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

[Deleted User]

LilacLouisa wrote: »

Please don't be too hard on your Mum, I don't know her age, but at one time even if you were really hard up a lot of people didn't like to admit it, a sort of "it's one thing to be poor, but quite another to let people know it". Old habits die hard!

.

My friend was brought up in the welsh valleys and there were times when her mam could not afford a sunday joint but she would still go and sharpen the carving knife on the front step, as though they were having a joint to eat

ChocClare

Corblimeyhowmuch, welcome to the thread. Not laughing at your circumstances but I did giggle at the "I've managed to lose 15 stone" bit... Still, it sounds like your new house will be some compensation for you. I would second the advice given to you and maryb (hope your back's better, mary) and definitely plant French beans - they are expensive to buy; they are very quick to grow and they freeze beautifully. If you succession-plant them, you can keep yourself in beans for the rest of the year (until you're sick of them, in fact)!

Salad leaves and beetroot are also quick. You live in London, don't you Mary? You should be able to grow most things there for quite a while yet, I would have thought - it's usually quite sheltered (or my garden in sunny Tooting was, at least - certainly only rarely had frost).

I know I sound like saddo mcsad, but if either of you would like some French bean seeds (and no, I DON'T work for the French bean marketing board) - or indeed, any other seeds, do pm me. The French sell seeds in huge boxes rather than small packets, and I would far rather they got used than rotted in the box. It's my very own take on guerilla gardening! :T

PS, maryb, I have transplanted my leeks when they are the thickness of a thin chive and they were fine. It meant that by the time they were thick and meaty I was having to lever them out of frozen ground, but what the hey! Also, if you put a bit of plastic piping over 'em, you get a nice long white bit (sure you already knew that). Blanching, that's the word I'm groping for...

mardatha

Do you hap leeks up like tatties ?

maryb

Great, thanks evryone.

I'll stick the leeks in the ground and see what happens. I'll also try some autumn carrots and I'll plant my onion sets close by - even if they don't do anything, the smell might keep carrot root fly away - well that's the theory.

I've never eaten beetroot since I left my primary school where it was served up in paint stripper aka vinegar twice a week complete with lumpy mashed potato and spam. That was on the days we didn't have lumpy mashed potato, spam and baked beans which I also haven't eaten since then. (On Fridays we had bony boiled fish still swimming in grey water with our lumpy mashed potato and baked beans - also every Wednesday in Lent - I used to wish we were old enough for fasting rather than just abstinence!! It was certainly a penance) But beetroot that isn't bottled in paint stripper, I mean vinegar, sounds as if it's quite different so I might have a go at that

LilacLouisa

kittie wrote: »

My friend was brought up in the welsh valleys and there were times when her mam could not afford a sunday joint but she would still go and sharpen the carving knife on the front step, as though they were having a joint to eat

That really made me smile. My Mum used to live in Liverpool as a child, lots of poor families about, but one lady with lots of children and very little money used to offer tea and cheese sandwiches to any callers. As it was well known locally how poor the family was, people used to refuse politely, but this lady got more and more extravagant as the polite refusals went on e.g ham then chicken, then salmon etc.

Bless her, pride can make us do the daftest things.

Frugalista

flowertotmum please don't take this the wrong way, but could you try putting in some paragraphs - that huge block of text is nigh on impossible to read . Thanks .

freudianslip

Deleted_User wrote: »

I just wanted to add about the guilt complex... I think as soon as you give birth, you make comparisons with other parents. Theres a few specimens of 'Yummy Mummies' in the village where I live, boasting about their 4x4, handmade kitchens, massive trampolines for the kids, playrooms stuffed full of toys etc etc. Life is too short - I would never want to be like them! I'd rather people liked me for who I am not for all the 'bling' I have. It probs doesnt help that they're all about 10 years older than me too. I'm actually quite contented with my life at the moment (which suprises me sometimes as I used to strive to have 'stuff') we have a small 2 bed house, small garden and its all we need. We can afford the mortgage (just!) and we can walk around the village.... I used to take DD to all sorts of places when she was under 1 (cos 'everybody' else was doing the same), now we stay in quite alot, have friends over, painting in the garden etc. I want to enjoy time with her and not feel like I have to 'buy' her if that makes sense?!

Sorry if I've waffled on!

L x

you've not waffled on at all

My mother in law took us to the county park today and I did a lot of people watching, not **tching, just watching. I saw every kind of mum there, all of us different, all of us there for different reasons, but all of us there with our kiddiwinkles. It was interesting and I'm pleased I don't fit into the mould because I can have fun running round the place with my two, going down the slide, paddling in the pool and slurping ice cream.

My little one (2) did say on the way home "next time can we get some pennies so I can have my face painted and go on the trampolines and teacups" I felt very stingy but only for a short while.. m-in-law shouted ice-cream we played on the super park and little pool, fed the ducks and ran about together. Didn't need those 'must have super dooper give me your money cos your kid has to do this' thing so yeah, pleased with that and little one needs to learn she can't have everything. It did tug on my heart strings a little though. Maybe I shouldn't say we have no money and think of something else to say?

Tomorrow is another nice day so I've invited my friend and her children over for the paddling pool and a garden table picnic. Hopefully be a fun day for all of us, not cost much either. Doesn't the sun really uplift the mood.

A bit worried about a 'de[ression' what would that mean? a recession? I'm a bit tick with finance and politics

I got some lettuce and young leeks given today so they'll be planted and my blackcurrents are turning really dark

My self sufficiency soap making book is in at library so will pick that up early in the morning, have a read to suss it all out.

I've been loaned by m-in-law Time Travellers wife so off to have a dip in the tub and immerse myself in a book.

r.a.i.n.b.o.w

ChocClare wrote: »

I know I sound like saddo mcsad, but if either of you would like some French bean seeds (and no, I DON'T work for the French bean marketing board) - or indeed, any other seeds, do pm me. The French sell seeds in huge boxes rather than small packets, and I would far rather they got used than rotted in the box. It's my very own take on guerilla gardening! :T

Can I be cheeky and ask where you buy them from, please?

r.a.i.n.b.o.w

maryb wrote: »

But beetroot that isn't bottled in paint stripper, I mean vinegar, sounds as if it's quite different so I might have a go at that

I cannot STAND pickled beetroot - it was a joy and revelation when I tasted plain boiled beetroot. Roasted, they are gorgeous!

ChocClare

Not cheeky at all, rainbow. I got them in France - always hit the garden centres whenever I go.

Sorry not to have an English supplier! PM me if you want some - I've got loads.