make do and mend for tougher times

grandma247

Interesting site about canning chicken step by step. The only thing I would do different is to use a chopstick instead of a knife. Anything metal can damage the glass and cause it to break under pressure.

shegar

Oh dear me , some of you are really up against things right now, what with benefit changes, housing, and health, theres so much doom and gloom, but we all seem to just keep going and get through the hard times..........

Im same here, always got something to worry over, hubby not well, ive been injecting him everynight and giving him his warfarin tabs and the hospital is suppose to phone me daily, I havent had a call since last Thursday......:mad:...And its dam well impossible to get through to them on the phone, I shall just keep doing what I was told last time they came.....

As usual I was up at 6 am, had 2 huge mugs tea, took dogs to beach , no rain and plenty of sunshine here ,it was a cold night but not to bad now.......

Changed beds, dusted,hoovered,mopped floors, done all the sheets,duvets, etc, windows all open to give a good airing , cant beat fresh air, got all dried irioned up and put in airing cupboard, thats why ive come on here for 10 tens mins..........Mt tea break....

Feel better when the house is cleaned, its gives me a clear head.........
Im outside in a while to get some jobs done, like, clean hens out etc etc..........If I can get outside it seem to relieve alot of my stress.....Take care all of you, catch up later..........

[Deleted User]

Do you lot know how amazing you all are?, you all have your own burdens to bear, some heavier than others, but each and every one of you still takes time to offer support and advice to everyone else - I just want to say thank you, because your blimmin marvellous!!!!! Cheers Lyn xxx.

Possession

(((hugs))) Byatt. I wish I could help. Are you posting over on the benefits board too as I'm sure there are people there who have a lot more knowledge and might be able to help.
(((More hugs))) and don't ever feel like you can't say these things here. This is just the right the place to say them so we can help you stay a Toughie.

mardatha

Really feel for you all who have problems.. there is always a way round things but sometimes when you're in despair you just cant see it. Sending strength and calming vibes that all will sort itself eventually xxx
Power cuts and flooding here and more rain coming.

elona

(((Byatt))) and (((shegar)))) and (((ginnyknit)))

Fuddle

Maybe the damp being the last straw will prove a blessing in disguise if you end up with something better in the long run. Your "friend"" is probably resenting the fact that you and your family are better equipped to make a go of things abroad if you wanted to then she is as you have the resiliance, good humour and grit she obviously lacks.

Managed to arrange to see head of medical team tomorrow afternoon to discuss dd's condition as diagnosis is not clear as it is an unusual case. It looks as if the test on her heart is showing normal which is a tremendous relief but her kidneys are not resuming normal function after three weeks in hospital. Hopefully we will have a clearer idea tomorrow and a plan of action from the hospital.

New gas fire installed in living room and radiators now working better after powerflush and can hear work being done in main bathroom to replace loo which previous owner had not fixed properly to either wall or floor :eek:

Raining heavily and river is rising high but glad we are a distance away and uphill.

Hug to all who could use one.

2tonsils

Well I did a long chatty post last night then lost it when my Greek server hiccuped and wiped it out. From now on I am going to copy it before I press the send button so I have it on hand should it get wiped out.

After putting my winter quilt on the bed and all the winter curtains up the weather here has decided we are going to have a heat wave! We are going up to 35 in the shade tomorrow and they are saying it will last till the end of October with the odd storm thrown in now and again. Isn't that just Sod's law? We usually have heavy rain and around 17 degrees here at this time of year. The nights are cooler but its still warm enough in the house from the heat during the day.

The good thing is it will give us time to recover a bit financially from the taxes before the winter arrives. It means we don't need to buy the wood for the fire yet and we can continue to ride our scooters instead of using the car. If we both ride our scooters it saves us 40 euros a week in petrol.They are very cheap on the insurance and economical too. My 50cc scooter only costs 45 euros a year for full insurance and 6.50's worth of petrol lasts me about ten days using it every day to go to the gym or town.

I have been waiting for some waterproof trousers to come into the Lidl's here but they are still busy selling summer stuff and gardening equipment. Obviously their buyer is still in the summer frame of mind....

Byatt

Thanks for the hugs. :A

Onwards and upwards, can't do anything else really, so will come up with something and hope the cat sitting business improves, and I do have enough food for a few weeks as well as the fact I don't need anything clothes wise or housewise, so just need to tweak a few things so I have enough to pay bills.

Spoke to a nice chap at the council who says I will still get the premium for being a carer although I don't think it's correct, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. The amount is actually £71 p.w. you are given as being the figure you can live on.

Possession, I don't like going on the benefits board except to read occasionally as they shout at you there. Well some do, most are kind but I'm not robust enough right now.

It's only when it's happening that you actually see how bad things are. Even trying to get my tax code changed is impossible until they get the P45 from the dwp and that takes about 28 days it seems so another month before my code will be increased and then another month before the Occp people can use it.

At one time if you had the figures, they would use those, but they say they can't now.

In some ways it will be good to be off their books so to speak. They can't harrass me anymore. So glad I have the Occp as it gives me a measure of independence and if I can make something from the cat sitting, then all well and good. It's the only thing I can do which works around my health issues.

Anyway, I'm another statistic...

Who'd have thought it after all the working and planning I did before my divorce.

Pooky

Byatt ask you HB department about a discretionary payment, they can often help meet the entire cost of rent for a while.

Might be worth an appointment with a benefits advisor at the CAB to see if they can see anything else you can get.

It's been raining sideways, upwards, downwards and in circles here with a very gusty wind. The sunshine in between the showers has been very welcome. Just went out to attach a hose to run off one of the water butts into the drain (no overflow) as its spilling out against the conservatory brickwork and sitting in pools. The wind combined with the water butt cold water was blummin freezing, was glad to get inside. Luckily it's warm and cosy in here, no heating on yet and it's measuring at 21 in the living room.

prepareathome

Byatt, oh how I wish you were nearer we could keep you in food at least, sending my love and hugs for all the good they are, am trying and trying to think of a way to get food to you, but postage is beyond me could we do a parcel chain with one person starting and taking a parcel of stuff to next person in chain who adds if they can a bit more and takes it to next person on so on and on till it reaches the person that needs help. Are there enough people living not to far apart so petrol costs not to much to consider something like this.

I am happy to start and we are going to Shrewsbury on Saturday( hubby has got me going to a Joan Amatrading concert there , he has gone to a few but I have never heard her live,he is the fan not me, don't dislike her but not bothered really, tickets were bought about 18 months ago. We will just be able to manage the petrol for that, hubby did want a meal out but cannot afford it so no chance of driving down to you Byatt am so sorry, just a bit to far but if we could start the chain I will pack up stuff no problem, just let me know what you cannot stand. The thought of anyone being hungry due to ill health is to me even worse than ordinary unemployment and my stocks might not be great, nope don't have a years supply or anywhere near it and a lot is in freezer but do have enough non frozen to share with you.

If we can ensure you have a good store of food and household items it gives you breathing space to see if you can get help from elsewhere.