make do and mend for tougher times

katieowl_2

Gawd you lot can chat!!!

Haven't read all or I won't have time to post !

A few days off for me, to catch up with the cleaning etc. Made a phonecall to the council yesterday to rack up my food business rating, so I can offer evening meals at home to B&B peeps. I chatted to another B&B lady on Tuesday, and she told me that one place locally was charging £17.50 a head :eek: That's a no-brainer for me as I've already been asked to do it, she also had a proposal to link websites, as we are both on the coastal path...for walkers. Seemed like a win/win to me.

So cleaning the kitchen a bit OCD this morning, using a q-tip to get in the corners!:rotfl: Found loads of things in the china cupboard that belong to DD, so shipping those off to her PDQ to make more space.

This week is a financial write off. My car has gone for work before I take it for the MOT. Two things need to be done definately, and also last week the exhaust started making very Vroomy noises...I quite like them but suspect the MOT people won't!

Over the weekend Mattie scratched her ear and popped a blood vessel inside it (again - other side this time) so Tuesday saw me down the vet...kissed goodbye to £75 and have to take her back Friday - vet will then decide if she wants to op on it. Was a very unpleasant experience, as vetty person drained it when we went in Tues. I really think that maybe it might have been best to get her assistant to hold the dog, as I nearly fainted. I'm not normally very squeamish, but vet made a bit of a mess, and it went all over me (gag) I was determined not to pass out in front of the brisk German vet, but it was a close call. I'm taking DS with me Friday... I need to dig the insurance out, but pretty sure it's only like a fiver over the claim amount. Won't be though if she decides to operate. Both dogs are also due annual jabs in the next fortnight...

Yeah so... overall this week is a money pit...

DD and her BF still here squatting. DS back at college soon, and not sure what's happening with that. He's supposed to have a work placement for four days a week, but OH says it's not (can't be) with him, as he doesn't have enough work for two. College say it doesn't matter (according to DS) and that he's only expected in one day a week....between the pair of them they don't seem to have sorted anything out, and I'm feeling very very stressed. Stressed to the point of if I'm not cleaning or cooking obsessively my stomach is flipping over.

Had a heart to heart with a good female buddy of mine in the week too, which has brought home to roost some issues that I really need to address, but which I am dreading doing

Kate

mcculloch29

The Paralympics has started so that's me doing less on here, in theory! Fuddle (looks like you've got the job, well done!) posted an excellent argument for Pops staying put for a while, and I agree with every word.

When I first moved here, I was struck by how friendly people were and I heard the same thing constantly when I said I lived opposite the park - "Oh that's a lovely, lovely part of the town. You're lucky, have you seen some parts of the town?"

I soon did and agreed I was very lucky, and having seen nearly all of the ex-pit villages in my travels as a community tutor, I now feel even luckier. Where Pops lives is a good part of town too. Some statistics show that those who make major life changing decisions within a year of a bereavement often regret them (not all do, agreed). Of course, some have decisions forced upon them and have to move with little notice.

Re corn snakes. Ours are male (Harri) and female (Oscar - don't ask...) and they get along brilliantly 99% of the time. Oscar is bigger than Harri and not quite as tame, she had not so good an owner before we got her some years ago.
They have to be fed separately as Oscar has attacked Harri during feeding, Harri goes into a clear plastic box with his hide, his food and very heavy weights on the lid for a couple of days. Then it's back to the main tank with Oscar.
Snakes are such good escapologists - Harri escaped twice as a juvenile and we were lucky to get him back unscathed as he was so small.

Can't wait for the Wartime Farm book - it's due tomorrow.

I had a bit of a wake-up moment yesterday. Went for an interview for my re-jigged old job, (I meant to apply for voluntary redundancy but missed out) left the house the usual time before the bus (which 14 months ago I caught 4-5 times a week to get to work) and I only just caught it. I really struggled to walk the 250 yards - had to stop several times as my hip and leg felt so weak.

I gave a good interview, but I really didn't want the job and was mightily relieved not to be offered it. There were a lot of candidates for a handful of posts.

Over the last few years I walked to the bus stop for work quietly sobbing with fear several times as I tackled road and pavements that were sheets of ice. (I did buy some ice-grips, they are very good but sometimes I didn't see it was icy until I was walking on it -too late to go back with a bus due.) I can still earn a living and I never have to do that again... in theory at least!

mcculloch29

Just a quick mention - for those fans of Yorkshire Tea, I picked up a box of 160 bags for the price of 80 in Her*n Foods for £2.50 yesterday. YT isn't often discounted as much as this. Expiry date Dec 2013, so decent tea guaranteed for some time...

Byatt

smileyt wrote: »

RANT ALERT!!

After SEVEN weeks of waiting for my JSA decision I phoned them again this morning and they phoned me back. They don't know where my letter asking for a reconsideration of their decision is, and can I fax through a copy next Friday when I go to sign on? They wanted to know what I put on my original claim. Erm, I can't remember as it was THREE months ago! Useless is an understatement. The woman on the phone said they had thousands of pieces of post to get through and she was going to have to try and find my letter to pass it on to the decision makers directly but it would be better if I could fax my letter through again.

I am off to find a brick wall to bang my head against.

I know what I'm going to say is a bit like bolting the stable door etc, but I have learned you don't wait several weeks, but call them within a week, 10 days at the most...then if nothing send registered mail...

Not saying things can't get "lost" still but there does seem to be an inordinate amount of mail going missing. They must have a system in place which registers the mail when received but I don't know what it is. If I had the energy I would write to my MP.

Fuddle, good luck although it sounds as if it is in the bag, well done. :T BTW are you called dinner nannies now, not dinner ladies or are they different?

Popperwell

mcculloch29 wrote: »

The Paralympics has started so that's me doing less on here, in theory! Fuddle (looks like you've got the job, well done!) posted an excellent argument for Pops staying put for a while, and I agree with every word.

When I first moved here, I was struck by how friendly people were and I heard the same thing constantly when I said I lived opposite the park - "Oh that's a lovely, lovely part of the town. You're lucky, have you seen some parts of the town?"

I soon did and agreed I was very lucky, and having seen nearly all of the ex-pit villages in my travels as a community tutor, I now feel even luckier. Where Pops lives is a good part of town too. Some statistics show that those who make major life changing decisions within a year of a bereavement often regret them (not all do, agreed). Of course, some have decisions forced upon them and have to move with little notice.

I have a nasty feeling I will have to move but I hope I can put this off until at least January...

I don't like the idea of paying all what I may have to stay put with the changes coming in but so many unknowns and if I have read things correctly if I could hang on the nearer I get to being a pensioner, I may be entitled to some extra help.

Had I been a pensioner I don't think BT applies but I could be wrong on that especially as a poster on here the other day who is a pensioner was in sheltered accomodation and still had to pay for the second bedroom.

To think the House of Lords actually blocked the Bedroom Tax but our PM did some fancy footwork and managed to get it passed.:mad:

If I thought the law would be repealed I would hang on to see what I new government would do but I doubt they'll change things, they're all much the same...

peony40

Hello

Is it ok if I join you all on this thread? I have been reading all the tougher threads over the years but for some reason it never occurred to me to introduce myself, and it just feels wrong to be lurking when I read all your posts.

A little about me: I am nearly 48, married with no children or pets. I gave up work in Spring 2011 as my health was being affected (fibromyalgia). I find it much easier to keep on top of the home now, and am hoping that I will manage to do a bit more in the garden as it certainly needs attention!:eek:
Now we need to manage on one salary I am trying even harder to find ways in which I can stretch the pennies. I am interested in all your comments about halogen cookers, I'm not sure which way to go, to buy a small electric oven or a halogen (currently have a gas oven) so don't know if it will be much of a saving??? I find it all so confusing trying to understand the utility tariffs.

(Think it was this thread that you were talking about the ovens, I have spent so much time flitting between this thread and the prepared one I get myself confused! :rotfl:)

I look forward to getting to know you all, as you all seem so friendly and caring of each other.

D&DD

extremeties crossed here for you Fuddle
Does sound promising tho!

Mum has asked for the Wartime book for chrimbo so thats good as she was getting it anyway :rotfl:she spent the whole time here today poking my dad and saying ooh remember that and shoving the book under his nose so think she'll be pleased with it!


Smiley so sorry to hear of your troubles X

Pops its probably been covered already but aren't you allowed to have an extra bedroom if you have a disability in case a carer is needed? Hope you are having a worry free day today

I've been sorting out my preserves cupboard as its groaning ATM luckily but needed to drag it all out for the washing machine blokey yesterday.Its all very tidy for once and realised I need to make some more blackcurrant jam and seedless raspberry so I know what I'll be doing when the kids go back!

Still on the hunt for decaf tbags *whispers* I'm down to 2 boxes :eek::eek: but refuse to get them when they aren't on offer..

ETA waves at Peony

fuddle

Welcome peony

Byatt I think a dinner ladies is a person who dishes out the meals where as a dinner nanny is a person who looks after the children while they eat/play... I'm officially a dinner nanny :j

I can't start till my CRB check is through though, which could be anything from a couple of weeks to a couple of months. Sooner the better... and guess what, it's right up my street - I have to wear a pinny :j

Sunshine4

Congratulations Fuddle Well Done:T:T:T:T:T:T

Popperwell

peony40 wrote: »

Hello

Is it ok if I join you all on this thread? I have been reading all the tougher threads over the years but for some reason it never occurred to me to introduce myself, and it just feels wrong to be lurking when I read all your posts.

A little about me: I am nearly 48, married with no children or pets. I gave up work in Spring 2011 as my health was being affected (fibromyalgia). I find it much easier to keep on top of the home now, and am hoping that I will manage to do a bit more in the garden as it certainly needs attention!:eek:
Now we need to manage on one salary I am trying even harder to find ways in which I can stretch the pennies. I am interested in all your comments about halogen cookers, I'm not sure which way to go, to buy a small electric oven or a halogen (currently have a gas oven) so don't know if it will be much of a saving??? I find it all so confusing trying to understand the utility tariffs.

(Think it was this thread that you were talking about the ovens, I have spent so much time flitting between this thread and the prepared one I get myself confused! :rotfl:)

I look forward to getting to know you all, as you all seem so friendly and caring of each other.

Hello peony40,
Nice to meet you...Yep, Halogen Ovens, George Forman Grills, Slow Cookers and microwave Combi ovens all mentioned on here...

Lots use HO's I have one but haven't uysed it yet but Fuddle, PAH and quite a few do...they are much better than an electric main oven but some people do find gas ovens are quite similar in the cost of running them...

They say you can on average cook 20 meals in a microwave before you use 1Khw of electric.

A slow cooker uses approx the same amount of power as a light bulb so gain it can save money.

We all seem to have the same model of HO and it is well priced on Amazon(and this one usually comes with lots of accessories and a spare bulb)many when they fail cannot be fixed and bulbs cannot be replaced so if you go for one consider the one we have...we can give details if you want them...

Fuddle does all kinds in her HO.

Some of have medical problems/conditions. I have a friend with fibromyalgia and at least one poster on here has the same condition so you will get plenty of support.

Please do pop in when you can...always nice to have a new face and to share help, tips and support to each other...

Hey Fuddle, perhaps you mentioned how today went and I have not reached your post so if that's the case...sorry but how did it go?