make do and mend for tougher times

stiltwalker

prepareathome wrote: »

Oh fantastic so now it stilwalker BA/BSc Hons :j:beer::A

Not quite yet! This is my result for my second module out of 6 so got a way to go. Got 1 more essay and an exam for my 3rd module then I'm having a 3 month break til I start on my level 3 modules.

Thanks for all the congrats everyone. Finally got hold of my mum to tell her and she was suitably enthusiastic.

smileyt_2

thriftylass wrote: »

Good morning, so far so good. Didn't smoke yesterday and don't even fancy one today (keep thinking I already saved about 8 quid in two days), cycled in today and left my wallet at home.

Well done! Giving up smoking is the best thing you could do for your health and your bank balance. Hopefully you'll be healthier for longer and that's got to be cheaper in the long run, quite apart from any savings you make from the cost of the cigarettes themselves!

stiltwalker wrote: »

Just got my OU results and I am over the moon - Grade 2 Pass!!!

Congratulations! :T Time for a little celebration!

Been to the Jobcentre to use their phones to check on my JSA appeal (fifteen minutes on hold is too expensive from my home phone). It could take another four weeks. Sigh. The woman on the phone tried to tell me because I had other income coming in (the charitable payment for the supported lodgings) that I wasn't entitled to anything. That's wrong, and I told her so. The payment should either be disregarded altogether or it should be treated as board, in which case I would be entitled to about £25/week. Anyway, they have received my appeal letter so it's just a case of waiting it out now. I dread to think what state I would be in if I didn't have the supported lodgings money and savings and my store cupboard. Thankfully HB are paying up now. By the time JSA make their minds up I think I will be back at work!

Anyway, I just wanted to say to anyone thinking of claiming or appealing for benefits - don't listen to what the person who answers the phone thinks if they are telling you there is no entitlement. Go ahead and claim/appeal anyway as so often they are wrong, especially if your case is unusual, as mine is, and you are relying on an obscure point of law, as I am. If they are right, you have lost nothing but a bit of time.

I am feeling incredibly frustrated. My thoughts are so skittery and scattery at the moment that I can't concentrate for long. I feel like someone's rolling a tray of marbles around inside my head. It'll pass, I just have to ride it out.

Catch you all later .....

ETA Katieowl, a grand goggie! Oh, that is lovely news!

ginnyknit

Congratulations to thsoe and their hubbys have have passed exams, must be very tough with having to be O/S too. I dream of doing a degree but at the moment don't think I could concentrate what with OH's medical problems cos my head is cabbaged

Smileyt, you keep fighting hunny, they DSS shouldn't under estimate the determination of a tiny stick of dynamite like you

Just been to MR S, my favourite supermarket round here. Not a YS in sight but plenty of annoying people who very nearly set off my trolley rage, I have to concentrate or I will go beyond my budget. I have found that the instant custard - now 15p - is actually very good, used to taste of sweetener and was yucky but now its well worth the money. And as Aunty Mar always says 'if a cake doesnt work out cover it in custard and serve it as a pud ' Am working on the basis of soup then cake and custard when things are tight so found some really nice dried soups in Mr A for 32p last year and will pick up a few cheap basic cake mixes and Im set!

Possession

Ginny approved foods often has catering size packs of cake/muffin mix. I haven't tried those but have the pizza base mix which was dirt cheap and absolutely fine. It has fed lots of hungry kids and there is lots more. I have no idea when the BB date was but it works at the moment.

ginnyknit wrote: »

Congratulations to thsoe and their hubbys have have passed exams, must be very tough with having to be O/S too. I dream of doing a degree but at the moment don't think I could concentrate what with OH's medical problems cos my head is cabbaged

Smileyt, you keep fighting hunny, they DSS shouldn't under estimate the determination of a tiny stick of dynamite like you

Just been to MR S, my favourite supermarket round here. Not a YS in sight but plenty of annoying people who very nearly set off my trolley rage, I have to concentrate or I will go beyond my budget. I have found that the instant custard - now 15p - is actually very good, used to taste of sweetener and was yucky but now its well worth the money. And as Aunty Mar always says 'if a cake doesnt work out cover it in custard and serve it as a pud ' Am working on the basis of soup then cake and custard when things are tight so found some really nice dried soups in Mr A for 32p last year and will pick up a few cheap basic cake mixes and Im set!

fuddle

Well it's so nice to have some excitement and celebration running along the frustrations for a change.

I'm so pleased that sense prevailed katie and your DD is able to look after the little woof! Photo's would be lovely, if and when you can

Been to library with the girls for a craft session. They enjoyed it and I picked up Alys Fowler's edible garden.

Uniscots97

Well, I have some news............ I've been offered a job! :j


Its contract, not permanent but I am so happy. I think think I deafened the poor agency guy when I screamed . They need to go through background/credit checks and I need to take all my paperwork to the agency tomorrow to prove who I am.


