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

bluebag

katieowl
Oh god do I understand where you are coming from with your DS, I have TWO at home we are picking up the tab for. With one thing and another it has been very difficult.

If they were both earning I would be pretty well off. I bet you are like me and the one who does without so they can get on. The trousers I am wearing are threadbare, the little 'un needed a uniform for college and my word that was not cheap...what else can you do?
Hugs.

redlady_1

the_cake wrote: »

ginnyknit wrote: »

Smileyt, those must be the most unsexy things I have ever seen!

Quite agree. I now have a horrible image of a chipolata wearing a hairnet..... or possibly even a (very small) haynet.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Katieowl - the army is a good life if they are committed to it and is very difficult to get into these days. It can also give him a good trade. It is a career and one that will give them a nice nest egg to enable them to go on to a second career. I hope your son manages to stay in college.

Now, mankinis...ladies (and gents) if you really want to see some sights I would suggest you get yourself down to Fistral Beach in Newquay throughout the summer. There are men in mankinis, bikinis and any other form of kini you wish to come up with!!! Seeing a rather fit bloke playing football in a bikini though can seriously damage you mentally - I know!!:D

HJ - as you will be experienced in the world of painting perhaps you need to fly south and visit me and the FK?? Complete with painting clothes you understand

ceridwen

I do have to add at that point re army (and any other of the Armed Forces) that we all know the risk of injury/death/the person themselves being affected (ie getting traumatised)/any relatives they have being upset if they are killed or injured - but anyone contemplating an Armed Forces career needs to go in with their eyes "wide open" to the fact as well that, these days, if/when they have been too badly injured to continue "on the front line" the chances are slim and getting steadily slimmer of them being found a desk job to finish their career out. Too many of them are being injured for desk jobs to be available for them all and many are finding the promise of a desk job if need be is being broken and they are kicked out unceremoniously.

So - if its travel one wants - then there are a lot safer options available to find a job involving that. The air stewardess jobs I used to fancy as a teenager are probably no longer available anywhere - as thats been transmuted into harassed "trolley dolleys" years ago - but I'm sure there must be other "can travel" options available.

redlady_1

Yes, some are so badly injured they are MD as at the end of the day the Army is there to fight and protect. They do also get a decent pay out if injured providing they have taken out a decent level of PAX which is a form of insurance if injured. Yes there is a war on but injury and death has always been part of the Army. There has only been one year when a serviceman/woman hasnt been killed. But the positives obviously outweigh the negatives on the basis that the Army are so oversubscribed and they are now making people redundant. I dont think anyone joins with their eyes closed these days.

GreyQueen

ceridwen wrote: »

GREYQUEEN
You ARE getting adventurous with cooking my lass :rotfl:. I checked out that curry recipe you tried (ie in "The Thrift Book" by India Knight) and found it includes:
ginger - I use lazy ginger usually
chillies - I use chilli flakes or lazy chilli
stick of cinnamon - I use cinnamon powder

for instance.

I can sense that "bit between the teeth" now - heading for O.S. "Cook of the Year" Award:D:rotfl:

:o Aw, shucks, Ceridwen. I feel obligated to confess that the first time I cooked that easy-peasy curry recipe was when mates were coming round (very long-term good mates who know all my weaknesses and still like me). Got into a bit of a tizz with the timing and one of my guests ended up cooking the curry................:o

GQ- in a headlong rush to be hostess-with-the-leastest. Mind you, the best-ever was the time my bookgroup came to mine and I'd not put the date in the diary and had no clue they were coming until I saw the whites of their eyes. Had to send a couple of the gals up to the corner shop with my purse to get enough milk and some bikkies and sweeties. And yes, I still get my leg pulled (deservedly) but nearly all my pals have at least one occasion when they "forgot" they were having people over. Is this normal I do I hangout with a buncha space cadets?

:D I have a head like a sieve. I've reached the age when there's so much carp rattling around in there that I'd like to be able to de-frag my hard-drive and also delete quite a lot of stuff. 1980s pop lyrics, advertising jingles, dead relatives' phone numbers and most of my teenage years for starters.

I take great comfort that whatever life throws at me, I shall never have to be a teen again..........:rotfl:

Smileyt, I wonder what will happen when you next go to the park and if we should let you go alone.......:rotfl:

I'm having an anxiety attack over a new fingy wot goes live at work today. Can't say exactly what as it's been in the media but it cost several mil and I have a curious conviction that I shall break it or otherwise goof up. That's the trouble with customer services jobs - each and every goof is in front of the Public. Aaarrrrgggghhhhhh! The boogers had to launch it on the day of the Full Moon, didn't they; we get all the crank calls today anyway.

I'm gonna go hide under my duvet and hope it all goes away.:o

ceridwen

"Positives outweighing negatives" - hmmm...:think: - or teenagers thinking they are invulnerable on the other hand (the "Yes I know it happens to OTHER people - but it won't happen to ME" syndrome).

I think we could all put our hands up at having noticed things happening to OTHER people and knowing that won't happen to US though.....until it does:(....

