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

lillibet_dripping

fuddle wrote: »

I have looked at my electric consumption and last month we consumed £20 more than the direct debit. I kknow what it is, it's the tumble dryer being used daily because of all the rotten weather we've been having.

Here's my plan. I have a small airer that I'm going to dig out (might need a second one if this system works) and wash on a morning every other day. I will hang the items on the airer (line if I can ) that morning and hope they dry over night. If not finish them off in the tumbler but at only a fraction of the time that I would use from wet.

Ha! I hit 'post' without replying!!!!
Fuddle, I don't have a tumble drier, but have found that when the wash load has finished its cycle, I take half the load out and give what's left an extra spin. Then swap the half-loads over and spin the other half. You will be amazed at how much water still comes out and how much 'less wet' the clothes are. Hope that makes sense!!!
Lilli x

QUOTE]

[Deleted User]

FUDDLE - great idea to use the airer, also second Lillibets idea of the second spin that really helps. We have a utility room where the boiler is situated and DH has put me a rail up (used 2 pieces of wood both with a cup shape cut out to support it) and I find things dry really well if I hang them up on hangers, saves on some ironing too which would help with electricity consumption. I always run with the window open a crack when I'm drying indoors, helps keep condensation down Cheers Lyn x.

mardatha

I sold my tumble drier on Gumtree and my bills dropped. I'd try washing smaller amounts every day fuddle, and then they can be spread out more on the airer. I'm lucky because we keep the stove lit all the time, so I hang stuff on the airer in front of it overnight and its bone dry in the morning. The tumble drier is the heaviest user of electricity next to the immersion and electric cooker. You have to plot and scheme to beat the utility company, but I enjoy it

smileyt_2

I have an airer that hangs from the ceiling on the landing. Out of the way and stuff dries really quickly. Wouldn't be without it.

Am avoiding the news because I can't face any more of the tories and their evil policies - I refuse to let them ruin what is going to be the last sunny day for at least four days.

Does anyone know if honeysuckle winding round the bath and toilet downpipes (on the outside of the house of course!) is dangerous ie will it pull the pipes off the wall? My honeysuckle is going crazy at the moment (and smells gorgeous) but I don't want to be landed with a bill if the pipes collapse!!

lizzyb1812

Lilibet - that's a good idea re the wet clothes.

Fuddle - I don't have a tumble drier and frequently dry things on an airer. Get them onto the airer as soon as possible in the morning, don't over cram it as you need air to circulate to dry quickly. I have 2 of those over the door hangers that you can put about 6 clothes hangers on - they work well as airers and the clothes usually don't need ironing - again don't overcram - just put about 3 things on them.

Keep the tops of your doors clean and big stuff like sheets can be draped over them - the washing won't be wet enough to damage them. I know it can be a bit of a pain having washing draped about all over the place but if you wash little and often instead of having one big washday it can be manageable.

AF have texted - delivery coming this afternoon :j:j

Does anyone have a silicone or marble rolling pin and are they better than the wooden ones? I don't like pastry so rarely roll stuff out and am pants at it but want to make wraps, pittas, etc.

maryb

Normally I try and do a wash overnight on timer because we have Economy 7 but if the forecast is good I will do extra washes during daytime rates so I can get them dried without using the tumbler. Economy 7 works well for us because our hours seem to be 12.30 to 7.30 in summer (although it's not fixed and can be any 7 hours between 11 and 8 in our area) so I do one wash overnight and if I'm up early (which I am on a school day) then I can get another wash on before 7. Dh thinks I'm a bit obsessive because I do the hottest wash overnight then the morning wash is always a 40 degree just in case it's at full daytime rates for part of it. But I like to think I'm stopping them getting my money.

The killer for us at present is DD2 being on study leave. She has baths and showers at odd times and always puts the water heating on for an extra hour about 15 minutes before. I'm not stressing her at present but that is going to stop once the GCSEs are over

maryb

I've got a silicone rolling pin and it's OK but I wouldn't have said it's any better than my old wooden pin. I find I still have to flour it just as much. Marble would be too heavy for me and in any case I've got granite worktops. Not that they make as much difference as people would have you believe. I find my pastry is much easier to handle if I DON'T rest it for 30 minutes but roll it out straight away

prepareathome

Morning all - well it is still morning, just, had to get out my bed to answer the door, so inconsiderate these delivery drivers deciding to deliver what I ordered when I cannot be bothered getting out of bed. Anyway by the time I toddled down there he had gone ( very unusual most usually have the patience to wait and I do thank them ( I usually yell am coming but doubt they ever hear it with the three mutts barking away ( why is it small dogs have such loud barks), and think got to know most of the main ones now) but this was a Royal Mail delivery, I know as there is tape all over it saying Royal Mail please do not cut this tape - the said tape is holding together 8 boxes of plants, my delivery from Van Meuwen bought via Martins email last week. Had email from them late Monday saying they had been dispatched but deliveries usually take 5 days which I thought was rather a long time for living plants, so obviously just a general email, as on the tape it also says urgent live plants.

