Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

Lynplatinum

Hiya folks

VJsmum - wow!!! /Now I had thought about doing my v old table (not real wood even - just laminate) in grey paint to give it a fresh look - now I definitely will!!! Can you tell me what sort of paint you used plse??

Vulpix - I totally get it - it is such a delicate time for the relatives when someone has just died - on the other hand you dont want to miss out because someone is more pushy and insensitive than you. I think I would txt this person but put something in the txt about 'sorry to trouble you' and 'it just you need to know where you stand as you dont want to raise false hopes' etc. Its a difficult line to tread. Let us know how you get on.

My students parents got back to me today - as I suspected someone had not paid them on time (apparently it was someone they had done work for over the past 12 years!!) and it was quite a lot of money and several chqs had bounced but I was the first person to warn them about it (before their bank even!!) They were grateful and appologetic and offered to give me the cash - even volunteering to come to my place to drop it off. So thats all good! Phew! they are good people and I didnt want to have been wrong about them - if that makes any sense! :rotfl:

Note to all folks - please pay small businesses promptly - we sometimes operate on very small margins of cash flow! (I m sure most MM&Mers do pay on time where possible or save up before embarking on something - it would strike me as part of our kinda ethos on here!! :A

Well, turned out spice cupboard and kitchen drawers today - my goodness - what cr!p one can hoard over the years - I think I must have just bin stuffing more and more in there over the years!!! Some of the dust people had learnt cuneiform writing and were wielding guns rather than the usual spears!! My rubbish bin now contains some very out of date strange powders and out of date medicines and spices. Thinking about it as I type - heavens knows what chemical reactions could go on in there!! I'll put it this way - if you hear that Milton Keynes has gone up in smoke you will know it wasn't terr!sts but my rubbish bin that was responsible!!!

Feeling virtuous!! :cool:
However, I must NEVER let drawers get into such a state of dilapidation again!! Definitely minimising folks :j :beer:
Nite all!!

GreyQueen

Lynplatinum, in the 1990s, I helped a pal turf out her spice cupboard. There were items in there priced in pre-decimal currency!

She had moved several times in the intervening years, including a bout of homelessness when her pals were storing her stuff all over the county and still those spices had found their way back to her.

One of the things turfed out of Mum's bathroom cupboard was a very ancient bottle of olive oil, from the 1950s at least, with a dreg of oil in the bottom. That was when it was used in this country to treat ear wax (I think) rather than a culinary item. This had been around my whole life and had been moved to three separate homes and had been kept despite my attempts to declutter it over the years.

It was finally allowed to exit via the recycling.

VJsmum

Lynplatinum wrote: »

Hiya folks

VJsmum - wow!!! /Now I had thought about doing my v old table (not real wood even - just laminate) in grey paint to give it a fresh look - now I definitely will!!! Can you tell me what sort of paint you used plse??

Hi, thanks I am very please with it. I used Annie Sloan chalk paint in French Linen (or as i would call it, grey ) it isn't cheap - one tin is around £30 and i used a tin and a half plus the wax protection. You can make it, I'm told, but as the wardrobe couldn't come out of the room and the room was being decorated, I wanted to do it with the "right" stuff. It is so easy - no prep, paint it on, it's dry before you know it and then wax. The wardrobe is over 20 years old and was hand made for us (it cost around £500), but time and Miss V's blue tac had not treated it well.

It was an ambitious project for a first time user but i wanted to make the most of the room being protected. I did a practice run on an old chair about 2 days before - that has also come out well.

So now i'm on a roll :rotfl: looking round for other things to paint. We have a plethora of "orange pine" which is beautifully made and very sturdy but very orange :eek: I have resisted replacing it (fortunately) because you can't buy anything so well made these days - this way I can give it a new lease of life.

maryb

small but pleasing MDMM achievement - finally got round to ordering a set of rubber feet for the ironing board from Amazon. Complete new lease of life for £4

camelot1001

VJsmum, I make my own chalk paint, very easy and so much cheaper. Have a look at the shabby chic thread for some ideas.

I have used vinegar in the towel wash for the first time, not sure I used enough, how much do you put in? I only think there wasn't enough as the towels didn't smell of vinegar when I put them on the airer.

nursemaggie

Camelot they should not smell of vinegar if they do you would have used too much. I have been using it now for about 15 months. nothing ever smells of vinegar. The only time I use softener these days is for a few jumpers or cardigans everything else come out nice and soft and no more mold on limescale in the WM.

fuddle

Ah VJ's your furniture looks superb! £30 isn't too bad for 'new' furniture Orange pine is solid. It will not only last many more years but now it will be loved for many more years.

I didn't get round to sanding the top of my chest of drawers as we upped and went a wandering to a National Trust place with out membership but I did order a tin of chalk paint for the kitchen cupboard fronts in the kitchen. Generic DIY stores don't seem to stock chalk paint (just chalky emulsion with a hefty price tag) so I took to ebay and found some that was a lot cheaper with free delivery and good reviews. Fingers crossed. Also I was told in the DIY store that I will need a stippling brush to apply chalk paint but I got my thinking hat on and decided to trim down an old paint brush to stocky bristle status and use that instead.

I have emailed the town council re: allotment waiting list so hopefully find out how to apply next week sometime.

[Deleted User]

Oh my word, I've just been to the Co Op in search of some bread and hit the bakery just as they did some mega reductions so I got a Moroccan Crusty Loaf, 12 x large fresh baked sausage rolls, a family sized Apple pie, 2 large bakewell tarts, 2 portugese custard tarts and a pizza whirl.....and it cost me altogether £1.95p. Everything was baked today so a good few days worth of lunches and puds, amazing!

silvasava

Evening All - just had a quick skim through to catch up. I've only been gone a couple of days and you have all done so much!
Glad Zebra is continuing to improve MrsL & your 'strudel' sounds tasty and very MMM and all those bargains - well done.
GQ - guessed where you were - that heavy rain has been good for everything including the weeds! Checked the greenhouse tonight -everything was fine except one of my mini cucumbers has keeled over on me - can't see why but luckily my neighbour had give me a couple so I've got a replacement.
VJ - the furniture looks lovely and will be loved for a good few more years. Its so satisfying to update something to enjoy for longer.
The trip to Bembridge was good - very tiring on the way there 'cos the wind blew up and you had to fight with the tiller nearly all the way. There is a deep channel in the middle of the Solent for the container ships, tankers & ferries & its busy. We had to cross it and its surprising how quickly a huge vessel travelling at slow speed moves so we look both ways and scurry across as quick as we can - sail over speed doesn't count when you are 21ft and they are over 600ft. Bembridge area was absolutely delightful so if anyones visiting its worth a trip. The journey back today was delightful - light breezes in the right direction so a nice sail in the sunshine but must admit now I'm home I'm bushed ( to put it politely) no hunky RNLI - never mind I'll dream - lol
Sorry if I've missed anyone off - have a good evening all xx

GreyQueen

:T Well done, silvasava, you're so brave. Just the thought of sailing gives me the collywobbles, although I have paddled about in shallow inshore waters in Forn Parts in a kayak.

Have minimised some random items from the fridge to make my supper and will cook properly tomorrow when I CBA. Been a busy weekend with lots of w**ding. Good job I'm not one for manicures, that's all I can say.