. I did it. Thanks again felicity

mardatha

The RV is into cars & bikes. He has 2 cars and a bike. He has a gun for target shooting that he hasnt touched since he got it He has a bicycle that he hasnt sat on He has a huge telly and every tv magazine known to man Sigh.
All he lacks is a sharp kick where it would matter.;)
I wish the big sod would develop an interest in gardening.:D

parsonswife8

mardatha wrote: »

The RV is into cars & bikes. He has 2 cars and a bike. He has a gun for target shooting that he hasnt touched since he got it He has a bicycle that he hasnt sat on He has a huge telly and every tv magazine known to man Sigh.
All he lacks is a sharp kick where it would matter.;)
I wish the big sod would develop an interest in gardening.:D

Well, what are you waiting for??

Run him over with either car or the bike...shoot him...burn his tv mags and hide the remote.:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Aw, just give him a big kiss and wave some garden impliments under his nose. It may just work.

NualaBuala

Maybe get him to watch gardening programmes and eventually he might want to get his hands dirty!

ceridwen

ginnyknit wrote: »

Its maybe a lot to do with age Mardatha - men look at things with memories of the old days - foraging and make do and mend. My Oh converts things back to old money:eek:

Just made cracker bread will post the recipe later - cos as per I wrote it on a post it note in sign language:rotfl: just made SR flour dough in bread maker and rolled them out thin - almost transparent then baked for 3 minutes - they are lovely and will go with soup or dips. I got Aldi flour yesterday for 28p a bag - slighlty smaller than 3lb bag - can't see the weight cos I have stashed then in cupboard. Am quite pleased with the outcome!

One little project I'm working on at present is the "What do I do if I simply havent got the time/energy to do proper bread?" question - ie 5 minutes to make/30-40 minutes to rise/40 minutes to bake/time to cool down afterwards" scenario - so that cracker bread might be one possible solution to that - if theres a "translation" to those of us who make things by hand.....

...errr...like right now for instance...as I dont have a single slice of bread in the house - and suspect it will be pancakes for breakfast - after my morning porridge.....;):o

mardatha

I think the RV just wants to keep working and doesnt like being retired. Whereas I never enjoyed work, always wanted to stay at home. I always get the urge at this time of year to start knitting like hell for xmas

littleowl

mardatha wrote: »

I think the RV just wants to keep working and doesnt like being retired. Whereas I never enjoyed work, always wanted to stay at home. I always get the urge at this time of year to start knitting like hell for xmas

Mardatha - don't know how long RV has been retired but I do know that on retirement many men feel a loss of prestige - they are no longer defined by what they do and they become 'pensioners' which is so much less than what they were. He needs something to make him feel valued - not on a personal basis but in the eyes of the world. Could he take on any part time work, maybe in an advisory capacity in whatever sector he has expertise? Or maybe join a car or bike club given his interests? It's a tricky one but I think that at bottom he really needs some sort of reason to get up in a morning and not just sit and watch television. He needs a goal, an interest. You need to be clever and possibly devious to try and focus him;). I am sure the result would be a happier man and one who would also find time for your interests.

mardatha

Me ? Devious ? :A:rotfl:

suzybloo

Love reading this thread, its like -- or is -- one happy family saying what they are feeling and thinking! After 44 years I am sure that you have got the knack of being devious Mardatha - some of us are still learning at 25 years!
i have decided that I am going to build a store cupboard and aim to do no shopping in January or February, other than fresh stuff like milk, bread, F & V and cold meats. Have started with HM jams, some tins, two jars coffee and couple bags sugar, but I am compiling a list and going to buy a couple of things every week. Anything thats on BOGOF I am putting the spare one away. That way I should have about £600 over the two months to squirrel away.