make do and mend for tougher times

Popperwell

Possession wrote: »

Stay safe everyone if the weather is bad. Just saw a woman was killed in Kew Gardens by a falling branch, so if it's bad don't go out unless necessary.

I read that on here, so sad but happens all too often.

fuddle wrote: »

When I decided to sit every day without the heating on I didn't take into consideration the absolutely horribly wet days.

I wish I was going to be sat in ikea with a cuppa and a slice of cake! Have fun

Yes its cold as I remember back in April when I lost Mum and wondered if I could afford to have the CH on and thought, if it's like this in April what will it be like in Winter, think I am finding out.

I did risk the CH for a couple of hours on Sat/Sun, it does make a difference. Think it's time to give up on the shirts and go for jumpers/cardigans but mainly thermals. And I guess I should have some hot drinks. They also say if its cold wear a hat and socks as a lot of heat is lost through the feet and head.

If I am saving on CH I don't want to spend the money running the washing machine more as you can sweat in thermals so will let the load build up and then hopefully just do one wash every fortnight.

Will have to try and use the tumble drier sparingly or pick a day when the heating is on so I can dry clothes at the same time.

Hopefully you'll be warm when doing your job at school and that may save you some cost on your CH Fuddle...

It would be nice to be at that meeting too.

It's so miserable here. Debating if I should stay put or pop out for my gloves and possibly a gilet. I could wait for better weather but it's a look out. If I can avoid using a taxi I always see that as going towards or as if it has paid for something I need rather than adding that on top.

Gordon Ramsey's programme at 5pm today is on baking so it might interest you and Nigella's new programme starts tonight.

OK as long as the recipe's are not out of the budget of many of us...

Popperwell

fuddle wrote: »

Be afraid of a boom my friend, be very afraid.

My friend in the village is away to Australia next week. They are emigrating. Her husband has got an unbelievably well paid job over there. Megabucks in comparison to what DH brings in. All the way through I have been such a support to her, never getting down with her and always being upbeat about the positives of the move. I've seen her over lunch time today. On parting she said "I know you'll never achieve what I have but I hope you get out of this village. I'll email you to show off my new house and my swimming pool and you can email me your erm, well what can you show off to me. Eeeeeh that was rude. Well I suppose it's true, hahaha." The anger I felt. The disgust. She's going out admidst a boom. She's going out with very little money. She's going out to fix her marriage, she's going out with children who are scared, she's going out leaving a house that will incur debt.

I don't want what she has. Why the heck do I get 'em. Why do I have to put up with just spiel and bile from other people. Money isn't everything. Money doesn't define you. I'm so angry and a bit hurt actually. I've been a good friend.

Never a truer word was said but even if not rich it would be nice to have enough to cover bills and have a little put aside for emergencies and it does seem a constant battle keeping your head above water even if its a triumph being thrifty/frugal and showing how you can manage on so little.

They assume they are better off but there will still be all the same bills to pay as here and their government is introducing measures because the economy is struggling but of course there will aways be some that do better than others.

That was rude whether she realised it or not, some say things without knowing that they doing so but they want to be careful as they could end up in debt again or living beyond theor means especially if they have not learnt from previous mistakes...

Popperwell

Possession wrote: »

F I think she's trying to justify leaving to herself. If her decision to leave is 'right' then yours to stay must be 'wrong' IYSWIM. I know quite a few people in Oz and NZ who are terribly homesick. It isn't all beaches and swimming pools. But it was unforgiveable to take it out on you. Try not to take it to heart too much.

That sounds much as I see it.

Decades ago we wanted to move to Bournemouth, circumstances made that impossible but much as it was nice to think of the beach and surrounding countryside available...

We would still have to do all the things that you do in your original location...

You still have to work, pay bills, find a house etc...and you may not have the spare time you think you'll have to enjoy what you hope that you may by moving.

Chances are if we were living there we'd find when coming home from our daily chores we'd end getting used to the area and it would not seem as special and so after having your evening meal would probably do the same things like watching tv, shopping etc...

Also the area we knew well whilst on holiday are mainly hotels, occupied by tourists and property in that area is expensive and so out of our price range.

