So poor I can't even pay attention

the_cake · 11 April 2013 at 11:00PM

Piq, have you looked into grants for starting a new business? Don't know where you would find out about them, but I expect one of t'other Piquinistas could advise .......

ani_26 · 12 April 2013 at 7:23AM

You could apply for the New Enterprise Allowance, but it would appear your mortgage protection is the key issue here?

https://www.gov.uk/moving-from-benefits-to-work/starting-your-own-business

There is also Mortgage Interest run on.

https://www.gov.uk/moving-from-benefits-to-work/support-when-you-start-working
.

Return to Work Credit :-

https://www.gov.uk/return-to-work-credit/what-youll-get

Unfortunately the one off Job Grant payment, is, no more.

Articles on the New Enterprise Allowance :-

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/newsroom/press-releases/2012/oct-2012/dwp106-12.shtml

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/newsroom/press-releases/2012/jun-2012/dwp059-12.shtml

tigzem · 12 April 2013 at 11:06AM

Piquant wrote: »

So sorry for your loss Tig, how sad for you.

I will happily make you a rainbow pot, I've been thinking about it all afternoon. At the moment the rainbow would have to be black, white, yellow and blue as those are the only paints I've got:) I will get some more at the weekend and make a start for you and your nan.

xx

Thank you, but please don't put yourself out of pocket on my account. Please let me pay up front xx

cazmanian_minx · 13 April 2013 at 9:18AM

Piq - an idea for your pots? I reckon you could sell these for rather a lot of dosh, planted up:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151437545281553&set=a.192096796552.131483.181245226552&type=1&ref=nf

grannyx2 · 13 April 2013 at 12:33PM

Hello my dear

Fantastic news re the gardening jobs and the recognition award at work. Pity your silly boss doesn't seem to remember things like that when shouting about beeping toasters.

Pots look lovely and gecko sounds fun.

Granny x

Piquant_2 · 14 April 2013 at 8:55AM

Thanks for the links ani! and you're spot on with the mortgage protection, that is what is holding me back from taking the next step. Without it I cannot afford to pay the mortgage. I need to earn £600 a month extra to replace it. That's a big jump from an extra £30 a week.

Love the pots caz, thanks! I've done something similar, not, with a pile of pots that have got stuck together in the garden. I planted thyme and tiny dianthus in the gaps it looks very pretty for something that should have been thrown away!

Off to meet my dad for breakfast in a while, croissants and coffee

Then hopefully the weather stays dry and I can get out in the garden for the afternoon. Plenty of potting up and pruning to be done.

As it rained so much yesterday I got another six pots to varying stages of completion. I've made a green one with a huge flower on which I love so much I'll probably keep it for me

I must think out a larger area for pot painting in the garage. This is going to mean a major tidy/clearing job

I also need to look out a work surface at a decent height, it can be as scruffy as you like as it's going to be covered in paint in no time

I'm a little bit worried about Colin, he hasn't eaten his breakfast, unheard of! I wormed him yesterday and I'm hoping he just feels a bit bleugh because of that. Hopefully, he'll feel better by this evening.

Hoping you all have a sunny and happy Sunday.

Eager_Elephant · 14 April 2013 at 9:48AM

Hi Piq

If you want a decent work area look on freeycle for a bit of old kitchen work top that can then be put up in the garage using some batten to hold it.

Hope you manage to get some potting up done today.

We are popping to the shops and then coming back to do some gardening!

Is it too hot for Colin to eat? My cats are quite rotund but as the weather gets hotter they eat hardly anything - not sure how they survive (I guess they use the reserves that they built up over winter).

Or maybe he has had 1 too many mice!!

Piquant_2 · 14 April 2013 at 9:19PM

Hullo EE :wave::wave: It could be that Colin is too hot. He is eating a normal cat's intake now, he's very quiet, but seems happy enough. I bought him some of those posh little tins of cat food, mainly because they're exactly the right size for mixing paint in.....:whistle: no, really! he did manage to scoff the contents of one for me so I could paint a pot, very helpful cat

Sort of naughty today, I went to the garden centre down the road, very posh, and beautifully laid out. I got chatting to the owner and he has taken my name and number to contact me if they get a vacancy. :T I bought some black grass type plants, cost me £8.99 but I divided it up and now have eleven new plants :T bargain!

My mum has decided to join me in pot world and is growing me petunias and various other plants in her greenhouse. She is also going to research where we can sell the pots with plants in, go mum! Two more pots and a gecko varnished. I'll need to pick up some more pots soon. Tigzem's pot has a base layer on, need to paint a rainbow now!

The blue potting bench is well and truly used now. I took masses of cuttings of lavender and pinks, potted up the yellow and black pots with black grass and more yellow pansies. I picked up some shimmery white pebbles to top up the pots with, looks lovely! Must actually sell some

I need to clean out the ornamental well in the garden, but can't face it yet. A job for another day I think. Now I'm having a large glass of wine, just because I've had a nice day.