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

culpepper

Most of my cooking and needle skills are from books.
We did do some at school but I wasn't interested then because mum really couldn't afford the cost of the supplies and so it made it quite a pressure to get the result right.Sometimes she would send me with alternative ingredients which was not looked upon kindly by the teacher.
My school-made skirt was dreadful and I had to wear it to school till I absolutely refused to go in it any more.

The book I found most useful for cooking was the good housekeeping picture cookery book that was given to us and must be from around the late 1950's.

For sewing ,I have a big book of needlecraft bought in the late 1970's.
I found the Metric pattern cutting books very handy too because they are a way of having a pattern that you draw yourself using your own measurements although they don't show how to do any of the actual putting together they do teach you how to alter a pattern to give different styles and used with the first book they cut out an awful lot of the expense(ready made patterns).

Molly41

My most used resource was my Mrs Beeton's which I was actually presented with as the school prize for Home Economics in 1982. I think that was the highlight of my school career because generally I really struggled as I was dreadfully bullied. Those were very tough days as all bullying was ignored and has made me what I am today - afraid of my own shadow!

kidcat

Molly41 wrote: »

My most used resource was my Mrs Beeton's which I was actually presented with as the school prize for Home Economics in 1982. I think that was the highlight of my school career because generally I really struggled as I was dreadfully bullied. Those were very tough days as all bullying was ignored and has made me what I am today - afraid of my own shadow!

At th all girls school I was bullied and the Head teacher told my mum that "bullying is an everyday part of school life - kids need to learn to get on with it!" my mum took me home that day.

I think all schools should have to teach a topic like home management which should include financial stuff, cookery, basic sewing, DIY skills, basic gardening (food growing) and even some basic car maintenance. I have lost count of the number of women I know who cannot check oil on their car, change a fuse or build a flat pack. These are all essentials - and yes they should begin at home but it seems that over a full generation of people did not get the teaching and are therefore not passing on the skills.
My kids get one hour PHSE each week at high school and from what I know about it that would seem to be the ideal arena to use.
My DD5 is growing chicks in school at the moment they have the eggs in a tank and are waiting for the chicks - when they are hatched they are being sent back ?? The teacher looked horrified when I suggested keeping them and having fresh eggs to cook with!!:D

sistercas

like mardatha i went to a comp school and was doubly entered for cse/ gcse exams ( suppose they thought i would fail my gcses)

I loved my time at school for me it was the social aspect and the sport , i did have lessons on cooking and sewing b ut my mum taught me to really cook and sew , and i hope i am passing these skills to my 2 DDs ( because they certainly arnt learning them at school)

bertiebots

Its funny isnt how people can judge each other on where they live or what school they went to..not on here of course because , as has been said , we all have a common view..(er sorry no pun intended!)
My secondary school eductation was terrible, the teachers didnt give a monkeys and we were told so. The strikes and changes from o levels to cse's to gcse's all within the time from me starting to leaving secondary school meant I did poorly in everything and was bullied from age 5 to 15 to put the boot in. I have learnt far more from life than I ever did in a classroom....
I find it quite odd that people often mistake me for being a bit posh or a snob and I really have no idea why ,apart from the fact that my mum always made sure I talked correctley??, I have a very stong yorkshire accent and am proud of that, but apparentley its still posh haha. I was told by a colleague yesterday that my youngest ds talked posh too and I laughed because to me he is as broad as they come!
I am just glad that I was braught up to appreciate people for who they are not what they do or where they came from and have my mum to thank for that! She and my dad raised us with next to nothing so I think they were my best teachers.

bargainhunterss

ceridwen wrote: »

...Now wondering about that comment earlier about diluting garlic powder in water and spraying to deter cats. Well...if it will deter cats...who knows? I'd heard of using fresh garlic to make a deterrent - but not gotten round to it...

Would some garlic powder I have mixed up in a spray bottle with water do the trick for spraying against these leafminers on my plants? (and must admit I would certainly spray it at any cats I see coming towards my garden too as a deterrent)..

good idea! didnt know that worked with cats! next door neighbour has just got a new cat and i keep on spotting it in our garden:(

cat_smith

Get a dog! Local cats soon learnt to keep out of the garden:rotfl::rotfl:

mardatha

It was "O" and "A" levels when I was alive. I got the first lot but then left school and eloped with a biker before I got to the second lot
I was brought up in a very rough village but got on fine, never bullied and can appreciate the good in all sorts of people. Sometimes the roughest people have the warmest hearts.

mama67

jackieglasgow wrote: »

I wash my (not very) smalls too before I chuck them out

Me too and socks, but this is probably as they are going into the recycling bag

Hippeechiq

ceridwen wrote: »

Would some garlic powder I have mixed up in a spray bottle with water do the trick for spraying against these leafminers on my plants? (and must admit I would certainly spray it at any cats I see coming towards my garden too as a deterrent)..

I found this quote

It has been two weeks since I sprinkled garlic powder on the soil and watered it in. No sign of any leaf miners returning! The plants have taken off in growth and are ready to be harvested soon!

HERE