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

hornetgirl

Thanks for the new thread Kittie.

Tough day here, but not for money reasons for once. Got home from work to find that our house and next door had both been subjected to attempted break-ins:eek:
On the plus side, they weren't successful, at least three people spotted what was going on and called the police, who came very quickly, and arrested the **** as he tried to escape via our garage door. He was only a youngster, known to the police and with a drug habit.
On the minus side, I don't think I'll sleep very well tonight, especially as the police have just called to say he's been released on bail

scottishminnie

7_week_wonder wrote: »

Could you do what my half-sister did? She was left a china doll that was her mum's. It was quite valuable, but it didn't fit in with my sister's stuff and ended up tucked way in the loft. So finally she sold it to a doll's museum and used the money to buy a welsh dresser which is much more to her taste, looks great and has (almost) the same sentimental value.

My mum suggested selling it and buying a piece of jewellery to keep but I have quite enough jewellery so I feel that would be a waste. I think it's the fact that granny used the sewing machine on an almost daily basis and was so specific about giving it to me that makes me feel so bad. I may see if I can find any sort of museums or historic type places which would be interested in it. I'd rather give it away than sell it if I could find someone that wanted it for it's historic value rather than £ value if that makes sense.

Goodness knows what's wrong with me - I'm usually practical to the point of being hard hearted about things. I used to be called The Ice Queen by my friends - old age has me slipping:)

PaddyPaws

kittie wrote: »

ooh paddy, you must be Irish with a name like that. Come on board and teach us some os Irish ways

either that or you have an irish wolfhound

'Fraid not Kittie, unless being married to an irish man counts

My user name is my dog's nickname, I would've used his real name but it wasn't available when I signed up.

Ok, off to check I've got the ingredients for the chickpea curry recipe someone kindly posted on the old thread (think it was softstuff) - should be ok as it's the sort of recipe that is 'flexible'

PP

apple_mint

Thank you Kittie for the nice shiny new thread :T I never managed to post on the last one as I was playing catch up due to other things happening in my little world.

I love all the gardening, preserving, recipes, ideas and supportive chat on here and if I haven't time to read the thread due to my own new (and very much learner) efforts at trying to grow food in my spare time, then I spend lunch times at work catching up with you all as I eat my packed lunch

Today I managed to get a huge bag of potatoes from Mr T's reduced to 45p and 3 x 2ltrs of organic milk for 39p each. The milk went straight into the freezer, and I've started to cook batches of roast potatoes in the remoska which I'll then freeze. Next year I hope to have plenty of potatoes from the garden but until then, any reduced bags of potatoes I come across will be processed and frozen ready for use in weekday evening meals. I find batches of roast or mashed potatoes very handy to have in the freezer.

jackieglasgow

scottishminnie, maybe the People's Palace or Scotland Street school would accept it?

kidcat

Popped into Mr a earlier and managed to get a packet of fresh apricots and oyster mushrooms for 20p each. Seems a waste just to use as normal mushrooms so am looking for something a bit special to do with them. Apricots are being eaten by dd5 - apparently she's not sure if she likes them yet!!

lizzyb1812

I've been considering getting a second freezer for quite some time now - I freecycled a small chest freezer about 3 years ago and wish I hadn't. Anyway, after a LOT of research on running costs, etc I have now ordered a new chest freezer. My original plan was to get a second under the counter type freezer but my research found me a chest freezer of double the capacity for the same money and with a lower annual running cost so that's what I've gone for.

Theoretically I have trebled my freezer space but actually I've done something a bit different - I only need double my current space to accommodate my current frozen stuff plus garden/foraged produce. So the existing freezer will be turned off and be used as an extra, much needed, kitchen cupboard and the baskets will be used in the new freezer! Running costs will actually fall with the current freezer turned off too :T

All this might sound a bit potty but it really works for me and I'm already planning how to reorganise my kitchen cupboards to take advantage of the extra space.

Yes, I know, I'm sad ....... but I'm also very OS MSE:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Scottishminnie - looking on ebay it seems old Singers don't really fetch very much - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Antique-Singer-Sewing-Machine-/250856232520?pt=UK_CraftsCollect_SewingMachines_RL&hash=item3a68325648 (really must try to use jackieglasgow's link method) - I know I wouldn't want to sell my grandma's machine for pennies and I'm sure you don't either. But I would consider giving it to TWAM - Tools With A Mission - http://www.twam.co.uk/. They recondition tools, including manual sewing machines and send them to Africa - has to be manual because of lack of electricity in many towns/villages. The machines help women clothe their own families and sell goods as well.

scottishminnie

jackieglasgow wrote: »

scottishminnie, maybe the People's Palace or Scotland Street school would accept it?

Great idea - that's a good starting point for me. Will give them a call tomorrow. Cheers:T

jackieglasgow

You are welcome. Oh another one is New Lanark, they might be able to put it to use there somewhere?

smileyt_2

Anyone heard from Mardatha yet? I know her internet was down.

I have two baby courgettes! Or they could be pumpkins! I have forgotten what the darned plant is as it's taken so long to start fruiting! I definitely have one very tiny cucumber, though. It's about a centimetre long and I will be talking to it every day to encourage it to grow :rotfl:

Wish me luck - I am about to start a campaign to get more allotments and a community permaculture garden on a plot of derelict land near my house. A letter has been printed with the correct legal wording and now I have to find people to sign up, which shoudn't be too hard. Let's see how far we get with the council. I'm not expecting to get too far as the council tends to build on any spare bit of land round here but we'll see.