It's STILL tough and not getting better - so how are we coping?

The_Thrilla

Ceridwen
I remember a case during the 1970s where a journalist from a !!!!!!-sheet went to visit the actor Arthur Mullard, and asked him questions about the latest show he was in. He was mortified to find that the following Sunday the said !!!!!!-sheet had run an article that never mentioned his latest show. What it did mention was that Arthur Mullard was renting a 3-bedroom house off the council, and was living in it on his own. Such outrage. A local TV station called Mr Mullard in and confronted him with a couple who were living in accommodation not to their liking. The couple bellyached for a while, and then they asked Arthur Mullard about his circumstances. Well, I had been working in places where I encountered the odd "resting actor"; so I knew that because Arthur was well-known, that did not necessarily mean he was rich. He explained that he had rented the house off the council decades ago, and that the reason why he was on his own was because his kids had flown the nest and his wife had died. (My situation, except that I own my house.) He said he had always lived in that area (Dalston or Hackney, I think.) and he had always preferred to live among working-class people. (And not only you, Arthur!) Obviously, the couple disagreed, and thought that the whole thing was outrageous, and that Arthur should be turfed out of the house he had lived in for years. Finally, the presenter asked Arthur if he had any sympathy for the couple. He answered: "No!" (Pronounced "now".) "If you want anything in life, you have to go out and work for it." Well, that's what I've been telling my offspring for years, so I can't argue with that. Alas, times have changed, and anyone who goes out and works seems to be at a disadvantage. I thought the pendulum was starting to swing the other way until I read your post. It seems like the old story, if you've got something, there is always someone else who wants to take it away from you.

Frankly, it's outrageous. The council is the landlord, and so long as the tenant is paying his/her rent, then they have no business turfing them out. Who do they think they are? This is the sort of thing one would associate with the likes of Peter Rachman. The ironic thing is that I know several people who are trying to move out of their 3-bedroom accommodation into a one bedroom flat, and they have been on the council waiting list for years. And I have nightmares of seeing elderly people on their own, forced into an unsuitable flat, with a drug dealer on one side and someone playing that dreadful technoslush music at full blast on the other. I mean, don't these council folk have parents? Would they want to see their mothers end their days like that?

mardatha

Brilliant post Thrilla. One thing that is sadly lacking in the council nowadays is commonsense. And not only in the council ! They should teach it at school lol! If anybody is in that position then there will be ways round it - borrow a grandchild or something.
I just wonder what sort of mess is coming. All this big talk and all these schemes, is bound to be pure bloody chaos sooner or later - and that's why I'm scraping my hardest to get stuff stashed away. Some food and some money (cash ) put by won't go wrong. It was Kittie who got me started on this btw, and I miss her in here.
I started with a good stock of broth mix, lentils, and stock cubes. That's together, with the garden, is the soup sorted. Next is a stash of bread flour, and that is the bread to dip in the soup sorted. Then porridge, together with long life cream -that's cheap delicious & filling, and is the breakfast/supper sorted.
This sort of crosses over with the other thread - the "Really OS living" one. Because in the past, when life was a wee bit dodgy at times, they would always always have had a stash

taplady

well said Thrilla!:T

The_Thrilla

mardatha wrote: »

Brilliant post Thrilla. One thing that is sadly lacking in the council nowadays is commonsense. And not only in the council ! They should teach it at school lol! If anybody is in that position then there will be ways round it - borrow a grandchild or something.
I just wonder what sort of mess is coming. All this big talk and all these schemes, is bound to be pure bloody chaos sooner or later - and that's why I'm scraping my hardest to get stuff stashed away.

Thank you, Mardatha. I think they would do well to borrow some common sense off you. I never thought about borrowing grandchildren. But I have seen it done, though not with any ulterior motive, especially if the extended family all live in the same area. Yes, whatever ill-thought legislation they come up with, there is always a way round it.

ceridwen

The_Thrilla wrote: »

Ceridwen
I remember a case during the 1970s where a journalist from a !!!!!!-sheet went to visit the actor Arthur Mullard, and asked him questions about the latest show he was in. He was mortified to find that the following Sunday the said !!!!!!-sheet had run an article that never mentioned his latest show. What it did mention was that Arthur Mullard was renting a 3-bedroom house off the council, and was living in it on his own. Such outrage. A local TV station called Mr Mullard in and confronted him with a couple who were living in accommodation not to their liking. The couple bellyached for a while, and then they asked Arthur Mullard about his circumstances. Well, I had been working in places where I encountered the odd "resting actor"; so I knew that because Arthur was well-known, that did not necessarily mean he was rich. He explained that he had rented the house off the council decades ago, and that the reason why he was on his own was because his kids had flown the nest and his wife had died. (My situation, except that I own my house.) He said he had always lived in that area (Dalston or Hackney, I think.) and he had always preferred to live among working-class people. (And not only you, Arthur!) Obviously, the couple disagreed, and thought that the whole thing was outrageous, and that Arthur should be turfed out of the house he had lived in for years. Finally, the presenter asked Arthur if he had any sympathy for the couple. He answered: "No!" (Pronounced "now".) "If you want anything in life, you have to go out and work for it." Well, that's what I've been telling my offspring for years, so I can't argue with that. Alas, times have changed, and anyone who goes out and works seems to be at a disadvantage. I thought the pendulum was starting to swing the other way until I read your post. It seems like the old story, if you've got something, there is always someone else who wants to take it away from you.

