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

mardatha

I don't want to get political, because to me they're all the same. No one party is perfect or anything even near it. But it's the general direction (down) that's worrying me.
And yes I did sort of wonder why he wanted yet another eastern end poor country in - must be something going on behind the scenes on that eh? "You do this/dont do that/sell me this cheap - and I'll vote you in. Lovely people. And the fact that with so many changes and new approaches that things are sure to go to hell . LOL!

ginnyknit

My ds went to the job centre yesterday to sign off and asked if there was a small grant available for him to but office clothes, he isn't greedy just wanted a couple of white shirts and black pants - apparently you USED to get 250 pounds - now you buy 1 shirt 1 pr trousers, take the receipts in and they re - imburse you, Well thats ok, he wanted to get2 of each but will manage. My point is why were they giving so much money in the first place? The lady also said she was expecting to be made redundant any minute along with half the staff at the job centre, well that ain't going to help the governments figures is it?

Hardup_Hester

Re the inlaws, I've offered my advice & been ignored, it seems they aren't the sort of people need my help or advice as me & hubby are 'strange', oh well, I tried.
I've made great inroads in sorting out my spare/sewing room & in between making 6 chicken & mushroom pies & 6 minced beef & onion pies & 6 scotch eggs.
I've been offered an ironing board so by next week will have my advert out & hopefully can start making up the money I'm losing with my drop in wages.
Hester

katholicos

I can't think of a single positive thing about this coalition.... that no one elected. Everything they come out with is an insult. It makes my blood boil.

Anyway, Jackie O, just want to say that I think you are an absolutely fabulous grandparent and I think what you are doing for your family is wonderful. You are creating memories with your loved ones that will be cherished for many, many years and that is priceless gift.

The_Thrilla

mardatha wrote: »

Am floating around reading bits & pieces in the news and am getting worried. Some of the stuff Cameron is coming out with is a bit off... like one minute we hear the police force budgets are to be cut down drastically - then today they're going to recruit thousands of "special constables" !! -Translate that one as "wannabee cops who will work for nowt".......might not be the sort you want as your local fuzz though eh ?
And was there not something in the news recently about having a lot more volunteers running things ? ie "get on with it yourselves cos we don't care".
Added to rumours of massive cuts in the NHS budget, meaning hips and knees wont be replaced & terminal care will be cut.
Then a horrible item about Penrith & the Border's new tory mp, who thinks that his constituency is "primitive" and sneers that many of his voters "hold their trousers up with twine". Whatever happened to the idea that THEY serve US ? We PAY them to !
It doesnt sound very good for your average voter does it ?

There is also that Philip Hollobone character, who has a constituency somewhere in Northamptonshire, who refuses to see in his surgery any woman who comes to him dressed in a burqa. He justified this by saying he would also refuse to see a man who was dressed in a balaclava. It is not long after the election and already these MPs think they are better than the people whom they are supposed to be serving. I was not aware that there was a dress code for going to see one's MP. Where are they going to draw the line? Am I supposed to be wearing a necktie? If so, I can use it to hold up my trousers instead of a piece of twine.

Hardup Hester. I think you are doing a great job at RBS. Keep up the good work.

annie123

gailey wrote: »

Attacking carpet with mouse as filthy

The mouse or the carpet? :rotfl:

did make me chuckle

eandjsmum

Mardartha my new tory MP was too drunk to vote on the Budget debate.

Jackieglasgow Thanks for the tip about free swimming from British Gas. My two local private pools are in the scheme so I will try to use it.

I,ll go blackberrying or at least chesk on ripeness on my way home.

Jackie O i was thinking of the beach too.

