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

lostinrates

de1amo wrote: »

My dotty dad liked to stand in the garden amongst his marrows waving at police copters(like a kid)--he recently learnt his lesson though because the other day one came down so close and started asking him with a loud hailer 'if there was a problem?!!--that'll learn him!!

Oh dear....we do that. we get military planes occasionally and we wave and they fly backward and forward and we like to think we are useful as pretend target practise. ''Bomb those annoying people who keep waving from their garden'':o

we have beautiful weather again and all the animals are loving it.

gailey_2

Afternoon guys

Rather weird day here weather wise very sunny,then cloudy then sunny again!

Got afew reduced bargains in co-op lots for freezer!They seem to have gone chicken mad so brought 2 reduced as can make 3meals per chicken.

ohh talking of chicken very weird.
get on bus with baby in pram and little old lady says do you have an antique doll?
im confused thinking she thinks the baby is a doll so say not its not a doll its a real life baby!
oh yes i realise that dear hes lovley i meant in the pram basket?
Again im baffledsaid no definatly no dolly why you ask?
she thourght the reduced chickens were a porcelin doll?
I seem to attract weirdos on the bus.

Feel inspired to do something with last years greengage plums at bottom of freezer as hubbys been nagging me!Thinking might try smallbatch of plum chutney, testdrive on my very appreciative dad and ease myway into cooking from scratch again as been a little lazy the lastfew months.
Need to clear freezer before july for this years harvest as will have wild plums/cherries/blackberries also strawberries /rasberries from farm and attempting large batch of rc elder flower champers!

The idea is if i go mad on preserving have lots of lovley ready made gifts for birthdays and xmas.

really want to get to grips with baking too as feel ashamed of my cake at school cake sale.

Hoping baby marley fit into cloth nappies soon as hate buying disposables.
due to have bin audit soon basically bin inspection by sita to see ifwe good recyclers and that we want larger general bin due to fornightly collections its just too confusing as it is!

Getting exited about carboots starting up again love a bargain hunt.

Notsurehowveg plots maturing leave thatup tohubby.
Still got to start the herb garden.

Times going far too fast have list things need to do in order to save money
declutter and organise our lives.

eldest goes back wed /thur nextweek so many bank holidays.
The royal wedding bores me a bit, dont think theres any street parties in our street.

maryb

feeling very frustrated at present - I did my back in BIG time on Friday and could hardly move all weekend. The osteopath fitted me in this morning and I can move again but I still need to be very careful. And it was such a glorious weekend and we still have the yellow ball today. I wanted to get so much done in the garden and I just have to be patient.

We've previously dug over about half the allotment (we only have a half plot anyway) and the new potatoes and runner beans are in and beginning to peep through. But we still have the other half to dig and I was hoping we would be able to make progress this weekend. We managed to clear a very small area before my back went and I got DH to sow two short rows of mixed salad leaves, one all green and one with red leaves plus a short row of spinach beet. If I can move tomorrow I want to get some spring onions in and some real spinach.

But we really need to get the other beds dug so I can plant the brassicas I raised from seed - cauliflower, broccoli and brussels sprouts. They're needing more room than they've got in seed trays. And I wanted to sow some carrots, courgettes and squash. I'm not growing onions this year because they didn't do very well last year and went soft in storage. They are cheap enough to buy anyway, same with maincrop potatoes (which we haven't got room for with only half a plot). I mainly grow summer veg but I really wanted to try for some autumn and winter veg as well

I know there are some experienced gardeners on this thread so at the risk of being sent off with a flea in my ear to the green fingered thread I thought I'd ask- What is really critical to get planted this month and what will still do well if it's more like May before we get the ground ready?

kidcat

Gailey my kids were back at school today after two weeks off - they have four days in and then four off followed by three in and another four off. Its really wierd and very unsettling especially for the little ones.
I still had DS7 off today so we took everyone else to school then got train into Liverpool, we managed to do the museum in an hour!! Ds7 is extraordinarily quick we then managed to wander into the town and visit a large DIY store and found the cupboard doors I need for the new house kitchen (we are adding a few cupboards to the existing kitchen so need doors that match or near as) reduced to £10 so will be measuring cupboards when OH gets in to visit again tomorrow and buy the doors while so cheap. Then we managed a trip into Primani (not easy as DS hates shopping but was very well behaved today - bribery worked wonders). All in I have spent a bit today but was worth it to have a very happy DS and get some cheap clothes for the kids. Finding the cupboard doors was a surprise too.

Our move is almost certain not to happen till the end of June early July am very unhappy and I now have the unpleasant task of trying to negotiate the extra time with the LL. Loads of washing done and on the line before we left at eight for school.

Going to have to be very careful with money now as we are incurring more expenses as the move progresses and all the additional stuff with solicitor is bound to add costs.

floss2

kidcat wrote: »

...Our move is almost certain not to happen till the end of June early July am very unhappy and I now have the unpleasant task of trying to negotiate the extra time with the LL. Loads of washing done and on the line before we left at eight for school.

Going to have to be very careful with money now as we are incurring more expenses as the move progresses and all the additional stuff with solicitor is bound to add costs.

Would it be worth the cost of getting your solicitor to write to your landlord advising them of the delay & your expected date of vacating? Then you don't have to do it yourselves & get the hassle? And have the sellers offered any concession or reduction for them being so delayed?

kidcat

Dealing with the LL will have to be me unfortunately, due to the circumstances which are complicated. And so far nothing has been offered but I am considering asking for something but not sure what, will wait and be guided by solicitor. It's all a nightmare but am resigned now.

littlecal

Oh maryb,please,please try not to do too much! I know how frustrating it is xx

charlie1973

The Royal Wedding excites me as all our neighbours are getting together and having a proper street party. In fairness one thing we do have is great neighbours and a good community spirit. Its going to be a case of us all mucking in, a few dads are sharing the booze trip, and we are all contributing towards our bit.

we have a new fruit and veg shop opened lcoally, and I bought lots of beautiful fresh produce this morning for under £7! its next door to the butchers and opticians too, which means 3 hits in one trip! I hope in the current climate they succeed in meeting the locals needs, nothing seems to survive long now a days.

Ive been on the power washer all day, on the patio slabs, and am about finished, Maryb I sympathise i realy do!!

Maryb best of luck with your allotment, I seem to be only good at growing cobwebs in our garden! (though my mint pots have all started sprouting)

We had roast lamb for dinner yesterday, and luckily there is enough left over for 4 for tea, so I have minced it and added yesterdays gravy, with the left over carrotts and peas and popping some mash on top for a late supper. DD3 has rescued the sand pit from underneath the trampoline, scraped off the manky top sand, and added a nice new bag, and is still building a masterpiece!

ceridwen

GreyQueen wrote: »

Uhh, back in the saddle again, pls excuse that I haven't caught up with the thread (haven't even caught up with the washing-up tbh ). Why are weekends 2 days and workweeks 5? 'Snot fair.

Hiya

Glad that you have your little "haven" - in the shape of that allotment:)

As regards that washing-up - I DO know that in those times when one feels distinctly "rebellious" about an ongoing problem situation STILL being there in one's life that there is a distinct tendency to ignore ordinary "everyday" things one simply doesnt want to do (like that washing up). Yep...thats one of mine....:o

Its easy to just go off into "Dagnabbit it - since this problem situation is STILL sitting there unresolved many moons after it started - and I cant see when it darn WILL be resolved - then listen here Universe - I'm ON STRIKE:mad: until you darn well get your act together and remove it from my life" - and that tends to result in resolutely "putting foot down firmly" and refusing to do these everyday things that one knows HAVE to be done (but you simply don't want to do them) and going off and getting on with something else one actually WANTS to do (in your case - the allotment).

I DO wonder sometimes whether an ongoing "draggy" problem situation is rather more wearing than a quick one-off "emergency" situation........But I certainly think its perfectly understandable to go off into "I'm going to cut myself some slack and just go on strike and do only what I actually WANT to for a day or two" sometimes. That I DO understand - very well - and I guess a lot of us do ((()))

charlies-aunt

A lovely day here and a beautiful evening - came home from work to find all my bedding dry and fragant on the lines

Just having a minute before starting ironing of OH work shirts and will scout round for ebayable junk as after working out my wages for the next three months, I have a shortfall every single month plus an unexpected bill this weekend and still some Easter Eggs to buy. I am trying to go up another gear on budgeting but its getting harder and harder to cut costs as everything is pretty pared down already.

Oh well, onwards and upwards