OS all going wrong - can you help?

Mrs_Cupier

Hello all. We've been OS'ing it madly for the last year or so (cooking from scratch, mending / making where we can, growing own veg, not using the tumble dryer, using white vinegar, bicarb and washing soda etc etc, walking more than driving) and it's been really successful. It's harder work, but our bills have come down and I like the way we live.

The problem now is this: we're in the middle of major building work on the house. Although we knew it was going to happen, we didn't realise how quickly or completely we'd lose the use of things like the kitchen and the garden, so we're having to decamp to my parents on a daily basis to keep the littlies (5, 4 and 2) safe and fed.

This is making OS all but impossible. I'm driving 30 miles a day I wasn't before and everyone's putting on weight because we're only walking to school in the morning instead of three times a day (littlies #2 and #3 come home from playschool at lunchtime). My parents feel that cooking as well is wearing me out and so have taken over feeding the children - with the best of intentions - but it's mostly ready meals. The only cooking equipment DH and I have is a microwave, so we're on ready meals too.

Although I can still wash clothes at home, I can't dry them on the line (brick dust flying about) and we're down to two rooms downstairs and two upstairs, so I can't dry in the house because there simply isn't space. If I put there airer up, no one can sit down.

I am at least still shopping locally and the veg is still growing (admittedly with added brick dust) but I feel very useless about it all. Sorry if this sounds like a whinge. Can anyone offer any new perspectives? We're going to be like this for at least another month, probably 6 weeks.

Thanks.

thriftlady_2

I think I'd just ride it out until your building work is finished. It must be a pain, but it isn't forever and when you get back to it you will be filled with enthusiasm for the OS way of life Keep your chin up

Ytaya

If you're spending time at your parents, could you maybe use their kitchen to batch-cook some home-made ready meals?

Otherwise, yeah, take consolation in the fact that it's not for much longer and stick it out. It's a pain in the @ss but the fact that this is causing you so much annoyance is a good thing - it means you must really like the OS lifestyle!

Psykicpup

I thisnk I would pretend to myself that I was on a long holiday/camping trip! a few weeks of this wont be so bad & just think how good it will feel to be able to batch cook again in your new kitchen

Tashja

Hi hun

When we had our kitchen done it was a nightmare but nothing like you are experiencing !!

Have you thought about investing in a slow cooker and then sticking all your ingredients in it and leaving it plugged in in one of the bedrooms or one of the rooms you can use. At least then you are getting some OS meals ???

Hope the work doesn't last too long.

T xx

Mrs_Wossinge

I identify with this - I lived in an old house while it was being renovated, and it was a joyous day when a shower was installed, another when I got a washing machine and a fridge...

I lived in one room, and cooked everything in a microwave because there was no kitchen to speak of. If it had to be kept cold there was an old-fashioned slate slab in the larder - that was my fridge for about two months! Although it was a shock to the system being without the mod-cons, it made me really appreciate them when they arrived, and stopped me taking them for granted.

It's not forever. I'd look on it as an opportunity to be creative with what you have, and once everything's finished, you'll appreciate everything more than you ever thought possible!

MATH

You've done really well to come this far:T

I sense from your post (ooer...it's coming through the ether. LOL) that you feel like you are failing because you cannot whip up a batch of cup cakes using the heat from a stone left in the sun:D No rule says you have to! You may live the OS life but it's YOUR OS life and your rules.

If I were you I would kick back and give myself some slack while the building work is going on. So what if you buy the odd shop bought lasagne or use the TD:eek: You can go back to 100% OS when things get back to normal.:D

Mrs_Cupier

Thanks all, for your replies - I think you are right, I AM feeling guilty. I hadn't realised how much of my 'caring for my family' thing was tied up in being able to bake / cook 'proper' meals.

I'm going to try to let it ride for the next couple of weeks and hope for the best thereafter.

Microwave lasagne here we come! I shall go back to knitting my own crockery (or something) when it's all finished.