make do and mend for tougher times

grandma247

I loved the school holidays too, even when I had four very young children. In all those years I only wished them back at school twice and that was because I was ill.
As a kid I loved the holidays because I could read lots and lots of books and sunbathe at the same time. School got in the way of my reading:)

Popperwell

Good Morning Spiky, Meme, Mardatha and VJ's Mum,

For the continued support and kind words...It all makes sense. I guess this is how it will be...I'll go for long periods where I'm not doing so bad and plod along and then I'll have a "Wobble"

And pick myself up.

I did settle down and slept well when I did finally go to bed. I slept and have awoke to sunshine.

I have heard that about the connection about not eating regularly so will get back into some kind of pattern...small but often or a couple of decent meals...

I'll cook that chicken soon.

I did have some sandwiches last night before bed(ham, lettuce and tomato)a coffee and two caramel shortcakes(yes two!)

In the next half hour I'll drag a very full wheelie bin out and make some breakfast Orange juice(cereal, fruit - banana, blueberry and strawberry and milk)toast and jam, a little later a coffee. I won't hurt if I have nothing for a while after that.

I think it was Spiky who said what she is going through is trivial in comparison, no, it's just as important and is on going but in a different way(Loved one's are important and you realise what the priorites are)but life does go on and others often the authorities/DWP come along out of the blue and cause problems and stress(just as suddenly illness, caring for someone or the loss of a job)changes lives that in generally tick along reasonably well.

Most of us just want to have enough to eat reasonably, stay warm, keep a roof over our heads, pay our utility bills, rent, CT, food but above all else have health and happiness of our loved one's. That's not a lot to ask and yet...it is everything!

As that quote from the film 'Gone With The Wind' says "Tomorrow Is Another Day"

My next hurdle is laying Mum to rest but I survived the funeral better than feared but had I cried there is nothing wrong if I had, the memorial service was more difficult as I think it released pent up emotions that had built up over a number of weeks. As VJ's Mum said "It's still early days"

As we were so as to speak...

GreyQueen

Morning all. Am a bit late to the t'internet as I spent an hour between rolling from my pit and breakfast podding broad beans. 1.7 kg are now in the freezer in poly-bags marked with black twisty ties to differentiate them from the blanched beans, as Kittie has said they don't need it.

Pops, I'm wondering if you would be eligible for either free prescriptions on grounds of being on a qualilying benefit or eligible for a medical exemption certificate. There are a certain amount of conditions which qualify you for one of those; I have one for my very rare disorder which requires constant life-saving meds and my brother has one for his anti-convulsants.

Try asking for the application form at the pharmacy, although details are probably online somewhere these days? You get a wee plastic card to keep in your wallet, renewed every 5 years with a Dr's sig to back up that you do have X, Y or Z condition.

Thanks for your precautionary advice Mar; I do tend to go at life a bit like a bull at a gate, sometimes. Gotta flog a few labour hours at the saltmine and then I will chill for a while and leave the lottie til tomorrow. Allegedly, there may be sunshine tomorrow. I expect there will be jam, too.:p

Righty, quick surflet around some fave parts of the interweb then off to wash, dress and go impersonate a sane and sensible woman for most of the day.

Special ((((((((((hugs))))))))))) to the poorly peeps. My goodness, between pneumonia, tonsilitus and various other ghastly things, our regulars are going thru the mill.

Have a good one, everybody, laters GQ x

paidinchickens

Morning everyone

Was up with the sparrows this morning, well I assume the sparrows were up and just sheltering from the rain.

Had to laugh at the online banking yesterday because when I re mortgaged a couple of years ago I had to have 40% equity in the house to get a better rate, so I had to pop five grand onto a credit card and bounce it to and fro until it was paid last month. During this time I have had pre approved loans for 23 grand, 19 grand, etc etc even though I am not in work.

This month I am pre approved for the grand total of "0" nothing :rotfl:

I am no longer desirable, so ladies when you drop pounds off in weight you look and feel better but drop pounds off your credit card Mr bloodsucking banker no longer finds you desirable.


DSSs have gone to their Mums for the hols so I only have my DSat home, this usually costs me more as he hasn't got the others to fall out with.

I must get on with some jobs in the house as I am giddy with excitement over the summer weather arriving at the weekend and I don't want to be stuck indoors.

PIC x

dragonette

unixgirluk wrote: »

Peppers can be hard to grow Dragonette, your tomato plant should do well indoors. Just make sure its in a big enough pot and give it plenty of light, keep it in a warm sunny room and away from draughts. You could grow herbs, chillis (I grow my chillis in the kitchen, they love the heat in there and I usually get about 40 chillis each year from it), snip and grow salad leaves (just snip off what you need and it grows back). All these could be grown easily in a flat. Do you have a veranda area or window boxes?

Thank you, I got really disheartened by the peppers this year as 2 years ago they all germinated and I got many bowlfuls of them. None of my chillis came either. I currently have a flat leaf parsley that may need repotted soon.

Will needto think about where would be safe for salad leaves (I have a massive and clumsy cat). No window boxes atm, the way the windows open I worry they would get knocked off or the plants damaged. Only poss place for that looks onto a very busy road so pollution could be a problem. I could maybe put one or two pots outside but maybe only space for a few carrots.

