make do and mend for tougher times

Pooky

Byatt - we had ours swept last weekend, he said he was really busy this year as so many people have opened fireplaces up due to energy price hikes. Nice to hear his business is on the up and that people realise the importance of getting them swept. Ours cost £30, not a smudge of soot or dusty mark was left, he does a fab job.

The kittens are all snuggled up together in one bed infront of the fire - think they're hinting it needs lighting!

2tonsils

I have been ages catching up with all your posts and listening to your worries, triumphs and daily lives. Well done to everyone for carrying on and making do with what you have and what life has thrown your wayXXXX

Had a busy day as the doctor phoned and said he wanted my OH to take another ten days of antibiotics since he still has the infection from the virus. So,a mad rush to get into Corfu town to pick up the prescription. Meanwhile my friendly neighbourhood chemist gave me the antibiotics until I picked up the prescription to save me going back in a rush, and a pack of thyroxine he says he owed to me. I had no idea..

Had to park the car on the sea front and walk to the doctors but it was a beautiful day and I think the fresh air did us both the world of good. By the look of the sea (it was like a mill pond) we are in for more days of really good weather , probably till the end of the month.

While we were in Corfu in the car we decided to save petrol and do the food shopping for the week. Got lots of special offers and the shops were quiet so it was a win win situation for us. Filled the freezer and the cupboards up with essentials. We have cut down on treats a lot and I find we are going more for basics .I have always cooked from scratch. Processed food is too expensive here as its imported...and I have to be very careful as I am celiac. So we were both pleased with how far I managed to stretch the housekeeping money today. I also got a new leather purse in town as my fabric one keeps coming open and all the coins get lost in the bottom of my bag. I think my OH finds it very frustrating watching me fishing in the bottom of my handbag to find coppers LOL...so I bought the new one with his blessing of a contribution towards the four euros it cost. It will pay for itself the first week of use....

Still have no fire wood as its too hot to cut it , it was 28 in the shade this afternoon and very hot in the sunshine. My OH quickly regretted putting a top with sleeves on to go to town with me. We had to cross over to walk in the shade as we were both sweltered.

Just had some steak, veg and fried onions for dinner. I bought two big T bone steaks for 10 euros last week and cut them in half . It was plenty for a meal having half of one. Tonight I cut out the bone and made a soup with it with leeks, stock cubes, celery, five spice powder, rice noodles and a dash of sesame oil and its gorgeous. We finished off the ginger and cinnamon rice pudding, we had it cold with some cream on top and a dash of honey.

Off to watch the last performance by Elvis (not the real one, but a good copy lol) at our friends pool bar. It should be packed with people as they will be closing soon for the winter. It will be nice to sit in the fresh air and relax and enjoy ourselves. It will also be a cheap night out as I am a non drinker and my OH can't drink while taking the antibiotics.

Chins up everyone...you are doing great!!!

SpikyHedgehog

savingqueen wrote: »

Hello fellow OSers :wave:

Wondering if you could try roughing up the surface of the heel/sole a bit, not sure what with - steel wool, sandpaper? unless you need more of a grip then I would try a new sole/heel.

Fuddle I echo other's posts on the ADs. I would wait a bit longer. Maybe shouldn't say this on MSE but will anyway - when I did feel ready to stop ADs and knew it was a reasonable length of time (did a bit of research), docs still not keen to cut down so I managed to cut my ADs up and very very gradually cut down my dose. Also to warn you, you can get side effects from stopping ADs, this was the reason I cut mine down very slowly. Glad you are feeling better! :j

Ginny glad your appointment went well yesterday, another :j

Quick home haircutting Q for you lovely peeps - I've been zapping my boys' hairs for about a year now (saves so much at barbers) but DS1 always creates at the hair that sticks to his neck and gets down his back - he does have sensitive skin. (I do use a towel etc to minimise but he has thick hair) Was thinking of buying one of those haircutting capes that catch the hair and a brush to sweep hairs off but any OS ideas I could try before buying said wotsits?

Popped into Aldis after school run for about 5 things and came away with 5 bags of shopping! Saw some things I'd forgotten to out on list and a couple of reduced bits so nothing naughty! Bin day today and as usual I am astonished and annoyed in equal measure with what perfectly good household items, toys etc get thrown out for the bin men. I rescued one of those plastic 3 drawer thingys - it's only had kid's craft bits in judging by the remaining dregs in the drawers. Will clean it up and use it to store some of my food stocks in the[STRIKE] junk[/STRIKE]spare room.

