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

ceridwen

shelley_crow wrote: »

The job mrket is dire in my part of the country. I'm looking for part time work in the sector I'm qualified in and there's nothing. I hope all you OSers seeking work find it soon, I've never known the job market to be so terrible.

Well - my personal take is that the "job market" varies across the country from "dire" to "even more dire :eek:". I'm in an area where its the lower level - ie "dire" - but I checked out last weeks vacancies just to see how things are and thought "Not one single thing I could ask for - even if I was years younger/up-to-date skills/etc". There are a noticeable number of jobs that I wouldnt ask for anyways - ie part-time/antisocial hours/etc/etc - but not very many of them even - and I know I'd be lucky to EVER get a job again in my part of the country even. There is no way I would personally scoot from joblet to joblet etc to make up a full-time job - because I dont have enough time for a standard "go to one place and stay there" type full-time job anyway...and I am so glad that I have got to a position where I could just plain "put my foot down" and refuse to even contemplate doing so. The blessings of no longer having rent or mortgage/debt to pay at long last...whew...

So - I do sympathise with those having problems anywhere - and even more so if they are in an "even more dire" area of the country.

rachbc

Yep Haribo and WMF another one counting my blessings from family - though in my case not just cos they keep me smiling through tough times but I suspect the are the only thing keeping me from being the crazy muttering cat/ chicken lady with her trousers held up with string. Though I still do a passable impression when no one is looking!

shegar

SDG31000 wrote: »

Ironing??? What is this "Ironing" of which you speak HariboJunkie? When the iron comes out in this house DH threatens to take photos as evidence. I view my lack of ironing as a rebellion against my DM who irons everything, up to and including tea towels and socks. Her irons give up in shock after about 3 months of almost constant use.
Today has been a lazy day as my friend invited me around for brunch and to watch Bridesmaids. It was exactly what I needed and I recommend it if you aren't easily shocked. It's sort of like the female version of The Hangover. I'm making meatballs for dinner out of YS minced pork as penance for not sorting out the kitchen cupboards and putting away the tins I brought on Saturday.
Tomorrow will be spent dealing with the 3kgs of organic Bramleys I brought at the Food Fair yesterday. At £1 per kg I couldn't resist, but I didn't quite realise how many that would be. I now have a carrier bag full of them. I view a future filled with crumble and apple cake
I think I might have a Jumble Sale to go to on Friday morning, so will be sharpening my elbows in preparation.
Take care everyone and stay safe and warm xxxx

Oh dam I just wrote a post and it went before my eyes...:mad: so im going to type a smaller version...:mad::mad:

We went to my sisters for sunday lunch on sunday, we had roast beef and chicken with all the trimmings:D.....for desert we had (my hubby call it hedgerow crumble).....blackberry,apple and plum crumble it was super delicious, she makes her crumble with vanilla dusting powder, it makes the crumble so creamy:D:Dive never tasted anything so nice.......ive never seen that on sale, she said she bought it at Waitrose, have any you girls used that ??..........definately improves a crumble mix, plus she always use anchor butter for the crumble............cooking has never been my best subject, but I do love washing and ironing:D love to see whites blowing in the wind..............:D bless you all and hope all is well.......

ginnyknit

I too count my blessings on a regular basis,usually after watching something on tv where someone has overcome the odds. I am feeling good tonight as I have been left to 'keep an eye on' a dear friend whose OH has gone back to South Africa to visit family, probably for the last time as her disabilities are getting worse. My friend has struggled with depression for years and I had a feeling he would sink without trace while she was away. Nipped round earlier to find him moving the kitchen units round and finishing lots of little jobs he had been putting off - :T Seems in good spirits and I left him to it so he wouldnt go off the idea - lets hope he continues for a while.

Been busy as a bee today and am pleased with my progress, but Mr A didnt have the cider vinegar for my chutney so think I will do something else with them to avoid a trip to Mr T in case I spend any money. Just got plum jam to make then I am done. I usually get a sack of lovely apples off an aquaintance but she seems to be MIA, probably turn up soon, she usually does :rotfl: we have been friends of sorts for years and see each other intermittently so Im not worried.

Wish I had seen Mardatha's post about the ironing as I needed an excuse not to do it - but the pile was getting dangerous so its done now!

HariboJunkie

shegar wrote: »

she makes her crumble with vanilla dusting powder, it makes the crumble so creamy:D:Dive never tasted anything so nice.......ive never seen that on sale, she said she bought it at Waitrose, have any you girls used that ??..........

