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The Garden Fence - proper Old Style support and chat!
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MingVase said:Bunting? BUNTING?? onna rare priceless artifact like moi? *shudder*2025 Fashion on the ration
150g sock yarn = 3 coupons
Lined trousers = 6 coupons ...total 9/66 used
2 t-shirts = 8 coupons
Trousers = 6 coupons ... total 23/66
2 cardigans = 10 coupons
Sandals = 5 coupons ... total 38/66
Nightie = 6 coupons
Sandals = 5 coupons ... total 49/666 -
Bunting would be lovely. Back when it became such a thing I seemed be endlessly cutting out and machining loads of bunting. I was very lucky to know of a source of all the lovely 60s, 70s and 80s tiny Dolly prints .I'd used those fabrics for years for clothes etc and original Liberty, Laura Ashley and other classic were a joy to use,Apart from Liberty there are few well known fabrics I'd buy now.Like the cotton mills, wool mills and clothing companies there is hardly any original british manufacturing these days.When we heard of all well known mames about to sell their brand names to China and other countries dd1 and I did a huge buying the original fabrics series of trips down to the outlet stores in Bicester and all the way up through Cheshire , Abakhan in Liverpool , through Cumbria , Yorkshire and Scotland.We got thre original Cath Kidston, Laura Ashley, White Co and many others for little money, One relief when lockdowns etc arrived is we had plenty of fabric. I have my threads and fabrics for counted cross stitch, Lots of paints and diy stuff. Knitting yarn , Seeds etc,It seems unknowingly I've been prepping for years for something I never expected. Food and everyday stuff is all I need from time to time I know many who don't intend to be in the shopping centres in the old way.I was a browser in nice shops and a shopper in big stores. I don't believe I will ever browse again. I have more than enough and looking at so many struggling in many ways I am lucky.Apart from a 25 year paid on the nail mortgage I have never borrowed or been in debt. I do feell lighter for stuff not being a priority. Having to slow down and having headspace to think has brought things in to focus.I have logged when and where I've been since the start in the diaries. I know I have not not been out as often as the past. It's possibly near home once a month at the moment to a local shop over the last few months. I've just focused on not catching the virus and infecting others.There are plenty of projects to get on with here if the weather will cooperate. Fences, furniture , ,containers etc to repaint outdoors and a complete been waiting years to install kitchen everything including sink,taps , cupboards worktops etc, Only things missing are the gas hob and slideaway electric oven I chose years ago which are still available but have altered over the years and are much more expensive now.Luckily everything else was bought a long time ago and has been stored well.Had my porridge earlier. I seem to be overloaded with milk sometimes which was rare in the past. Defrosted a pack of Lamb leg steaks yesterday and will oven cook lamb casserole some for today and the rest portioned for the freezer.Dumpling mix already done apart from the water and when chopping the parsley did plenty to freeze while I was using the electric chopper.Put some sultanas to soak last night for Delia Sultana Tea Bread. Will bake that later and have some as a hot pudding with custard to use up milk, milkman will be here crack of dawn tomorrow. Rest of the cake I'll eat as cake.I'm going to make a drink and set the regular washing machine descaling going. The water here is very hard so descaler was one of the things I really stocked up on.Have a good day if you can all. I'll go and check the plants and seedlings later. I have been seriously condsidering whether to move a few miles away to somewhere not so exposed to the teeth of the gales although there is a big shelter belt of trees and shrubs I planted in the mid 70s.A big house is fine with a big family but expensive to heat and maintain now.polyxIt is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness.
There but for fortune go you and I.6 -
Life seems to be life-long change Polly.
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MingVase said:Life seems to be life-long change Polly.Well I seem to have done a lot of thinking over the last few years. I don't remember ever having so much time to think deepy about things.Initiallly four offspring of two different generations kept me on my toes ,The awful ex took up years and the fact youngest seemed to arrive in the world with a Golden Ticket for the NHS took up lots of time and we could probably write a book on the architecture of hospitals and other NHS buildings of NW England.I think what kept things on track were those academic mid year diaries over decades that tracked every appt ,med, surgery ups and downs week in and week out. It worked because asked a question out would come the dairy with the answer.The thing now is the perfect home in 1975 and for decades afterwards isn't anymore.Nothing wrong with it apart from too far out from everything except Dr and a shop.Even before the virus the plan to move was in my mind. Just a couple of miles away and still in the surgery catchment area.I could contact a couple of my former firemen landlord friends who've offered to buy this house at full value as these are the properties young families are desperate to rent but there aren't many available.I would then have the choice of renting one of their properties at mates rates- they are lovely well cared for period properties or buying another in that area.Lots to think about. Life was easier when I was fit enough to drive. I'm not keen on busy shopping areas but the car did make things a lot easier.I'd have to pretty well dismantle two gardens there are decades of memories in the trees , shrubs .perennials .herbs , bulbs not to mention the arbour and all the wooden things even the wooden bird feeder , tubs and pots.Time for a brew methinks. I'll try a slice of Delia's still warm Sultana Loaf Cake just to check it's ok!pollyx
It is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness.
