A new 'tougher' thread... and so it continues

[Deleted User]

Today has been like the curates egg, good in parts. Back in the summer we replaced two very ricketty old sheds in the garden with a nice new one. Unfortunately the infill built bungalow at the bottom of our garden put in an objection to the local council who declared that we har an unlawful garden shed. Much consultation followed and today at long last after having moved the shed two meters from any existing boundary we are now 'compliant with council planning regulations' Hooray. On the down side though the lurcher was attacked and bitten on the tail by an unruly labrador on his morning walk this morning and we are now £100 worse off for the vets bill. My pet hate - if you'll pardon the pun - is people who let dogs run off the lead when they cannot control them. Back to vet on Monday hoping all will be OK.

ragz_2

Thanks for the ebay tip... that may kick my bum into gear to list a few things.
Got a load of reduced bargains last night and a load of offer bread today so my chest freezer is packed and in good need of an inventory (I seem to do one every week!). Made an approved food order so soon the storecupboards will be filled again (I can actually see the back AND floor of one of them at the moment!)

Bought a dress for £5 in the factory shop, which should be smart enough to wear for dinner when we go away for the weekend next month (a rare treat, good hotel offer!). Last year we did it and I ended up running around Bournemouth Primark like a loony trying to find something I could be seen in a posh hotel in!

I bought lovely leather boots recently (Duo boots outlet site, £30 reduced from £155!), they are really stiff and a little tight, I have never owned really nice leather boots before so I need some advice...

How do I soften/stretch them a bit?
Should I polish them/anoint them with sacred oils and pray to them daily?

elona

GQ

I like Quentin Crisp's idea that after four years the dust stops accumulating!!!!!

Have a pot of home grown leek and potato soup on the hob and made some sausage rolls and apple crumble as well. Ordered a cd and dvd from amazon for dd's 18th birthday next week. (She is getting other stuff and we have offered her a new mobile phone but with exams has not time to look for things.)

DD has only just told me this morning the shower she uses is not draining so have tipped stuff down it and DH was on his hands and knees putting a bendy rod thingy down. After all that it is only a little better :eek:

Hugs to all

I found the very sad life experiences made me realise the strength and indominatability of the human spirit and put things into perspective for me.

thriftyscotslass

Happy Friday afternoon everyone . Would like to delurk and wave hello to everyone :wave:

Here at Thrifty Towers we need to take a deep breath and tighten that belt yet another notch. The freezer has been defrosted in readiness for stuffin' to the gunnels with bargainous food.

Hugs to all and look forward to getting to know you all, Thriftyxxx

Byatt

Does taking down Xmas tree/decs still count if they are lying around?

shelley_crow

prepareathome wrote: »

Oh I am so sorry my story( and others) - which I only told part to try and help others get through their troubles now as mine are in the past and I am still here to annoy you all. Please never let anyone's story get you that down, there is nothing you can do for another person on here except send good thoughts

We all have enough with our own lives without taking on the world to that extent - but sometimes if we know another has gone through tough times and come out the other side, ok not quite the same person but still with hope it can help you get through your own tough times, keep you ploughing on till your personal sky does seem to lighten again and the storm clouds pass and we are able to look towards the future again, I promise you it does happen.

You obviously are a very caring compassionate person, my love goes out to you, hugs:A

Hear hear!

prepareathome

Well I did get through eventually to O2 as while they kept trying to take £12.79 off me which I knew I did not owe daren't put any more money on CC and a friend wants me to order a book for her from Amazon ( great her orders give me more nectar points) as she does not own a pc or CC, only just accepted that at 69 a mobile might be a good idea for when she is out and about as she has had a few falls when talking her dog for a walk and laid on ground for an hour last time in a park.

