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

JillS_2

boultdj wrote: »

What my Mum use to do when she got cold caller's was to say I'll got get him/her and put the handset next to the phone then go in to the kitchen to make herself a coffee,normaly by the time she'd done that they'd rung off and she put the handset back, her point being *it's costing them money to speak to thin air*

I often do something similar to this. I say, "Oh, hold on a minute", as though I've got someone at the door or a saucepan boiling over, put the phone down on the desk and wait to see how long before they decide I'm not coming back.

One thing I do occasionally if I'm really in the mood is pretend I recognise their voice as a long-time friend and start gabbing away without a break - oh, Alan, how lovely to hear from you, it must be years but I recognised your voice straightaway, how are your kids, my two are doing really well, and you'll never believe this but they've both had kids how about that finally a grandma after all these years i really love it but it's such hard work at my age but they love to come round and help me in the garden i'm growing nearly all my own fruit and veg now . . . . and so on and on for as long as I can manage. If they're still there when I have to stop for breath and try to put the record straight I accuse them of falsely pretending to be my friend.

Jill

elisamoose

The_Thrilla wrote: »

There are no Asian shops where I am, which is a pity, because it is difficult to get gram flour here, and when you can, it is expensive.

To change the subject entirely. I have something that may be useful to y'all. I have found a way of dealing with these nuisances who ring you up and want your grant to install another 2 metres thickness of loft insulation and cavity wall insultation or whatever. You tell them your number is registered with the Telephone Preference Service, and they reply that it doesn't apply to them. I don't know whether that is true or not. Often they are rude.

I tried this when they rang today, and it got rid of them nicely. Here is what you do:

1. Put on your poshest voice. (I don't need to. I've already got one.)

2. When they bring up the subject of loft insulation. Tell them: "Can't be done, I'm afraid. We can't have a loft, as such. It would obscure the 15th century carvings attached to the roof beams."

3. If they broach the subject of cavity wall insulation, tell them: "I'd love to insulate the walls. This place is dashed difficult to keep warm in the winter. But they won't let us drill holes in the walls. This house is listed as an historic building, you see. We're restricted in what we can do."

They should hang up before you start giving them chapter and verse about the house..."It was built for John Tiptoft, the Lord High Constable of England during the reign of Edward IV, you know...hello?...hello?"

i do this ............the house is actually grade 2 listed with 2 foot thick walls!

Hardup_Hester

I used to have a chest freezer & at 4ft 11 I was always afraid I was going to fall in to it, I couldn't reach further than half way down it, I have freezer with drawers not & find it much easier.

Lindy_-_Loo

were currently bidding on a freezer on ebay - finishes in an hour. We havent got room for a chest freezer, this one can fit on the kitchen work top. Weve got a fridge freezer but its a huge fridge with a tiny freezer. Want to be able to buy reduced meat etc, but cant at minute as nowhere to put them. Tesco shopping came, got 2 substitions, 15 eggs for he price of 6 and posh cola instead of value!

lilac_lady

I spotted a black bramble on one of the bushes where I walk and tasted it. It was so sour! Must be too early for picking them, even the black ones.

Bought some reduced cheerries - they tasted wonderful but why are they so expensive?

Gigervamp

Talking of cold callers, I once got a phone call from a girl doing a survey on the local shopping area. When I said that I would answer her questions, the poor girl sounded so surprised and relieved that I felt really sorry for her! After answering her questions, she thanked me profusely. Wouldn't surprise me if I was the only one who didn't put the phone down on her.

Lindy_-_Loo

We won the freezer yey!!! Picking it up later - hopefully the fresh meat we buy will be cheaper cos I can buy the reduced stuff

Dont you just love ebay!

BB1984

Well I've spent the morning tidying up bits and bobs in the garden, and planted out about 40 leek seedlings. (It's a bit late really, but I bought the seedlings from a man at the market a few weeks back, and haven't had anywhere to plant them - bad planning!) I hope most of them come up anyway; if they do then it was £1 well spent! Actually I only used about half the seedlings (the strongest-looking ones) - I ran out of room! Next year if the man's selling them again, I'll make sure I have a huge space ready for them, then I'll have millions of leeks, hooray! (I love leeks!)

Also checked our internet banking. Interest rates serving us well at the moment so another chunk of the mortgage (capital) paid off again this month. Hopefully we'll be in good stead when the rates start to rise again.

I must do something with the dried beans I bought about 2 months ago! They've been sat in the cupboard as I don't really know what to do with them. I've got chickpeas, butterbeans and cannelini beans I think.., vccc2wj (sorry that was my kitten running across the keyboard, LOL!) Any ideas gratefully recieved, I can only think of adding them to stews etc.

Did a bit of skip-diving this morning! Picked up some bricks that we need to build a new bit of garden wall. I did ask the bloke at the house a few days ago and he was more than happy to let me put them to good use

Bad news is I've done my back in I don't think it's serious, probably just pulled a muscle. It doesn't really hurt when I'm still, but it really hurts to move. Boo!

Right must stop procrastinating and do a couple of hours of work...

BB

Hippeechiq

Hardup_Hester wrote: »

We're back from out happy (one day) hols & the sky was clear, we spent a few hours laid on a blanket watching the stars, hubby treated us to breakfast at a Little Chef & now we're home.

Lovely hun

It's the simplest things in life that give the greatest pleasure, eh?

:grouphug: to all those with washing machine problems

dramarama

muffin_man_7 wrote: »

lucielle have u tried rearranging the washing some of them have an out of balance thing where they don't spin proper happened to me hope your little one better soon .Dramerama have you tried emptying the filter mine was leaking and as soon as i de clogged the filter it stopped worth a try hope it works for you

Hi Muffinman,
Thanks for your advice. Sadly we have an old Aquarious model and it doesn't have an accessible filter?!
I'm still washing though!!