2022 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

florianatwobob

I have a spend to declare of sandals suitable for work but really suitable for life as I really object to spending money on clothes (and coupons) on clothes that are just work specific!

Being the grand-daughter of a shoe maker and repairer and as I also do a lot of walking I do like a robust sole. I also tend to go from boots to sandals and totally bypass shoe wearing season. To this end I have purchased more Fly L0ndon footwear! Although more expensive than some shoes they wear and repair well so I know I’ll be wearing these for years  

PollyWollyDoodle

They’re nice, I have some Fly London boots and they are very comfortable. 

I really need some new black shoes, the ones I wear for work (only when I have to dress up, and usually only for an hour or so) are causing me problems. They are low heeled court shoes, but I’m finding them very uncomfortable.  I know that really I need a lace up or a Mary jane style, ballet pumps and court shoes are very bad for your feet. 

Laura_Elsewhere

@PipneyJane, here you are, I've left the bowl (of leftover jam that wouldn't fit into the jars) in the Village Hall kitchen for you! Help yourself...

(The jam in the photo is runny because it's only just cool enough to eat!)

First time I've tried mixing the strawbs with the sugar and leaving overnight - they were sitting in a pint of liquid by morning, but it certainly seems to have resulted in decent jam... so hurrah for reduced-price strawbs, and hurrah for interesting old techniques - the jam tastes so strawberryish that even Mr E with his damaged sense of taste can taste it! 

Just under 4 lbs of jam, and we ate another pound of them last night... the jam sugar was sent to us some years back by the sugar-makers as a thankyou after we let them know that a Major Supermarket had all the sugar-company's promotional banners but the shelves were actually stocked with the competitor's sugar...  so we emailed with a photo and the sugar company sent us a box containing one of every single thing they made - I think that's almost all of it used up now... 

So the strawbs were about £3.50 for 3lbs, the sugar was free, a bit of OPLJ bottled lemon juice, call it 20p, and some electricity and hot water rounding it up to say £4 for 4lbs of very good-flavoured jam, not bad at all... 

PipneyJane

Ohhh!!!! Yummy!!!  Thank you so much @Laura_Elsewhere.  I am thoroughly spoilt!

In many respects, this week is considerably better than last.  I took the time on Sunday to update my CV and applied for two jobs:  one that looks like it was created for me, and another that I could certainly do.  Felt very conflicted as I did them - I like the people I work with A LOT - but now, it feels like everything is in the hands of Fate and a load has been lifted.

- Pip



PS:  @Liverpool_Anne did you make it to the match on Saturday?  We were in the end where the penalties were taken, high up in the gods.  Good view if you wanted to understand tactics.  The first half was definitely a master class from Liverpool in how to play attacking football, while the second showed up Chelsea's weaknesses.  (I was so far under the jack-boot of work, that I didn't think to message you before hand, re possibly meeting up.  Sorry. Brain was in total fog.)

Nonnadiluca

Jam looks lovely Laura. I've just foraged the first elderflowers of the year so elderflower cordial to be made,; there's nothing nicer on a hot day!

Cherryfudge

I thought I could smell something delicious! Jam! Oh my, it smells like summer in here!

Elderflowers too! Ours aren't out yet, but I know they're on the way.

@PipneyJane, I went through similar with my job and it felt as though my going for an interview elsewhere made people sit up and take notice as I then got a meeting with senior people about some concerns I had. I didn't get the job and things have moved on in my current place, but I felt the same about leaving people behind. I did slip a few possible job adverts in certain people's direction, though!

PipneyJane

Nonnadiluca said:

Jam looks lovely Laura. I've just foraged the first elderflowers of the year so elderflower cordial to be made,; there's nothing nicer on a hot day!

If you aren't lucky enough to have a reliable supply of elderflowers, L!dl are selling elderflower cordial at a reasonable price, £1.69 for 500ml, when I bought it at the end of March.  (Naturally, being L!dl, there's no guarantee that it will be in stock now.)

- Pip

Laura_Elsewhere

I always buy my elderflower cordial, because we have some but not masses of elder within easy reach, so I prefer to let it go on to become elderberries, because we take elderberry syrup every morning, year-round, and it's much more difficult to buy that than it is to buy elderflower cordial!  

florianatwobob

PollyWollyDoodle said:

They’re nice, I have some Fly London boots and they are very comfortable. 

I really need some new black shoes, the ones I wear for work (only when I have to dress up, and usually only for an hour or so) are causing me problems. They are low heeled court shoes, but I’m finding them very uncomfortable.  I know that really I need a lace up or a Mary jane style, ballet pumps and court shoes are very bad for your feet. 

Thanks Polly, I have a couple of pairs of Fly boots (black ones and reddish purple ones) and a couple of pairs of sandals (white and brown). 

I have struggle with office shoes as court shoes are blooming uncomfortable. I used to keep a pair under my desk at work but now I mostly work from home so when I am in the office carrying another pair of shoes along with my laptop, notepad, lunch, water bottle/mug, pencil case seems rather impractical. 

Nonnadiluca

There's several elder trees near our allotment, DD has one in her garden and there's quite a few on our various dog walking routes - it's obviously a good area for them. It means I can just take a few at a time, leaving most behind. I've copied your recipe for elderberry syrup Laura, and will have a go at that this year.