Not mentioning the T word at all

Justamum

Re charity - I couldn't agree with everybody more. It annoys me when a charity sends a 'free gift' and hopes that your conscience will be pricked into sending them money. How much did it cost for those 'free gifts'? I'm sure most of the donations will go to cover those costs.

Poppies - I've worn a poppy every year since I was a child, and my own children do too. My eldest go on Remembrance Day parades with great pride. I do think it's so important for children to understand the sacrifices made by others.

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I bought a couple of jars of Duerrs mincemeat the other day - one has brandy and ginger, and the other has dark chocolate, so I'm looking forward to trying those.

katieowl_2

Let's not even go there with 'chuggers' (Charity Muggers) in the high street. Ought to be made illegal IMHO, and that the Job Centres are allowed to advertise it as a 'job' :mad:

I had the RSPB on the phone yesterday, because I took part in the Garden Watch, and my first words were "I'm sorry I'm not in a position to contribute financially at the moment" The caller assured me that my support was valuable anyway, and then went on to ask me to sign up for "Just three pounds a month!"

I've made my mind up from now on that charity begins at home, and if I see an opportunity to contribute to someone I want to help directly I will, and I'm going to make sure that I donate some food to the Trussel Food Bank in town this Xmas. Do you remember years ago, when there was an international crisis/emergency they'd collect clothes, blankets etc. They don't do that anymore, they just want your flaming money so they can buy NEW stuff...

Anyway... this morning OH is coming with me to the tile shop... I'm desperate for him to finish the bathroom, and we are reusing the tiles we took off the wall when we took the shower out and put the bath in instead, but I want a little border of mosaic inserted in it, which he has agreed to do. But you know how it is? Can't be trusted to pick them myself :rotfl:

Kate

mishmogs

katieowl wrote: »

I've made my mind up from now on that charity begins at home, and if I see an opportunity to contribute to someone I want to help directly I will, and I'm going to make sure that I donate some food to the Trussel Food Bank in town this Xmas. Do you remember years ago, when there was an international crisis/emergency they'd collect clothes, blankets etc. They don't do that anymore, they just want your flaming money so they can buy NEW stuff...

Kate

I live in a largeish market town in suffolk and each month I spend £5 (sometimes £8) and buy food for the Trussel Trust and hand that over as I feel its helping out the local community of which I am a part of.

some years ago, I worked for 8 years for one of the large high street chairty shops as a volunter and saw first hand the amount of money they waste on new improved form for this, revamped form for that so you had to chuck out the old uns...... not what I was voluntering for.

Best stop being maudling first thing monday morning!

GreyQueen

SDG31000 wrote: »

I've just watched the special Antiques Roadshow from the National Memorial Aboretum and am fighting back tears. People who object to the wearing of poppies should be made to watch that and realise that the poppies aren't political or religious. They are physical reminders of those who have fought, died, suffered and given their all for us. It doesn't matter what colour their skin was or what country they came from. The man that was an amubulance driver at Dunkirk and the lady that survived 7 concentration camps are equal in that they gave years of their lives. The poppies are a way of remembering and hopefully never repeating the horrors that so many have suffered.

That's my two pennies worth on the subject for what it's worth.

Well said, that woman.

I wear my poppy for the week running up to the service (often have to get a couple of them as tend to lose things). We always used buy ours from my Nan. She and Auntie founded a Womans' Section of the Royal British Legion back in the 1960s and are still very active, although at 88.5 years old, Nan reluctantly has to forgo attending their village's parade and service as it involves walking and standing for over an hour. Uncle is the Legion's standard bearer. Nan has been honoured as a Life Member of the Legion.

Last year, friend and neighbour SuperGran was trying to watch the TV service on Remembrance Sunday when she was disturbed during the Silence by a yobbish pig of a neighbour blasting music over the block. Afterwards, she went over there and gave him the sharp side of her tongue over his disrespect. I've nearly committed violence on the youths who jump skateboards (I wish I was joking ) up and down the steps of our city's main war memorial.

