make do and mend for tougher times

[Deleted User]

VJsMUM - Will say hello to Chichester for you, just love the place but it is suffering as much as everywhere in this recession and there are some empty shops and the lovely old walk round covered market no longer exists. Shame, we loved the Brannigans Sausages from there and I stocked up whenever we went. I am on the hunt this morning for an enamel covered roaster (those with the domed lids with dimples in them) but an old fashioned one without non-stick.

We have had mentions of Hay Boxes recently and I was fortunate enough to win a book of Haybox Cookery from E*ay by a wartime author called Ambrose Heath, full of economical recipes. I've seen it several times and if you have an interest it is a sound investment. Have a good day everyone,Cheers Lyn xxx. P.S. If anyone is interested there is a way to make a Hay Box from a rigid cooler box and a block of polystyrene cut to the size of the pan you use in it. I found how to details on the SelfSufficientish site under Nev's Tips, worth a look if you have an interest L x.

2tonsils

paidinchickens wrote: »

Morning

DS has THE BUG less said the better.

Yesterday we went to open DS a bank account, well upgrade from child savings to one with a bank card. Was told I wouldn't need ID for him as he was logged on my account with a savings account when I went in on Tuesday. They fibbed and I did so ended up driving back home to fetch some. Passport pic doesn't look like him and they don't give national insurance cards out any more only a letter. Took two hours to sort it would have been easier to tell them he's Polish as they were flying through.

To make matters worse while I was there I checked my bank and the tenants haven't paid their rent again this month. I really can't work them out. They are always buying things for the house and re painting etc but they have often not paid the rent. I'm fed up as I only have £89 in my account now for the mortgage so I will be going over drawn. I don't know if I would have been so mad if I hadn't seen a brand new flat screen TV with sports channel when I went round. Don't get me wrong spend on what you like when you've paid your rent but come on, really ??? Did they think I wouldn't notice grrrrrrrrr

Charity shop morning so hopefully there will be some bargains

PiC x

I had the same problem with the bank in the UK that my husband has used for over thirty years.. I told them on the phone I wanted to open a savings account and they made me an appointment...they told me no ID required when I went to see them then asked me for it.:mad::mad:

They also asked for an electric bill and she was most upset when I produced one with my name and address on in Greek...she could not understand why they don't do them in English LOL:p

She kept asking if I wanted a loan, or an overdraft facility so I told her no, it was a savings account and I don't intend letting it go into the red. I told her I had no debts except the mortgage in Greece and she looked at me as though I was telling lies. Then she asked me what amount of money my husband might pay into my account in the year and I told her it was none of her business...that went down well with the dragon...:rotfl:

In the end it took me all day to sort out what was a simple bank account and she left me really annoyed. Why do they make it so difficult?

maryb

VJsmum wrote: »

"There was an OSer from Hitchin" (go on - it's a gift:rotfl:)

Whose freezer was full in the kitchen

She had to defrost

also eat at low cost

but she refills as fast as she's ditchin'

OK, I'll get me coat

Aria`s_Tail

Morning everyone.
I have had a pootle around the house this morning, one load of washing on the line in the sunshine, another in the machine.

Have also sorted out a couple of carrier bags of clothes and household stuff for the local hospice charity shop (would rather donate to them than the national chain ones over the road) I'm another one who doesn't give money on DDs to charity any more, just don't have the spare cash and I have a rather unpredictable job, may not have any work from one week to the next. We were in Brum centre on Tuesday and I commented to OH that for once the large amount of chuggers was noticable by their absence! Only 3 - 4 of them on New St instead of the usual hordes harrassing you. I think the council got sick of all the complaints and cut down the licenses.