On the upside however, my tomato looks pretty dam good. Its massive, 15 toms on it atm and three starting to turn thank goodness for that single south facing window!

Popperwell

grandma247 wrote: »

I loved the school holidays too, even when I had four very young children. In all those years I only wished them back at school twice and that was because I was ill.
As a kid I loved the holidays because I could read lots and lots of books and sunbathe at the same time. School got in the way of my reading:)

I always enjoyed my holidays and was never ever bored. Affording them is another matter but we probably should be given six weeks even if spread over the year as adults, it probably would do our physical and mental well being a lot of good.

GreyQueen wrote: »

Pops, I'm wondering if you would be eligible for either free prescriptions on grounds of being on a qualilying benefit or eligible for a medical exemption certificate. There are a certain amount of conditions which qualify you for one of those; I have one for my very rare disorder which requires constant life-saving meds and my brother has one for his anti-convulsants.

Try asking for the application form at the pharmacy, although details are probably online somewhere these days? You get a wee plastic card to keep in your wallet, renewed every 5 years with a Dr's sig to back up that you do have X, Y or Z condition.

Special ((((((((((hugs))))))))))) to the poorly peeps. My goodness, between pneumonia, tonsilitus and various other ghastly things, our regulars are going thru the mill.

Have a good one, everybody, laters GQ x

I have lost Mum's money and that's a big drop in income but I am managing(I have been told by the CAB)I can leave it for ages before chasing her estate and I am doing nothing wrong...as I can save a little and buy what I think I need for when it gets more difficult(and what I have has to last me)and I may not be able to get the help I do now because of the changes coming in...the bank released the money for the funeral costs...

I need my my meds(On going medical problem)and as I thought I would have to sort Mum's estate quickly and I knew I'd be over the threshold for free meds I purchaed a prepayment prescription certificate(approx £100)then I continued to get them for free so I should put in for a refund and then reapply again...

Mrs_Veg_Plot

Morning all. Hope everyone starts to feel better soon both physically and emotionally. Grief is a strange animal and can catch you out when you least expect it.

Meal planning this morning followed by grocery shopping. Sun is shining and I can see blue sky so will also get the washing done. DD2 comes back from outward bound this afternoon so will have plenty of washing later as well. DD2 has signed on for a 4 week volunteer activity called Summer of a lifetime. 2 weeks of outward bounds to gel as a team and to challenge themselves, followed by 2 weeks of planning and delivering a project to improve their local community. It has been supported by two youth groups and was trialled last summer and again this summer. As a trial it is free and there is good selection of children (16 - 17 year olds) from one that comes from a very well off family to three from care/foster care and everything else in between. Next year when it is no longer a trial they are expecting it to cost about £1200 per child. This will rule out this opportunity for most kids (my DD included) and only the well off will be able to afford to let their children have this experience.

Missed Bankof Dave last night as meds well and truely kicked in ans I was fast asleep by 9. Still it's a small price to pay to be migraine free.

paidinchickens

MrsVP I am glad you got some pain free sleep finally.

Forgot to add it's a free listing weekend for anyone who has [STRIKE]junk[/STRIKE] stuff to sell

PIC x

fuddle

Good morning. Gosh I hope the sickness wains for people soon. Pops good to read you are feeling a bit positive. We do have a lovely day today don't we Have a cuppa on the door step and watch the world go by in the sun. I plan to do that later! Mar I agree, this thread is my favourite. Thanks for the tip on pulling the yarn tight on double pointed needles. Problem solved and looking mighty fine

Took the dog on the school run... cue frantic woman :rotfl: kids treat as they wanted to show him off to their friends but the pup loves kids and was rather excited :eek:

My lovely old lady neighbour has passed me some old jelly and ice lolly moulds for the kids so going to make use of them later. Determined to enjoy this holiday with them, even if I am slightly nervous how I'm going to entertain them. Sis has agreed for £10 petrol money to take us to see the police dogs and fire brigade at her sure start in the next two weeks. I gotta do it for my kids my would rather not spend that £10 but I can't expect her to ferry me around for free, petrol costs the earth at the minute.

NEWS :rotfl: you know my trolley? Well my friend has a bad back but needs some shopping at the coop. She's asked me to take trolley (it needs a name! what should I call her?) so she doesn't have to carry it. Now that's a result

Ok, off to go do some housework. DH home at 5.30 tonight and boy have I missed the daft auld bogger Stewing steak in gravy done in the SC with mashed potato, carrots and peas. Pops good luck with the chicken and I would get in with that cocktail stick after 3 hours... nice clear juices and it's done, any pink juices or tinged pink skin and it's not quite.

Popperwell

paidinchickens wrote: »

I am no longer desirable, so ladies when you drop pounds off in weight you look and feel better but drop pounds off your credit card Mr bloodsucking banker no longer finds you desirable.

I doubt that I am deirable either with a low amount in my bank account, no real prospects of that improving and now not using the CC that often any more...they'd probably like to get rid of me.

And now what's the bet the branch of the bank I belong will be one of those sold to the Co-op and I'll have to switch. I can manage to get my money from the post office(if I stay with my original bank)and leave a little amount in the bank's account and not touch it.

But the problem will be if I use the CC as I will probably have to travel to a neighbouring town that has a branch and so I'd be paying the bill and adding the cost of travelling there. So that could be a problem.