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

v8monkeyboy

scottishminnie - I see your point about the price, but that is whopping jar - 7L !!

The others on that page are more affordable and also smaller sizes

T x

kate1974

mardatha wrote: »

Only problem there is that I'm clumsy. I break things. I drop them, wallop the tap with them, knock them over or chip them. God knows what I'd be like with a kitchen full of glass jars.... Lethal I think.

How about biscuit's and sweet's tins then?The tall ones?
I keep all dry fruits,nuts,pulses in tins and never had any problems-and you can keep them on open shelves-may be not so tidy as glass jars but definately colourful.

jackieglasgow

Mardatha I bet I am more clumsy than you, I have broken all sorts that should be unbreakable, but have never ever broken a glass jar. The two big ones were a present from my hubby, and the rest are Ikea jobs, and Douwe Egberts coffee jars. Not one has been broken, ever! (touch wood lol)

ginnyknit

I am a clumsy B too, dropped a glass in the shed today and just stood looking at it in disbelief! And I love a china mug for my cuppa - knocked the handles off mine the other week, then same with the replacement a few days later

Chocclare that must have been a wonderful experience. We have no concept of how hard their life is. On the other hand is still stressful living in our world. I am lucky to be involved in a charity that is helping a special care baby unit in Rwanda. they just had a bare room scrubbed within an inch of its life - no doubt due to the work of some devoted nurses. We have filled the place with the basic, sterilisers, clothes, blankets and toys. each Mum now gets a photo of the baby to keep and a kit to take home with them if the baby survives. It looks a much more comfortable place, which must help as having a premmie is a frightening time even in this country. The people at Bonnie Babies are such lovely folk and work tirelessly for hospitals in the Uk too. Not everyone has the time or resources to help charities in this time we live in but Im glad there are a few able to, I don't do as much as I used to for many reasons. Its a difficult world.

Broomstick

This thread has galloped ahead since I last posted. I'm planning on doing a more serious look at IKEA's bigger jars when we are next there. Trouble is I need to go with a real purpose to justify the car fuel. I have one, I need a desk top, but I haven't cleared the space to put it yet so IKEA is just going to have to wait a bit longer.

I was given a generous cash prezzie for my birthday several months back and I bought a decent pair of shoes with half of it (I'd been living in walking boots and wellies for two years :eek: so new shoes were a bit overdue). I'd decided before tackling the kitchen that I'd spend the rest of the birthday cash on jars and storage stuff so I have gone for getting ones that will last (hopefully for ever - my new intention in buying anything is that it is expected to last the next 50 years ) and ones that I will be able to use for preserving as well as storage. I've been saving coffee jars too for a while and so am growing a matching set for things that don't need a tight seal on the lid.

In tackling the baking stuff today I discovered that I have out of date SR flour, out of date currants and out of date mixed spice so I had a go at Welsh cakes and they seemed to taste fine. We'll see if we survive the night! I think I'm going to be making a lot of Welsh cakes to use that lot up.:D Oh, and now that I've lost all the sell-by dates on the packaging I've decided to pop an elastic band round the middle of each jar that really does need using up quickly so I don't forget.

B x

Kimitatsu

ChocClare wrote: »

At completely the other end of the scale, I have been to a concert tonight by the Watoto Children's Choir - AIDS orphans from Uganda singing and dancing in the most fantastic, uplifting evening, even though their stories were very harrowing. DH is working in the church where they were performing and the vicar gave him two tickets and said, come and see them, they're brilliant. And they were - absolutely amazing. They're going to Portsmouth & Southampton next and then to Devon and Cornwall before going back to Uganda. I'd definitely recommend it if they happen to be on at a church near you!

It definitely puts things in perspective when you hear about new babies dumped on rubbish dumps with their hands and feet tied, and little children losing one then the other of their parents to AIDS and ending up on the street - and then seeing how happy they are now.

Fabulous CC

I think in this country we sometimes lose sight of just how fortunate we are, that although all of us struggle on some level to make the pennies squeak, actually we are all fed, housed, clothed and have access to a reasonable level of healthcare at any time. We may not be able to afford a months wages to spend on an outfit to go out in, but I would question if any of the rich are any happier for it?