I'm sitting with a coffee watching a game of squirrel v`s greyhounds in the back garden. The squirrel is winning everytime, taunting the dogs from the trees over the back fence with the odd sprint across the garden just to keep their interest.

fuddle

Morning . I have received a letter from the council wanting a lot if ID for DH and I, our bankruptcy details and proof that we get child benefit for the girls. One step closer to social housing I hope. I'm worried about our tenancy agreement. It ran out in 2009 and was never renewed. I've asked and asked but he just never has gotten round to it. I hope this doesn't cause us problems.

He's meant to come for a visit this week but as yet not heard from him. We've now got a white growth on the damp in the bay window. I know, it's insignificant and other people seriously have to live in health hazards but we've paid this man £16000+ since we've been here, it's galling that we pay up month after month on time, never a problem and he doesn't act when there is a problem. I'm that far from calling the council about him and will do when I leave for the next tenants but right now I just need to try to keep the peace so I can get a good reference to move on.

I have an OS confession to make. I bought some hovis from the shop and want to keep buying air filled shop bread. I loved, and so did the girls, the floppyness, smoothness of it. I know... how dare I swear on here lol Please forgive me!

2tonsils

Well quick update...I now have the lurgy my OH has had all week, but fortunately I haven't got it as bad as him. It has left him really weak and he has just gone back to bed for a nap. Still , I have a great stock of antihistamines to keep my nose clear, throat soothers and tissues thanks to my prepping. Going to spoil myself all day and I am going to go for a walk in the fresh air and sunshine as that will do me more good than being cooped up in the house.

I will try to avoid walking past the wine makers as I got stung 3 times yesterday. The wasps sip the fermenting juice and get drunk and nasty! A bit like some Brits who live in our village who were fighting in the bar up the road at 3am...gggrrrrr.....one of them even proudly shouted that he hits women and is proud of it.....what the hell are they thinking? The Greeks hate that kind of thing (drinking/fighting/violence) so I think someone will be having a few words with them today when they are sober. Quite right too..

Defrosted some lovely strawberries to have with my brekkie Greek yogurt then forgot to use them and chopped up nectarines and apple LOL. Had some leftover mash so stuck it in the processor with some parsley and smoked salmon, might make a fish pie with it later, or fish cakes if I can't be bothered to make the pie LOL

Cooking some chicken portions later, I took four out so we have two for now and two for the freezer or cold cuts with salad tomorrow. We use calor gas for the cooker and a 48kg bottle only costs me 20 euros so that is good...it lasts me for months.

I have just put the radio on and I am listening to Terry Wogan, his voice is quite soothing really. The television is driving me crazy, its full of depressing things or absolute rubbish... I would rather read or go on the computer.

Aria`s_Tail

GreyQueen wrote: »

I don't think you'll be able to home-dye this anything other than a murky light grey, TBH. Nylon is a petroleum product and is dyed as the filament is being drawn out and Spandex is a brand name for elastane (more commonly marketed by DuPont in Europe under it's brand name Lycra). You can't dye elastane either.

Thanks for this, I wasn't sure as it wasn't cotton. I'll keep it for a while (is a summer top anyway) and if i pull it out of the drawer in a few months and decide i won't wear it it can go.

On the way back from sorting out my brother last night me and OH stopped off at the HUGE mrA and did a huge shop.(only on good deals though!) Loads of storecupboard bargins like FB pies at £1 and a few YS items with a good discount. That will keep us going for a while. Problem is, we were that shattered when we got back at 19.30 OH made some tea and I just put away the fridge and freezer stuff, still have 7 bags sat in my dining room to put away somewhere in the apocalypse cuboard (My storecupboard under the stairs.:eek:

VJsmum

maryb wrote: »

Whose freezer was full in the kitchen

She had to defrost

also eat at low cost

but she refills as fast as she's ditchin'

OK, I'll get me coat

You star!!

Brilliant :T:T:T

:rotfl:

Aria`s_Tail

D&DD wrote: »

*hands in note*
I shall be absent today as I'm going to our OS meet

Have a great day and enjoy. X

mardatha

Tonsils, yesterday I paid £67 for a 47kg propane cylinder!!