Preparedness for when

maryb

Thanks everyone for all your good wishes. Does it sound very odd to say I am looking forward to getting the other eye done? The difference between the two is disconcerting - partly because I now have one very short sighted eye and one with very good vision. They did the right eye first to help me cope with this in between period because I am right eye dominant even though the cataract in the left eye is worse.

I have seen to a number of health things in the last year or so, largely because I expect it to become more difficult to get treatment if you can't pay to go private so I resisted the temptation to put it off. And the costs of going private will soar. Dentistry is already effectively private where we are. I gritted my teeth (sorry, just had to say that) and paid the extortionate price to have a crown replaced because I am determined to keep my teeth in as good nick as possible. You hear so many stories of people in the not so good old days being constantly tormented with toothache and I rather fear that may make a return.

On the other hand, I do believe that the NHS will continue to be there for us for the major things. I know that GreyQueen relies on life saving meds. If things deteriorated to the point where they couldn't provide that we would have really entered apocalyptic territory.

But I do wonder if there will be more rationing and maybe a sort of lifestyle penalty. Eg they won't make heroic efforts to save smokers/obese/people who drink more than 14 units a week (ie nearly all doctors). And having to pay much more for medicines and those medicines being in short supply like the scenes 2Tonsils describes - I could see that happening.

I know what I need to do to maximise my chances of staying healthy - lose 20lb and get more exercise. It's doing it that I need to work on

Rosetta92

westcoastscot wrote: »

Am very interested in the scottish-specific veg growing book mentioned somewhere earlier - i've been looking at it on amazon, but cannot decide if it's worth the money? going to have to make a better fist of veg growing this year.

WCS

When I bought it my thinking was that it would prevent me making expensive mistakes. I'm starting growing my own from scratch. Buying one unsuitable fruit tree that died would cost more than the book.

Did a quick search of your local council website. Libraries in Campbeltown, Lochgilphead and Dunoon all have copies. All out on loan so you'll need to reserve, but would let you try before you buy.

R

Shropshirelass

Hello everyone DH's hospital stay over now, all seemed to go well, now we have to 're-train' his bladder:eek:

Well done Mary B hope all goes well for you.

Re; subject of planting seeds early, I think it is not only the strength of sunshine, but also the length of daytime hours that seem to count. I'm not at all expert, but have tried planting seeds early and keeping them on a sunny window ledge, but never had much luck so early in the year. I do think planting by the moon seems to work - plant seeds when moon is waxing, not waning.

http://www.the-gardeners-calendar.co.uk/moon_planting.asp

Am really trying to get organised with veg growing this year, have had so many flops I think I know what to avoid. Think I might try cherry tomatoes in hanging baskets, as they should ripen up against the brick wall. Mind you, I did manage to get rid of a lot of green toms last summer.

Scary stuff about sm stock, I had noticed choice restricted regarding ys and basic stuff, only expensive brands available.

RJ Just looked at Plants for Future - really interesting.

southantrim3

2tonsils wrote: »

None of the money from the loans is going to things like the health service or people. It is all going straight back to the banks to pay the interest installments on the loans. The only reason the country has not crashed is that they are using all the money people had saved and the extra taxes we are all having inflicted on us every month whether we have the money to pay or not. :mad:

Maybe we (the general population) need to start doing a major run on the banks to force them into default. Also, our money might be worth more under the mattress (my reference to old style for purposes of the board lol) these days, especially if the governer of the bank of England is thinking of negative interest rates. At least if they were in default we could then take the lead from Iceland (who granted had a couple of years of difficulty following bankruptcy but since seem to be recovering nicely.) Most European governments would dismiss that idea though me thinks.

Sorry for the rant

mardatha

I keep mine in the house, maybe not under the mattress though, I don't trust banks not to fail and govts not to grab.
I think I'll just buy that book re gardening in Scotland rosetta - the amount of money that I've wasted because all gardening books are geared up for the south of England would have got me a landscape gardener!
TY re the sorrel - I don't eat fish and am not fond of lemon, I might just give the seeds away.

Butterfly_Brain

maryb I am glad that you are recovering well from the op x

Shropshire Lass glad DH is home and gets well soon x

southantrim I am of the same opinion and I so hope that the Lib/Lab/Con artists get a good kicking by the people of Eastbourne today.

This might help those of you trying to grow things in Scotland, it is based in Orkney.
It has plenty of useful articles for all of us, so well worth taking a look, it has an article of going without power for 48 hours, might be an interesting challenge, but I won't turn my freezer off at the moment because it is filled to the brim with meat

http://www.touchwoodproject.com/category/pilot-projects/

Butterfly_Brain

This is a brilliant blog as well
http://patverettosfrugalliving.blogspot.co.uk/

mardatha

I love reading blogs, ty ty!

westcoastscot

mardatha wrote: »

We fixed up a contraption of polystyrene and a cut-up milk carton WCS, and taped that over the hose. That was the bit that was freezing, even though Propane isn't supposed to freeze.
Glorious sunshine here for days now, makes me wish I had seeds in the windowsill. But the earth is still frozen solid. Round the back where the sun doesnt reach its still pure white and frozen.I wish I could access books on how we grew here in the old days, and what we ate.

Good bodge Mar, we found ours was freezing too even though it's not supposed to.
Was on a different thread the other day and reminded myself about Cobbetts Cottage Economy - have you ever looked at that? Cannot remember when exactly but its from the days when beans were the staple diet - I found it really useful when getting the croft up and running, and am going to get my copy out and have a look. Geoff Hamilton was a big fan, if I recall (he was my fav gardener)
Its really sunny here but the ground is solid, and dropping into the minus's overnight - i'm not sure whether to sow on windowsills or not? it was easier on the croft - large numbers of seeds and enough space to risk it and plant again later if needed - here I have a tiny garden and not so much energy, so accuracy matters more don't want the work twice!

Editing to add:
Thanks for that Rosetta, hadn't had a chance to search the library catalogue but have reserved it.
Off to have a read at those blogs mentioned - i'm determined to have a garden full of produce this year!

2tonsils

Sorrel is also used as a medicinal herb...this is interesting reading about it..
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-718-SORREL.aspx?activeIngredientId=718&activeIngredientName=SORREL

I decided to have a day off the bureaucratic offices today and my OH took me into town when he went for his haircut (can't drive yet with my shoulder and arm still iffy). I made the most of the trip out, went for a walk and accidentally on purpose ended up in my favourite discount clothes store. Yes, they had a sale on and yes, some of it was Italian clothes. I got a nice cotton long sleeved checked shirt to wear as a cover up in the summer and a nice leaf green silk cardi/jacket to wear fro the same purpose. He gave me a lovely feather brooch/hair clip that I had been admiring and refused to let me pay for it. It reminds me of the pheasant feathers my late dad used to wear in his gamekeeper's hat, so I will wear it and think of him.

My arm is still getting better bit by bit, although the muscles in my upper arm are sorer than the shoulder joint now. Looking forward to getting back to the gym, probably another week or so away yet.

Just had some really nice beef mince from my local butcher. Delicious and not a scrap of sinew or anything else in it, so will be getting more at 5 euros a kilo. Nice to keep in the freezer. We also had mash made from some potatoes I blanched and put in the freezer last week. I had cut them into chips so they were cooked in just a few minutes so I saved on the gas as well. Good idea for the future.

I was asked to submit my cv to a local travel agent earlier today, it seems they are looking for staff locally so I have sent it in. Two part time jobs are better than none....