Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

[Deleted User]

Not a lot to do today had a phone call last night to say my brother is poorly and been taken into hospital in France where he lives so I will be trying to keep positive today and busy with more decluttering.
No shopping to get so still trying to minimise my food cupboards a bit.
Take care all
JackieO xx

camelot1001

Thinking of you JackieO, hope your brother is on the mend.

Well, yesterday saw the harvest of my very first strawberry! I shared it with DD and it was delicious. I am surprised they are ripening as we have had so little sunshine lately. I also have flowers on some of the courgettes and the peas are beginning to flower, although I have to get some netting as the little birdies are having a feast.

vulpix

Good morning folks.

Thank you for all your wishes with my Mum.She is home now,not very well but still stubborn so that's a good sign.She is 81,housebound with arthritis but sharp as a knife.Paramedics made me smirk,they were talking to her like she was a kitten,not Mum's thing at all.

Done some mending yesterday as I caught my trousers on DD1's sewing box,ironic I know.Also made a tote bag with some off cuts from a pvc tablecloth,hand stitched it as no table to put the machine on.Just keeping busy really.Not sleeping too well.

We are having some weird and wonderful meals.Today will be chicken breasts and veg followed by oven bottom muffins spread with HM rhubarb and strawberry jam and made into bread and butter pudding.Tomorow i will use up some fish and remaining veg and then the freezer is empty with exception of a turkey crown!!!!.Will cook that and we will have to just keep eating it 'till its gone.The freezer is going to the tip.it works fine but the plastic inside has split and the stuffing is bursting out of it.I am going to try and do without a freezer.We will be much nearer shops at the new house and Mr V will have to drive past the new aldeeeeeeeeeee every day.

sold a big leather armchair on face Buk,would like to sell the M&S leather sofa too but no takers.Giant wardrobe finishes today on eeeebay,fingers crossed.I am wondering about getting rid of an oak display cupboard thing with matching console as they are too modern for the new house plus the new house is much smaller.Also sold a plate rack this week.

I am rambling,sorry.i realise i am just writing my thoughts!!!!!

laters Vx

[Deleted User]

The very best things to amuse the Zebra child.....an old bucket, an old plastic bowl, a plastic cup and a couple of wooden spoons........oh and lots of refills of water on the patio!!! who needs to spend a fortune on toys???

iamsalt

I agree Mrslurcherwalker. I remember babysitting my friends kids and being told off for not giving them their toys and allowing a 'mess' to be made on my Lino floor when I gave them water and cups etc. later though husbands have said they were in awe of how long i can entertain their little ones for like that.
Made a top for me out of fabric I have had for ages, it's yellow and blue so hopefully nice and cheery if it rains tomorrow. Using up the last of the neighbours donated lemons with a couple of cakes for the freezer (in oven with the roast. I have promised a few to be used at afternoon tea events next month, and this will reduce the pressure nearer the time.
I finally managed to take apart the gutter and down pipe from the shed, which had been blocked, and oh was showing no signs of sorting it out, so I did. All I need now is some overnight rain to fill up the waterbutts. Also managed to take loads of cuttings from dahlias, fuschias, pinks and campanulas so they are happily in the greenhouse hopefully growing. Even managed to sow some wallflowers ready for next spring. I love the yellow ones, as they really brighten up the days after the daffs have gone.

I hope recoveries are happening for vulpix mum and jackieo's brother.
Feeling positive about the week ahead, and lunch for tomorrow done already.
S x

meritaten

just caught up as I missed last night. Vulpix - hope your mum gets better soon - and you sound like you're making a great recovery Jackie - keep it up!

[Deleted User]

Thank you for your good wishes Tonight my DD Tess opened a just giving page and for those who asked for details here is the link
www.justgiving.com/tessallsopp/ Together we are doing the 'Race for Life' in three weeks time ay Mote Park, Maidstone .

Her's will be a race, mine will be more of a stately hobble its our way of putting something back for all the fantastic care and help I have had over the past 8 years from Doctors and Nurses,in fact every one who has been there to see me through what was a very large shock when I was diagnosed.
No lumps,pain or anything out of the ordinary A normal mammogram which showed up something pretty nasty.I have been so lucky in that I am a survivor and some of the lovely people I met whilst going through operations ,chemo,r/therapy etc sadly didn't make it

If anything we can raise goes even some way towards finding a cure for this dreadful illness, then sore feet and the odd blister is well worth it.

I in 6 people will be diagnosed at some point in their life ,both men and women, and its said that there isn't a family in the country that hasn't been affected at some point during their lives.The survival rate now is around 80-85% lets try to make it 100% so children will grow up with Mums, and Grannies like me will see their grandchildren grow up If anyone is worried about anything odd or unusual please please please go and see a Dr as soon as possible.Mine was picked up via a mammogram and boy was I a lucky lady.Don't put them off its an uncomfortable 5 minutes to get screened, but the alternative isn't worth thinking about.
Thank you again for all the good messages and wishes I have had
Onwards and upwards chums
JackieO xxx

jem132

Hi all sorry iv been missing for a while .
Iv been so busy with my 2 allotment plots garden been on holiday for 2 weeks and having surgery , it's been a funny few mts
And my old style ways have dropped off .
But a new start tomorrow start with a massive clean ....
And cook a lovely tea .
Hope everyone's well xx

silvasava

Thank you Jackie - will be donating as I too was picked up on a mammogram in 2009. I just feel so lucky. Please ladies check your chesticals & if in doubt SHOUT! It could save your life.

Lynplatinum

Hiya All

Nice to see you back on here Jan B - sorry that next doors garden is a tip - I have the same problem and it makes my life harder as all the weeds spread over here and they wont do anything about their fences either!

Vulpix and Jackie O hope that your folks get better - it is such a worry!

Well, I m a bit frightened here. For years I have been wanting to move back to Cornwall. I think I may have found my little hobbit hole - the right size; near cafes/libraries/corner shop/arty-literature-theatre stuff going on near by. If I get what I think I should for mine - then moving would also wipe out all my debts (the other place is way cute but needs a bit of doing to). So go for it you might say. But I ve been here for 20 years. house is comfy. So much upheaval. Ho hum!! I want to and yet I dont - if I get this move wrong then I ll be truely up the junction!! I m all of a dither here!!

Advice please folks???