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

Hobsons_Choice

maryb wrote: »

Well I had several Mr T carrier bags in the shed at the allotment which I had taken up last year (because I always forget to take one with me when I just 'pop up') and when I tried to use them this year they turned to confetti. Not sure how long they would take to completely decompose but it looked as if they would do. If that lot have stopped stocking them I suspect it's a convenient excuse for a cost saving decision

I had the same sort of thing maryb. Used Mr T's carriers to wrap some stuff before storing in the garage, and they turned to "ash" as well. So ... they say these aren't biodegradable? We always take our own bags to the supermarket but use one or two to put meat etc in before packing in our own. These are re-used as bin liners. Like other posters, I can't remember the last time I bought bin liners! If they start charging I'll have to buy them though, extra expense and no help to the environment whatsoever (despite what the Daily Mail say)! Why can't the supermarkets use paper sacks, like they do in the USA (and get folk to pack them and load them into your boot.....yeah, right).

tessie_bear

i am also a user of plastic bags for kitchen bin liners...if i didnt use them i would buy plastic bin liners....that said i hate to see the bags caught in trees....i do find the lakeland bags excellent to use as bags for life...very strong

redlady_1

haha Mary....I asked the OH to ask a girl in there and they said they didnt know what they were. I have allspice so that may work then so thanks very much.

hex2

Ceridwen, my village co-op are distinctly disapproving if you dare ask for bags! They issue one and scowl a lot.

I am thinking about lighting a fire too (Midlands) but I dont want to break into my collection of wombled kindling just yet. We have been for a walk most evenings and have taken a rucksack to fill with the wind fall sticks. Have also found a long run of cherry plums, a nice wild eating apple tree and lots more cobnuts. I am turning into my parents!

greenbee

I've lit the fire... But I have a shed full of kindling from pruning the apple tree earlier this year. And I'm still on last year's logs. I have a log delivery booked for when the rain stops. And I have major surgery booked for the apple tree and next door's ex-christmas tree and plum tree (I pay and get to keep the wood as they can't afford it, but as they shade my garden it's in my interests). So if you're down this way hex, feel free to drop in and pick up a boot load of twigs!

lizzyb1812

My local Co-op charges for bags - several different sizes/types of bags at different prices. Different geographical Co-op regions may have different policies rather than there being a national policy.

I use the "charity" bags that get pushed through the letterbox as swingbin liners. The clean recycling bin has had the same liner for months. The bags are from commercial companies that donate just a small part of their profits to charities - I take my cs stuff to a specific shop that I have a Gift Aid reference for.

Oh boy has it rained here this afternoon - and it's just started again. The drains at the end of the road can't cope with much rain despite the water company trying to improve things so that end is flooded - glad I live at the other end. Most combining has finished here but there are a few sorry looking fields that have been left - they stand no chance of a recovery after today.

The "hash" based sauce came out very well - the flavour was a bit more vegetabley than usual so I'd increase the amount of tomatoes next time, but it was still good with couscous and sausages tonight. There's some couscous left over as well so that's breakfast sorted too.

toottifrootti

mardatha wrote: »

Re the fuss over plastic carrier bags... can I ask what you all use to wrap your grotty smelly rubbish in ? If you do away with plastic bags ? I put mine on the fire if it's safe but some things are not. If you don't live anywhere near a newsagents and never buy a paper then what do you wrap rubbish in ?

mardatha we use the biodegradable food caddy bags - food caddy issued by council and you can use newspaper - the caddy bags are biodegradable - made of corn starch i think????

oldtractor

my fire is lit too. chilly here in very rural midlands.I'm sat on the sofa with a fleecy blanket over my knees.

Frugalista

hex2 wrote: »

Ceridwen, my village co-op are distinctly disapproving if you dare ask for bags! They issue one and scowl a lot.

Our local Co-Op is the same .

jamanda

Oh my! Doesn't one thing lead to another..

A couple of weeks ago I bought fleeces to line my kitchen curtains. On taking the curtains down I thought the kitchen looked dingy so decided to decorate. Then ended up buying new light fittings for it (4).

I've had this week off work and spent the entire time scrubbing, cleaning and painting. I've just finished and it is Thursday. The kitchen is still stacked up in the front room (not fitted - have open dressers, so huge job to do everything at once). I've never stopped for the past fortnight and have to spend tomorrow putting the kitchen back together, which obviously brings us to Friday. No - it doesn't - it will bring us to Saturday by the time I've done it.

I won't mention sticking my shod foot in the bowl of soapy water while I was balancing on the draining board to paint! (Or what I said).

How stupid can I get, eh? I've taken all this on, at the exact time I'm having to salt beans, process tomatoes, bottle plums, do something with the apples - not started yet, tie up the onions (lots, because we keep my parents going all year too).

And I still haven't lined the b****y curtains! Actually, I haven't even ironed the damn things yet.

I wish to put in a formal request for you lot to stop motivating me indiscriminately. I'm a very, very tired OS'er and I'm too old to be hopping round the kitchen with my foot in a bowl of water, a paint tray in one hand and a roller in the other.

Now stop it.