make do and mend for tougher times

Malfiore

Love the jam Fuddle!! Very inspirational Just back from the parentals armed with leftover curry, empty take away pots for tupperware, some gym clothes from my sis who no longer needs them, a plastic storage box and lots of hugs I dropped off a gilet for my 2 yr old nephew that I found and loved as well, but have left the receipt in the bag in case it's not loved by mum!!

Going to have an early roast about 4pm as we didn't eat lunch and relax.

Enjoy the rest of this rainy day everyone

gailey_2

grandma247 wrote: »

Gailey my ds has made a few lapbooks with my help. They are a bit fiddly but the results are so good. He prefers them because he does not have to do loads of writing in one go.

What was yours about?

Yes finding it very idly, time consuming and expensive but can see how fab results will be when its done hope it inspires eldests learning.
I dont think they do them in uk schools as is time consuming.
dd hates writing so trying to improve writing and reading.

Loving all the intros.

I am not new to oldstyle as been about quite a few years now,

oldstyle and dfw really only boards go on these days.

seen and contributed to so many tougher threads.
seen a few rows and posts ended and at one point we were told not os enough and too chatty and was moved to the arms:eek:

I think because of that we lost a few people and not seen them since but attracted new people too which is fab.

I always feel even after a break that i can come back people remember me and its same freindly useful chat as ever.

do wonder what happened to annie, margaret and sammy k?
Anyone know?

we reintro on me.

Im grand old age of 32 and hubbys grand old age of 40next week makes me feel happier.

we have been married 8years this october been together nearly 10.
we have 3kids 2girls eldest age 6half, middle is 3in few weeks and baby boy is coming up to 17months now dont know where the times gone.

Dh also has another boy from previous relationship hes typical moody 14year old starting his gcses but lives hour from us so see him twice a month.

we live outskirts bristol in suburban semi rural area which is lovley for walks and foraging. quite quiet not much trouble.

we live in rented new build 3beds and wish we had bigger place but its ok area. we have biggish garden and marge veg patch-not done well this year.

Dream of owning big old house with bay windows and high ceiling.
Would love a dog but landlord says no.
we have a snowy the hamster and soon to have fish.
hubby wants chickens in garden I argue we not got the space and our whinging neighbour,s would not be too happy.

Im welsh so we never stray far and all family and freinds over there still.
Im sahm mum as hubby works long hours in retail.
childcare with 3too costly would like to go back to work or uni at some point but just so busy with the kids.

I love crafting sewing and scrapbooks but dont do so much due to lack of time but one of new years resolotions I failed is make time for me plus want to attempt to make kids clothes.

Cooking-if i have the time and lots of food I enjoy.
Our oven is rubbish as oven door doesnt shut properly so lets air and and no window so have to open to see so my cakes no matter how hard i try end up flat and lopsided would love to be better at sewing and baking just finding the time.

I am a total bargan addict love ebay, carboots and charity shops.

Enjoy reading when have the time.

latest hobby is pintest and online scrapbook and finding new blogs.

Fell like im forever decluttering, cleaning and tidying.

set my self challenge of making middle childs birthday party cake bit nervous wondering of should go round someones else house and bake it.

At the moment are share aims are

be happy and well.
always stick together.
we do are best despite tight budget to ensure kids never miss out and realise we poor.

in 2half years time loan ends.
we intend to take our 1st holiday abroad since having kids then.

Then I think we might move bigger rented house.
As unsure we could ever raise the dposit to buy what we wanted.
Would love to emigrate to canada but thats hard and unsure we have enough points.

As you can tell I hate doing nothing and nearly always on go busy writing lists I rarly finish hasten to add.Still trying to learn the art of time management.

Feel very fortunate to be a mse oser and have the tougher thread as met such wonderful freindly kind people over the years its been such a support.

Its tipping down here dark and gloomy.
so far I have

clean 2bedrooms
washed up.
2loads washing
changed bedding.
taken toy cottage outb of cupboard of doom as trying to sell
listed some stuff to sell.
contacted ebayers about bargain purchases brought sand water table for toddlers birthday and fish tank for hubbys.

Made lovley but lazy lunch on

m&s reduced beef pie-got reduced yesterday at simply food in services. Wouldent normally do weekly shop there but was passing and was sunday so thourght worth going on great reduced hunt.

new poatoes-on offer at lidls 79p
frozen peas and sweetcorn-in micro.
and ahhh bisto gravy!

was yum.

contemplated baking a cake or making mini quiches but feeling bit tired.

need to clean bathroom
do more washing
bath 3kids
tea

house will eb ready for inspection.

not planning hextoc week as wnat to get everything ready for going back to school so want to be organised and prepared I say this every year.

Im also playing musical furniture.

im selling some stuff to make way for new stuff

so new stuff sort of self funded.
Until we have enough storage and furniture in this house.
feels like we never have enough.

brought dining table ebay 2months ago for tenner its amazing. Its bigger than our last one just on look out for dining bench as tables important at meal times we eat at table, tv off and discuss our day.

Im a really enjoy trying to do house on a shoestring as sense of satisfaction. downside is patiance have to wait until right thing comes up and sell stuff first. Hoping by xmas the bedrooms be done and lounge.

fuddle

By, is it cold elsewhere? It's chilly in here today. It's windy enough to whistle through the gap in the patio door. It's been MrsL's bubble wrapped. I've folded a strip and taped it right down the UPVC door. It jams in place when the door is shut but stays attached to the door when the door is open.

I've closed my front door curtain and put draught excluders out. Going to go bubble wrap toilet window now. I guess this is it. Autumn is on it's way.

