make do and mend for tougher times

mardatha

What was Panorama about ? I hate missing interesting progs but I can't be a$$ed with watching tv really - and anyway the RV is glued to the remote for his rubbish soaps

SpikyHedgehog

Popperwell wrote: »

They are quite good and anything that saves money...especially when it's practical but not actually a treat or a luxury. You can pay such a lot for a plastic box:eek:

I ended up buying ten! I probably could do with more but I'll try and make that do...but I think my store room is going to get larger after some things that were said in the news about milk being in short supply soon(some dispute over what dairy farmers are paid for their milk by supermarkets)the weather affecting cereal and vegetable crops...

I suspect inflation will be going up again...I'm a proper ray of sunshine aren't I? I understand exactly what you mean regarding your washing line...we've had somne fun over the years when council or Housing Association people have done repairs. Common sense seems to go out the window...

At times I can find it funny, other times it's plain irritating... Ourz house was new when we moved in, 5 years ago, & the builders had t o "go rush to finish the job, 4 months later than originally quoted. & it shows at times. Mrs next-door had a problem with a smell in her kitchen, that was tracked down to the gas supply for the cooker not being capped off properly. She's also had lots of problems with damp, & hers was the last house plastered.

The builders insisted on putting in taps that look lovely but have no grips, so you can't turn them on or off with wet hands; & plumbing the bath in so that to work on the taps, later workmen have to take the toilet out, & still only have a tiny space to work in - & the bath could very easily have been put in the other way so there was easy access to the taps. Of course, turning it round now is an expensive job.

Possession

Pops - make sure you don't open the lid!
Pooky - our income has dropped by 2/3 as well. Sadly we are not managing on just my income, since our mortgage alone is £900 per month, so we have to top up a bit every month from savings. Luckily my broadband is paid by work so I don't need to think about cutting that, lOL!

smileyt_2

Hardup_Hester wrote: »

Hubby was involved in interviews yesterday, he gave 3 interviewees a tour of the workplace so I can tell you 3 things not to do.
1) don't tell the person giving the tour that the whole job sounds boring & then tell the interviewer that the job is your dream job.
2) Don't say 'Look at the t*ts on that' about every woman you pass on the tour.
3) Don't play pocket billiards, especially when talking to a female interviewer.
Did I mention that the person who committed these faux pax's was surprised when he didn't get offered the job & wanted to know why?
Hester

What a sleazy numpty! Did hubby give him the feedback or did the female interviewer? I don't think I'll be in too much danger of committing those particular faux pas - especially as I have no billiards to play with anyway ..... :rotfl:

Off to walk the dogs before my interview technique session at the Job Centre. I shall pass on your hints and tips, Hester!

GreyQueen

HH I was once on a interview preparation course and the (male) instructor cautioned the (mostly) male attendees not to fiddle with their billiards during the interview. They looked incredulous that such a thing would occur.

Our mock-interviews were taped and played back to us........wanna guess what most of the male interviewees were doing?!:rotfl:The mock-interviewer was a man; think it's just a nervous habit.

One of the funniest things I've seen in recent years was on a scorching hot day last summer. I was walking down a scruffy shopping street near here when I saw a young guy, probably about 20, standing shirtless on the pavement ahead. I was thinking to myself you need a bit more meat on your bones to work that look, sonny.

With a expression of utter self-absorption, he sensuously slid one hand down his own chest and belly and then south of his waistband. I kept a blank face but I was roaring with laughter inside. Oh dearie me, some things need to be reserved for the privacy of your own bedroom or bathroom....:D The things you can see on Scruffy Street at 10 am in the morning.

Good luck for the interview on Thursday, Smileyt. I'll be rooting for you.

I have some tedium to do, rummaging around in my bank account files, then off to the bank, then I'm going to hit a few stores to add to my stores, IYSWIM. Thinking tinned tatties would be a good thing to have for when my homegrowns (not yet harvested) are finished. Freezer's tiny so storing veggies in there is limited and I will be reserving it for my h.g. beans and peas. And longlife milk for the storecupboard, too.