There but for fortune go you and I.7 -
Polly, as a family, we've clocked up 10 of the NE hospitals over the last few years. I feel a bit like you, we should have season tickets. 😏
I made a fruit loaf too, it's the Mrs Gordon's boil and bake fruit loaf from Delia's book of cakes. The book is now probably 40 ish years old and dropping to bits, but it's the one with recipes that work for me!2025 Fashion on the ration
150g sock yarn = 3 coupons
Lined trousers = 6 coupons ...total 9/66 used
2 t-shirts = 8 coupons
Trousers = 6 coupons ... total 23/66
2 cardigans = 10 coupons
Sandals = 5 coupons ... total 38/66
Nightie = 6 coupons
Sandals = 5 coupons ... total 49/666 -
MrsCD said:Polly, as a family, we've clocked up 10 of the NE hospitals over the last few years. I feel a bit like you, we should have season tickets. 😏
I made a fruit loaf too, it's the Mrs Gordon's boil and bake fruit loaf from Delia's book of cakes. The book is now probably 40 ish years old and dropping to bits, but it's the one with recipes that work for me!We got to the point where NHS staff would be inviting us to Christmas eventsIt seems we have the same Delia Smith's Book of Cakes. Mine's hardback not as huge as some of her books and I paid a whole £8.95 new in 1987.It is my go to for Cakes, Biscuits and so much more. No loose pages, it's still got the outer cover which is a little torn near the spine but under that the main covers and pages are good as new.I've been quite obsessive about good book storage and all my cookbooks and others dating from the early 70s are in good condition.That possibly dates back to when I was too young to join the library and would pester the staff for a ticket.Years later I did wonder why I didn;t choose to be a Librarian which was my childhood dream.No idea how many Sultana Loaf Cakes i made but that and some more of the recipies were either suitalble for youngest with food intolerences or could be adapted. The egg needed subbing in the Sultana cake but she could have the whole Oat Flapjacksas 30 odd years ago we'd discovered dairy free margarine.It tasted horrible to me but she had never tasted margarine or butter.Over 30 years ago Holland and Barrett started upping their game and one highlight for her was finding carob coated raisins looking like the chocolate raisins dd2 loved.That book was very good value compared to some with a lot of recipies.I treasure my Gary Rhodes ones for the same reason. If I had a £ for every pot of his Vegetarian Scotch Broth I've made over the years I'd be loaded. Although there's a non veggie version everyone prefers the veggie one.Lots of peeling and chopping but worth it ,Filling and healthy and keeps well in the fridge or frozen in batches.I'll probably be cooking that a lot with supply issues , rising costs and cuts.Just need the power to stay on.I have worn a path to the garage checking the thermometer on the big chest freezer and ckeck the big kitchen fridge too with another proper thermometer.Some things now remind me of the 70s and the winter of discontent. it's like advance warning for the future.pollyx
It is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness.
There but for fortune go you and I.6 -
Right..coming back to the cuprinol. used to be able to buy in bulk (25ltrs) when we had wooden stables. It was sucked up straight in to the wood like a gullysucker. Then elf n safety decided it was not to be and downgraded the stuff to dishwater levels. thankfully don't have the wood any more so not a problem. Think Ming would look great festooned in Laura Asley bunting.. any takers.
Incidentally some years ago went to look at a horsebox and it was next door to the famous Mr Morris's home (of Arts and Crafts fame).
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mehefin said:Right..coming back to the cuprinol. used to be able to buy in bulk (25ltrs) when we had wooden stables. It was sucked up straight in to the wood like a gullysucker. Then elf n safety decided it was not to be and downgraded the stuff to dishwater levels. thankfully don't have the wood any more so not a problem. Think Ming would look great festooned in Laura Asley bunting.. any takers.
Incidentally some years ago went to look at a horsebox and it was next door to the famous Mr Morris's home (of Arts and Crafts fame).The altering of paints etc was needed but so many companies got it very wrong which is why I switched to the the trade cenre where there were peope who knew what they were talking about.The nearest blue to my kettle lid was a Dulux heritage colour but Dulux had recently messed their paint up.I settled for Johnstones paint as I've used that before and both the indoor and outdoor pale blue paints were mixed in a white Johnstones paint and good value and still fine.William Morris was one of my faves. Before moving here in the 70sI had two rooms papered with a lovely Morris paper sadly on moving it wouldn't have looked right in a new build.Another real favourite is Charles Rennie Mackintosh. That's why there is Glasgow Rose as my Avater.I was lucky to visit the tea rooms and college and loved his style. People bought me silver Mackintosh Jewellry . The Mackintosh Rose is in the garden near Geoff Hamilton and Nye Bevan.We missed a planned visit with the first fire and the 2nd fire was hard to take. That day I thought I will never see things as they were again.Luckily these people live on in memory and do leave a legacy of their work.Now trying to imagine Mar festooned with bunting. At least she'll blame you rather than me for a change.pollyx
It is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness.
There but for fortune go you and I.6 -
I AM NOT BEING COVERED IN BUNTING!! I am a cool elegant piece of Art!
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have to be some seasonal flowers bunged in artfully arranged then7
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