How to Get Through The Tough Times The Old Style Way.

GreyQueen

Pitlanepiglet wrote: »

It will be worth it and I'm getting to grips with doing something active. At the moment I'm trying to chip it out with a spade which isn't ideal - trouble is I can't even lift OH's pick axe let alone swing it!

Hello PPP, I have something called a mattock which is a pick-axe style with a chopping blade about 4 inches wide and another blade on the opposite side of the haft which is set at right-angles to the first. My lottie was so let go that we couldn't even get a spade thru the lumpy grass. Mattocks are wickedly effective but don't seem to be commonly used here in the UK. I know experienced gardeners who have never mattocked but if you let them have a couple of swipes with one at a recalcitrant job, you end up fighting to get it back from them! They seldom turn up second-hand. I got mine from Axminster Tools (mail order), the head and the haft were sold separately. Whenever I walk around carrying it over my shoulder I have to fight the urge to sing the Hi Ho song from Snow White and the 7 Dwarves.:rotfl:

[Deleted User]

http://www.get-digging.co.uk/tools.htm

These are the most amazing and effective garden tools I have ever used for turning scrubland into an allotment, a bit similar to yours grey queen

born_blonde

brandiberrij, thanks for the garden shredder tip. We chopped and then used a blade that fits on the drill in a bucket to get to the pulp stage and then used the press. Very time-consuming. We have lots of apples as we have 3 very large trees so this might make cider production more practical.

suzid

Hi GreyQueen
I'm with you on the blueberries and strawberries, heaven! I've two bushes in containers (old plastic water tanks) as we have an alkaline soil and I wish I had more they're so sweet flavoured. My DH has a mattock from when he worked as a builder and it's done sterling work in the garden ever since. So good for severing roots when digging out old shrubs etc. I don't feel as lethal swing that as I do with a pick axe either. Good luck Pitlanepiglet, one bit at a time and you'll get there. I plan to do some extreme gardening this weekend digging out a corkscrew hazel which is the most miserable looking thing I've ever seem, so mattock the surface roots, tie one end of tow rope to tree and other to Landy. Drive off. Simples :rotfl:

Pitlanepiglet

Thanks Kittie and GreyQueen, Dad had a dig around his shed and has found something that looks very much like the Mattock but both blades go the same way (rather than one at right angles), it's much lighter and it's easier to wield so I'm getting on OK. Well except that I've filled both wheelbarrows, including the one with the flat tyre (that I failed to notice!). Dad now tells me where he wants the soil tipped and there is no way I can get the full barrows there so will wait for OH to get home tonight to tip what I've done and then tomorrow I'll only half fill the barrows....rookie error!

SD-253

gailey wrote: »

Did my 1st attempt at brewing last year.

made elderflower champersWas bit worriedabout comments on c4website about bottles exploding so thinkleft tobew for 4days with muslins over top.
The bottles in plastic and kept releasing the pressure.
Did think about getting the grolsh style slom bottles from ikea but was worried they would break .

Pay no attention to the scaremongers. I have never had a bottle of cider exploded and I cap them. For wine like elderberry use corked bottles the cork will ALWAYS go first

gailey wrote: »

sloe gin

Collect your Sloes and freeze them as that breaks the skin put 4lb in Demijohn and then add gin or gin and half a litre of port. mix in 400 grms of sugar never use castor there is no need as there in no advantage in it dissolveing quickly. When finished add extra sugar to taste. most people add 500 to 700grms but best to decided yourself plus you may need to change each year. NOTE ALWAYS PICK DOUBLE THE SLOES YOU NEED. This gives you options IE I would like to make some more later in year or there are no Sloes next year (it happens)

gailey wrote: »

wheres best place to buy suitable container at reasonable price?.

The plastic ones are by far the cheapest (bit iffy aesthetically) they also come with a built in cork (the one with hole in) so you only need to add the air lock. The latter is in reference to anything that ferments Sloe gin doesnt. Get the more expensive air locks the ones with the bubbles in them. The cheap ones make it very hard to see if the fermenting has come to an end. NOTE FREECYCLE there are many people who have demijohns (and all the rest of the kit) that they do not use anymore. Many many many people.

gailey wrote: »

Still got so much fruit in freezer to useup..

