make do and mend for tougher times

prepareathome

monnagran wrote: »

Do you know what? You have all restored my faith the the innate goodness of people. Here you all are with horrendous problems of your own and still trying to help each other and worrying about each other. I do wish some of the tabloids could get hold of some of these stories and publish them. It would make a welcome change from hearing about the stupid antics of shallow, spoiled 'celebs' who don't seem to know or care what is happening in the world.

I am feeling like I do on a Sunday night when homeless people who have absolutely nothing are sharing the little bits they do have and helping one of their number who was sleeping under a bush in all that dreadful rain and arrived wet to the skin carrying a sopping sleeping bag. I am seriously considering clearing out our garage so that at least they can stay dry. What I don't want to do is to give the council the chance to say that they are no longer a priority because they have shelter.

I am desperate to help everyone in need although I know that realistically I am only able to be a drop in the ocean.

You are all so brave and facing an uncertain future courageously. Lots of illness, lots of financial problems, lots of practical problems.

I LOVE YOU ALL.

And I wish, wish wish that I was in a position to help you.

As it is the people on my doorstep are all I can reach, but my love and prayers are with all of you.
Sorry have nothing more useful to say.

Aw you with the biggest heart of the all saying this, sending my love to you back.

I would agree I would not make it known out loud about garage being available, more a word of mouth and am sure those who need it would only pass it on to those they felt would benefit from it rather than tell everyone.

I would love to start a food bank in my area after what happened when that local place shut down but don't have anywhere nearby that could be used to store food no churches or halls its all houses all around. Nearest churches are half a mile in 3 out of 4 directions and I have no contact with them but would prefer something not church related as many would not feel right going to a church for help if not their religion,also only one has a hall and its up in the village up a steep hill. The nearest food bank and one that covers my area is 5 miles away and up a very steep hill, then down other side and a long walk on pavements that are never treated as you have to walk past miles of woodland so open and exposed as well, a nice walk in summer but can be lethal in winter, can you imagine during the winter a family who is starving being able to make that journey on foot. If I had somewhere to store food I would do it but I don't even have a garage just a big empty garden that I cannot put anything on and back garden is so tiny no room there.

Might phone my HA about a food bank after drs today, as we do have the sheltered accommodation about quarter of a mile away and maybe there might be something there that could be used to store food, but then might be risky for the residents if its known food stores are there.

Forgive me not quite sure why I am such a gloomy person this morning in my posts as don't feel down or depressed as I know how lucky I am compared to so many. Maybe its the weather, still raining out there and so gloomy and dark. Thank heaven for daylight bulbs

Anyway about time I had a cuppa while drying from shower.

Feel free to give me a kick up the proverbial love you all, you know as I have said before to me you are all my beloved friends.

Hugs and Love to each and every one of youxxxxx

Possession

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

Oh dear. Thanks. He isn't going to put it on. Is it dangerous just to be in the house? Have to admit I know very little about asbestos. It might have to live in the garage.

PIC I don't think things are selling for good prices - unless I want to buy them of course. And WW2 gas masks seem to be going for a lot! I'm going to wait a couple of weeks before putting some of the Disney DVDs on and hope I get christmas prices.

smileyt_2

HEADS UP, BAKERS! Approved Food have 3kg bags of Allinson's flour for £1.49. Might be worth a punt but I'd go quick as they're bound to sell out at that price!

They also have a couple of rather nice Weleda gift sets (posh natural-type toiletries) which might be good for Christmas presents?

Gotta dash, dogs need walking and I have to be somewhere for 10am. Will probably check back in tonight. Hope we all have a better day today than we did yesterday. The rain isn't torrential today, which is a good start! xxx

mardatha

I'm not selling anything on fleabay either, but not well so not bothered.
Lovely friends and support in here, if we haven't all got the wartime headscarves or cookery books we've certainly got the spirit
Too tired to post a lot just now, for which I'm sure yer all deeply grateful LOL but I will be back

shegar

boultdj wrote: »

Ginny and Shegar, it might be worth phoneing the department your going to and ask if you are allowed to use the car parks that are closer, only reason I surrgest it is because I'm allowed to use the staff car park when I have to take OH to his hospital appointment's, but it is not advertised.

Thanks for your point of view on hospital car parks, but we have 2 large car parks at Ipswich Hospital and its just a fight to park, whoever sees the first vacant space drives into it quickly...........

This is what !!!!es me off when im trying to get in the BB space and you see people getting out of their car able bodied, no wheelchair, sticks etc:mad::mad:.......I know haps I shouldnt have just wrote what I did but its very hard struggling on your own, poor hubby always say to me "shall I try and walk"......He cant even get to the loo in the bungalow without his chair..............He worries over me, cos of my health........

