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

parsonswife8

mardatha wrote: »

Is cold - rain and wind here Ginny.I am not a hoarder, I am a thrower-outer. I would live happily with a laptop a kettle, a sofa and nothing else !

I am quite the opposite.:o I hoard like mad. Food, clothes, fabric, wool, bedding, curtains, ornaments, collectables, photos, books, etc.
The loft will fall in on us one day.
:rotfl:

Hippeechiq

Must confess to being a bit of a hoarder, although I'm not as bad as I was....I don't think.

Down South It's been cloudy all day, but one of those days where you can't move without sweating.....actually, I think ladies are supposed to "glow", but I aint a lady, and I've been sweating profusely

ginnyknit

I save tons of craft stuff which is my cushion against having to buy anything - presents etc. And it works, last christmas cost me nothing. I also dream of having a successful craft business, have been there several times but never quite made it. My dream is that Dd will get a new house and I can get organised but looks like no chance at the mo cos rented houses are in short supply here in Manchester. My stash keeps me sane!

Hippeechiq

I used to do Salt Dough 18 or so years back, just before it really took off.

I used to spend hours and hours creating anything from tramps, lawyers, baskets, wreaths, corn sacks, hedgehogs, owls, mice, boxes with 9 squares in them with themes like bakeries complete with baker and loaves, buns etc., pig and sheep fridge magnets and much more....theres something very therapeutic about creating something from nothing - took hours though for each piece as you had to rest the dough before you worked with it, rest if after you'd crafted it before baking it, baking it for a couple of hours, sometime as low as possible overnight if it was especially thick (just think of the electric:eek: ) otherwise it would crack, then sealing it with yacht varnish before finally putting felt on the back.

My SIL and I did craft fayres and even displayed our goods in a local craft barn with ideas that we might make our fortune, but it was not to be - how naive you are when you're young - we made a bit of money, but when something is that labour intensive, making a living from it isn't really going to happen. Then Salt Dough craft suddenly took off and everyone was making it and the bottom fell out of the market.

That's really the only 'crafty thing I've ever done, as I don't "do" knitting and sowing

greengoblin

Grumpycupple wrote: »

Had an incentive to de clutter because a Shelter bag came through the door.

I have to be sneaky because MPH hates to part with anything. "It might come in handy" :rotfl:

However he see's that we need the use of a cupboard for stocking up for the winter so I can clear that one out. He has also got excited about making fruit flavoured vodka and brandy so we are going brambling tomorrow. Could I use apples for flavouring?

Pineapple makes an interesting vodka, kiwi fruit do not - lol. Apples should be fine.
Blackcurrant and raspberry make excellent flavouring for gin. I left mine until all the sugar dissolved then a further 2 weeks. Remember - less sugar is better. Use half the amount of sugar to the weight of the fruit. Happy making :beer:

ceridwen

mardatha wrote: »

I just watched a report on Sky News where they said the Bank of England didnt forsee this last 24 months and that nobody did. I yelled at the TV
RUBBISH ! WE IN MSE ALL DID !! :rotfl:

Yep - I've heard numerous variants on "We didnt see it coming" - to which I instantly think "Well - I've been darn well planning how to deal with this for 30 years - what kept you? YOU'RE supposed to be the experts.."...I do find it quite worrying actually that I, as an ordinary woman in the street, have been going in for pretty detailed planning/stocking-up/putting a lot of effort into making sure I'm free from mortgage and debts, etc, for over 10 years definitely. I'm not supposed to know what I'm doing - but THEY are....

Very worrying to have those "in charge" who are so blind frankly...

Lindy_-_Loo

I too have been de cluttering, my OH is a hoarder and seems to be trying to steer the boys this way although I would happily either throw it out, pass it on, charity or ebay.

House seems more cluttered today as went to visit friend and her son also 5, and their house is immaculate. Hardly any toys downstairs (3 things) and the boys said his room didnt have as many as they thought. Although we take her little boy to scool once a week his dad alwyas drops him off so this was my first visit and I have pre warned her when she comes in a fortnight that we have lots of toys in the front room as this is where the boys play. I hope she doesnt think the place is a mess - theres alot of stuff but its very organised! Have just sorted a kitchen cupboard so I could put some cake tins in it, we usually keep on the top of cupboards but her cupboard tops where spotless apart from the dust! but she admits she doesnt 'do' cleaning!

jediteacher

My hubby has just come home with a dozen red rosses. This is a huge surprise as he never apologises for anything or brings flowers (he's not having an affair either!). Today I had to go back to the dentist as my root canal was still very painful and my hubby asked me to ring him afterwards to tell him how it went. Well, I rang only for him to say he would ring me back in a few minutes. Well a few minutes turned into 6 hours! I was not impressed. He is one of those blokes who doesn't think to ring if he's late or to say he's away for business. There are days when he's due home at 6pm and at 10pm he's not home and not answering his phone. Then he strolls in and says he didn't ring cause it would delay him more. Woops it does sound like he is having an affair . Anyway, today his secretary had a real go at him and he came home with an apology and the roses.

jediteacher

Lindy_-_Loo wrote: »

I too have been de cluttering, my OH is a hoarder and seems to be trying to steer the boys this way although I would happily either throw it out, pass it on, charity or ebay.

House seems more cluttered today as went to visit friend and her son also 5, and their house is immaculate. Hardly any toys downstairs (3 things) and the boys said his room didnt have as many as they thought. Although we take her little boy to scool once a week his dad alwyas drops him off so this was my first visit and I have pre warned her when she comes in a fortnight that we have lots of toys in the front room as this is where the boys play. I hope she doesnt think the place is a mess - theres alot of stuff but its very organised! Have just sorted a kitchen cupboard so I could put some cake tins in it, we usually keep on the top of cupboards but her cupboard tops where spotless apart from the dust! but she admits she doesnt 'do' cleaning!

Wow, this sounds just like my house in comparison to my friends. I have to say her little girl loves coming over to my house as she's not fearful of dropping anything or moving anything around. In my house you are allowed to make a mess and will not be yelled at for it. We live in a house half the sizze of my friends and we use every surface available to store stuff (husband a horder) and as much as I would love to have a very tidy house there is no way this is happening where we live at the moment.

Lindy_-_Loo

jediteacher wrote: »

Wow, this sounds just like my house in comparison to my friends. I have to say her little girl loves coming over to my house as she's not fearful of dropping anything or moving anything around. In my house you are allowed to make a mess and will not be yelled at for it. We live in a house half the sizze of my friends and we use every surface available to store stuff (husband a horder) and as much as I would love to have a very tidy house there is no way this is happening where we live at the moment.

I must admitt that her little boy loves coming to play once a week before school, he likes having toys to hand. While the boys are young the front room is their play room, the dinnig room stores the garage and some storage drawers with toys and the dressing up stuff. I even share my veg rack with the super hero and villans figures!

the house is clean as I clean daily but I think kids should be kids and to use their imagination always makes a mess!