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

meme30

Nice healthy cereal breakfast followed two doorstops of Hot Cross Bun loaf with butter! Big breakfast at the caravan...it's the LAW!:rotfl:

Heading over to the Lakes for the day, am a happy bunny!:j

ginnyknit

PIC and Shergar, sorry for your loss both of you. Shergar hunny look after yourself. My thoughts are with you both, hugs ginny

greent

Just popping on to say gentle hugs to Shegar & Gardenia and more hugs for PIC

Now - we're off to Cornwall for a week tomorrow morning - so PLEASE try not to chat too much whilst I'm away - I'll never catch up otherwise!!

maryb

did the shopping this morning and it was like driving in the rush hour - held up at least 4 times for about 5 minutes by traffic queueing to get into petrol stations. When you think that the union will have to give 7 days notice of the strike dates and in the meantime petrol stations should still be getting deliveries it does seem a bit unnecessary. But in the meantime all the drivers are getting lots of overtime so that they can see out the strike more easily. :rotfl:

And the petrol stations are frankly profiteering. I filled up last Friday at 138.9 p per litre (and could have got it for 136.9p but didn't want to go out of my way). Today they were charging 143.9p:eek::eek:

Hope anyone who is getting away for Easter manages without any petrol problems (I suppose, thinking about it, a lot of people could have been filling up before an Easter break as the schools break up today) Wednesday next week should be when I next need to top up. Hopefully they will have smaller queues by then

maryb

Just seen in the paper that Unite have said there will be no strike before Easter.

Cynical me says they are waiting until everyone needs to fill up again, the school runs start again and everyone is back at work. But hopefully things will calm down a bit now

kidcat

mary - I was thinking the same, I was not bothered about the strike, as little car has had its regular fuel up early this week and if carefully used that will last OH three weeks worth of work. Big car has enough that used very carefully, as there is no school it could last easily until end of first school week. BUt if strike goes ahead after kids are back - then I will have to be very careful. Am considering vegetable oil stockpiling to use in big car - costs less than diesel at Aldi and can store in shed.

Have found a local bio-diesel supplier that is offering bio-diesel for 12p per litre cheaper than normal, and bio-fuel for oil tanks which is 30p per litre cheaper. I am told that there is no difference in the two other than duty being paid on one allowing it to be used in cars, the other you have to buy containers full instead - am tempted to buy a few large containers just in case!!

westcoastscot

Hi guys,
Haven't read back but sorry to hear about those stuggling with illness and personal losses.
Times on the west coast are getting tougher - I heard the drivers aren't striking until after easter; gossip around here is because they get paid more to drive on bank holidays! Unfortunately because there has been panic-buying in Glasgow we couldn't get our normal delivery today, so stocks here are running low even though everyone has carried on as normal. Also noticed a lot less stuff in our small super-market today.

I've been reading also about the huge hike in stamp prices - I have a tiny online craft business that gives me a little extra every month which makes a massive difference to me - it's enough to buy yarn, fabric, books etc, in a small way - but don't think i'll be able to keep going after April. I'd have to put the postage for cards and small items up from £1.90 overseas to £3.30 plus packaging!! no-one is going to pay that, and most of my business is overseas. I don't make a lot of money, but it's enough to sweeten the month for me - I shall miss it!!!

We've had lovely weather, but the cold has returned today - so hope we get a good summer for veggie growing!

keep warm and well,
WCS

prepareathome

My hubby went down south yesterday till Sunday and it took him nearly 24hrs to find a petrol station that had fuel - he eventually got some at just gone 6am yesterday morning, he had found out when they all within 20 miles were due their deliveries then would phone to check if they had them, a lot didn't. So now we are just hoping he can find somewhere to get petrol to get home on Sunday. Round here people really have gone mad and now most petrol stations are actually limiting fuel to ensure everyone gets some. We had half a tank which would have done us a couple of weeks in the normal way, but his journey couldn't be done on that. I also need more petrol for my lawn mower - son borrowed it and the petrol and forgot to replace it and no where round here at the moment is letting you fill up a container, just hope I can get some soon as grass already needs cutting again even though just 7 days since last done.

No sunshine today just heavy cloud, but still not to cold which is something, although I did find the bathroom radiator had come on earlier - thermostat for house is set always at 18.

Today like Tuesday I have barely moved from my bed as just so tired which is a annoying as it would be a good day to do some more work in garden as am going through a phase of hot flushes again, so got rather hot out there past few days, so annoying as they vanished for months.

Gardenia sending you lots of love, sorry missed you yesterday, that bug sounds awful, poor you.

Shegar I wish I had some way to help you, you have so much to cope with and you do so, so brilliantly, so sorry to hear about your father, I still find myself going to phone mine about once a week ( it took me about 2 years before I stopped trying to phone mum and dad has only been gone 9 months).

I hope no-one is left without fuel......

Hugs and Love xxxxxxxxxxxxx

short_bird

maryb wrote: »

Just seen in the paper that Unite have said there will be no strike before Easter.

Cynical me says they are waiting until everyone needs to fill up again, the school runs start again and everyone is back at work. But hopefully things will calm down a bit now

Also, quite a lot of fuel duty flowing into government coffers, you'd almost think they'd started a deliberate panic...

gardenia101

kidcat wrote: »

gardenia - hugs I had that last weekend and DS has it now, he was so unsympathetic with me but grudgingly admits its horrible, feels like you have swallowed broken glass, yuck.

Yes Kidcat, that is exactly how it feels. Although now I have a nose that is either running or bunged up so I can't breathe through it, & mouth breathing just makes my throat more sore :mad:. Not much sleep last night, so in the end I shoved some Mentholatum ointment up my nose (DON'T try this at home) & crashed out on the sofa which seemed to work. I'm so glad I don't have my kids to look after this week - don't know how those of you who have this are coping with all your other duties? I guess you just have to, don't you.

Thanks to all of you for your kind comments - it really does help!

Shegar - you poor thing, what a vile time for you. Sending you a gentle hug & a virtual tea (although the only thing I want to drink is tomato juice, so have a virtual TJ too as it may help your throat).

PIC - hugs to you too - makes you think about life, doesn't it.

short_bird wrote: »

Also, quite a lot of fuel duty flowing into government coffers, you'd almost think they'd started a deliberate panic...

You sound as cynical as me! Glad I don't have to worry about petrol too much, although if it gets bad then the buses will stop running which will affect me. I still have enough food to sink a battleship so I can bunker down thankfully. I just hope all of you who need fuel for the important stuff don't suffer.

I was very heavily pregnant with DS during the last crisis & my now ex was panicking about how we'd get to the hospital should DS ever decide to appear. We were in Wales which is where I'd hoped DS could be born (thinking about him playing rugby for Wales :rotfl:) but sadly we got home & he was born in England. But he will get into the Welsh squad under the grandparent rule :dance: should he ever wish to play.

I'm back off to the sofa - was hoping to go on the OS meet tomorrow to Bristol but will most likely stay in bed as I don't feel well enough, & don't want to infect anyone else with this lurgy. Anyone from here going?