make do and mend for tougher times

fuddle

My FIL did just that. He booogared off up to Scotland. He sold his house and has a little place next to a loch. It's the best thing he's ever done, volunteers at the local charity shop and after 6 years up there he's built himself a brand new life. He's 57.

yORKSHIRE PUDDINGS oops sorry caps. Always make sure your lard or whatever oil you're using is smoking hot before you put your mixture in

GreyQueen

VJsmum wrote: »

FIVE SHIRTS??????? FIVE???? :rotfl: You should see my ironing pile!! :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek: In fact I thought I should probably spend the next 3 or 4 days doing an hour or so a day and I might get through it - no kidding!

I'd rather not!:D

I'm a singleton and a laundry load of mine normally contains only three ironables and two of them might be hankies. Five blouses is a Mount Washmore to me.

Plus I did the ironing at Mum's at the weekend (household of 3) and d'you know what? One of those bliddy men's shirts was back on the man's back within 24 hours. Honestly, h*usew*rk just keeps on coming.

Funny old bank holiday weekend; Mum was knackered from doing her MIL's housework, I was knackered from doing hers and no one, and I mean NO ONE has come into my flat whilst I was away and done mine.

:mad: I just squashed a mozzie dining on my wrist. Is this the UK or is this the tropics, it's so wet and humid it's hard to tell.

mardatha wrote: »

I can't get used to "social housing", to me it is was and always will be a cooncil hoose and I've been in them since I got my first flat at 17.
Likewise I cant get used to "human resources" which is personnel! and "housing benefit" is a rent rebate! And a spade is was and ever shall be a bloody spade, not a garden implement:rotfl::rotfl:
Wonder why they keep changing the names of things that are always the same thing. Just to convince us thickos that they've done something new maybe

Get with the programme, hun; it's been HB for 30 years. I still get customers calling for rent rebate which makes us think they want a credit on their rent account refunded to them and it turns out to be a HB call.

Well, was going to the lottie after work, stepped out of t'office and the heavens opened. Nice try, rain deities, but I is British and had a brollie so got home slightly damp instead of saturated.

SuperGran came over to tell me about this guy she disturbed as he was about to climb in thru her kitchen window. He didn't see she was at the far side of the room and she hove in to view and asked pointedly Can I help you? and he took off like a scalded cat. These little old pensioners are scary ladies. Police have his description.

It's distinctly autumnal here and the nights are drawing in so will have to really get weaving on that lottie and hunt down as many members of the gastropod family (I think of them as like the Camorra but slower moving) and exterminate them.

Oh well, time to get a cuppa in and think about doing the washing up. Thinking is always better than doing, dontcha find?

Popperwell

I have had a bag of crisps and water today...that's not much is it!
Still plan to do that stirfry in the wok even if gets late. Whether I go or stay I really should have thrown some rubbish out but I have filled both wheelie bins and they only take each alternate weeks...

Was debating whether to go to the supermarket but I don't need to and I have enough food, probably just an excuse to go out...cheaper than a taxi debating whether to go to Aldi's tomorrow on a bus.

Think I'll stay in...

But again, I don't have to...if I did I might buy their specials again(they have a little sewing machine and a small grill oven)but surely my combi microwave will do all that oven can? As will my very small George Forman Grill, Slow cooker or halogen oven? Just have to learn how to use the CMW...

I can sew on buttons and fasteners. I can sew hems but you can see that I have done them perhaps I should just use that wunderweb stuff or fabric glue...

It's cost me £48 in alterations having my 8 pairs of trousers shortened professionally. But they'll last me a few years. Would a small sewing machine be a waste for me...it's approx £14.99.

I've lost so much weight from my waist the trousers I had for Mum's funeral I am having the waist taken in so they are not 38" but 36" and there was a lot of spare material hidden so I can have them reduced again or made big again...and that goes for all my trousers...

I always have to lose approx 2 inches of the legs of my trousers:p

If I move I hope there is enough room for my food store(but as I say I don't care if it's on show...and perhaps I'll put shelves up? And put a draw curtain across...I hope the kitchen can take all my gadgets(and the Fridge/freezer)washer and tumble drier.

That there is room for my pc's, cd's and a few books...a small sofa and a bed...I'd manage but if I buy a mobility scooter there will have to be room to store that which I can do here...

IrisViolet

Thank you to everyone for lovely welcome and kind words and help about my DS i really appreciate it! Kidcat i will look into the carers group that sounds great, health visitor will be coming round in the next few weeks so i intend on bombardig her with questions as were under different authority now weve moved so everything is different.

Feel so bad hearing how many of you have had a late or even no diagnosis for your children its so unfair. We are lucky to have the cofirmation and help i know. We are in MAnchester!wonder if thats anything to do with diagnosis speed? - although it definately shouldnt be anything to do with location but i guess services are different in different places unfortunately.

Had a nice day today met an old friend for coffee and then went to get my kids from mums as they stayed last night although i havent got public transport in ages and was shockdd paying nearly £7 for two trams on one for 6 min and another about 9!

