Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

mamaninie

I posted last week about getting a zip replaced in DD's boots at a cost of £20. Well I picked them up yesterday and was shocked at the quality of the repair - awful - truly awful - raw edges, skipped stitches, wonky sewing, wrong colour zip. The boots that he glue for me hadn't been lined up properly so now they're glued hanging over the edge of the sole. Anyway I refused to give him more than a tenner. He wasn't happy but neither am I At least dd's boots are functional though even if not very pretty!!! I really do need to find a decent independent shoe repairer , but I think they might be a dying breed

vhalla1478

Hello again, Everyone.

Mamaninie, I think that is sadly the sign of the times; shoddy workmanship seems to be the norm and I think you did absolutely the right thing in refusing to pay the asking price. I had a similar experience a few years ago when I wanted a pair of chairs upholstered - one came back much fatter than the other one, I gave the upholsterer the chance to put it right but that didn't work so I gave her a third less - it's so disappointing, isn't it? All we can do is shout it loud and clear when we do find someone who gives a great service and refuse to accept shoddy workmanship. I'm afraid it is one of the consequences of our throwaway society; standards have dropped considerably.

On a brighter note, I went to the shed and had a lovely surprise - daughter-in-law's dad has found me some great second hand gardening tools - how nice is that?

All the very best to yourself and your DH, Howmuch - I do hope all goes well for him.

The book I've been mentioning arrived and is somewhat dated, but now I've done a bit of minimising ie re-cycled jam jars - how many do I need? and thrown out free magazines after culling the recipes - only to have a load more delivered by the postman and I have to go through them just in case!I shall make myself a drink and have a read through and hopefully post some words of wisdom:D later.

Viv xx

mrssnowy_2

mamaninie wrote: »

I posted last week about getting a zip replaced in DD's boots at a cost of £20. Well I picked them up yesterday and was shocked at the quality of the repair - awful - truly awful - raw edges, skipped stitches, wonky sewing, wrong colour zip. The boots that he glue for me hadn't been lined up properly so now they're glued hanging over the edge of the sole. Anyway I refused to give him more than a tenner. He wasn't happy but neither am I At least dd's boots are functional though even if not very pretty!!! I really do need to find a decent independent shoe repairer , but I think they might be a dying breed

That is awful-I collected my handbag from the cobblers in the local town yesterday.It has been there since Christmas(!), the Jones brothers said they were going to charge me rent but I only had to pay £3 for a lovely repair-the strap had come adrift on my very useful small leather rucksack .
Miserable wet day here,so I have been having a very gentle tidy up.It has involved lots of cups of tea,unfortunately no biscuits involved.
mrss

kittym

I know it's early I just can't for the life of me sleep.:mad::mad: Went to bed around eleven and since then I've tried counting sheep, lavender, warm tea and nothings worked. So I've given up!!!

You made me chuckle GQ and Silvasava, with regards to the cats. Funny things they are. The cucumber seeds GQ I have are in little pots on the living room windowsill, but we have had a couple of frosty mornings so maybe it's to cold on there?

Managed to get bread and biscuits made, although I'm sure they won't last long now DD has broken for the Easter hollies.
Today I'm venturing into the cupboard (the 1 that we all have) where you open, grab and close as fast as you can.:eek::eek::eek: Oh my Lord it's been like that since I moved in last September !!
I dread to think what's in there, but I can't put it off any more as I've no excuses left......

Hope all goes well Howmuch for your DH on Monday.

Have a lovely day everyone. xxx

GreyQueen

Morning all.

The cucurbits (cues, courgettes, marrows etc) have seeds with hard husks and these need to be moist, and rot a bit, before the seedling can push its way out.

One trick before planting them is to gently abrade the husk with a bit of sandpaper, only lightly, to speed the process. This will only work on bone-dry seeds before planting.

I think they may just need more time, so keep them moist and warm and keep an eye on them and hopefully they'll pop up soon. HTH.

Prinzessilein

Morning!


It is raining here...yet again!


I will stay tucked away indoors and get on with my knitting...I have just started the first of the hats for this year's OCC boxes.


Goulash and red cabbage are out if the freezer...just needs dumplings added....nice and quick meal - and perfect while the weather is still cold out there.


