2024 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, spends to declare 2 pairs of walking socks for presents   so 2 coupons used 35.5 - 2 = 33.5 remaining.

I have finished the white baby blanket and made a pair of fingerless mittens as per pips' pattern, (thank you), as a present from my small stash of yarn and started the pink baby blanket I have been asked to make. It keeps my hands busy in the evenings

Some interesting chat about sewing. I used to make my own clothes when I was a teenager because it was cheaper than buying them but I haven't made anything for many a year now. I wouldn't have a clue how to draft a pattern but I would attempt something if I had something old I could take apart .

@Nelliegrace I had a pale blue and white striped stocking hat that I made when I was young . Those hats are such fun . I did see the programme you linked, very interesting thank you. I have considered trying to eat as per the rations but I am not sure I could survive on the meagre tea rations though I am attracted to the idea of losing some weight . I do try to cook everything from scratch but OH doesn't always. I could happily live on veg alone but that won't do in this house I'm afraid. I will have to do some more research into it . That choice of food for vegetarians on a cardiac ward is truly abysmal but I have found many of the medical profession are not as clued up about dietry needs as you would hope. When I was in hospital having my gall bladder removed there was another patient who was eating cheese and pork pie salads and then promptly being in terrible pain and being sick. I had to explain to her she needed to be on a fat free diet, none of the nurses had any idea of what she should avoid offering her biscuits and crisps as a snack. She thought she didn't eat much fat but I did get support from another patient and we were able to impart some information to her and the staff

Take care everyone
33.5/66 coupons remaining

Nelliegrace

@Liverpool_Anne, 2oz of loose leaf tea is a bit short for one person for a week, but 4oz for the two of us is plenty. We make three pots a day, using one caddy spoonful, rounded with tea, not heaped. The pot has to be hot, the fresh water boiling, the lid put on and the tea cosy to keep it hot, while it brews for three minutes. We pour out two large mugs of tea, and top the pot up immediately with boiling water. If we are not having a second cup it goes into a clean, hot flask, without milk, to have later. 

Cherryfudge

Another three coupons spent today: three pairs of plain white trainer socks all because I wanted to make an Olaf' with DGD and the shop didn't sell single pairs of plain socks. Then DGD was unwell and not up to crafts so I'll save that for another day, possibly tomorrow.

I'm also knitting a small snowman for a tree decoration but that's just using up yarn from stash.

keepcalmandcraft

I realise that I haven't updated my signature all year.  Whilst I thought that I had bought most of my clothes in charity shops, there are a few new ones:
2 x dresses 14
1 x jacket 11
1 x jumper 5
1 x bra 1.5
2 swimsuits 6
1 x scarf 2
1 pr boots 5
8m fabric 16
Total 60.5

This forum really curbs my buying, making me think several times before buying and then usually when things are on offer.  Thank you!

Nelliegrace

2025 is going to be the year I knit a pair of socks, I have plenty of sock wool from Yarningham wool fair DD and I visited some years ago. I used to knit gloves on 4 needles, so socks should not be beyond me. There are just a few things to finish knitting first.

I bought a pair yesterday from my favourite knitter on eB, the yarn is King Cole, Zig Zag, Mayfly. I bought lovely alpaca socks and fingerless gloves from her during lockdown. I treasure them, it was such a bleak and lonely time.

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all,
@Nelliegrace that tea making sounds very organised . I am not sure 3 pots a day would be enough for me I am a proper tea pot but I will give it a go . OH is out most days working so I will try it with the small teapot and small flask and see how it goes. 
Lovely socks
Take care everyone

PipneyJane

Those socks are lovely @Nelliegrace.  No idea what you paid for them, but you got a bargain, when you consider that a pair of adult socks average 16 hours of knitting.

@Liverpool_Anne - I am surprised that the nurses didn't know about suitable diets for their patients' conditions but things have changed since my day and hospitals have less control over menu options than they did, since most catering is outsourced.  (Diets were certainly in the syllabus when I trained in Australia, back in the 1980's.)

- Pip

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all,
@PipneyJane I was gobsmacked by the nurses lack of knowledge , especially as everyone on the ward was there for gall bladder removal. Admittedly the patient was ordering her food from a limited list so really it was her lack of knowledge that was causing her to be ill. It took me a while to realise she was there for gall bladder removal as she was eating things I had not even looked at for over a year while waiting for the op but then because she had been ill and lost her tea they offered biscuits and crisps 🤷. I suggested dry toast . The patient was not really pleased with that suggestion but as I said I was supported by another patient and between us we managed to educate her. I was a bit surprised that her Dr hadn't already explained it but she wasn't the sort of person who asked questions, unlike me and I suppose some medical people forget we don't all have their knowledge. I also think the system has changed, no longer having matrons, who were probably a font of knowledge, etc. At that time the ward was staffed by a lot of trainee nurses overseen during the day by a lovely nurse from the Philippines who was absolutely rushed off her feet
Take care everyone

Cherryfudge

It's very interesting though worrying that the hospital staff weren't aware of the effect of diet - but I can well believe it. When I had an op, I was transferred between wards and my luggage only followed me part of the way (fans of Disc World will see this differently). It still hadn't caught up next morning, meaning I had to refuse breakfast as I hadn't had my medication and I need at least half an hour between the medication and food or most drinks in order not to reduce its efficacy.

I don't think having a matron present would necessarily make a difference as training in dietetics seems to be minimal unless you are a professional dietician. I remember my son telling me during his nurse's training, that I'd enabled him to get a question about vitamin storage right. For some reason I'd told him the week before about different vitamins being stored in water or fat and I think he took it 'with a pinch of salt' (Mum's off on a hobby horse) till it came up in class! How much is remembered when they don't have to deal with this day to day, I don't know.

On the other hand I have a family member who's well qualified in this and works for the NHS, so the information is there - but possibly how it's used differs between hospitals.

I still haven't made any Olafs, by the way. DGD was unwell again yesterday.

Nelliegrace

My lovely hand knitted socks arrived today. 

I transferred some money to DD and she went with GS to let him choose casual, long trousers and a hooded jumper now he is thirteen. That saved my clothing coupons. The way he is growing they were lucky to find something to fit, the popular stores have children's and adult’s clothes. His younger brother gets hardly worn hand-me-downs.  

They are having a meal at the local British Restaurant. It sounds like vegetables on baked bread with a little bit of cheese, a strange menu, but a change from rabbit.