make do and mend for tougher times

westcoastscot

Hi Guys,
So much hardship about just now. Apparently we're out of the double-dip recession, but I'm guessing it's mostly due to the olympics skewing the figures - be interesting to see if we dive again in the new year. We're certainly not feeling financially buoyant here!

GQ I'm knitting socks at the minute that are tubular, that might fit your knitting style . I've knit them on two needles and also four, in the round, and they make great slipper socks.

WCS

mardatha

WCS I think the way govt statistics work, if you and I each bought an extra box of teabags, that might be enough for them to trumpet "Britain Roars Back" :rotfl::rotfl:

nuttyp

Fuddle I hope the land lord agrees. If enviromental health see the black mold, that would be the landlord in for one. Take photos, as you go to build up a case of how bad it is. The council do have a duty of care, and im sure if your landlord doesnt step up to his responsibilies soon, they will enforce the work. It might even help you into getting a suitable home from them or the local housing association.

Hope everyone is wrapped up warm, freezing here but i have work this afternoon/evening. All the sad mad gamblers will be out!! Feeling nervous for tomorrow, have THE interview. I really want the job, just want to not have abusive people shouting at me. Its a small contract but closer to home, so my car may be cheaper to run and safer.

westcoastscot

mardatha wrote: »

WCS I think the way govt statistics work, if you and I each bought an extra box of teabags, that might be enough for them to trumpet "Britain Roars Back" :rotfl::rotfl:

That'll be it then! forked over one arm one leg in sainsbury's on my way home yesterday :rotfl:

Jazee

Hello all. May I join you as you seem a lovely bunch and I feel I could probably learn a lot from you in the making do and mending. I bought my dog a new coat yesterday as the velcro had gone in the old one (I know, I know) so I must change my ways.

Have to say I agree with comments about the special paints for kitchen and bathroom. They really do work, even when you drop your shopping and coke and red wine go up the walls. Washes off really easily. I'm intending to use these paints right through the house now.

I shop at all the cheapie shops. I can't understand why people want to pay more for something, even if they can afford to. Our local Aldi is just extending its opening hours so that tells you something about changing attitudes.

Thanks for the tips on moccasins. I'm another at home all day and go through lots of pairs of slippers. Think I may add a pair of these to my Xmas list and hope someone takes the hint!

Possession

Good luck with the interview tomorrow NuttyP! Be calm, be confident (even if you aren't) and that covers a lot of bases.
Fuddle the LL should be covering this not you, it's obvious there is a serious damp problem. I'd also be considering billing him for the damage to your clothes. Can you not just stay in the other room for now and ask him to sort it out?
Welcome Jazee!

rosieben

Fuddle, I haven't posted this as you've already had loads of good advice. My last house was an old old place, and very damp; I had to move all my food out of the kitchen as it was going mouldy and also china as it had a green mould. I contacted the la, explained about the damp and told them I have asthma. I was re-housed as an emergency within a month. The ll was not allowed to re-rent until the damp had been sorted out.

Don't give up on the council application, just because 100 people have applied for a house doesn't mean they'd get it ahead of you; realistically it will take longer for you to get an offer but your health problems have to be taken into consideration and I suspect that puts you ahead of quite a few people on that list.

mardatha

I'm going to be a lone voice here I know...but I'd do what Fuddle is already doing, ie making the place more habitatable and talking nicely to the LL. If she goes out all guns blazing, takes pics, phones environmental health/council/etc.. then all that's going to happen is that the LL will suddenly announce he is splitting up with his wife and needs his house back! Then once fuddle's out, he will do the place up and rent it at a higher rate, there's nothing to stop him doing that.
It's great having safeguards and laws but you first have to think how will it leave me and my family. Yes by all means take pics and staple them to your housing application or show the HA, but avoid direct confrontation. There are more ways than one to skin a cat

Mrs_Veg_Plot

Have finshed moving all of DD1's things into her newly decorated room so that is the DD's room swop comlete. Glad DD1 is comming home from uni thid weekend to help me sort her stuff out as her new room is much smaller with less storage space and she has a lot of stuff.

I am currently nursing a very large hot chocolate and feeling a bit sorry for myself as my back is now playing up after all of the box moving this morning and I am due in work for a very busy and physical shift in 20 min. On the plus side it will be very warm and the shift will fly by.

Fuddle everyone is allowed a set back or two. Dealing with lifes problems and depression/anxiety often feels like one step froward and two steps back, the same with financial problems (I know from experience). Do keep reminding yourself about all of the good things in your life such as your family and the way that despite everything that is happening your children are happy and healthy. ((:))) hugs

Mrs VP

Mardatha our posts crosse but I second your advice to Fuddle

nuttyp

Mardatha thats good avise, softly softly gets the goose!! i think??? Definatley list ALL your health issues, astmah or reoccuring chest infections should be mentioned. As with runny and itchy eyes - something to do with mould spores in the air. Keep chasing the council and ha, we use to ring every 2 weeks when were going to be homeless due to repossession. We got given the worse house ive seen - but jay's fluid, bleach and lots of white paint made it nice. We also had to remove lots of rubbish from the garden - its amazing what people bury - tv's and even a sofa!