make do and mend for tougher times

anakat

I think Mrs Chip sounds much happier than Nella Last, the only time that poor woman seemed to get much enjoyment out of life was in the war. Her miserable B!!!!!!! of a husband even outlived her

Cheapskate

Pooky wrote: »

If you click on Fuddles name on the left in one of her posts you can select to view her homepage - I've got one too

And they're both a very good read! I keep meaning to start one, but a) which blog site to use and b) would I bore everyone with my ramblings on being frugal, etc.?

I've got to do a major food stocktake today, need to severely prune my grocery spending, which has crept up during the holidays. 1 Sept is a Saturday (coincidentally the day I do most of my food shop), so back on the GC challenge, menu planning, etc. Having potato and leek soup for tea (said spuds and leeks from Aldi today, fraction of Sainsbugs cost!). Speaking of Aldi, it's a few weeks since I last went to my nearest branch, and couldn't believe how busy it was...and the high end cars in the car park...OMG! :eek: Wonder if some of the great and good of our town have just discovered OS ways? :rotfl:

Bought a new autumn/winter skirt for DD in CS today, £1.99, wraparound tweedy thing, either Next or M&S, very nice! Have to get rid of some more of the kids' clothes that are too small, but will try again to fleabay some of the better ones. Not had much luck before. Some friends sell on local fbk page, so will check that out, too.

I want this pattern so I can use up some old flannelette sheets! :rotfl:

http://www.sewdirect.com/acatalog/M6458.html

The sheets are old white ones, but I thought I'd jazz up the pjs with different coloured ribbon or bias trim, unless I can find some cheap coloured sheets.

I've loads of brambles ready, thanks to the recent sun, so they're going straight in the freezer until I've enough for jam, pies or bramble vodka. My dessert apple tree is loaded with 17 apples (quite a lot for a 4 year old tree!), so hope they last until they're ripe!

Mrs Chip - I know what you mean, we could have been sisters at school! :rotfl: I think I don't do things very well, either, am always amazed, even after 26 years of marriage, when DH compliments my cooking, or a friend goes "wow" over a card I made.

A xo

Mrs_Chip

I think her diaries show that she railed against the stifling presence of Will Last and that her depression was made far worse (or even caused) by his controlling behaviour. Her diaries were a release for he feelings, and her war work allowed her to prove she was not the waste of space she was made to feel. She was not, by nature so morose, just made so by living with a man who was probably slightly autistic.

For all he makes me cross sometimes, Mr C is nothing like Will, so my like is so much easier all round than Nella's. I try to remain upbeat and positive, although I think my natural inclination is less so!

mardatha

You talk an awful lot !
Mrs C - I was just thinking to post in here that I hope you haven't got a haunting when the door to this room burst open in a big gust of wind :eek::eek:
EEEEK!

Malfiore

Pooky wrote: »

If you click on Fuddles name on the left in one of her posts you can select to view her homepage - I've got one too

Thank you I'm going to have fun reading them

Half way through Housewife 49 on youtube; absolutely loving it! I;m going to see how much the diaries are on the kindle and if more than a few pounds I'll order them into my library

Mrs_Chip

Could be Mar, this is an old cottage, lots of previous inhabitants to choose from. Found no physical cause so will consider spiritual, although they could have picked a more sociable time to start haunting!

Just been up to pick some runner beans - now this is not boasting, simply astonished at how big this one is! That is a 14 inch rule...



Sorry GQ!

Popperwell

I was all signed up for duel fuel with N Power and I have switched to British Gas. Hope I don't regret it, my price at NPower was locked until well into next year but BG have offered me no standard charges(saves £72 over the year)£125 because I have come back to BG(at the end of the year)£120 for taking out Duel Fuel(again given at the end of the year)They say they are slightly more expensive on the gas but 11% cheaper on the electric...

So once I have paid a month of being with NPower for both, I will move to BG.

I don't really suppose that there is much difference between suppliers in the end...

At the end of the day if my income gets tight and I do not get the help I do now I may have to cut back or do without anyhow. For now it doesn't seem a bad deal.

Like any bill I wish it was less but what can you do?

Mrs Chip, Your Runner Bean is a beauty...

Pooky

Popperwell wrote: »

Would love to do something like that but in my situation unless kept to a minimum it would be seen as capital I suppose. Of course if I won a tidy sum...:D

That's why I have gone back to doing the euromillions whilst I can but if income becomes more tight as it will even that possible pleasure would be closed to me.

I did a basic calculation maybe a year ago and worked out that to pay full rent. CT(The BT had not been mentioned at the time)electric/gas, food, taxi fares/buses, tv license, internet/phone going for the next 25 years I would need approx £500,000 even if I was very thrifty(either my own money or from the state)

So I suspect the same woud be true of most households in the UK(in work or out of work)possibly more if you want more luxuries in your life...

Based on figures staying the same i work out that our outgoings would be£435,000 for the four of us for 25 years. But bearing in mind DDs will have left home before then and the mortgage would be finished its an unknown quantity.

DHs lump sum should in theory last until his retirement, if our other income remains the same, which again is an unknown quantity but we shall invest it wisely and see what happens.

I had my state pension forecast through today and I've got 23 years of contributions on there so just need to get 7 more years in before I retire, considering I'm not 40 yet, I think that's achievable. :T

Just washed the kitchen floor so am forced to sit and wait for it to dry, washing machine is on an empty hot wash with soda crystals and vinegar (thanks for the reminder). Not sure when anyone's home for dinner tonight, DD2 is out with friends, DD1 is out with her community charity work regenerating a local park today so no doubt she'll be very grubby and tired when she comes in. Think it might be an "on toast" night for them, DH and I had a salad for lunch so might just have cheese and biscuits to save any proper cooking.

Byatt

I adore Nella, I think she was an inherently happy person, but had a polar opposite in her husband. However, they both looked after relatives and watched out for them. He was miserable but that came from anxiety and as Mrs C says he was probably on the autistic spectrum.

I have often said Mrs C is like Nella, I'm not saying she is Nella, but I know back along when moving from London, she'd rustle up a meal out of nothing. And that's what I most loved about Nella's diaries, her meals and her ability to stretch it.

and Mrs C I've never looked like I've stepped out of Jackie either, sigh...:rotfl:

Mrs_Chip

My rustling up comes of being completely lackadaisical about meal planning - I really don't mind what I have, will eat as and when, whereas OH is constantly thinking three meals ahead. So I have to be able to think on my feet and magic a meal out of what we have in. There are 'rules' I have to abide by - no jacket spuds in summer - too hot (?:mad:) no salad in winter - too cold, that sort of thing.

Tonight I an juggling a cold chicken, a large runner bean :rotfl:, some old potatoes, some salad and a freshly made loaf. Not a lot of room for creativity,will depend on the weather at the time I cook!