make do and mend for tougher times

grandma247

Are the windows very misted up?
If you can just replace the worst and do them one at a time as you can afford it. It is not difficult to replace the panes yourself and I am sure there will be a video somewhere on the net to show you how. The most important thing is measuring accurately and there is probably a video for that too. I will try and have a look later.
Dh is going to replace the biggest one we have soon and the quote was £95 so not bad at all and he will fit it himself.

Possession

fuddle wrote: »

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.

I know exactly what you mean. We put off doing so many things when running the business since doing my job as well I didnt have time to think. Now we've been writing lists and working our way through them and just as you think you've nearly done everything on the list there's a whole other list to be tackled. I'm trying to think of it as an accomplishment each time - each little step is a step away from my house falling down around me, LOL! Rather than thinking of the daunting number of tasks to be done I'm trying to be pleased by the ones I have done, to give me the impetus to do the rest. I don't know if that makes any sense.

grandma247

Possession that makes perfect sense to me. Maybe you could work in a reward system so each time you get x number of jobs done you can do something or go somewhere. A picnic maybe or an outing to a place you enjoy.

mardatha

Gawd fuddle dont leave us again! Just settle doon hen and make a list of things to be done then take them ONE AT A TIME
I've settled doon meself. On the couch with a bag of sweetie shrimps & bananas. Tired today - yesterday I made a ton of bathmelts because I love doing them, but the RV who is the official impartial tester, has refused point blank to have any more rose petals :rotfl: I don't think he's got a feminine side, nevermind in touch with it!
When I get bored of the internet I've a lovely horrible book to read... nothing beats a good demon

Popperwell

Morning(Hugs to all that need them)
Well, the chicken cooked so well, just as Pooky said...it fell apart!

Also I left the roasting bag slightly open to let steam out but the liquid from the chicken manaed to find a hole in a corner that I still cannot see so some of it did get into the SC pot.

It fell apart so much, I had difficultly finding the bones for the stock but did recover enough bits and bobs to make stock I think...But will possibly need help on how I do that next. But once I know...

Possibly the same with the cooking of the vegetables. I gave the chicken an 8 hours time frame, it was already cooked in approx 7 hours(possibly sooner if I'd checked)I think there is more meat than I have ever managed to get from a chicken in my life before.

The SC pot cleaned up easily, the chicken is soft and moist and not dry at all.

So if it can cook a chicken like that, other meat will probably do as well. I have some belly pork I should try some time perhaps...

In general though I'd say it was a success.

I have a packet vegetable mix for doing soup. Any suggestions? Hob or slow cooker?. If I don't use it all, can I put what's left in a container in the fridge and heat up again tomorrow?

Thanks...

I think you are doing fine Fuddle and you are on top of it all...but if a little lurk helps...lurk away...I have a big job to complete clearing rubbish from the outhouse and then report the roofing felt that goes over that needs repairing. I have to arrange to scatter Mum's ashes and sort probate out eventually, then it will be the DWP and the Housing Association etc...and so it goes on. That could get on top of me I'm sure if I was to let it. Even the most organised of us have as you put it...days like that...but I am delaying everything as long as I can.

I have had a few people tell me to slow down...

Thank you for your kind words kitschy.

Later as has been said I better add to the store room again...who'd have thought...tinned potatoes, vegetables, flour, yeast and cornflour. Should I buy some more cereals? No, I'll give them a miss for a while I have 14 boxes:rotfl:

Then at a push I could bake some bread if I had to...

The rain is back again...think I'll have a cup of coffee, have a lie in whilst I can and then get started on the work again...

It's raining heavily again...there's a surprise...

Possession

grandma247 wrote: »

Possession that makes perfect sense to me. Maybe you could work in a reward system so each time you get x number of jobs done you can do something or go somewhere. A picnic maybe or an outing to a place you enjoy.

Yes good idea. I do get a sense of satisfaction in crossing something off the list though (and that might be why I sometimes write things on the list when I've done them if they weren't there, just so I can cross them off!:o).

Today the engineer is coming out to sort out the V+ box upstairs so I get to cross something off when I don't actually have to do anything. excellent!

paidinchickens

Popperwell wrote: »

You know how you can watch tv on the internet and not pay the license if you don't watch the programmes going out "Live"

They will close that loophole, we always knew that they would...

They are trying to do that already in France...so it won't be long in happening here...:(:mad:

:eek::eek: where have you heard this??? :eek::eek:

kidcat wrote: »

Bonnie - yes the lady was due to attend, she does every month anyway.
I suppose now I am left with the thought that maybe we should all be offering her petrol money (although we all travel equal distances and its her paid job to attend whereas we are just members as it were). I wish I had kept my mouth shut now and left the whole cake thing well alone.

Thanks popperwell I think you are right I will wait it out until later tomorrow before making any decisions.

Just take a cake with you and let them explain why they need petrol money when you all have to travel there anyway. Plead daft and say you thought that was only if she picked you and the cake up .........some people are so brazen, I would not be cheeky enough to ask.

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

That made me chuckle :rotfl::rotfl:

One of the chooks is squarking the place down I think she may be laying a brick :rotfl:

Had a lay in for the first time in months as hubby had to go to the quacks he took the dogs out before he went so I could snoooooooze but was woken up by the local handyman dropping round some beetroot plants in exchange for the eggs we gave him last week oh sometimes it does not pay to be frugal when it comes to having a lay in.........early bird catches the worm etc :rotfl::rotfl:

Dull sky but so far no rain, must go and get dressed as there is a trade thing on and it means free lunch even though we don't want to buy anything. Who said the romance was dead in our marriage :rotfl::rotfl:

PIC x

Popperwell

mardatha wrote: »

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

Really it just confirmed what we know...the gap between the poor and the rich(general term)is widening, prices rising. Some families though working arehaving to cut right back and some parents have to decide between food and buying shoes for the children or give more to the children and do without themselves.

A "middle class" couple had to move right out of London and have to travel 3 hours to work and back and still see the daily cost of living rising and cut back on what they spend.

There was an employent adviser working with young but her advice didn't seem much use(but I bet her salary says otherwise)If you ever saw the League of Gentleman's take on Back to Work programmes that was quite close.

And finally as a couple of people said we had a big well fed guy who works in the city praising the bankers and the rich for what they do for us and he's worth £36Million. Few would have been impressed with him...

Was there a solution at the end of the programme...no!

Byatt

Oh dear, I didn't know so may wanted to stay/have a prepayment meter. I do agree it concentrates the mind, and I really considered whether I should change, but being on my own plus with being away a fair amount at times with DD and cat/house sitting, although it's possible to stagger around the corner if necessary to top up, I just want to have the freedom it brings and also I will not go OTT, as don't want a huge winter bill.

The cost wasn't really a factor as I have the energy assist rate as I am "fuel poor", as more than 10% of my income is used in fuel. Maybe some of you could check with your provider as most have a scheme of some sort. Always worth asking. I'm with ED£ and they were really supportive.

My income is going to drop drastically in September too, soo I want a security blanket.

Popperwell

Paid In Chickens...
It was an official news story from a relaible source but now even I am wondering where I read it...

Found it...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jul/01/france-tv-licence-computer-screens

May happen but I bet it does...