make do and mend for tougher times

Bigjenny

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

Who needed some advice for her kitchen

She tried MSE

And to her glee

The Toughies said we'll all help and pitchin'.

Possession

Just forgot, I meant to say, made curry last night and literally didn't have the energy to peel potatoes, so I used a tin of them. They went down beautifully, even with DH who can be fussy (but is getting SO much better now he realises we have so little income). I now feel justified in having a garage full of them.
I keep checking if poor little April has been found. : (
And I've been following a thread on Mumsnet re. the whole Jimmy Saville scandal. Absolutely shocking, and I suspect some well-known entertainment figures today are worried.

stiltwalker

fuddle wrote: »

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.

Fuddle you can check on the housing board if you like but as far as I know your tenancy just moves on to a periodic contract (ie you only need to give 1 month notice, LL needs to give 2) so not out of date at all, it just means you are out of the AST 'fixed' period. If there is any chance of getting social housing you absolutely do NOT want another fixed AST tenancy from you LL as this will tie you in for the whole period of the AST. If you signed one say next week (10th Oct) for 6 months you would be legally tied in to paying rent until 9th April then what happens if social housing comes up with a house in January? Some LLs will release you early but you are at their mercy and you could be stuck paying rent on 2 places or not being able to take the new place. Best bet would be not to rattle LLs cage about a new tenancy and just leave it as is.

Quiet morning here chez stiltwalker - DD colouring and DS examining the wegit blocks, I ought to be revising but am playing on here instead (slapped hand!). Got a good lot of my dress done yesterday, need to adjust the back a little, I am very narrow across the shoulders and it is just slipping down a little but I'm used to making that adjustment then it's just taking the basting out of the pleats and hemming and I'm all done (bar the petticoats). Will then need to make DD's dresses (proper one and simpler spare/evening) - my mum was going to make them but she's had a fall and has broken her humerus! Poor mum - she's now having a bit of a flap about how I'm going to fit it all in and what she's going to wear for the wedding now - I've told her not to panic and that it will be fine.

Right really must go now - have a good day all.

rosieben

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

.... 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.
....

I bought one of these from ebay some time ago, white enamel, I'm really pleased with it

kidcat

Fuddle - stiltwalker is right about your tenancy the council are well used to these situations. The house before last we had a six month tenancy run out and then we went onto a rolling contract for the following ten years. In your case where you are trying to move it gives you loads of flexibility as you will only have to give your current LL one months notice.

savingqueen

Thanks to both ginnyknit and stiltwalker for info on chicken and haybox (just typed hatbox...honestly my brain just now!)

Sorry I missed stiltwalker's post too ginny - also not been at my best last few days. Not eaten a proper meal since Mon but I have lost a couple of pounds (in weight not coins )! Can't face cooking chicken/meat, onions etc just yet so boys will have to make do with pasta again for tea - is DS2 fav meal so he will be pleased at least. Look forward to trying out the haybox method later on though.

thanks again ginny
sq:)

katieowl_2

I've had a lovely peaceful OS morning

Did a bit of the perennial washing, and then settled down to mend some stuff (a sheet with a three cornered tear, OH's best waterproof jacket, and the chair cushions from the dining room - the ties keep coming off) and actually MADE the two cushion covers I've been meaning to do for ages. When I swapped sofas with my mate in the village - mine was too big and her's was too small! - I inherited a couple of bolsters, and I've just made some covers for those, they were a nice shape, and I found some suitable fabric in my stash, I've probably had it 20 years, but it goes with everything else. So made some sausage shaped tubes, with elastic drawstring ends.

Last night while putting the washing away I spotted that a pair of lilac walking socks (wool) had worn through on the toes again (mended already) and wondered if they'd make a pair of wrist warmers, as the ribby part and the leg are still in perfect nick. I had a little experiment with the sewing machine while it was out, and I cut them just past the heel, and put them onto the arm of the machine with a wide but close zig zig stitch ane went round about four times, trying to catch in all the stitches, and pulling it as I did. Result is a nice pair of lilac wristwarmers with a 'frilly' edge. Just needs a stitch or two to make the thumb.

