'supporting each other through really tough times'

nuttyp

hello toughies, had lots to read up on. Our eldest DD didnt ever seam to grasp the difference netween b and d. We ended up get a tutor for once a week, and she did 1 to 1. She improved lots over a few weeks, and we continued it until she was ready to go to secondary school. It was quite expensive, but back then we had alitttle more money.

Youngest DD was bullied at secondary,, hence why she learned tae kwon do, definatley not one to be messed with now. Her boyfriend is a black belt, so they are equally matched. The school was no help when she was bullied, it wasnt until she retaliated that they decided to do something. Im afraid i didnt help, as i said what goes around comes around!!

Popperwell, poundstrecher has some nice curtains in by colour roll. We needed a door curtain, so i made one from some shorter curtains. I attached the 2 curtain together at the bottom and overlayed the top with a peice of ribbon to hide the join. It looks ok, and does the job.

Today we have done our first propper grocery shop for over 2 weeks. Oh was walking the trolley, and lets just say he spent lots. Lots of things not on the shopping list. So extra money spent.

Have made coffee kisses today, and they are quite nice too , even if i do say so myself!!

Off to start cooking dinner, or should that be tea.....

Mrs_Veg_Plot

Pops my front curtains fall over the radiator so when I draw them I fold the excess up onto the windowsill so that no heat is wasted to the outside or soaked up into a mass of curtain material sitting on the top of the radiator. I don't bother about how it looks to the neighbors as I would rather have a warm living room.

Popperwell

I couldn't stay indoors and nipped out for twenty minutes...managed to get a meatloaf(special in Aldi's)will get a few meals/sandwiches out of it. Can't believe I am eating Beef after avoid it for so long.

Can be cooked from frozen or after being defrosted(so to save energy I am waiting for it to defrost)no room in the freezer anyhow. Got a head of cabbage for 39p too, used to remove the stalk but think I'll use them too and if I whizz it up in the chopper they won't be so hard...

The veg in the super six? Well, there are red onions, carrots, lemons and cabbage. I've forgotten the other two:o

The portion of ham I took out of the freezer seems to be defrosting ok for tonights meal...either served sliced on a plate with the veg neatly seperated with a small amount of gravy.

Unless I decide to dice the ham and veg and put it all into the slow cooker.

Having ventured out I can say that the paths are virtually clear of ice.:)

fuddle

I haven't managed to find my Aldi yet. I know there's one here I just have to find where. How are the prices doing in Aldi? I mean, have they upped their prices at all? I haven't been in there since the summer really and at the time I thought Aldi were a little on par with the SM. If they are still stagnant then it will be a money saver for me definitely. Are they still as they were say 3/4 months ago?

Popperwell

Thank you so much Craigywv, Mrs Veg Plot and NuttyP for the suggestions and advice...and those who answered me earlier. It really does help.

Whether I manage to sort it out now or soon...I'm sure that someone explained why radiators are under window sills but it seems silly to me.

We used to have a radiator on the landing which heated most of the upstairs and when they upgraded the system they put it in the bathroom(barely room for a sink or the bath and so now you can't open the door fully and the heat just warms a room that you are in and out of as quick as possible after a bath. Another stupid idea.

I bought one item on e-bay but now am all confused about what my account details are there and at paypal too.:(:mad:

Not heard of Gumtree but worth a look. There is a Poundstretcher on my town and a Boyes(who do material and fabrics)

Popperwell

fuddle wrote: »

I haven't managed to find my Aldi yet. I know there's one here I just have to find where. How are the prices doing in Aldi? I mean, have they upped their prices at all? I haven't been in there since the summer really and at the time I thought Aldi were a little on par with the SM. If they are still stagnant then it will be a money saver for me definitely. Are they still as they were say 3/4 months ago?

I think so but often what I need I cannot get or it is about the same price as Tesco's or Heron's on the town...but I do go in often and good to have them here but of course buying for one and watching the budget I will never have a full trolley it will always be a few items and basics...

I don't know where you are but they have a store locater on their website which may help...there are twenty in the Teeside area.

VJsmum

Those with "too long" curtains - they are fairly easily shortened you know. With a sewing machine it's a doddle but even without it is easy - just takes longer.

The best thing is to remove header tape and shorten from the top - then the "mess" is hidden when you replace the header tape. A handsewn backstitch would do the trick - but would take a while.

greenbee

Radiators are in front of the windows Pops so that they create an insulating layer of warm air between the window and the room. Although we cause them radiators, they are actually convection heaters. They draw in cold air from the bottom and hot air comes out of the top. So if your curtains are too long, make sure you fold them onto the windowsill rather than blocking the air circulation.

If your existing curtains need replacing, it is worth taking your time and getting as close as possible to the right size. Try asking in the charity shops as they may not put them out on display, or can keep an eye out for you if they normally send them to another branch.

In the meantime, if you have curtain poles you could clip some fleece blankets behind them using shower curtain hooks.

For now, spend the money on heating. Eat from your stores to save money now for fuel, then buy new stuff and restock in the summer when your energy bills will be lower.

Keeping moving helps with keeping warm too. I'm always much warmer doing the housework than I am sitting down and relaxing :-(

fuddle

is that why shops have a heater blowing hot air in front of the door as you walk in?

I'm scared to shorten my living room and bedroom curtains in case we have to move again and risk having to replace them if they end up being too short for the property. My bedroom curtains are now 8 year old. The cheap ones I got for the bay window in the old house were useless. Never again.

Re: the puddle of material on the floor. What's good enough for the stately home is good enough for mine :rotfl:

Byatt

Talking about heating, I put the storage heater on in the bedroom a few days ago because of the cold spell and with temps of 9c in there, I couldn't stand it any longer plus Polo needed to be warm . I don't like it too hot and it certainly isn't that, but the difference is amazing in the whole of the cottage. Having the bedroom door open meant a huge draft into the living room which brought that temp down, but now for 2 days I haven't needed heating on in the living room. Admittedly it's milder than it was, but I'm very surprised that heating upstairs is benefitting the downstairs. :cool:

It's taken me [STRIKE]2 years[/STRIKE], who am I kidding, it's almost 3 years, how did that happen?! to come to grips with the heating/airing of this cottage, it's so different from a modern house (anything less than 100 years old!:p)

I have a lovely pair of velvet curtains I use at the front door, almost full length, got them for £8 at a CS. All other curtains I've got from the CS or fleabay. I have French vintage curtains in the living room, very cheaply from fleabay which I adore, not lined but intend to put fleeces behind them, just haven't got around to it.

Bedroom is dual aspect, one window has a fleece for a curtain, for a long time it was a scarf! :rotfl:

My one curtain puddles on the floor in the living room , my cousin used to do that as a design and they always looked amazing. The pair of curtains in the living room therefore, one puddles and one is slightly too short, but I'm fine with it.