First after me explaining she asks if I mind holding on, then after about 15 mins ( thank heavens for loudspeakers) comes back and says she cannot understand my account and can she call me back. I was amazed when she did after a couple of hours but started going on again how first new bill after change was Nov although I changed plans on 26th Sept and they take the money on 1st of every month, ok to late for change to amount on 1st Oct as bill produced on 20th but all Oct was at new rate and this is what they seemed to keep forgetting. Pointed out I had since 1st of Oct paid £25.54 yet amount i should have paid up to and including Jan was £25. She as all others could not seem to understand and kept going on and on about Nov. I kept calm and kept explaining over and over till eventually she asked if she could call me back again. She did after another 30 mins and then went on as how part of the discount to make my internet package £6.25 is I must top up my O2 mobile every 3 months and I had not, again gave her dates of when I had - thankfully these days I top up with CC and I had topped up by £15 every month so £5 for Blackberry service leaving £10 for everything else. So again she asks if she can call me back and 10 mins later comes on with big apology. She had checked and saw I was totally right over everything and it worked out not only do I not have to pay this month but I have already paid £5 towards next month - I did ask her to check this but she is sure, she said its because I paid so much extra on 1st Oct and by then was on new plan and the guy I spoke to on boxing day who was supposed to be sorting it out and crediting my account with the over payment I had made had actually put it on my account as a debit ......so she is cancelling the bill for this month crediting the £5 for next and will call me on the 20th of this month to check my bill for Feb will only be £1.25. She kept saying how sorry she was for all the trouble I had had these past few months as it was totally O2 who were in the wrong. No offer of anything free, but wasn't trying for that I just wanted to have to pay only the correct amount. One thing I have learnt when this contract is up to make sure I phone them about a new one day or so before 20th of the month so that when bill for next month is produced it will be at the plan rate and so they won't have me paying extra and them having to refund me.

I feel the explanation of when my new plan started etc is etched in my brain as I repeated it so often, but I stayed calm and friendly letting her know I knew it wasn't her fault and she responded by ploughing on and getting to the route of the problem.

So its a great outcome instead of paying them the £12.79 they were asking for I don't pay at all now this month phew.

Oh I have a new way for keeping warm - put treadmill up in early hours ( having my day to night mix up again) and after 2 mins on it I was hot and exhausted - its tougher than old one, but I love it. Its so quite it means when I am up during the night instead of the day I can use it, old one made a racket, hubby told me I didn't disturb him at all putting it up or using it while he was fast asleep.

Right better get ready as got to go shopping as hubby away over weekend so will not get to shops then. Not to windy here but is chilly.

Hugs to all who need them

fuddle

Uh Oh. I have been invited to a Jamie Oliver party at my sisters house. As it is my sister I feel I should go. As it is my sister I feel I should buy something to help her get her freebies for her trouble. Urgh! Have you seen the price of the stuff in that catalogue?!

I have spoken to DH and hesaid if you see something in there that would be useful or you think we could need without paying over the odds for (!) then no problem. It's been a difficult task but I have chosen to get the honey and syrup drizzlers - £12.50! Not brilliant but cool contraptions that will come in useful. I did want some oil and vinegar drizzlers but unfortuately they said 'mind your manners' eh? Excuse me? I don't think so, not on my kitchen wear!

silvasava

ragz wrote: »

I bought lovely leather boots recently (Duo boots outlet site, £30 reduced from £155!), they are really stiff and a little tight, I have never owned really nice leather boots before so I need some advice...

How do I soften/stretch them a bit?
Should I polish them/anoint them with sacred oils and pray to them daily?

Hi Ragz - as a 'shoe aholic' I suggest you wear the boots every day for a few hours (usually until you cant stand it any more!) before venturing out in them 'proper' That usually breaks them in without you having blisters - I've sometimes worn a pair of thick socks so I can stretch them more quickly. If they are leather (sounds as if they are) give them a really good wax polish BEFORE you wear them paying particular attention to the welts (the bit where the upper meets the sole) I usually wax polish mine, leave the polish to 'soak' in for a few hours and them rub them up with a soft cloth or brush. The polishing first means that you protect the leather from water & scuffs.

Enjoy your wearing your bargain boots & have a lovely break :j

EC12345

Hello. I've spent the last five days reading through This thread. Will try and catch up as and when I can. I've read some amazing posts and have picked up plenty of tips. People are so encouraging on this thread. Well done everyone despite the hard times.

EC