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

Softstuff

Oh Gawd we've been and done it today. I'll be struck out of the old style clan and have my safety pin confiscated. We went shopping. And boy did we ever.

In my defence hubby had had a bonus from work. And some overtime (rather a lot of it) And normally we put it straight on the mortgage and that's that (which probably explains why much in our house is falling apart). This time we put 3/5 on the mortgage, keeping 2/5 to replace a few broken things.

Today we went out and spent the 2/5. At once.

New vacuum (some may remember why this was necessary), new sofa, new curtains and curtain rail, new duvet cover, new sheets.

Yikes.

When all this is together and delivered it'll feel like we live in a different home.

We got a lot half price, some 30% off. But we're not done yet, and will also replace the toilet cistern, a desk chair and some outdoor furniture. We didn't buy this much when we moved in :rotfl:

So I understand if I'm banished. But if it helps we'll be eating from the storecupboard for the next fortnight

mardatha

Heavy rain here, not gardening in that
Chicken's food keeps getting ruined and the RV wont or cant make a shelter for it. He has no interest in them, doesn't like them. I will need to rig up something myself.
The girls on my American forums are so busy they make me tired reading. Bottling canning dehydrating. pints of this and quarts of that. What a lot of work they do. And always while feeding/watering animals and gardens in 100 degree heat in Texas. I would've loved that when I was younger, but now it turns me pale!
Son sounded a wee bit more like himself on the phone yesterday so hopefully getting there.
I dono what fat hen is, need to go and google.

HariboJunkie

mardatha wrote: »

Chicken's food keeps getting ruined and the RV wont or cant make a shelter for it.

I keep ours in an old fermenting bin with a lid and the corn in a plastic lidded dustbin. That way it's safe from water and rats. If you don't have anything suitable you could ask on freecycle.

GreyQueen

Only teasing, hun, only teasing.

Well done on getting such good percentages off your shopping and I'm glad the bonus and overtime will go to help ease the Mass Appliance Death syndrome afflicting your apartment. Sometimes, life just does that to you, and you have to dip into the ole pocket and part with the readies.

Doesn't it feel weird to buy several things at once when you're used to scraping along the bottom? Weird and very slightly discombobulating.

I think that you'll have to do some remedial homework before you can have your safety pin back, tho. Your mission, should you choose to accept it:

1. Knit a bowl of museli.

2. Make a macrame-type wallhanging from laddered hosiery and found objects from the back yard.

3. Post a cordon bleu recipe for mice!

((At this point GQ starts giggling and runs away to hide.....))

lizzyb1812

Morning all

The forecast rainy weather has arrived and I'm waiting for a break in the rain so I can get out with the dog.

Yet more broad beans were delivered by my lovely neighbour yesterday afternoon - now podded, blanched and in the freezer. He seems to feed half the street! We all have "allotment" plots behind our back gardens - the houses were built in 1924 so I assume these third gardens were meant to be allotments. He has his own plot and he uses the ones on either side of his as well. He can't stand to sit still and is always working or walking - he's in his seventies and his stamina puts me to shame

Still have plenty to do indoors - the weather has reminded me that I haven't made removable linings for my curtains yet despite having had the fabric for ages, and I need to put a curtain pole over the front door so I can hang the door curtain that I made about 3 months ago!

Will check in again later. For anyone who needs a bit of a lift have a look here:

Identify garden bird please. (1 2)

Softstuff

GreyQueen wrote: »

Doesn't it feel weird to buy several things at once when you're used to scraping along the bottom? Weird and very slightly discombobulating.

You wouldn't believe how shocked and odd I'm feeling right now. We have the vac sat in front of us in the front room, and we're sat on the sofa opposite just staring at it. I knocked on the door of our neighbour and dragged him round to see it too. It's a thing of beauty, and I'm struggling to believe it's mine.

All I can say is thank the lord the sofa will take 6-7 weeks to arrive, because it'll take me that long to get over the rest of the purchases, and to accept that they belong to us.

It'll be another week until the curtains go up, because we're waiting on an extendy bit for the curtain rod. So we're easing into our new luxury slowly (curtains were surprisingly reasonable, for a 3m x 2.2m window we paid about 70 quid, and they're thick blackout ones).

GreyQueen wrote: »

I think that you'll have to do some remedial homework before you can have your safety pin back, tho. Your mission, should you choose to accept it:

1. Knit a bowl of museli.

2. Make a macrame-type wallhanging from laddered hosiery and found objects from the back yard.

3. Post a cordon bleu recipe for mice!

((At this point GQ starts giggling and runs away to hide.....))

