make do and mend for tougher times

GreyQueen

Byatt wrote: »

Talking about the loss of a parent, my dad died in 1992, so quite a while. it was devastating for me, but I won't go into it all now, but just a few weeks ago, they had an advert on in which they played the full version of Little Boxes, can't recall if that's the correct name but it's about little houses looking all the same. My father loved that song, and hearing it again after so many years, had me sobbing in front of the tv, a huge well of emotion. They play it every so often now, can't even remember what the advert is for, but they haven't played it all the way through since. Funny what hits you.

I love that Pete Seegar song but it doesn't have any emotional baggage for me. What I cannot bear to hear is that hymn The Old Rugged Cross which was sung at Grandad's funeral. Fortunately, no one is likely to attach an advert to that, so hopefully it is emminently avoidable.

Darlings, my living room floor is covered (I use the term wisely) with paperwork. How the heck all that came out of one small carryable metal hanging file box I cannot comprehend. SuperGran saw my window open and realised I was off work (on leave, not skiving) and popped in for a natter. She has a habit of once or twice a year, declaring herself as on sabbatical from her very demanding volunteer jobs. She implies that she is away from home and screens her calls and uses the time to catch up on personal stuff inc admin and The Shredding. She's a real neatnik and minimalist...........

Right, quick nip around on the interweb whilst drinking my tea and then back to the grind. Have reached the point where it will be worse instead of better if I quit now.

GQ vs The Paper Tiger - let Round 2 commence.

Byatt

Popperwell wrote: »

It is Byatt...and I can quite understand you feeling that way. Little Boxes by Pete Seeger. That would be the original version, it was rewriten and sung by another person for the mobile phone company O2...I think we'll always be caught out this way. I sometimes forget what we did together, what we talked about, even how Mum sounded but memories are provoked sometimes by a song and obviously it tugs at something deep in our subconscious(sp?)



Looks like it is something that will always happen to us no matter how much time passes or how old we become ourselves...

Yes, it still happens, but I have to say, you are still newly bereaved and the pain will be much more acute. Despite my tears for the song and the emotion felt, I don't have the pain anymore. Grief is a powerful emotion and it has to take its course. The acuteness will fade but for the time being it has to be endured. No-one can go through it for you even though we can empathise.

Popperwell

GreyQueen wrote: »

I love that Pete Seegar song but it doesn't have any emotional baggage for me. What I cannot bare to hear is that hymn The Old Rugged Cross which was sung at Grandad's funeral. Fortunately, no one is likely to attach an advert to that, so hopefully it is emminently avoidable.

Darlings, my living room floor is covered (I use the term wisely) with paperwork. How the heck all that came out of one small carryable metal hanging file box I cannot comprehend. SuperGran saw my window open and realised I was off work (on leave, not skiving) and popped in for a natter. She has a habit of once or twice a year, declaring herself as on sabbatical from her very demanding volunteer jobs. She implies that she is away from home and screens her calls and uses the time to catch up on personal stuff inc admin and The Shredding. She's a real neatnik and minimalist...........

Right, quick nip around on the interweb whilst drinking my tea and then back to the grind. Have reached the point where it will be worse instead of better if I quit now.

GQ vs The Paper Tiger - let Round 2 commence.

Oh so many songs I'll associate with Mum, I can't avoid it unless I don't listen...

Yes, so many jobs end up like that with me and if any one was to call I hate to think what they'd think but I know I am making a difference, even if my pace is slow by the standards of others...

Possession

Well done GQ. I hate that point of no return but it's worth doing. And I have accomplished NOTHING today except doing the washing up and working which let's face it has to be done every day anyway.
The one thing I have done is a big Tesco order with a £10 off voucher, for a healthy store cupboard. The only problem is I might have to sort my garage out before I can put it all somewhere which is rather a mammoth task.

westcoastscot

Hi guys,
Too much to catch up with to mention individually - although I try and read most days - but hi to those that know me and hello to new folks - so nice to see everyone here and supporting each other. I've been MIA for a while - really busy here trying to make sure my ducks are in a row for what I feel to be forthcoming hard times. My job is relatively secure, but only part time, I'm trying to boost my wee craft business to a level where it will be a safety net of sorts if need be, and of course gathering stores for the forthcoming winter. We don't necessarily get a harsh winter often, but as soon as it gets worse anywhere else in the country our supplies are diverted and we soon run out of things locally - we don't have any of the big stores nearby - the nearest being 40 miles away, so have to rely on small shops.

My garden is producing salad and raspberries really well - we've had perfect growing weather to be honest, warm and damp,and by the coast here we don't have too much trouble with pests. I'm hopeful other crops will continue to flourish - we had a change this year and bought veggie plants from Suttons - they were a spring veg set (and we've an autumn one coming) - really good value and i'm impressed by how well the plants of done - our weather is just too variable and our season short to do well with seeds it seems.

My health seems to have plateau'd for a while - really need to get more exercise as i know it helps but its so difficult in the rain and midgies, and once I get in at an evening I really struggle to go out again - shall try harder once my work hours go back to normal in a month or so.

Lovely to see Kittie posting, and for your insight into coming weather conditions - don't know how you do it Kittie but you're consistently reliable!

