The Garden Fence - proper Old Style support and chat!

-taff

Not the same but I've been moderating a Freecycle group for about 17 years. I'm getting a bit hacked off again now because the issues that were there at the start are still there now. To be honest, personally, I wouldn't use Freecycle ever again because it's just too much hassle. It's much easier to give it away some other way or throw it away. I think I've got Freecycle Fatigue. I reckon by the end of next week I'll have sent my resignation in.

As far as volunteering, I used to do that too and it's amazing how an organisation can persuade a rational human being that doing something for nothing is so good for the soul. Eventually, unless you have the disposition of an angel, you're going to get annoyed., furstrated, tired or ill. Little bit at a time Flo, dont go crazy doing too much. It is very rarely appreciated, because if it were really appreciated, you'd be being paid for the ingredients you use at least....I'm such a cynic these days.

pollyanna_26

-taff said:

Not the same but I've been moderating a Freecycle group for about 17 years. I'm getting a bit hacked off again now because the issues that were there at the start are still there now. To be honest, personally, I wouldn't use Freecycle ever again because it's just too much hassle. It's much easier to give it away some other way or throw it away. I think I've got Freecycle Fatigue. I reckon by the end of next week I'll have sent my resignation in.

As far as volunteering, I used to do that too and it's amazing how an organisation can persuade a rational human being that doing something for nothing is so good for the soul. Eventually, unless you have the disposition of an angel, you're going to get annoyed., furstrated, tired or ill. Little bit at a time Flo, dont go crazy doing too much. It is very rarely appreciated, because if it were really appreciated, you'd be being paid for the ingredients you use at least....I'm such a cynic these days.

Different charities, and other volunteering operate in different ways as you're probably aware Taff. We have the soup kitchen and seperate food bank and charity shop. There are clear guidlines for both volunteers and users from day 1 so everyone knows the rules from day one. A lot of food and other donations come in from locals and many shops, bakers etc. Dates are checked but there isn't much out of date and it can go in normal waste collection.

There is a large TT food and baby bank here. They too have training and guidelines and enough volunteers to process donations etc. They have info online about suitable donations and on the doors regarding food dates etc. If the SA don't that could be a solution. None of the charities here have to pay heavily for out of date food removal. There is very little because things are clear.

The SA here is on a large site on the outskirts of town . Along with the Citadel there's a large hall for events and feeding those in need.Cotton was King. That has lots of good quality well cared for furniture all the things to equip a home at a reasonable cost. There are clothes , shoes etc for all ages. They used to have a charity shop but did take everything inhouse to save costs.

We haven't been to their teashop for a number of years but last I heard they are doing very well in all ways.

They do have an online presence which is very clear and imformative.

It is very important that those in charge are clear about all aspects. I've never experienced people getting rid of rubbish in donations. Many new volunteers get confused by clothing and other textiles.In reality most of them are RAG,Unfit to wear or use but another source of income via the rag merchants who can make use of them.

I would feel taken advantage of in your situation Taff many organisations and charities aren't behaving in a professional manner.

Florence described a very ditterent situation to the one here, having to pay for out of date food to be taken away isn't common unless those in charge not the volunteers have failed to give clear guidelines and make sure they are enforced.

pollyx

MingVase

Anything involving a Committee makes me run for the hills and stay there  

Polly I've just finished a pretty wee bandana type scarf in trinity st, that's like moss st.  ( also called blackberry st)  Dropped a st right in the middle which left a hole, so I'll fix that when I block it.

-taff

I think it just burns me that those at the top are never short of a living wage...Volunteering used to be fun for me, I'd enjoy doing whatever it was, working in a charity shop, organising things, running stalls or whatever. I think I just got tired and disillusioned the more I looked at it. It's kind of like working for any company. For the first few months of new job, unless it's truly awful, I would have fun learning new things etc, then the longer I stay, the more I see what lies beneath and I'm out of love again....Good job I'm not working at the moment is all I can say. When I do go back, I'm going to channel a friend and just blag my way through. The friend did this, got to be CEO of a company...They talk a very good talk...

pollyanna_26

No idea why the laptop misses a line every now and then. Cotton was King refers to another large building from that era and houses all furniture , clothes etc.

 

I love all the variations of moss stitch Mar. A few years youngest knitted me a beautiful scarf for Christmas. Bright Red a colour I love. She asked me the name or code for the yarn I'd used for a cardigan a few years earlier. I had an idea it was now discontinued but managed to track down a full pack at bargain price online.

So she'd be knitting away I assumed for one of her friends though sometimes a bit secretive.

Christmas day she handed me some presents, a beautiful scarf. 6 varaitions of moss stitch either side with 14rows of garter stitch in between perfectly matched either side and she'd sewn two lovely large wooden floral buttons at each edge near the top and bottom.

I was lost for words and burst into tears. Don't you like it? I love it i'm just surprised . I knew she'd had to master some of those variations and it was so me I felt the young woman she was always meant to be  was now ok.

It's a nice even texture chunky. Seven and a half inches wide and Eight foot long - I kid you not. more of a stole really but I do wear it as a scarf in cold weather and it's very warm , cosy and quite unique.  There was also a bottle of my favourite Dr Bronner multi purpose and lasts for ages. She said there was something else but I'd have to wait a few days.

The something else was identical to her collection of a certain T Bag hat we'd never seen anyone else wearing. A chunkier softer yarn she'd hunted down by the same shade no. Not Moss but stocking stitch with a row of garter stich every few rows and a ribbed turn back edge. Both are in perfect conditiion, much used and treasured and well worth all the You can do this love, just watch what I'm doing days.

Knitting, other crafts, cooking and baking  plus growing some very impressive indoor plants at her boyfriends has saved her mental health since she was ordered to shield by Superdoc late Feb last year. She was in the surgery for the first time since then this week to start going through all the checks and tests that had been affected over the months. Superdoc did her flu jab while she was there so she had to cancel the one in town now it's done.

Most heartening was she went to the surgery on her own in a hackney and home in one. Her BF was working, I'd offered to go but she took that big scary step and nipped into the little Coop she hadn't been in since that Feb appt last year and bought Chocolate Kelly's ice cream to celebrate.

OS ways have really helped her during the pandemic. She knows the stories of how my family coped during WW2 , Make do and Mend , Cooking from what you had , Bartering . All sorts .According to my Auntie Joan she remembers  a  lot of potato cakes. My dad was at sea but both Grandads kept up all three allotments with a couple of fierce dogs , copious amounts of rusty barbed wire and a dog or two. All four grandparents were from Ireland and had worjked the lands so potato cakes were a staple. No idea where the flour came from  but there was a lot of bartering and the grandads had hens and a couple cockerels and bartered eggs. There were a few tales of shares in a pig. It''s what got me into social history listening on the little footstool by the fire drinking cocoa and toasting bread on the toasting fork hoping no one would senf me to bed in the middle of an interesting tale. Happy Days.

pollyx

MingVase

That is a lovely post Polly xxx

LameWolf

Polly, thanks for asking - I'm not currently able to knit, it's just too painful. But my new rheumy has ordered up every appropriate test she can think of, so we'll see where we go once she has all the results in front of her.

I'm still able to do a little cross stitch and card-making, and I'm currently about to start my online refresher course on First Aid for Dogs.

I also have a 5-month-old Cockerpoo coming in on Sunday for a six-day stay, so that should be fun.

Hard_Up_Hester

Wonderful post Polly, so lovely to hear about your youngest and about your childhood.

prepareathome

LameWolf said:

Polly, thanks for asking - I'm not currently able to knit, it's just too painful. But my new rheumy has ordered up every appropriate test she can think of, so we'll see where we go once she has all the results in front of her.

I'm still able to do a little cross stitch and card-making, and I'm currently about to start my online refresher course on First Aid for Dogs.

I also have a 5-month-old Cockerpoo coming in on Sunday for a six-day stay, so that should be fun.

I had to give up knitting for that reason - took about 10 years before I accepted it, knitting less and less until I could not even knit for a few seconds without pain, had knitted since I was 5 so was hard to accept.  I was going mad not being able to create anything but at first everything seemed to cause hand pain as they all involved repetitive hand movements.  Then saw someone mention machine sewing and so hand a look at videos and saw not so much repetitiveness in using one so put a call out on FB and after a few months someone kindly offered their old machine they had. had since 1970s which was still in great condition.   

This was August 2018 and I went to You tube (hadn't used it much before) and first learnt how to use the machine and fix basic problems then how to sew - I joked with family that I will make my dress for younger son's wedding in Aug 2019.  I plunged in and went kind of mad and made everything except bras, learning as I went - was lucky via freecycle again getting fabric so plenty to practise with.  I choose the days I cut out patterns, do a few together on good days then they might sit there a while and then cut everything out (or keep going until pain or fatigue hits).  Then sew on an overbed table now - not using the 1970s machine as to heavy but a nice modern lightweight that does lots of fancy stitches that family bought me for Christmas 2018. The older one is great for heavier fabrics and quilt making so gets used on the good days I can be out of bed for a while.  Don't have an overlocker and no interest in buying one as happy to finish all edges with sewing machine and trimming and I choose the finish so not all insides the same plus would not trust myself not to sew away merrily and find I have mis-sewn and cut away to much or fabric in the wrong place.

 I don't find the pain anywhere near as bad when sewing as not constantly doing the same movements over and over as did for knitting, crochet, cross-stitch or hand-sewing.  Oh yes, I did make a silk and lace dress for the wedding, nothing fancy I let the fabric do the shining rather than style.  Actually, started me on the path of learning about historical clothing construction which I find fascinating although not made anything yet as nowhere to wear them but granddaughter who we became kinship carers for is getting married in 2023 and has said she hopes I will make and wear an historical costume for it for me - not attempting her wedding dress.   Bless her she knows how much I want to have a go but think a corset would be bought as not attempted that as not sure hands would cope as that is repetitive hand work with the boning.

LameWolf

Wow, @prepareathome that's fantastic! I can just about sew a button on, and that's my limit! Although I did make my own COVID face masks, with elastic going round the back of my head and neck, as I can't abide ear-loops.

I hope to get back to knitting at some point, even if it's only one row at a time, as I have a partially-made cardi using lovely wool I bought at Swaledale Woolens when we visited Yorkshire a couple of years ago, and I want to finish it. Unfortunately, it's blackberry stitch, which is a blighter to do when your paws aren't too good.