The amount of pay is similar to what I got before the only thing I don't get is a pension and medical but I may look into doing that myself.

This means I can breathe again, its a very smart place so I need to get another suit and tops I can get out of the charity shop. I do have suits I wore a few years ago but they are too small. The job is a 20 minute walk from the train station which hopefully means I'll get fit and lose (a lot of) weight, my previous job I drove door to door.

Cheapskate

Congrats to stiltwalker and the other clever people passing exams/modules/degrees! :j I'm trying to decide what OU course to start in October - whittled down to something engineering or science related, but not more defined yet!

I have bought a new WM today - first time I've bought one online. Knew which one we wanted, and finally got from Mr S, so Nectar points and money off as DS has a staff discount card, which we've been able to tie together, so for a WM that Cur*ys were selling for £330 I spent the princely sum of 250.44, including delivery on Sunday morning and free connection - can't believe my luck! :rotfl: DD is having the old one, got some life left in yet, esp for just one, but not quite up to the job of washing for 5 any more!

We're having freezer teas, YS meals, HM soups/puds for the foreseeable to clear the freezers and restock before prices go up too far. Have seen quite a lot of YS foods in both our branches of Mr S and M&S (never seen them in the latter before!), not sure why as whenever I go, it's always luxury or ready made things left that we don't buy, even YS. In the freezer I have 2 x 1lb good steak mince, salmon steaks, chicken Kievs, garlic and plain bread, chicken fillets, so well over a week's meals, more if I bulk out the mince with veg etc.

Got a couple of frugal cookery books from the library to peruse tonight, ones I've not seen before, so hope for a bit more inspiration there.

ETA - well done unixgirl, so pleased for you! :beer::beer:
A xo

elona

ginnyknit

I got luxury crumble mix from AF - used it at weekend for apple crumble and family and guest raved about it. Made individual dishes (pottery ones from shh! poundshop but looked posh) served with ice cream.

Just back from Mr S - got three lots of trout fillets, basic salmon fillets, couple of lamb chops and a dozen organic pork sausages (all of them YS and better than half price). Nearly everything has been slammed in freezer but will have sausage and mash or trout fillet with green beans for dds and some a la leftovers for tomorrow. The gladiolas are half price so got some gorgeous purple ones and white ones (at £2 a bunch it looks extravagant but is cheap as chips).

DH can't understand how a house move could have got me so keen on cooking etc but it is lovely not to be overlooked when in the kitchen and to have decent cupboard space.

katie

I am so pleased about the dog. I tend to be wary of anything that moves and am scared of dogs etc.but got daring a few days ago and managed to stroke DD's hamster which is actually quite cute.

smiley

You are right to keep pushing for what you are due. It is not your fault people are badly trained. There was a book called "Parkinson's Law " years ago which mentioned "the abominable No man" and reckoned you had to keep going through them till you reached someone with the authority or knowledge to say "Yes".

unixgirl

I am so pleased about the job offer!!! That is fantastic news especially in the present climate.

fuddle

YEY! unixgirluk! That's brilliant news, Oh it's a good day today!

prepareathome

Well I am still getting over the shock of having a room full of big HA cheeses (6 + 2 PAs to take notes) just as well I have a big 3 seater and big 2 seater couch in living room + dining table and chairs as room was full.

Thankfully apart from store room and side garden every where is tidy and clean.

Got told not to worry about side garden they know I am disabled and how hubby has been told if it goes again its an op. That is why he will lift and carry for me as he does that with his job but will not chance gardening. Having him bed bound unable to move for 4 months then another 4 months to recover in 2004/5 was enough for both of us.

I did as GQ suggested and called at 8.30am when call centre opened and got through to general housing enquires and put in my 'subject access request under Data Protection Act 1998. I got a stunned silence first, then pardon (well brought up young chap) so I explained and he took it all down then asked why so he went into my notes and found every call and surveyors report - the most damming one was from july last year when surveyor had called my front door a disgrace to HA as it was in such a bad state.

We then had to toddle out to put money on credit card (bank takes 24hrs to transfer) as BT needed paying by 3rd and guess who forgot about TVL:o I usually pay it yearly so forgot and hubby had picked up reminder when it was delivered and popped it into letter rack and I only found it last night and runs out today.

When we came back lots of cars parked outside, we presumed for next door as they have lots of friends round, but usually evenings or weekends so wondered if someone was ill or had died.

Came up path and guy in suit comes out and introduces himself - the big boss of HA the CEO himself. First thoughts oh god they have come to kick me out because I am a troublemaker ( only done the request so far and mentioned might take legal action yesterday). Legs I admit went wobbly.