I have a mountain of chores to do so just plodding about doing what I can, most so far are half completed as got fed up doing them. So shopping half put away, sweeping half done, dishwasher half emptied. Do you think my approach will catch on?! Better go and finish all the other halves then lunch then can start on some shiny new chores...oh the joy! :rotfl:

fortified by a hot choc and lovely fresh bread and cherry jam (all shop bought I might add ) so no excuses.... big sigh.... ready steady GO!!!!!!!!!

sq:) (err just going...)

DS2 has now agreed to having his hair cut regularly at the expensive barbers because they wash his hair in the posh sink.

He would let me cut it too as I then send him into the shower, but Errant Husband doesn't like the way I cut DS2's hair so goes around moaning about it in DS2's hearing, which isn't good for DS2 (or my temper!) and neither boy like the way Errant Husband cut their hair (clippers all over fast as he can, snapping at them if they move, telling them it doesn't hurt if they complain... So I wojn't let him cut DS2's hair. And economise by getting my hair cut experience vicariously while the boys have theirs done . I must get mum to trim the spilt ends though.

shegar wrote: »

Im amazed that the council allows single people to live in a 3 bed house , when there is such a housing shortage..........

In our town that wouldnt be heard of, theres poor families out there in one bedroom with 3 children, id call that over crowding.......So why do 1 person need a big house......Plus the expense of running it.

But they are on the waiting list and theres nothing they can do, alot of families try to get private housing , and theres a lot of LL that dont want families.......

Plus surely a single person living in a 3 bed house dont use all the rooms, even if you turn the heating off in the rooms you dont use it doesnt do the house a lot of good with no heating and not being lived in.........Damp issues etc....

Then youve got the garden size, families need a decent size garden, being on your own surely you dont need it.?....Perhaps I see it differently , but no way would I be in a 3 bed social housing if I lived on my own , knowing that there are young families really could you all of my rooms..........Thats my opinion.......
My friend with 5 children live in a 2 bed house and has been on housing list 4 years,she is pulling her hair out at times with the stress.......

Nice day here today , but I do believe we are suppose to get a bit of rain nearer te time.........

Dam arthritis is playing me up badly , I will probaly end up back at the drs , cos im finding things a bit tough with my work load, thats why im on the pooter right now, and thats not normally un heard of during the day, sod the work for a while I need a rest.........

I think the country as gone mad, on the news today they say that 57% people say they will never own their own home, but these poor people are having to pay such high rents............How on earth can they save for a deposit.?.....

The thing is Shegar, unless it's a lot different in your borough council than it is in mine, I suspect there's a lot more under occupancy than you're aware of - I appreciate that the BC is a large area, and some of that is going to include some pretty rural areas (which won't be in my BC, since I do come under Ipswich BC).

I know of 1 person in a 4 bedroom housing association property that's been asked if they would move by the HA as they not only know the person is under occupying now, but have had requests from other people who I also know for the property as it is more needed by the other families than by the single person. Sorry, that was a convoluted sentence, but I was trying to avoid any determining features!

stiltwalker wrote: »

Rant alert!

Why oh why do I have to keep harassing these people! Paediatrician still has not sent out reports from last appointment - 3 months ago! - still waiting for physio, OT and SALT referrals for DS and ultrasound for both of them, wheelchair services (saw 3 weeks ago), who I waited 3 months for referral for have still not sorted out how much I can have as a voucher as they did not have anything on the list suitable for both kids. Have they no sense of urgency???? Have they not read the evidence based research stating that early intervention is hugely important???? Grrrrr

Sorry, rant over - feel better now!

No, they haven't read the report - till the children are older and then you have people say 'Oh, well really the support should have been put in place earlier to have a good effect' :mad:

DS2 is really struggling again at school this year... I phoned up the Paediatrician's office earlier and pushed again for his review appt - should have been seen in March, and all the reports from Speech Therapist, Educational Psychologist, Advisory Teacher, the Paediatrician himself, are all in... 'All' he needs right now is a Paed to read the reports & say 'ASD/not ASD'.

Well, of course that's not all he needs. But it's the step to go over before we can get to the next step...

SpikyHedgehog

Byatt wrote: »

I have had to make the decision to rehome my goldfish. I no longer can afford to keep them and continue to give them environment they deserve. So, just phoned the pet shop and asked if they could help and thankfully they said yes and they would put them up for adoption. My oldest fish is 8 yrs old and has seen me through some tough times as well as rehoming to smaller tanks, started off in a lovely big tank and now is in a smaller one. I hope she will be happy where ever she is rehomed with lots of company. She lost her pal earlier this year and has not quite recovered. (I don't know if she's really a she). They promised she would not be used as a feeder fish, as I was worried her silvery scales, a sign of ageing, would mean no one would want her.

