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

juliettet

mardatha wrote: »

Amazon for wartime cookery books at 1p +postage. Even I like them and I hate cooking with a passion. Also Rationing Revisited blog and on FB.
I love how we're all different - would be a boring thread if we all came in to smugly agree and second each other, a wee bit of anger is a good thing if it gets you off your a$$ I love that saying, the one about " don't get mad, get even". Undirected anger is like punching the air - waste of energy . Use it to do something useful if at all poss.
I am away up to Sainsbugs at vast expense in diesel, because ......
the cat does not like Aldi catfood !! :rotfl::rotfl:

Mardy, try Viovet. They deliver free if you spend a certain amount. I have saved a fortune on my cat's special diet.
J

fuddle

grandma247 wrote: »

You can cook a steamed pudding in a slow cooker

Oh and it's nice too. Going to do that tonight. 1.5 hours and a lovely steamed pud comes out later. Fancy apple and cinnamon tonight.

Been and bought eldest DD's trousers for school. I've only got her PE kit to buy now. Also got some gloves for 50p in Asda for the youngest.

Popperwell

GreyQueen wrote: »

Have woken to clear blue sky and glorious sunny weather and shocking reports of landslips, floods and more further north. Ohmigoodness, I'm feeling for people. Water where it shouldn't be is a disaster. I'm sending good wishes to those affected.

During WW2 my grandad was in a "reserved occupation" - they wouldn't take him for a soldier because he was needed to work the threshing engines which toured the farms and threshed the wheat grain from the straw. No threshing = no grain = no flour = no bread. Men like him doing heavy physical labour used to be given an extra official ration (think it was mainly cheese) as you can't do the heaviest jobs on the same amount of calories as you would for a sedentary job. The body breaks down under the strain. They'd do a long day's work and then come home for a bite to eat, then out again doing stuff like manning anti-aircraft lights.

I have read many many times that medics found that the population of this country was never healthier than under wartime rationing. Beforehand, a lot of the poorest people were malnourished, and afterwards, we've run amok with unsuitable foodstuffs (and I am a serial offender, so hand up here)

My Father wanted to go into the RAF during the last war but was told that he was doing essential work(working for British Rail Engineering)I assume building/repairing wagons for carrying items around the UK across the railway network.

I think we were healthier even though no doubt there is probably plenty of evidence of families who were poor and could be said to suffer from poverty and the conditions they lived were not good.

Look at that interesting thread that has been running about what we ate in the 1950's. A lot of what that said rung bells with me and my childhood was mainly the 1960's.

I woke to sunshine and a blue sky when I wrote my early posts today but it's gone dull, cold and wet again:(

spike7451

I phoned Iceland foods on Saturday as I'd found a piece of blue plastic in a chicken steak,Thursday I got a letter of apology with a £10 coupon as well,was only expecting a couple quid voucher when Kelly in their CS dept told me they were sending me one...So I bought £19 worth of goods today & only paid £9!!!....
Job jobbed!

Popperwell

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

The news on the tellie this morning is covering the horrendous weather that our friends in the north have been experiencing and I am really hoping that all of you are OK , it's an unbelievable amount of water down and the hailstones - oh my goodness. If any of you have been caught up in this I do so hope you are able to get the help you need to sort it out.

FUDDLE pet don't get too concerned about folks getting a bit strong from time to time on the thread, I sometimes have to go back and re-read posts so as not to feel sniped at, but it is a free world and we don't all have to agree all of the time, everyones circumstances and problems give them different views of the world. At heart we're all on here to find ways of having a better life, and helping each other with compassion and ideas and a bit of banter to cope in such trying times. If anyone does feel a bit aggrieved at a post there are always others who will support the sentiment, its good that we are all different. It's also good sometimes to be able to say what we feel particularly on here where folks understand how grim it can be to struggle along in the daily grind. There's room for us all, no matter how diverse!!! Bless you for being the peacemaker, and caring enough to want to keep us all together. Have a good day all Cheers Lyn xxx.

Agree with all the above. I have a blog and put my thoughts down about Mum, the care I felt she was getting/not getting when ill, the hope, the dispair and much more. I aquired some great followers who have supported me and been a comfort to me but a couple who decided to remain anonymous and have been quite hurtful(more like trolls)but I have ignored them and most followers jump on them. It happens...

You can disagree and still respect someone's view, it doesn't have to be done in a nasty way. Some are just that way.

The weather has been horrible here for some time.

prepareathome

Popperwell wrote: »

I
Prhaps, I should invest in one of those really tiny sewing machines you sometimes see advertised in those suppliments. A big sewing machine would be too large, expensive and a waste for the amount of sewing I would do.

