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

Charis

ellanutella wrote: »

Rant alert!

Old style to the max now! Just received a letter informing me I was overpaid back in February when I left my job and would I please like to repay £600+ within 14 days. Not even been in work for a full month yet and that's basically a months wage gone. I think I'm most annoyed that I don't have a leg to stand on, I was paid for work I didn't do so I must pay it back. Unfortunately for them I haven't got it. Am mad at myself too because I did wonder if it was right that I was still getting paid but I'd been told that my leaving had been processed so I knew they knew I had left and therefore assumed it must be right. Big mistake that was.

Shall be on this thread like a maniac from now on

Ella have you checked on MSE that this is legal? The mistake is theirs, they probably don't have the right to ask for it all back at once. You haven't even had notice. I know that when you leave a firm they can't take a great chunk out of your final wage without notice and this is very similar. Someone on the Employment Board on MSE will doubtless know the law on this.

laineyc_2

Just enjoyed a lovely dinner. I am very pleased with the soda bread. I tried a new recipe and it worked really. Only a couple of slices left.

The fuel increases are not what people need. I think this is going to be such a difficult winter for people.

Nothing exciting planned for this evening, a bubble bath a bit of telly.

mardatha

Ella, this happened to my OH and he refused to repay it as it was their mistake. They didnt chase us up, but it was only £150.

ChocClare

kittie wrote: »

Up to last year I was living in a town house with a south facing patio overlooking communal gardens. I used to get enough hot water for a big bowl of dishes just by laying a solar shower bag (black) on the patio table. I also had a couple of camping kettles out and got hot water that way (it is on one of the other tough threads)

Ooh, can you elucidate (PLEASE don't make me look through all the other tough threads!)?

The solar shower I get - I've used that myself - but what do you do with the camping kettles?

taurusgb

Well there's a thing!

I won't pay the price of washing powder or liquid and I've not had time to make any laundry gloop today. I had one load of laundry to do so followed a tip I read somewherre on MSE ages ago to use shampoo (sorry forgot who's tip it was as I would really like to thank them).

I had a bottle of very cheap sainsbury basics shampoo I bought to try so I used some of that - and what do you know, not only did it get the washing clean, it removed 3 stains on a T shirt that I assumed were there for good, as nothing seemed to shift them :beer:

I haven't tried it on my hair yet - but it has my vote for washing clothes - and it only cost about 30p for a litre.

Nargleblast

Funky starfish - re thermal lining curtains. I think if you get some of those cheap fleece throws that Mr T and other places sell for a couple of quid or so, they might do to line your curtains. And being mid year they will be cheap to buy now. Hope this helps.

[Deleted User]

ChocClare wrote: »

Ooh, can you elucidate (PLEASE don't make me look through all the other tough threads!)?

The solar shower I get - I've used that myself - but what do you do with the camping kettles?

lol that would take half a lifetime

they are dark as I could buy, one was dark blue and one black. I just put them in the sunniest place, out of the wind. Dark absorbs heat so even black paper wrapped around something made of thin metal would work.

smileyt_2

saveabobortwo wrote: »

ill stick to my stockpile plan b:rotfl:.today iv hang some washing out on the line to dry to stop using the tumble dryer to save . iv hoovered putall the rubbish out for the bin men. cleaned out the bath, bleached the kitchen sink . dusted the bedrooms and polished 2 mirrors i shall have a quick cup of tea wish you a good day and then start frying up some mince and onion and boil some potatoes and make a shepherds pie for tea have a good day xx

Could you come and do my house now please? :rotfl:

7_week_wonder

Evening all,

Thanks for sharing all your thoughts about store cupboards. I've decided I'm going to build up slowly until I have about 3 months supply of things and then try and hold it steady at that. Then I'll have a bit of flexibility to make the most of 3 for 2's and bogof's etc.

Random question - can anyone remember if Costco do caster sugar and if it is a reasonable price?

I'm another scottish power customer (hostage?!) and this evening I've decided I can either sit here with my head in my hands or I can play them at their own game. They're putting prices up by 10%: right I'm going to try and reduce my usage by 12%. So the hall light that is on a timer switch has been adjusted so that it comes on an hour later (probably should have done that earlier with the lighter evenings). This evening the oven (which was full with supper and an extra cake to use the space) was turned off off 5 minutes early and the food finished off with residual heat. When I had my shower I actually turned it off for the minute or so when I was shampooing etc. All tiny things - but it makes me feel slightly more in control!

The cavity wall guys were great. Admittedly I think we've got quite a straightforward house - but it was all done and dusted (and cleaned up by them) within two hours. Next step: get some thick lined curtains for the bedrooms.

That's enough wittering from me: time for a slice of hm cake mmmmm

LittleBrownFrog

ceridwen wrote: »

Havent tried exactly that - but I dont see why not...

I make my bread by hand and its a no-knead type of bread - but I'm guessing the same principle would apply. Basically, as I understand it, bread uses warmth to rise - but will still rise even in cool temperatures (ie that fridge) but at a MUCH slower rate. Thats how I've interpreted it anyways.

I give it, say, 10 minutes to acclimatise a bit in the morning after taking out of the fridge and then stick it in the oven to cook. One could maybe give it a teeny bit longer. To my mind - it comes out nearly as good as bread taken straight the way through at that point in time.

One way to find out - try it and see...:) - like I said - its something I do personally "in extremis" - so I think the best result is going straight through with it - but I'd still rather have my bread done in the freezer rise way - then anyone else's bread.

EDIT: I DO still cover my bread whilst rising - in my case with a slightly dampened teatowel (dont believe in using the standard clingfilm).

That should work. The fridge will retard the rising process, I normally do the first rise in the fridge overnight - it seems to rise for a couple of hours in the fridge, then stops (although I've been caught out with an overflowing bowl once or twice). Freezing the dough will stop the yeast, but won't kill it, so frozen bread dough will behave normally once defrosted.

My usual bread at the moment is the overnight sourdough from the Tassajara book - very easy, very quick, and fits perfectly with my routine at the moment.