make do and mend for tougher times

Byatt

I don't watch the news either, after ex went I couldn't cope with any bad news as I would just sit and sob, so have got into the habit of not wanting to know everything. I must say I think in that respect it's a lot harder to know so much about the world and have difficult images coming directly into our homes, than it was before tv when you hardly knew what was happening in the next village. I think we take on so much responsibility for the world's ills and it's too much for anyone's shoulders.

Smiley, I'm much older than you, but had a happy half hour pottering about sorting out my fairy lights around the inglenook, putting rings on my curtains and hanging them properly and lighting a candle or two.

Doing ok without the tv, found out I need background "noise" though, so have iplayer or the radio on.

Watching live tv on lap top at the mo' as Strictly is on, but I still have my licence so that's ok.

Popperwell

fuddle wrote: »

I no longer watch the news. I look at the headlines and read the facts of what interests/disturbs me. I'm tired of watching 'news' that is about some retired professionals' opinion or the sensationalisation of some devastating news.

You don't get straight news these days mostly of it is someone's view/opinion and as you say a professional and when someone is brought in to answer questions they twist or avoid giving a decent truthful answer.

kidcat wrote: »

Fuddle I also have stopped watching the news, I will read headlines on an app on my phone and then just read the bits I want to.

A popular radio DJ of years ago said that he longer reads newpapers or watches/listens to the news and is much happier. I have to know some of what is going but I am much better knowing less.

Byatt wrote: »

I don't watch the news either, after ex went I couldn't cope with any bad news as I would just sit and sob, so have got into the habit of not wanting to know everything. I must say I think in that respect it's a lot harder to know so much about the world and have difficult images coming directly into our homes, than it was before tv when you hardly knew what was happening in the next village. I think we take on so much responsibility for the world's ills and it's too much for anyone's shoulders.

Doing ok without the tv, found out I need background "noise" though, so have iplayer or the radio on.

Watching live tv on lap top at the mo' as Strictly is on, but I still have my licence so that's ok.

I agree with your post and in particular the coloured parts...

Thank you 2Tonsils especially regarding the information about the radiator...I have an electric blanket so may use it if it really gets cold...but we'll see if extra fleeces work or a hot water bottle...

Popperwell

Tinned toms at Tesco's 15p. 500g of soup broth 59p.

Fuddle, the 31p cornflakes were on sale in my Tesco's today.

10 Chedder cheese slices Everyday Value £1.47 The supposedly better version 10 for £1.99 or two for £3 but I found a brand with 20 slices for...£1.99. Cheese seems in gernerally to have gone up in price from what I could see today...

But still so many around here are so ready for Aldi's to open...

[Deleted User]

Hi FUDDLE yes we did see a big clump of Parasol Type Mushrooms but I hadn't got the guide book with me as I wasn't on the same walk they took this morning. I won't take the chance and pick them as there are 3 different types of parasol they could be, 1 perfectly edible and the other two edible but if you are sensitive to them they can give you a gastric upset. I'll stick to those from the shop, I'm not sure enough to think of trying the wild ones. I think you absolutely have to KNOW they are OK or it could all go horribly pear shaped!!!

I don't use lock and locks for storing baked goods, I have a few big tins, free with nice biscuits at christmas over the years and find they work perfectly, they have tight fitting lids and do the job. If you have any of those, (mine are the metal ones, not plastic) they will be fine.

Glad the cookies were nice, despite smelling unfamiliar, most things from that book taste super. Try the Rhubarb Crumble recipe (it works with any fruit not just rhubarb) it uses golden syrup on the fruit not sugar and the crumble topping works a treat, it has become the only crumble recipe I use now. Very OS too, very economical!! Cheers Lyn xxx.

kidcat

Fuddle - like MrsLW I use metal biscuit tins or sweet tins. I have a good stack of them in cupboard.
My OH buys tins of sweets for the staff at Christmas and I "encourage" him to bring the empties home, last year I went a step further and decanted them into plastic bags and kept the tins (was desperate for more tins, having baked for two school fayres and home baked too)

Pops - Cheese has really increased this year, I buy a bag of grated cheddar from Ald! which used to be £1.78 for 500g its now £1.99 for 460g. I used to buy Mr A smart price for £1.99 for 500g (when I couldnt get to Ald!) but now they only sell it in 800g bags for £4.87

Popperwell

Kidcat, We'll be rationing cheese as we do with meat soon...

I love all the Christmas stuff but I won't buy any now as there is just myself and mostly you pay for the cosmetic look of it which is nice if you are giving it as a gift to someone special and usually you get less for your money but if there is something nice in Aldi's that is reasonaby priced I may find something there...

But I have no one to give anything to or expect anything from and I am not saying that to feel sorry for myself, there must many in similar situations...

shegar

catznine wrote: »

I do feel for the people of Greece as it all seems to have happened so quickly! At least here we have a bit more time to prepare and hopefully it will not get so bad. The back taxes without warning can't be legal can it? I guess governments can make things law if it suits them! At least here it has to go before the house of lords to make it law doesn't it?

My hubbies carer as a son who is half greek and half english, he has been in greece with his father for all his life he is 22 yrs old.........

He phoned his mum 2 weeks ago and said he is coming back to uk cos greece is really really bad , he cant find any work, he is now totally broke , his last job was in a hospital in Athens and he said it was so short of vital medical supplies, and also the riots in Athens, so she got him a flight ticket home , he came home on Thursday , much to his mums relief..........Good job he didnt give up his English citizenship...............

Ive got nothing to do with Greece but I still find myself hoping it wont get any worse for them, and I hope no one is suffering to badly.........

Well we had our flu jabs today, plus rapid response got here a few mins after we got back.........

I lit the fire an hour ago , so im now going to chillax in front of it, ive been so busy today , and the day as just gone...Just need a bit of coal and couple of logs and that will do me nicely til about 9 ish.......Only need to keep one room warm at night while sitting down.......

It was spose to be a wet day , but the sun as shone all day, we just dont get much rain at all on the coast....

SHH lives approx 26 mile from me, so let me know please if you got any rain in Ipswich today....?
So at least I did line dry again which is a bonus..........Need to try and keep dryer off with the recent fuel bill prices.........

Bigjenny

Been away for a week on holiday and now have 32 pages to catch up on
:eek:

cutestkids

fuddle wrote: »

Did you see any mushroomy things on your drenching Lyn? I have to admit that while making the carrot cookies I was dubious, even taking them out the oven they didn't smell yummy but once cooled they were a hit... and they've all gone!

Thanks for the baking storage info. I will need to get some lock containers (marg tubs do? I suppose they aren't air tight?)

I no longer watch the news. I look at the headlines and read the facts of what interests/disturbs me. I'm tired of watching 'news' that is about some retired professionals' opinion or the sensationalisation of some devastating news. I haven't seen any evidence that being in Greece is unsafe, nor that we shouldn't holiday there, just that it's mighty hard for people living there.

Hi Fuddle with regards tins for storing baking I keep the tins that you get sweets in at Christmas and use these for storing baking in.
I scrounge them off my Family and neighbours as well as the school often has cake sales and we get asked for homebaking.

I send it in one of these tins as that way if it does not come home again then I have not lost a plastic container that has cost me money

Popperwell

We always did something similar with the tins that sweets, cakes and biscuits came in at Christmas too...good OS tip and recycling too...