make do and mend for tougher times

Possession

Byatt wrote: »

There's a programme on BBC2 at 6.30 which seems to be about the war, I have been distracted the last couple of days, but tonight thought, this is really good. Not sure if you've seen it or it will be interesting...they were talking about the Merchant Navy (my family background) and the young boys of 14 and 16 who died working on the ships. The Merchant Navy never get the acknowledgement that the other services get. Plus there's items about food.

edit to add http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01n3jz9/How_We_Won_the_War_Northern_Ireland/

How we won the war...a series.

Thanks I'll definitely show him that, he'll be very interested as he is fascinated by my great uncles - my great grandma had 6 sons and 5 of them went off to fight. They all came back amazingly. One was in the navy but not the merchant navy I don't think.

VJsmum

SpikyHedgehog wrote: »

He prefers bread and butter to sandwich fillings at school/6th form - allegedly marmite goes too runny by lunch time to eat (note that DS2 or I don't have this problem with it) and cheese falls out...

He does like the yeast based pates from health food shops (in tubes like big toothpaste tubes) like this one http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/pages/product_detail.asp?pid=3531&prodid=3493 or red wood company's slices - m0rris0ns usually have the sage and onion or the beef style ones, or again, it's the health food store.

DS2 eats most things... He has peanut butter, hummus, cheese, jam, marmite, soft cheese, yeast pate, slices, anything he can squash into his lunch box...

I like hummus and salad sandwiches, or I'll use leftovers like a slice of nut roast in the sandwich.

Not my favourite, but marmite and peanut butter is quite good, I think it's better on ryvitas and eaten straight away than in sandwiches but it's ok. I prefer it with crunchy peanut butter.

DS1 doesn't have much more than a sandwich and maybe a scone or flapjack or a pastry thing, and I try not to take much more than a sandwich, yoghurt and piece of fruit though the work biscuits keep finding their way to me...

DS2 has a selection of sandwich, yoghurt, fruit, veg, diced frozen cheese (defrosts by lunch time), hard boiled egg, babybel, scone, muffin, cake, biscuit, dip of hummus/mayo/yoghurt...

The vegetarian society has some good info and recipes http://www.youngveggie.org/resources/parents

(Technically your DD is a pescetarian as she is an omnivore who eats fish but not poultry or red meat .)

Thanks

Do you know, it hadn't occurred to me to go to the health food shop

I am tucked up in my bed. 3 hours teaching and I am cream crackered! Goodness knows how I coped in Seoul! Enjoyed it though - brand new first years, bless their cottons. It is also rather a lot warmer in bed.

So sorry to hear of everyone's troubles. Times really are tough for many of you and my heart goes out to you. I also agree with those who have said how amazing the people on this thread are.

My troubles are few compared to some here - but my thoughts are with you.

SpikyHedgehog

Possession wrote: »

I frequently hear him justifying it to recruitment agencies, as he is applying for jobs on up to a half less than his old salary, but the problem is no matter how positive a spin he puts on it, nobody is going to be comfortable employing someone who should technically be senior to them. They either think he will be bored and leave, or take their job. Don't want to bore people with details but he doesn't want to return to his old type of job, it was way way too pressured and stressful and led to what was effectively a breakdown. But obviously you can't say that in interview!

I'm guessing horribly long hours are also part of the senior jobs, so could he emphasise wanting to see his family as part of his wanting the less senior jobs?

stiltwalker wrote: »

Kidcat - it's he start of the Serenity Prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr (according to google!) - I'm not religious but it has always felt 'right' to me.

Hugs to all in need of one - gosh aren't we all having a time of it at the moment.

Been out to see wheelchair services this morning and guess what? they don't 'do' double special needs buggies and are not aware of any that would be completely suitable for our particular needs - but we can have a voucher towards one to the value of the single buggy they can supply!!! To be fair they are going to have a look around and come back to me, but I could just cry - we can't be the only family with 2 disabled youngsters. Will have a look on the internet later and maybe phone a couple of the charities that help with funding for that sort of thing (Whizzkidz spring to mind) and see if they have any ideas - they may have helped other families in our situation. Right now though it's very early lunch for me and DS before we set off back out to go and pick DD up from nursery. We dropped her off after the appointment and I'm kind of wishing we hadn't as we had to drive through practically a river to get back into the village and I'm kind of panicking about whether we are going to be able to get out again - may have to go the very long way round. I shall be putting the wellies in the car in case.