I bought myself a cheap electric one from argos -but not their own make, that was dearer and did less - last year, cost £40 and does 12 different stitches, has a light and is light and easy for me to use - except I am hopeless, I used to sew a lot either by hand or old treadle( which I still have and still works its just a big hard sometimes when pain or stiffness hits) but I seem to have forgotten how to and every time I use it the stitches at the back are loose. A friends daughter came with her mum and had a go with the machine to see if it was me or the machine and she had it going perfectly so i know its me so I just keep practising and hopefully one of these days it will suddenly 'click' for me.......I did look at the mini ones but they all seemed about £25.

When children were at home I used to spend all summer knitting them winter items - jumpers, cardigans, hats, scarfs, leg warmers - if it could be knitted I would knit it but then in 70's and 80's yarn was so much cheaper and I never used anything but wool even when they were babies.

Then I would use the treadle to make skirts, tops, things for around the house - never was a dressmaker as such as never did things like trousers or jackets.... Unless someone bought them some woolies they never ever had a shop bought one on their backs. Winter was spent knitting summery tops etc. My mum was a knitter and had done the same with 5 of us so I just carried it on, only one that did, so when she passed I inherited all her needles and boy did she have many after nearly 80 years of knitting and a bit of yarn and finished off a couple of things she had not completed.

When we lived up in North Scotland the woolies were made more out of thicker wool - two or three lots of DK together, I cannot remember if chunky was around then, I think it was but it was expensive, cheaper to buy lots of DK. I was lucky we had a wool shop just at top of road and so she would let you choose your yarn then put it away so you could just pop in and buy some as you needed it or could afford it.

Sadly now with yarn so expensive you can buy things far, far cheaper although of course quality is no where near as good.

I even have a knitting machine I bought about 3 years ago - got it off ebay for £7 ( its an earlier one from 1970s and knits up to DK) in perfect condition with all the extras and it was to be collected from Coventry so we made it a day out as had never been there, but again I just cannot get stitches to stay in - I know its me and how I use my body now, but I refuse to give up on it as its non electric and the way things are going I feel if money is so tight I can if I keep going at it knit up things - I have a fair stash of yarn.

I know its all part of my survival thing,having alternatives if power goes. Must actually as thinking about it pop to my group on yahoo and see if I can give it a nudge to get going again, become very lax but really the info not just I but members have put there over the years is going to become very useful as its always been about surviving in your own home during any type of emergency or hard time - not sure if I can put the name but will do so and if moderator removes it so be it survival uk on yahoo groups - be warned we had an american guy who joined and tried to take over it talking about guns and how to defend yourself so eventually I had to ban him so he went and made another group called the exact same name just in a different area and even copied the full explanation i have on home page - so I have added to mine how its the original one formed in Sept 2001. There are lots of files there that might just help if anyone wants to look, its not to make money so no charges I promise but you do have to be a member to access files as I did make it a public group at first and even back then we had trolls so had to make it membership only to read files, so if anyone wants to have a look all you need is any old email address nothing else no real names etc you can go copy the files and then leave the group - not after more members but only way to share the files as ones belonging to me I can post elsewhere but not those belonging to other members. I have to admit not been to the group for about 6 months and not checked the files for ages so cannot remember what is in them....

I eventually did fall asleep with aid of valium around 11.30pm and that was me till 2pm - did wake up when postman knocked but hubby had popped home as papers were not going to get in till 8am for delivery and he had got into work at 6am without as usual his breakfast so they let him pop home to have something to eat as with starting deliveries so late he would have no time during the day to stop and eat or drink, so I just went back to sleep.

First part of granddaughters present turned up - The Twilight Saga - the official illustrated guide, I don't think she has that and its really quite interesting. I managed to get a second hand copy for £5 which is as good as new, its a hardback and very heavy. Other present is a film cell of Edward Cullen, only could afford one a moment but hoping to buy a few more for her as something that I hope will maybe be a investment for her, as they make unique gifts as all are real film cells and come with official certificate with number on it.


Still got to get rest of GS present - so far given him MARs soap ( must remember to give GD hers) and The World of Poo by Terry Pratchett, hopefully will turn him in a fan ) but have promised we will take him to toy shop and let him choose something in coming weeks, basically when we can afford it.

Oh had a letter from WTC to confirm we do not owe for year 2004/5 although they are blaming me saying I told them I had claimed for that year - when had I done so, all I did was phone in for renewal about 2 weeks ago we never talked about the past except checking figures for year 2011/12. They said they are looking into my claim that I was not over paid and will be in touch about that in the near future.

