So poor I can't even pay attention

taxi73

It's so lovely to read about the offer from the yard owner and you doing his garden for him and his reaction.You never know it may lead somewhere in the work dept when other people see it and talk about it.
Your rissotto looks scrummy

lucielle

Piq that's a great thing you're doing for the yard owner. Hope the Captains feet stay strong.
L

mcculloch29

My bro is a Guy Who Does Gardens, every year he takes someone on to help him through the summer. Even in the recession he has had plenty of work.
He's in his 60s now and can't afford to retire early so has had to keep going. Take some pics of what you have done for the Captain's livery landlord, Piq, it may well help for the future..

Gardening in spring /summer/autumn and house sitting in winter, I wonder...?

ani_26

Another one gonna try the risotto, although maybe minus the wine. Too many bills this month.


I still can't think of any solutions re your boiler problem. Have you tried your energy supplier direct? You never know. Mine helped me.

I think there is help if you live in N Ireland?


Unfortunately, there does seem to be very little help for homeowners, however low their income, entitlement to benefits, etc.


Edit to add


Are you receiving IB jsa? Thinking about it, no, because you have to be available for work.

Wtc? I'm sure you must be. If not, why not?

I've just remembered, somewhere further back, i'm sure you said you couldn't earn above a certain amount re help with your mortgage? But you don't pay tax on wtc, so it might be worth considering if it is exempt from your actual earnings re whatever it was you were doing with your mortgage? as it also entitles you to certain health benefits, too.

Plus this?


Have you tried this?


I "assumed" some information, which states you may be entitled to help.


https://www.gov.uk/energy-grants-calculator

https://www.gov.uk/energy-company-obligation




The site was updated on 1st March 2013 and 14th February 2013, respectively.

Baldybear

Morning Re the captains feet I wouldnt worry too much they are surprisingly tough and will soon get used to no shoes. Ours used to be a tiny bit sore for a day or so after a trim if they went on gravel etc but fine apart from that. Unless you are on hard ground 24/7 and tonnnes and tonnes of roadwork they will be fine with no shoes

Baldrick and his herd survived being out 24/7 with no shoes and hacking on hardcore, roads and sand with no shoes and no extra feed, in the summer all they had was grass and carrots, winter had hay and ocassional budget mix and hifi.

dorothy52

**NOSINESS ALERT** Piq, it would be lovely, really lovely, to see the afore mentioned before and after pics!

Skint_but_Optimistic

Im so pleased the barter system is alive and well, and you are a darlin to sort the yard owners garden.

What a brilliant arrangement. Hats off!

Snagggles

Wow, how brilliant. I quite fancy being a gardener, but I have a kind of allergy to the sun so I'd be no good in the peak gardening season. Not the most useful sort of gardener really! :cool:

Piquant_2

It is viewed by certain people at the yard that I'm getting an unfair freebie, I've had a couple of faintly unpleasant texts implying what I must be doing to get free livery. I thought these people were my friends, seems not. Thing is, I was offered the livery, as you know, with no strings attached. It was me that offered to do his garden.

I will take before and after pictures, it would be nice if it led to more work and enough money to live on. I can but dream...

I picked up a fine paintbrush today, I'm going to paint herb names on terracotta pots, once done I'll put up pictures. I think a row of painted pots will look very special on a window ledge. I've got everything else I need, black paint for the lower part of the pot and white for the writing. I plan to leave the rim unpainted. Hopefully, they look as good in reality as they do in my mind's eye!

Also picked up some plant food for the yard owners very sick rhododendron, I'd like to bring it back from death's door. He will reimburse me, so it doesn't count as a spend!

Work was dead today so I was allowed to leave early, but I'll have to make up the hours later in the week as I need the money. They have too many staff on at the start of the week and not enough at the end, the busiest time of the week! Apparently it's always been done that way!

Snagggles

How horrible to get texts like that!

I'd reply with "Who is this? I don't have your number in my phone".

Just rise above it. Some people judge everyone by their own standards. Just because they imply it, it doesn't make it true. You have done NOTHING AT ALL WRONG, and don't have to explain yourself, or justify it.