Botanical blunderings on a budget - good life starts here.

Cheery_Daff

are you being overrun by bunnies then?? Good heavens!

redsquirrel80

Hellooooo :hello: Good luck with the writing, go for it! Strangely I have never read Country Life but I did end up on their website yesterday (fantasy cottage shopping).

*hides from talk of skiing... I like snowy mountains and stuff but am scared of skiing*

Uniscots97

Pippi, still catching up with the thread (need something to keep my mind occupied, I'm still bursting into tears at the slightest little thing) but saw what you said about your son wanting to do something science-y but not knowing whether university was really for him. Glasgow Caledonian is very good and do a lot of practical as well as theory keeping it interesting. There's loads of support and if you're interested you can contact the uni and they'll put you in touch with current students of the courses that might interest him to let him see what's in store and what its really like. My course (I did Chemistry as well as my name suggests IT and Stats at the same time) they don't run now, it was superceeded by forensics as it became more popular. But there are lots of science-y subjects to do with renewable energy combined with a little engineering and the main campus in Glasgow (as well as the smaller ones) is great. The atmosphere is friendly and you can live in student accomodation on the edge of the campus or they'll put you in touch with families that will be happy to 'look after' a student (usually one or both adults is a lecturer) and rent them a room.
I found my more hands-on course opened a lot of doors for me work wise and has taken me right round the world. The help was second to none (having worked with and for other uni's since graduating).
I still have connections to the university so if you need some info let me know, I'd be happy to help.

starnac

Pippilongstocking wrote: »

TBH with ds I'm a bit worried, he's hell bent on going to university, doesn't really know what he wants to do, but I get the impression that if he doesn't go, he'll feel a failure, like its expected of him. I certainly don't expect him to go, if he wants to go then great, equally if he doesn't I just want him to find what makes him happy and go with that. I think theres far too much pressure for kids to go to uni - when it doesn't suit everyone. Well have several natters when he's back - I want him to enjoy life, so his balance of working harder to achieve whatever he fancies or not is his call really - all I can do is give him options and qualifications do give you options. His bf has left school and is half way through a blacksmithing course, loves it, best decision he ever made, he told us in the summer - happiness I think is the key to a good life.

i'm a couple of days late in reading this thread.

First of all. Congratulations to DS for getting good grades even if it's not the grades he initially wanted.

Second of all. Uni or not uni?? Do you mind if i add my two pence worth?? May give him something to think about.

I went to uni as I felt it was expected of me. Did 3 years of my degree (and passed). I graduated and left. After I left I decided to move in with my boyf (now my DH). We found and bought a house we loved. DH had a full time job but I didn't. I had the odd hours here and there in the local pub which DH's boss had found for me. We decided that as jobs in my field were few and far between, that I would apply for some jobs (any jobs) just to bring in some income to pay the mortgage. This was just a temp fix so I agreed and applied for loads of jobs in the local paper. I got one of them and 7 odd years later I am still doing the same job (in a different place due to moving countries though ). Truth is I loved it and still do mostly. Just get annoyed with the other staff tbh.

Uni was a good thing for me as I grew up a lot but it was not neccessary for my career. By the time I'd graduated I could have had an extra 3 years behind me in the field. Not all careers need a uni education.

Hope this helps otherwise it's just ramblings

MrsMoo2U

Oo lots of skiing talk here now. Glad I am in good company for not skiing. I love the snow and walking in the snow but I too am a bit scared. Did have one days lesson at Christmas and wasnt fully recovered from the accident so hurt (well that was my excuse). My perfectionism came out and I didnt like that I wasnt keeping up with others who had "never been on skis before" (yeah right).
KC. the link is to the village where I will be living and the house on the main page just before the church is erm........ MINE!!!!

Sorry Pippi, no idea re Father Ted and bunnies.......... I keep meaning to watch some episodes of that but not got round to it. I am totally with you on the care of most animals in good farms and so that side of the issue is minimal for me. I check where all of my eggs and veg come from. I was just against the transportation of animals in the main. There are a few butchers here though who are also abbatoirs so they work with local farmers and small holders to sell the meat so if I were to eat any meat that is the route I would go down. I also became fully veggie when living alone for all the reasons you have suggested (easy and cheap) but Mr C is also vegetarian so kind of kept it up again for ease (do I really want to cook two different meals?)

Pippilongstocking

Hello all not caught up yet - putting todays list up then will work out what I've done/not done

Hope you're all good. Cheri I'm with you on the meat thing!

List for my life 8th aug

Get in touch local conservation lot re student sampling - x
Find a recipe to make recycled snakes and voles from ties and socks
Empty dishwasher
Put laundry away
See garden guru just for a chat
Do crossword in gardening mag -x
Water plants
Pick tomatoes and basil for freezing, check chillis for greenfly
Pot up house plants
Take pictures of nepeta (six hills giant) and put on eBay before they take over the house, there are 70 of them, they may start a revolution when I'm unaware..........!
Phone dentist cancel cellist appointment
Look at photos and name plants for chum on fb
Email lady re fushia name on blog
Check gamer boy bank
Look into tripods for camera and price second hand lens - no money no point!
Do form for school meals
Timesheet needs done for work
Blog HM bruschetta for brekkie
Eggs to collect
Mower to shed
Move money and think, and then try pay web bill
Find a recycled/collapsable wheelbarrow on tinternet
Do a bit web work
Start on bedroom
Beds to make
Hokeycokey to do
Veggies to sort out
Pasta sauce to whizz and freeze
Find a nice sweetish cucumber relish/chutney recipe
Hm lunch - noodles and prawns -x
Email trust with reply from recycling charity for funding -x
Strain cordial start more
Hm tea
Nsd? - nope got reduced veg (carrots, cabbage, stir fry packs two types, lemon grass, and thyme), milk and a bit of ham from Mr T £5.11
Money from gardening into bank? only 30/50 made it I don't like getting paid in real money, the money fairies in your pocket eat it where did £20 go?????:eek:
Drag peedie out for walk, short one, weathers horrific
Make snake/vole eyes from recycled plastic milk carton?
Print out fun sheets for local show
Bath with lovely Rose bubbles
JUggle money to pay web lady bill and work out what money left, if any
Early night, read book

Pippilongstocking

OK banks and money malarkay

Fat controller has 111.75 left in OD and the Capital one DD is £106 on 9th/10th - oh how I love the ying and yang of money.............!
More money due in there on 11th (200) - which will cover DD's on 15th of £113 (electric and house insurance) and I can put money into other account for phone if I need to

Paid web bill (£163 - ouch, ouch ouch but we're almost done and this will generate income) from smurfette central by juggling a bit
Balance on that account now left of OD - £8.63, phone due out on 18th (£60), money due in on 18th (200) need watch that incase they don't go in/out in order iyswim

LLoyd cc - 48 left on balance - I really need work on that one asap
Capital one cc - 203 credit left on balance ditto working on here too

All a bit squeaky really, very squeaky - gave my brother £50 when he went south on friday (he's really broke) - whilst I'm mearly a size zero broke, not utterly broke, just incredibly lean in the manner of a fashion model broke. He needed more than me.

Got paid £50 for gardening but only 30 made it into the bank, I need sort out cheques or money straight into bank or just NOT spend it!

Food outgoing £222.38 for July - I need work on that I've only a budget for £200 for all food (incl dog, cleaning and tolietry) all month

Ebay I think we do need to do that today, head out of holiday mode, head into money making mode.

Bah.

At least I'm working all this week, if I'm quick and they are kind, I might get that on 15th, just looked at calender, um no I won't this months payments will already be processed, oh well something to look forward too next month.

I've food, water and a peedie dog for company I'll be fine.

Petrol will go on cc and I'm only going into town when working, but thats everyday this week. Hey ho, lifes rich tapestry right?

Greying_Pilgrim

Hey Pippi - was reading with interest your discussion of writing projects and was immediately reminded of a blogspot that I happened upon recently regarding the 'Zero-Mile Diet' that a woman in Canada was following. Actually the blogspot wasn't up to date,but i thought 'ooh that's interesting'. Anyway, I just googled it and couldn't find the actual page that I had happened upon the other week - isn't that always the way? But this is the woman and some details of her project/nursery etc are on the site.

However, in looking for, and failing to find the original page, I did find this and thought of you! Eggs, pancakes, elderflowers........ perfect! Perhaps something to try next year though if you're definitely out of elderflowers for this season.

Greying

Edit: found the page I was originally looking at it is here

Cheery_Daff

ooh, good idea GP!

Pippi - remind me what you're making sock and tie monsters for?! Do you need socks to be intact?? Because I've got, er, a few long stripey socks that have a few holes in that I can't bring myself to throw away :rotfl: :rotfl: Is arriving on the doorstep with a bag of holey socks a bit mad?!

Pippilongstocking

Greying thank you very much I'll go look right now - eta - what great blogs greying thank you - I am thinking of starting an orkney one but will think as my own one is very foody

Cheery arriving with holey socks is definitely cool