make do and mend for tougher times

[Deleted User]

Afternoon all, it's very hot and humid down in the deep south today, the lurcher is asleep with his legs in the air after his afternoon walk and his Dadi has gone to the tip - no I haven't scrapped him, he's getting rid of some garden waste from renovating a veg bed.

SMILEY - I don't think you come across as immature, just fun!! It's a blessing to have an active sense of the ridiculous and as for properness (is that a word?) and respectable living, leave that to those who can cope with the rigidity of that as a lifestyle. Don't change a thing just keep on being the you that makes you comfortable!!!

FUDDLE - I think you are one of the most resourceful and brave people of my aquaintance, no one could be further from being a flake. Look at how you try all the time to be the best you can in each and every thing that you do. The girls couldn't have a better example to grow up with. You put them first in all your thoughts and deeds and give them all your love and caring, they won't remember anything but feeling warm, and loved and needed when they grow up. Don't doubt yourself little one you are such a tryer, and a success you are one of lifes good'uns!!! When the girls were little I very often used to stand them in the bath in a big washing up bowl full of water and give them a 'bowl bath' and hairwash - they thought it was the best fun - works on adults too (even when they's 64 an bigger than they was once!!!) it's amazing how far a bowl of water will stretch and no one's complained about the smell yet. Of course they might just be being polite?

Have a lovely afternoon everyone I'm off for a cuppa Cheers Lyn xxx.

westcoastscot

Hi Guys,
Found out today that my extra hours will stop at the end of August - am pleased to have the extra time but will really miss the money. Time to tighten the ship I think!!!

Has anybody read this??
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmselect/cmbis/84/84.pdf
I'm really concerned about it - it talks about the re-design of the post office into Main and Local offices, with only Main offices taking on certain task, including overseas postage. I have a small craft business which i'm increasingly relying on to bridge the gap between what I earn in my day job and my expenses. Without overseas business I would have to close - my main post office at the minute is a 70 mile round trip one way or 100 mile round trip the other! We have two tiny post offices locally, but under the redesign neither of these would be considered "main" - just the ones in Tesco up the road or the Co-op down the road.
It's really worrying - however haven't seen this mentioned anywhere but wondered what everyone's thoughts were???

Also noting that letters are going out around here that the so-called "bedroom tax" will come into force next April.

There's little good news is there??
EDITED TO ADD; found this - an easier read!
http://www.postoffice.co.uk/find-out-more/about-us/our-network

WCS

stiltwalker

Fuddle - I can't manage to bath or shower without doing my hair and I like to try and make my hair last 2 days at least once a week as it seems to keep it in much better condition (so much so that the girls at the hairdressers always want to wash my hair as they say it's so lovely and soft!!) so that's at least once a week I just have a quick 'do'. The kids only get bathed 2/3 times a week as it's such hard work - with their mobility issues and our big bath I have to bath them in with me.

Smiley - don't worry one bit - I'm 34 with 2 kids (both with disabilities) a car, a pension (paid for by my lovely parents as I can't afford to do my own), a rented house (no chance of buying in the foreseeable), half way through an OU degree so that maybe one day I can have a proper career as I've never managed one so far! and I often feel that other people are so much more grown up r sophisticated than me! But looking at me from the outside people think I am a grown up, confident, together, practical sort of a person - not sure who they're looking at but it sure don't feel like me - lol. A very wise person once told me when I was in the 6th form that no matter how old you are you are always looking out through the same eyes and that the grown up or even older person in the reflection in the mirror can be a bit of a surprise! I've had times when I've thought I still feel in many ways like that inexperienced 6th former and then I realise with a jolt that the Saturday waitress I've just employed was only 1 when I left school! (Just one occasion that springs to mind)

Had a lovely afternoon having picnic in the park with friends. DS made a bid for freedom wriggling off on his belly (he flat crawls) to investigate the bark chippings under the play equipment and DD had a great time in the sandpit getting sand in her knickers!

monnagran

Smiley: You are unique. You are the only YOU in the universe and that is awesome.
My dear, I'm 70+ and I still think that the world has a great big secret that, when I discover what it is, will make me as good as anybody else.
I know a poem about getting older and it ends

"Yet three score years and ten, plus more
My mind still signals twenty four.
I MUST be older than before."

Try to live in the moment and s-d everyone else.

Mrs_Chip

Smiley & Fuddle - I can only say that it has all been said - you are both brilliant, both got entirely different lives, but both are leading the lives you want to (I think ). I am 54 next birthday and like Kate, feel no different, no more mature than I did when I left home at 16. Belated Happy birthday for Monday Kate!

I have a friend who has always been 'old' to me, a bit po faced and with no sense of fun. She has everything she wants around her, but he life seems rather stuffy and buttoned up - I'm sure she feels entirely differently!

Got a bargain from the Julian Graves store that is closing down - 20 glass clip top jars of various sizes for under a tenner. Everything was at 75% off, but is is a shame, I liked Julian Graves.