Sorted sept budget out last night so gonna do £200 for all groceries, £60 petrol and im gonna start budgetting £20 for crafty supplies for kids as im always buying stuff as kids are so creative and with ds not going nursery and nearly 4 needs lots of stuff to kepp him busy. So ill buy paints, papers, glues, stickers, playdough makjng supplies etc out of that. Hoping i wont need that much its his birthday in 2 week so gonna ask mil to buy him loads of crafty stuff. Does anyone else budget for kids stuff find it can get out of control otherwise.

pips mum hope you are ok cant imagine how worried you must be lots of reassurance here though evrything will be ok just rest. I wa induced with ds but a week early cos he had one kidney, he was massive though nearly 9 pound and kidneys were ok after a few tests and medicine. ITs good docs and midwives on the ball.

Think im gonna buy a new airer so i have two got washing everywhere but cannot bring myself to buy a tumble drier and let it eat my moneey!

fuddle

My electricity has been higher this summer than it has in the winter because of the rain and tumble dryer use.

Looking forward to pinching some heat from the radiators when they're on to dry clothes, or like you say, on the airers. Altered all my direct debit - in other words, upped them, to get this dreaded arrears paid off. I'm well on course though so really happy to be proactive about it.

About to put my bread in the halogen oven for the morning. MrsC I'm trying a new quantity of 5 min bread - I've converted the cup amounts in mls and grms and enough for one nice family sized loaf. Fingers crossed I've got my maths right!

Popperwell

SpikyHedgehog wrote: »

Double 21 today! Thank you for the birthday wishes, Byatt, Popperwell, Possession, Pooky, Kidcat, VJsmum and anyone I've missed - have some virtual lemon cake or cherry, almond & chocolate cake! Guaranteed no calories ;-) I was looking at some old photos yesterday as the friend that was round has just got a springer pup, & I was looking for the photos of our old springer & her pups; & saw photos from my 21st birthday. A lifetime ago...


One of the chaps in the boys' Scout group has recently moved into a static caravan, the site seems to have a jolly busy social side to it as whenever we try to arrange meetings,, he's always the 1 saying ' can't do that, busy at the site'!

Thank you Spiky, I'll raise a glass to you:)

You are still young and have another 13 years on me, swop you;)

I had a look on the net didn't have much success but found a place in essex near the coast but they were all 2 bedroom and renting was £125 a week mind they were lovely...like a palace or perhaps they were deliberately showing the more expensive caravans to attract more interest...

Cheapskate

Evening folks - gosh, I've been away from this thread for a few days and it's taken me all day to catch up! :eek::D

Hello to all the newbies :wave: welcome aboard!

I know you've all done the re-intro thing, but better late than never: I'm 44, married to DH 49 for 26 years, DS 25 (with GF and DGS 6) and DD 23 live in their own places, here we still have DS 20, DS 5 and DD nearly 3, no animals - do small children count? DH has run his own business for the last couple of years, doing OK, but still scary times, I work PT, but would dearly love to go back to being a SAHM.

I love trying to grow edible stuff (not that well this year due to the Great Slug Invasion like everyone else), love good food (stone I've put on since Easter is testament to that!), MSE/OS (of course!), do a lot of cross stitch, make my own cards, make a mean pot of jam/sloe gin/bramble vodka, will read anything but really enjoy horror/thrillers/craft/cooking/gardening best. Saddo alert - I loved Latin at school and in my last exam got 98%!

Probably lots more I could say, but don't want to bore - love this thread and would hate to be sent packing cos I waffled! :rotfl:

A xo

Cheapskate

Oh, yes, gas and electricity - our gas has gone up from £70 to £74 a month, despite being £18 in credit, £54 leccy - bu99ered if I can work out why! :mad: CH not been on in 6 months, gas only used for hot water and cooker hob, and didn't think we were profligate with it. Only big electrical items are WM and TD. Need to find out why they're so much and reduce!

A xo

Popperwell

Cheapskate wrote: »

make a mean pot of jam/sloe gin/bramble vodka, :rotfl:

I suspect we'll be asking for your tips;)

Cheapskate wrote: »

Oh, yes, gas and electricity - our gas has gone up from £70 to £74 a month, despite being £18 in credit, £54 leccy - bu99ered if I can work out why! :mad: CH not been on in 6 months, gas only used for hot water and cooker hob, and didn't think we were profligate with it. Only big electrical items are WM and TD. Need to find out why they're so much and reduce!

A xo

Well my electric is approx 10p a Kwh(where gas is actually quite a lot less)the killer is the b***** standing charges...I reckon I am paying around £300 a year for that alone so it's like paying money for nothing. Like you I am keeping the CH off(gas)and plan too if I can during winter. I use it for heating the water and try not to run it all off so when I heat it again the water is not stone cold. I am trying to use as little electric as I can...seems silly paying for something you are trying not to use...I try to use the WM/TD once a month if that but being single it takes me a while to save up a full load...

My tariff is frozen until October 2013(duel fuel)and as I have just signed up I don't know what my bills will be...but £14 a month is the SC...I'm glad I get £100 back at the end of the year sort off...so I should.

Popperwell

I was going to stir fry...I'm going to cheat and pop it in the slow cooker with the sauce and add some leeks and have a stir fry another day...the wok will have to wait for another day.