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

maryb

Winged One

Good luck with the new au pair. Because I had a six year gap between my two my au pair period lasted many years. I sometimes think that when I die they will put in my obituary " She taught half the 18 year olds in Eastern Europe how to iron a shirt" Except that I had to start with teaching most of them how to use the washing machine. Tip: I always said they could use the washing machine whenever they wanted to but they had to wash their stuff separately. Cheap European T shirts are not colour-fast, they are usually black, and she will usually decide on Friday morning that she wants to wear it going out that night and will pop it in with a hot wash of whites.......

The key to keeping your sanity is to ask yourself just how useful you would really expect your own daughter to be if she had left school and was helping round the house to earn her board and lodging while she goes to college. The only difference is they tend not to answer back quite so much (you still get the rolled eyes, though)

I use old teatowels cut in half instead of paper towels - they save so much paper waste. And I colour code my cloths. Each bathroom/loo has a stash of microfibre cloths so that I can easily do a Flylady swish and swipe. Apart from that, in the kitchen I use pink cloths for cleaning worktops/food prep surfaces and blue cloths for dirty jobs like wiping the floor. That's because even DH can remember 'Blue for the loo and pink for the sink'

smileyt_2

Jackieglasgow and Ginnyknit, thank you for your sympathy. I have brought Mavis Hen home with some pain relief, and she is now eating by herself (I have had to tube feed her for a few days) so it is obviously working. Basically she has tumours on her nerves so it is terminal, but I will let her have a couple of days on the pain relief to have a last henny fling before I take her back to the vets Oh dear I'm filling up as I type this, I am so soft. Her nickname is Mavis Shouty Mouth because she was always 'singing' (LOUDLY!!) but she hasn't sung for a while now and I guess she won't again.
Anyway, at least she's had two years of freedom out of the battery farm and experienced sunshine, and snow (lots of snow ..... :rotfl:)

On the plus side, I got three loaves of bread whoopsied down to 10p each at Asda; two loaves are in the freezer and one is being used, some of it is already in my tummy ...

Going to look for thermal linings for my curtains for winter. I can't use any less gas than I already do or it won't be worth having a supply at all!

I hope people are ok, I often lurk on here but don't post much but I do think about your situations. I just wanted to warn people that chickens are not the money-saving panacea they are cracked up to be unless you are hard of heart or have exceptionally healthy chooks! Although the fresh eggs are fantastic, and the hens are so pleased with themselves when they lay and like to let everyone know about it :rotfl:

flowertotmum

Hi all..am loving the chat about knickers:rotfl:..i wash mine and chuck them when they have give up the ghost..i put them in a little bag and hide them in the bottom of the bin:o..i have a thing for lacey knickers..:o use hubbys old boxers for cleaning:D..should have seen his face when i cleaned the windows with his pants:rotfl::rotfl:;)..he was soo embarrassed..thinking the world and his wife were looking at his pants:D..
Well it went all black and very thundery earlier..6 drops on the window..6 drops and that was it:mad:..
I took the plunge earlier and made a swiss roll...it actually turned out ok..it all disappeared at tea-time.I was very happy..simple things make me smile.
I was a little naughty earlier and bought some fabric off ebay,it will make some lovely cushions ,napkins or bunting..or maybe the lot..its lovely,pink with lovely flowers all over..ahhh simple things:o.
Well i do think all this talk of preparing for winter is good, i know its coming up to summer but best to plan ahead.Hubby has been weather-proofing the house,checking all the seals on windows and doors,painting windowsills ,getting the sheds cleared out and organized for storage..got 2 heaters all cleaned up and ready for use in the house if worst comes to worst,i am looking in CS for spare blankets and those all in one pj's for tots..big wooly jumpers too..they seem to be cheaper off season:D..i am definately freezing and preserving almost everything i can this year..not going to get caught off guard this year.
Jediteacher..this is going back 24yrs..but i got baby milk on prescription..my dd was allergic to breast milk and normal baby milk..we ended up giving her soya milk:eek:..horrendously expensive and very hard to find back then..poor baba..i do think baby milk is too expensive and the government should offer all parents a discount on it..please have a rest and chill out hun:)..

Sammy-kaye..is this the same HV you had before?..judging by the piccie of your tot imo i think she is fine and thriving bless her...you do what you feel is right...
love to you all
ftm

born_blonde

Good luck smileyt,
I'm not very sensible when it comes to animals.
I found a very small Bunny on the camp site. It was ill, just lying there, so rather than do the sensible thing I found it a shady corner and used a syringe to give it a drink. I knew it was going to die but at least not thirsty!

smileyt_2

born_blonde wrote: »

Good luck smileyt,
I'm not very sensible when it comes to animals.
I found a very small Bunny on the camp site. It was ill, just lying there, so rather than do the sensible thing I found it a shady corner and used a syringe to give it a drink. I knew it was going to die but at least not thirsty!

Sometimes being sensible is over-rated .... compassion also counts!

scottishminnie

My knickers tend to be the thong variety - not much use for cleaning once they're done but I have found that old socks (especially hubbies sports socks) are ideal as dusters. The great thing is you can get your hand inside them and polish furiously like a maniac.:D

My big success today was my lunch - last week I spotted a colleague with a veggie wrap from Pret a Manger at lunchtime and it looked fab so last night I defrosted some tortilla wraps I had in the freezer, chopped up some cucumber, spring onions, tomato and lettuce into a tupperware dish and before I left this morning I added some Ceasar Salad dressing and took it off to work with one of the tortillas. At lunchtime I tipped the salad mix into the tortilla and wrapped it - very tasty. Think I'll be doing the same tomorrow - I may even grate a little cheese to go on top.