Edit: sammyk posted a few weeks back gailey

Popperwell

fuddle wrote: »

Oh dear. I feel a day of lack lustre and self pity coming on. Woke up in a real down mood. It's not pretty so need to figure out what to do to distract myself and get absorbed in something fun.

DH out fishing (fingers crossed he wins some pennies to kick start the Provence fund) and I'm left indoors with the children till around 8/9 pm. So used to having him home this week I think.

Got bread to bake, iron on name labels on uniform, sew PE bag for eldest, sort out their school bags and dream of peace and quiet next Thursday.

Off I go to try to be inspired.

I have off cuts of some pretty fabric MrsL, i'll have to tie on with wool but i'll give it a go thank you

Answering as I catch up and read...I hope that you start to feel better as the day goes on Fuddle. I can quite understand your mood swings and I doubt anyone who says they never feel down...even when life isn't a struggle.

Popperwell

SpikyHedgehog wrote: »

Pops, I can't really see how your monthly bills for both would be £100, unless you've got your heating on high 24/7 - I'm in a 3 bedroom house, & they weren't that high when Errant Husband was here & I did 2 loads of washing every day, he had the tv on all the time, plus surround sound system half the time, & the desktop pc, sometimes with the stereo as well! I was often cooking 2 different dinners as he eats meat & the boys & I are vegetarian. Yes, the consumption has gone down, & I now pay £68 a month & am in credit for both.

By all means, wear jumpers & jogging trousers when its cold rather than shorts & t shirts, but if you need that heating on, get it on!

I don't know how your heating is controlled, we're lucky here in that downstairs & upstairs are controlled by different thermostats, & I can set the heating for 6 different settings a day - because we're out on school days. But 1 of my most useful things is a cardboard room thermometer that I stick to the wall with blutack that gives 3 ranges of temperature - too cold, just right, too hot. I got it free with a magazine when DS2 was a baby, but I'm sure you could find them them in Age Concern.

That would be great Spiky...

Just put this up elsewhere...
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=55422589&postcount=5

I do hope that you are right...I used to love wearing my lighter liesure wear...I have one thermosat right next to a draughty front door(I used to have thick curtains across the door)I have also discovered that my thermosat is stuck and I can't turn it up or down no matter hoiw I try and it is set at maximum:eek:

So when I have the house tidy I'll get the Housing Association Maintenence people out to fix it. Hopefully before Winter sets in.

I'll stuff the gaps in the door with paper it always works...maybe try and afford a curtain again...

Sorry if I repeat I have two Desk Top PC's try to use one at a time. Eat mainly cold ,meals but have access to Slow Cooker, Combi Microwave, ordinary microwave, George Forman Grill(Small one)halogen oven, fridge/freezer(washer and tumble drier used sparingly)don't bother with the TV and Freeview box at present...one energy saving lightbulb that shines into all the bedrooms left on overnight.

So far I try and avoid the heating and usually just warm the water and then keep avoiding running it all off and then I can heat it again but not have the gas on for as long...

kidcat

Pops - bubblewrap works well at stopping draughts.

Possession

It definitely feels colder today, I'm a bit chilly in my living room but am only wearing a t shirt so can't complain. I need to go collect my double slanket! My knees have seized up from too much walking yesterday though and I don't feel like going anywhere, plus I have the two squabbling children from hell and am not inclined to take them anywhere at the moment except their rooms!

kidcat

Pops - depending on the house size, age and how many rooms you actually heat it may cost alot less than you think to heat. Our last house was a five bed detached about 1970s style, we paid almost £200 for gas and electricity. We now live in a five bed three storey house but its only 7 years old and has a boiler thats only 4 years old, insulated properly and thermostats on all radiators, we now pay about £115.

Previously we could never get the temp above 16c even with the heating on, whereas here it never drops below 19c. Usually its 21c minimum, and DS is much happier with it.

Maybe you could look at closing some rooms off for the winter and save on heating them entirely.

[Deleted User]

FUDDLE - I've just remembered something that my girls enjoyed on 'bored' days. Do you think they would like a scrapbook each to make up over a period of time? You don't have to go and buy the expensive ready made scraps they make specially, mine liked best some old magazines, a bit of wrapping paper from birthday or christmas, seed catalogues, adverts really anything brightly coloured and pretty. I seem to remember we had different themes for each double page like flowers, fairies, wildlife etc. They kept busy for lots of wet days either just cutting things out or sticking them in as a montage. I enjoyed it too, and found myself always on the look out for suitable things for them to use. I think the Scrap Books themselves are pretty reasonable to buy as well. It might give you some time out on 'Those Days', Cheers Lyn x. Hope you're feeling better x.

fuddle

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

FUDDLE - I've just remembered something that my girls enjoyed on 'bored' days. Do you think they would like a scrapbook each to make up over a period of time? You don't have to go and buy the expensive ready made scraps they make specially, mine liked best some old magazines, a bit of wrapping paper from birthday or christmas, seed catalogues, adverts really anything brightly coloured and pretty. I seem to remember we had different themes for each double page like flowers, fairies, wildlife etc. They kept busy for lots of wet days either just cutting things out or sticking them in as a montage. I enjoyed it too, and found myself always on the look out for suitable things for them to use. I think the Scrap Books themselves are pretty reasonable to buy as well. It might give you some time out on 'Those Days', Cheers Lyn x. Hope you're feeling better x.

Loads better MrsL. I've managed to fritter away the day quite nicely doing things I like. About to set to on rubber chicken curry and rice. Girls want HM bread and HM jam for their tea. I can't argue with that. They can have their fruit fairy cake for afters... and so will I

Going to give them rice pud with apples and raisins for supper. Wish me luck. It'll be first time I've done a rice pud in the halogen.

I've seen scrap books in the pound shops, so no, not at all expensive. They like cutting up my argos books so I think they'll love that. Thank you