make do and mend for tougher times

PipneyJane

Good morning everyone. Hope the new week brings you all good news. (What do you mean, it's Tuesday already?)

catznine wrote: »

I am literally learning how to make do and mend at a lovely workshop that opened recently near to us. No longer having parents or grandparents and rapidly running short of aunts too I have found my 2nd home:j. The workshop hosts knit and natter, sew and natter sessions as well. Last month I did a patchwork course and this weekend learnt how to make granny squares so finally using up my stash in a useful way. Both skills enable me to recycle/upcycle loads. I think if it wasn't for these workshops and support groups, the old skills would die out! Lots of youngsters on the course though so the demand is there.

Hi Catz. How're you feeling now? Hope you mouth is no longer painful.

Would you be willing to share the name of the shop that is running these workshops? Sounds like the sort of place I might be interested in attending, depending on location and courses available. (True confession time: although I have crocheted my entire life, I do not know how to make a granny square. Never done one. Ever. Don't know the theory, either.)

Thanks.

- Pam


PS: In my news, I found out this morning that my business is being moved to a different region within the company, which may mean a new boss for me or it could be redundancies all round for me and my team, since they already have a large finance department. Won't know until tomorrow when my big-boss visits (he's responsible for both regions). I am so glad I've got money in the bank.

Aria`s_Tail

Morning everyone.
I got back from a week at work last night not a happy bunny as the carer that was taking over from me was 4h 40 mins late! Apparently there was a big problem with trains in London. I got home at 8pm instead of 3pm as usual and was that shattered i just did a load of washing, OH made tea and I crawled into bed. It was sooooo nice to be in my own, comfy bed. On the up side I have the next 3 week off (2 rest weeks and a weeks holiday) although I do have to drive 200 miles this afternoon to go to my parents to catsit till Thursday.
Have spent this morning catching up with emails, bills etc. and more washing in the machine.

Hugs to Softstuff and PAH.
Fuddle, please enjoy your holiday guilt free, it will do you the world of good. I am the same age as you and from the age of about 10 my parents used to take my older brother (by 6 years) and I on coach hols from the furthest NW corner of England (think the end of the M6) to Spain and North Italy, generally about a day and a half of travelling. My Dad liked it because the cases went into the coach at one end and off at the destination, no airports to negotiate with 2 suitcases, hand luggage and 2 children. I was easy to entertain as I have always been a book worm but my brother used to get bored easily. The only thing I can suggest is to do some research into the areas you will be going through and try and get the kids involved looking for things in the landscape etc.

We moved in Feb and when I saw this house I claimed the box room to be my craft room. The problem is that it ended up being the dumping room for all of the unpacked boxes and stuff which didn't have a proper home. Next week I am determined to get it sorted out (and clean the rest of the house as it is minging). I have so many ideas for craft projects just need to organise my space and set up a Folksy shop and maybe my own website in future.
Also have the garden to cut back, car to clean out, motorbikes to was and treat for winter, try and start organising for xmas.............. May need more than 3 weeks off!

Aria`s_Tail

Mardartha, my OH is a famous grump every now and again and just generally sulks, grunts at me occasionally and shouts at the dogs for breathing.
He was an army brat and mainly grew up in Aberdeen with his grandparents and makes porridge the 'Scottish' way, i.e. like gruel. It is a standing joke that if I want a filling breafast he threatens to make it for me as it sticks to your insides so well you won't feel hungry for the rest of the day!

savingqueen

morning all

hugs to softstuff, mardy (even if you're grumpy we still love you ) and shropshirelass and a big group hug for everyone as well. Oh and PipneyJane - thinking of you for tomorrow.

how is your mouth catz? hope you're ok.

glad your daughter and co are ok Mrs LW

On a bit of a cleaning fest - have a friend and her son over for the day tomorrow....always gets me cleaning...well something has to! I've been up since 6.15 even though school hols - cats woke me then and DH up at 6.30 well alarm clock goes off then at least so decided to make the most of it while I have some energy.