I was a bit wary of the wraps - although they've been frozen I've obviously had them a while (and moved them between freezers when defrosting) - best before date May 2009:eek: Well I've had no adverse effects so I'll be eating the rest too!

Annie56

Hi all

just had the most spectacular thunder and lightning and rain here in Staffordshire, road outside is flooded and the new guttering couldnt cope with the downpour, Montys just come in and said all the baskets are ruined:eek: but repairable hes off down the paddock with the big torch to check on the more tender veggies, hope there ok they looked lovley and upright this morning, well the rains here for certain its star:eek:ted again and the lightenings right over us now...looks like some hard work in the mornng when its all gotten dry.Mother Natures a funny women she must be in a foul mood tonight with the amount of hammering shes given the skies over our cottage.

Lifes ok, Montys enjoying his new job, the other folkies sharing the paddock are all up and running, and the communal barn is looking brilliant, all the works paid off and its somewhere where we can all meet and have a chatter and wash our hands go to the loo etc...am really proud we chose to share the couple of acres out the back ever and everyone is so friendly and chatty and help one another, real lovley crowd of friends first and veggie growers second.

Ive got a new job share, local community midwife, 3 days one week 2 the other week, feel like Ive not worked for years the whole going back to work scenario is frightening, but Im sure it wil all fall into place again after a few weeks.

We are seriously having to watch the pennies/budgeting and the veggie/food growing is going to make a big impact in helping us manage this year, am busy saving up for a new large chest freezer.

Right had better go make Monty a cuppa hot choccie as the rains coming down again hope our seedlings have survived the battering though the rain is very welcome just not so much all at once.

Hope your all keeping well and doing frugal productive things.

Best wishes

Annie Lucy and Monty xx:D

sammy_kaye18

flowertotmum wrote: »

Sammy-kaye..is this the same HV you had before?..judging by the piccie of your tot imo i think she is fine and thriving bless her...you do what you feel is right...
love to you all
ftm

Yes its same HV from hell! :mad::mad: silly bat.

Well have just had a horrible phone call and found out that.......not one but TWO of my great aunts have passed away today within hours of each other - one due to Alzheimer at the ripe old age of 93, and the other was 99. I have had a third this month too - and we are only on the 9th! The third was a family friend who just seemingly dropped dead for no reason at the age of 51. :(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:( so trying to preoccupy myself with stuff basically.

So have played with holly
read Ben a book to bed
and now sat trying to save money on my shopping I'm due to do tomorrow.

So far have put it in my supermarket and gotten it to £121.20.

Have swapped a few things over like

CHOOBS (bens lunchbox)
WERE 2 x £1 = £2 for 12 (6 choobs per pack)
SWAPPED FOR 2 for 1 deal Petit Filous
9 pouches per pack = £1 x 2 = 18 for £1
SAVING = £1

MALT LOAF
WAS £1.19 x 2 = £2.38
SWAPPED FOR regular malt loaf
2 x 49p = 98p
SAVING = £1.40

QUAVERS
14pks = £2.99
SWAPPED FOR Coop deal
14pks for £1.82
SAVING = £1.17

HOTDOGS
5 tins of 8 hotdogs = 47p x 5 = £2.35
SWAPPED FOR 2 for 1 deal on ye olde oak hotdogs
6 tins x 88p should be £5.28 = offer price is £2.64
SAVING = £2.64

TOTAL SAVNGS FOR THESE SWAPS = £6.21

Ok so its not loads but its brought my shopping down to £114.99 and then I found I have £6 worth of vouchers too so thats delivery sorted (£3 for late night) as well. it takes me down to £111.99 - if only i can find a money off for over £100 spend voucher now!

off to hunt!

sammy_kaye18

Annie56 wrote: »

Hi all

just had the most spectacular thunder and lightning and rain here in Staffordshire, road outside is flooded and the new guttering couldnt cope with the downpour, Montys just come in and said all the baskets are ruined:eek: but repairable hes off down the paddock with the big torch to check on the more tender veggies, hope there ok they looked lovley and upright this morning, well the rains here for certain its star:eek:ted again and the lightenings right over us now...looks like some hard work in the mornng when its all gotten dry.Mother Natures a funny women she must be in a foul mood tonight with the amount of hammering shes given the skies over our cottage.

Lifes ok, Montys enjoying his new job, the other folkies sharing the paddock are all up and running, and the communal barn is looking brilliant, all the works paid off and its somewhere where we can all meet and have a chatter and wash our hands go to the loo etc...am really proud we chose to share the couple of acres out the back ever and everyone is so friendly and chatty and help one another, real lovley crowd of friends first and veggie growers second.

Ive got a new job share, local community midwife, 3 days one week 2 the other week, feel like Ive not worked for years the whole going back to work scenario is frightening, but Im sure it wil all fall into place again after a few weeks.

We are seriously having to watch the pennies/budgeting and the veggie/food growing is going to make a big impact in helping us manage this year, am busy saving up for a new large chest freezer.

Right had better go make Monty a cuppa hot choccie as the rains coming down again hope our seedlings have survived the battering though the rain is very welcome just not so much all at once.

Hope your all keeping well and doing frugal productive things.

Best wishes

Annie Lucy and Monty xx:D

That must be the weather that we've had since 11am this morning - if it is - it gets worse annie so be careful! :eek: not nice - thankfully all calm and quiet here now!

juliethemuse

urrg i couldnt use old knickers for dusting even tho they would be clean, well hopefully:rotfl: but i dont dust anyway because as victor meldrew said you are after all just rearranging it, just flicking it somewhere else,
havent lost any weight this week , i could cry, but i wont, i am a bit puzzled though,i mean i have been so good, oh well , must try harder,