Don't know if you can get any help to get them, but would these help? http://http://www.twinsuk.co.uk/categories/16/972/Special-Needs-Children/Special-Needs-Pushchairs-Buggy/

shegar wrote: »

Kidkat and PAH, thanks for telling me about PALS, Ive used them before and if I dont hear anything within next day or two I will give them a ring....

Ginnyknit, Hope all went well with you and hubby at the hospital this arvo..........

Im going into town in the morning ,its a 22 mile journey but I havent been since June and hubby needs some nice warm pj s from Primark, bought one pair for him last year out of there and couldnt believe how well made and warm they are, only one problem was that the top was short sleeved.:mad: Also need a big shop from Tesco so I will do everything that need doing in one go .......

Have any of you bought any gents pj s from Primark this year? or do you know if they have long sleeved ones in?......I think I paid £7 for the pair last time, I only bought the one pair cos I thought they are so cheap haps they will fall to bits after a couple of washes, now wish id bought 2 or 3 pairs.............

I see in the paper today that JJB Sports are going into administration, not good , but we have Sports Direct next door to JJB in Ipswich and Sports Direct is so much cheaper so you can see why they cant compete..............Sign of the times though......

Pr1mark in Ipswich was getting the long sleeved men's pjs in last week when I went in, they were £10 I think for the all cotton jersey ones (that DS1 can wear) though they'd moved the pjs to the left hand corner at the top away from customer services (so I couldn't find them at first).

Popperwell wrote: »

Have you a Peacocks nearby? They have PJ's, fleece Dressing Gowns, thermal sock and gloves(with fingers)and without. So a few things.

I couldn't see any men's nightwear in Peacocks in Ipswich last week, but hopefully they'll have them in by now.

fuddle wrote: »

Not a very nice day for the toughies eh?

We're a resilient but sometimes the rubbish days feel like they just keep on coming. My heart goes out to all of us who really need a break right now. My grandma used to say if you can see a break in the clouds that is the size of a pair of bloomers then there's hope. Let's just hope this awful weather tiddles off tomorrow and each of us see that little patch of blue sky.

DH and I have been talking. There are many 1 bedroom properties on the rental market that have a cheaper rental than what we're paying now. In order to save for our future we're going to try to get a 1 bedroomed house. It will be a squeeze but the girls will share a room, we will sell our sofas to get a metal action sofa bed and sleep in the living room. I know it sounds absolute madness but it's a strategy that might just save us at least £150 per month and probably more. Money that can be saved for a deposit for our own 2 bed terraced in the long run.

Lots to think about but ever the optimist

My friend had a 2 bedroom house & 3 children - 2 boys & a girl, and for about the last 3 years they were there, she slept in the sitting room & her DD had 1 bedroom & the boys the other room. It does work but you have to think about where you'll store clothes etc as the storage tends to be less in the smaller houses/flats.

I'd also look at flats converted from old houses as they tend to have decent amounts of storage room - my brother is in a 1 bedroom flat that's the first floor of a Victorian house and the sitting room and bedroom both have built in cupboards.

((((((to everyone who needs them - Pooky, Byatt, I can't remember who else, I'm afraid )))))

anakat

Possession wrote: »

Just had to tell you, on the kind of good news front, DS (10) SOOOOO excited about the WW2 re-enactment on Great British Bake-off. He'll be telling his teacher all about the truck serving all those doughnuts to American servicement tomorrow. And he finally won a gas mask (much cheaper!).

De-lurking with a quick warning about the possibility of there being asbestos in WW11 gas masks.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_mask

Popperwell

anakat wrote: »

De-lurking with a quick warning about the possibility of there being asbestos in WW11 gas masks.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_mask

Worth mentioning. I did a few nights ago...

grandma247

Phew just got off the phone after three hours. It was my Aussie friend wanting a natter because it was 4am there and she could not sleep. Their weather in WA is grey and rainy but not like ours. It is something we seem to do too well.
Have skimmed the rest of the posts since I last looked. (((hugs))) to all that need them and I hope you all have a restful night.

paidinchickens

Morning everyone

Going to try and make this a good day Not tempting fate or anything but I'm going to try and get through today with a positive attitude.

Was a little spendy yesterday as I bought a gingerdead man cutter from 1akeland (well I ordered it and it came in yesterday) May play with that later but could really do with taking to pics and listing so bits and bobs on fleabay.


