Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

astispumanti57

Hello. I have just joined his site. What a fabulous thread, I have subscribed. I am very handy/crafty but choose to buy, which is just stupid. When I have debts to clear. I too need to make do and mend

Thankyou

[Deleted User]

Hello ASTI, welcome aboard, they're such a clever bunch, ideas aplenty and skills beyond counting on here, and good fun too!

I've just podded out the last of my hoary old french beans that I left on the vines in the polytunnel. I've now got 820grams/1 lb 13 and a half oz of lovely shiny white haricot beans. I've got as much of the pod debris out as I can by blowing and they're now in a sealed bag in the freezer to see off any potential bugs that may be lurking. I'll use them in stews and soups all through the colder months and for just NOT throwing away beans that have gone stringy it's well worth the effort. I know it was done in wartime and people grew extra beans purposely to let them dry but it's such a satisfying feeling to have that much protien for no outlay and minimum effort, magic!

fuddle

Enjoy your day fpk

Welcome asti coming from an ex spender and gather of all things new, I can help plant the seed that the satisfaction that comes from making, re-purposing and getting something for nothing but effort, speaks much clearer in the satisfaction, self rewarding and happiness stakes than any shopping trip.

Thanks for the recipe vulpix

Lyn I can feel your satisfaction Well worth the effort to get those feelings

A bit of mending on the cards today in the shape of hair brush fixing. The head has detached itself from the handle so I will try to slip some glue down, slide it back in and reinforce with electrical tape. Here's hoping and a lesson to myself cheap doesn't last... best invest. I will get there.

How old are your hair brushes?

[Deleted User]

I bought a DENMAN hairbrush when I worked at the pharmacy way back when I was saving up DD2s uni fees, it was over £10 back then so quite expensive but it will last me the rest of my life I think. It washes and doesn't show any signs of wear. The bristles are set into a rubber bed and that is in a substantial heavy plastic handle. Worth the outlay in my opinion.

fuddle

Thanks Lyn I do recall seeing the brand, I can see the label in my minds eye. I will look at getting one when DH is paid next.

iamsalt

Hi
My hairbrush is 20 years old and is a Kent, it sounds similar to MrsLW's and I also look after it, cleaning it and de-hairing it regularly. One set of bristles has come out where I caught them in a zip, but it suits my long fine hair. I think it was about £10 but it was a birthday present so not sure.

I have been drying figs from mums garden today while I work. They are meant to last for Christmas but I doubt they will as the one I tested was yummy, and I expect I will "test" some more before they are stored away.
S x

fuddle

When apples drop onto your allotment plot they're yours right? I hope so as they're about to made into a blackberry and apple pie! Also a handful of rasps left so will make half dozen muffins too. That along with my bread (doing 5 minute artisan loaves again) and toad in the hole for tea means my oven will be at full capacity.

My corn is stumpy so I don't know how it is going to produce and not holding out much hope but the few tomato plants I bought reduced and failing from the garden centre are producing lovely vines. The strawb runners have already rooted in places so will go back to transplant in the coming days.

I did sow a few psb but the young seedlings have been munched. I expect it was the lovely cabbage white butterflies. Lessons learned.

nursemaggie

DS and I both have Kent hair brushes. I know they came from John Lewis but I expect you can buy them in other department stores. Mine cost £10 a lot of money about 25 years ago. I also bought a comb but that did break after 10 years, I suspect DS40 used it for something it was not intended for. He is the one who took his pram to pieces at six months. Kent brushes are made of wood.

DS21 uses his hair brush every day as his hair is very long. As my mother would have said "they don't owe me anything.

Floss

I have 2 Denman handbag size brushes, in use every day for over 10 years (I know because I remember telling my mum while she was in her hospice). I also have a Denman baby brush that was bought for me in 1964, and was used until I was around 9 or 10.

silvasava

Can also recommend Denman - I still have & use mine that I bought when I was an apprentice hairdresser in 1962! Can't remember what it cost only that it was B expensive at the time on my £1.19s 6d wages! I still have my scissors too - they cost me about 6 weeks wages :eek:
The Kent brushes are also very good quality
Howndo you do your haricot beans MrsL? My beans are still producing loads at the moment but I don't want to waste any that get string!