If we park in a normal car space we then cant get the door open wide enough for him to get out....:mad:. Oh dear so sorry I do sound bitter this morning dont I .?......

The only good thing at the hospital is that we dont have to pay car park charges, so I suppose you cant have it all your own way, where poor Ginny had to run all over hell to pay........

Hubby is going to "Headway" this morning so im off to town to get him some pj s, thanks for your post Spikey hedgehog............

D&DD

The sun is trying to poke through the clouds and rain here so lets hope its a better day today for all

DS3 has flu the docs reckon so he's off for the rest of the week at least and I'm playing nursey.
We're going to tuck up on the couch and watch Bake off if/when he finally gets up later he loves watching that and it sounds like it was good this week from your posts.

Posession so pleased he finally got one X

Softstuff thinking of you and hoping you arrived safely XXX

Smiley thanks for the heads up I really don't dare look though lol X

PAH I know its not going to be fun but well done for going X

Hope everyone has a great day
Will catch up later if poss sending positive vibes to all XX

fuddle

The tougher it gets the more we pull together. We're a mini society, at least how society should be.

Loving all the avatar changes

What a night I've had I've tossed and turned, fretted, cried then gave myself a poorly tummy. The feelings I'm feeling are reminiscent of how I felt when we tried to find a home after our own SHTF. I feel trapped again, I feel like everything is out of my control.I sorted everything out re: bankruptcy and re-housing. Everything. It was my way of coping, you know how I like to be proactive. But this time round there's already scars and it's too painful... so DH is taking over the housing thing. He's applying to our local council too, in case we decide not to move further afield. All I have to do is sort the credit files (he's clueless) and try to save even more money in case we go private renting, keep on making this house a home and just wait till he has some news.

So that's where I'm at. This is my home. We're making plans to move out of it and that is going to take time. Everything is as it has been.

With that, I'll leave you to tackle a washing mountain, bake some bread, put a top up order into Asda (with meat in, craving meat now!) try to get hold of the head teacher about my job and fix a hem in my work trousers.

Hopefully we can all have a better day today... I saw a a bloomer sized patch of blue sky this morning so here's hoping x

JKJ

Is it ok if I join you please? My heart goes out to all of you who are struggling so badly in the current climate. I've only just registered so that I can post, but have been reading and lurking for a while.

I feel so sad when I read some of the stories on here and so humbled at how some of you keep going no matter what life and or the government of the day throws at you.

It is clear that the benefits situation is in dire need of an overhaul but it is truly awful how many innocent people are going to fall through the net and the resukts I think are going to be dreadful.

In the road I live in there is a lady who is elderly and clearly struggling to manage on her state pension. Next door to her on one side is a middle aged lady who lost her job about 6 months ago and so far hasn't found another. Talking to her yesterday I was horrified to listen to how she was going to have to choose between heating and eating this winter if her financial situation didn't improve. I was also impressed by the fact that she and the old lady next door had decided to pool resources for cooking and heating by cooking together and sharing the evenings where possible as the weather gets worse.

On the opposite side of the coin, there is a woman that lives close to these 2 sweethearts that makes my blood boil. She claims DLA for rheumatoid arthritis, and COPD, she also gets income support, her council tax paid in full, ditto her HA rent. She occupies a 3 bed house, smokes, goes out every weekend, has a new tattoo every couple of months, goes to zumba dancing classes, has been away on holiday this year and seemingly has no problem finding the cash to get her car fixed when it breaks down. She used to have her son and granddaughter living with her but they now have their own rented property (though private not HA ) but also live on benefits, the son has never worked and is now 25, so now the taxpayer is funding 2 properties even though there was ample room for all of them in one house. How is this fair at all?

Personally I am treading water and managing to keep going just, though am expecting a turndown financially very shortly so am grateful for all the tips you so selflessly share.

Bigjenny

Fuddle The old saying "When one door closes anothers door opens" is often true.

I have found it may take a while for it to happen and often don't realise that it has.

Jenny

kidcat

Morning toughies

Welcome JKJ

Fuddle - I know exactly how you feel, and whilst you may know that the move is for the best on your head your heart still aches. I felt the same on both moves even though the last one was to this place we had bought.

Have caught stomach bug of DS so am back laid up yet again.

Had some good news this morning, over the roof, the house builder has paid us a cheque to have the work done and we have got a local builder to do the work. We have joined with our neighbour and the quote has arrived and its alot less than we were paid. So we have some change, it means I can pay a chunk off the car which I put on the credit card. Major relief.