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

bluebag

ginnyknit wrote: »

We often have mystery meals as I forget to label them, usually chilli and pasta cos I think its spag bol :rotfl:

Oh yes, we have had that a few times too! I found a good way to label freezer stuff now though, I double bag it with the label between the two layers.

[Deleted User]

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redlady_1

Don't forget the power cuts too! And the rubbish being left uncollected.

I remember fixing my interest rate on my mortgage at 13.3% and that was good. :eek::eek:

I agree with Kittie...the government, etc are trying to put off the inevitable because it will be a proper mess when the cards fall.

On another note, it has been raining here all night - and the cellar is holding!!!!!! :D:T:T I think it could do with another coat of Vandex but I am more or less there. Finally, a mainly dry cellar with a few damp patches. Just call me Vandex Queen. :rotfl::A

ceridwen

Hmmm...I dunnoe about the "something deeply satisfying about putting head down and getting through it". IMO - there is an element of "I can handle things like this better than a lot could <polish lapel badge smilie>" - but, personally, I'd rather concentrate on other things and not have to live in "protective mode".

Guess thats a matter of temperament - but, as a worrywart, and someone who has put rather a lot of effort into getting as far as I have to date then I do worry about anything that threatens what I have and would rather not focus on having to "throw hoops of steel protective barriers" round myself and hope I've been able to put up enough to be invulnerable.

But - I agree that "boom times" won't come again - certainly not in my lifetime (not that "boom or bust" has ever made much difference when trying to live as cheaply as reasonably possible and any "surplus" has always gone to "bring in and shore up resources - make those hoops of steel as strong as possible").

One thing I would say is never to regard any "surplus" one ever has as "Oh..lovely...do what I want with it" but always regard it as first and foremost for building up resources/strengthening and protecting.

EDIT: Talking about the Government trying to "put off the inevitable" - there has been a lot of "patching up of holes" going on for quite some time - both in Britain and more widely. A little recent "horror thought" is it looks like the Government is now trying to work out how the unemployed can be kept as busy hunting jobs as they would be if they had jobs. Well - there ARE only so many jobs to ask for - so how do they propose to do that? Also - if someone is on benefit level income then its very necessary to have extra time available for shopping around/making from scratch/walking everywhere/etc/etc (ie all those things one does to save money if there isnt enough money - memories of having walked out of my way by a mile in order to post a letter direct through a letterbox in order to save the cost of a stamp surfacing personally). So - where would that extra "time to save money" come from if people were occupied with work every workhour there was even if they DIDNT have a job?

firesidemaid

ginnyknit wrote: »

Off to look for a recipe to use up a whoopsied pack of ricotta

if you're still looking for that recipe (and have a glut of courgettes) the courgette lasagne on the good food recipe is lovely - add some nutmeg to the mix if you have some too.

OH was most sceptical (he told me this after we had eaten) but pleasantly surprised;)

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suzid

Thank you for your kind and helpful responses ceridwen and kittie. Unfortunately DH can't change the email address as it's his work one. After 2 weeks off sick, he's only just returned to work with a doctors note saying light duties!! He works for local government and we've had a third knocked off his income because they won't pay any overtime. The threat of redundancy hangs over them all which is why they put up with living in a miserable work environment. I honestly feel this bleeping job is killing him and I would almost welcome a redundancy package, as DH is very well regarded and I think could find another job quite quickly or go self employed again. HR aware that things aren't right but nothing every changes. DH used to love his job until they got this new boss.

The guys on site are either contractors or sub contractors working to a fixed deadline, but DH worried they are so tired it becomes counter productive if not dangerous.

Back to the doctors tomorrow for DH, his leg very slow healing and he sounds very rough. Even if he's signed off again I know he'll still be working from home on this big project which he's worked on for 3 years. He's too conscientious for his own good.

I remember the 1980's - early 90's recession too. We took our mortgage out when the interest rate was 12% :eek: The family firm folded, DH went back to college and I worked to support us and lived on benefits top ups to keep us afloat with 5 kids. I later found out that letters from school about trips abroad never can home as the kids knew we couldn't afford them. My DD stuffed a cushion with old tights as she didn't want to ask for the stuffing the teacher had requested. If anything I think it was useful in preparing them for the times we are now facing. The 70's power cuts were interesting too weren't they, quite enjoyed it at work huddled in our coats, not able to process the days work, it all seemed quite exciting. Oh the joys of youth :rotfl:.

valk_scot

taurusgb wrote: »

Ah my precious I wants it.........

