'supporting each other through really tough times'

CRANKY40

Hester Two and a half is just a baby. I hope they find something to help her.

This was just shared on my facebook. Scary stuff?

http://m.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/feb/18/food-poverty-uk-human-rights-obligations

Pooky

Morning all

It's trying to snow here but it's just sort of wafting around in the wind and doing very little.

I don't get bitten by things, my mum suffers dreadfully though and can't go out from spring onwards without several coatings of spray etc. she still gets golf ball sized bites now and then, nasty.

Fuddle - I hated book day too, waste of time. I never brought a costume it was always pick a character around what they already had. One year my youngest wanted to go as a cat, she loves cats....shall I make you a hat? You can be the cat in the hat....no? You just want to be a cat...ok....black leggings, black t-shirt and pumps and a tail made out of a pair of tights, bit of face paint and a headband with ears on....cost nothing and she was thrilled.

As for your crochet runner, I'd imagine it would end up causing your woofer issues, claws and crochet don't mix well.

Waiting for DHs meds to kick in so we can go get some groceries, his GP tweaked them last week and it's taking sme getting used to. Off to a friends tonight for a games evening, won't be too late home though as DD2 is off to London to see 1D with friends tomorrow....she's silly excited...bless her.

My Dad has measure up to do my electrics for me in the kitchen, he'll get all the new wires where they need to be and then I can get an electrician in to fit a new consumer unit and wire it all up so it's all certified. Will save £500 in labour alone according to the quotes I've had. Will be ordering the kitchen units, worksurfaces and new cooker next week, £co will be used and should bag us around £150 cash back on everything we need.

westcoastscot

cranky thanks for posting that link - I have a real fear that things are going to get much worse. I work with very vulnerable people and the choices they are having to make are a real indictment of our society in the 21st century.

Edited to add: have you seen Calum's list??? you need a strong stomach to view it - please don't anyone read who is feeling vulnerable today
http://calumslist.org/

sevenup01

Oh my. That Calums list is heartbreaking. I couldnt read it all, its just so sad.

I went out with one of my cousins last night to collect a set of bunk beds i won from ebay. They are fabulous and will be set up in my sons bedroom so little brother has a proper bed to sleep in. Dad has been given his registration details for the housing register but is unable to bid as they have assumed he can put in a claim for his former marital home - the home his ex wife and my little sister still live in! Apparently a letter into the council will sort it. We will see. But its still more time before dad and little brother can get a decent home.

We have some timy snowflakes floating aorund but few and far between and not settling. And i LOVE marmite as do all my kiddies. yum yum.

nuttyp

mornng toughies. We have a faint sprinkling of snow overnight. DD has just made bacon sandwiches as it goes out of date today and she knows i would be fuming if it wasnt used up. Bought a newspaper yesterday in sainsbobs on route to work. It was too use to alliviate the boredom while having my tea last night. After swiping mu nectar card is kindly gave me a voucher for £6 off a 30 shop. I have over £5 in the nectar card too, so that would be a very good saving for once.

The shopping will have to wait until monday tho, as we are waiting patiently for payday. The auction site has free listings on for today and tomorrow. So i may have to devote a few hours and list the large amount of items that are in the spare room. The cash would be very very handy as well!!

Fuddle, heres a question for you. Re barclays, they were listed in my BR so do you think i would be ok for an account with them? Or should i wait till the end of the year, it will be D DAY end of Oct. Just worry something will go wrong, iygwim. I will be glad when this is finally over, some days i can live with it and others i just wish time could be rewound.

Some good news re work, as we have new people now I should be just managing most of the time. So thats an extra £1.35 and hour more for pretending to know everything. One of the newbies is in her mid 30's and has a great sense of humour. We definatley need it sometimes. I was asked if i fancied a glass of wine and to watch a movie with him, only it was a hmmm naughty movies. NNNNOOOO. Shocking i know, but we do laugh at these offers. Its the only way. See a strange sense of humour is needed.

Well must get motivated, washing needs doing and no one has cleaned up since i left for work yesterday.

Take care everyone and keep snuggly and warm x

jpscloud

Fuddle, have a look for "rug grip" on Amathon or the bay.

I wouldn't use wool yarn to make a rug, but if you get some old sheets from a charity shop or have some you can tear up, rip them into half-inch or so strips and crochet with those. it makes a firm fabric perfect as rugs. You'll need a large crochet hook, size 10 or upwards - I have some bamboo ones bought from the bay very cheaply.

You join the strips together with a clever little trick - this is the clearest demo of it I can find in a hurry:

http://www.ecokaren.com/2010/01/how-to-join-fabric-yarns/

Or you could just overlay the end of the strip and crochet it in with the new strip if you know what I mean.

Fair warning... fabric crochet is really addictive and you will soon be schmoosing sheets and old clothes off everyone to feed your habit!

Edit: for inspiration:

http://www.craftstylish.com/item/91469/for-sale-hand-crocheted-cotton-fabric-oval-rag-rug-main-color-blue

Hardup_Hester

Fuddle, I'd second not buying a costume, DGS went as Augustus Gloop last year & won first prize.
DD & I between us had made the following costumes, cat, doremouse, dog, wolf, Robin Hood, Maid Marion, !!!!!! Whittington, Wee Willy Winkie, best of all was teddybears picnic, this was done with an old piece of sheeting, a check pattern drawn on it, paper plates & cups stapled to the 'cloth', again, this won first prize.

[Deleted User]

SQ I was thinking more that one of them could maybe bring dips and chips for a starter, someone else a ready made Pizza and salad, and you could make a scrummy home made cake for pud, whatever you do honey enjoy, it 110% and have a giggly girls night to cheer you all up, Cheers Lyn xxx.

Softstuff

I am a smorgasbord for all flying insects. I've tried quite literally everything over the years, plug in killers, spray on repellents (even DEET), b6, marmite, skin so soft.... you name it I've tried it. And without exception, I'm eaten.

In addition, I swell up like mad when I do get bitten. Mossies at their worst leave me with a welt about 2 inch across, raised and it goes from a red mark to a large black bruise, taking weeks to fade. I've tried everything to ease bites too, various antihistamines, hydrocortisone, tea tree, raw onion, washing up liquid (suggested to me here, don't know why that would work), neem oil, zappers. The dermatologist suggested a wet bandage over hydrocortisone over the bite, the wet bandage would force it in quicker. No help. I keep the doors and windows shut now from mid afternoon and only open the fly screened sliding door!

jpscloud

Oooh Softstuff - I suffered with Ozzie Mozzies when we stayed with the rellies in SA. I got enormous welts the size of 50p pieces that were hard and wept a yucky yellow fluid for weeks. I tried hydrocortisone which usually works for me but nothing worked on those burgers.

My mum didn't have a single bite to speak of! It seems I not only attracted the little sods but also had a major reaction to them.

I got bitten a bit in Canada too but they weren't so bad. I used a powerful repellent there though.

I am having a totally indulgent Saturday - I did some half term jobs this week (spread limestone chips over the place where I park my car, as it had turned into a swamp), cleaned out and hoovered the car (first time in about a year) and working my way through the washing mountain.

Somewhere in that lot I tweaked my back and have the murderous muscle spasm back - cue a panicked phone call to the Dr and trip to pick up prescription (and MORE money I didn't want to spend)!!!

So today is resting day - well apart from a bit more washing. Aaaaand relax!