Preparing for winter II

sb44

mardatha wrote: »

What areas is the snow for?

Over the Scottish hills according to this site http://www.theweatheroutlook.com/

I think you had better get your snow shoes out!

sb44

Not sure how if this is just for a laugh or not but find your county on the drop down menu for your chance of a white Christmas.

http://www.metcheck.com/V40/UK/FREE/whitechristmas.asp

annie123

mardatha wrote: »

What areas is the snow for?

you of course:D

I'm on several weather forums and the general trend is snow for Scotland and possibly hills in northern england, and just bl**dy cold for the rest of us for a few days next week.

Also for another cold winter but not as much snow down south.
But as 'they' cant get it right often 48 hours in advance the chance of getting it right several months away is remote I would have thought;)

Mamzie

Just a quick note from me today, as I had hydrotherpy this morning and have been zonked out mostly since then...

Just wanted to let you know that in the Lidls email Newsletter they are advertising WInter Warmers stuff from next Thursday. I had some great bits last years when this was on. Heres a linkie to the online version, hth, and nite all - I'm off back to rest yet again...

Annie56

Morning

Sitting here nibbling on my toast and the watching our local regional news (Midlands) and there was a piece about how Worcestershire County Council have brought in an extra 1K tons or is it tonnes of salt for this winter, maybe there bieng careful to not be caught out like last year by the weather or do they know something we dont know ( bad bad winter approaching). Am going to phone our local county council (Staffordshire) later on and ask what extra provision they have made incase of a repeat of last years weather.
Then another piece on BBC morning programme there financial slot was going on about forthcoming spending review and he mentioned the begining of the age of austerity..he mentioned that phrase a few times in the piece he was presenting...

Im a pretty open minded person re TV programmes and some of the pieces they turn out but it has kind of hit home that things are about to change and Ive changed my lifestyle, partly due to personal situation (redundancey, forthcoming divorce and exOhs business having to be sorted out) and mostly due to joining the Old Style Forum, and its struck me that Im damn lucky as I am having to be careful but can and will cope when reality hits the fan for us all about the real state this country is in, but what about people who really really struggle on a day to day basis??

My dad was saying the other night I was lucky and so was he and we went down memory lane on his and my moms parents circa 1900 and there working conditions lifestyle and I realise just how very very lucky I am to have what I have today, this morning, Im going to stop moaning to myself from now on...I have my health, a job, roof over my head and sometimes forget that...Im sure out there in the big world, and even in the UK there are folk really really struggling with the basics, food, clothing, accomodation, keeping warm and just existing day to day. The local Salvation Army were looking for volunteers last week, its time I got off my butt and gave something back even if its only time and a bit of compassion, Im feeling wary today like there is something big is about to happen to the UK and were not listening to the writing on the wall..well Im listening but Im not sure Im getting the right message in my head....time to sort out my priorities, maybe Im thinking too deep but some instinct inside is telling me that its time toget proactive and sort out my life....

Just typed my thoughts this morning, maybe I need to get out more and do something , Im going to find out the number of the local Sally Army, Im sure a few hours under there wings is more helpful to other folks than just sitting about doing nothing.

Another day dawns, good morning everyone, have a good day ...

Annie56

mags50_2

Morning all
Just a personal addition to Annie's post above...
I had to finish work a year or two back for health reasons.... and. at first, I hated it... missed seeing people and the work itself ( helping teenagers with behavioural problems)...

I went to volunteer at the local Red Cross shop... and I love it!
I see people I haven't seen for years, whether bringing donations in or buying, and have really found a great deal of satisfaction in it. The other volunteers are a lovely bunch.

Now my health has returned,I know I am lucky to be able to choose not to be at work, but thought it was time that I gave it up and gave other people the chance of a job. I have gone back to all the OS ways I had when our daughters were young, feel a sense of contentedness within myself, which I never had at work, and a healthier outlook on life. My hubby is very supportive of me .... and has got the woman back that he married 35 years ago.

Maybe it's me...but I feel I can support my family better by doing the odd bit of baking for them, cooking every other sunday for all and having the GC when they ask (we have 8 and another on the way).

