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

smileyt_2

I don't have a telly so I will watch BGT on itvplayer tomorrow. Can't wait to see the gorgeous Pudsey doggy!

Well, my card-making workshop today was utterly hectic but great fun and I had some lovely feedback. One woman who chose my workshop runs some kind of youth group thing (eek, yoofs!) and wants to pay me to go and do a session!I am stunned. I'm not sure I'm that good to be honest, but she seemed impressed. I gave her my e-mail address so I'll have to wait and see if she follows through.

Mardatha get well soon. What are you doing getting flu in May? Although admittedly it has felt more like the beginning of March just recently.

Kidcat I have to say I'm not overly impressed with any of your kids' schools from the things you have told us!

Ginnyknit how are you and OH? I'm sorry to hear about your son's gf. Please tell her it's no reflection on her that she's been made redundant so soon. What were the company doing taking her on anyway - they must have known that they were in trouble and would be having to make people redundant? I've been made redundant twice and I know it's not a good feeling, especially when jobs generally are in such short supply.

Kezlou you can't get them in Boots as far as I know, you have to get them online. http://www.goodhealthnaturally.com are about the cheapest place, I think - although it's not cheap, but if it works it might be worth it. I think they sell different strengths.

Byatt hope you're enjoying some down time. I'm also jealous of Mrs Chip and her lovely holiday ....

It's bedtime. Greyqueen please could you send Nursie round with a nice cup of cocoa - when she's finished reviving SDG3100 after the poor lass's traumatic excursion into teenage-boy-bedroom-land!

Sweet dreams xx.

silvasava

Just skimming last couple of pages - I tried your tip GQ of soaking my broad beans & it was still so cold here that they took about 5 weeks to appear! They're doing fine now though - as you rightly said everything has stalled waiting for the weather to warm up.

DH & I have finished doing up my Mum's house & its going on the market - mixed feelings about letting it go as so many happy memories BUT I did get DH to dig up 2 Paeonies, a Fuchsia & a couple of hardy Geraniums to put in our garden to keep the memory

Hope everyone has a lovely sunny Sunday

GreyQueen

Morning all!

I'm squinting at the screen at the mo as have woken up with one eye nearly swollen shut. It was bit puffy yesterday morning but is deffo infected today. I look like I've been smacked, bar the discoloration, so will pop up to the walk-in clinic within the hour. The luxury of living in the middle of the city..............

Well, as you may have gathered, I did not spontaneously combust when I set foot on sanctified ground, and the church was OK when I left it, honest, guv. Concert was fantabulous and the setting (candlelit church) really made it. Has anyone else noticed that faces, when uplit by carried tapers, look very very strange? Everyone looked like they were wearing black bandanna across their eyes and a bit demonic, even the pal, who is a perfectly-normal looking and attractive woman in daylight..........:rotfl:

Carmina Burana.....hmmmm, I could go for that. I have it on tape somewhere but it seems to want to be played at earsplitting volumes which are incompatible with flat-dwelling life. Such a shame I can't be a hooligan with a clear conscience.

Once I'm up and done with the clinic, I shall potter about at home then go to the allotment this afternoon. Was exhausted after nearly 4 hours up there yesterday, so am easing into the day. I thought I'd open the expired seeds packets and decant them into a spare spice shaker and shake them over the soil. It would just confirm what passers-by have long suspected; I'm bonkers. Should any of them ask, I shall say that I'm sowing peppers.:rotfl:

Have a lovely sunny day, peeps, GQ x

lizzyb1812

GQ - saline solution as used by contact lens wearers is good to bathe your eyes when you have conjunctivitis. Headphones for the loud music. And I have a lovely big bowl of saladings sown with a similar mix/method to yours.

Pup has chewed through one of the straps on his expensive new head collar :mad: so a bit of repairing required using some of my carrier bag of old leads/collars etc. Then I really must tackle my verge - the bit between my front garden fence and the pavement which is my only bit of grass. Made even more urgent because my neighbour has just done hers making mine look even worse :eek:

maryb

Morning all.

Could I ask some advice please? DD1 has got a job (yayy!!) lined up in London for when she graduates. Until she finds someone she wants to flatshare with she'll live at home for a bit. We will charge her for rent and board once she is earning and I have said that she ought to get used to paying what she would have to pay if she was living in a flat with others. But how much should that be? She lived in college all through her degree so doesn't have a student flat as a guide and in any case London is more expensive. Out of what she pays, I will keep a reasonable amount for extra heating, food costs etc and the rest will be used to set her up when she does get her own place. But if she doesn't get used to paying a realistic amount for rent bills and food at the start she'll find it hard to adjust.

So suggestions gratefully received

Byatt

maryb wrote: »

Morning all.

Could I ask some advice please? DD1 has got a job (yayy!!) lined up in London for when she graduates. Until she finds someone she wants to flatshare with she'll live at home for a bit. We will charge her for rent and board once she is earning and I have said that she ought to get used to paying what she would have to pay if she was living in a flat with others. But how much should that be? She lived in college all through her degree so doesn't have a student flat as a guide and in any case London is more expensive. Out of what she pays, I will keep a reasonable amount for extra heating, food costs etc and the rest will be used to set her up when she does get her own place. But if she doesn't get used to paying a realistic amount for rent bills and food at the start she'll find it hard to adjust.

So suggestions gratefully received

Good news about your DD! :T

Could you divide costs of bills by how many adults are in your house? And then do a percentage according to income of each? So you would get an idea for DD's contribution.

BitterAndTwisted

What would I do? Probably calculate her anticipated rent in a share at £150 a week. Minus whatever the difference between her fares from home will be and the probable £30 a week it would cost her to live in town.

My niece found herself a research placement after her science degree and is sharing a flat in Canary Wharf at £600 a month including bills and C Tax.

Very sensible trying to help her live on what she will have to manage on once she leaves. I'm sure it will make her appreciate all the advantages of having lived at home.

maryb

Thank you, that's helpful. B&T what does your niece do about food? Do they have a kitty (Included in the £600 pm?) or do they pay their own way?

Byatt

B&T how big is the flat and how many share? I think it would be cheaper for me to live in London!!

bupster

Maryb, 600 might be a bit steep but maybe not if all bills and council tax included. I'm in an expensive university town which has Londonish rent prices and a room in a shared house would be a bit cheaper than that, but I suppose it depends where you are. Generally that wouldn't include food, renters fend for themselves. You could ask your DD whether she wants to cook and eat separately or pay board as well, and then decide? Might be worth asking her what she thinks is fair as well? Does she know the money will help set her up?

I'd be looking at £100 a week rent and £25 food. Once she's in London everything will be more expensive but maybe she could save ahead of moving as well if there's much left over?