make do and mend for tougher times

kezlou

Fuddle: i know what you mean about LL's we've lived with broken down walls, damp and compensation for 8 years. Ours only got sorted out because the downstairs pipe in the bathroom burst which left us with no means of washing ourselves.

Even then we've fought since July to get the LL to fix it. In the end i said look if you don't get it fixed were moving out tomorrow and your not getting rent. Were the same as you Fuddle, no new contract, just rolling. We originally signed a contract beck in 2004 for 6 months and since then we have never had a new / updated contract. The LL also knew they would never get new tenants in with the house the way it was.
Same thing happened to me before Mar .

Bluebag: thats what we do when it gets to cold either 16/ 18 degrees its works kind of. Its just the expense of the heating.

But it is scary going against them, because you know you don't have a place to live and they do.

Well the bathrooms almost finished just bits and bobs to do now. Now I'm faced with cleaning up dust and all sorts .
OH is in Leeds on a job for the next few days.When he comes back he's going to finish the tiling upstairs and downstairs.

To combat the condensation in the front room, the builder placed lats under the bay window , placed this foam type board on top the lats and then plastered over it. Its supposed to stop the cold air from hitting the single lined brick which creates the condensation.

We have it all over the house and regularly have pools of water on the window sills. We got a dehumidifier and they really do help. Were taking our one with us when we move.

SDG classic :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: my boys say they lucky we've got cats. Whenever they get asked why oh its because they got dumped on us and mam's cheap for anything else .

emalou88

Morning all, hope everyone's ok.

I'm not so good at the minute. I'm feeling poorly - back ache, stomach ache and chest pains.
I've had a lot of time off work this year so came in as I'd feel guilty calling in sick.

Now onto the real problem. I absolutely hate my job for so many reasons. I work literally by myself 5 days a week and once in a blue moon (and I mean that very very occasionally) I get the area manager come round to help out for the day.

So the reasons I hate my job are -

Working alone everyday - when DH is on shift I can sometimes go a whole day to a week without having a proper conversation with anyone.

Rude obnoxious customers - who think one because I'm female and two because I'm young can talk to me like I'm something they've trod in.

My Boss has now decided to employ mystery shoppers in all of our shops yet he can't employ anyone to come and help for a day or two.

I have no fire escape out the back just the front door.

Another member of staffs Dad killed himself earlier in the year and the area manager spent 2 months sitting and helping her everyday. Yet my Dad gets killed and all I get it a phonecall.

I hate it in Winter when it's Dark and I'm the only one here as all the other units close early/don't work weekends.

Basically it's not safe.

I've been touched by a strange bloke before and there's nothing I can do, the boss doesn't care and there's no proof as there is not cctv or anything.

This job is what's making me ill.

So basically I've had more than I can take (been here 4 years) I've pretty much lost the plot. I've had multiple mini 'breakdowns' and I'm having panic attacks. As I've said before the Doctor has advised me to quit before.
I'm thinking of handing my notice in and getting a Christmas temp job and taking it from there.

DH earns enough to cover all the major things - rent, bills, car, petrol and food.
However the other issue is house/flat.
I got my flat together with my Dad in joint names, so because my Dad has passed away my Mum has got the flat and her house paid off. So basically I will only pay the bills from now on.
Now DH deperately wants to move into this house mainly because we want a garden and to have seperate rooms e.g seperate kitchen and living room etc.
So do we stay in the flat and just pay bills which frees us up financially for me to either study or take my time over getting a job. Or do we move into this house and struggle more.
I know I would stay in the flat but DH really doesn't want too.

I'm so confused and worried over it.

Just for the record I'm 'lucky' to be in a position of being rent/mortgage free but I would rather have my Dad back a million times over.

Sorry for the massive post I need to get it off my chest and possibly have some advice from people who aren't 'involved' if you know what I mean (I don't mean that in a rude way)

Thanks all

[Deleted User]

lol, well I am liking the change in seasons. Am sitting here in between inside jobs, smelling chocolate beetroot cake cooking in the oven. Rain outside but I don`t care, I am BACK to knitting and loving it. Had a practice this weekend with my thin dpns, using some free bergerac wool thin as a cobweb and have made lovely lacey fingerless mitts with a space for my thumb. I needed the practice but am ready and raring to go on with SOCKS galore. Only thing is I got committed to using a bit of my stash so sleeveless body warmer type top is on its way and I am hoping that I have enough yarn. I am loving it, loving listening to the radio, drinking tea and not wanting to eat biscuits because I am busy

Yesterday I made delias red cabbage casserole from the christmas book and will freeze portions so whatever shtf :eek: for christmas, I will have red cabbage in plus dehdrated spuds that I can fry to golden. Food emphasis has changed in this house because of spud problems and we are eating rice not spuds. Takes some getting used to but tbh I feel thinner not eating spuds every day

Went to dd`s this weekend and took several useful things for her, including my slow cooker. Lovely to see their reaction

Now to go offline but will be reading all the pages I have missed

ginnyknit

Emmalou, the job sounds like hell, and dangerous with no alternative escape route. As for moving why dont you suggest to your Oh that you wait 6 months before making a major decision ( you are still grieving ) and save like mad so you move with a good cushion of cash behind you. -hope you dont mind me suggesting that but it could give you breathing space.