Dehydrator?? out of this world for sun dried tomatoes (that is how most sun dried toms are made anyway) Note not bought one yet as I haven't won one an Ebay auction at the right price.

gailey wrote: »

and he said no plus he rarly walks and drives everywhere hes so lazy!..

Ever though about a power assited bike not bought one myself but it is still exerciseing but easier and you can collect all your wild stuff while your out?? Will buy one myself one day.

gailey wrote: »

totally baffled by energy bill and scottish power.
When we switched to them was 90 a month gas/electric
The winter beforelast was bad one andhad newborn in2009 so had heating on a lot and owed them money so they upped to143 a month..

I am on electric only with Scotish power and my bill is £21 a month. Now this is partly due to being frugal but also to do with always having the best tarrif. I live on the Lincolnshire Wolds and Scottish power are nearly alway the cheapest. I took out a contract with them 5 years ago everytime a better contract came up i switched and never ever did I pay the £30 they were happy to switch me at no cost. Result:- Present charges just over 3p night time 6p daytime (I have economy 7 for environmental reasons I do not benefit from it financialy). Standing charge (equivalent) £9.83p which means I pay £21 a month. BUT everyone who took out this tarriff (called rewards) gets a reward at the end of the contract of £63 (for electric only, gas gets a smaller extra reward) NO MATTER HOW MUCH ELECTRIC YOU USE. This is a loss making tarriff for Scottish power (for most of the customers) Note the £21 does not take into account the £63 which would make it £15 something a month assuming a 12 month contract (not sure may have been a 18 month contract)

gailey wrote: »

Wassent sure if we be in credit as have tried to use less energy but was worried as media said energy goingup?
Was going to look to maybe switchproviders too as convinced we paying too much.onlycentral heating uses gas everything else electric.

Hubby rang couple of weeks ago gave them meter reading they said we owed 160 and sent us a cheque.:D

Then man came round to read the meter.
Got a letter saying we 470in credit.hubby rang up again they confimed that and470on its way!
But then they said if we refund you dd will remain at 143hubby said no we got rebate as you taking too much and they agreed on new figure of 110 amonth,
Keep thinking they made mistake as seems like stupidly large amount?.

You are just not putting in the effort here. You need a no paper bills internet account. You supply them with a metter read every month via the internet ONLY after your Direct debit has been paid Always the day after or the same day as the payment has come out. Set your computer up to remind you. This way you will have a perfectly accurate account. Giving a reading before payment or mid way is inaccurate and will tell you are behind or in front when you are not.

gailey wrote: »

we have heating on abit.
our fire is small electric heater on quite alot
1laptop
2tvs
electric oven.
electric shower.
washer and drier
large fridge.
large chestfreezer
2tvs inhouse

Now I did say I was a tight ar*e sorry frugal. If everything you have is cold water fill why have the imersion tank on? Wash dishes by boiling a kettle same with your face and hands. A kettle will give you an adequte amount of hot water. This will save you a large amount. I paid a penny for those low energy bulbs from Tescos (anything unpriced in the middle of an isle in the cage type thing is worth investigating).
Hopefully the info is of some use JB

rachbc

brandeberryj wrote: »

I am on electric only with Scotish power and my bill is £21 a month. Now this is partly due to being frugal but also to do with always having the best tarrif. I live on the Lincolnshire Wolds and Scottish power are nearly alway the cheapest. I took out a contract with them 5 years ago everytime a better contract came up i switched and never ever did I pay the £30 they were happy to switch me at no cost. Result:- Present charges just over 3p night time 6p daytime (I have economy 7 for environmental reasons I do not benefit from it financialy). Standing charge (equivalent) £9.83p which means I pay £21 a month. BUT everyone who took out this tarriff (called rewards) gets a reward at the end of the contract of £63 (for electric only, gas gets a smaller extra reward) NO MATTER HOW MUCH ELECTRIC YOU USE. This is a loss making tarriff for Scottish power (for most of the customers) Note the £21 does not take into account the £63 which would make it £15 something a month assuming a 12 month contract (not sure may have been a 18 month contract)


You are just not putting in the effort here. You need a no paper bills internet account. You supply them with a metter read every month via the internet ONLY after your Direct debit has been paid Always the day after or the same day as the payment has come out. Set your computer up to remind you. This way you will have a perfectly accurate account. Giving a reading before payment or mid way is inaccurate and will tell you are behind or in front when you are not.


