make do and mend for tougher times

katieowl_2

GreyQueen wrote: »

Fuddle, I think the leccy used by fairylights is negliable, and given how heartening they are, I'd twinke to your heart's content. I think they're so pretty and I know several people who have them up year-round.

I'm a twinkler...I have three sets up - one round the kitchen window, one round my green tara picture, and the third in a lovely coloured tall glass vase I bought in Tmaxximus recently. OH says it looks like tinkerbell in a jar :rotfl: I agree minumal leckkie, especially the new LED types.

MORNING GANG :j My day OFF...which is why I will mainly be doing washing

I had a good day at the market yesterday, I thought it would be quiet as most of the summer visitors have gone now, but it was actually quite a good day and I didn't bring loads back, apart from that there plenty of quiche for tea. I don't mind not selling it, if we can get dinner for no effort out of it, as I'm always knackered!

I got to pick some black berries from my mates field on Sunday afternoon, and they were WAY better than any I've seen on my forays with the dogs, so Monday along with my baking I'd committed some of them to a batch of blackberry whisky (hic) and had to just start to process the rest for a small batch of apple and blackberry jelly before they went mouldy, I crossed my fingers that leaving it dripping for 24 hours would be ok. I covered it all up well to stop things falling in, and made the jelly last night. I shouldn't have fretted about leaving it as it was fine, and I even managed to summon up the energy to push the fruit which had been dripping through a sieve and cook it up to make fruit cheese. I've got four ramekins of that, and I know it doesn't keep well (dunno why?) so I think I'll give a couple as pressies.

Got to take Rox to the vetty person today for annual vaccination, and also GOT to process some paperwork :eek:

Been back reading Nella's Peace, now it's dried off after it's dunking in the bath, and I was wondering if anyone here had an idea what sort of gingerbread Nella would be making with 'plenty of good dripping and a bit of brown sugar'??? I presume it would be one of the cakey ones. I quite fancy selling 'Nella's Gingerbread' on the stall and seeing if anyone picks up on it!

Kate

Lavandula

Hi,

Quite worried about the hikes in food and fuel prices that are bound to happen soon, especially as I'm being made redundant at the end of the year. I have started to meal plan and have already noticed that the weekly food shop bill has come down (£29 this week and that included Calpol).

I have sowed/planted several crops for harvesting over the winter (leeks, turnips, cabbages, salad leaves, spinach and parsnips). I have also been foraging and have a winter/spring supply of plums and blackberries in the freezer.

My thoughts are with those who are struggling already.

fuddle

There is such an undercurrent of worry isn't there. Even here, where we have reasonable skills to cope. If we're worried then cripes, it's bad.

I'm very worried to be honest. I bounce about this place tying idea after another but deep down I'm trying to fight off all the things that will bring me down. I have to keep chipper because If I don't I have a hard working DH and two little girls who will get down and worried. They don't really get it either and to be honest, as long as I'm running the house and in control of our fiinances, well I'll cope with it myself - not really by myself though am I?

Finally we have little birds on the bird cake we made a few weeks ago, so that cheered me up

Also, found out that the fairy lights cost around 2p per night to run - on par with one tealight and I suspect cheaper than the light bulb? I do like them though. I think I'll put some in my bedroom. I'll look for more sticks to tie when I take Alfie pup out for his walkies

Softstuff

The situation here is seeming pretty eventful too, there has just been 14,000 public service job cuts announced in our state as part of the cost cutting measures. People here are marching and protesting.

Thing is, I can see why he has to make the cuts. The previous government spent money as though the birds in the sky were pooping golden nuggets. And I read recently an article which outlines how much tax people pay and how much they receive back in benefits and so forth. Turns out the only people paying more in tax than they get back are childless couples and young singles! Needless to say, this can't possibly be sustainable. Where on earth is the money supposed to come from?

That said, if you're going to cut anything then MP's wages should have been on the list, yet instead they got pay rises this year. And he needs his head seeing to for cutting the rural fire brigade in half when we're just coming up to a very bad bush fire season (it hasn't rained a drop here in over a month, following a rainy season with a lot of growth of tinder).

Ollycob

I'm really concerned about food prices this year, I know farmers are struggling and there was localised flash flooding in my area and my LL's fields were underwater for a few days. I'm on JSA and struggling to find work as I am limited to what I can do as I have back problems which mean standing or sitting for any length of time is painful. I have 3 extra bills to pay this month and don't have the money for them so trying to figure out what to sell to find it - £450! The best part of the whole situation is that I am having to cut down on my painkillers as I can't afford the prescriptions which just means that not only am I stressed I'm sore too

Whoops sorry that turned into a bit of a moan/rant, not how I'd intended my first proper post here to go! I'm normally a pretty cheery person, honest!

fuddle

Hi Softstuff, great to see you're ok

My school run friend is emigrating to Australia in the next few weeks. She and her husband are leaving behind their house in negative equity, which means they will owe thousands for 12 years I think it is. That has effectively ruled them out of coming home before then if things don't go according to plan. The problem is they think everything is so much better over there, I'm not doubting it isn't (and living in this village it will be!) and I applaud them for having the gumption to make life better for themselves.. I just worry that they think they are moving to problem free wonderland sometimes.

fuddle

Ollycob wrote: »

I'm really concerned about food prices this year, I know farmers are struggling and there was localised flash flooding in my area and my LL's fields were underwater for a few days. I'm on JSA and struggling to find work as I am limited to what I can do as I have back problems which mean standing or sitting for any length of time is painful. I have 3 extra bills to pay this month and don't have the money for them so trying to figure out what to sell to find it - £450! The best part of the whole situation is that I am having to cut down on my painkillers as I can't afford the prescriptions which just means that not only am I stressed I'm sore too

Whoops sorry that turned into a bit of a moan/rant, not how I'd intended my first proper post here to go! I'm normally a pretty cheery person, honest!

Hi ollycob You're going to fit right in here Welcome

Softstuff

Jeez Fuddle, it's hard enough coming here with a bit of cash in hand, but coming out in debt :eek: I hope they have some decent jobs lined up and a plan for housing. I think 10-15 years ago it was easier here, but then again, wasn't it everywhere?

mardatha

I wouldn't moan at all about cuts if the number of MPs got cut and the govt took huge wage cuts the same as the rest of us. They should lead from the front, it should be do as I do, not do as I say. I think the worst bit might be March/April next year, just wish I lived somwhere stuff would grow for longer in the year and wish I had a dehydrator - always meant to get one but never had the money.

[Deleted User]

Hey FUDDLE - you will manage because you are you and we'll always be here so you'll never really be doing it on your own. You of all people will cope, you're resourceful, always willing to have a go, open minded to new things and never worried about asking if you don't know. You try so hard and succeed so well you'll always find a way to manage, look at the innovations you put in place i.e your DIY cooker, look how you forage and find and check it's right then make from it - you're a success my girl don't ever think otherwise, Cheers Lyn xxx.