Done loads of chores this morning including couple loads of laundry as we have some sunshine (laundry volcano no longer errupting but still present in a dormant state!) Boys playing in between bursts of argueing. Feel a bit guilty not doing much with them again today but will pop out to buy a pumpkin later and don't think have anything Halloweeny to wear and no time or materials to make anything so may splurge on some cheapy outfits for them if we can find any. As I type I have them rummaging through all their dressing up stuff to find anything remotely spooky to see if we can cobble some outfits together.

Bought our fireworks event tickets yesterday for Sat - its a big one with a popular radio station, big bonfire and torchlit procession as well as the fireworks of course. Programme also says an aviation display which I'm intrigued about. Said we would buy a hotdog or similar too as we will be out for several hours (3 at the event and need to drive/park/walk a distance) in the cold. Boys are so excited as we have never been to a display with them - last 5 years one of the four of us has had an operation mid/late Oct and needed recovery time. No other ops any other time of year isn't that bizarre - I even had one on Oct 15th one year and a second related op on the exact same date the next year.

The money I saved from buying tickets from a shop rather than on the day bought 2 large ice cream sundaes for my two yesterday.

Better get on, could chat for England (and Ireland, Scotland and Wales!)

take care
sq:)

mardatha

The RV makes porridge too. Must be a grump thing Aria
Kittie if you're coming anywhere remotely near me I'd be up for a meet - wee cup of tea & cake

westcoastscot

Sorry to hear about your shingles softstuff - I recall when youngest got it - started on his back and spread through his excema to cover 80%of his body - the anti-viral meds worked wonders though and in a couple of days he was much more comfy. Hope you find the same.

I'm a bit fuffled as I've sold a tiny dolls outfit and cannot find it! it isn't in the tin with the other things for sale and have hunted high and low in various knitting bags etc - such a tiny thing to look for too! I didn't write the pattern as I knit it as I only had that one scrap of wool so cannot even re'knit. Off for another hunt

WCS

Possession

Hope you find it WCS.
Softstuff I hope the shingles dies down quickly, and sorry you're having to deal with that too.
Good news for us, it was the pump that was broken rather than our poor old 26 yr old-ish boiler, so a new pump and valves later, we have heating and hot water again. Rather ironic given that the pump is only about 4 yrs old.
The whole DH job situation has got so silly and confusing that I'm just going to wake up when it has been decided.

mardatha

Possession when that kind of thing happens to me, I go to bed, ask the Universe/mum/dad/grannies for guidance, and wake up knowing what to do :D

Byatt

Dear Softstuff, I'm not surprised you are suffering from shingles, having not only gone through bereavement but had to travel thousands of miles and then go through an inquest. I understand you being angry, but remember anger is also part of the grieving process, and it can be very useful. Don't be hard on yourself, but rest and take time to deal with the conflicting emotions you will be feeling. I hope you still have a pleasant and relaxing few days away. xxx :A

Sunshine, I am really touched my post helped you. Yes, use all the lovely things you have rather than keeping them packed away or used only for best. I am using my Portmeirion china and get a real buzz from it.

Working tax credits. I have been reading HMRC's website for a few days, trying to make sense of the criteria for my situation (suffer from a disability but no longer get benefits), which could mean either I have to work for 16 or 30 hours (when I'm 60 it will be 16 hours, although I will not be surprised if they change that just days before my 60th next year!). So today I called them and after eventually getting through to a real person, I was told I had to be receieving DLA, not just any benefit, but DLA in particular. I thanked them and checked again and believed I was correct, that I fitted quite a wide but time limited criteria. Called back, spoke to a different person, and persisted in my belief that I fitted their brief, he then looked at his notes and eventually came to the same agreement so I am being sent a claim pack! :T

So the moral of the story is, don't be fobbed off with the first response by thinking they must know (they don't always) and you must be wrong!

prepareathome

Softstuff and Mar sending my love and healing to both of you.

Mar why not set up a sitting room for yourself or for him then he can sulk and grump on his own:rotfl:

Pos forgive me keep forgetting to say congratulations to Mr P on the many of jobs he is now being offered and not before time. It gives us all hope that good things still happen to good people.

Hugs and Love to all xxxx