[Deleted User]

Morning KITTIE - I have my lovely dehydrator running and 3 trays of chopped onions drying, the crop was not keeping well and better to have the dried product in and know I've got them. Have also peeled and pureed half a crate of apples from the front tree this morning and they will go into the freezer in portions when they are cool. I shall do the other half this afternoon. It's such a mizzly day here it's nice to have indoor jobs and stay in the dry isn't it. Yesterdays cherry tomatoes came out semi dried just as I wanted them and I hope they'll keep in oil in jars in the fridge for a while. I'm loving the excalibur!!!

Can I draw on your experience if I need to, I'm very much the novice here, when the book says greens lightly scattered on the drying trays, how lightly does it mean. and do greens dry crisp and crumbly or will they be finished when they're leathery?

Your mittens sound very delicate and pretty as does the cobwebby wool. I'm not a knitter but DD2 is and makes lovely things.

What a good idea to put ready done red cabbage casserole in the freezer, DH bought one back from the lottie a couple of days ago and I'm going to do just that, clever idea! Have a good productive day, Cheers Lyn x.

danetastic

I would also recommend taking time to make such a decision Emmalou . If you used the time to get some money behind you it will make things easier if you do decide to move. I would also let your boss know that you don't feel safe where you are working ( do they k ow of the incident with the stranger?) and that if you have to continue with the same situation then you may have to consider options. Only do it if your sure that if it continues then you are in position where you can leave . You never know they may change things for you. Can't you suggest that hours coincide with the neighbours for instance. Is there any way that you could do some of your work at home ( sorry I don't know what your job is so not sure if it is an option. )

danetastic

For slow cooker chicken do I need to add water to the pot?

valk_scot

Just finished assembling a pile of clothes and toiletries for DS to check over and pack...he's off on a school trip to New York tomorrow night. Ten days in New York City and Washington, eek. I'm utterly jealous, I've been to a lot of places but never the US and going with a bunch of mates sounds far better fun for a teenager than trailing around with mum and dad and little sister, lol. He deserves it though, he worked for and saved up all his spending money and also managed to contribute a fair bit to the cost. Plus he's a good lad, he always helps around the house when needed (and even unasked sometimes!) and though he's a normal teenage boy when it comes to sports and mucking around with his mates and spending too much time on the PC he also works hard, got good exam results and has never given us a moment's worry re drink or other trouble. Model citizen, lol! He deserves his holiday. I just wish I was 16 again and going on a school trip to the USA!

Ah well, better go and clean the litter tray out. Or hoover or something exciting like that.....

[Deleted User]

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

I'm loving the excalibur!!!

Can I draw on your experience if I need to, I'm very much the novice here, when the book says greens lightly scattered on the drying trays, how lightly does it mean. and do greens dry crisp and crumbly or will they be finished when they're leathery?
.

lol, didn`t stay offline for long!! Had to come back on re questions

re greens ie leaves of any sort. I dry to crisp and spread thicker( ie overlapping and often squashed down,) than I used to when I started dehydrating. Celery leaves work best when blanched but I had good results with unblanched kale. beetroot leaves etc Green beans take a lot longer and I am very wary of drying the outside of french beans (also peppers) too fast as the moisture inside gets sealed in. I stick to the recommended temperatures, except for the first hour for most things, when I add 10 degrees.

Try pineapples when you get a chance, they are super lovely and mushrooms work incredibly well too

Onions work great and I used soaked dried onions in my red cabbage casserole. we ate some today and it was gorgeous. Am also thinking that it might be worthwhile dehydrating red cabbage if I need to

I plopped some small red tomatoes in boxes in the freezer this year and they have been amazing just tipped frozen into a dish full of veggies for roasting. I wasn`t going to grow the little ones next year but have completely changed my mind

Must go, dh is calling
oh re green beans. I often dry at 125 most of the day and turn down to 100 at night, this ensures they are all properly dry and they do get firm enough to bounce

fuddle

Just a little bit of water in the slow cooker, when cooking a chicken.