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2024 Fashion On The Ration Challenge
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Nelliegrace said:@Sarahspangles, did you never wind a ball skein of wool from a skein on your knees? It would have been easier if one of the other ladies had held the skein, but they are all too busy, anxious, isolated in their thoughts, focused on their war work. They have all turned up and a few more, so one is perched on a chair arm and one standing to knit. There is no conversation, no table set for a cup of tea, just a huge pile of wool to be knitted. The room had no pictures, no flowers, but is coloured in solemn army khaki, navy blue and airforce blue. One thin, pale, sad woman in black and grey has paused and looks at the artist. I wonder if she is of the many superfluous women who lost someone in the Great War, does her look say, “We have seen this all before.” I have just noticed that she is the one reflected in the mirror.2025 remaining: 37 coupons from 66:
January (29): winter boots, green trainers, canvas swimming-shoes (15); t-shirt x2 (8); 3m cotton twill (6);
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2025 second-hand acquisitions (no coupons): None thus far
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2025 needlework- *Reverse-couponing*:11 coupons :
January: teddybear-lined velvet jacket (11) & hat (0); velvet sleep-mask (0);9 -
Sarahspangles said:Nelliegrace said:@Sarahspangles, did you never wind a ball skein of wool from a skein on your knees? It would have been easier if one of the other ladies had held the skein, but they are all too busy, anxious, isolated in their thoughts, focused on their war work. They have all turned up and a few more, so one is perched on a chair arm and one standing to knit. There is no conversation, no table set for a cup of tea, just a huge pile of wool to be knitted. The room had no pictures, no flowers, but is coloured in solemn army khaki, navy blue and airforce blue. One thin, pale, sad woman in black and grey has paused and looks at the artist. I wonder if she is of the many superfluous women who lost someone in the Great War, does her look say, “We have seen this all before.”
Your interpretation makes it very real. When we cleared my parents’ house we found an envelope that must have been my great grandmother’s with a photograph, medal, the dreaded telegram and the follow up letter from an officer. Trooper Bell didn’t even make it to the front because his ship was sunk. Though nobody now living remembers him, it’s hard to dispose of things like that.
@Sarahspangles, we will remember Trooper Bell on Armistice Day. I promise that to you and to your Great Grandmother.
He won’t be forgotten. I have a special bottle of sherry stashed away. We’ll raise a glass to Trooper Bell and to my great uncles Manny and Sam (who both died at Gallipoli), and Mark (who died on the Western Front).
- Pip
ETA: If anyone would like to add a name to the Much Mending On The Borrow War Memorial, please PM me and I will do a special post listing their names on 11th November; Unless otherwise requested, I will keep the proposer anonymous."Be the type of woman that when you get out of bed in the morning, the devil says 'Oh crap. She's up.'
It ain’t what you do, it’s the way that you do it - that’s what gets results!
2025 Fashion on the Ration Challenge 66 coupons - 39.5 spent.
4 - Thermal Socks from L!dl
4 - 1 pair "combinations" (Merino wool thermal top & leggings)
6 - Ukraine Forever Tartan Ruana wrap
22 - yarn
1.5 - sports bra
2 - leather wallet13 -
If you want to pass items like those of Trooper Bell along, please remember places like the Imperial War Museum and Eden Park (in Yorkshire).8
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weenancyinAmerica said:If you want to pass items like those of Trooper Bell along, please remember places like the Imperial War Museum and Eden Park (in Yorkshire).
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weenancyinAmerica said:If you want to pass items like those of Trooper Bell along, please remember places like the Imperial War Museum and Eden Park (in Yorkshire).
- Pip"Be the type of woman that when you get out of bed in the morning, the devil says 'Oh crap. She's up.'
It ain’t what you do, it’s the way that you do it - that’s what gets results!
2025 Fashion on the Ration Challenge 66 coupons - 39.5 spent.
4 - Thermal Socks from L!dl
4 - 1 pair "combinations" (Merino wool thermal top & leggings)
6 - Ukraine Forever Tartan Ruana wrap
22 - yarn
1.5 - sports bra
2 - leather wallet5 -
broncis said:weenancyinAmerica said:If you want to pass items like those of Trooper Bell along, please remember places like the Imperial War Museum and Eden Park (in Yorkshire).Welcome to Much Mending. Please take a seat by the fire and let me make you a cup of tea. ( It’s a fresh pot.). Do tell us about yourself.
- Pip"Be the type of woman that when you get out of bed in the morning, the devil says 'Oh crap. She's up.'
It ain’t what you do, it’s the way that you do it - that’s what gets results!
2025 Fashion on the Ration Challenge 66 coupons - 39.5 spent.
4 - Thermal Socks from L!dl
4 - 1 pair "combinations" (Merino wool thermal top & leggings)
6 - Ukraine Forever Tartan Ruana wrap
22 - yarn
1.5 - sports bra
2 - leather wallet7 -
Bu*ger lost my post.
I was saying that I had "commandeered" mums moth eaten cashmere cardigan still in otherwise excellent condition (I am the biggest of the daughters, also it is not the others style either - suits me fine) as it is now too big for her as she is shrinking quite rapidly. I need to learn how to embroider flowers/stars for the repairs which seem to be down one side of the cardi. I'm not sure of my skills of the invisible repairs that I have seen done by a self taught Japanese person. Their work is remarkable.
I had also been gifted a new M&S cardigan from a friend who had recently lost her mum. Her mum had gifted me an underskirt earlier in the year as I love underskirts and it was at the time helping her "reduce" her clothing collection. I have further since received 2 more waist underskirts. That is me sorted for a very long time.
The disassemble of an old pair of pillowcases that my grandma and myself had hand stitched including the French seams brought back memories and the purpose of reusing items into something new. The lace from each end has been saved for the next new pair sometime in the future.
I hope there is some good light by the fire so I can give the cardigan a new life.
2 Scratters xxAnything is better than nothing-check back and see
On the declutter journey since 2023 with Mrs SD. Tilly Tidy since 2023.9 -
Keep it under your hat, ladies, but Wrose the grocers has some good chocolate on offer. Proper dark chocolate without that ersatz soya stuff that is being added by profiteers nowadays. I have had to trim the brand name off this 1940 ad, because now it would be dishonest.
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@Nelliegrace, it doesn't take much to persuade me that chocolate is food!I think a bit of sunshine is good for frugal living. (Cranky40)
The sun's been out and I think I’m solar powered (Onebrokelady)
Fashion on the Ration 2025: Fabric 2, men's socks 3, Duvet 7.5, 2 t-shirts 10, men's socks 3, uniform top 0, hat 0, shoes 5 = 30.5/68
2024: Trainers 5, dress 7, slippers 5, 2 prs socks (gift) 2, 3 prs white socks 3, t-shirts x 2 10, 6 prs socks: mostly gifts 6, duvet set 7.5 = 45.5/68 coupons
20.5 coupons used in 2020. 62.5 used in 2021. 94.5 remaining as of 21/3/228 -
weenancyinAmerica said:If you want to pass items like those of Trooper Bell along, please remember places like the Imperial War Museum and Eden Park (in Yorkshire).2024 Fashion on the Ration - 10/66 coupons used
Crafting 2024 - 1/9 items finished4
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