make do and mend for tougher times

grandma247

Byatt don't feel down just think of it as repetition for emphasis. Sometimes if you skim read you miss bits but if someone else mentions something again it makes you go back and take another look.

Last year I was going to meet a home ed group on the North York moors and stopped in Helmsley for a cuppa and because I was using a googlemap printout I needed to clarify something. I walked straight across the car park to ask a couple of hairy bikers. I knew they probably knew the area like the back of their hand and I was right. They even told me that my mobile may not work once I got up onto the moors. Some students sitting nearby stared at me like I was nuts for talking to these men, they were actually very nice and kind.

Stiltwalker I took ds to Eden camp last year with a home ed group. We had a really good day out.

Half_pint_4

I don't usually post (although have been lurking for a long time now) but thought I would let those of you discussing credit for kids mobiles about Giffgaff goodybags.

They are SIM only packages which run on the O2 network (I am not associated in any way). DS has the £10 per month goodybag which gives him plenty of texts, call time etc but as I also use Giffgaff, calls and text messages to me do not come off his allowance.:j If he were to use up all of his credit he would need to top up to make calls/send messages although he would still be able to contact me. It is a win win for us both as he has credit to contact friends, he can always contact me and I get the drying up done every day as his contribution towards the cost :rotfl:

fuddle

Thank you for all the advice re: kids' mobile phones. Now I know there are schemes I can look into it to find the best for us. I suspect DD may have an emergency phone earlier than 11 as we're allowing her to go to youth club.

There's a certain 'bad parenting' attitude here where parents are looked down upon if they give their children a mobile phone young, like the negative thoughts about children having tv's in their rooms, that kind of 'oooh bad parent' but I do what I think is necessary with my children and don't give two hoots... I know I'm a half decent mam, my children are a credit to DH and I and if anyone wants to think otherwise because of an emergency mobile phone then so be it.

We'll see.

Cheapskate

I think you're right, fuddle, if it works for you then blow the others. You know it's not a status symbol, but just a bit of reassurance for you and DD. When I was a child, mum made me and my sisters learn our address and phone number by heart before we went to school, and later ensured we had a 2 pence piece for an emergency phone call from the call box (we are going back to the mid-seventies here! )

Even though we do things differently, and give our children their freedoms at different stages, we all here are responsible parents and not part of the tribe (like some in my area) who drag up their children to be little hellions with no respect, empathy or education (that last in the broadest sense, not just school).

Sorry to rant, have had a carp week!

ETA, thanks for the link re energy blackouts/soaring prices, am so glad I've just switched to a half decent energy deal last month!

A xo

mardatha

I think we all have to seriously look at cutting useage, and the worst thing you can do is stand back and keep paying the DD, that is the worst thing you can do. Look around your house and be ruthless. My daughter has 4 bedrooms each with a tv and/or Xbox, Wi, laptop, electric blanket - look at the savings she could make if she wanted to! She might think she's providing a nice cosy happy wee home for her kids - but in reality shes providing the energy companies with a nice fat profit and teaching her kids to do the same!
I was thinking how I could cut down in this house, if I seriously decided to.
I could wash mostly by hand and just use the machine once a week for sheets and towels.
I could live without a fridge as my kitchen is cool and faces north - but I need a freezer.
I can watch tv and listen to radio on the laptop, - I really need the internet.
I don't use a lot of gadgets and if I did then I'd find a manual one.
The greedy pigs are not getting any more out of me, I'm revoting!
signed: Revolting Mad Arthur

Possession

fuddle wrote: »

Thank you for all the advice re: kids' mobile phones. Now I know there are schemes I can look into it to find the best for us. I suspect DD may have an emergency phone earlier than 11 as we're allowing her to go to youth club.

There's a certain 'bad parenting' attitude here where parents are looked down upon if they give their children a mobile phone young, like the negative thoughts about children having tv's in their rooms, that kind of 'oooh bad parent' but I do what I think is necessary with my children and don't give two hoots... I know I'm a half decent mam, my children are a credit to DH and I and if anyone wants to think otherwise because of an emergency mobile phone then so be it.

We'll see.

Fuddle DS is 10 and I think about a third of children in his class have mobiles (they aren't allowed in school). DS doesn't have one because he isn't apart from us regularly and has no need. He will get one when he's 11 as he will be going on the school bus to a school about 8 miles away. If he needed one now I'd get him one - it will be a bog standard one mind you!
I just asked DD (7) if anyone in her class has one and she said definitely one boy does.
I don't much care what anyone thinks about my parenting, we all have different ideals, aims and opinions. I just do my best according to mine.

[Deleted User]

Morning Toughies, Brrrrrrrr it's chilly today and lots of rain overnight but at least it's dry at the moment. He who knows and the lurcher are off along the river for their morning perambulation and I am bus passing into town for a few needed things but not my usual swing through for bargains, am trying to do the Stoptober only spend on necessities thing.

Without wishing to be alarmist to any of you with littlies, think of making them Mobile Phone Savvy to the same extent as you make them aware of Stranger/Known Person Danger. I advise this because of an incident with someone I know whose daughter joined a local organisation in the village, along with lots of her just pre teenage friends and respectable and known people running it. One morning mum accidentally picked up the wrong phone on her way out to work and got a phone text on the way in. When she got there and checked it was a man asking her daughter what colour pants she was wearing that day. Totally shocked she checked back through the saved texts and what was on there was unbelievable and when she asked DD about it the girlie said I was too embarassed to tell you mum, but all my friends are getting them too, we think it's funny as well. Turned out to be a highly respectable adult helping run the club. The police were made aware and action taken. I know that those years are difficult for both parents and offspring and sometimes it is hard to communicate with each other but, teach them to know when to raise the alarm on things of that sort. Luckily this incident was nipped in the bud swiftly but, I shudder to think what could have followed if it hadn't been. If they are allowed their own phone the outside world has potential access to them as well as they to it. Hope this doesn't scare anyone but I felt it had to be put into the collective awareness. Cheers Lyn xxx.

jem132

Morning all had a bit of a bad day yesterday went to the optician and she found a lump at the back of my eye and one on the lens she told me she was referring me to the hospital for a mri scan and to make an appointment with my gp in 3 days I went straight. To gp can't get an appointment for 2 weeks what an earth is going on. PLUS my head is banging and iv got 58 cupcakes and quality cake to make and a party to go to at 6. My df will be so cross if we don't go already fallen out with another threw her not going to gatherings and letting her down so that's not an option. Oh well on words and upwards better start baking

[Deleted User]

JEM - will they not give you an appointment to see the practice Nurse? If she feels alarmed she will get the Doctor to you there and then at least that is how it works in our surgery. Push hard and make them listen, it's too important to leave for 2 weeks. Lyn xxx.

Pooky

Jem - worth phoning the MRI department and letting them know you can be available for a cancellation appointment if any come up. Hugs x

Chimney sweep has been this morning so the fireplace is now gleaming. I'm now set for winter.

DH got some lovely wines in France yesterday, great prices too, worked out an average of £2.15 a bottle. One of the W0lfblass sparkling wines was £9.99 a bottle in Mr As, but only £4 in France. Bargain! We will be popping over again before Chritmas as a week day return on the tunnel can be as low as £9 depending on time of year so it's a nice few hours out without too much driving for DH.