Right rambled on and on as usual......

Hope everyone is feeling a bit more positive today - I have not looked at any news sites today, so don't know if anything new has been said.........

Hugs, Love and Healing xxxxxx

[Deleted User]

BYATT - in all the nattering yesterday I didn't give you an answer to the storing rice question. I pop the new packet in the freezer in a zip bag and leave it there for 24 - 48 hours. This destroys any potential bug life that may be there. I then store it in a lock box and if anything does hatch it stays in the box and doesn't contaminate any other dry goods you might have. I could do this with a 10kilo sack as I have a big chest freezer, if you only have a little freezer? smaller packs would be easier for you. Hope that helps cheers Lyn anna slurp frumma DOCKY BOY wot is now ersleep in Mumis armchair!!!!!!!

prepareathome

SDG31000 wrote: »

For those interested in the Lidl rice offer, I went to Tesco last night and mine has 4kg bags of Basmati rice on BOGOF so it is £6.99 for 8kg and as it is in two bags easier to store as well. This is the link to it on the website. http://www.tesco.com/groceries/Product/Details/?id=268557915

Mmmmm am right by Tescos in the village on Wednesday as I have the Dentists and it is literally on the corner of the road they made to go into Tescos ( they knocked a whole lot of beautiful houses down - tescos slowly bought them up over the years then when they had enough they removed every bit of them and the gardens and put in a road, car park and store - the road only goes to the store. So you have the lovely old houses a gap for the road as the store is down the hill where there once was a really big beautiful old house and car park was its grounds ( other part of the grounds along with gatehouse was sold of years earlier and became British legion with its own car park). Snag is its quite a walk down the road into Tescos but I wonder if my mobility scooter could be put in a black cab, will see what the weather is like. I know I could get hubby to nip me up there but these days I see everything in money and to go there although only an extra half mile from Mr S to me is more petrol used and more cost, so less if any savings, but if can go while there for dentist then its a win, win situation........if I could get myself brave enough I could take on the high kerbs and busy road and go up there in my scooter. I really should as I know when changes hit I will not get the replacement for DLA as can walk a bit with my crutch, and then I will wish I had used scooter more while I had it.

I feel I am becoming a real miser. Told hubby I am cancelling my knitting mags as at £10 a month we just cannot afford them, he tried to talk me out of it as I spend so little on myself, but in reality we just cannot afford them and although they given nice patterns can get plenty on the net and have more in my collection that I could knit if I did so constantly for next 100 years.....I don't really need any of the freebies they give either as have full set of both knitting and crochet hooks and although not full set in each of metal,wood, plastic or bamboo I still do have quite a few in each....I eventually had to say please do not discuss it any more I have made up my mind and that is it, be to easy to change as do enjoy reading them.....so only thing I have now is my audible membership and my emusic membership - but going to cancel that as have had a few problems downloading the audbio books and their customer service is almost non existent, took me 7 months before I could download a book I bought. Oh yes an my private library membership which is due for renewal next month - it lets you download audio books and order books on cd to play but last year membership jumped from £20 to £45 and not checked what it is now. You cannot keep any of the books as it works just like books you would download from your ordinary library and choice is not to wonderful but audio books have kept me sane over the years when I cannot read so will try and find a way to keep it, I noticed last year they were offering to let you pay up, so will check the cost now and see if I can manage at least to stay a member that way.....

Oh checked my sewing machine, its a Belray and price has now gone up to £54.99 - maybe when I got it, it was on special offer

Hugs Love and healing to all xxxxxxx

[Deleted User]

Just a thought PAH, if you do stop taking your knitting magazines would your local library be likely to take a couple along with the newspapers etc. If they don't now, it might be worth asking if they would consider it as I think a lot of people would find it useful. I work on the principle that if you ask and they say no you're no worse off than if you hadn't asked at all. Cheers Lyn x.

fuddle

I think I can kiss goodbye to my strawberries this year. They have the tiniest flowers - and I say the plural loosely as there's not many Many of the plants just have not flowered. I think my safest bet this year is to allow the runners to root so I can plant new flowers. Do strawberries come to the end of their life or will they bare fruit again and again?

My blackcurrents, however, are turning black. I'm at least able to smile about that. Hopefully MIL will give me the rhubarb tomorrow or maybe Monday so I can get that in. I would like blueberry, blackberry and raspberry too.

Can I take a cutting from wild blackberry to produce my own plant? Is it ok to do that this time of year?