I can't knit or do macrame, so here it is:

Mice meatballs (also works well with lamb)

250g mice mince (or lamb)
250g breadcrumbs
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp paprika
pinch salt and pepper
1 egg
1 dessert spoon tomato puree

Mix together, form balls, grill until browned. Serve with salad.

Butterfly_Brain

GreyQueen wrote: »

Only teasing, hun, only teasing.

Well done on getting such good percentages off your shopping and I'm glad the bonus and overtime will go to help ease the Mass Appliance Death syndrome afflicting your apartment. Sometimes, life just does that to you, and you have to dip into the ole pocket and part with the readies.

Doesn't it feel weird to buy several things at once when you're used to scraping along the bottom? Weird and very slightly discombobulating.

I think that you'll have to do some remedial homework before you can have your safety pin back, tho. Your mission, should you choose to accept it:

1. Knit a bowl of museli.

2. Make a macrame-type wallhanging from laddered hosiery and found objects from the back yard.

3. Post a cordon bleu recipe for mice!

((At this point GQ starts giggling and runs away to hide.....))

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:GQ you do make me chuckle x

Rowan9

HariboJunkie wrote: »

Bless you for asking :A. Sadly not. Other horrible things have happened this week which have made me realise that it really is only money and our health is more important than anything.
I'll keep on chasing next week, including filing another small claim at court. :cool:

QUOTE]

Really sorry to hear that. Yes it's only money but it's YOUR money and is in other people's hands, so I will send up good wishes for its transfer to the proper place . Hope things ease for you.

Rain today but it's been off for a while. Took dogs into park and threw the ball up in the air for the younger one as she was frisky - she has a damaged claw though so can't chase as she skids to a halt. Ho hum she was a bit limpy when we came in although i'd tried more gentle play. She's good at brain games like find the (DH's smelly) sock so that tires her out.
Out last night for some drinks with DD and her BF. Didn't eat all the pasta before we went out so I'll make some more sauce and have it tonight. Nice and easy.
Been watching bits of the golf and really enjoying it.
Have good days all and hope you get some sunshine.
W

JosieJump

I've just about managed to keep on top of reading the thread this week as I've been really busy. However, DD is at a cadet camping weekend so no rushing around delivering and collecting her from activities today so it's a lazy day (might blitz her bedroom later if I'm brave enough):)

Went for our yearly camping weekend with friends last week and popped in to see mum - another vacuum cleaner saga! DH bought it for her when he was in gainful employment and used to have to visit an office near to the Arg0s clearance warehouse. It's a B0sch and was £140 full price but he got it for £30! A couple of weeks ago my Sister said that it was getting hot so BIL put it in the shed and took mum out to get a new one. DH retrived it from the shed and we squeezed it in the car and brought it home. DH had a quick look and thinks that if we wash the filter it will be OK so he can do that and put it in the local free ads.

Found a great buy in the local 99p shop - 1 litre tubs of SCP(?) peaches. I only bought 5 as it was a fair walk back to the car. Checked the price in Sainsbugs and they were £2.12.

Off to Wilk0s now to buy (hopefully cheap) bird feeders/food as our next door neighbours who used to have loads of feeders moved out yesterday and I woke up in the middle of the night worrying about the baby birds starving! I think I owe them as they ate all my lily beetles!

Have a good MS weekend everyone!

VJsmum

GreyQueen wrote: »

Will see if I can get to see the new Harry Potter this weekend with a mate, assuming the motion picture houses of ole Provincial City are not mobbed to pieces. It'll be my wee treat- and so low-calorie!

Laters GQ x

I saw it yesterday - fantastic, but not low calorie as DD had a bucket of popcorn that i kept dipping into - even though i don't really like it.

GreyQueen wrote: »

Weird and very slightly discombobulating.

I love the word discomboblating thanks for reintroducing it!

Wow, what a busy day - up at 5.45 as family have gone off to various theme parks - they must be soaked. DOne 2 loads of washing, 1 load of ironing and emptied and restacked dishwasher. Stripped a bed, cooked a fried breakfast for DS. Going for an 8 mile run (or walk as most people would call it , hopefully a bit of running will creep in), got to do the weekly shop, but thought i'd go later on in the hope of whoopsies. And i may start packing for my hols.

A nice restful day off.:p