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

VJsmum

I have new chairs. OH bought them while i was out trying to look important at another University. We had agreed on style anyway and he got a bargain - he's learning.

His job is looking a bit iffy later on in the year so we are doing some essential purchasing now (believe me, the chairs were essential as the old ones will replace the white plastic garden chairs gracing (disgracing ) the conservatory).

What a busy day - DD and I were out of the house by 7.10 as we were doing a trial run to her new school prior to her induction days week after next. It is a heck of a jaunt and a shock to someone who thus far has done all of her schooling within a 10 minute walk from home. She could do the 6th form at a college 10 minutes in a different direction but has elected to go to another town as the school is outstanding and has a fantastic performing arts pedigree, which is what she has set her heart on (I know, I know - but how can I burst her dream bubble). From the school we then went into Brum for dreaded prom shoes (as someone said on here, this time last year "madness thy name is prom). She has size 9 feet and the posh frock couldn't stand anything with much of a heel (as DD is 5'8"). But we did get something and at a bit of a bargain.

From there I caught a train to a northern university to be external examiner for the afternoon and have just got in - phew. Sat with a lovely cuppa and some toast and marmalade. I made the marmalade from one of those tins you can get in Lakeland. I think it cost about £1.50 and has made 8 jars of marmalade - tho i did have to add a ton (well, 4lb) of sugar.

Fuddle - you are doing sterling work and don't let anyone (or your own head) tell you otherwise.

Hugs for all who need or want them - and even if you don't :rotfl:

Dad is now out of the main hospital and is starting the round of rehab again - I think I made a difference going down last week. So fingers crossed they get it right this time.

maryb

Fuddle, I think it's a good idea to be prepared for things that you would have to cope with if they happened but which could blow your budget. If you had to go to a funeral, you would almost certainly feel you had to have a suitable dress out of respect.

And a little black dress will always be useful. Wear it with a red jacket and a red hat with black ribbon and you've got a dressy day outfit too

grandma247

fuddle wrote: »

My two would see it as an adventure too grandma and what a great mummy thing to do, to be determined to make it into an adventure when you were probably feeling frantic yourself.

Ahh It was probably too many Enid Blyton books. I still read them now sometimes to myself and sometimes to my 12 year old son.:)

mardatha

I did that too grandma.W hen things were going to hell and we were living on soup and porridge, I would read them the Famous Five stories

lizzyb1812

I have fond memories of those stories - I wanted to be George, or Jo in Little Women.

AF order arrived on time - now where is the army I'm supposed to be feeding? If the previously mentioned ark gets built and used this weekend I can keep Mrs Chip well supplied enough to feed us all :rotfl:

Thanks to Mar telling us about her early Latah tomatoes last year I've started to harvest this year's crop - every year I forget how sumptuously different they are from supermarket ones until I get that first one - yum

Thinking of changing my car. Used to do up to 20k miles a year but now it's about 4k so can afford to go for a cheap runabout and sell my car and put the difference into savings. One of my neighbours is selling one of his and I'm mighty tempted. But I need to look at other options too before going ahead.

prepareathome

Fuddle do you know the rich including the queen never go anywhere without packing funeral clothes as they might need to appear in them and it would not be seemly for them appear in normal clothes while they have them made up, so you are doing what is considered normal not only by them but by most people - most woman usually have a little black dress that can be used at a funeral or a cocktail party- all depends on the bits and bobs you add. Yep I have a few and a nice straw hat ( black of course) that can be worn for one during warmer weather and a fur one ( not real fur) in winter - when you get to my age they do tend to get used but you never know at any age.

Can totally understand your anxieties you lost your house and that has left you feeling if that can happen anything can and you cannot control it so you want to do what you can to protect them, but prepare for the worst when anything might happen and that includes the dress.......

I managed to get all my plants put in the ground, pots and found that my rose bush I have in a pot beside my arch ( I have pots on side with honeysuckle in it and rose in pot on other which I put in about 4/5 years ago) has suddenly started to produce flowers, beautiful deep pink roses, about 3 fully out and dozens of buds, I had given up hope it was ever going to produce as its over four foot high now, honeysuckle on other side is over half way up and across arch so that was a nice surprise.

I am feeling very happy, would you believe over a Porta potty - wanted one for years for emergency but could never, ever justify the expense, so about once a year I usually put in a request of Freegle and did so today and a guy contacted me to say he had one and call. Did so and spoke to his wife, turns out two years ago they bought a Campervan and they guy they bought it from through in a brand new Porta potty which they took home and put in the loft and my post reminded them about it so they will get it down and we can collect it tomorrow......now what normal person I ask you would be excited over a portable loo, but I am, ok, never pretended to be normal, that word is definitely not one you would use about me..........not told hubby yet, he will really think I have lost it when I tell him what we are going to collect.

For past hour wind has been getting stronger so presume it will bring the rain soon, yuk and of course tomorrow got to go out............urg

prepareathome

Grandma you have my admiration on what you did. Enid Blyton stories were also ones I would reach to my lot and say how this or that was our adventure ))

kidcat

Gailey - welcome home

Byatt - oh my your poor DD is really going through it at the moment. Its so good she is getting support though.

Fuddle- my understanding of rental rules ( and please check on rentals board before listening to me ) is that as long as you make good anything before you leave you can swap the machine out now. In our last rented place we took a kitchen cabinet out and turned it around to allow a second cooker to be installed. Then when we left we put it back as it was and all was fine.

PAH- well done on the freecycle find

Enid Blyton books were my joy when I was younger, I so wanted to be able to do all those things, and swallows and amazons too!

VJsmum - prom was me, it was so costly and all the little things really added up - correct underwear to fit dress, jewellry, nails etc not to mention the dress. I was really lucky that we bought our dress from an Eb*y shop made to measure in China, it was perfect fit and very quick arrival. Also DD was able to use the frilly underskirt from my wedding dress rather than buy new which saved a bit.
So good luck with your prep - I found it all very exhausting.

katieowl_2

Where do people buy normal clothes these days? DD and I have just spent the evening looking for a suitable dress for her for work. It needs to be black, have sleeves of some kind, and be not too short, and washable. Some of the work-wear suggestions we have seen online are not suitable for work IMHO - very racy :eek: We 'did' the high street online, then worked through the lands end, k and co flavours we could think of! If a black dress is this hard, I can't wait for shoe shopping!

Byatt

Thanks Kidcat, some good may have come out of it, although I'm not holding my breath. She just called me to say she wants to move from her flat. She hasn't wanted to leave even though support have been trying to encourage her as she said she loved her flat. She still loves it but said she's not happy. It would be better in many ways especially as we would be closer to each other. I could do with some positive thoughts and vibes please.

I loved Enid Blyton too, and was always at the library. One librarian wouldn't believe I had read a whole book in a morning, I went back for more...loved Little Women too and wanted to be Jo. Later, I was a huge Biggles fan.

Kate, I shop in CS's now and often see " office work" clothes.

PAH, well done on the Freegle aquisition. xxx