My pooch is quite poorly these days and so vet bills are high. Anyway, will take the fish in tomorrow.

I'm sorry to hear about the fish, Byatt, but can understand why you're having to reduce pet costs and care.

shegar wrote: »

Yep lyn ive got a plasma fire cd, dam good the sounds are brilliant,:Dlike you say you dont need your tv on with crap progs, my cd as 13 different fire, the way they are laid, wood,coal, high and low flames, it was £2.99 ebay...........so comforting.....I do have a real fire and it will be lit in a couple weeks time, but I have got GCH so we are not cold.....

Byatt so sorry your fish will be leaving you, its a sad sign of the times...

Kidcat,Fuddle.......I thought that cameron said that in July 2011, a new rule as come out that when your children get to 18 yrs old and they can make you leave your council house for a small accomodation , to allow for other younger families needing the bigger houses.??. Its no longer a house for life........If I was in a social housing 3 bed house with just me , id feel very selfish "sitting it out" when families could benefit better at than me, its only right to move, plus those small little bungalows and flats are ideal for people on lower incomes...........
I spent 18 years in a 3 bed house council house with my children, but gave it up when they both left home......We bought this place when hubby and I was working 60 hours per week must be 9 year ago now..........

Got the heating on now as its a wee bit chilly, take care all of you with so many worries , keep chins up eh......:)

But how will that work if the children haven't got jobs so would claim housing benefit but won't get it as they're under 25?! Dave can't have it both ways. Well, he can if he re-opens the workhouses... Don't think many are still there though. Did a quick search and I think the last one open in Ipswich closed in 1955 - though the building's still there

http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Ipswich/
(edited link... Oop!)

Shegar, go about a third of the way down the page! Looks familiar... Bet the parking was easier in those days...

The boys and I are lucky as we've got a 3 bedroom house, and as DS1's over 16, they can have separate bedrooms. Even when DS1 turns 18 though, I don't anticipate him moving out as it will be next Autumn and he should be just starting his 2nd year at 6th form. Then he hopes to go onto uni, and I have said that would be best locally to reduce accommodation costs.

My grandparents got a 3 bed council house when mum was about 3, but is was bought for grandad by his children and now my cousin owns it.

The 'right to buy (but we're not going to use the money to build any more properties)' has a lot to answer for I think.



In other news...

I gave DS2's baritone horn a bath earlier. This was really scary for me! (Musicians will either be laughing at me as it was so easy, or cringing at the thought of giving their instrument a bath ) It's on loan from the County Music Service, so not even his if I did damage it :eek:. I got a trombone snake from the music shop yesterday, and already had valve oil and slide grease to put on after washing. I ran a bath of warm water with a bottle of white vinegar and a drop of washing up liquid, and took it apart and soaked most of it (not the valves, as the felt pads mustn't get wet) before poking about with the snake and washing with a flannel. Dried it off with a big bath towel and put it back together with valve oil on the valves and grease on the tube.

He's just had a practice and you can hear it's better so I'm well chuffed

My dad has guitars, I learnt piano and violin, so the thought of putting the instrument in soapy water in the bath was pretty scary :)

shegar

Popperwell wrote: »

As this is aimed at me...I have not said that I won't downsize but smaller properties are scarce, are no cheaper and in horrible parts of town but I do look...may be forced to go anyhow...also if I have to pay what I gain in bus fares/taxi fares to get anywhere or the service is poor I may be no better off moving and be more isolated. Lots to take into account. Just have to see how things pan out.

I do try not to be too critical or judgemental though of others as situations can change so suddenly...and you have to live in the shoes of others...

Yes the post was aimed at you because you are in a large house where a family could occupy it, but thats your decision to be there, if the council are happy for you then carry on , im just saying with the housing crisis like it is it doesnt seem quite right to me.......But thats my opinion which im entitled to make..........

When I had my boys as babies in a council house , I was 4.5 miles from nearest town , I only had a pushbike which is hardly any use with 2 young children, and no car the bus came through once a week.......

So that was when I done my weekly shop,drs,chemist for babes milk etc etc, it all had to be planned in advance, so you make sure you dont run out of essentials.........I expect loads of other posters did much the same as me, that was in the 70 s and early 80 s.......And things were dam hard then ,as they are now.........

