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

ginnyknit

Well done Judy on the new job :beer:

Welcome Mrs Chip, you have come to a very friendly place.:)

I have a butternut squash growing!!! its in a plant pot on my table outside and is the size of erm... a marble! but its a squash. As for slugs I went out last night armed with the salt pot and killed 20 huge ones. they are making my life a misery - last night they got my broad beans, they are so big they broke the stem of one plant. Im flipping fed up of trying with my garden but cannot give up because thats not what I do :mad:

Popped in Mr M when I took Dgs to meet his Mummy and bought loads of frozen party foods - mini eclairs, toad in the hole and some chocolate pots plus 4 other packs, I have the kids coming round tomorrow for a family party and thought I would splash out as I don't want to be worn out, they only cost 9.00 and theres a couple of shelves full in the freezer so not too bad. Just going to add chips and HM salsa and I am done.

I bought myself a new PC today as I could not last if I didnt get to catch up with you guys every day. A friend of DD's built me a reconditioned unit for 50 quid , so the bank actually paid for it from the compensation they kindly gave me - win, win situation. Its ssooo quiet and fast its like a whole new world.

ceridwen

Mrs_Chip wrote: »

Jamanda - I am trying to make everything exciting challenge, and some days I do succeed, but I am also feeling overwhelmed by it all - we are achieving our ambitions, but not quite in the circs we would have chosen, so sometimes it is a bit difficult to remain positive. But I suspect we needed this particular kick to get us off our complacent backsides, so I am hoping I can banish negative thoughts back into the dark place they came from.

Putting on my whites and parading around the living room helps!:rotfl:

Hmmm...well...personally I regard it as a "learning experience" to find out how to do it all Old Style and a "doing my bit" experience to then share what I've learnt ...

We will all differ on what motivates us I guess - and we have to tap into our own personal motivations. The "learning factor" is the one that does it for me - as I'm an information jackdaw for the type of thing that interests me personally (in a parallel universe I'm the typical "absentminded academic" surrounded by books conducting numerous experiments and digesting literature on obscure subjects - so in this one I experiment like mad with O.S. ideas - LOL).

So - I guess its a case of work out what your own personal motivation is for all this - maybe a common one of "cheap and cheerful and beat the supermarkets at their own game" is yours (its one that works for a lot of people). Maybe its a sorta sense of "community" from having found a lot of peeps in the same position to compare notes with (that also works for a lot of peeps). Maybe its the one I have personally of a "learning experience" and "doing my bit" - thats the one that works for me. Maybe you'll come up with one I havent even thought of?:)

ceridwen

Athome1 wrote: »

Hi all

Have just got to page 7 but can't wait to ask my question about using an old fridge for storing apples. Am I right in assuming that the apples stop the fridge from smelling?(normally fridges smell vile if you turn them off and shut the door) Or do you not switch it off at all? Sorry, sounds like a numpty question now I've re-read it:o

Hmmm....well I've not done this personally. Where I've read about old fridges being used - they've often been buried in the ground first and then used as a cold store to store food in. So - I dont know whether the peeps concerned have done anything special to these fridges first before using them...but the fridges concerned HAVE definitely been switched off and left outside somewhere.

stiltwalker

ginnyknit wrote: »

I have a butternut squash growing!!! its in a plant pot on my table outside and is the size of erm... a marble! but its a squash. As for slugs I went out last night armed with the salt pot and killed 20 huge ones. they are making my life a misery - last night they got my broad beans, they are so big they broke the stem of one plant. Im flipping fed up of trying with my garden but cannot give up because thats not what I do :mad:

I find a pair of scissors deeply satisfying! Though heaven knows what the neighbours think of the loony walking bent double around the garden muttering things like 'that's the last lettuce seedling you're getting you little b******!' My Dad also treats me to a couple of batches of nematodes a year which is a big help when I am first planting out. Think they've been particularly bad this year though that might just be because I couldn't bend over earlier this year as was too pregnant!

Mrs_Chip

Hi Ceridwen

Perhaps I didn't explain myself too well - the OS side of all this is great, really it's going back to my roots, it has made me feel grounded for the first time in years. I am an information magpie - if I am going to do something I gather all the info I need to do it well (setting very high standards for myself, which does tend to put the pressure on a bit!) - if I can share anything I have learned, all the better!

It's the massive life changes that the OH and I are about to have which is causing the panic - a lot is riding on me being able to put my money where my mouth is and actually make our business work, I'm not sufficiently confident in my abilities to trust it will be fine!

ceridwen

Mrs_Chip wrote: »

Hi Ceridwen

Perhaps I didn't explain myself too well - the OS side of all this is great, really it's going back to my roots, it has made me feel grounded for the first time in years. I am an information magpie - if I am going to do something I gather all the info I need to do it well (setting very high standards for myself, which does tend to put the pressure on a bit!) - if I can share anything I have learned, all the better!

It's the massive life changes that the OH and I are about to have which is causing the panic - a lot is riding on me being able to put my money where my mouth is and actually make our business work, I'm not sufficiently confident in my abilities to trust it will be fine!

Well..fingers crossed for you that it will work out well....and welcome to the thread.....and congratulations on the attitude of "if I can share anything I have learned:):T".

I wish you well that it will " be all good" for you.

Mrs_Chip

Thanks :beer: - At least I know if it all goes pear-shaped we wont starve, there's too much good advice here for that to happen!

[Deleted User]

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smileyt_2

Aaargh I have "store-cupboard itch" ie the need to have a full store-cupboard immediately, right now! :rotfl:I can smell autumn in the air . Too soon, too soon!

I am going to a car boot sale tomorrow and will be on the look out for any storage jars I can find. Will try not to come back with assorted tat. It's the last one for this summer on this particular site so I'm hoping to find some bargains as maybe people will be selling at silly prices just to get shut. If anyone's in Manchester, it's at Hough End Playing Fields on Princess Road from 8am until noon.

Had to take one of my dogs to the vet this afternoon. He has a sprained leg but is in a lot of pain so it's rest and painkillers for him. It has been an expensive week! Luckily I got my council tax bill and they owe me £100 so that will cover the vet's bills when it is refunded. It comes in and it goes out ..... It's a four-bus journey and is usually £1 each bus for dogs, but two of the bus-drivers were obviously dog-lovers and let Bruno on for free.:T I was very proud of him because one of the passengers commented on what a good dog he is. And even though the vet poked, prodded and manipulated his sore leg, he just buried his head in my tummy and didn't growl once He's a darling.

Well, I will stop gushing about my lovely dog. I have to go and give henny her medicine and check how she is before she goes to bed. Then I will have a game of squeaky ball with my other dog as a reward for her patience in letting me trolley around the internet for a while .... Have a good weekend, all.

oldtractor

I love this thread. Where can I buy a fermenting crock please?