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

Larumbelle

paidinchickens wrote: »

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.

How terribly rude of them. I do hope her neighbours didn't get stolen. I wonder how much a neighbour fetches for scrap? :rotfl:

Sorry, don't mean to be horrible, when I read it I just got this image of a granny getting carried off by a scally, fireman style, whacking them on the back with her handbag and protesting that she's not worth that much, and I found it very, very funny. Lord knows I need a laugh right now so thanks!

ceridwen

Reverbe wrote: »

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

I hope you get your scarf Reverbe.

That sounds little enough to ask of life to me - and you make do on so little normally (sorrees- I dont mean to sound "off" on that - I think you know how I mean it...:)) - so I think you deserve it. Enjoy it if you get it...

How awful though of your own parent to have his eye on your money back when:mad:.

Anyways - adding to the "what to do with spare money" debate...I know full well that my parents would darn soon wonder what I had done with any spare money I ever have - as they always have....:rotfl:. They accept that I'm "human" and might use the odd bit of any money I have just for "mad money" - but I've always been asked what I expect to do/have done with any halfway noticeable amount of money I've ever had and expected to "give account for it". It about works out at "You got £5,000 - well...okay accepted that you gave way to temptation and used £200 for an antique piece of jewellery or £500 for a cheap holiday - but what did you DO with the money" and I had darn well better have a good practical use for the money:rotfl::rotfl: . As we tend to have very similar views on managing money - my explanations to date have, by and large, been accepted as to "where it went"...

I DO get reminded, on occasions, on just how much I spent on learning to drive and then never did so...and have no intention of ever buying a car now:o

ceridwen

ginnyknit wrote: »

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:

Just to say "Thinking of you" re O.H.. I admire the way you cope with this situation - and hope it eases for you.

It IS awful that so many of us feel that we have to be so defensive about our homes. That phrase "An Englishman's home is his castle" - extend that to "A British persons home is their castle" is so true - and we are ENTITLED to feel that way. I know so well that - whatever happens out there in The World - that we are entitled to "let down our guard and relax" as soon as we step across our threshold and I think its a crying shame that so many of us cant do so because of thieving little toerags. As Kittie said - I hope they get the karma that is coming their way..:)

Well...I've certainly got my answer here to me finding that urban life is getting "on top of me" and the universal answer from peeps I know is to "hie me hence to the Villages". One of the few times I have come across a consensus of opinion about what I should do - everyone but everyone thinks I should move out to the country (even when I point out that I dont have/dont want/cant afford a car). I must be turning into an obvious yokel (said with the greatest respect of course....and I think, by now, I would take it as a compliment if someone said so...) in my dotage...:rotfl:

- but its awful that one cant "feel safe" even out in the countryside these days...

laineyc_2

Frugalista wrote: »

Would you care to share the recipe? Pretty please .

I will post the recipe for the Spanish potatoes later. They were quite tasty.

I have had a really busy day. I went to a pilates class this morning. It was a good class and my shoulder feels better. Then I went to Wilkos to buy 2 kilner jars. I need to put proper labels on my jars. I think that will have to wait until tomorrow.

I had to go to boys' school which is just outside London. I saw a white shirt on the rail in a charity shop. Popped in and it was my size and only £3.50, so I bought it. It's the first time I have bought clothes from CS since I was student. I am very pleased with my purchase and will were when I go out on Saturday.

I have sent the boys to pick up takeaway pizzas. We got back late from Herts so I can't face cooking. I don't feel guilty though because it is the first takeaway in ages.

Tomorrow I have to do some work in the garden. I have some lettuces to plant.

Anyway, will catch up on the thread properly and post recipe after dinner.

rachbc

Reverbe wrote: »

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

I certainly approve of the idea of buying something very special to remember a loved one by - much better than a fridge or boring practical thing. It must be a thing of beauty indeed to have captured your attention (and indeed remain stocked) for 20+ years

Like ceridwen if I had some frivolous money antique jewellery would be my first choice - but the valueless costume pieces left to me by both grandmothers mean the world to me too.

mardatha

Could I ask if anybody has had new windows put in - how much mess does it make ? We're having double glazing put in next wed, HA says will take 3 days. What should I expect in the way of mess?
I have hauled out the slow cooker today to make a gallon of beef stew. I will throw everything from the garden in that doesn't run away when I grab it. Need to try and eat less meat !!
PS can you eat the green leafy tops of turnips? I have too many planted.

HariboJunkie

mardatha wrote: »

PS can you eat the green leafy tops of turnips? I have too many planted.

You can Mar. They're lovely steamed. x

ceridwen

Re windows Mardatha - well, unless the plaster on your walls is "ages old and waiting to fall off at the slightest excuse" (errr...ask me how I know.....) then its pretty quick and trouble-free in my experience.

You DO need to check that "bits and pieces" like the end pieces of windowsills are the same shade of white as the rest of the windowsill in my experience - because there are many shades of white and many firms who won't bother to differentiate between them. Its not that likely a problem - but might happen (ask me how I know....). Other things they might try are if they have measured up wrongly for the size of the window - then you might spot the installers trying to "make do" by packing out the windowframes with that "gun stuff" and/or newspaper:eek:.

Basically though - its a quick/easy/non-messy job and should hopefully go okay - just check them as they go and afterwards and dont take it for granted that because a certain colour of handle has been specified that that is what will happen (I specified the silvery ones in my case - but one turned out to be white - and so I had to demand that it be changed to what I had quite clearly ordered in the first place....:mad:).

The other thing I found was that - when I had my kitchen window changed - they tried to get away with just putting the sealant down as far as the top of the coupla rows of tiles that go round that area. I spotted it - and made them take that sealant all the way down to the interior windowsill (ie in case I/some future owner changes the tiles at some point) - so they had to carefully chisel out the edge of the tiles nearest the window and then fill in with sealant. Didnt they create!!!! and said it wasnt possible - but it WAS...AND they did.

hex2

Athome1 - yes very much so re the Epsom Salts (in my 30s with arthritus). I try to manage via lifestyle changes rather than medicine and it is a big help. I just wish I had listened to Greenbee sooner!

laineyc_2

Dinner over so here is the recipe for Spanish Potatoes in SC.

Ingredients

2 tbsps olive oil
1 large red onion
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 tsp smoked paprika
1/4-1/2 tsp crushed dry red chillies
1 red pepper, diced
1 yellow pepper, diced
400g can chopped tomatoes
300mls vegetables stock
2-3 stems thyme
50g dry olives
625g baking potatoes, cut into 2.5cm chunks
salt & pepper

Heat the oil in frying pan, add the onion and fry, stirring, for 5 minutes.

Stir in the garlic, paprika,dried chillies and peppers and cook for 2 mins. Mix in the tomatoes, stock, thyme, olives, and some salt & pepper, then bring to the4 boil.

Add the potatoes to the SC, pour over the hot tomato mixture, cover with the lid and cook on high for 4-5 hours or until potaotes are tender.

I left out the olives becaus eI don't like them.