make do and mend for tougher times

Byatt

Thanks Ginny and Mrs LW, and of course Docky...

I must admit, as I watched water go over the tyres of other cars I thought what am I doing?! I almost closed my eyes before driving through. xxx

jackel

Oh Byatt ! Poor you - can immagine how frightned you were. Hope it all improves in your neck of the woods. jac xx

GreenFairy

L1dl have cold frames a few times a year and aren't horribly expensive IIRC. I made the mistake of buying a plastic popup greenhouse thingie - the plastic photodegrades really quickly. Half of mine is stuck together with l1dl all weather tape Going to invest in a cold frame when it finally dies.

Am being superfrugal at the moment, using up all my bits of balls of sock wool and turning them into a huge blanket. Last winter was really mild but I live in fear of another severe one like we had the year before. Plus more blankets = less heating. Really wish we had an open fire in this house.

Byatt

Evie, I don't plan to go out again today, it would be really silly of me I think, I'm surprised how many people were out and about, but I guess they didn't realise it was so bad, and by the time you do, you can't turn around because it's as bad behind as it is in front. Some of the floods on the road were really deep and still some people drove through like maniacs. I did stop a couple of times before entering to get up my nerve. It's not knowing how deep the water is or what debris is there.

Your experience sounds terrifying. I was watching the rescue programme the other day about a woman who got trapped in flowing water and wanted to get out the car, but they kept telling her not to. It's just so fast and so uncontrollable.

It really does make you think and I am going to be more prepared; I didn't even have wellies, so borrowed my DD's as I had to see her as well this morning.

It doesn't take much for our world as we know it to come to a grinding halt.

I've informed the owners' of puss cats and they are very understanding....thankfully. I have had visions of me rowing to the house!

Popperwell

Afternoon,
Lots to catch up on but well done on the advice for Fuddle and the garden. For everyone struggling with the rain I hope it soon goes and you are safe. And Byatt that is beyond the call of duty. Glad you are now home...

I'm afraid that I am being lazy and doing absolutely nothing but you'll see from another long post on the thread about stock rooms I have been quite busy this last day or two and will be again once I get going today...

I still have to eat and I never managed my rainbow trout so I'm risking it today. It will be cooked and I don't believe food goes off as soon as it passes the sell by/use by date. I'd never use all my food up if I followed the rules. I wouldn't risk leaving food for days but a day or two at most so far is fine. Especially, if in a cold fridge and stored properly. I am usually more strict on diary items...

I may jinx things but I think Fuddle, McCulloch29, Kezlou and myself today may be having a rain free day and there is sunshine and occasionally some blue sky.

Thanks to Fuddle for pointing me in the right direction for the new thread.

kitschy

Just popped in to say well done Byatt! Now tuck yourself in for the duration if you can. Stay safe everyone x

kidcat

brilliant sun here too - thankfully means that DS and dad can go to their event. Garden is still sopping wet but not covered with water which is an improvement.

Fuddle - have a look at wilkinsons - they had cold frames reduced a week or two ago so worth a look.
I think they also had polytunnels too.

My dad has had to take DD17 to local walk in centre today, her cough has really worsened and generally she is still ill. Feeling guilty as really she should have been to see our GP yesterday if I had noticed but as we were all so distracted by school and DS that it slipped by. What started as a cold has now been over two weeks and she is no better. Two and a half hours later and she has to take loads more inhaler, steroids and inhale steam.

Didnt manage any food shopping that will have to wait until tomorrow or if I be bothered when OH gets home I may go whoopsie hunting.

ETA - Byatt stay safe

Evie74_2

Phew, Byatt, it's a relief that you don't have to go out again today. Hopefully the water will subside a little before you next need to go out in it. It's horrible driving through flood water, but as you say, once you start, you just have to keep going - if you stop or the engine cuts out, you've had it. We live in quite a flood-prone area so I ought to be getting used to roads being underwater by now but it still frightens me, and I'll only go out in it if I absolutely have to.

Pops- I'm sure the trout will be OK; with fish you definitely know if it's on the turn as the smell will knock you out! Personally I take very little notice of BB/Use by dates and just use my common sense; I think if more people did the same there would be so much less food wasted. I suppose the sad thing is that we as a society are so far removed from the process of producing food for ourselves (because everything comes handily packaged at the supermarket) that many people have lost either the confidence or even the ability to know whether something is safe to eat.

I think it may actually have just stopped raining so I'd better go and see whether I have any veggies left in the garden or whether they've all been washed away and/or devoured.

Evie xx

fuddle

maryb wrote: »

Fuddle, I have a rice bag and it came with instructions to stand a cup of water in the microwave with it when heating. I think it can eventually catch fire after many reheatings if you don't have some moisture in the microwave at the same time

Oh, ok, thank you for that :eek:

Pink-winged wrote: »

I think I've sorted it to what preparedathome originally suggested.


Pink

Thank you

Byatt I don't know how you did it. It is frighteningly scary how quickly the weather can make the best laid plans seems so useless and make a person feel, well, not at all prepared. I'm just so pleased brum didn't pack in for you driving through all the water. Nerves of steel

Oh yeah Pops the sun dares peep out every now and then and we haven't had a drop all day. So pleased you found us.

Cheapskate

Afternoon all, lovely to see a new thread!

Well, we've had no rain for about 16 hours now, even got some sun so washing on the line! :j It was abysmal here yesterday, the river at the bottom of the main road near me was less than a foot below the bridge, when the water barely covers the riverbed normally! We're in a hilly Yorkshire town, some valleys regularly flood, but even some higher spots have suffered badly this week. Hope none of you have suffered too much - glad you got back safe and sound Byatt!

Not working in weekend job until August now, so plan to spend our weekends with a combination of doing stuff with the littlies and making do and mending all sorts round the house. I have 3 or 4 pairs of kids' jeans with holes in the knees to patch, loads more clothes to dejunk, ripped bed sheets to re-purpose, gardening to do (everything's exploded due to the warm, wet weather) and the garage door to repair and paint before autumn!

A xo