Now I did say I was a tight ar*e sorry frugal. If everything you have is cold water fill why have the imersion tank on? Wash dishes by boiling a kettle same with your face and hands. A kettle will give you an adequte amount of hot water. This will save you a large amount. I paid a penny for those low energy bulbs from Tescos (anything unpriced in the middle of an isle in the cage type thing is worth investigating).
Hopefully the info is of some use JB

I'm sorry boiling a kettle for hot water for washing when you have 2 (soon to be 3 kids) as Gailey does is archane! How do you wash yours/ kids hands after the loo/ changing nappies/ wiping up sick. Frugal is one thing, making life difficult with 3 small kids is another!

Gailey well done on sorting out your refunds and getting your payments down - every little helps as they say!

Also why is economy 7 more environmental than a standard tariff - the electricty coems from the same source?

fedupfreda

Charis wrote: »

The thing I remember vividly is that the sugar shortage and various other 'shortages' were started off by rumours of world shortages. Someone whispered that the Siberian salt mines (??!) had run out of salt and within days that had also disappeared. From those days to now I have always had extra salt, sugar, bread flour and toilet rolls, not because I fear a world shortage but because panic buying can clear the shelves in hours. And that was in the days when the stores had stuff out the back and not many of us had a car to lug the shopping home.

Cor, you're right there. Which of us did not get a reminder a few months back of the havoc panic buying can wreak?:eek: Another reason for keeping adequate stores. I was only a littlie when the 3 day week struck - but I vividly remember the power cuts and Mum only being able to cook at odd times of the day (probably when the gas pressure was high enough?) I also remember bread strikes and sugar shortages - but one of the benefits of being 5 years old at the time - is that most of it went straight over the top of my head

Re the homebrewing - sometimes you can pick up demijohns at your local recycling centre - they don't fit in the normal slot for glass bottles so are usually left at the side of the skip -I've picked up 2 that way. Have a quiet word with the staff running the site - they might be willing to keep an eye out and keep a couple to one side for you. As long as they are not cracked or too badly scratched they should be fine - a good soak with bio washing powder overnight usually gets rid of most things - any other staining is usually removable with bleach. You have to sterilise all brewing equipment before use anyway.

maryb

rachbc wrote: »

Also why is economy 7 more environmental than a standard tariff - the electricty coems from the same source?

It makes more efficient use of base load electricity ie the electricity generating that can't be quickly ramped up or down so is being produced 24 hours a day

SD-253

mrswive wrote: »

All this talk of homebrew is making me consider trying to make some cider this year - it's the only thing OH and I really drink alcoholwise. Tips and recipes would be greatly appreciated!
Piglet - I'd choose wielding a pickaxe over sitting in an office any day and s*d the backache!!

Assuming you are using actual apples see my other posts on how to make IE Garden Shredder for pulping.
For a book i would use REAL CIDER MAKING on a small scale by Michael Pooley & John Lomax.
But the basic rule is WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN, EVERYTHING. Otherwise you will find yourself with a good or bad cider and no idea which apples you used or in which proportion you used them. Experiment each year till you get it right. This is a popular rule half eaters and half cookers and some crabs for the tannin. Or buy the tannin. Life is sweet if you can get Cider apples (called vintage apples if there only use is for cider making or put another way taste crap and are no good for cooking). But this is unlikely, so Bramleys and eaters will be the only option for most people. Do not mix everything 50 50 experiment with different proportions. NOTE THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A BAD CIDER JUST A LESS GOOD CIDER. If your cider is not great tasting add ordinary pasturised apple juice to your glass of cider to your taste it will improve dramaticaly. TO DRY? same again. In fact dry cider is more than likely what you will get and adding apple juice at the drinking stage will give you the best options. As in I feel like a dry cider today or he likes dry I like sweet both happy!!