The Garden Fence - proper Old Style support and chat!

MandM90

@pollyanna_26 what a lovely post! 
 @prepareathome you are a marvel! I haven't got my sewing machine out in nearly two years. The mannequin in the garage makes me feel guilty whenever I venture in. I would love to start again but this pregnancy is wiping me out and between full time work, the kids, French class and book club I'm probably hobbied out for the time being. I will need to make some curtains for the house though. Not the most exciting of projects but very satisfying!

pollyanna_26

LameWolf said:

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.

Is that the Fisherman's cardi Wolfie? I remember that from the Poor Health thread - I really must get back on there. Blackberry stitch is my favourite but with Arthritis and Fibro it takes some effort physically and the fibro fog isn't good for concentration. It has been very foggy lately and I'm constantly checking what day it is on the laptop to function.

It's one of those need to pace and accept at the moment situations frustrating but it is as it is until things ease and point.less mentally beating ourselves up. I can still do the counted cross stitch but need to concentrate on the charts. I do focus as much as possible on the fact there are things I can do and try not to dwell on those I struggle with at times.

I'm glad you're still able to do your cards I know how important they are to you. Don't know if I've mentioned it before myself and youngest are great fans of " The Man in The Hat" She has the necklace from the emporium. " I atent dead yet" Whenever she wears it I think of you. She's had it for quite a few years and Superdoc always says " So I see ". He is a big part of why she is still here without him she probably wouldn't be. If I could have one wish it would be he could be cloned for all those who needed an amazing GP in their corner. I suggested it but he reckons the weight of all the different hats he already wears would finish him off.

pollyxx

pollyanna_26

Forgot to say I hope the new Rheumy is able to find ways to improve the situation Wolfy. You'll be waiting for your latest house guest so I hope the weather behaves, you can get out and about that's what feeds your soul and spirit so enjoy.

pollyxx

pollyanna_26

It's good to see you here prepare at home. It's nearly 10 years since I joined your How to be OS with poor health thread. That wasn't the exact title but it was the purpose of the thread. I always wondered how you were when it suddenly ended but years later decided to start a similar OS thread having checked there wasn't one in existence.

Part one was very busy with lots of hints and tips so when I started Part 2 shortly before the pandemic it was linked to the first.

It's been quieter a lot of the time as we all started adjusting to a new normal but I will go back now youngest has all the medical catching up underway and thngs are much clearer although a few have already been altered dates wise. Hopefully I'll have time now I'm not chasing up long overdue delayed appointments.

Take care

pollyx

boultdj

@LameWolf, I don't know if there are any EMMETT practitioner's near you, but it might be worth trying as there are a few moves to help with grip.

pollyanna_26

MandM90 said:

@pollyanna_26 what a lovely post! 
 @prepareathome you are a marvel! I haven't got my sewing machine out in nearly two years. The mannequin in the garage makes me feel guilty whenever I venture in. I would love to start again but this pregnancy is wiping me out and between full time work, the kids, French class and book club I'm probably hobbied out for the time being. I will need to make some curtains for the house though. Not the most exciting of projects but very satisfying!

It sounds as though you've got more than enough on your plate at the moment MandM90. My sewing machines have been waiting to be checked for a long time. The Quilting one seems ok but not the Everyday one. They were serviced every year by the husban in the wool shop I used to use. He sold and maintained machines and his wife sold the yarn , buttons etc. Lovely people and a lovely little shop that had been there for decades but they retired shortly before the pandemic. There were at least 4 other wool shops but they went too.

I have a friend who bought a little period terrace in the nearby village sewing shop downstairs where she did makes, repairs and sewing lessons. She managed to fit in a little outdoor tearoom at the back and upstairs is her home All furnishings etc are second hand, renovated and painted in pretty pastel colours.

Early last years we were sewing scrubs for our local NHS trust when it bacame obvious the ones issued were unfit for purpose.

Very lucky a lot of people funded fabric etc. Former football players and Managers live in this area and didn't even need asking for help they just stepped up.

My friend has finally heard from a well known in this area sewing machine man willing to overhaul our machines at the shop so it's just a matter of setting a date.

 

I too have curtains on the back burner the windows here are very tall and wide and I make full length ones.Back when Cath Kidston , Laura Ashley and many others were selling their brand name to China dd1 and I travelled all the way to the outlet shops in Bicester from the NW. Rolls of Laura Ashley and Cath Kidston fabric for next to nothing. As expected after the selling of the names quality went downhill so a bargain buy.

Later rolls of original Cath Kidston Boats blue and white fabric from a shop in Liverpool very low price.

I doubt such bargains would be possible now but we were guided by some strange Spidey Sense. I had my eye on some White Company Linen fabric for a long time but it was way out of budget. Eventually I treated myself to two of their big cushions in the fabric.

A few years later I was trawling through the site and that very expensive fabric was affordable so back to the delivery man with large rolls. I couldn't work out why it was so cheap, couldn't see any flaws. A while later it came up as Archived something Liberty often do. So the Rose fabric was back a while ago not reduced and Liberty were doing reductions , archiving then bringing back.