As I only have 7 badly-chewed runner bean plants, I shan't have to worry about them glutting..........:(

Haribo, nice to see you again.

Weather's dry here at the mo but I heard about the amber alerts on the radio this morning so hoping those in the affected areas will be OK.

Laters, GQ x

grandma247

Pah I know exactly what you mean about prepayment meters. We have also had them for twenty years. They concentrate the mind don't they. I also feel safe knowing that if there is no money for them then we will be extra careful and if we have to go a day without then we will survive and not be tempted to run up a bill we can't pay so for me they are good. So far we have not been without gas or electric although we have cut it fine sometimes. Fortunately we now have a BG top up thingy that I plug into the computer so I don't have to go out. I keep thinking I should get one for the electric but that will mean changing to Bg and I had a run in with them years ago when we changed our electric to them. I may do it if it looks like winter really is going to be bad. I wish the other companies would do them.

On the subject of tinned foods. This is where the dehydrator comes into its own. If your tins are about to go out of date you can dry the food to keep it a lot longer. I have done it with mushrooms and then powdered them to go in soups and stews. I am not keen on them as they are so powdered is better. I use the liquid to add to soup or stew too.

fuddle

I would love to go on a prepayment meter, I really would but it's the price/value for money that prevents me. :cool:

I might need some propping up today, I've lost my enthusiasm. It all feels like one big struggle today. Try to cut back on tumble dryer = condensation/mould growing on windows. Fit new curtain track so I can finally have some curtains this winter = find that all the window sealant needs replacing. I know they're teeny tiny things but I just feel like I'm constantly hitting my head off a brick wall.

I wish for my oblivious head to be in the clouds sometimes. It's tiring trying to out run things/pre-empt other people's decisions.

grandma247

Fuddle you can only do what you can. slow down! You will burn out. Just take one thing at a time.
At least you know now what needs to be done with the windows and you still have time before winter.. Are they double glazed or single?

kitschy

Hugs to Pops and PAH - I know your loved ones will have known how very much they were treasured by you both xxx

Greenbee - thanks chick, am keeping busy, but if I get cabin fever I'll shout you xxx

I haven't watched any of the getting older programmes - I cry at an advert, and I know I'll just blub all the way through. Will be watching The Town that Never Retired with Nick and Margaret from The Apprentice tomorrow. My last role was working with the over-50s to combat ageism in the recruitment process and I know that the majority of the folk taking part in the programme will outshine their younger counterparts!

Hardup_Hester wrote: »

Hubby was involved in interviews yesterday, he gave 3 interviewees a tour of the workplace so I can tell you 3 things not to do.
1) don't tell the person giving the tour that the whole job sounds boring & then tell the interviewer that the job is your dream job.
2) Don't say 'Look at the t*ts on that' about every woman you pass on the tour.
3) Don't play pocket billiards, especially when talking to a female interviewer.
Did I mention that the person who committed these faux pax's was surprised when he didn't get offered the job & wanted to know why?
Hester

Thank you so much for posting this - brilliant! I had a chap who, when asked about hobbies, went into a spiel about rearing chickens for slaughter and the best ways to dispatch them.....I didn't employ him either! :eek:

fuddle

I really shouldn't moan, I guess we all have our off days, even on anti-d's :cool:

they are double glazed grandma, so pretty lucky compared to some. My grandma told me that when she was a young mam she had icicles growing on the inside of the windows. I have to get everything into perspective... I'm damn lucky compared to a lot of people, past and present.

I guess being a the tough thread you get to read every body's issues and what they think/know is going to happen. I'm taking too much onto my shoulders I think, trying to make sure I'm prepared for every eventuality. It is too much. I burned out last time. I had to say away for a few months because it got all too consuming. Think i'll lurk for a few days, just step away for a bit. I'll be still glued though