He saw my face and hurriedly reassured me he was not there for anything bad. So we go it, put dogs in kitchen with back door open and in they all came.

First they asked why I had made the request so I explained how 'their 'surveryor yesterday had all but in fact called me a liar and told me there were no record on the system of me ever calling about the door before last Friday and how I was not told by improvements team I would ever get a new front door.

He asked if I could remember all that had happened since improvement team first came round.

Jeepers it reminded me of when education dept took me to court for refusing to send my son to school when I took him out and said I was home schooling him.

I was asked so many questions and most of them were nodding and ticking off lists they had so I asked what it was- it was the complete list of every call I had ever made to them since they took over. Even when I had phoned to check how much credit I was in was there.

They didn't give me a copy though although I was allowed to read it over.

As to door they said it was true I was told I was to get a new door but surveryor yesterday and one would be coming later did not feel there was a need just yet. Due they admitted to some 'administrative errors' they had taken the decision ,along with tenants panel, which they admitted they only had people from the north on not to replace any door that it was felt had at least 5 years life i it.

I asked did anyone in the north have an old door and CEO went a nice shade of pink and admitted every house had received new front and back doors and apart from me it was just a few flats and a couple of sheltered housing accommodation that didn't have new door, maybe 500 altogether.

I pointed out by their own surveryors report last year my front door was not fit for the purpose and my insurance company could refuse to pay out if ( heaven forbid) I ever needed to claim. Also both their own insurance they offer as well as mine(both via sun alliance but HAs insurance would cost me£600+ my building society charged me £220 for the year last Oct) assume front and back doors have 5gear deadlocks yet my front door still has yale and in strong wind blows open and other times gets stuck - they had the reports from the locksmiths who have had to come out and get my front door open( last a month or so ).

The new surveyor came and checked the house for any work needed. I was praised on how well I look after the property (boy did I want the floor to rise up and swallow me when he went into spare room but as food on top of all the books I have taken off shelves to store cans etc and on top of the boxes of the thousands of tapes I have to go through some time for dad, he just said he could see I took care of my family just as well as the house.

Kitchen sink unit inspected again, photos taken and deemed unsafe so to be replaced. Side gate tut-tutted over and disgraceful mentioned, more photos and to be replaced.

Front door deemed fit for purpose but new 5 gear dead lock to befitted and was told I would get a new door as soon as they were able but as my door costs now £2k(only one council will let them fit and door and frame must be solid wood) they just cannot justify it just now.

So summing up they hoped I was assured they did not think I was a liar and I had every right to expect a new front door based on what I had been told over a period of years but they hope I can understand why its on hold for now - so I asked why had previous surveyors said door was unfit, were they not qualified to tell the difference. Much clearing of throats one of the woman who had kept quiet all the way through said that she totally could see why I would think that but those surveryors were following a different critera to present ones. So had to ask what is the difference and again clearing of throats and little coughs and was told well then we had the money for the doors so they could afford to say a door was no good if it was on its way out but still actually had life left in it.

CEO took my hand and said he hoped I accepted his apologies over the way his staff had treated me and misrepresented facts like I will get a new door and he hopes I will see they only have my best interests at heart and hope I will not go down legal path.

While he was saying that all I could think what big award are they up for that any legal case against them will lose it, I nearly came out with it, but stopped that might have been a step to far.

Oh offered tea and one of the PAs a nice young male person offered to go and make it, I think he wanted to escape. Thank heavens kitchen is organised now so apart from me pointing to kettle corner and where mugs are he was able to make everyone a cuppa. CEO looked good drinking out of a flowery mug, a sight to warm me on winter days:rotfl:

Oh yes appropriate dept will be in touch over my data request and they were unsure how much it will be and did I want to include hubbies data as well. So I said yes and I would be happy to pay for it as they know I always pay my bills to them in full with no benefit.

No other work found needed to be done, which I knew. Surveryor liked my bedroom/office he seemed a really nice guy and I felt he was being leaned on and he was trying hard to find anything he could get repaired or replaced for me as he could not say yes to door and why as soon as I mentioned lock he was saying he would have it replaced.

Other bits and bobs were said, they were here over 90mins. Thank god for my meds keeping me going as have been awake now since 7am yesterday morning. I feel I have been through a mangle.

Annoying, paid BT but not enough to pay a full year to TVL so I was hoping to pay a month or two then pay rest in August but they cannot do that if I go on monthly I must stay on it but don't want that so paid a quarter but over the year means I will pay an extra £5, not amused.

I wonder what they would do if I 'forgot' I had this agreement in August when hubs is paid and buy a full year one, they would surely have to give me back the extra or keep it towards next years, they couldn't just keep the extra months could they????


Its so dull not stopped raining all day oh and friend dropped in while they were here so didn't stay but gave me my birthday present- lovely stole and beautiful brooch:)