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

Mrs_Chip

I must admit that reading the prom thing stopped me in my tracks - was unheard of when I was at school in the 70's. And if it had been I would have been out of luck, no nonsence parents did not have the money and no way it would be seen as a priority.

Where do these things come from - like kids parties that have to be really expensive, or if not hard work to make it good enough at the right price - used to be jelly and custard,few sandwiches and pass-the-parcel or pin-the-tail, a bit of cake wrapped in a napkin to take home. I went to loads like that, they were great!

I went to one who had a magician and that was something special - but mum did not feel the need to do the same!

Is it the schools that have pushed the prom thing? Can't think how else it would have become so much of an 'essential' ?

mardatha

I've got a big kitchen with room for everything. It's easy to keep tidy but hell on the feet wandering round it to collect everything for the dinner !

Austin_Allegro

Mrs_Chip wrote: »

I must admit that reading the prom thing stopped me in my tracks - was unheard of when I was at school in the 70's. And if it had been I would have been out of luck, no nonsence parents did not have the money and no way it would be seen as a priority.

Where do these things come from - like kids parties that have to be really expensive, or if not hard work to make it good enough at the right price - used to be jelly and custard,few sandwiches and pass-the-parcel or pin-the-tail, a bit of cake wrapped in a napkin to take home. I went to loads like that, they were great!

I went to one who had a magician and that was something special - but mum did not feel the need to do the same!

Is it the schools that have pushed the prom thing? Can't think how else it would have become so much of an 'essential' ?

Aye...I suspect this 'prom' nonsense is a combination of children watching too many American television programmes combined with adults wanting to show off, with access to too much credit! In my day (only 22 years ago...!) we had a sixth-form 'ball' which despite its title was a glorified disco where we all wore dinner jackets from Oxfam and desperately tried to chat up the talent from the local girl's school under heavy escort!

katieowl_2

[QUOTE=GFN123;50539763

My kitchen is long and thin. Happily there's acres of worktop which I love, but the biggest cupboard is only 40cm wide not the standard 60cm so I've become very adept at 'piling up and squishing'

[/QUOTE]

I'm afraid I've been given a motto by the OH "Katieowl - fitting things into incredibly small spaces since 1959"

Cheeky beggar! I'd like to add I HAVEN'T BEEN doing it SINCE 1959...only since I took up with him and had 3 kids!

Kate

Mrs_Chip

My natural inclination is to squash things into as small a space as possible - shopping all goes in bags like a geometry exercise!

OH however has his mothers genes which which were to spead everything out to take up all available space. imagien what livin with two of them, was like:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:.

Both stubborn, so as you can imagine, there is a deal of tension in the house!

I will win, I will!

greent

Mrs_Chip wrote: »

My natural inclination is to squash things into as small a space as possible - shopping all goes in bags like a geometry exercise!

OH however has his mothers genes which which were to spead everything out to take up all available space. imagien what livin with two of them, was like:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:.

Both stubborn, so as you can imagine, there is a deal of tension in the house!

I will win, I will!

lol! I hve no doubt you will, Mrs C!


Another one with a big kitchen here - the size of a double garage, with a full run of granite worktop down one long side:D:D. Mind you, I still don't have enough room for everything - it's all that stocking up of mine...:o:o I am now trying to run down stores, as even I have to admit that there is just too much here...:o

BitterAndTwisted

To the person who asked about skimmed condensed milk: I could have sworn that I've seen it in L!dl. Perhaps it was only semi-skimmed but I know I've seen it there.

About the kitchens: I don't like to boast but my kitchen is quite generously-sized considering it's a council flat. Not nearly enough cupboards and one had to be taken out to fit the washing-machine in next to the sink. That's been moved to the empty opposite wall. About twenty years ago I got a mate's mate in to do some work. Fitted a tiled-top surround thingy over the w/machine and between sink and stove. Put a great long work-top over that moved kitchen cupboard about 7 feet long and some shelves of the same length on the wall above it. What's the problem? I still don't have enough storage-space: I've got dry-goods and whatnot on top of the kitchen cupboards and an over flow in boxes in the spare bedroom. And I live on my own and cook only for myself. I still need to make room for my mother's Royal Albert dinner service somehow as I won't let my sister get shot of it. I think I need to get a ruddy grip and tidy up/have a clear-out. Or maybe just flee the country and be free of it all........

VJsmum

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

To a fifteen year-old (especially girls, I was one once and remember it well) nearly everything that happens is absolute life-and-death. No shades of grey at any time. This bloody prom is not as important as these kids think it is. it's another blessed import from the USA that we don't need and have no real use for. Your daughter would obviously disagree. Nice dress (cheap from ebay/charity-shop) yes. Hair-do: maybe if she can afford to pay for her own. Limo" Absolutely ruddy-well not. These things are all very well for children of wealthy people for but for the rest of us it's an aspiration too far in my opinion. pat for wht you can afford and no more. Paying off the family's debts are much more important. maybe in a decade's time your daughter will agree with me. I do hope so.

We have the prom thing as well. Luckily Dd's frock isn't as pricey as it might be and local businesses do quite good hair and make up deals - but in fact she can do her own very beautifully. And - get this - her and her mates have arranged with the Round Table to hire Santa's sleigh for a donation. I think it is costing [STRIKE]her[/STRIKE] us £20! :T

It is all nuts though. i think the school are stopping it after this year, as my other child is a boy i don't think he will be bothered.

Still at work, but have stopped working. I am just waiting for the traffic to die down a bit.

[Deleted User]

My friends son found a Dress Dinner Suit in a charity shop when he was 16 for his school prom. Good buy as he has just worn it for the second time to a 1920s Fancy Dress party. The miracle is that it still fits and he is how 30 !!!!!

elizabunny

Byatt wrote: »

Hi everyone. Still feeling a little worse for wear. Think I have to accept that I have some sort of lurgy and give into it.

I had a letter about my pension date this morning. I knew what it was going to be but seeing it in black and white, well...I have a further 5 years to go rather than the 18 months it should have been.:eek: Worse, I miss out by just 2 months. I should have been a spring baby not a summer one.

Mine's been pushed back 6 years:eek: It really annoys me. DH works but I don't now. So we will have to manage on one pension for 3 years when he retires, when originally I would have taken mine 3 years before he retired. I hardly dare think of our future. Hope you are feeling better soon.

Had to go to DHs Uncle's funeral today. A bit sad really but he was a great age 95! I can't imagine living that long. How the world must have changed in his lifetime.