Frankly, it's outrageous. The council is the landlord, and so long as the tenant is paying his/her rent, then they have no business turfing them out. Who do they think they are? This is the sort of thing one would associate with the likes of Peter Rachman. The ironic thing is that I know several people who are trying to move out of their 3-bedroom accommodation into a one bedroom flat, and they have been on the council waiting list for years. And I have nightmares of seeing elderly people on their own, forced into an unsuitable flat, with a drug dealer on one side and someone playing that dreadful technoslush music at full blast on the other. I mean, don't these council folk have parents? Would they want to see their mothers end their days like that?

Well - that is the reason why pensioners won't be affected by this - because the Councils would then find themselves facing a string of newspaper stories of white-haired pensioners in tears because they had barricaded themselves into their homes rather than move or in tears because they HAD moved and were next door to said "unsuitable flat".

Also people are safe whilst the rent is coming out of their own pockets - its if its coming from housing benefit that they might be affected by this.

The people who will lose out here are those middle-aged single or couples who are unemployed. Younger people will still have children at home. Pensioners will be safe by virtue of the Government/Councils not wanting to come under fire in "media attacks". Which leaves middle-aged people as the ones at risk - children flown the nest and they themselves havent yet reached pensioner age.

EDIT: can anyone do a posh "linkie" to bring this article over here...

Ellidee

Here you go Ceridwen http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1298172/Council-tenants-room-forced-smaller-properties.html

Ellidee

Also in today's Mail - supermarket bread :eek: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/food/article-1298227/Tescos-misleading-claims-bread-just-tip-iceberg.html

ginnyknit

Well I guess when DD moves out we could be in that position! We have a 3 bedroom and there will be 2 of us however as Dh is disabled and has to have his own room I hope we will be ok, our neighbour lost his Mum and Dad a couple of years ago and now has a 3 bedroom all to his self but it would be awful if he had to leave as he clings to the memory of his parents and the house is as his Mum left it - and immaculate to boot. Our row is lovely but the option would be the maisonettes opposite originally for sheltered accomodation but now full of alcoholics and junkies we have had terrible times with them in the past. By the way I am not predjudice we really have gone through hell - Dh ended up with angina from the stress and he is no wimp. Guess we will have to wait and see, needless to say won't be telling DH about this little bombshell :cool:

gailey_2

BB1984 wrote: »

Jackieo- your post about your day on the beach gave me a little tear in my eye! Call me daft, but it just brought back so many happy memories from my own childhood. I count myself very lucky for having had such a blessed life so far- long may it continue! My nan has always been a huge part of my life and we are still very close- I thank her for my OS ways!

Gailey- I agree with pretty much everything you said re politics!

Had a lovely tea tonight- omelette made with farmers eggs, and homegrown tomatoes, French beans, potatoes and salad! my first year growing so I'm really chuffed.

Keep smiling all!

BB

Thanks I try to be impartial over some ideas my mums tory, dads labour.

At last election though must admit was torn between lib dems and conservatives which is odd as one left ones right but both had some good ideas, wished i could pick and chose so coalition my dream combo but was also worried at nedws said hung parliament be awful but idea of rainbow co-alition between labour and nationalists turned my stomach.

Nationalists annoy me despite being welsh why should people in england have to pay prescriptions and welsh dont.scottish get free tution fees and alex salmond and scottish governemnet made some awful decisions in my opinion.

I think its amazing to see lib dems in power after more than 70years in wilderness described as terribly nice people but not taken seriously.I guess some lib dem supporters unhappy but surly its better them in getting some of their policies inplemented mean they can make real diffrenrence and soften the conservatives restrain their more right wing tendancies.

What bugs me most is hypocrisy of labour as they try to exploit the north and working class people by saying they the party for the people.
All 5candidates went to cambridge/oxford, middle class backgrounds and spent most of working life in westminister.
Even most left wing abbot sends her kid to private school dave despite old etonian wants to keep his kids state..
Edd balls not allowing his wife to run and seems to just annoy any jounalist intereveiwing him as hes so aggressive and cocky.
Millibands neither appeals ed on this week dismal performace.
It will be very hard for them to gain power for some time I imagine.

I doubt vince is having good hols in india but at least the using the summer when not in session to promote britains interests.

Anyway enough of politics.

On housing situation its tough one as guess in owned houses and council people live in houses that too big for their needs.
My mil lives in large 3ded detached house and refused to move even when husband was too unwell to loive there she would rather he had gone in a home than moved but she struggles with huge garden and upkeep.
Lots huge houses near me old people no kids.

A lot of newbuilds both private and ha are built very small these days the old council houses used to be huge with huge gardens.

Saw on news some people want to move into lovley old peoples complexes with wardens but theres not enough to meet demand but think its way foward that they all live amongst freinds with support in terms of socail club attached, nurse maybe so they dont feel lonly or stuck on some sink estate.
With aging population more half way schemes like this to support old people and forcing them into homes the better.
Theres is alot of overcrowing sure some people its their choice but its hard one I think in priciple could work if its volunatary and they moved somewhere of their choosing.

Taking kids round church messy play club then might pick some plumbs.

Think its nicish day and want to do some more batch cooking later.

MARDARTHA- when you stockpile which cubes do you buy.
Also caution over flower maybe just me and this changed as trying to bake more but can be shortated.
Im not a confident baker but am trying.
sadly apart from hubby no 1 likes poridge might try baby with it again but ends up in huge mess.
I do need to stockpile but short of storage in kitchen wish I had pantry, my nanas pantry was size of our 3rd bedroom.
She also had best front room for guests and best china and normal front room and dining room but kitchen was tiny.

catch you later hope everyone having good day.

Hardup_Hester

Scotch eggs
Here is the recipe I used http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/388/baked-scotch-eggs.aspx
It was a lot less messy than deep frying.
Hester