Must say I am very impressed. 25 hanging basket plants and 15 ground ones which suits me as I only have a small area where the spring bulbs were that is bare and needs flowers putting in and rest will go in pots which is where I have most of my flowers and maybe a couple in my one and only hanging basket - do have nasturums in there, put seeds of it in it weeks ago and have a healthy crop of leaves but narry a flower yet. Nice mixture of flowers as well, not all the same but at moment only one I can remember is geraniums. So feel a £10 well spent as plants do look healthy.

So now I better throw some extra pain meds down me so can get out and plant these things before they die on me and before it rains as its chilly and over cast here today - sigh we only had one nice day of sunshine, yesterday, and all I could do was toddle out and check for slug damage ( thankfully none so far, which I still find hard to believe).

I did eat in garden the one pea pod that was ready, saw it and thought that looks a nice size, popped it and 5 lovely peas inside so there and then I ate them, lovely. Also cut our first Rhubarb and we had Rhubarb crumble with ice cream after dinner last night mmmmmm only other thing edible so far are lettuce and herbs so they are being eaten and used. After last few years when slugs and weather ruined everything its like Christmas every time I go out and see things are still growing or ready to pick.

Should have been having the heart trace today but after me cancelling the dentist ( again) as appointment dr gave me for it was same time they called yesterday to say the clinic was closed today and at first wanted to give me an appointment in August, till I explained my GP wanted to see me with the results on Friday and she had even made the appointment to see her herself, so they gave me one for tomorrow now at 11.20 and then in afternoon I have to go to a hospital miles away for the bladder tests - was hoping to pop into niece that lives very near said hospital but wouldn't you know it they have had a flood and electrics are out so they are staying in her mother in laws miles away. Her home is a private rent and her landlord doesn't seem in any hurry to get things sorted poor things they have two young children both at local schools and now a long journey daily to school and back.

PS having a bad spelling day - reread this and found where words could be spelt a few ways in each case I had spelt them the wrong way for meaning so if you find any more sorry, head just refuses to get into gear today.

Fuddle I am hoping now you have told us your big dark secret that now its out in the light you can really see if for what it is 'nothing much at all' ( in the ashamed stakes that is not in what you went through) and you can hold your head up and know you are as good as anyone else.

Kidcat I hope that husband of yours has spent the night awake and thinking over what you said and come up with a plan that is right for all of you............I have in past few years realised my hubby is maybe has aspergers - well functioning as only really learnt about it when Nephew started to have problems and sister found it he had this as well as a few other problems and as I read more I realised how this fitted hubby to a tee. At 57 not much chance of getting him tested or of him going ( never mentioned it to him) but it at least explains a lot about his behaviour over the years and makes me glad that although I have kicked him out 3 times over the years ( longest for 2 weeks and he would just go to his mums who would lecture him on how selfish a person he was, I was lucky had a MIL on my side, she has been gone 3 years and I miss her a lot) am glad I took him back and worked at our marriage, still times I want to kick him out when it all becomes to much - last summer was one time as with my health problems it does make it harder to be the strong one in charge and coping all the time with no one to really rely on and I no longer have children at home.

Oh well done it again written a monologue - you all must sigh when you see another post from me, its feast or famine nothing in between.

Hugs, Love and healing to all xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

prepareathome

lizzyb1812 wrote: »

Lilibet
Does anyone have a silicone or marble rolling pin and are they better than the wooden ones? I don't like pastry so rarely roll stuff out and am pants at it but want to make wraps, pittas, etc.

I have a marble one, had it years and I love it, yes its very heavy but I find now that weight makes it easier for me to roll out pastry. I do find its always cold as marble should be so better for the pastry.....not tried a silicon one although have some silicone bakeware which is wonderful, so much easier to clean is anything goes over the side and burns........

prepareathome

smileyt wrote: »

I have an airer that hangs from the ceiling on the landing. Out of the way and stuff dries really quickly. Wouldn't be without it.

Am avoiding the news because I can't face any more of the tories and their evil policies - I refuse to let them ruin what is going to be the last sunny day for at least four days.

Does anyone know if honeysuckle winding round the bath and toilet downpipes (on the outside of the house of course!) is dangerous ie will it pull the pipes off the wall? My honeysuckle is going crazy at the moment (and smells gorgeous) but I don't want to be landed with a bill if the pipes collapse!!

I would keep an eye on it as it can get rather thick and woody - I have it growing up front of house, planted it years ago and parts now are as thick as a tree branch so it could eventually I would assume bring down the pipe ( or of course hold it in place if it grows right). I planted some over the grave of our much missed Judy 6 years ago and its taken over the privet hedge in parts ( no loss there I loathe privet and again is slowly becoming rather woody). Last lot is only a few years old and I have it growing out of a old toilet ( a pink one that I have covered with a mixture of compost and concrete and is now very mossy) and I am training it to grow over an arch I have put near and its growing nicely there and so far that is still soft, also have a Rose and Clementis growing up the arch all very slowly but growing. As you can tell I love honeysuckle