The Garden Fence - help and support in tough times

[Deleted User]

FUDDLE just want to say another HUGE thank you for flagging up those National Trust recycled wool blankets. I've NEVER slept so well as since they went on the bed, they seem to regulate body heat to comfortable levels and if I DO wake in the night I'm finding I get back off very quickly. It's so very lovely to wake up in the mornings full of beans and raring to go instead of that usual 'can't keep my eyelids apart' feeling, they're brilliant things and at £25 so very affordable, THANKS A MILLION PET!!!

Softstuff

greenbee wrote: »

Part of the purpose of going for an interview is for you to find out about the employer... Softstuff - I hope an opportunity with a more competent and appreciative employer comes your way soon.

Unfortunately I've been turned down from everything from supermarkets to McDonalds and it's a small town :rotfl: Companies here are crap from a human resources standpoint. I've been refused basic employment rights previously to the extent I've quit other jobs. It's frankly take the bs or leave over here, so many people, so few jobs.

greenbee

Softstuff wrote: »

Unfortunately I've been turned down from everything from supermarkets to McDonalds and it's a small town :rotfl: Companies here are crap from a human resources standpoint. I've been refused basic employment rights previously to the extent I've quit other jobs. It's frankly take the bs or leave over here, so many people, so few jobs.

Sounds like you need to set up your own microbusiness? You seem to be pretty good at demolition

In all seriousness, what about something food-related - maybe going to people's houses and cooking in their own dishes to fill their freezers (I used to do this - got me over the rules about having my kitchen inspected); or a market stall selling home-made ready meals (probably legislation here).

What happened to your blog? There might be something you can do online?

List your skills and talents and we'll come up with something for you

Softstuff

greenbee wrote: »

Sounds like you need to set up your own microbusiness? You seem to be pretty good at demolition

In all seriousness, what about something food-related - maybe going to people's houses and cooking in their own dishes to fill their freezers (I used to do this - got me over the rules about having my kitchen inspected); or a market stall selling home-made ready meals (probably legislation here).

What happened to your blog? There might be something you can do online?

List your skills and talents and we'll come up with something for you

I'd been thinking of doing something and had made some in roads towards, but am limited financially with it. So starting a business might have to wait a bit.

Food related is a no go here without serious kitchen reno and insurance. When I do renovate the kitchen, I intend to make it usuable for that too. And being in peoples homes is a lovely idea also, and a good one when I eventually have transport.

Most ideas I have are doable, they just take some money to get started and a while to make any money. So best left until the house is finished and there's the space and funds for it.

I'm not short of stuff to do, just was looking forward to maybe having a bit more money. Gets a bit tedious making things stretch sometimes. Still, it's all for the long term good and getting the house done.

Incidentally, blog wise, I gave up due to a lack of interest. Aside from a couple of ardent followers, I really wasn't of interest to many people at all.

greenbee

I'll race you to finish the house softstuff... I started before you... you have more time but when I have money/can face it I have skilled labour... so we might just about be evenly matched

When the house is finished I can then concentrate on making myself a bit more financially secure and then I can start thinking about options. In the meantime I need to hang on to my job. I did get good news today, in that my bonus has been paid above target, and I've got an above average payrise. All of which will be going into the bottomless pit that is the house...

Softstuff

greenbee wrote: »

I'll race you to finish the house softstuff... I started before you... you have more time but when I have money/can face it I have skilled labour... so we might just about be evenly matched

When the house is finished I can then concentrate on making myself a bit more financially secure and then I can start thinking about options. In the meantime I need to hang on to my job. I did get good news today, in that my bonus has been paid above target, and I've got an above average payrise. All of which will be going into the bottomless pit that is the house...

I think you might be right about the race. We went and found tiles today for the second bedroom and the study. A better price on those than we expected, but I have to learn to lay floor tiles next. Will be investing in knee pads before that one!

Congratulations on the bonus and pay rise, bet that'll come in handy. Once we've finished the reno, we'll be throwing money back at the mortgage again.

Pooky

Softstuff wrote: »

but I have to learn to lay floor tiles next. Will be investing in knee pads before that one!

I'll second and third the knee pads!! I decided against lovely big floor tiles in the kitchen, the sort that would cover a big area with just a few boxes and decided what I really, really wanted was a parquet floor......there's a lot of bits of wood in a parquet floor. My poor knees took months to get over that.

Floor looks nice though.

ivyleaf

How lovely to "see" you Pooky I've just been looking at your homepage. I love the new "moon and back" template :T

Hope all's as well as possible with you.

greenbee

I don't even want to think about making decisions on downstairs floors yet. Next job is two bedrooms, so I need to pack them up into the spare room and my bedroom and decide where the radiators and electrics are all going. And as I'm clearly not going to get round to making the blinds for the small room (since I haven't made the ones for the downstairs loo or the bathroom) I need to arrange for those to be done. I found some fabric when I was at my parents' house last weekend which will match an existing blind that may fit (if not, it should be easy to alter), so at least there is no agonising over colour schemes and fabrics.

All the blinds and curtains in the house will either be hand-me-downs or made from recycled fabric as it's the only way I can afford it (plus it saves on decisions).

Once those two bedrooms have been done, the old electrics and pipework stripped out, pipework put in for the downstairs radiators, then insulation will go in between the joists and new floorboards will go down. I'm hoping that we'll be able to reclaim enough floorboards from the first two bedrooms to use in the second two, but only if it will keep costs down. Otherwise they will be cut up for kindling and firewood.

As soon as those two rooms are done, I have to move everything back the other way and they'll do the other two bedrooms and ensuite.

After that it's moving the stairs and enlarging the landing, and upstairs will be done... I'm hoping that it'll be finished by the end of June and that maybe we'll also get the oil and bottled gas supplies into the kitchen and the unused door blocked up before I run out of patience/money.

mardatha

Changing the subject but re running out of patience.... if I decide to put the RV through a mincer, will you lot testify that I was provoked?
oh and can anybody lend me a biggish mincer?