For me, being able to snuggle into my bed with a roof that doesnt leak when the rain is lashing and the wind is howling is a luxury that I am thankful for. To be able to wander around my garden in the morning in my old clothes without having to worry about anyone taking unwarranted pictures and posting them publicly about how rough I look in the morning I am grateful for :rotfl:

Its all relative and some of the "richest" people in the world are those who have no money at all, but take each day as a blessing

I need to order some new bookshelves for the boys from Ikea soon, so may see if I can get them to deliver a bulk order of glass jars at the same time, I love the idea of having jars, although many of them will be in the cupboard but you can really see what you have instantly!

Broomstick the only bit in the flour which may not be as good is the self raising bit, but otherwise if it looks ok and is weevil free then I just us it up anyway! Sell by dates are one of my pet hates - we have survived for hundreds of years without them!

On a moneysaving note, my insulation gets installed in a couple of weeks time, I was impressed it was that quick! So just over two weeks from survey to installation and we will be toastie warm. Just need to get my curtains interlined in the same timeframe - nope not going to happen is it!!

ceridwen

kittie wrote: »

Ahh now that is a bit of a sore point. I have a relative in law who is an investigating tax officer and he often tells of the rich who duck and dive and use all sorts of dodges to avoid paying tax. He says that billions are owed in tax

The people who are getting the country through are the ordinary, everyday hard working low to middle income tax payers like my grown up working children, who are now finding life a financial struggle. Low to middle earners and tax paying pensioners are being hammered out of all proportion

Keep then down, keep them quiet and lock them to a ball and chain until they retire at 70. It is slavery

Very true.

....and dont forget the "beer and circuses" - or should we update that to "beer/alcopops, celebrity magazines and soap operas":rotfl:. Sorrees - couldnt resist it....But I am conscious of a lot of "normal hardworking Peeps in the Street having to work all sorts of hours on the one hand or getting plenty of spare time (but for all the wrong reasons - like unemployed against their will) on the other hand". I've been in both positions personally...

I must admit I do often wonder if half the point of keeping people working on later before they are able to retire (when we all know there are younger people who would like our jobs) is because many of us have got ourselves "set up" with home/etc and therefore wouldnt be risking anything by "getting out there protesting" (unlike younger people) and that therefore the powers-that-be would rather we all "got chained to the treadmill" until we have got to an age where they hope we will be too tired and ill to do so.

redlady_1

Jealousy is a very unattractive emotion.

sammy_kaye18

I know this may possibly be a daft question but I wanted some views/opinions/advice please people.

I am looking for a fridge freezer or ideally a second freezer for us to keep a stock that will help us out over the winter and Ive just come across this on ebay. Now I could house it in my dining room as I have a kitchen/diner and could cover it with a nice table clothe etc and make it look like a sideboard/cupboard if that makes sense and still get my table and chairs in when I eventually order them

Only thing slightly concerning me is the hole it mentions in the bottom, I get that it will add to my electricity usage but I'm also thinking I will be able to hold a bigger stock in the house, therefore reducing the amount of shopping trips I need to make - I usually spend between £70-£100 a shop and inevitably forget something, it costs me £2.05 for a single to town in the first place to get to Mr T and then £6 home in a taxi - so I'm talking £10 just to get back and forth and I do TWO monthly shops so thats £20!

Plus any whoopsies I'd be able to freeze easily whereas at the minute I'm limited to a tiny space with my current freezer as its a small box one on top of the fridge if you know what I mean.

Also I figure in winter I could do a shop, fill the small freezer I currently have with milk and use this big freezer for other items - ie frozen veg, bread, meat etc so I wouldn't have to venture out in the cold weather.

Wanted to get some opinions first.

Molly41

redlady_1 wrote: »

Jealousy is a very unattractive emotion.

I agree with this wholeheartedly. You have no idea of what the story is behind the dresses and hats and smiles at Ascot. It could be a treat for a mother or a birthday like Cat_Smith described earlier. It could be a promotion or business opportunity for milliners or designers bringing much needed money into our country. It could be that its a last chance opportunity for a woman with cancer or life limiting illness. You absolutely have no idea what brought that woman to Ascot. I love to look at the bright colours and wonderful dresses - its much better than the doom and gloom.