There was a lovely company selling lovely ditsy country style fabrics at a good price , she managed to get me a very big roll to cover an entire wall. Very low price per metre and extra wide. I haven't found her online recently but don't really need fabric.If I live to be 100 I doubt I'll need more.

pollyx

MandM90

Polly I come from not far from Bicester but am now closer to the NW (albeit across the water !)

I must must must get these curtains sorted. They don't really block any light and certainly don't contain heat and eventually it'll be the two younger childrens room. I'm going to set myself a challenge to measure up and try and budget for them this coming week. I wish I had time to go to warehouses and sales right now but realistically it won't happen. I don't know if I've mentioned but DH doesn't drive for health reasons so I also do all the school and nursery runs and service any other transport needs. It probably saves us a fortune as we have always made do with one car but it is a pain. The joke of it is he gets 7.5k a year car allowance and I get none ...luckily it's in cash so we treat it as part of salary and continue to drive sensible secondhand cars whilst all his colleagues drive around in flashy things that require a monthly payment! Oof, I'm rambling.

We spent very little this weekend. Tesco, fuel and getting car MOT'd. I noticed national trust direct debit escaped this morning, we need to go more so I'm going to see if the in laws want to meet us at Castle Ward next week. They are big drinkers and I'm forever trying to figure out ways to meet that they can't work a pub in somehow. It's expensive and if I mention our budget they insist on paying...I just don't want to go at all! When I invite them round they bring a huge coolbag with wine and beer and I feel like a terrible host with my one bottle (but also miffed they can't attend a casual lunch without boozing!!)

MingVase

Sorry for being MIA, my vaseness has been resting today. Hopefully back to normal tomorrow.

pollyanna_26

MandM90 said:

Polly I come from not far from Bicester but am now closer to the NW (albeit across the water !)

I must must must get these curtains sorted. They don't really block any light and certainly don't contain heat and eventually it'll be the two younger childrens room. I'm going to set myself a challenge to measure up and try and budget for them this coming week. I wish I had time to go to warehouses and sales right now but realistically it won't happen. I don't know if I've mentioned but DH doesn't drive for health reasons so I also do all the school and nursery runs and service any other transport needs. It probably saves us a fortune as we have always made do with one car but it is a pain. The joke of it is he gets 7.5k a year car allowance and I get none ...luckily it's in cash so we treat it as part of salary and continue to drive sensible secondhand cars whilst all his colleagues drive around in flashy things that require a monthly payment! Oof, I'm rambling.

We spent very little this weekend. Tesco, fuel and getting car MOT'd. I noticed national trust direct debit escaped this morning, we need to go more so I'm going to see if the in laws want to meet us at Castle Ward next week. They are big drinkers and I'm forever trying to figure out ways to meet that they can't work a pub in somehow. It's expensive and if I mention our budget they insist on paying...I just don't want to go at all! When I invite them round they bring a huge coolbag with wine and beer and I feel like a terrible host with my one bottle (but also miffed they can't attend a casual lunch without boozing!!)

I've always sewn cotton linings for my curtains, I mostly make pencil pleat. During extra cold weather years ago and also the days when the sun woke everyone too early I decided to make blackout linings to add to the headings when needed and take off when not.

A search in Dunelm revealed both thermal and thermal blackout fabric by the metre but a member of staff showed me ready mades on offer  for less than the cost of the fabric. They just hook onto headings and one type are suitable for tab tops.  They're still going strong years on and can be left in place all year round or usedwhen needed . Might they be an affordable option to add to your existing curtains? I've seen similar on the big river site and others, no idea what they're like but all options could be ordered online which should be a better option for you.We're not a family of big drinkers , I haven't drunk alcohol for decades and youngest can't because of her medications but doesn't feel she's missing out.

I can't stand people who are all top show. My beloved much missed Auntie  Joan used to call it Fur Coat and no Knickers. I was lucky to be raised Old Style with a lot of relatives. Learned from Grandads  Aunts , Uncles and of course Mum and Dad. Auntie Joan taught me how to plaster a wall , hang wallpaper and mend all sorts , make clothes and curtains . Mum was baking , knitting and how to look after the house. Dad and Grandads gardening and Dad cooking too as he retrained as a chef after the war.Mum was a good cook but he explained all the science and was more adventurous. Garlic wasn't a common sight in the 50s but dad and the grandads each grew it along with many herbs. I think the grandads went to the market or hotels but Dad cooked with his. I feel very grateful for how I was raised and it came in very useful in tougher times.

BTW I'm not sleepless in fact I'm about to nod off. 2am woken by the landline which is very unusual. Semi hysterical older cousin in Oz letting me know she's just become a great grandma  and the twins are identical , well and healthy. It's been a worry for the nine months due to the pandemic but they and mum are fine

At some point she may realise midday in her neck of the woods is 2am here however she and her husband sailed to Oz the day after their wedding in the 50s on the £10 migrant passages and she's more Aus than English now.

Busy day ahead so need to put the light off.

pollyx

MingVase

I wish I'd had that kind of childhood Polly, sounds perfect. My mum like me hated cooking and stuck to a few tried and tested things, mainly broth, lamb stovies and mince n tatties. Never any pudding. I loved school dinners because they were different, couldn't understand why everybody moaned

She did sew though, on an old Singer treadle. All my skirts and dresses plus curtains etc. I can't sew and hate it with a passion.