Nice people thread part 8 - worth the wait

PasturesNew

I have only just remembered Lidl chips.... wish I'd remembered them when I was out earlier. 67p is four portions.... and they're nice. But it's 75p to go from here to there to buy them now I am not passing

lemonjelly

wageslave wrote: »

Does anyone have any experience of the foster system? I want a small(ish) girl with a shopping addiction

Not directly. But a work colleague adopted last year. Quite a long arduous process I believe.

lemonjelly

watered under the polytunnel today, & saw evidence of those vile slugs!:mad:

Been busy pottering otherwise - 2nd batch of tomatoes planted (can see the shoots of 2 plants in the first tray planted!:))
Planted more beetroot in a large tub. Planted a few more carrots and onions.
Also planted out 3 hanging baskets for colour & bee encouragement. Noticed that the flowers I planted in the 3 trays a few weeks ago are now also starting to come through.:)
Been using some of the "home made" compost too for the first time.:)

Only thing with no movement at all, is the ginger...

lemonjelly

lostinrates wrote: »

for the kid thing dh and I have spoken about those schemes were one acts as a uk based guardian for a foreign child going to school here. You are there for hospital, legals and the odd exeat or half term and stuff. I think it would be HUGE fun.

michaels wrote: »

I would have thought under the Tories 'too middle class' would not be allowed to be trotted out as an excuse anymore.

The guardian thing sounds interesting, is there a web link?

I overheard one relative being interviewed for fostering and being asked about smoking pot which she readily admitted and she was still given a foster child.

Host families. Many colleges & universities are regularly on the lookout for people to be host families, especially where they do not have accommodation themselves.

If you have a local(ish) college or university, contact their International dept. they'll have all the details.

lostinrates

michaels wrote: »

I would have thought under the Tories 'too middle class' would not be allowed to be trotted out as an excuse anymore.

The guardian thing sounds interesting, is there a web link?

I overheard one relative being interviewed for fostering and being asked about smoking pot which she readily admitted and she was still given a foster child.

Can I dig one out during the working week? You'd probably find more out than I have!

lostinrates

lemonjelly wrote: »

Host families. Many colleges & universities are regularly on the lookout for people to be host families, especially where they do not have accommodation themselves.

If you have a local(ish) college or university, contact their International dept. they'll have all the details.

Actually, with three kids the 'normal' host family thing for foreign students might also be a boon Michaels...breakfast no different, packed lunch and supper, might at least increase grocery budget?

lostinrates

lemonjelly wrote: »

You can't put a price on the benefits of friendship.
Being a friend costs nothing at all.

I dunno, it does seem to cost something often enough, but its fully repaid if not threefold often enough.

lostinrates

lemonjelly wrote: »

watered under the polytunnel today, & saw evidence of those vile slugs!:mad:

Been busy pottering otherwise - 2nd batch of tomatoes planted (can see the shoots of 2 plants in the first tray planted!:))
Planted more beetroot in a large tub. Planted a few more carrots and onions.
Also planted out 3 hanging baskets for colour & bee encouragement. Noticed that the flowers I planted in the 3 trays a few weeks ago are now also starting to come through.:)
Been using some of the "home made" compost too for the first time.:)

Only thing with no movement at all, is the ginger...

This weekend the change in the garden is amaZing. Yesterday's garden opt our was fun, today's astounding....sudden spraining into life of a few of the roses, (my Paul transom is covered in buds that I am sure were not there yesterday (I cannot have looked well). Most of the figs are sulking but one has over seventy five baby fruits upon it. The pear blossom is disappointing, but the soft fruits are flowering well. The lilac flower buds are very well formed, the horse chestnuts are fully open and the plums, such as they are, are in leaf. On Friday they were not at all!

The trees in pots were worrying me, but today have all burst into bud. Phew!

Veg looks like its ping to be a non starter this year. I cannot keep up as it is and I dare not take on more.

lostinrates

michaels wrote: »

We never eat out as budget doesn't allow but things may change after mortgage is paid off in 5 years but it seems very hard justifying spending more on one meal than we spend a week on food at home.

It's funny, but it doesn't seem odd to do that to me at all! But to each their own!

vivatifosi

Re opening jars. These are the best devices bar none. You will never struggle again with a jar if you have one, and they are cheapish...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lever-Action-Jar-Key-Opener/dp/B0001IX9RW/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1367780261&sr=8-10&keywords=jar+opener