make do and mend for tougher times

SDG31000

stiltwalker All the best for tomorrow. I hope you have a wonderful day and I look forward to hearing all about it

Mrs LW I am so glad that your daughter is back home.

smileyt I would be livid as well. I hope that the talk goes ok and that lodger boy gets some sense talked into him.

fuddle Take care and come back soon. We are all thinking of you xxx

kidcat I hope that your group's first meeting has gone well. The best of luck with it xxx

missrlr Your bargain coat sounds lovely. I have a long grey wool coat with a big fur collar that I picked up last year for £5 and I love it. My DMIL shortened it for me and was very jealous of my find.

lisakay A quick google search says that you can freeze pumpkin, but it should last a long time anyway if you store it somewhere cool and dark. I keep butternut squash in the fridge for weeks with no ill effect.

savingqueen I am so glad that I am not alone. DH has been told in no uncertain terms that he is taking time off next year to sort Halloween stuff, and that if he doesn't do it, then I'm not going to. He is sorting it all out to put away at the moment, but I think he has gotten the message. It is just the time of the year when I go really low and find just doing the everyday stuff hard work. Then this gets dumped on me as well and it is too much. I hope you got some me time and numerous tea breaks.

I had done three loads of laundry, sorted out numerous bits of Halloween related stuff, done a Mr T order that is going to be delivered on Saturday and that will give me 1,000 clubcard points thanks to a code I found on here. I also have a pot of chilli and a pot of ragu bubbling away. Some for dinner tonight and some for the freezer.
I've also made myself eat breakfast and dinner and have taken a double dose of my one a day Vit D3 tablets (Only up to 800mg so nothing to worry about) Now I just have to get the !!!!! in the bath dry, clean the bath and then clean me. I'm sure those with their own black dogs will relate to how difficult that can sometimes be.

Time for another cuppa I think. Take care everyone xxx

Popperwell

Stiltwalker, Wishing a wonderful day for tommorrow with many memories to take into the future.

Lyn, That is such good news. An adventure and a half with many stories to tell over coming months and years. The relief for you and your DD will be imeasurable.

They will but just as we sometimes wonder where to start when we have a big task to sort out, where do you start to clean up an area like New York? The same when New Orleons was hit by Katrina or the disaster in Japan.

It is hard to take in when you are so far away even with all the coverage on TV and radio or in the newspapers. It has already been admitted some areas cannot be returned to how it is and even if they want to rebuild there, it cannot be done...

nuttyp

Well im in from a very un eventful day at work. Popped into the tyre place DD fiance works at to get the quote for 4new tyres. Looks like for decent ones its around 150/160. I asked about budget ones, and he said they aren't as good or lasting as long so false economy.

DD has decided to clear her wardrobe out, and has a bin liner of clothes that no longer fit.Please can someone stop her growing... Have decided to list them on e.bay later on, but if theres going to be a free listing day then i will wait. I am challengeing myself to sell useful items that we no longer require and make £250, that will pay for tyres, mot and the roadtax. OH has no faith, and laughs.

Rain has stopped for a few minutes, but its biterly cold. Had to go onto the emergency gas and electric today, think its because DD is at home instead of collage. Will have to go to the shop later and top them up, wish we could have amonthly bill but due to past problems, (repossession, then bankruptcy) we have limited choices. Onwards and upwards tho, we have a home and the council are ok really. We are able to decorate, change things as we please which seams lucky compared to some people.

Hope everyone is having a good day. x

Popperwell

Molly41 wrote: »

They pay their taxes too. Typical Daily Mail fodder:(
Also it sets a precedent - universal benefits such as the Old Age Pension will surely be next and means tested just like the Child Benefit !

Molly and Annie I can understand the feelings caused by such a feature as in the the DM. The difference there is incomewise is probably many tiimes what the lowest of the low has coming in and the DM will always have a go at those on the bottom rung of the ladder but so called "Wasters" will exist at any level and dare I say(big stereotypical generalisation coming)those with more often are more likely to be working the system.

And if they cannot cope on £100,000 try to survive on the so called NMW or the so called average wage(I think that is said to be £26.000)or the benefits that are given like ESA or JSA, that are to be capped anyhow when the changes come in(£350 for single people/£500 for families)and many don't get that now...papers like the DM will always find the odd one so parts of the population can hate someone.

But if those in the article are on £100,000 annually it could very well be that they have overstretched themselves when times were good and now when they are having to tighten their belts, they have more to lose or have not the mindset to cope as many of us have had to or probably have always lived.

Also, what is seen as a drop in their living standards, we might only dream of being able to reach a tenth of having in a lifetime. In reality much less simpler things we may actually be happier.

All I have ever wanted is health, happiness and loved ones around me. Materialistically, food in my stomach, stay warm and have a roof over my head.

And a little spare cash to pay the bills. My luxuries are having a radio for entertainment and the internet. But now with technology if I can keep the internet going I can get tv and radio, read books/newspapers, talk to friends etc...for around 90p or less daily, perhaps I will in time find a better deal but you have to have some escapism/entertainment to avoid boredom.

Poverty is relevant to the lifestyle you live...a bottle of wine for some is a treat, to me and many here it will pay for perhaps a week's worth of meals or for me a week of 24/7 internet access or a week's worth of having the heating on.

When the next election happens we know from the many views expressed those who are being affected by the present economic woes and the austere measures coming are likely to vote the present coalition(or individually the parties that make up the coalition)out(not sure who they can vote for instead)as there is little if any difference between any of them.

But if it is difficult for "us"...heaven knows who those who saw the Conservatives/LibDems as their party of choice(probably those who were doing ok)will vote for now...

Hope that Fuddle is doing ok, I know she was feeling down...sadly depression can come for now particular reason or can be caused by stress, an event or even a chemical reason but whatever causes it, it is horrible and you cannot just "Snap out of it!" If only it was that easy...

GreyQueen

:j Happy Wedding Day for tomorrow, Stiltwalker. :j

VJsMum, the hat is sort of the tank-driver stylee, not a comedy animal one, although I'm sure I'd've killed for one of those in about 1969 when I was a nipper. The cloth bit is a muted green and the pretend-fur is brownish, so nothing too outre.

Hugs to Fuddle and hope she comes back after her wee break firing on all cylinders. That woman is an inspiration.

Really need to get off my aspidistra and clear up the flat as have a very old friend incoming who lives hundreds of miles away and whom I only see every few years, and he's never seen my flatlet........better excavate the sofa.

I'm serving h.m. pizza and some other bits and bobs with a wee bit of plonk. We plan to natter for England.

Have a good evening, folks, GQ xx

VJsmum

Popperwell wrote: »

dare I say(big stereotypical generalisation coming)those with more often are more likely to be working the system.

Not perhaps by having to claim from the state directly but perhaps knowing how to avoid paying into the system which helps the poor/disadvantaged. I have to read the article yet.

Hang on - that is unfair and, yes, a big stereotypical generalisation. I don't think anyone can prove that? Those with more are quite often paying a hell of a lot more into the system and getting a hell of a lot less out of it. The woman herself is just asking for reaction by writing how horrified she is to be losing what to her must be a fairly insignificant sum in the scheme of things. It is clearly rubbing people's noses in it which is not just stupid, it is cruel.

If you read the "article" (hate the daily fail - the article was clearly geared for some kind of reaction, am ashamed that i added to their figures by reading it) then she says that she just wants what is deemed her "due". She argues that Child benefit was always supposed to be a "one size fits all" payment and that the government are taking that away. Then if they start to take that away will they take other things - health care for example. Also that with higher levels of tax being paid, her family are paying more in and getting less out. I'm not commenting on right and wrong just stating what was said.

There are many people working the system - rich and poor alike.

I have a decent income and i receive child benefit. Do I need it? No, I probably don't. would I miss it if it went? Probably not as much as others. Those who really would miss it, aren't losing it. I believe the threshold is having one person in the household earning £50,000 or more a year - so hardly poverty stricken. But you could have 2 people each earning £49000 and they will still get it, whereas a family with one income of £50,000 will lose it. That, to me, doesn't seem fair.

jackel

Stiltwalker - Every happiness for tomorrow and many years to come. jacxx

Popperwell

VJsmum wrote: »

Hang on - that is unfair and, yes, a big stereotypical generalisation. I don't think anyone can prove that? Those with more are quite often paying a hell of a lot more into the system and getting a hell of a lot less out of it. The woman herself is just asking for reaction by writing how horrified she is to be losing what to her must be a fairly insignificant sum in the scheme of things. It is clearly rubbing people's noses in it which is not just stupid, it is cruel.

If you read the "article" (hate the daily fail - the article was clearly geared for some kind of reaction, am ashamed that i added to their figures by reading it) then she says that she just wants what is deemed her "due". She argues that Child benefit was always supposed to be a "one size fits all" payment and that the government are taking that away. Then if they start to take that away will they take other things - health care for example. Also that with higher levels of tax being paid, her family are paying more in and getting less out. I'm not commenting on right and wrong just stating what was said.

There are many people working the system - rich and poor alike.

I have a decent income and i receive child benefit. Do I need it? No, I probably don't. would I miss it if it went? Probably not as much as others. Those who really would miss it, aren't losing it. I believe the threshold is having one person in the household earning £50,000 or more a year - so hardly poverty stricken. But you could have 2 people each earning £49000 and they will still get it, whereas a family with one income of £50,000 will lose it. That, to me, doesn't seem fair.

Didn't say it was my view and yes many are willing to pay more into the system to help those less fortunate. Definately, written to get a reaction and I do wonder what will be taken away/reduced next wherever we are on that ladder. Yes, it goes on as you say...my generalisatiion was done for the same reasons the media and many politicians often go after.

Your last paragraph says it all and shows the anomoly that exists...

Great post...

Popperwell

Images of hurricane Sandy...they say there are 33 images but some are duplicates http://uk.news.yahoo.com/photos/sandy-from-above-slideshow/sandy-above-photo--1134011175.html

RosiePuddingPaws

Hope you soon feel stronger fuddle.

Glad to hear your daughter is safely back on dry land Mrs LW.

Congratulations to stiltwalker. Have a wonderful day.

Well, I came home from work this afternoon to an unexpected visitor. Yes, fluffy boy cat had obviously decided to bring a friend home during the day. It was a bit of a shock to find a large crow hopping along my bedroom window cill, noisily tapping his (very large) beak against the window!

This follows on from the large mouse halfway up the inside of the front door curtain that I rescued at 12.24 on Wednesday morning.

He is a lovely boy but how do you curb the instinct to hunt? I know it is impossible to tame a cat, but if only he could be persuaded to bring in something a bit more useful!!

RPP