Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2017

vulpix

Jackie,just to give my ten pennorth as I live nearby.


If you are staying near Disley,a trip to Lyme park is a must,nice house and gardens and grounds to walk in.It's where Colin Firth emerged from the lake in the pride and prejudice.You are not far from the Peak District and if you have a car, visit Buxton and Castleton.Mind you can get to Buxton by train from Disley.You will also not be too far from Chatsworth.

There are plenty of museums,galleries etc in Manchester and a free bus from the station into the city centre.If you like curry,grab a bus or taxi and go to Rusholme to the curry mile.

Have a lovely time.

Vx

Floss

Jackie if you are planning to go to the Lowry and war museum, you will be best getting the Metro out to Media City, there is also a Booths s/m there for you to mooch around.

silvasava

Oooh you lot - you're all making me want to take a trip oop North! I do want to visit that area - bought our old caravan from Southport & really liked the area. I also had a friend who had a holiday caravan in west yorkshire so travelled over that side to meet up with her. Think i'm going to add it to my bucket list along with Bristol (Isambard Brunel's ship) Glasgow (birth place of my Gran and Rennie Macintosh!) Edinburgh, Lindisfarne, etc etc etc lol!
Mega clearing out the last few weeks as its been fine weather. The garden is looking so much better as I've got rid of all the pots that were lurking with dead things in them. he greenhouse has been cleared and cleaned and surplus stuff on Freegle. Just need to power wash the slabs to really spruce it up.
Did an inventory of my freezer a few weeks ago - first time in 40 odd years!! My how it saves time and money! Working through the list slowly to make room for this years produce. Tonight's tea will be stir fry - chicken from the freezer and a punnet of YS veg plus the shavings from the bottom of the fridge.
Did finish the little pile of mending/alterations last week. - need to get on with making some new cushion covers for our sitting room. I have a bland beige carpet and bland beige suite but I change the cushion covers, hearth rug and accessories. At the moment its red which looks warm & welcoming. The room gets plenty of light so this year I'm going for a denim blue for the summer and I'll change it back to red for the winter - a quick and easy makeover!
Have a lovely time Jackie O - plenty of personal recommendations for you to investigate!

[Deleted User]

I remember visiting Buxton a couple of years ago with my friend when we were staying in a tiny place called Hope at the top of a very steep hill.Brilliant cottage, and one morning it was lovely and warm and we sat having breakfast and a lamb jumped through the window it had escaped from it Mum who was looking very plaintively over the fence for her baby.There were June and I, two ladies of a certain age, chasing a baby lamb aroud the sitting room trying to catch it .we did in the end although it was far more sprightly than we were :)Beautiful scenery in the peak district and I loved the victorian architecture in Buxton.I think its likely we will return there at some point. so many interesting spots to visit . it will be our third time in the north of England and every time we have discovered something new to look at, and the people are so friendly and helpful as well and they love to have a natter which is definitely right up our ginnel

RainbowHippie

Siebrie - thanks for the tip, i suspect you're right and he is sitting too low at his desk as he was complaining the other day that his office chair doesn't 'stay up' any more and keeps sinking down to its lowest setting! We will have to start scouring eb*y for a 'new' one for him, and i will mention to him about the correct height and positioning

JackieO - i'm sure you will have a wonderful time in Manchester, there's so much to see and do I'm also in the North West and also love Buxton for a nice day out, we often go for my mum's birthday as we both love a good rummage round the charity shops (much posher stuff than our local ones!) If you're ever looking for somewhere for lunch around Oxford Road (in Manchester city centre) the Whitworth art gallery has a nice little cafe with lovely views over the park it's set in.

Finally managed to mow the lawn yesterday, and minimised loads of weeds from the garden paths and patio. I've been making do with bean burger for almost every meal as OH really didn't like the last batch we made (his choice of recipe too!:rotfl:) i wasn't too keen on them as burgers, but broken into pieces and on a wrap with loads of salad, they are really rather good. Two left which will be my lunch and dinner tomorrow. OH has been making do with freezer meals. I'm about to set the washing machine in an attempt to dye some of our faded or marked clothes a nice dark red. Been putting it off as i'm really nervous about the outcome, fabric dye seems so expensive!! i suppose it will be worth it if it comes out well. wish me luck! x

osbornbiscuit

Hi Everyone.
Sorry I haven't been posting lately but I have been busy in the garden while the weather is good. Not sure about the forecast for later on this week when the talk is about snow and blizzards. Good job I should be able to put the pots and tubs in the garage for a short time. Love the recipe for the peanut butter cookies. It is on my to do list.
So...... I have been minimising the weeds and deadheading the flowers in the garden and sowing seeds but more with hope than certainity. Still going through my wool stash knitting for preemies. (it is so tempting when I see bargains to leave them in the shop). Took two large bags to charity shop. Anyone noticed that they seem to be putting their prices up. I try to keep an eye out for books on my 'to read' list but our local BHF has now put the price for paperbacks up to £2.00. I know that times are tough but from £1.00. then £1.50 and now £2.00 in the space of a couple of months. It just makes me stop going in there and I know I am not the only one. Still have a pile of stuff to put on that auction site.
Mend..... been trying to mend bridges with DIL who is due to give birth soon to my granddaughter and I stuck my twopennyworth in and it wasn't wanted or needed.
Make do........ Actually trying to plan meals for the week so a list is now stuck on freezer door to give me a clue as to what needs lifting out and when.
On a totally different note...... living up here in the north we seem to have a quaint custom that everyone who uses buses follows and I got very strange looks in London when I did it down there. Everyone when getting off the buses automatically says thank you to the bus driver. Does it happen anywhere else?
Hope the weather stays good for tomorrow. I have another 4 fence panels to paint.

misstara

osbornbiscuit wrote: »

On a totally different note...... living up here in the north we seem to have a quaint custom that everyone who uses buses follows and I got very strange looks in London when I did it down there. Everyone when getting off the buses automatically says thank you to the bus driver. Does it happen anywhere else?

Yep, I live in the north of Scotland and it's the same here.

Finally went and bought seeds for the garden although haven't actually planted them, will hopefully get a chance tomorrow. We have decided to try onions, carrots, lettuce and broccoli as well as some herbs.

Lindlou

I always say thank you to bus drivers and I notice a lot of other people do too and this is in Birmingham! Mainly older people tho'...

Athome1

I live in Coventry and most people -even the young'uns - thank the driver.
I've been planting avacodo stones (donated by daughter) for house plants and sprouting a sweet potato .. did this year before last with great success .. got about 7lbs from one potato. Am also having a go at growing ginger .. if it doesn't work, well it was only 20p at the local market ��Also I have grown some tomato plants from sliced toms - got the idea from pinterest. Finally am growing some early pots in bags .. growing well so far - fingers crossed.
I also agree that the charity shops are putting up their prices .. sadly that means I visit less and buy less.
Lovely to hear what everyone is doing x

[Deleted User]

I live in the Medway and everyone I know who gets on and off the bus thanks the driver,but as its mainly older people during the day thats perhaps why.

Bought some gorgeous wool at Bury market today at £1.00 per ball of 100gms,all different pale colours for my charity blankets Well worth the £8.00 and it will make a good few blankets for me when I mix 'n'match with the colours I already have. Fantastic market, and I am quite envious of folk who live in the north west

JackieO x