Well, am back in my own home again which is both nice and a bit weird after a couple of days at the parents' but it was good to catch up with them and to visit Nan, which would be a logistical nightmare from Provincial City on public transport.

Today's cunning plan involves selling a few labour-hours, catching up with SG to find out what has been happening in the 'hood since I was gone, hitting the Magic Greengrocer to re-stock the fruit bowl and a few other mundane bits 'n' bobs.

rising the 20 kg of flour came in 4 x 5kg paper sacks so is a lot easier to handle than one big sack. Not sure where the heck I could put one of those. Gonna try shoe-horning one 5 kg bag into the mini-freezer (inside a poly bag) for a week or so to discourage any critters but suspect even with a freezer-shuffle, there may be insufficient room.

Have a lovely day, my lovelies. And whichever person took my Yellow Ball away can blimming well give it back again. I'd only had it for one day out of 11 grey ones and it's s'not fair.:(

Gigervamp

Scottishminnie. You could use the parsley sauce to make a vegetable gratin and I bet the rhubarb liqueur would make a nice cocktail with the addition of sparkling wine.

rachbc

katieowl wrote: »

. Do you remember years ago, when there was an international crisis/emergency they'd collect clothes, blankets etc. They don't do that anymore, they just want your flaming money so they can buy NEW stuff...


Kate

Thats because it costs less to buy and transport a new foil emergency blanket than it does collect and redistribute an old heavy cloth blanket. Emergency aid has changed a lot over recent years - food distribution for example they now give our nutrient dense high energy foods that is easier to distribute and better nutritionally than rice than was given out 20 years ago.

Am going to find out about Food Bank near me and see what I can donate - thanks for the impetus to do that

ifonlyitwaseasier

GQ - 24 hours in the freezer is normally long enough to see off any critters

katieowl_2

rachbc wrote: »

Thats because it costs less to buy and transport a new foil emergency blanket than it does collect and redistribute an old heavy cloth blanket. Emergency aid has changed a lot over recent years - food distribution for example they now give our nutrient dense high energy foods that is easier to distribute and better nutritionally than rice than was given out 20 years ago.

Am going to find out about Food Bank near me and see what I can donate - thanks for the impetus to do that

Yes I can see your point about a foil blanket...but for a family who have lost everything, I'd have thought a few 'real' blankets, they could keep, might be a bit more of a comfort? And some spare clothes...

There's too many people making money out of these disasters. My friend overseas OH works for the Red Cross, and when one of their mates was going to be sent to Haiti, the rental for a flat for him in the area was a lot of money - I can't remember the exact amount, but it was something like £1000 a month (you will never convince me that is the usual going rate for a flat in Haiti!!!) They get all their expenses paid of course. Now I'd like to think if I was a property owner, fortunate enough to have property to rent (and still standing) in a part of the world like that, I'd be offering the guy a discount for coming to my country to help out my fellow countrymen in crisis, and not quadrupling the rent?

Kate

paidinchickens

Morning everyone

Have I read that right? can you freeze flour??? or was I just up soooo early this morning my eyes are playing tricks

I agree on the charity front, I recently found out the area co ordinator for a particular charity earns over £80 000 a year :eek::eek:

PIC x

Justamum

katieowl wrote: »

Do you remember years ago, when there was an international crisis/emergency they'd collect clothes, blankets etc. They don't do that anymore, they just want your flaming money so they can buy NEW stuff...

I don't suppose they'd get as many clothes etc because people sell them on ebay!

There is a charity called Shelterbox which makes up boxes for emergency relief and ships them out in the event of disaster. Apparently you can track your own box!

I knew someone who was collecting things for Romanian orphanages a few years ago, but they weren't allowed to collect second hand clothes because the Romanian government wouldn't allow it apparently.