As The Workhouse Approaches....How To Do Everything To Avoid It, the Old Style Way

ChocClare

EstherH wrote: »

Hi, I didn't mean to be controversial or upset anyone with what I said about grammar schools. I was just reading all about the Latin and universities and thought I only went to local comp and left at 16 with one o level and one CSE grade 1 equivalent to o level and a few lower grade CSE's that weren't worth a jot. But on here I don't feel inferior at all.

I don't think you upset anyone, Esther! And why the hell should you feel inferior? I may have gone to a so-called "posh" school but that doesn't make me "superior" to you - far from it.

I actually thought your post was very true - this forum IS very levelling - because everyone on here is clever enough (whether "educated" or not) to use our wits and all our resources to make the most of our situations and to realise that we can best win through by supporting each other and pooling our knowledge. Don't you worry!

Hippeechiq

I'll 2nd that - don't think your remarks were controversial at all Esther

Thanks for that hex I'll definitely give that a go.

I do like the idea of the hedge Grandma, but one would catch on my washing. In a paved garden there is nowhere else for the washing line to go, as it has to run between the wall of the shed and the wall at the bottom of the garden - as it is, it catches on the fence on very windy days regardless of how I place the prop. So a hedge, especially a prickly one is a no-no.

Due to the (brick built) shed being on the right hand side of the garden (which the fence also runs along) the empty pond being on the opposite side of the garden (right in the middle) and the raised (goodness knows why) 12' x 3' area at the bottom of the garden where a massive buddliea tree is (and a brick wall behind it) there isn't anywhere for a rotary line to go, or anywhere else for my washing line to go either.

ChocClare (or indeed anyone else who might know:) ) if you're still about hun, can you tell me how tall Chilli Pepper & Sweet Pepper plants grow please, & also if you think a 5" pot is large enough for them, or whether they'd be better off in my Wine Carriers?
Also (if you don't mind ) can you advise when I should start to feed my tomato plants? It says on the tomato feed bottle to feed "when the first flowers have set". I'm just concerned that the plants may not be getting enough nutrients because there is a lot of growing of leaves and flowers going on in all my plants at the moment.

cat_smith

ChocClare wrote: »

I don't think you upset anyone, Esther! And why the hell should you feel inferior? I may have gone to a so-called "posh" school but that doesn't make me "superior" to you - far from it.

I agree totally. I've found more like-minded people and common sense on here than I every found at 'posh school' or university.

Hippeechiq

ChocClare wrote: »

Mrs Roper (in horrified, clipped, received pronunciation): "But Siobhan, where is your tacking? You surely don't mean to say you've machined this skirt after simply pinning it together?" And, holding up the offending article so that the rest of the class could share in her shock: "Gels, you must look at this. Tacking is essential. Otherwise you end up with this, which looks like something you might buy in"...(struggling to express the extent of her horror) "somewhere like Chelsea Girl."

Very good :rotfl:
One of my favourite shops, Chelsea Girl - so I can see why she would be appalled, lol.
Anyone remember SNOB? it was the shop when it came to the latest fashion. All these years on, I still have a red coathanger with the word SNOB written on it in curly gold writing that I've never quite been able to make myself let go of.

Ahhhh - memories of my youth

ChocClare

Hippeechiq wrote: »

ChocClare (or indeed anyone else who might know:) ) if you're still about hun, can you tell me how tall Chilli Pepper & Sweet Pepper plants grow please, & also if you think a 5" pot is large enough for them, or whether they'd be better off in my Wine Carriers?
Also (if you don't mind ) can you advise when I should start to feed my tomato plants? It says on the tomato feed bottle to feed "when the first flowers have set". I'm just concerned that the plants may not be getting enough nutrients because there is a lot of growing of leaves and flowers going on in all my plants at the moment.

The height is going to depend on what warmth they have - not HUGELY tall, but I'd be inclined to have them in something larger than 5" pots, in case they fell over and you lost your fruit

I have a sweet pepper plant in a five inch pot currently and it's only about eight inches tall (and the pepper on it is about the size of an acorn) but I was in Homebase yesterday where they had grafted plants, which were HUGE (and covered in RIPE chillies - hmm, all natural there then, Jamie Oliver?!).