Sorting through my tee-shirts et.c this morning...One negative about losing weight is that some clothes with a lot of wear in them are now too big - and I am reluctant to get rid of anything!....However, I know a lovely woman who is a little 'large' and is always grateful for anything I pass on to her. (Charity shops are terrific but round here they don't go much beyond a size 16 and maybe a few 18s tucked away).....(at least it isn't books I have to sort through - that job will come soon and I am DREADING it...I am really bad about getting rid of any book...some of my books are old friends!)


Right...Mum will be here soon for a Kaffeklatsch...better go and get the coffee on!


Happy Sunday all!

vhalla1478

Morning All,

A wet day here also - British Summertime is living up to its reputation!
Prinzessilein, I know exactly what you mean about books; my bookshelves are beyond groaning - they are in a state of near collapse. I'm pretty good about culling my other possessions but books are another thing altogether.

Talking of which, here is the answer to all our prayers for having a trim waistline according to my '1001 ways of saving money' from the 1970s - I'll quote it in full, with this disclaimer - there's no guarantee that it works, but I think I'll have to try it, just in case it does!

Slimming Exercise

'Slimming diets can be expensive because all the high protein. low calorie foods are expensive. Therefore you will save money if you can lose that spare tyre by doing a simple exercise which costs nothing. The following exercise is recommended because it is quick, easy - and highly effective. It enables many people to retain their normal waistline as well as their usual eating habits.

1. Stand upright with arms by the sides.
2.Breathe in deeply through the nose, filling the lungs so that the chest rises.
3.Breathe right out to empty the lungs completely.
4.Breathe in deeply as before.
5.Breathe out once again, but, this time, as you exhale, bend forward slowly from the waist. Try to force out every last bit of air from the lungs and stomach.
6.When all the air has gone, straighten gradually to an upright position without breathing in. (is that possible?!!). You will find that because there is a partial vacuum in your tummy, air pressure outside the body presses the stomach inwards, making it far more concave than can be achieved in any other way.
7.Remain in the upright position without breathing in for a few seconds (really!!). Then inhale through the nose.
8.Repeat entire process.

If the exercise is performed every day before breakfast and after supper, an improvement in your waist measurement will soon result. Your stomach will draw in and flatten. In most instances, inches are taken off within only a few days.'

Speak later, Folks, I have three of the younger members of the tribe coming round to bake biscuits in a bit.

Viv xx

misstara

I also have a lot of books, ran out of space on bookcases so have various piles sitting around the flat. A few years ago OH actually put a ban on me buying more books until we move somewhere bigger. I see his point but the odd one manages to sneak in now and again :rotfl: I have started to go through them and I have a small bag to go to the CS, mostly books that have been bought for me as presents which I won't read again.

Yesterday I made the final payment to a credit card, it has taken me 15 months to pay off so am very happy. One debt down, 2 to go. Hope everyone is having a good weekend

GreyQueen

Well, I have had a day at home, with no real enticements to go out as the weather has been vile. We have had a spectacular thunderstorm in the past hour but it's now sunny and everything is sparkling outside.

Spent some time on my sewing project, plus some mending. Was just about threading the machine with white, to sew linen bags made from a candystripe cotton sheet, when I had a LBM; doesn't have to be white. I have a lot of colours which are seldom used whereas white is always in demand and running low.

So, I chose first a pale blue, then a beige, and have finished up the reel of blue and binned the plastic spool. Sewing cabinet (re-purposed CD/DVD cabinet) is reduced in clutter as a result. Have made the linen bags from cloth already on the premises and will make the drawstrings from the ribbon/ tape/ cord stash.

Supper will be leftovers. I discovered the remnants of two packs of pasta in the cupboard, overflows from when I refilled the glass pasta jars, so I will cook them tonight and probably have enough pasta for a salad tomorrow, and that will tidy the food cupboard up a bit.

Going to be away from home over Easter so don't want to buy any more fresh food, so will be looking at eating down the fridge and cupboards. Should start the April housekeeping budget on a positive note.

It's amazing how creative you can be if the shops are closed/ it's pertiddling down and you just don't feel like going out into it.

silvasava

Pants here today too - tomorrow's report looks better but I've got the dishwasher repair man coming........sometime
I had a 'helper' with my sewing yesterday - I could have done without her though