I googled an image of the dusting powder as I thought it might just be vanilla sugar but from the ingredients on the label it is vanilla, cornstarch and arrowroot powder. Would be very cheap to make if you knew the ratios. Off to see what else I can find out about it.
I do make vanilla sugar though as it's so handy to add a dusting to crumbles and pies or even fresh fruit and cream.

edited to add. The dusting powder I googled is a cosmetic.:rotfl:Apparently it absorbs odour and moisture and leaves your skin fresh all day. :rotfl:

jamanda

Evening all

After reading this thread, out of interest I had a look at the local jobs market. Two searches revealed two jobs, neither of which would be any good to me. I was lucky to find a job last year (very, very lucky, I think at my age) but you made me curious. I don't know about dire, it looks totally impossible and even worse than last year when I was looking.

I wish everyone the very best when job seeking. I found it demoralising, confidence shattering and very scarey (absolutely useless in interviews. I'm either speechless or talk for England with the biggest load of piffle you could ever imagine).

I think I have done preserving the garden stuff for this year, thank goodness, apart from the parsley. I have tried umpteen times to dry parsley but it always goes brown and soggy. I'm going to have to freeze it or lose it. A few (quite a few) more tomatoes almost ready, and when the weather turns I'll bring the green ones in and ripen them indoors.

I was talking to the checkout lady at the supermarket on Sunday. She told me that the amount of people going into the shop was down, but the amount spent was up, due to the price rises. She also said she had noticed lots of people changing their shopping habits to stretch the budget. She herself was struggling but managing - just.

I'm so thankful we have a big garden so I don't need to buy veg (apart from mushrooms which we can't grow and the odd carrot which invariably end up mishapen and slightly obscene from our garden). Managed last year to keep ourselves and my parents and daughter in onions right through the year, and have just planted the winter onions (or rather DH has:D) and I'm hoping we can do the same this year. Freezers are full, storecupboard full and most of "thermalising the house" is done. Just got to make a door curtain which is a "would be good but no rush job".

Thanks to Kittie recommending her books (frequently) I've got some good preserving in the old ways type of information to hand, even if she has spent my money for me

Hope everyone is coping, and though I don't say much generally, I do appreciate you all.

7_week_wonder

Sort of on topic - but I just had to share as I'm so pleased.

As some of you know my dear old dad died earlier in the year. Even though he was in his 90's he was still a very keen gardener and was still growing vegetables. My parents have a pretty big garden and Mum has managed to find a "gardener" but to be honest he is more of an odd-job man and whilst he can do the heavy work for her, by his own admission he isn't really a great gardener. She's managing to stay on top of the flower beds but the veg patch was really beginning to get away from her and we were talking about having to turf it over.

Anyway, mum has just phoned to say one of their good friends/neighbours who only has a tiny garden has asked if there was any chance he could take on the running of dad's veg patch to grow more veg for his family. This is brilliant on so many levels: the ground gets put to good use; the neighbours get to grow more veggies and it means that there are an extra pair of eyes to keep an eye out for mum and the house:T I am so pleased as it works out well for everyone.

Anyway, on that happy note I'm away to start my next sourdough loaf in the bread-maker.

lizzyb1812

Mad panic - lost my new puppy whilst making my tea . Next door's terrier kicked off about something, there was a scuffling noise in the kitchen and no puppy to be seen. My kitchen units are freestanding and I really didn't think he could get under there, but 10 minutes later when I had all the cupboards etc open, had shone a torch underneath the units, had searched the garden and was contemplating asking the neighbours to help search, there came a sneeze. The frightened little beggar had squeezed under the cupboard and then behind the fridge and sort of got himself jammed in.

Fridge unplugged and a rather cobwebby puppy retrieved :rotfl:Required a ten minute cuddle and a damp flannel to sort him out but all well now. Phew! Suspect this will not be our last adventure.

7WW - good news about mum's garden - my parents were lucky enough to come to a similar arrangement with the son of a friend of theirs and are in much closer touch with the friend too as a result.

Haribo - laughing at the image of shegar's friend with a powder puff over her crumble

Benefits! Don't get me started :mad:. You'd think that in this digital age there would be a central internet hub on which claimants could log all their evidence, scans of documents, via library internet access if required, so that it was accessible to all relevant agencies - and why are there so many of those anyway? Seems that HMRC has successfully transitioned to online tax return submission and collection (and to be fair it is easy) but no-one can set up a similar system to assist paying funds out? Well, blow me down with a feather, what a surprise that is - NOT!

Best take a break for the sake of the blood pressure and young Charlie (pupstar). Will NOT think about the job situation my nieces and nephews have to face - not for a few minutes anyway.

Kimsmum

I dont post alot on this thread but do read it everyday.
You are all amazing ladies. :A
Some days you have me laughing some days crying.
I have got some great ideas and information off you all on here.
I dont post on here as I dont feel I have anything to add.

HariboJunkie

7WW that's great news about your parent's garden. :T
Lizzy I'm glad you found the pup in the end.

Kimsmum you should definitely post more often. When is your son due back for his visit?

Had a very lazy evening basking in my post ironing organisational glow.:rotfl:
Have worked out the Christmas budget and all the birthdays in between so at least I know what I'm dealing with now. _pale_