It is so hard for young people nowadays ... and all the ones on here are just bloody brilliant for having the foresight to get into OS ways as this credit crunch carries on.

Well those are my thoughts for the morning...hope everyone has a lovely warm, OS, bargain-finder sort of day

sb44

mags50 wrote: »

Well those are my thoughts for the morning...hope everyone has a lovely warm, OS, bargain-finder sort of day

I'm off for a mooch around our local charity shops later as it is always quieter during the week. After saying that they are getting busier than they used to be, a lot more people are shopping there and fewer are hanging onto their clothes and not donating as much, they have been putting lots of posters up lately asking for donations.

Our local Age Concern sell all books at 10p each! I have had tons of 'as new' hardback cooking books etc as I can't resist at that price.

What I have been doing though is donating my clothes to Age Concern as I have signed Gift Aid form so that they can claim tax back from the Government for everything they sell that I have donated.

The other thing I have been doing is, if the 10p books are not interesting enough to keep (or maybe I only make use of one or two recipes from it), donate it back but to a different shop as most of the others charge about £1 each or 3 for £1 in some.

Chipps

Good morning!

Just for once I am able to be looking at this forum in the morning - I used to practically live on here, but then got a job. I have been lurking and reading, but not much posting. However, recently work seems to have taken over & got too much. I had been doing 3 1/2 days, which gave me some time to do housework & also take my mum & grandma out once a week (grandma is nearly 102 & mum in her 70's & going to visit grandma most days) But having to work full time has really taken its toll - and I can see that with winter coming my mum won't be able to manage. She has a 7 mile bus journey to the village where her mum lives. Anyway, to cut a long story short I have handed in my notice at work, so will be looking to do something part time (less than 3 1/2 days) or maybe temping. I don't have anything to go to at the moment, but can't leave it longer - it will be mid-November by the time my notice is up anyway.

So I am starting now getting back into OS ways - so thanks for all the help already on this & other OS threads, & that still to come.

Mags50, I like what you said about the contentedness - I'm looking forward to that already! And just knowing that it's on the way is making me feel more relaxed about things even now. Incidentally, I really do enjoy the job, and the people are really nice, so that's not the problem, it's just not having time for the really important things - and people.

MancMillyMolly

Morning!

Had to pop into B&Q with DH yesterday, and as I walked in they had all their winter preparation stuff out on display by the front door - think they may have been reading this thread!!

Anyway I picked up my pipe insulation, de-icer for mine and DH car, and a roll of radiator reflector sheeting :j Some more big ticks off the list :T

MMM

Primrose

annie56 - I think you're right that a big cultural change is about to happen in the UK when the results of the Spending Review are announced next week. I'm trying to be optimistic and hope that however badly it hits a lot of people, the lesson to be learned from it will be taken on board by the whole country, i.e. "Never deceive yourselves that countries or individuals can live beyond their means indefinitely without the consequences catching up with them eventually". The 'live for today and let the future take care of itself' philosphy rarely works.

The sad part in my view is that many people who have tried to live financially prudently all their lives, and encourage their children to do so, will be hit as badly as everybody else. But you are right that most of us still have a roof over our heads, food in our stomachs, a National Health Service to look after us when we are ill, and a State Pension. Our grandparents had a far harder struggle and much less State support.

Too many people now are living totally for themselves and not giving anything back to their communities even when they have time to do so. The ethos that The State will do everything for us, rather than us taking responsibility for ourselves has become very engrained. People won't even pick up litter outside their own houses any more on the grounds that "It's the roadsweeper's job". Can you imagine how different our society would be if everybody who was able to gave just a couple of hours a month to some charitable, voluntary organisation in their own community, even if it was just picking up local litter? I have a connection with one or two voluntary organisations who do a lot of good work within their communities and I can't tell you how difficult it is to find volunteers to do anything at all. I think as a nation we need to be more outward looking again, rather than concentrating 100% on what happens under our own roofs.

I certainly believe that those people who have got their finances and their lives in order will cope better over the coming years than those who have not. Thrift, making do and mend, and abolishing waste and extravagance of all kinds will certainly be coming back into fashion again. I'm glad it's a lifestyle I've always been comfortable with. And even the Queen has decided to cancel her Christmas party !