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

Margaret54

Hi everyone so enjoying all the chst on here. Lifts the spirits no end. Sorry to hear of the sadness some of you are going through Big (hugs) to you all.
Very wet here so can't take the dog out for his walk just yet. Have been re reading Helen Forrester's story in Twopence To Cross The Mersey. Bless her heart. i read it many years ago, and always remembered what she had written.
I was putting some shopping away yesterday and looked at the pack of 4 bars of soap, and remembered even soap was not there for them all. Very sobering reading. I loved reading about the kind policeman and how he handled things and left milk each day for the little baby, bought from his own pay, which can't have been a lot back then.

Possession

Roast chicken with lashings of bread sauce for dinner, what more could you ask for on a Sunday?! I shall do my best to rubberise it but will have to hide the leftovers from DH who is like a hoover where things like this are concerned. With 4 of us there doesn't tend to be much left.
Cold and frosty still here, although I'm rather too warm with lots of baking to do for the business and infinite amounts of cleaning and tidying up.

scrabbles_2

wanchai wrote: »

Hello all, really hope you don't mind me asking, but is this a good sewing machine? I've been after one for ages but couldn't justify the prices... this seems like a decent model to my untrained eye, but I could be wrong

http://www.kgbdeals.co.uk/national/deals/76905/toyota-sewing-machine---aisin-europe-sa---national?utm_source=ym&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dailydeal&utm_term=76905&utm_content=national&kigdb=b87c1b15-2751-44ed-95f7-97c0882647d5

Thanks very very much in advance.

p.s. I love the OS board, it has given me many good tips to make my money go a bit further and you are all lovely

I'm not the leading expert on sewing machines, but what I will say is that I've seen that sewing machine for that price quite a few times elsewhere. So if you do miss out this time, don't worry too much, you'll see it again somewhere along the way.

Personally I favour vintage machines, I find that they're more rugged, will sew through anything, are less temperemental and are easy to maintain and fix yourself. Oh and did I mention that they're cheap as chips? I am currently using a 60's Necchi Lelia, which will happily sew through belt leather and inch-thick foam without complaint. She doesn't do two billion different stitches but I can honestly say I've never found that a problem.

ETA: I would ask this lot

mardatha

Just popped in to mention the Rationingrevisited blog that spmebody posted on here has 2 great new recipes posted. I did the mince/breadcrumbs/mash thingies and am now trying to dredge up the energy to do the carrot cookies. She must be on here I think. I like the recipes as they are short and easy lol ( a bit like me )

smileyt_2

Winchester how very sad. I hope you have support in your grief - it sounds as if you have family around you. Be gentle with yourself. And 3v3 I hope you are feeling more hopeful soon too.

Shegar your pond sounds fab! I am suffering from pond envy :rotfl:Perhaps it's just as well I don't have one as I would spend even less time doing the housework than I do now - I'd be out there newt watching all the time!

About the Manchester Toughies meet - if it's alright with the people who expressed interest, I'm going to suggest that we do leave it until March when we all might have more energy, and when Ginnyknit's DH is hopefully better from his operation so she doesn't have to worry about leaving him alone for a couple of hours.

Jamanda, all you need now is a partridge to sit on your head.:rotfl:

Hello markdebby, and catbells.

A tomcat has sprayed on my door and the house stinks :mad:! Any suggestions for stink removal gratefully received!

Took some loo roll and pasta and teabags round to a neighbour's this morning. Her husband is unemployed and all her wages are gone as soon as they go into the bank, paying off bills. She is really struggling to make ends meet, and hubby is starting to get depressed He was told at the JobCentre that he wasn't entitled to JSA as he hasn't paid enough NI contributions. Can they do this? I thought all decisions had to be made by a Decision Maker and the claimant informed by letter? I have told her he needs to go the the Citizens Advice Bureau or re-claim, but before April in case the NI contributions thing runs from April to March like the tax year does. Apparently they were really unapologetic at the JobCentre, and made him wait ages to see someone. He's no layabout and is a really hard worker, but he said they made him feel like a scrounger. The pasta was stuff I had stocked up when it was on special offer, before I discovered I had the wheat thing going on, so at least it's gone to a good home where it will be used. The teabags were Sainsbury's basics, for 30p, and it's really nice tea and fairtrade too (thanks to Mardatha for that tip). My neighbour is a big tea drinker, like me, and I know it would be a catastrophe if she ran out of teabags :rotfl: And she would do the same for me if the boot were on the other foot. She has offered a shoulder to cry on if the worst case scenario happens with Bruno.