Looks like the book room at my local charity shop! Three books for £1...:rotfl:

Red_Doe

the Government is now trying to work out how the unemployed can be kept as busy hunting jobs as they would be if they had jobs. Well - there ARE only so many jobs to ask for - so how do they propose to do that?

My own daughter is in this position. She's attempting to go self employed but it will take months to set up (and she's still trying to get funding for it so it won't happen overnight) and the government appears to have withdrawn any real help for such people. Add to that she was outright accused by her 'jobseekers supervisor' of deliberately living in a remote area to avoid work! I was furious and daughter made an official complaint, which worked, as said supervisor called and was extremely 'nice' even though we could tell it cost her.
There simply is NO work here. There's no work around here within a hundred miles. We know, daughter has bust a gut trying to find it! Makes no odds to Jobseekers though, they refuse to believe anyone is actually, truly, trying to find work and proceed to treat the jobseekers like dirt. It's appalling that they can get away with talking to human beings like that without being reprimanded for it. Would simple manners and courtesy be too hard? Certainly my daughter was raised to have both and each time she has to talk to this supervisor, comes away feeling 'beaten' and bullied and depressed. Way to go, Jobseekers..boosting the morale of the unemployed everywhere..
She has been ordered to contact a potential employer every week. We live in the middle of nowhere. The one local wee Spar is family run and staffed. The rest of folks are retired holiday homers, crofters and fisherman, none of which are hiring. Yet if she doesn't do this thing, her benefit will be stopped.
Mad....
Sorry for the rant. What irritates me is the blanket policy for everyone regardless of circumstances. To be asked to contact one employer a week in a town or city, fair enough ( and in a village or small town even that option will run out at some point) but in one of the most remote areas of Scotland is ridiculous.
Nope, we can't afford to move either. Apparently jobseekers no longer get financial help for that even if they find work either, or so my daughter has been told.
Ah well. Such is life.
One thing I have noticed is that anyone in authority has lost the basic manners they were trained to have some years ago. I notice this most when, if you contact an authority, they often will not respond, even if you know your letter, email or phone call gets through. And when they do respond, it is often curt, and brusque to the point of rudeness. Seems to be the same in many services too....a lot of workers seem hard pushed to acknowledge your very existence, never mind have time for the pleases or thank yous or to spare a well mannered word.
Sorry, grumpy old woman rant this morning, eeek!
On a nicer note, I discovered that my home made frozen chips taste great. I simply dug up the tatties, chipped them, part deep fried them in vegetable oil. let them cool then froze them. Been laid up with a virus the past couple of days so to save effort got some out of the freezer and tried them, tasted lovely. So once I'm back on my feet will be batch making those for the freezer as a standby for winter. The mash I did the same with turned out lovely too! (cept I didn't deepfry that!)

ceridwen

valk_scot wrote: »

Looks like the book room at my local charity shop! Three books for £1...:rotfl:

3 books for £1:eek:. Well - I couldnt find a "jealous smilie":rotfl:. More like 1 book for £3 in my area:( (unless its Oxfam - in which case - make that RATHER more....:().

RED DOE
Can sympathise re the jobs - I cant imagine what someone living in as remote an area could do for a job - bar some sort of self-employment reliant on the Internet to distribute products made. The only thought I would have in mind in those circumstances would be to ask the holiday-homers if I could be a "guardian and cleaner" of those cottages during times when they arent there. That is - keep an eye on the places/clean them up and stock up shop for them in advance of them coming for a visit. I doubt there'd be that many hours worth of work per month to be got from that though - even if they all agreed...

I would just take a very cynical view about that "one job a week" to apply for in those circumstances - knowing there wasnt even that much there - and apply for one job a week (and an extra one or two thrown in as "makeweights") at somewhere that 100 miles away or so. Doing this - knowing the employer wouldnt take me on anyway (as I lived too far away) - but I had fulfilled the "DWP requirements".

It seems to me that its the case that local authorities/etc want to be "seen to be fulfilling their job requirements" - so the way to deal with this is to give them what they need to ensure they can tick their own personal "job done" boxes of whatever targets they have/etc. I understand why the "deliberately living in a remote area to avoid work" thing might come into their minds - because it is one way to go for those who dont actually want a job (ie as in deliberately moving from an urban area to a very remote area) and that way there isnt anything to apply for and...job done = work avoided. HOWEVER - in your daughters' case she was there ANYWAY in said "remote area". Its her home area and everyone is entitled to stay in their "home area" and its hardly "avoiding work" to stay there. Its just refusing to move to get a job - and, personally, I dont think anyone should be expected to move from their home area to find work.