Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

nursemaggie

It rains more than it does not here. I'm within that big blob of cloud that is always over Manchester.

misstara

Thanks for the well wishes and silvasava for the aspirin tip. Unfortunately I'm not feeling any better but keeping myself dosed up on everything and hoping it passes soon. Hate summer colds especially when the sun is shining.

Had a lovely tea tonight of egg fried rice using up various scraps of veg and meat and then pancakes for pudding which used up eggs, fruit and cream.

Better get myself off to bed, long shift tomorrow.

Lynplatinum

Hiya All

Firstly welcome to all new folk! Loads of friendly tips and help on here!

I had a brilliant weekend - off to Nhampton Umbrella fair! This is where a mixture of groups come together to have a large 'fair' rather than lots of small groups having events that clash over the summer. So it has a 'Green Village' which has food producers/produce show (aka the ones you would expect in a village hall - marrows to jam ) the woodland trust /RSBP etc. Then there are 4 or so music stages - dub step - acoustic - main stage - folk. Then lots of food stalls - craft stalls where folk have made jewelry/clothing/bags etc. And the spoken word stage - which my son does the PA for and helps to run and set up. This year the guy with the van had the van fail its MOT and one of the other guys had cut his tendon in his thumb!! So it was my car and me to the rescue - back being a roadie - like it was when my son ran his band! Lifting speakers etc - good job I am still strong! But it comes back to you - I got fed for free - all registered volunteers do - but it comes from the food that supermarkets throw out and is vegitarian/vegan so very good for you and the planet. In many ways a MM&M weekend - all of the drapes and cushions for the tent/marquee come from CS or people's throw outs!

Back to work now :-( but cant complain - its money!! And not the hardest work I have ever done. Came home a couple of days ago and still haven't been shopping - am eating up freezer and veg box from last week!! Need to shop tomorrow as I am out of yogurt & butter & washing up liquid &loo rolls ergo essentials!! :rotfl:

Am going to minimalise my stash of study books next - some of it is out of date and some I will never use again!! should I move house I dont want to move with rubbish or extra stuff so need to get rid and be rational about it.

Tumble dryer still not sold - condensing sort - v good condition - am asking £150 - does anyone think that is too much as new that model would be £200?
Cheers all

nursemaggie

Anyone see this last night Wednesday on BB2?

I just watched it bit of fun!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0675njv/britains-spending-secrets-episode-1

[Deleted User]

Hi chums,rather a damp day here on the IoW but it didn't deter us.We went to Osborne House as DGS g/f had never been and we managed somehow to get in for nowt:)
I told the chap I have my Dd and three DGS on my EH card and my DGS,G/f and son-in-law all have student cards, and he said no problem and reeled off tickets for us all and charged us nothing.We hadtaken a picnic lunch with us so had a nice day out and spent not a penny:):)

DD and Ben and his G/f are going fishing again tomorrow ,so the three younger boys and myself and son-in-law are going swimming at the Cowes baths

We noticed the other day that there was a dearth of blackberries this year as well.We did the Yarmouth to Freshwater walk along the old railway track and saw a couple of Herons and three red squirrels, but not a sign of a blackberry at all.

Cowes carnival this Saturday night so some free entertainment there:)
Really not spending a great deal at all at the moment
Hope some of you are getting some dry weather at least.DGS Jack did well in his three science GCSE's that he took a year early and was quite pleased with himself.Only another 9 to do next year :)
Well done to all the hard working youngsters who got their results today
Cheers everyone
JackieO xxxx

camelot1001

misstara, you've passed the lurgy on to me! I've a terrible cold and cough and (much to the delight of the school children) have lost my voice!
Still, it's Friday so can recover over the weekend hopefully, I still have a lot to do in the house so not sure how much rest I will get.

We made do this week, used up every scrap of food in the fridge as I was too busy/didn't feel like shopping, must do this more often. Some inventive meals but enjoyable all the same.