Yep, start feeding your tomatoes when the flowers appear. You can use eg tomorite OR you can put on your gloves, go and pull up an armful of nettles from somewhere, bung 'em in an old bin and fill it up with water. It will STINK to high heaven after a couple of weeks. I'd suggest putting it by the hole in the fence :rotfl:But it makes fantastic free plant food. Dilute it one part nettle unpleasantness to five parts water and water your tomatoes.

If you have any comfrey invading the place, apply the same method. That's even better. Also stinks. Cats hate it - trust me on this

scottishminnie

ChocClare wrote: »

I can still remember my friend Siobhan taking her skirt up to the needlework mistress to have the seams examined. Mrs Roper (in horrified, clipped, received pronunciation): "But Siobhan, where is your tacking? You surely don't mean to say you've machined this skirt after simply pinning it together?" And, holding up the offending article so that the rest of the class could share in her shock: "Gels, you must look at this. Tacking is essential. Otherwise you end up with this, which looks like something you might buy in"...(struggling to express the extent of her horror) "somewhere like Chelsea Girl."

QUOTE]

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:
Chelsea Girl - how I loved that place. I aspired to be one of the weekend sales assistants which horrified my mother. A high street shop girl- heaven forbid - what was the point of all that curtsey practice ??!!
I fondly remember Chelsea Girl as the place where I bought my first flying suit with matching headband - oh lord what a thought as I was a rather tubby teenager.:D

I don't have terribly find memories of needlework but I do remember in one class that the girl next to me sewed whatever she was machine stitching to the sleeve of her blouse. What a drama that was - I can still remember Mrs Petrie yelling at the poor girl about how stupid she was. It must have been a real trial though teaching teenagers to sew.

maryb

Esther you certainly didn't upset me and the point I was trying to make in my post was that just because a school was a grammar school doesn't mean it was automatically a good school. So absolutely no need to feel inferior. Bet you don't know too many accountants without O level/GCSE maths!! It's not just cooking and sewing I've had to teach myself!

Life can be very hard and I know DH and I are lucky to have got through our own tough times to a measure of security. I do feel the people on this thread are very like minded despite our different backgrounds - as you say, it's a great leveller

Hippeechiq

Am loving the idea of the stinky nettle feed, and leaving it by the hole in the fence! :rotfl: There are probably nettles at the Koi Pond end of Bournemouth gardens, though not sure I've got anything I could put them in :think:.....that's the trouble when you've lived in flats for any length of time (no lofts, sheds & only tiny store cupboards) you never accumulate anything that would come in handy for when you eventually have a garden. And having moved 3 times in about 6 years has meant we are virtually "clutter" free

I have something that looks very much like comfrey grow up through the cracks in my paved garden, but I'm not certain as it never gets to the flowering stage because I pull it up as soon as I spot a leaf.

I thought I should have been feeding my plants as soon as they started to flower! Grrrrr! and I watered them thoroughly yesterday, so they wont want watering now for another 5-6 days Oh well, next watering I'll definitely feed them. Thanks for the advice also re the pepper plants. I only received mine as plug plants last week, so they're only about 3" tall at the mo - so not quite up to Jamie Oliver standards

Thanks for replying hun - I do appreciate it

scottishminnie I had a flying suit too! lol. My mates & I went out and bought one each, mine was Green (?), and my other two mates were Crushed Strawberry (double ??) and Black.............and then we all went out wearing them on the same night :rotfl:
We must have looked like Charlies Angels walking into the disco.....or maybe that should just be "Charlies" lol

mardatha

I think what matters in life is to make the best of what you've got; be true to yourself and your beliefs; and just get on with it

ChocClare

Hippeechiq wrote: »

though not sure I've got anything I could put them in :think:.....that's the trouble when you've lived in flats for any length of time (no lofts, sheds & only tiny store cupboards) you never accumulate anything that would come in handy for when you eventually have a garden.

If you have a few quid, then Asda are selling those flexible plastic bucket thingies (DD uses them for feeding her horse, so I always buy one when I see them) for about £3 IIRC. Do you know what I'm talking about? This sort of thing. Jolly useful in the garden generally, and great for making plant food!