Nice people thread part 8 - worth the wait

vivatifosi

wageslave wrote: »

PN, I am almost tempted:)

Seriously, does anyone here have any experience of the foster system? I am not sure if I would be accepted

My brother fosters. It can be extremely hard as there are some very troubled children out there and you need to be aware of the downsides, however it is very rewarding too. There are shortages of key groups for fostering with councils crying out for foster parents. Although I don't know whether this includes Irish Travellers, it may well do. If you don't get anywhere with the local council, which should be your first port of call, there are an increasing number of private fostering agencies too now. These are social enterprises rather than for proft and fostering is the only thing they do, so they can be really rather good at it.

PasturesNew

vivatifosi wrote: »

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

Not sure how that works/why it'd work on a screw top.

PasturesNew

I've got a piggin' lawn, 10'x12'. And it's been growing .... so in the next week or so I'll have to buy some shears and cut the bugg4h. I hate gardening.

vivatifosi

PasturesNew wrote: »

Not sure how that works/why it'd work on a screw top.

It breaks the vacuum so you hear a pop. They are absolutely brilliant. I've tried lots of other types and they are not a patch on these, which is why of the 29 reviews, all are 5 star. I can't begin to say how such a simple device is so fantastic but it is... Gush over:o

neverdespairgirl

PasturesNew wrote: »

Yes - done some too. It's got its place and I plan to do more ... once settled and once I have an income.

I think it's gorgeous stuff, really interesting. I've just made my sister a seahorse pendant for her birthday.

lostinrates wrote: »

I've never been

I think it's dreadful how many things we fail to do in our own country. A particular malaise of Brits I think.

It was great fun - first time I've been since I was 14, and I really enjoyed it. So did Isaac and Tommy - lots of armour, weapons, guns, and stories of people having their heads chopped off. Ideal for a 7 year old male.

PasturesNew wrote: »

At £21.45 for an adult, is that surprising?? That's a small fortune to shuffle round a building.

I coughed up about £80 instead, and we now get a year's entry to various places, including the Tower, Monument, Banqueting House, Kew, and Hampton Court. And we are going to get our money's worth out of the damn ticket, I can assure you (-:

zagubov wrote: »

The museum of London in the Barbican's interesting - reminds me of the People's Palace in Glasgow Green (the one touristy thing I suggest to visitors there assuming they've already been to the Burrell Collection).

That's Isaac's favourite museum at the moment, which is handy, as we live 5 minutes' walk away from it. Their extension museum in the Docklands is great, too.

Nikkster wrote: »

I can highly recommend the Churchill War Rooms (and the cafe at the end is lovely too). I've never been to the Tower. I meant to before I left London, but never quite made it (and a lot of other places). Not that I'm so far away now!

We had our annual Chambers touting party at the War Rooms, and it was a fantastic venue, great fun.

vivatifosi

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.

Previously DH and I have awarded ourselves with a meal out every time we reach the milestone of another £10k off the mortgage. We've just reached another one. Problem is, he can't currently eat, so had to look for a different reward instead. We're going to the Anniversary Games athletics meet at the Olympic Stadium instead. Woo hoo, another chance to see Usain Bolt! An occasional reward should be open to everyone, even the most thrifty;).

zagubov

neverdespairgirl wrote: »

That's Isaac's favourite museum at the moment, which is handy, as we live 5 minutes' walk away from it. Their extension museum in the Docklands is great, too.

Right, I need to visit that.;)

I can recommend this tearoom for NPs visiting London. Never been but all my female relatives love it.

lostinrates

Dh has been topless in the garden all day. He is now burnt. I warned him. Several times.

It's really good for him to get loads of sun exposure unlike the rest of us ( psoriasis ) and its amazing how dramatically it responds....what was livid on friday evening is pale, much harder to see now, but the burn is stupid.

PasturesNew

neverdespairgirl wrote: »

I think it's gorgeous stuff, really interesting. I've just made my sister a seahorse pendant for her birthday.

My first class I didn't know how far it'd go, or what the process was and we only had 7g, so I made a textured tube pendant, two tiny earrings and something else (I forget what). So, I then tooled up with stuff to make moulds with, booked another class and the bugg4hs contacted me the day before to say it was over-subscribed and they'd put me on the next class list. 2 months later, day before the next one, I got a call to say I was the only one booked on, so it was cancelled

It's definitely on the to do list though ....

I have to do everything twice. First time to find out what to expect (as they never tell you) .... then time to plan for the 2nd time

I've done actual smithing too, made quite a few bits, so it's interesting to compare the two costs/time/processes/limitations and advantages.

The main problems are: access to courses and affordability. I want to do some mould-making.... slowly collecting stuff towards that and will get some materials and teach myself that bit.

My clay session was with using a torch, not a kiln.

michaels

vivatifosi wrote: »

Previously DH and I have awarded ourselves with a meal out every time we reach the milestone of another £10k off the mortgage. We've just reached another one. Problem is, he can't currently eat, so had to look for a different reward instead. We're going to the Anniversary Games athletics meet at the Olympic Stadium instead. Woo hoo, another chance to see Usain Bolt! An occasional reward should be open to everyone, even the most thrifty;).

Hmm - that wouldn't be very often for us - twice a year at most although now having reduced our income cos of the child benefit thing it may be a lot less often.