Picked my first runner bean today - the only one that had grown big, so just ate it raw, it was yummy! I hope to get a reasonable crop, I don't think I can say the same for tomatoes - plants all doing well but not enough sun - so hope to be able to barter with lady over the road who lost all her beans but has lots of toms in her greenhouse.

The day started very cloudy but cleared by this afternoon, and is now a lovely evening, so we will have a drink in the garden before dinner - which will be a £1.99 Aldi pizza between the two of us, we know how to have a good time! But actually it is delicious and I would not pay more for one from a proper pizza shop!

Hope everyone has a lovely evening!

mardatha

Westcoast - have you not got a post van? We get it twice a week, it starts away down at Yetholm and wanders all round the wee villages. Am sure they will have to sort out something for your area - have you emailed your MSP?

Possession

Mrs_Chip wrote: »

Got a bargain from the Julian Graves store that is closing down - 20 glass clip top jars of various sizes for under a tenner. Everything was at 75% off, but is is a shame, I liked Julian Graves.

I might need to have a look at ours (if it's still there) as I was thinking of cookie jar mixes for xmas hampers....

SDG31000

Hello Everyone

Just a quick post to say hello and let you know I'm still alive and kicking, as I have a huge headache I'm trying to ignore and failing. I'll be so glad when this weather breaks and the humidity goes down.

fuddle you are a great Mom. I have a bath or shower every other day as my hair hates being washed more often. My boys get in the shower when practically forced to at gun point.

smileyt I just want to agree what everyone else has said (((((hug)))))

My AF order arrived this morning in two HUGE boxes. I had no idea that I had ordered so much. It doesn't seem like that much when listed on a computer screen, but it is a lot when I need to work out where it's all going. Lots of the naans and poppadoms will get eaten tomorrow when I feed the masses again. I've got dried chickpeas soaking to make one curry and hope to get to Makro with a friend tomorrow to stock up on cheap chicken.
Sunday is mine and DH's 17th wedding anniversary How we have managed to last that long is a miracle lol. I've brought him the new edition of Paul Simon's Graceland CD and I'm getting taken out to dinner. Then I worked out earlier that it's 36 days until I'm 38 years old. How did that happen? I still feel about 12 most days. I must remember to tell DS2 to remind DH that I want to go to the seaside as my present.
Sorry for waffling on, I'm not quite with it at the mo. I'd better go and see what random food stuffs are lurking in the freezer for dinner.

Take care xxxx

westcoastscot

mardatha wrote: »

Westcoast - have you not got a post van? We get it twice a week, it starts away down at Yetholm and wanders all round the wee villages. Am sure they will have to sort out something for your area - have you emailed your MSP?

No we don't - we have the wee post office in the local store but it won't be one of those which does all the business in the re-organisation. Shall email my MP about it.

There's always something isn't there???

Nice to read of those who still feel young - since I found out I had arthritis I just feel old and tired a lot of the time, and I'm only 51.

Smiley you always come across as sensible and mature - wouldn't worry what people think about you who don't know you.Particularly at work I come across (purposely) as an out-going, confident and optimistic person - I am optimistic and confident, but much prefer my own company and if folks saw me first thing in the morning or last thing at night they'd be shocked.

Popperwell

fuddle wrote: »

Just took delivery of DD's bed base from freecycle. DH's work driver has picked it up in the van for us. Chuffed to bits. If I had bought a new base, a cheap one, it would not have been as good quality as this second hand one. For her birthday she would like a pink bedroom. She's had green and yellow monkey bedroom since we moved here. I'm going to sort it for her as her gift. Others have bought her duvet cover, wall stickers and MIL has managed to pick up a little table and chair for me to paint.

Personal question coming up..... bathing/showering. I've always had a bath or shower at night. I was wondering if it would be ok to get a wash down instead i.e. a basin full of water and wash every other night? My kids too. It would save a lot of water/gas charges. Is it seen as dirty though. I remember my grandma and grandad only ever had a bath on a Sunday night. They weren't dirty and didn't smell.

That's lovely for your daughter and I am sure that she will overjoyed...oh the innoence of childhood before we have to dweal with the "Nasty" stuff along with the nice stuff...

I personally would have no problem with what you suggest regarding the bathing and showering(after all if something happens that needs and extra bath or shower it can be done)

Many older people from not so long ago used to have a bath only once or twice a week. More often might be because of a medical condition.

They made Mum have a daily bath and it was a chore, she was being constantly cleaned throughout the day and initially she was even having a blanket bath every other day...

They do blanket baths in hospital and that's not a bath every day...

Again, it depends how much you sweat. You change your clothes regularly, I can remember my Father having a wash at the bathroom sink.

As you say if it's proving expensive, you have to adapt to the situation and the money you have coming in...and whether money is short or needs to be diverted in another direction.

And you are right parents and grandparents did not smell.

We have more baths/showers because we have started to have more access to gas/electric CH which is fine when you can afford to use it. Also, it's easy. At least we are not getting the tin bath out and washing in front of the fire...I bet someone is...