2021 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

dolly84

PipneyJane said:

dolly84 said:

Thank you everyone for all your good advice and wisdom.  We have no choice but to get through this.  DD did teach herself crochet and embroidery this year and she is rather good, I have asked her to teach me to crochet but it hasn't happened, I will mention it again today as I want to make some facial cleansing cloths, anything that stops her spending 12 hours (no joke) in her bedroom talking to her boyfriend.

My second jacket arrived but is going back as it is way too tight but I did find the most gorgeous coat on ebay, brand new but pre-owned and that should be with me next week, at this rate I will have spent all my coupons this month.

Good morning, Dolly.  I can’t remember if you’re deliberately counting second-hand purchases as part of your challenge, but normally, pre-owned stuff is coupon free even if it’s “Brand New With Tags”.

Good luck with the crochet.

- Pip

I am counting second hand as almost everything I buy is previously owned if not actually worn.

My leggings arrived today, I am definitely keeping the yoga pair so will add the 2 coupons for those to my total but I am undecided about the other regular style pair.

dolly84

basketcase said:

  @dolly84 having just caught up, I do sympathise with you. You've received a lot of good advice from the Mending Ladies already.  Perhaps my experience from 'the other side' will give you a little comfort?

  My DD had much the same fears as yours, but in her case they were exacerbated by her suffering from anxiety and depression.  She didn't think any employer would ever accept her qualifications (which include an MSc) because everybody else would be better.  I seemed to spend hours every day - no, I did spend them - hugging while she sobbed, brushing her hair (it comforted her and stopped her from pulling it) and telling her that she was wrong and they would.  Her condition meant that she didn't believe me, couldn't see the end and often produced snappy "it's alright for you" type comments.

  They did accept her qualifications, of course.  She was "just the type of candidate we're looking for".  Now, if she's looking to change her job, her chief grumble is "I don't know why they ask for all these educational details.  It's a complete waste of time.  They're not remotely interested in anything I did before my Masters - not even that sometimes!"  She's not in medicine, but she is in a specialised, non-scientific and highly competitive field.

  She's also apologised for all the snappiness etc and thanked me for keeping it up, because it really helped and was appreciated, even if she couldn't show it.  So stick with it.

  This will probably sound stupid, but is there a way you can get her to laugh?  Watch a programme together, crack a silly joke, anything?  Laughing produces the same physiological reactions as crying.  Plus it's a way of keeping the bonds strong, is far less wearing for both of you and can make bad situations feel more bearable.  Or perhaps that's just me.

Thanks for taking the time to share that, I really do appreciate everything everyone has contributed.  The only problem is DD literally hates me and thinks I am the scum of the earth so despite my best efforts she will barely speak to me, all her anger and frustration with the world is taken out on me.  Oh well I just have to hope she grows out of it.

dolly84

Wraithlady said:

PipneyJane said:

Hello @OWD_nana.  Cup of tea?  Piece of cake?  I think it's still ginger cake in the tin. 

- Pip

I'll bring in some chocolate cake next week when I do my baking day - some Yank was telling me his mother used to make cakes with apple sauce (puree) instead of eggs. Sounds worth a try.  

I'm vegan and regularly use apple sauce instead of eggs but only in cakes, buns or muffins that I actually want to have an apple flavour, so apple and blackberry muffins or spice cake for example.

PollyWollyDoodle

Oh dear, @dolly84 that must be really exhausting to live with. I hope you know underneath that she doesn’t really hate you.  It’s because you’re the nearest person to hand, and also because she feels safe projecting all her anger and frustration on to you. We don’t bother hating someone we don’t care about. These are such difficult times, and she sounds really miserable, it must be hard for you not to be able to help her. 

skogar

Hello Wraithlady.

If you are short of eggs and want to make a chocolate cake from things you would probably have in the cupboard the cockeyed cake from Peg Bracken's I Hate to Cook book may be of interest. I have an ancient copy of the paperback which was my Gran's and is dropping to bits. She instructs to mix it all together in the cake tin but i think it works better mixed and poured into the tin., I don't use a tin the same shape as the recipe. If you wanted a bigger cake you would probably need 2 layers.

http://www.lostamericanrecipes.com/2019/02/peg-brackens-cockeyed-chocolate-cake.html

The only thing I've out the book is the whisky cake - it's a very funny book although quite a number of the recipes have condensed soup in I seem to remember.

Couldsavemore

@dolly84
She doesn't hate you. She knows she can take it out on you because you love her enough to still be there tomorrow.

Its really hard for all the kids not in school as its so much more than just the education. All they get on remote is the education side so all of the pressure and non of the fun. Teenagers are massively social creatures, They do need to find themselves as they move towards adulthood.
I think a lot of time of my A level years was spent at the stables, in the pub, at saturday jobs and gabbing in the corridors / free periods etc, swimming lengths and running. 

I think we're going to see a lot of mental health problems coming through due to remote learning. 
Perhaps call the college to ask what they can offer to support her.
Could they offer a 'remote corridor' so students could gab between lessons? 'office hours' where students could check in with staff to discuss bits of work or questions. could they do random fun activities through the students union such as 'pub quizzes' or set up daft challenges.
Perhaps the college has therapist who could speak to her.

Shutting the schools will bring as many problems as solves. 

Couldsavemore

I'll bring in some chocolate cake next week when I do my baking day - some Yank was telling me his mother used to make cakes with apple sauce (puree) instead of eggs. Sounds worth a try.  

I'm vegan and regularly use apple sauce instead of eggs but only in cakes, buns or muffins that I actually want to have an apple flavour, so apple and blackberry muffins or spice cake for example.

75g of dried prunes, soak in 2 tablespoons of boiled water for 15 minutes then liquidise. Works the same as 2 eggs but not as sweet as apple sauce. This is what goes into my chocolate cake.

I use apple sauce in ginger cake.

I also like to put it into my curried parsnip and butternut squash soup.

I've had to build myself a time machine to get certain food items. I may be prepared to sew my own skirts and buy second hand but I'm not giving up my avocado salsa!

Laura_Elsewhere

Couldsavemore said:

I've had to build myself a time machine to get certain food items. I may be prepared to sew my own skirts and buy second hand but I'm not giving up my avocado salsa!

But do tell us - how long should we fry it for?  

Hasn't the world changed since 1942, in so many ways? I mean my Gran in 1942 would have recognised much of her Gran's world of 79 years earlier in 1863, but been very glad they'd invented marvels like electric light, indoor plumbing of various kinds, the motor car and telegrams and the wireless.... I'm not sure most young mothers today (Gran was in her 30s wth a 3-yr-old in 1942) would recognise much at all of 1942! 

Couldsavemore

My dad was born at tge start of the war and my mam at the end. Both have known rationing and budgeting. My mam was a great at sewing and still helps me but hasn't tge heart to do it herself (or young kids to make clotges for)
My mam was in her term poor. She remembers the toilet at the end of the yard... which men came to clean out as there weren't any sewers...
And when her shoes were to small lokking for 'new shoes' in the pile of previously out grown shoes behind the couch.
Her younger siblings selpt in open drawers not cots and sharing a double bed with 2 other siblings.
All my grandparents lived through 2 world wars and spanish flu... kinda explains why Gran was such a battle axe.

Couldsavemore

But do tell us - how long should we fry it for?  ...

Well it depends on the size and type of the italian you caught... I'd recomend spit roasting over frying... they tend to do the flamenco in the frying pan