make do and mend for tougher times

fuddle

smells like caterpillars :rotfl: Mar you crease me up

I like courgette sliced and roasted with garlic, olive oil, aubergine, peppers an onion. A few dried tarragon flakes and it's lovely

fuddle

Have you been in places that would have been rife with revellers of a weekend pops? I haven't been in the towns socialising for a good 10 years but it used to be 3/4 deep at the bar wherever you went. Is the tightening effecting the weekend revellers too?

PipneyJane

((((((((((((((SDG)))))))))))))

I am sorry for your loss.

annie123

mardatha wrote: »

Ok ta. I did get annie last year to go through all this, but then was not brave enough to buy the things.

:rotfl: can't believe in the last 12 months you've not at least tried one! You could always chop it into small chunks and throw it into a veg soup, neither of you would notice it

They are so easy to grow, even where you are, in fact, I'm going to send you a little plant next year to try:)

ginnyknit

lisakay, love the cake, my kids remember the cakes I made them when they were little and Dd is disgusted at the price her friends pay for cakes, they spend so much on parties yet cannot affords to feed their littlies decent food most of the time.

Manchester city centre doesnt seem to be any less busy at night but our local area is a wasteland during the day, roads you couldnt cross especially on a Saturday are empty and so are the buses. I used to go to Stockport on a Saturday and would have to stand on a bus all the way now there are less buses and are nearly empty.

I was dreaming the other night that a courgette plant had grown without me noticing and it was full off all shapes and sizes of courgettes/marrrows - it was veggie Christmas. Sadly just a dream as the '*lugs' ( in cases you are still eating) cleared my plot.

Popperwell

fuddle wrote: »

Have you been in places that would have been rife with revellers of a weekend pops? I haven't been in the towns socialising for a good 10 years but it used to be 3/4 deep at the bar wherever you went. Is the tightening effecting the weekend revellers too?

Thanks Fuddle, I don't like to sound like I'm spending money when others struggle and my spending seems wrong(still probably shouldn't do it)Can't lose the frugal frame of mind and without going over old ground, I know things will get difficult income wise enjoying myself seems wrong.

And spending it has meant cutting back elsewhere...and I probably should keep something back for the coming weeks...

Anyhow, it was my week for going to the theatre...(mentioned it on my blog, reviews of what I saw...)and I did enjoy getting out into company and found I could smile and forget troubles for a while and I have some nice memories...I have enjoyed most of them.

But I couldn't do it all the time.

Yes...it has meant that I have been in places I haven't for years and at times I never normally would be especially trying to walk around areas I am not familiar with and so late.

The last two nights I was on the last bus home at getting in around midnight. Darlington is busy but not as busy as I thought it would be(or once was)and last Sunday I was walking around Durham City at around 11pm and the only person in the town centre. Even walking slow and an easy target if attacked I did not feel frightened.

I don't think retailers are doing that well. Everywhere looks dead and business down. I really think many more are going to close.

Catch 22 people haven't money to spend so business suffers but if they lowered prices perhaps people could afford to spend a little more but they won't/can't lower prices and they continue to suffer.

The Theatre has also had lots of empty seats too so the money isn't there...

And I haven't even talked about the buses...

kidcat

Lisa what a beautiful cake.

Pops - its quieter in our town too I believe.

been so busy this week and the weekend not been any easier, its my mums birthday today, so we went for a meal on Friday (OH in work today) at Pizza Hut (not my idea at all) which was hard, DS8 had a difficult day in school followed by a meeting with his case worker so was bouncing off the walls when we got there.

DS14 was having a very down day (DS8 caseworker) thinks we may need to consider pills soon (oh yay) and I took him with me to buy presents etc but wasnt happy at all.

DH cant cope with DS8 making a public scene, my dad always goes into loud overdrive which makes OH worse and I was so tired as I hadnt slept in two days, so all in all a difficult day.

Yesterday was quieter but I had to shop and then visit my cousin with present for her youngest (party today but we cant go as we have to visit mum) and then had the awkward task of visiting my aunt and uncle (of the he has run off with another woman fame - she took him back!!) to deliver invite to DD big 18th next month.

Finally got organised and booked a venue, so we are now inviting people and planning catering etc.

Today I have got up to find the washing machine has stopped mid uniform cycle (arrrgh), DS8 has blocked all the toilets and the boiler is playing up so we have no hot water!!!

We still have to visit mum with presents and spend the afternoon with kids eating junk - its going to be a very long day!!!

Oh is at work so I am dealing solo but to be honest I just want to crawl into bed and hide!!

Busy planning DD party next month and was writing a list of foods, (thinking of a chilli, a veg curry and a stew) and DD kept saying no we dont need to do food people wont eat:eek::eek::eek: she cannot seem to grasp that its not done to invite people to a party and not feed them, she says her friends never put food on at all.:eek:
I think its just sad that its considered ok to have a party and not offer food - especially at this age when they are going to drink, drinking on an empty stomach is so dangerous what are people thinking.

I have put my foot down and said we are serving food - at the very least I have invited family and family friends too who will expect food.

Popperwell

ginnyknit wrote: »

Manchester city centre doesnt seem to be any less busy at night but our local area is a wasteland during the day, roads you couldnt cross especially on a Saturday are empty and so are the buses. I used to go to Stockport on a Saturday and would have to stand on a bus all the way now there are less buses and are nearly empty.

Following on from my post Ginny,
I had a special bus ticket(again I couldn't buy one all the time)but it's cheaper than buying a single or return ticket. I can use it unlimited for a week and across the whole county for approx £3.25 a day. Where as one return trip of seven miles each way(comes in at around £7)Sometimes one trip of only 3 miles can cost £3.

Still cheaper than a taxi. One single trip to Durham is approx £7 so my ticket is still a better buy. But for many I suspect even using a bus is costly and has to be restricted.

I was in Darlington and Durham in the daytime and the place seems dead even if during normal shopping time...I said elsewhere that Sainsbury's in Darlington has become enormous having been altered in recent months and the place was empty.

And I went around the indoor market and it was virtually empty.

I only know this Kidcat because of having been out this past week or so otherwise I would not have known this is how it is, I remember how it was years ago.

Even when coming home earlier all the streets are deserted and people seem to be in bed by 10pm or no later than 11pm. Even the takeaways seem empty and many around here are closing earlier than they used to.

Last Sunday when in Durham I found a lovely fish and chip shop and I treated myself to a portion of chips and suspect the fish would have been nice too but I decided to save the extra money and that's what everyone is having to do.

You could do with some hugs too Kidcat. As I said to Ginny in another thread what so many of you/us have to/have had to do, trying to hold our lives together and we just get on with it often with no one to talk to or ask for help even if you want it.

kidcat

In our town centre there is one car park that is always so busy that you can rarely find space to park, on Saturdays people are usually queueing to get in and get out. Around Christmas and Easter its so bad it can take hours to get out. I was in there yesterday and there were loads of spaces available, I have never seen it so quiet.

Possession

Kidcat it sounds exhausting just reading it, no wonder you want to go to bed. I wish I could suggest something helpful, but all I can think is to take whatever shortcuts will make it easier for you, and accept help if any is offered. Sending you virtual sympathy and helpful vibes.