I couldnt pick or choose which house to take because not many available house come up to take then, I felt so happy with the babes that at least we had eventually got on the social housing ladder..........

I didnt need a 3 bed house when they left home, perhaps you do and your circumstances are different to mine ........

Ive got one son with 3 children and they are in council housing, and my other son with 2 children hasnt got a hope in hell of getting a house so he rents private at a very high cost, both my DILS work as well .......And while he pays a high price he cant save to get his own home.........But at least they have a roof over their heads...............

Yes I do know what hard times are ,ive been there.......

shegar

shegar wrote: »

Yes the post was aimed at you because you are in a large house where a family could occupy it, but thats your decision to be there, if the council are happy for you then carry on , im just saying with the housing crisis like it is it doesnt seem quite right to me.......But thats my opinion which im entitled to make..........

When I had my boys as babies in a council house , I was 4.5 miles from nearest town , I only had a pushbike which is hardly any use with 2 young children, and no car the bus came through once a week.......

So that was when I done my weekly shop,drs,chemist for babes milk etc etc, it all had to be planned in advance, so you make sure you dont run out of essentials.........I expect loads of other posters did much the same as me, that was in the 70 s and early 80 s.......And things were dam hard then ,as they are now.........

I couldnt pick or choose which house to take because not many available house come up to take then, I felt so happy with the babes that at least we had eventually got on the social housing ladder..........

I didnt need a 3 bed house when they left home, perhaps you do and your circumstances are different to mine ........

Ive got one son with 3 children and they are in council housing, and my other son with 2 children hasnt got a hope in hell of getting a house so he rents private at a very high cost, both my DILS work as well .......And while he pays a high price he cant save to get his own home.........But at least they have a roof over their heads...............

Yes I do know what hard times are ,ive been there.......

SHH. I cant get that link to work..........

VJsmum

well, you win some - you lose some.

Delia's chicken vinegar slop was.....

MINGING!!! :eek:

Actually the slop was alright but the chicken tasted wierd. It was chicken thighs which I am less keen on, I think the soaking in vinegar and then freezing didn't do it any good. Neither OH or I ate it. I shan't cook it again. On the bright side - 4 more tubs are out of the freezer.

I might splash out on somehting nice tomorrow to make up for it.

The housing thing is tricky - mum and dad bought their council house, a decision mum in particular found difficult as she didn't really agree with selling them off. Mum was disabled for many years and social services had made a lot of alterations to the house - put in a lift and installed a "wet" disabled access shower room. THese were done after mum and dad bought the house but, clearly, would have still been done if council owned. For many years it was just mum and dad there so they would have been under occupying but mum couldn't have lived anywhere else without the alterations. Also mum and dad had separate bedrooms for the last few years she was alive - due to her disabilities, so may have been penalised for 2 when in fact it was one IYSWIM. I don't know - I am sure there are better ways for councils / government to raise money than to attack the lowest incomes.

Have to go and fetch DS from soccer practice in a mo - but I might clean and tidy the lounge first. The archers is on in a minute!:cool:

monnagran

Don't have a lot of time tonight so will be brief. OK I can hear the sighs of relief from here.

Fuddle: Be proud of yourself. Be very, very proud. You have climbed a mountain and still retained a sense of humour. Not sure I could do that so I take my hat off to you. You are the sort of person I would like know. x

Re: the distribution of social housing. I know some of you are terrified of losing your familiar house. I have known lots of old people who have had to be torn kicking and screaming out of their big inconvenient houses and moved into bungalows or small houses. My dear Dad was one of them. But I have never met one who regretted the move. The only person I ever met who was sad about losing their home was my Grandmother who had a little bungalow and who we had to live with us in our quite big house when it was no longer safe for her to be left alone. She had her own bedroom and living room and ate with us - no problem there, she hated cooking, but she always hankered after her little bungalow.
So take courage those of you who dread moving into a smaller home, it might be the best thing you have done.

shegar

Tonight at 7.30 ITV The Property Trap programme , Im not sure whats it about apart from people who cant afford a home I expect.......!!!!!! at 8 BBC2.

Dippypud

shegar wrote: »

Tonight at 7.30 ITV The Property Trap programme , Im not sure whats it about apart from people who cant afford a home I expect.......!!!!!! at 8 BBC2.

Well you can't be bothered to go and look so ...

http://england.shelter.org.uk/news/october_2012/itv_exposes_britains_property_trap

there you are ...fell better :cool: