It was getting tough in 2006 and the workhouse still threatens us in 2011

grandma247

softstuff you could try a friars balsam steam bath to loosen ( don't use a plastic bowl as it sticks like the proverbial to a blanket) and a flannel wrung out in very hot water and applied to the face for pain relief. Also lavender oil rubbed on the painful areas helps, be careful of your eyes.

ceridwen

Kittie

Can you elaborate a bit purlease on "not worried about the heat cost - as the air is pretty much recycled overnight"?

Hmmm...re the air vent...maybe I'd be best leaving the little "slip" thing in the top of my (upvc) window set to "open" whilst drying goods - so there is a bit more ventilation to release steam. Possibly steam might be (to some extent) sorta condensing back onto the drying food and making it take longer than it should??:think:

edit: just checked my cooker and its lower temperature is 80C - so part of the reason why I bought a dehydrator. That is - the cooker wont go down to a very low temperature. I imagine people with Aga type cookers might be in a better position on this - but mine is a conventional fan electric one.

Now goes off trying to remember just how much electric the dehydrator uses. I know one of the reasons I bought the 5 tray one, rather than the 9? tray one, is it uses less electric. Think it about equates to leaving a couple of (conventional) lightbulbs burning - ie not an amount I would bother myself about unduly..

SDG31000

bluebag wrote: »

Lady, you are an amazing woman. God bless you.

*giggles* Can I have that in writing to show DH and the monsters please?
Thank you bluebag. I'm far from amazing, I just needed to do something to help and it was the one thing that M would agree to.

3v3- I can post a variable recipe for the brownies if that helps. Things like the amount of chocolate and cocoa powder vary depending on the quality. So with tesco value cocoa powder you need more than Green and Blacks. The basic idea is to have a very chocolately cake batter that is there to hold a huge amount of add ins together. I'll write amounts down as I make a batch and post the results later.

I have an old Candy washing machine. It's so old that it won't do a 30C wash and the quick wash takes an hour. It cost me £40. I brought it from a classified ad in the local paper about 2 1/2 years ago now and I haven't had any problems with it at all. Fingers crossed it carries on working for many years to come.
I completely agree that the quality of electrical appliances has gone down hill. Manufacturers are taking advantage of the fact that this is now considered a disposable society and that the attitude has changed from "I expect this to last for 20 years" to "I expect it to break" or "I'm tired of this one/it's the wrong colour, lets dump it and get a new one".

kidcat

3v3 wrote: »

*puts Ozpig on wish list*

Me too!!:D

Igamogam

In defence of Bosch............. I keep coming back to Bosch as have always found reliable and long lasting. My DW WM and large FF and until recently the toaster all Bosch. The toaster we had for 10 years :eek: and when it gave the gohst I felt I should have given it a burial rather than put in recycle as a recogntion for long service ( OH removed plug 'because it might be useful' ) Yes it was that old - no moulded on plug

I am willing my other freezers ( supposed to be friost free and are not) to give up so I can get another frost free Bosch

BTW I have a 27 year old H*nry vaccum cleaner still going strong - bloomin great

Softstuff

grandma247 wrote: »

softstuff you could try a friars balsam steam bath to loosen ( don't use a plastic bowl as it sticks like the proverbial to a blanket) and a flannel wrung out in very hot water and applied to the face for pain relief. Also lavender oil rubbed on the painful areas helps, be careful of your eyes.

Thanks for the advice, and I'd normally do a nice steam bath (I tend to use tiger balm for everything!), but I'm not congested, that's the weird bit. I think I'm just particularly allergic to a local plant going wild with the pollen, and it's playing havoc with me in a few ways. Haven't been here at home previously to experience it because in earlier years during these months I've been working 12-16 hour days in filtered air-con!

Thanks for thinking of me, I'm coming along better now just feel a bit knackered and a bit of a wuss!

the_cat

Re washing machines.... I have just bought a new one too

I went in the end for a 'Fagor'. According to the salesman it is made by Bosch. It is cheaper and presumably uses some cheaper quality components but comes with a free 5 year parts and labour guarantee.

I've not had it long enough yet to offer an opinion, but so far, so good!

ceridwen

Softstuff wrote: »

Thanks for the advice, and I'd normally do a nice steam bath (I tend to use tiger balm for everything!), but I'm not congested, that's the weird bit. I think I'm just particularly allergic to a local plant going wild with the pollen, and it's playing havoc with me in a few ways. Haven't been here at home previously to experience it because in earlier years during these months I've been working 12-16 hour days in filtered air-con!

Thanks for thinking of me, I'm coming along better now just feel a bit knackered and a bit of a wuss!

If it is pollen from a local plant then, as I understand it, its a good idea to regularly eat local honey (as it sorta "immunises" the system against this).

Have never tried this out - as I dont have that sorta problem -errr...but then these days I often eat local honey by choice anyway...so how would I know?:rotfl:

Re machinery - I wont be buying anything from Zanussi any more - I had a Zanussi washing machine for many years without so much as a repair, so I replaced my cooker with a Zanussi one. Big mistake! Its about 2 years old now and I can see various signs of "wear and tear" and not having been made properly in the first place - and, in wondering why, I was told that Zanussi is now an Italian firm, whereas it was based in Switzerland when I bought the washing machine. That was explanation enough for me - as I reckon on German and Swiss products basically - but ones from other countries....

ifonlyitwaseasier

kidcat wrote: »

Me too!!:D

me three

gailey_2

Aww the great appliance debate .
when I spoke to the man in the shop he seemed really nice and honest.

he said the same thing as drier repair man 2years ago that steer clear on indesit/hotpoint they same company and go for tricity bendix,zannussi, boshe or miele unfortunatly all the more expensive brands.

So Ichose to purchase from john lewis as free 2 year guarantee.
its making funny noises still in period so man coming to look next week.
its a zanussi and cost us £199 and is used about 3times a day! unless its sunny.

Our washing machine was cheapest one we could find 3years ago and is definatly dying.
shopsaid of bearings even with labour coststhe manufactueres make spare parts so expensive its cheaper just to buy anew one that appliances not made to last unless you prepared to spend the money.

mentioned liked the look of the unpriced one in window he laughed said expensive tastes its the new samsung bubble 600 rrp would sell to me as display model for 500 delivered, 2years gurantee he also had another samsung bigger drum for 350 always think tellys forget they did washing machines.

We got married 7years ago got given2toasters.

The first more expensive one lasted 4years we now on the 2nd cheaper one.

kettles approx2year lifespan we dont have gas hobs sadly so wouldentopt for the cool whistling ones.

our dyson 7years old still working they come with 5year guarantees our cheapy argos hoover less than a year!

I think we technology not worth spending fortune as changes so much so

phones/tvs./cameras ect but I expect my everyday electrical appliances to be more hard wearing!

our fridge is 6years old and chest freezer 7years,