The areas we'd have been living would be nothing like the area we knew and we'd probably on a housing estate that is no different to anywhere else.

So even out in Australia not everywhere will be as programes like Neighbours/Home and Away give the impression.

Sunshine4

Fuddle, My son is in Australia he is 35 hes been there since he was 23.
.He knows people who have gone out there with plenty of money and have come back with nothing. Also he said people come out there and they have grand plans, then it all falls apart
Mostly he said people get homesick, theres a girl that is working with him now and she told him she regrets the day she left England. But cant afford to come home he says she is so unhappy he feels sorry for her.
They are very silly going out without lots of money especially with children.
He says it hard work for families especially with no close family to help them out. He says people make the mistake of thinking they are going to laying on the beach all the time in the sun.She has a hard road ahead.

You have been a good friend to her, how dare she speak to you like that.
You doing a brillant job of looking after your own little family.

Enjoy your new Job.

Molly41

Popperwell wrote: »

A weekly ticket is a better buy as you pay less for one journey and can use it as often as you wish but...you are then committed to parting with £25.50 and if you don't use it some days you feel you are wasting it. You need to use it at least three and a half days to at least break even.

If you were working that's quite a chunk out of your wage on top of everything else that everyone has to, I don't know how people do it.

My DS earns 900 a month and pays 200 a month commuting fares. That on top of his rent and bills leaves him with a deficit of minus 28 pounds a month. I now buy his food for him as he simply could not afford to eat:(

shegar

That will teach me to say that we hardly get any rain in Suffolk, well weve got it now and its persistant, a rain that hopefully will go into the ground nicely........

Dam cold with it though, ive put the heating on this arvo at 21 degrees , cant have a cold house its makes me miserable, id rather be hungry first than not have heat..........
I could have lit the fire in just the one room , but at this time of a day im not normally in one room and the house needs heat.......I didnt really want to put the heating on this early in the year but thats life...........

I remember October 1 st last year and I went swimming in the sea as the temps were 81 degrees for several days, you all probaly remember that to.......

Poor hens dived staright into their hen hut when it rained, still they did all lay again today, bless them...:T.......

I hope the Scots meeting go along well today , haps you will all update us this evening......:D......Right im off to get something sorted for tea time, catch up later......Take care all in these high winds.....

ginnyknit

Shegar, it a bu**er that we need the heating on so early but you both need to be cosy especially if hubby is not to good. Hope things improve for you both (((hugs)))

Fuddle, thoroughly enjoyed Kevin McCloud, OH wondered what I was howling laughing at. Love the fact that he shows the disasters too. His friends are very useful types arent they? plumbers and inventors, I would love to blow things up :rotfl:

Stiltwalker, not an easy time for you all, hope MIl manages to get carers.

saving Queen, sorry you are going through tough times. Sounds like you need to pull the drawbridge up and keep your family away until they start supporting you or find someone else to moan at.

To all those having difficult days keep posting, it helps to get it off your chest.

Scottish mousies hope you are having a fab time, I wish I could have come too.

Sunshine4

Kitcat I think your nickname should be Wonder Woman. You deal with so much and just get on with it.

What a horrible day winds and rain, miserable.
So have made some nice chicken soup, that will keep us warm.

Glad PAH Ginnyknit and Smileyt
Had a good day yesterday.
Hope the ones meeting today have a good day as well.

Mrs_Chip

Trolley available in Lidl from Thursday £12.99

fuddle

We must have had a mild winter because I can't remember ever being this wet through on a school run! Shesh, hot chocolate all round I think. We're sat in pj's now. Going to close the curtains soon an hibernate.

The headteacher has been out of school today so still don't know when I can start my job. I imagine in the next day or so

I didn't know Nigella had a new programme. thank you (Nigella is me... in my head :rotfl: wearing an apron of course )

Australia is her magic sticking plaster. I looked to where she's moving to. It's mining town and full of miners, not famillies. The attempted rape statistics are up 94% If I was the kind of person I would tell her I know all this but the fact is I couldn't make someone feel rubbish to make myself feel better. It would never work, I'd feel really bad not better :eek: