The Garden Fence - help and support in tough times

westcoastscot

mardatha wrote: »

Has anybody watched the BBC series on life in the Victorian slums? I followed links on the BBC site and read a fascinating report on Vicotoran diet and life expectancy.

Read an article about this - going to have a look at it later today. I always think that a massive impact through modern life is the lack of physical activity in our day to day lives - even those of us who exercise regularly. I know when we moved to the mainland I had to be much more careful about how much and what I ate - I think a combination of home-produced food and the work entailed in crofting kept me much healthier than I am today.

pollyanna_26

Mar I watched the first episode last Monday and am looking forward to part 2 tomorrow night . I have always been interested in the social history of Britain particuarly from Victorian times - my interest is the lives of ordinary people . Last week was really quite sobering although a re- enactment . For the whole family focus each week was to be able to just keep a roof over their heads without any food etc being possible unless that first target was met and maybe a little left over is unthinkable now for most of us . I found the links interesting and over the years have sent for many of the ou information on the background to these series offered free via the bbc website .
WCS I agree with your post . I felt much fitter when things were tougher and I think the extra activity and determination led to a more positive mindset .
polly

moneyistooshorttomention

Softstuff wrote: »

Right now if I thought she'd do it, she could move in. Sadly Nursie is nobody's fool and if manual labour is involved she makes sure someone else is doing it.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

I must admit that my laughter there was at my own expense - as Nursie and I would have that in common:rotfl:. <Visions of clean pair of heels running up the road in the other direction>

Mere thought of manual labour - and I'm figuring out if I can find money to throw at it to persuade someone else to do it...

Hence my astonished admiration at how much you are doing:)

Do take care though - as I've certainly been very curious as to why so many people in the area I'm now in come over as so visibly unhealthy as they walk down the street - compared to what I'm used to seeing. Finally got an answer to my queries on that and it seems to boil down to many of them have spent years doing hard physical work on all the tiny farms round here and that, coupled with noticing many will go out in a lot harsher weather than I will, would explain it. I didnt realise it could have that effect.....

Yep...that makes me a "soft Southerner" I know...

Floss

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

...I've certainly been very curious as to why so many people in the area I'm now in come over as so visibly unhealthy as they walk down the street - compared to what I'm used to seeing. Finally got an answer to my queries on that and it seems to boil down to many of them have spent years doing hard physical work on all the tiny farms round here and that, coupled with noticing many will go out in a lot harsher weather than I will, would explain it. I didnt realise it could have that effect.....

Yep...that makes me a "soft Southerner" I know...

Improvements in healthcare, housing and living conditions aren't the only reasons we live longer nowadays - the changes in formerly traditional industries and working conditions have helped.

Oh, and if you run a farm, the work needs doing 365 days a year no matter what the weather.

pollyanna_26

Totally agree Floss . I am grateful for my milkman who delivers my milk in glass bottles long before most of the world is awake and has never let me down in the snowy times when shops struggle to get their supplies . Likewise , the postman , emergency services , public transport , medical staff and all who keep the world turning .
I never try to assess people by appearance , I have met a lord of the manor who on appearance would have been judged a vagrant with twine holding his jacket together as he mucked in with the estate workers .
My wish would be a life well lived and empathy and caring for all . I will probably end up like the velveteen rabbit , a bit broken and shabby round the edges but loved :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:
polly

Softstuff

Thanks Mtstm, I am taking care. I see tradesmen and their injuries often (we have a few tradie friends ), the difference is that they do it week in week out. I think often with builders and general tradespeople, the "how to" knowledge isn't what you pay for (my builder friend says "any fool can do it, I do") you can find that out if you're determined, it's the grunt and experience that lets them do it at speed and successfully first time and more importantly you pay for wear and tear on their body.

My friend, builder/chippie, has 2 !!!!!!ed knees, a terrible back, persistent shoulder problems, is missing the tips of 2 fingers and has a couple that are flatter than they were as a boy. Yet he's working full time. He's impressed at my progress, he says if he does that for a day he's sore. ... I told him that makes him a wuss;) I'm sore, but ok, a few bruises. I have exercises and pilates and will return to my normal cushy existence soon enough, hopefully with a couple of new muscles to show for it. Oh, and a level floor.

pollyanna_26

Morning Fencers - I wont say good as it's persisting down still .
Shanks Would you like to return to work early from your hols ? I'm blaming you . I've been doing my Travis impression and singing " Why does it always rain on me "
For Mar and anyone else interested there is a website " Hidden lives " which has detail on poverty and family in the victorian era - not the best website out there but a lot of archives . I read about the attitude to the poor and it was truly shocking .
I've mentioned previously on one of the threads a book Round about a pound a week by Maud Pember Reeves which is an account of how the poor managed or not as the case may be . I see it's still available on the Am*z*n site from various sellers . If interested opt for the virago reprint in paperback as the later hb remake is rubbish .Well I hope the weather is better for you all .
Sending strength - literally to SS and virtual healing balm for the bruises . Keep focusing on the day when it's all finished .
polly

shanks77

Sorry polly will try and do a sun dance just for you. If it makes u feel better I am being punished by having the most awful cold so I would probably be as well being back at work lol.

moneyistooshorttomention

Softstuff wrote: »

Thanks Mtstm, I am taking care. I see tradesmen and their injuries often (we have a few tradie friends ), the difference is that they do it week in week out. I think often with builders and general tradespeople, the "how to" knowledge isn't what you pay for (my builder friend says "any fool can do it, I do") you can find that out if you're determined, it's the grunt and experience that lets them do it at speed and successfully first time and more importantly you pay for wear and tear on their body.

My friend, builder/chippie, has 2 !!!!!!ed knees, a terrible back, persistent shoulder problems, is missing the tips of 2 fingers and has a couple that are flatter than they were as a boy. Yet he's working full time. He's impressed at my progress, he says if he does that for a day he's sore. ... I told him that makes him a wuss;) I'm sore, but ok, a few bruises. I have exercises and pilates and will return to my normal cushy existence soon enough, hopefully with a couple of new muscles to show for it. Oh, and a level floor.

I know exactly what you mean Softstuff.

In my home area the tradesmen just come in - do the job - customer makes drinks for them while doing it - they finish - customer pays them.

Moving here and it's a very different kettle of fish. It starts with the "Pembrokeshire Promise" (ie they promise to turn up to quote/turn up to do the work/etc/etc - and you just have to hope they really mean it and will stick to arrangements made:mad:). When you do get a firm/one man band/whoever to turn up and do the job eventually - they have shared all sorts of "personal" information with you by the time they've finished. I was astonished by this to start with - but have got used to it now and almost expect to be told about ailments/money problems/you name it. I expect they think people from my area are "cold and impersonal"....

So I've been told an awful lot about bad backs/bad knees/bad hands/broken legs/etc by now. I hadnt realised just how hazardous these jobs often are - and yep....part of what I'm paying for is to be the one standing there astonished on the ground whilst they shin up the roof (with no safety precautions whatsoever I've noticed:eek:
) or start creating all sorts of dust (with no dust mask on at all I've noticed:eek:). Hence I tend to think the prices they quote for doing things (assuming they are working to decent standard) are reasonable for what they are doing/keep up the hot drinks/pay them promptly at the end of it - and thank goodness I'm not the one having to make my living by doing those jobs.

Softstuff

Thanks Polly, we got the last of the hallway up and are currently reclining (having a whisky on the bed). Up early tomorrow for more fun and frolics.

Mtstm, we have become friendly with many of our tradies. I bake for them, coddle them, give them the number of my physio and on big jobs, buy them a nice bottle. If theysurvive working for me they deserve it :rotfl: