make do and mend for tougher times

[Deleted User]

crikey
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/heathealth/

look at the health warning

hot here now so all blinds down and windows on south shut as outside is warmer than inside. Must remember to drink plenty of water

Popperwell

I won't do that in a hurry again(spent nearly £40 in taxi fares today!!!)that was to get to B&M in B.A. Then one to Aldi and then home...

Thanks Andrea for the idea of going to Peterlee now that idea I like and it would be a look out. The only good thing is I did have decent shop(whilst I can)it will be strange when money is so tight but what can you do?

I did make it worth my while so did a big shop at least...

I purchased a new slow cooker(under £10)the one I use is new and hardly used but this is smaller(better for a single person?)and the wattage is less so perhaps cheaper to run?

A jug with a lid and lots of easy to read measurements on the side so I probably can use it to store liquids in the fridge too...a steam cleaner and a kind of hand blender.

Lots of biscuits today, some spirits(Cocktails)some pink and red salmon, crushed tomatoes, sweets, corned beef, noodles, a jar of coffee in sachets(40 for £2.99)with sugar and whitener(I can usually get 2-3 drinks out of each)

Forget what else I purchased...don't think I have ever been to Peterlee before...thanks for that...

Oh I didn't have to as I have not worn a watch for over a year but I purchased a watch for approx £7, same place as another poster(I forget who:o)purchased a strap...it's so big but at that price and as my eyes get worse at least I can see it!

Popperwell

I never realised that the Nella was Victoria Wood as Housewife 49!!!

Like that quote GQ..."The Cost Of Living Is Killing Me!"

mcculloch29

The good thing about Peterlee is that the bus station adjoins the pedestrian precinct, you walk up out of it and Home Bargains is practically the first thing you see. There was talk of HB opening in NA at one time, the old Woollies would be ideal. I wonder how many ex Woollies shops are still empty?
Peterlee is so much like NA but has better shops, it also has a FarmFoods next to Aldi, I don't particularly rate them but some may. Iceland is also in the precinct, Poundworld I mentioned and there may even be some new traders, it's about a year since I was there. There used to be a market in the market square but shop traders complained and it got moved to a part of the TC where nobody goes (round by Argos).

Mrs_Chip

Thanks GQ - that wish worked as sun is now out - just in time for us to go off to work! :rotfl: Better late than never.

We had a most amazing sunset here last night. As we drove away from the camp the sky in the west was ablaze and a most lovely deep rose colour. By the time we got down to the car park the tide was in and gently glapping over the sea wall (just by the 'This Carpark is Lable to Flooding' sign:rotfl:). it was most wonderful and, crackered as we were we just had to stay and watch for a while. The whole of the harbour was washed darkest pink, the sea looked like rose wine. There are some upsides to evening work!

You can get paper for printers to transfer images onto fabric - I got some ages ago in Smiths - I might have a play and see if I can come up with a design Would be really great if we all had our own versions of 'what would Nella do ?' and met up - would certainly be a conversation stopper for those around !

I love the tees that Chris Packham wears on Spring/Autumnwatch - he designs them himself, they are really clever.

Nargleblast

Lurker alert!

For all you Pimms lovers, if you don't want to buy a bottle of Pimms or equivalent then you can make the drink from what you might already keep in stock. It's as easy as 1 2 3....

One part gin
Two parts red vermouth (e.g. Martini Rosso or Cinzano Rosso)
Three parts lemonade

Mix together then add ice, fruit, cucumber, mint or whatever floats your boat.

GreyQueen

LMAO, I was at that carpark a few years ago (2008 I think) and had forgotten about that sign. I adore a good sunset and sometimes have been known to loiter on the lottie to savour a nice summer evening.

Glad you've got some sun and hope the trading goes well.

bluebag

shelley_crow wrote: »

Hi JP,

No, I washed it this morning and put it straight in. It's never happened before.

I spoke to my lovely toothless and beanie hatted (seriously that's what he was like, great engineer tho') washing machine fixer.

He told me to stop washing at 30 and use powder not gels or liquids, use the highest spin speed available too. Use half the amount of powder and fabric soft recommended unless your water is really hard.

Worked for me, after I had cleaned the machine. The lower temperature wash causes a build up of fungus and the liquid detergents don't have a bleaching agent so the machine gets 'soured' with a mildew type thing.

Just lovely eh? so, sorry can't save the planet today.

fuddle

You could just use fabric pens to do the 'What would Nella do?'

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10-FABRIC-PAINT-PENS-IDEAL-FOR-MAKING-PERMANENT-T-SHIRT-DESIGNS-MORE-/130747425534?pt=UK_Crafts_Children_s_Crafts_EH&hash=item1e712762fe#ht_1045wt_699



or design your own apron with it on http://www.craftycrocodiles.co.uk/fabric-fun-c16/design-a-fabric-apron-p3

Uh oh. I see ebay buying is going to be addictive. I have just won a Monsoon, knee length denim skirt for £2.61 It's my way of building a capsule wardrobe of half decent items without spending a fortune. I loved one on Boden but I just can't spend £45 on a skirt, even if I do save for it gradually. I like my way loads more

Malfiore

Pooky wrote: »

It's alternating between thick sea mist, spitting big heavy splodges of rain for about twenty seconds and stickyly humid here....strange.

Dug the brewing buckets out of the garage earlier and have pressure washed them, will get them sterilised in the morning. Going to make a batch of rice and raisin and a batch of apricot (dried apricots were on offer on AF last time I ordered). Normally when DH does rice and raisin he blitzes the rice up but of course that releases a lot of starch as it ferments and we need to add amylaise to clear it down, if we don't blitz the rice first, does it still have the starch issue??

Need to pop to Wi1k0s for some air locks tomorrow, can't find ours anywhere. What's the betting they'll turn up as soon as I get home?

Ooh, my OH brews - all grain beer, wine and today a batch of mead for Xmas Are you making beer or wine?