It makes you wonder, doesn't it, just how many people are really struggling? The young lad I have with me at the moment would be either on the streets and/or selling s*x in exchange for a bed for the night if he hadn't found the charity that has placed him here, and there are others like him too, he's by no means an isolated case.

Anyway. We all must do what little we can. None of us can change the world, but we can perhaps help the people around us. Just after New Year, a woman came up to me in the street as I was on my way home with the dogs, and wished my a "Happy New Year, beautiful lady." I was a bit stunned as she said it as if she knew me. Seeing the puzzlement on my face (although I had returned her greeting) she then told me that I had helped her one day in the park. I didn't remember, but she said that one day she had been crying, and I had walked past her with the dogs. She had seen me hesitate and then I turned back to ask if she was OK (silly question really, as obviously someone in tears in a public place is not OK!). She had said she was OK and wanted to be left alone but she said my concern really lifted her and gave her the strength to carry on! I was astounded, absolutely astounded as she told me this. So you never know, even the smallest thing, a smile, a kind word, can change someone's life in ways you may never know.

Sorry, I think I've come over all sentimental-like.

I'm off to do some housework. Still won't do itself! Enjoy your Sunday everyone. xx

ETA: Wanchai I have read different reviews of kgb, not all of them good. You might be better buying from Argos or a proper sewing machine shop where you can return the machine if something goes wrong. I know Argos had a brother machine for about £90 just before Christmas, and John Lewis also had some special offers on - and they won't mess you around if you need to return it.

ginnyknit

Hiya Smileyt, sorry to hear about your darling doggy, hope all goes well. March sounds an excellent time for a meet, - Spring wont be far away and we wont have to brave the cold - hopefully. Oh now has an infection and the flu so off to the Gp tomorrow. If she had given him the bl))dy flu injection like we asked maybe he wouldnt feel so lousy now :mad:

Just found 3 baby field mice in the tub of rabbit food in the shed, yesterday there was 1 They have already eaten their way through a big bag of sunflower seeds that were for the birds and left a bag of husks. One day I will go out and there will be a 6 foot mouse sat in there. Just saved £8.00 cos I trimmed the rabbits claws myself, DD usually does it but hasnt had time and there was no way I was paying the vet for the task. Luckily she is the most docile rabbit we have ever had and loves to lie on her back and be cuddled. Have padded her and the guinea pigs up with lots of straw as its like Siberia here. Popped into Manchester and saw loads of Canada Geese on the canal, I am totally in awe of them and love it when they fly over here every night, the sound is amazing.

Right am off to wrap myself in a blanket and crochet, its too cold for anything else and my office is freezing. Hugs to all in need.

mardatha

Oh Ginny I love those geese too. Is baltic here and hens water keeps freezing last few days, I gave them extra straw and mealworms and I gave the RV tattie soup. I hope I dont mix them up.... *evil smile*

Pitlanepiglet

Blimey it's freezing cold here, I've had the heating going full blast all day and I'm still sitting here in 2 fleece jumpers cuddling the laptop and the dog for warmth. I've had a bit of a cold lurking so I don't know if that's why I'm feeling chilly. Have just made spicy butternut squash soup which has warmed things up a bit.

Lazy day here, nice long walk this morning and some chats on the phone to catch up.

I've got some paperwork I ought to be doing but I really can't be bothered!

scotmumof3

It's freezing cold here too and DH just let the dog out the back and left the door open (will he never learn) He then came in and said " oh it's cold in here" D'oh !!! (love him really ) I;m trying to keep the heating off as long as possible without giving us all hypothermia but DH keeps scuppering me by turning the dreaded dial up.:mad: Never mind got the chicken in the oven so the kitchens warm and that's where i'll be for the next half hour Oh the injustice of it all:D

greent

Winchelsea - so, so sorry to hear your news - and 3v3, too.

(((hugs)) xx