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

ChocClare

Kimitatsu wrote: »

Bit of a worry this week though, we live on a farm and have had more and more people wandering around. One of my neighbours went out into the garden on Sunday at 1020pm to find two blokes in their garden "looking for scrap". There have been a lot of metal thefts recently, and so I am now considering getting some geese to wander the big garden, not for any other purpose than the noise that they make!

We have had people coming to the door asking for scrap but thankfully have been put off by the size of the dog (who is a big softie really) and a hard glare and so have not returned. Makes you stop and think though as we are in a rural community and up until recently have been relatively protected from this sort of thing.

So going to peruse Focus for a new shed, some bigger gates and some geese and hopefully that will make them think twice!

We've just had the same, kimitatsu - we have two gates into our house - the front one was shut and my DS's car was parked in front of the house, but the rear one was open as DH had just reversed his car down the drive.

Anyway, he was in the sitting room when he saw this chap sauntering down our drive into our garden - possibly because he'd left the gate open. He went out and said, can I help you, and the chap PUT DOWN the radiator which DH had left leaning against our garage and said, oh hello mate, do you want me to take this away for scrap for you? DH said, no; if you're looking for scrap you can come to the front door and ask, not wander uninvited into my garden thanks. And I'll sell it to you if you want but I'm not giving stuff away. Bloke said, oh no, that's fine mate, and went off. I told DH he should have called the police. He did take his number at least (rolls eyes). But this was in broad daylight and both DH and DS were in the house and OBVIOUSLY in the house :eek:

Meanwhile, the church where DH is working has just had all the lead nicked from its roof. I said to the treasurer, you can get that marked with smart water. He said IT IS MARKED WITH SMART WATER!!!!!

So I think you're right - some scrap merchants CLEARLY need a visit from the Elderly William and that right speedily...

THIRZAH

MIL uses the leftover yorkshire pudding batter in gravy too. It seems a bit of a waste to me-I make pancakes with it and freeze it.
My grandmother used to serve a boiled batter pudding with fruit in it and sprinkled with brown sugar before the main course sometimes.I loved it but have never been able to make it the same as hers.

My family used to like the small yorkshires served as a pudding filled with stewed blackcurrants

oldtractor

Do tell us more about the boiled batter pudding please.

shelley_crow

so digusted at the thieves and scrap men around by me. Recently, a day centre for the elderly had lead stolen from the roof, resulting in water damage and a closed centre. there have been similar thefts from churches and schools. I'm not quite old enough to remember the last time that police services were cut (early 80s?) but is this something we can expect to happen more often?

A few of the local kids have had their bikes nicked while they popped into the house for a few minutes. What a sad state of affairs.

I've just been told that my son's teacher is striking on 30th June, not a problem for me but it will cause chaos.

[Deleted User]

I`ve managed to kind of catch up, wow what a lot of posts and good posts at that. I empathise with the sad ones and the struggling ones and the happy ones, all life is here.

Re the thefts, that reminded me of a few years back when I lived just by a farm and was very friendly with the old rough and ready farmer, he was the type who fastened his coat with string, heart of gold and if he praised me or my girls wrt our horses then you would just swell with pride as he always said as it was. Little by little things disappeared from his farm, gates were the first and stock got out, hay when it was expensive and sheep too. The second time that sheep were taken, he stayed at the top of the hay in a barn, in the middle of an isolated field and he had his shotgun with him, he was convinced they would be back (ipsies up the road coincided with the thefts). He was telling me the next day that he was scared out of his mind about 2 in the morning by hoots which sounded like a ghost. We got our horses freeze marked and even marked their rugs and had locks on every gate

I wish we had none of it and that people realised that they should have respect for other people but instead we have to lock everything up and we have to be defensive about what is ours. I wish we could see more karma in action

I have just sat down after a very busy day and I have also pretty well emptied a biggish cupboard onto the understair shelves that I now have. I am using those fold down boxes that I kept after moving so am very pleased. My vac sealer has also been working hard and I have divided large packs of beans up and also sealed lots of oats. Having that under stairs cupboard sorted is already making a very big difference

We are looking forward to a mini heat wave and at last my wintered shallots and garlic are showing signs of drying properly, I have been in and out with them for several days now but today they have been out all day in a strong wind. The shallots are tied in bunches and on clothes hangers, so I can move them easily and the garlics are plaited. I`ll have to see about getting the spring ones up tomorrow, maybe, as the weather is so iffy lately and I want to use the sun for drying

I haven`t gone into my boxes of summer clothes this year and I`m thinking I won`t bother now as it is such a palaver changing over. The one good thing about the weather is that the nights are good for sleeping, I can`t bear being hot at night

Looks like I might get a trip to costco on saturday,yipee

Reverbe

VJs you just reminded me of my Grandad who recently died. He would always give money for Xmas and Birthdays but insist we spent it on something nice rather than bills etc. My mums money would always be commandeered by my Dad using it to pay bills or fix the car etc which always seemd to coincide with her birthday in May. But I would always try to get something as a treat with mine. Hopefully something that would last too. If I do ever get anything out of his passing- not that I am that type, I'd rather have him back - I promised myself that I would buy myself the Alexander McQueen 140 quid scarf I have been wanting for over 20 yrs and which I keep going into Liberty and other places and gazing at.I know it's silly of me when I am so poor and won't have much for my future but there is so much in life I never had that most people have or do or experience.In a lifetime I think 140 quid is worth it

Athome1

I know several of the posters on here suffer with joint pain and I'm sure I've read that some of you have Epsom Salts baths. I've recently started doing the same (once or twice a week) but I find that everything hurts more than usual the next day. Please can you tell me is that a normal reaction? I'm keen to do things that will mean less painkillers as well as less pain:D

I'm not asking for medical advice so please, powers-that-be, don't move my post:T

THIRZAH

oldtractor wrote: »

Do tell us more about the boiled batter pudding please.

It was boiled in a cloth so it must have been a much thicker batter than a yorkshire pudding mixture. I've found recipes for a steamed or boiled batter pudding in older cookbooks but they don't seem the same as Grandmas.They obviously ate it first to fill them up in the same way as other people ate yorkshire pudding-perhaps it was boiled so they din't have to put the oven on? Grandma would always fill her oven if it was on to save fuel-a cake as well as the roast and a milk pudding on the bottom shelf.

ginnyknit

I am celebrating with strawberries and cream.... managed to get to Mr T at the perfect time today. Strawberries 59p with free cream. Got 3 punnets but just picked up one cream to try out my theory. Loads of veg, mushrooms, pointy cabbage, potatoe wedges all for 39 -45p. Good sausages for 99p, steak and ale pie 1.00. It makes us laugh sometimes how well we live on whoopsies. All in all got 3 big hessian bags of shopping for 25.00 :T

OH has gone for a nap, he is feeling frustrated today and has been a bit shouty but I just take a deep breath and brew up. It is difficult when someone has to have help dressing and getting in and out of the shower when they used to be so active and fit.

As for people stealing scrap, round here we have to have everything bolted down or it goes! hanging baskets are a no-no as they end up on a car boot sale. Thats why my back garden is so good as its almost impossible to get into ( or out of in event of a fire!) I was worried last year as I had a tub of the most beautiful liles given to me and wanted then on my doorstep - they are still there to date, but am going to take off the tiny bulblets this year and do a tub in the back just in case. I am so used to being aware of the crimes here that we never take a chance but its sad when people in rural places have to think about theft of basics like gates and feed troughs. these people arent doing it because the recession is hitting them, its just they live that kind of theiving life in the first place :mad:

paidinchickens

my friend had the lead ripped off her bay window a couple of weeks ago. A few weeks earlier she had caught some men trying to pinch her next door neighbours. When she shouted what are you doing they just turned and shouted abuse at her then walked of with their shopping trolley. The police only give a crime number so you can claim off your house insurance but then your hit with high claim prices the next year!!!