The OS Doorstep - a helpful and supportive thread in these tough times

bunbun2

thanks MrsLW will have a look tomorrow. you have also given me an idea for the front garden, fruit trees. we have a big empty space now
the hedge and yew tree have gone. I would put vegetables but don't know if they would walk iykwim.

bunbun2

I have a dilemma...ds12 has sorted out his wardrobe and got rid of everything that doesn't fit. there is loads! some of it is next, gap, boden and still in good condition. OH says it is not worth putting on the bay of E as it is time consuming and postage is such a pain. I am going to take the bulk of it to a cash place but can't decide what to do with these few bits. I will get next to nothing for them at the cash place. oh what to do...

ALIBOBSY

Pinkdebster wrote: »

So just as I start to get into the act of posting, I end up back in hospital with problems with my feeding tube. All sorted now thankfully and I've a good few pages to catch up with (again!!).

On another topic, does anyone know of a cake I can make that doesn't contain butter or margarine? It's my turn to bring the food for our sewing circle and one of the girls has a nasty allergy. Usually I just buy her crisps and packet of party rings but I'd like to include her in the cake this time. I don't eat at all myself but still like cooking. Thank you.

Hugs to everyone who needs it xx

I like this cake by Nigella

http://www.nigella.com/recipes/view/CHOCOLATE-OLIVE-OIL-CAKE-5551

You can make it as is to be non wheat and non dairy, or use normal flour to get a lighter cake.
Kids love this and even with normal flour is somewhere between a choc cake and a brownie, lovely mmmmm.

Ali x

Pooky

Just remember to consider the root spread on fruit trees before planting. Don't put them to close together or to close to the house.

I have 8 apples on my tree this year (planted spring 2012), it was a 2 year old tree when I bought it.

ALIBOBSY

Pinkdebster wrote: »

Hah - cardboard in your shoes!! Now that brings back some memories. One winter I spent the whole season in boots with cardboard in the bottom to try and stop the water coming through. I was a single parent with my daughter then and had very little money. That particular winter I went without a coat too as I had no money to buy one and even remember going the odd day here and there without anything to eat for myself. But she was always fed and watered, had good shoes and a warm coat.

Nowadays I look back on those times with fond memories.........it makes you appreciate the small stuff in life. I always give to the supermarkets when they are collecting for food parcels etc........

My OH spent a winter with Tesco carrier bags stuffed in the bottom of his shoe to cover a hole-he has big feet and those leather office work shoes aren't cheap and we couldn't find a local cobbler-do they even exist anymore. It was whilst I was at home after DS was born and with rent etc and only one income, things were so tight.

I recently spent around 3 months with leaky trainers till I found a pair for a reasonable amount-Aldi walking shoes styled as black trainers, really comfy and just £14.99.

I just always seemed to have something (or someone) else to spend the money on and old habits die hard, with OH we couldn't afford to replace his shoes and eat, with me recently although things are tight it was more me prioritising others-OH told me off and was really pleased I finally got some new shoes.

Ali x

mumoftwo

bunbun2 wrote: »

I have a dilemma...ds12 has sorted out his wardrobe and got rid of everything that doesn't fit. there is loads! some of it is next, gap, boden and still in good condition. OH says it is not worth putting on the bay of E as it is time consuming and postage is such a pain. I am going to take the bulk of it to a cash place but can't decide what to do with these few bits. I will get next to nothing for them at the cash place. oh what to do...

If they are all a similar size, you can sell them as a clothes bundle of ebay, lay it all out, take a picture, describe what is included and sell it all off in one go, one parcel, done. Have a nosey first and see if there are similar bundles already for sale and what they are going for to see if it is worth your time and effort. HTH

bunbun2

mumoftwo wrote: »

If they are all a similar size, you can sell them as a clothes bundle of ebay, lay it all out, take a picture, describe what is included and sell it all off in one go, one parcel, done. Have a nosey first and see if there are similar bundles already for sale and what they are going for to see if it is worth your time and effort. HTH

Thank you will do that!

floss2

bunbun2 wrote: »

I have a dilemma...ds12 has sorted out his wardrobe and got rid of everything that doesn't fit. there is loads! some of it is next, gap, boden and still in good condition. OH says it is not worth putting on the bay of E as it is time consuming and postage is such a pain. I am going to take the bulk of it to a cash place but can't decide what to do with these few bits. I will get next to nothing for them at the cash place. oh what to do...

Is there a local Facebook sale page?

FairyPrincessk

bunbun2, does he have any friends who are a bit smaller (or perhaps you have friends with slightly younger children?)

As a teen I was constantly swapping clothes with mates, although we tended to do it just for a weekend. I know boys are far less likely to do this, so might be easier if you just have some fellow mums interested in doing a clothes swap. Just host an afternoon, some cups of tea, biscuits and everyone brings their clothes and a list of sizes and what they need and do a swap. Maybe he'd even get some new, larger things.

floss2

ALIBOBSY wrote: »

...we couldn't find a local cobbler-do they even exist anymore...

We have 2 or 3 in Blackpool...absolute godsend for my DH's work shoes (leather soled expensive ones that have had 2 new soles on in the last 7 years) and also for my old leather walking boots that he stitched up for me.