make do and mend for tougher times

Nargleblast

Re unwanted phone calls - remember you can at any time just disconnect the call, and you do not have to explain yourself to anyone. One time I just put the phone down and walked out of the room for a few minutes - the caller was gone when I returned. Another time I stuffed the phone inside a chest of drawers, and the caller ended up having a nice little chat with the contents of my knicker drawer.

Possession

Mrs VP as soon as I hear it's a cold caller I just say no thankyou and put the phone down. No chance to hear if they reply!

kidcat

Mrs VP - good job they didnt call me then, I cannot abide cold callers and any that do not accept no usually get short shrift. The exception being the ones who call as they are my internet provider and have diagnosed a problem, I quite enjoy those ones as I spend ages going through all their spiel and then announcing but we dont have a computer!! It usually gets them so mad they end up shouting at you. Last guy was from a foreign call centre - I asked him was his mother proud of him, was it always her goal to have her child turn to criminal activity? he hung up quite quickly and we havent had any more since

We have had a lovely afternoon out, we went to a lovely horse centre (I had freebie tickets) and then to an ice cream farm. Kids really enjoyed running through the fields and I got to snuggle horsies too. I would love a horse but accept that its way to expensive these days, doesnt stop me dreaming though. OH pointed out that even if I could afford one I wouldnt be able to ride any more with my back - I pointed out that I would learn side saddle

Have booked DD for her driving theory test later this month, am slightly concerned with her oh well if I dont pass I'll just do it again attitude, at £31 a go, I would like to think she will give it some effort.

For anyone looking at outings with kids have a look at your local radio station web page for special offers, we have two that are showing various special offers for days out that are really good value.

VJsmum

Grr - that will teach me to label things correctly when I put them in the freezer :mad:. What I thought was a nice cheap and healthy chickeny tomatoey soup (3 weightwatchers points) is actually a chicken curry (about 8 weightwatchers points). Can't waste it so will have to eat. Hmm curry and toast!

Congratulations Mr Possession.:T

kidcat

VJsmum I do exactly the same too - it makes for interesting meals.

mama67

GreyQueen wrote: »

:j:beer::j
ETA; re the CTB changes, and benefit changes in general, I think a lot of the trouble is the the NMW is too low. It's an absurd situation when people work a normal length f/t week and are still so lowly-paid that they qualify for means-tested benefits. It's a clear indicator that the NMW isn't keeping up with the cost of living, and neither are wages which are above NMW.

Effectively, the benefits system is being used to subsidise the profits of companies which could very well afford to pay more but won't do it unless forced to. I used to work a company whose workforce was mostly lone Mums on benefit working (legitimately) part time. One of them was a thoughtful woman who said to me on the subject of agitating for higher wages at this company I know it's not the right attitude but if I got any more pay it'd just mean I'd lose benefit and I'd be no better off so I'm not risking it.

I notice from the boards outside the recruitment agencies here that most jobs are NMW to the penny, and never even one pence per hour more.

And add in sometimes extortionate transport costs to get to said jobs then people will decide that they might be better off on benefits for a little while longer.

katep23

kidcat wrote: »

Mrs VP - good job they didnt call me then, I cannot abide cold callers and any that do not accept no usually get short shrift. The exception being the ones who call as they are my internet provider and have diagnosed a problem, I quite enjoy those ones as I spend ages going through all their spiel and then announcing but we dont have a computer!! It usually gets them so mad they end up shouting at you. Last guy was from a foreign call centre - I asked him was his mother proud of him, was it always her goal to have her child turn to criminal activity? he hung up quite quickly and we havent had any more since

My OH is an IT Manager and got one of those calls - he had the guy on the phone for ages (pretending to be interested) and in the end said "I don't have a computer but I am having problems with my calculator - can you help me with that?"

He hung up

Byatt

Pooky wrote: »

Byatt - it would be worth asking the landlord to put a vent in to comply with current rules.

A friend had one fitted last year and as it was under a certain size she didn't need a vent.

Thanks Pooky, I may ask if "sweep" says I need one. He's coming out on the 16th as he's very busy! :eek:

2tonsils

Had quite a good day one way or another today. I got great results on my thyroid blood test...its done six monthly and we are so close to the perfect scores my endocrinologist wants me to be at, he is going to be very pleased with me. The exercise and healthy eating are helping a lot. So I am well pleased. I have an appointment for a scan on the thyroid and to see the endo on 5th November. As long as the thyroid nodule is the same size and not growing or changing they will continue to just keep an eye on it rather than removing the thyroid.

My husband is now in my good books as I was worried about getting my housekeeping money from the bank since the staff walked out on Wednesday and continued the strike today...and didn't refill the ATM machines! My husband then told me this morning he had drawn out this weeks allowance money on Tuesday evening when he filled up with petrol and forgot to mention it to me.

I went shopping again today as the shops are quieter and there are more bargains on a Thursday. I got loads of meat at 30 percent off and got more lamb chops..if you bought one bag the second was free. My freezers are now both full to the brim, so working energy efficient as well. I also discovered a ham shank......a rare find here....so going to put it in my SC with some split peas and onion stock. I am helping out at the gym tomorrow so it will be a nice meal to come home to hopefully.

Petrol has come down a few pence a litre, its now 1.79 which is a help. Even saving a few pence soon mounts up. I also managed to find someone who is cutting olive wood for the fire so will have a ton of it to carry through the house and stack in the back yard. It looked very good wood and it burns hot and slowly. It also smells of incense when it burns. We got it at 100 euros for the ton delivered which is 30 euros cheaper than anyone quoted last week.

Still hot here in the day , 27 today, but tomorrow night its going down to 5 degrees, quite a drop when its hot in the daytime.

There is a bit of a scare going on here at the moment and some of the flu vaccines have been stopped because of unexpected side effects....the article is here if you would like to read it.

http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_25/10/2012_467448

fuddle

Brilliant news Possession, just brilliant. It's long overdue and very well deserved because MrP has put so many hours into interview prep. Happy times

We've been catching up on GBBoff masterclass. I'm going to make donuts at the weekend but I have just been instructed to buy fondant fancies and tun0cks tea cakes - £2.60 added to my bill! I know my limits though - I can't attempt anything like those.

Smiley, did you have job preps to do lately? How is it going?