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

ceridwen

'Morning all - and...wot no comment back from Mardatha at my earlier suggestion that she be on kale cooking duties in the middle of that circle of wagons drawn round to keep us all protected against Tough Times:rotfl:

We all know how much Mardatha loves kale after all;):D

Anyways - and differences and quoting outa context by anyone aside....it really does feel necessary for us all to get into that protective "circle of wagons drawn round" (a la American Wild West movie style) and not to "go off on one" wishing to pursue differences with others that we personally feel.

It is time for people to put aside own personal dislikes and recognise that the rich have always thought "divide and rule" and not allow ourselves to be "divided". What we all share is that some of us are in Sh*t Street right now up the creek without a paddle and others are hanging onto that paddle to make sure it doesnt get snatched outa our hands. Either way - we're all in a canoe and not a cruiser (we know we can see the luxury cruisers that are also going up that river - but its sure that none of us are on them....) - and 'tis wise to be friendly to our fellow passengers to make sure no-one falls overboard.

Thats what this thread is all about after all.

GreyQueen

:wave: Hello, sillyinthepast and welcome in.

Well, just popped Radio 4 on and the top news item is that credit rating agency Standard & Poor's has downgraded the USA's credit rating from AAA to AA+. Wonder what the other two main credit rating agencies will do?

Interesting times....interesting times.

The day is shaping up rather strangely, weatherwise. I've already been up for an hour and awake for 2 hours before that (my old ailment) and the day is getting darker by the minute. I'm expecting a rainstorm any moment.

It's a little bit frustrating as I have made plans for today's activities which rely on dry and preferably breezy weather. I wanted to dig up all the potatoes, allow them to dry out on the surface for a few hours and get them sacked and stored. I have insufficient space to allow them to sprawl on a shed floor to dry off a bit. I grow Kestrel 2nd earliers and, apart from the frost losses in Dec 2010, successfully store them for 11-12 months. I'm pretty careful of them and like them to be dry and have set skins before I put them away.

Newsflash; torrential rain has started!

Ahhh well, flex and grow, flex and grow, be a willow not an oak. I have some indoor stuff to do; a little bit of painting is in the offing and there's always the h*usew*rk. But, at home, there is also the permanant seduction of the interweb.........;)

kittie I have Turk's Turban squash and may have butternuts (need to go hunting under the leaves). Bit of a jungle in that part of the allotment. I'm a newbie to squash and a bit nervous of this bounty so, if you have any tips as to preservation (freezer is full) or recipes or pointers towards good cook books, please let me know! And anyone else who has some tips..bring 'em on please!

Yesterday was hopeful on the shopping lines. I have been looking for a melamine mug for my camping trip next month and was trying to better a new price of £1.99 and got a lovely one at a c.s for 50p and then got a brand-new bowl in another c.s. for 75p (already have an enamel plate so no new purchases there).

I did something which was a first for me last night (embarrassing as I am in my late forties) and roasted a huge pork shoulder joint. I happened to be at Little Mr T as they were reducing them; worked out at 40p/ lb for pre-cooked weight. I roasted it slowly and cut it into 4 chunks to cool down then sliced it finely, removing the visible fat. I have grouped the slices into greaseproof paper packs of about 3-4 slices and tucked them into freezer bags and frozen. The funny little scrappy bits have been held back for immediate consumption.

I didn't finish fiddling around until after 11 pm so I CBA'd to get out the scales to check the cooked weight but I have a lot of roast pork easily accessible and the total price was £4.45.

I also went down to Scruffy Centre where had a lovely chat with the Magic Greengrocer and learned something about fruit which I didn't know; like milk, it rots in thundery weather, even under refridgeration.

I came back with a carrier bag of fruit for £1; a punnet each of peaches, pears and grapes and 2 bags of apples (mixed kinds). I scarfed the grapes last night as hadn't had any for weeks as I refuse to pay the silly prices they want for them in other shops and he'd not had any in the discount box when I visited.

Got a couple of handsome hardcover books for 75p each in another c.s. which I'll enjoy reading and which Kid Brother (pro online bookseller) will be able to sell for me later. He's a happy bunny as a book I got for 50p for him 4 months ago just went for £25 and one he got for £1 went for £35. I'm pleased when he gets a few big ticket sales as he does as much work for a £4 book as a £40 book.

Goodness, how I love charity-shopping, what a boon it is to be able to get my hands on other people's discards (and I close the loop by giving my discards back, should they be good enough).

Well, have to hope the day dries out a bit later but I will be going up to the lottie this afternoon, rain or shine, as I need to get runner beans for tea.

Hope everyone has a great day and that your weather is kind.

EDIT re storing home-grown onions; my grandad always used to tie them in bunches of about 8-10 with binder twine and hang them on a wire fence at the back of their home. The fence had open ground on both sides so was very breezy. They stayed out there rain or shine and you just pulled one off as needed. Never knew one to rot but if you find onions with "fat necks" - the bit of stalk which comes out of the bulb - don't put them to store as they won't keep; eat them up promptly.

I wonder if those who have their own ground will be tempted by the American idea of root cellars to store your veggies overwinter? I've always loved the idea of them.

HariboJunkie

Grey queen I hope you get some rest. I had hoped that situation had improved for you.

Sitting here this morning with a pot of coffee, some cookery books and this month's Good Food Magazine, trying to devise a decent long term meal plan. Am also checking out supermarket offers online and have done my inventory of the larder and freezer. It's quite a fun task and the girls will contribute some more ideas when they are up. Need to garden and shop today but am physically fit for neither so will knit instead in the hope of making inroads into this year's Christmas gifts.
Need to make inroads with the preserving too and have saved so many recipies (and entire posts of Kittie's :rotfl: to read through in preparation.)

I hope everyone has a lovely day. It would be great to see more lurkers (you know who you are ) and returners to this thread. I know there are "aspects" of any thread which put people off posting but I know that those of you who have contacted me in the last couple of days have tonnes to contribute so please, the more the merrier and we could all do with hearing everyone's perspective on the tough times.:)

edit; Interesting article re libraries. Sounds like a good plan to me and definitely better than the alternative.

GreyQueen

Thanks for your good wishes, HariboJunkie.

Not wanting to disrupt the thread, but that particular matter is coming to its end and should be resolved within 2-3 weeks.

Weather still looking disgusting and completely contrary to the weather forecast at 8am which said sunshine and scattered showers!

Provincial City is a law unto itself weatherwise as it sits on a natural fault line (sorry, don't know proper meterological term) and the weather can do dramatically different things in the distance of 1 or 2 miles. Hey, I'm British, I'm used to it.;)

Ahhh well, should have breakfast and crack on with the day.

hornetgirl

Apologies GreyQueen, the weather is probably my fault. I'm going to a barbeque later on, so downpours are guaranteed!

GreyQueen

hornetgirl wrote: »

Apologies GreyQueen, the weather is probably my fault. I'm going to a barbeque later on, so downpours are guaranteed!

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Aha! The Curse of the Barbie Strikes Again!

Hope it says/ becomes fine for yours, hun.

Softstuff

I have a newly discovered and guilty pleasure - I like ironing my sheets. Or more precisely, I like having ironed sheets, so have taken to ironing recently with a vengence. I've also discovered I like having ironed PJ's too.

Also an entire homebaked cake seems far more decadent than muffins, so if anyone has any nice very frugal but posh tasting cake recipes (guaranteed to work too!), I'd be happy to see some (just made the carrot cake for the second time, and it wasn't a fluke, it is equally lovely).

My chairs from ebay were delivered today, lovely solid teak ones for outdoors. Next job is to sand them and protect them. Anyone know what's best to refinish them with? Oil, varnish or whatnot? The mystery table that came with is very nice also, so pleased with that bargain. Happily hubby might also be able to use one as an office chair if I can find some nice dense latex to make a decent cushion with.

Love and hugs to all that need them, and a slice of virtual cake. I find most things are better with cake.

smileyt_2

Morning all! After reading Kittie's simple-explanation-for-economic-numpties about the FTSE thing, I am even more grateful that I don't have anything on credit or any debts. At least all I have to worry about is the rising prices. (!)

My parents are coming over today and they have agreed to do a bit of furniture shifting with me, bless them. I am hoping to move things round, get rid of rubbish (either recycling/bin or charity shop, depending on standard) and create more space for storing food to hedge against the rising prices. Once I have more space I may do an approved foods order, although even their prices don't seem to be as cheap as they once were. My neighbour was going to help me with the furniture last night, but she ended up taking another neighbour to hospital as her little boy wasn't well. I'm about to take the dogs out and if her curtains have been opened I will knock on to see how he is, if not I'll have to wait until later. He's a wee darling so I really hope he's ok.

Hepzibah Hen is struggling on. The painkiller seems to be helping, although she was still a bit hunched up this morning as it had obviously worn off overnight. She is stronger than she was (we had a fight this morning over her taking her medicine!) but I think the egg-laying days may be over if she survives. Oh well, the eggs were a bonus I suppose!

Best get on - my dog is eyeing me up meaningfully so I guess I am being told to hurry up! Have a good Saturday.

greenbee

HariboJunkie wrote: »

edit; Interesting article re libraries. Sounds like a good plan to me and definitely better than the alternative.

our village library shares premises with the police office, parish council office and a couple of community rooms and it works very well. It has strong links with the school, and is also used for some of the adult education activities run from the community rooms (e.g. IT for the elderly...) if anyone else is in danger of losing their library I can thoroughly recommend it.

HariboJunkie

Softstuff wrote: »

I have a newly discovered and guilty pleasure - I like ironing my sheets. Or more precisely, I like having ironed sheets, so have taken to ironing recently with a vengence. I've also discovered I like having ironed PJ's too.

Also an entire homebaked cake seems far more decadent than muffins, so if anyone has any nice very frugal but posh tasting cake recipes (guaranteed to work too!), I'd be happy to see some (just made the carrot cake for the second time, and it wasn't a fluke, it is equally lovely).

My chairs from ebay were delivered today, lovely solid teak ones for outdoors. Next job is to sand them and protect them. Anyone know what's best to refinish them with? Oil, varnish or whatnot? The mystery table that came with is very nice also, so pleased with that bargain. Happily hubby might also be able to use one as an office chair if I can find some nice dense latex to make a decent cushion with.

Love and hugs to all that need them, and a slice of virtual cake. I find most things are better with cake.

Cakes

Lemon Drizzle
Elderflower and Lemon
Cinnamon Nutella Cake
Coffee and Walnut

Chairs

Definitely teak oil them for outside and repeat at the end of the season.

Ironing

Can't help you there I'm afraid. You're a lost cause. :D;)