Also tried to make do with the internal doors, 3 hours to sand one so then sent them to be dipped only to find that some parts are glued together so they would probably fall apart. Unfortunately new doors have now been put on but now waxed they look really good. It's a treat to have doors at all after the last couple of months without, especially ones with smart new handles and a lock on the bathroom door!

Haven't found any wild fruits here yet, it will be another few weeks before there are brambles (blackberries), quite looking forward to foraging for them.

misstara

Haha sorry camelot hope you feel better soon

GreyQueen

Morning all.

Wow, had no idea there was such a variety in blackberry timings around the country. They've all long-finished flowering here, and about 50% of the fruits are ripe and the rest are full-sized but still red. Looks like a particularly fine crop this year.

I picked my first ones last weekend, made blackberry and apple pie (one more portion in the fridge) and open-froze the remainder on a tray. I've been adding them to my morning porridge which is very tasty and a cheap and nutritious boost. An example of how free things can feel luxurious, no?

There is a couple of trees with mirabelles near the allotments but they haven't done anything this year. I don't know if there was strong wind at a bad time which knocked the blossoms off as they normally fruit heavily. Depending on how I feel on Sunday, and what the weather is doing, I may slope off on the pushbike after these others. I do like these little plums - will be sad if I make a round trip of about 6 miles and someone else has had all of them, but that's the risk you take. I tried them 12 days ago and they definately weren't ripe then.

Today isn't looking brilliant, weatherwise, as its grey and drizzly. I'm with a pal this morning and will probably be doing stuff with them until lunchtime-ish, then will see what the day has to offer.

Have a good 'un, lovely peeps. GQ x

FairyPrincessk

Morning all,

Just a quick one this morning before I head off to the gym and then we head off on our day trip adventure weekend. Today is ikea and then Cannon Hall Museum.

The WI was nice..I think. I think it will take me awhile to get to know people etc. but I do think I'll go back and probably join, at least until the end of the year and see how I get on. I also think I'll find it a bit easier once I go to one of the side meetings--I'm particularly eyeing up the craft group although I hope no one tells me off for the really odd way I hold my needles when I knit. My stitches look fine and I don't think I'm too bad for a lefty who knits righty and learned off you tube and from a CS book! One of the ladies lives just around the corner from me and offered a lift. I declined as I already had a return ticket for the train, but in the depths of winter that might make it a bit easier to get out if she is still willing once she gets to know me. :rotfl:

NurseMaggie--result on the fabric stores! Even when I don't have anything particular to buy I do like going to have a look around and see what sorts of fabric is out there. I'm starting to be the same with knitting wool. The blackberries near me look like they'll be ready sometime next week. I think that is a bit later than usual--maybe a week or so? There are a few ripe ones now. My guess is that your area might actually be a bit behind where I live as I think you're a bit further north and I'm close enough to the city proper that we're usually a degree or two warmer than the surrounding area.

Bit irritated with OH this morning. He announced just as I was putting my slippers on to go down and make coffee and breakfast that he'd used most of it last night for a spontaneous after dinner coffee. Said he was on auto-pilot and didn't think about it. Of course, I passed right by Mr. T on my way home last night and he easily could have asked me to pick it up. Anyway, I shuffled down to make myself a tea and only saw he'd also been helping himself to a box of tea my mum sent me as a gift--tea he insists tastes no different from the BIG box of tea he chose which is right next to it. :mad: Well, I won't sell him to the fairies yet, but he better shape up sharpish or I'll have him on slug and snail picking duty!

Hugs and mugs of chicken soup to all of the poorlies.

silvasava

JackieO - good blackberries at Afton Down! Got some huge ones there! We may be sailing to Bembridge next weekend weather permitting. I need my IoW fix!! Weather report for today good but soso over the weekend but the sun always shines on the Island doesn't it???
GQ - I've had a good crop from my Mirabelles but not as heavily as most years & we're right down south. They flower quite early and we did have a sharp cold spell so the bees wer'n't working so much so that would have affected them. Hope you manage to get some good pickings