In my own line (lines as it has been in fact) of work - I always knew I would never be unemployed (I felt totally safe because of the person I myself am and it had never happened to anyone I know at that point - rather than because of the type of job I had iyswim) - as that was something that happened to OTHER people. I was absolutely shocked/amazed and totally furious for months when it did actually happen to me. I must have been a "picture to behold" standing in the Dole Queue obviously feeling extremely out of place. Stuff happens...

GREYQUEEN
I'll join you hiding under that duvet - well..hiding under my OWN duvet chez ceridwen that is....I've just taken a peek at the papers..

katieowl_2

redlady_1 wrote: »

Yes, some are so badly injured they are MD as at the end of the day the Army is there to fight and protect. They do also get a decent pay out if injured providing they have taken out a decent level of PAX which is a form of insurance if injured. Yes there is a war on but injury and death has always been part of the Army. There has only been one year when a serviceman/woman hasnt been killed. But the positives obviously outweigh the negatives on the basis that the Army are so oversubscribed and they are now making people redundant. I dont think anyone joins with their eyes closed these days.

I'm sure that it is harder to get into the forces these days, but what I don't like is that joining the army (especially in these parts) is seen pretty much the only option open to a lot of young people. IMHO at 18, 19, 20 you shouldn't have to choose between unemployment and sitting on the dole for the rest of your life, or putting your life on the line in Afghanistan or wherever.

Kate

ceridwen

True Katie - the people I've seen "joining up" have done so because they felt (for one reason or another) that there were no other options available to them (too poor to go for the career they should have had instead on the one hand or not intelligent enough to have very much choice at all in the best of times on the other hand). There must be other reasons as well why people join - even though they dont actively "want" to.

Personally - if that was the only option on the table to me - I'd stay unemployed (even if the Universe could provide me with my own personal "guarantee" that I wouldnt be injured) - but it does take huge willpower/self-belief or some other belief system to say "No - never - no matter what...." if that IS the only option there is.

GreyQueen

katieowl wrote: »

I'm sure that it is harder to get into the forces these days, but what I don't like is that joining the army (especially in these parts) is seen pretty much the only option open to a lot of young people. IMHO at 18, 19, 20 you shouldn't have to choose between unemployment and sitting on the dole for the rest of your life, or putting your life on the line in Afghanistan or wherever.

Kate

I've lived in several cities in England and Scotland and have noticed that the recruiting "shops" are always situated in the poorer neighbourhoods. This is certainly true here in Provincial City.

This tells me that they are deliberately targetting the youngsters with the most restricted choices.

I feel sad when I see very young men and women out in Afghanistan and elsewhere. In my job, I regularly see homeless men who are the fallout from previous military service in places like the Falklands and elsewhere. For some poor souls, military service isn't a leg-up into a career with prospects but a one-way ticket to a personal psychological hell from which they will struggle to escape for the rest of their lives.

I'm not a Mum but if I was, I think I would be desperately unhappy if my young person chose to join the forces.:( And, as Ceridwen points out, it is one of the features of youth that you believe in your own indestructability.

Gawd, this state of the economy is bringing me right back to my own youth in the early 1980s when you couldn't get a look-in for a job as a youngster with no experience. (((Hugs))) to anyone with youngsters in this boat or jobseeking themselves.

Becky2 congratulations on your good news.

catznine

mardatha wrote: »

Haribo, ty for asking. He's back at work and just managing - but the doc seems to have given him a very strong mix of painkillers, I hope he can come off them soon.
Bloody freezing in this house today. Feeling bad because I just can't get meself together enough to meal plan or add stuff like lentils and carrots etc to meat. I always seem to be too tired or leave it to a last minute rush, and have to throw some dinner on in a hurry and can't be a$$ed getting fancy. However, we will get there one day eh. Wish the bloody ME would take a hike though.

(((Hugs))) Mardatha - ME is a totally unwelcome guest here as well! It is horrible when the "brainfog" descends and you can't settle to anything, I have to force myself back to pacing, vits, drink water etc etc soooo boring! Seems to work though if you persevere! Hope today will be a better day for you and me both.

I have been re-reading the Nella Last books again, makes you feel so lucky really not to have the food shortages and power cuts she had but it does show that there is always a way around such difficulties. Amazing just how much she cooked around her coal fire! Wish we had one of those or a wood burner! Have to get dh on board with that one though!

Little dog has hurt her rear leg again, so being very strict with her, stair gate is back on and she is no longer allowed upstairs or to jump up, cue very sad little doglet! Her leg seems much better this morning as a result so hopefully we have dodged a vet bill! Time will tell!

Colder here this morning so going to hook out a fleece jacket, so much cosier.

My young nephew is in the army and he loves it! but we do worry about him!
Other news ds passed his driving test - first time at 33 yrs old:j - now to teach him to drive economically!;) He really needs the car now with a 4 month old little girl and all the paraphanalia they need as a result!:D

Wishing everyone as good a day as poss

Catz x