Had leftover Jacket potatoes fried up for lunch into big fat crispy chips...nom nom. Now I'm off to town with a Freepost parcel for British Gas...my energy monitor went wrong and they will replace it, and a small shopping list.

Kate

savingqueen

GreyQueen - OK, who broke the forum?!

replies in a quiet voice "if one of us doesn't own up, do we all have to stay in at playtime Miss?"

grandma - I have also been keeping my eyes on the news about April and wish I could so something, anything to help.

Personally (and I do hope I'm not offending anyone here, please forgive me if I do) I think young children should not be playing out at 7pm especially with the nights drawing in. Also shouldn't be allowed to play far from their home. My two don't play out as too dangerous with our road and no-one for them to play out with anyway. DS1 is very sensible but can't expect him to be responsible for DS2, a 5 year old and a not always sensible 5 year old at that. They go to a school out of catchment (our choice as school is much better than the nearest) and all the kids down our road bar one family who live opposite (and also don't play out and younger kids go to our school) go the nearest school. Some of these children have parents whose parenting styles differ wildly from ours. They are allowed to play out in pouring rain in pitch black on scooters and bikes in the road. When one wouldn't come in the other day, mum shouted out "don't come in then you f***ing c***!" and slammed the door shut. Made me feel sick to the stomach hearing a child spoken, well shouted to like that.

Anyway my opinions aside - which I know won't help bring April home - hoping, hoping, hoping that she is found well and safe very soon.

MoggyF (also have MoggyT) has just been doing everything in his power to stop me typing this. Washing my hands, purring loudly, standing in front of screen and I thought how affectionate and lovely he's being. Realised however all he wanted was more cat biscuits, crafty devil :rotfl:He has just sneaked upstairs (thinks I can't hear him) to get onto our bed again. After 2 days of me being in bed lots and allowing him to sleep next to me, Master F thinks he can get away with it every day.

Dogs have owners, cats have employees! off to chase down a naughty stripey cat

desparate for a cuppa but daresn't attempt one til safely back from school run with a handy loo nearby. sorry if TMI, blasted bug!

sq:)

stiltwalker

I've got a beef stew on the stove at the moment that will go in the 'haybox' (well, wrapped up with tinfoil, towels and blankets) when we go out to DD's hydrotherapy in half an hour - should be lovely for tea when we get back and I'll just need to do some mash or maybe dumplings - yum.

Been getting Westin Gourmet emails for a while now and they just sent me a £10 off code that has finally tempted me to buy their new customer offer box as it brought it down to just over £32 including postage for 2 sirloin steaks, 2 pork loin chops, a corn fed chicken, 1kg steak mince, 10 good burgers and 24 cumberland sausages - it says it comes chilled so am crossing everything that it will come in one of those big polystyrene boxes which would be perfect for a haybox!

Our lovely plumber from the LA has been and fixed the leak in the bath - and as a bonus put a new washer thingy on the loo so it had stopped making that awful noise when you flush it and try to run the tap at the same time. Will be able to have bath night safely now - we do shifts - me in first while the children eat and watch In the Night Garden, then both kids in with me one after the other then poor OH get the dregs topped up with new hot. I'm looking forward to having a nice soak with a book while he sorts the kids tea !!! LOL

Catch you later.

savingqueen

Love the poems so far. Come on guys lets hear some more.

My attempt....clears throat and deep breath...

There was an OSer from Hitchin
who liked to come here for some bit**in'
she also loved tips,
poems and quips
and OS pleasures she felt rich in

boom boom

sq:)

ps did a preview thingy before posting and first time ever I had some letters replaced by !!!!!! probably shouldn't feel pleased with myself but afraid I do :T