Nothing seems to be selling very well lately have other people found this ??

PiC x

prepareathome

The awful carry on with hospital transport was something I had hoped had improved. In 2003 when mum was diagnosed with breast cancer ( she was a woman who if you had a headache she had a migraine and if you had a migraine she had a brain tumour but when she really did become ill with cancer never said a word until it was definite she had it) the first time she went to the hospital Whipps Cross she was taken by the ambulance that collected her then others and making a journey that should have taken 15-20 mins into one that took 4hrs and she would be collected around 6am and get home at 8/9pm.

So as I only family member not working I was not quite as bad as am now and anyway mind over matter gets things done hubby taking the day off) would take us down day before her appointment, we would take her and I went in to see specialist with her and then we would bring her home settle her and then head back home. We pounded the motor way once twice a week during the week plus every weekend from 2003 until she went in Jan 2004 when I stayed down there for 8 weeks and hubby stayed home and then repeated that every weekend with trips during the week when she had to go to hospital until April 2007 when she was taken in (nothing to do with the cancer once her breast was gone it never bothered her again) when I stayed again while she was in and back to weekends when she came out till her final time in, in June 2007 when both hubby and I stayed as we knew we were losing her for those last few weeks.

Through out all the hospital appointments we spoke to people who were relying on ambulances for appointments and it was horrific the tales they told and we were so thankful we could get down there to take mum. I really had hoped things would have improved as I know some people we met were attending hospitals all over London, mum lived in South Woodford and was lucky to be able to go to her nearest hospital(even though there were quite a few horror stories that hit the main news about it and one of the reasons I wanted to be there as mum was of the generation that believed doctors were gods and so would let them walk over her, we did have a few ahem 'discussions' with her doctors over the years about her treatment and I will never forgive that hospital for not letting her die in dignity, she died in the middle of a busy very large ward instead of the side room she was supposed to be moved into,which was sitting empty for her, always some excuse why her bed could not be moved, afterwards we found out the sister had never requested porters move her(and it wasn't because she was overworked or forgot as her desk was right by mums bed and she sat there a lot doing word searches as she was a sister who delegated) for which even her specialist was shocked about and dressed down the sister in the middle of the ward over mum when she came to certify mum had gone ).

So please complain, complain to the highest to ensure your loved one or yourself is treated well be it ambulances not turning up or running late or how they are treated in hospital.

The hospital in reply to my complaint about mums treatment had the cheek to offer me money as compensation I have never claimed compensation in my life for anything and I am afraid I was not the politest when I replied to this offer that wasn't what I wanted and said so. I think hospitals have become so used to paying out compensation they think they can get away with bad management and use money to pay their way out of trouble and it disgusts me. My brothers and sisters were not happy at me refusing

Jeepers what a dour subject for first thing in morning,sorry folks its been stewing in my subconscious all night. I know most drs and nurses are doing a wonderful job in terrible conditions and lack of money a lack often caused by all the money they have to keep aside for payouts, a vicious circle.

Right now that is out of my system will go and have a shower then a cuppa, been up since 6am so could take pain meds and they are kicking in now.......the smear comes ever nearer:rotfl:

Hugs and Love to all xxxx

prepareathome

PIC I have heard quite a few people on the boards here say that or only selling for the 99p, only ever sold one thing so have no idea how true that is. From the buying side am finding it easy to get things for the bottom price be it 99p or what ever with no other bids against me.

I think its getting so tough out there many, many people are turning to ebay to sell and so its a buyers market.

Good luck and I hope you make plenty of lovely pounds xxxx

Pooky

Morning all

Huge thunderstorm here at 3am, what with the lashing wind and rain it was quite scary (but very comforting to be lying snug in bed)

Have to pop to the vets to pay the disposal fee today, couldn't face it yesterday. Will need to transfer some money from savings but I don't begrudge it.

Small longhaired girl kitten is wandering around the house with her "baby" a rolled bandage, when it comes undone she brings it to me to wind back up, she's daft but sweet.

I want to find out if we have a local food bank but no idea where to look, is there a national register of them or should I ask the council? Any ideas? DD1 had a lesson at college with someone who sleeps rough locally (through choice as he left the army and didn't feel he needed the trappings and expense of modern society) it got her thinking and she wants to help in some way. I explained I wanted to make some food bank donations and she wants to see if she can volunteer to help in anyway.