I'm also looking for freebies or cheepies for the holiday
So far I'm taking the kids camping for the weekend. DS has Joined local library reading scheme read 1 1/2 books out of 6
DS was at his new school today so missed totally monked in town but I am also hoping to get places at local youth club playscheme for both kids.

jediteacher

I know exactly what you mean by people's standards of not having any money. My little one goes to nursery in september and I thought that this would be great as it would save us over £50 in childcare costs as she currently goes to a childminder. However, when I said to the childminder that we would need a new contract as the hours change she refused and said I would have to pay for a whole day or change minder! Now I would understand if she was dropping off my little one but she's not and she's not on the emergency list either so not on standby. She then told me that they were really hard up and struggling to make ends meet. This would have made sense if they were not having their whole house redecorated, a new drive way, a holiday abroad (the 3rd this year) and their garden relandscaped! That's not my idea of no money! :eek:

gailey_2

Hardup_Hester wrote: »

Re the inlaws, I've offered my advice & been ignored, it seems they aren't the sort of people need my help or advice as me & hubby are 'strange', oh well, I tried.
I've made great inroads in sorting out my spare/sewing room & in between making 6 chicken & mushroom pies & 6 minced beef & onion pies & 6 scotch eggs.
I've been offered an ironing board so by next week will have my advert out & hopefully can start making up the money I'm losing with my drop in wages.
Hester

Well done wish I had a sewing room, feel bad havent had chance to sew in months but want to try make some xmas presents and maybe few shabby chic items for house.

Im jealous of progress in kitchen not cooked anything today as been too busy decluttering and cleaning.

Want to try pasties but my pastry skills quite rubbish but they be ideal for hubby to take to work with him so will try

My mam used to do peoples ironing when I was a kid. Most personal customesr used to drop off and pick up they had to povide baskets and mum got hangers free from clothes shop in town.
She then started some businesses with hotell, pub ect and had large ironing press for sheets.

Lots of people seem to start it but dont continue.

Personally I detest ironing and am rather rubbish at it thats why im think dogwalking more my thing.

politically think theres probably a few bad mps in every party they all had head in trough or said stupid things.

I cant see how coalition be worse than labour to be honest think party politics aside we should give them a chance.
I do admire the speed at which they working and are being brave in trying to reform welfare.
I think the big soceity is a hard idea to work out but from just looking locally people volunteer to help in school and preschool or run holiday clubs.

Labour rarly answer the question about what their cuts were, now they gainst av when it was in their manifesto and none of leadership candidates inspire me they all weak or boring.

The turkey thing did baffle me but from seeing the press conference they a big player in manufacturing in the world bigger than romania so might be better fit for uk than other eastern block countries.
Obviously theres being in eu and criteria and criteria to be in single currency tougher still but their economy very stong they did not have a financial crisis as most islamic countries more conservative with lending.

Camaron said he wants to encourage turkish to bring business to uk and to export more british stuff to turkey as he thinks its untapped market I guess and they not doing as bad as other eu countries.
Us british make big deal out of special relationship but call me dave realises that china, south america, india and china are the ones going places and wants to focus on these countries to show britains open for business and boost our economy.

Lets face it only thing we done in last few years is be americas poodle and got dragged into war in iraq.

But on that topic call me cynical he wants turkey to be involved with afganistan so we can withdraw as guess culturally they stronger.Also he thinks they can help bring peace to middleast as they soft of a middle country between west/east but israel have strained things but seem to get away with it.

So in short its about business, security and peace.
whether it will work I dont know but welcome a fresh approach.

crickett1234

Feeling immensely fed up today with life, the universe and people spending stupid amounts of money for no earthly reason. Grrrr. Incidentally, the people spending stupid amounts of money would be me. Double Grrr. Its not even like i don't know what I am doing, because I do. Need to keep my purse at home I think.

Have done quite well with cooking from scratch in the evenings and taking pack up breakfasts and lunches to work. Mind you, only two days into work after a weeks leave. Really wish I could not bother working and stay at home to OS my life, but financial reality is that if we want to save money and afford the kind of house and life we want, then I need to work as well as hubby. Sigh. Its not even like we want to live in a 12 bedroom mansion or anything. A nice detached house with a big garden somewhere rural-ish. Not too much to ask is it?! Apparently, it is!! Maybe when we have bought the dream house and paid down the mortgage, THEN I can give up work and OS my life proper stylie. In the mean time, I can do a little bit of OS'ing and learn loads for when I do it for real.

Sorry... really moany and whiny today. Will go away and give myself a stern talking to and hopefully will come back with brighter outlook on life.