make do and mend for tougher times

[Deleted User]

PAH - I think you got a bargain for £5, I've got four irons now, they live on top of the woodburner and in the hearth and the cheapest I've paid before is £10. If you think you might use it as an iron don't do anything to the bottom plate other than rub it down and give it a good polish. You can still get stoveblack - I got mine from Robert Dyas in a jar and I think it was £6 ish and thats what I've used on the tops of mine. Good find!!!!!

POSESSION - Yukkkkk - heated slug is not ever going to be a favourite in my house!!!!! Hope the trip to Rochester Castle and Cathedral was a success, I went to school at Fort Pitt when it was a girls tech in the 60's and we always walked down to the Cathedral for end of term services, it's an area I love. Cheers Lyn.

fuddle

What happens to a potato if it has got blighted?

yoghurt ice cream is churning. My HM yoghurt didn't work, just curdled. At least I know it was because it was too hot to start with.

Been thinking, while supervising the bike riding, that for the fairy garden we could paint a trough I have, fill with compost, plant some flowers, a bit ivy from the front garden and make some stones out of salt dough, paint (got clear floor varnish in garage to make weather proof) look on ebay for fairy ornaments and get DD to write out the flower fairies poem if she wants too and hopefully MIL can laminate. A project for the next few days any way.

There's not one dandelion where we have been on bikes, i'll look myself later when I take Alfie for a walk along the fields. I fear we might have to just do something with the leaves that are in the alley beside our garage.

[Deleted User]

Lo FUDDLE - Blighted potatoes rot and won't store and are likely to infect sound ones in the sack so you could loose the lot!! Would the littlies like making some fairies from dolly pegs? If you have a Wilkinsons near you you get a pack of 24 for about £1. If no Wilkos a hardware shop should have them for around the same price - they sound the kind of kiddies who would like the activity. Glad you had a nice day out and the weather was kind too. Poor Docky doesn't know where to put himself at the moment - he's soooooooooo hot poor old boy. I will leave his evening walkies until it cools off a bit and then take him down by the river for a paddle. Cheers LYN XX.

monnagran

Fuddle - you want dandelions? I know of a garden very, very close to my house where it looks as if dandelions are being cultivated.
Query? Why don't slugs decimate dandelions and bindweed and earn their place in the scheme of things?
Answers on a postcard please.

Pips_Mum

fuddle wrote: »

Youngest wants to make a fairy garden so I need to think about how to make that happen. I feel so shattered but fulfilled that my girls are stimulated, busy and interacting

Very cute Fairy Garden here fuddle and you will probably have most of the bits anyway. http://www.theimaginationtree.com/2012/06/making-fairy-garden.html

fuddle

They would like that MrsL I could get my scraps of material out for them, felt tip the the face on them and varnish it. Wilko's in Hartlepool so when I go I will hunt them out. Thank you

Just catching up on turn back time in the 70's. They're talking about the 3 day week. I had no idea that it occurred.

Also some really bad news for mums in my area. The school bus is no longer being subsidised by the council. Mums have to pay for the use of the school bus. So many of my friends have to find £30 for one child, £60 an month extra if you have 2 children and one has 3 so has to find an extra £90 a month just to get her children to school. She can't walk it because her smallest child is still in the infant school and wouldn't get walked up to the Junior school till about 9.40am.

It will hit me in 4 years time when DD goes to senior school. We will be moved by that time we hope, into the town but I fear it will mean I will have to move my youngest DD into the town's Primary school. It's depressing having to think about so far ahead.... who knows I might have a car again by then. Worrying though, that it's just bliddy expected that families can take a hit like that. I'm already worried about forking out £30 a month for DD to have school dinners. I can't afford for my youngest to go on them too so she will stay on packed lunch.

I feel like my tightly controlled finances are not going to cover our very basic overheads. I don't know how to claw back any more money now. What else are we going to have to fork out for....?

Popperwell

Evening Fuddle,
I know how much further mostdon't of us can cut back on what we spend. If I was working and even in te suituation I am in most of my money goes on food, utility bills, rent. I make clothes last. Not sure what I would do if things need replacing/repairing.

Carpets have seen better days(some are threadbare)Some furniture probably should be replaced but I manage. I have to...

If I have to give up on something it could only be the tv and internet access/phone. I no longer buy cd's and books(I'd like to but they would be luxuries)

If they go all I have left for entertainment is a radio...

When the time comes to replace the fridge/freezer and washer or a cooker that will be interesting...

What a carry on over the school bus and I can understand your concern regarding school dinners.

Using my shopping trolley means I have saved on taxi fares which either means that I can save the fares, leaving money in my pocket or spend that towards the shopping. Wish I'd done this years ago. What I have spent or could have saved using a taxi...must run into thousands...

I was in the charity shop today and for 99p picked up a really decent lightweight grey jacket/jerkin. Hope something comes in that is suitable for the Winter...

Popperwell

Tonight I am trying some pork meat balls in the remainder of that packet mix from yesterday that is suppose to give the meal a kind of flavour of red wine gravy, mushrooms, onions, streaky bacon, chicken stock and some carrot, cauliflower, broccoli and new potatoes(I'm using the slow cooker again)

Possession

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

POSESSION - Yukkkkk - heated slug is not ever going to be a favourite in my house!!!!! Hope the trip to Rochester Castle and Cathedral was a success, I went to school at Fort Pitt when it was a girls tech in the 60's and we always walked down to the Cathedral for end of term services, it's an area I love. Cheers Lyn.

Rochester Grammar girl here Lyn! I still can't bear morris dancers either. Yes they had a good time but still came back with way too much energy for my liking.....

Possession

fuddle wrote: »

Been thinking, while supervising the bike riding, that for the fairy garden we could paint a trough I have, fill with compost, plant some flowers, a bit ivy from the front garden and make some stones out of salt dough, paint (got clear floor varnish in garage to make weather proof) look on ebay for fairy ornaments and get DD to write out the flower fairies poem if she wants too and hopefully MIL can laminate. A project for the next few days any way.

There's not one dandelion where we have been on bikes, i'll look myself later when I take Alfie for a walk along the fields. I fear we might have to just do something with the leaves that are in the alley beside our garage.

Am sure I've seen some fairy stuff on Pinterest, will have a look tomorrow, just about to log off now.
Also my DS will be starting senior school next year and unless things change we will have to find £660 a year for the school bus, despite it being our only Catholic school in the area. Am thinking of lift-sharing with another mum who will have one there and still another at the same primary, but it's not easy. With two kids that's £1320 a year AFTER tax I need to be earning just to get them to school.