Right - off to knit,

WCS

mardatha

Says in the paper that Scottish farmers have issued warning of a failed harvest and high food costs this winter. All cereal crops and oilseed rape. So that will hike the price of everything, from bread flour to meat to chicken to cooking oil. We went up to Costco and got pasta and tinned potatoes.
Now that our lovely govt are going after pensioners as well, we'll need to tighten up a bit here. I love my coal fire, totally and absolutely. The stove heats a radiator in every room, plus gives us constant hot water, plus clothes dry overnight easily. No damp no mould no condensation ever - but coal costs £££s.. We pay £35 a week for 2 bags. Cameron's after that (winter fuel payment) next. Sod.

fuddle

Just picked up the Hannah Hauxwell book from the library. I don't know if I'm in the right frame of mind to read it tonight, but thinking on the other hand, maybe it will help bring my fighting spirit back.

It's supposed to be mince and onion pie tonight for tea. The mince, onion in gravy mix is bubbling in the SC but can I be bothered to turn it into a pie? Can I 'eck! Still gunna do it though, if I get that apron on and get cracking maybe I'll slip out of this mindset.

Oh, friend called me a right old battle axe when she saw my thrifty cook book, knitting book and asked what Hannah Hauxwell was. Not in the slightest bit bothered

Hardup_Hester

My Mum played I will survive by Gloria Gaynor when she knew her cancer was terminal & they turned it into a Weetabix advert.
My Dad chose The Impossible Dream for his funeral & they turned that into the Honda advert, still he'd been a driving instructor, so it was fitting!
Hester

prepareathome

Right only got as far as page 20 but got to say

Fuddle - your a wonderful mum and wife who is going beyond the call of duty for your family - how many woman would take on a 6 mile hike to cheaper shops to help ensure there is more money available for other things.

The house is not going to be fixed up in a year, a decade or a lifetime as houses are never finished. There is always something that needs replacing, fixing or starting so don't beat yourself up - you are on the home stretch now for the curtains, you have the rails, curtains and fleeces, you will get them altogether soon.

Just aim for one job a day or even a week along side your normal work ( cooking, cleaning, shopping, gardening, nanny, wife, craftperson etc., etc).

I eventually got to sleep around 7am and woke up properly at 2pm and got myself in shower at 3 and my hair took an age to untangle - I tend to wear it up 99% of the time, I know why let it grow so long if it never is down. Its years ago I wanted long hair but it was so fine it would not stay untangled for 2 mins and so I used to have it short, now its gone thicker and doesn't tangle so easily I have let it grow but thanks to hot flushes I find it hanging down over my neck brings them on, so it gets left some days up and untouched if I am to stiff to reach up and bring it down so then it gets tangled like mad.....so took a good 30 mins to sort it and even then I had to cut a chunk off from right at the back in middle as I just could not get my arms round properly to detangle it, so now not sure about having it up tonight as you will see where its been cut. At moment its a heap on top of my head in a turban towel.

Not sure the way they do things at the meal tonight as meal paid for but I presume we pay for any drinks we have so must remember to go to cash machine before hubby drops me off and take cash with me as I doubt the place will be happy if I bring out my bottle of water ( although it will still be with me, I never go anywhere without it, fuddle as I mentioned its a great way to stop a panic in its tracks, taking a swallow of water, and although I don't really have panics now I do panic at the thought of not having the water with me - good one eh :rotfl:

I had hoped today to go and do some more stocking up but no chance now, as we have to meet up in a pub car park at 6pm and I guess then we will be coached to where ever we are going, but will get hubby to hang around until I know.

Tomorrow fingers crossed car is going in for its new shoes, and as the garage is in the city - right in heart of it, I have suggested to hubby we both go to new Museum we both want to see as that will save us finding somewhere to park and paying the outrageous prices - we will have to go on a bus, not been on one for years but as bus stop outside both places almost I should be able to manage then we can even have a bit of lunch out ( part of me is yelling that money could go on stocks) but we have not had an outing with lunch since his birthday last August and he is on holiday so will be a good change.

I doubt the government would see it as a good way to spend my ESA, but he doesn't get paid till Friday and seems daft not to take advantage of the fact car will be parked for free and bus will be cheaper than car parking and hubby would have to pay for bus home anyway and then back again to get car and that would cost even more as far, far further as we live on edge of the city, although I always feel guilty if a penny of my ESA is used for anything other than bills or food.

Right will go and read rest of the pages as dare not get dressed till around 5pm - not with all my dogs and dog hairs, me thinks I will be going out with wet hair as hair still not started to dry as so chilly today but cannot bare using a hair dryer - hot flushes galore if I try that trick......

Hugs, Love and Healing xxxxxxxxxxx

Uniscots97

mardatha wrote: »

Says in the paper that Scottish farmers have issued warning of a failed harvest and high food costs this winter. All cereal crops and oilseed rape. So that will hike the price of everything, from bread flour to meat to chicken to cooking oil. We went up to Costco and got pasta and tinned potatoes.
Now that our lovely govt are going after pensioners as well, we'll need to tighten up a bit here. I love my coal fire, totally and absolutely. The stove heats a radiator in every room, plus gives us constant hot water, plus clothes dry overnight easily. No damp no mould no condensation ever - but coal costs £££s.. We pay £35 a week for 2 bags. Cameron's after that (winter fuel payment) next. Sod.

Mardatha, can you not burn wood? In my parents last house (where I spent my teen years) we had no central heating everything was linked to 2 open fires. We had a coal seam near by (the reason we had to move as the house which was 16th century was compulsory purchased and mysteriously burnt down then bulldozed to make way for an open cast mine), so we could get some coal but mostly we burnt wood and any waste paper. I know places near here where the council will leave trees felled marked so they can be chopped up by people and the logs taken to burn. What about burning any paper waste you have to bring costs down?