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

ChocClare

SDG31000 wrote: »

A question if I may...A house around the corner has a tree laden with bramley apples in their back garden and I know from the last few years that they just let them drop to the floor and rot. Would it be strange if I knocked on the door and offered to buy them/swap them for something? I don't know them, but I find it upsetting that the apples are going to waste.

I don't think it would be weird at all. How about saying, Hello, I notice that your apple tree is very laden and wondered whether you'd like some help with the picking? I'd be happy to pick the apples and box them up for you in return for a couple of boxes to take home?

Round our way you often see ads on freecycle for come and help us pick the fruit off our tree and you can have some, so it's not a far-fetched idea at all.

suzid

Many thanks Softstuff and kidcat for your responses. I'll look into Damp rid as I've never heard of it and it sounds just what this room needs. I know the Dettol product you describe and will give it a go. Thank you. DS's room is the only single glazed room and faces north. That plus the boy shutting himself in with his computer and no windows open makes it very humid in there (he always complains of either the cold or moths). I've never known anyone like him. His bedding always feels damp no matter how little he has on. He's like a mobile humidity zone. Which ever room he's in goes mouldy. :eek:

greenbee

Maybe you should apply the damp rid to your DS, not to the room? Or get a dehumidifier?

kidcat

suzid wrote: »

Many thanks Softstuff and kidcat for your responses. I'll look into Damp rid as I've never heard of it and it sounds just what this room needs. I know the Dettol product you describe and will give it a go. Thank you. DS's room is the only single glazed room and faces north. That plus the boy shutting himself in with his computer and no windows open makes it very humid in there (he always complains of either the cold or moths). I've never known anyone like him. His bedding always feels damp no matter how little he has on. He's like a mobile humidity zone. Which ever room he's in goes mouldy. :eek:

That says that its your son is the issue and needs dealing with alongside the actual mould:D is there a way of locking his window in a permanently slightly ajar mode, ours have a small gap that can be opened then locked to allow ventilation although we also have vents at the top which we leave permanently open. Otherwise you are just going to have to open his windows yourself daily and prop his door open for an hour or so to allow the air to circulate. Good luck with that one.

bonnie_bumpkins

Good afternoon all.

Like so many others, I feel alternately very angry and very sad at the rioting. I can't watch the news, what a wuss. But I keep seeing a picture of the injured young man being robbed...

Yesterday morning my teenage DS travelled from deepest Kent up to and across London to catch a train from Paddington to Somerset to stay with family. He's due back on Sunday, with little suitcase on wheels, rucksack and laptop in bag. I keep seeing his face instead in the picture and it's making me feel sick. I know it's a few days away but I'm thinking of driving to Reading to pick him up. Am I panicking too much

short_bird

To paraphrase something I read earlier: "You don't support someone shot dead in London by nicking stuff in Birmingham":(

However: do those of us who need to, or might need to, have any sort of plan in place in case something does kick off? Either:

what the Americans term a "bug out bag" that you can grab on your way out of the door or - thinking of that poor girl jumping out of her flat :eek:

something stored away from your house that has all the info you need to make claims, bank account details, family contacts, spare meds...

Charis

Mrs Veg Plot
I will have a candle lit all day sending my thoughts to all of those affected.

kittie wrote: »

gosh we are starting to have very similar thoughts. I lit one at 9am for exactly the same reason

Thank you both. Maybe it's time I lit one.

The main news sites don't mention the part of East London that used to be Essex. There were outbreaks of wanton damage and arson in Chingford, East Ham, Ilford and Barking. My grandchildren live on an estate not far from where an empty pub was blazing last night. The town centre was closed off yesterday afternoon and evening. DS1 and his girlfriend, in South London, watched her workplace being trashed on Sky news live. I'm concerned that the riots will move to the West End, where DS works. They got as far as Notting Hill last night, raided a prestigious restaurant and attacked the diners, demanding jewellery and mobile phones.

There is a silver lining in all this, as various groups of people are getting together to clear up the mess and they are finding a common purpose. Maybe it will encourage dialogue between them and they will work together to strengthen their communities.

SDG31000

I got my bottom in gear and went out to the local park in search of blackberries. An hours work has yielded one Carte D'Or tub of blackberries, a few scratches from the plant the brambles were growing through (It seems to be made up of 3 inch spikes) and a wasp sting on my middle toe. All in all I'm not sure it was worth it. Also if anyone saw a woman with mad hair talking to herself and fighting off the local stinging insect population while wearing one pink and one yellow marigold, that was me.
A Pick Your Own farm seems like a much better idea. Preferably one with a tea room and access to ice cream.

crumblepie

I went out on a bit of a forage this morning. The blackberries are still a couple of weeks away and a few of my favourite picking spots seem to have been cut back by the council, but there's loads of brambles so I'll be ok.

Picked around 3kg of cherry plums and have made 9 jars of jam and a plum sponge pudding thing. The jam is yummy and the pudding was lovely with custard! I may go and have another wander to get a few more and I know of some apple trees that look like the apples are ripe on them.

squeaky

SDG31000 wrote: »

A question if I may...A house around the corner has a tree laden with bramley apples in their back garden and I know from the last few years that they just let them drop to the floor and rot. Would it be strange if I knocked on the door and offered to buy them/swap them for something? I don't know them, but I find it upsetting that the apples are going to waste.

Asking questions? On OS?? Unheard of!!

There's actually just such a tree down the road from me, and I asked if it would be OK to collect windfalls and offered apple pies/crumbles in exchange. An offer which was accepted with alacrity!