2024 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

annieb64

I have my mother's old Singer. It was her 21st birthday present in 1955. 
We recently serviced it with the help of Youtube. There must have been 68 years worth of lint underneath!
It seems to be working well now. I only really use it for basic sewing. On the very rare occasions I need a buttonhole I make it by hand

PipneyJane

Welcome @CoffeeSonata Cup of tea?  I’ve just made a fresh pot.  Sadly, my chemo has affected tastebuds again, so I can’t taste coffee but can taste tea. (I had round 3 on Monday and Tuesday.)

Sorry to hear about your sewing machine problems.  Are you anywhere near West London?  I take mine to Tyson’s in Southall.  They overhaul/repair industrial machines, as well as domestic, so may be better placed to fix your machine.

In other news, DH was made redundant on Friday.  (You may have seen my mention of it on the Grocery Challenge Thread.). His solicitor has advised him to take the settlement money and run. He was planning on job hunting this year anyway, because he doesn’t like the way his employer is run.  It’s just the timing that’s the pits because he doesn’t want to go anywhere that might mean he’ll bring home bugs for my compromised immune system to deal with. We’ll be OK financially, but it’s put him in a foul mood.  (He’s currently outside taking his temper out on the back garden gardening.)

- Pip

PollyWollyDoodle

Oh dear, sorry to hear that Pip.  I hope a new and more pleasing job is on the horizon, meanwhile perhaps you can make the most of some time together. 

My friend’s husband is in a similar position, having just undergone 12 rounds of chemo and now waiting for a bone marrow transplant and all that entails, so I understand your OH’s concerns. It’s difficult though – he has to travel on the Tube to get treatment, it’s very hard to avoid all sources of infection.  

florianatwobob

Sorry to hear DH’s news Pip. It does sound like a bag of mixed blessings though. Fingers crossed that every thing comes right in the end. 

Hopefully chemo hasn’t wiped you out too much. 

Cherryfudge

Sorry to hear you've lost your taste for coffee, @PipneyJane, that's not good, I hope it grows back, but meanwhile there's plenty of tea in the caddy and as you know, the kettle's generally on in the Village Hall. I hope the chemo isn't too tough on you, but we are here with whatever support we can offer.

It's rotten timing for your DH too. At least he gets time to work around your Anderson shelter: are you growing veggies right up to the edge? I hope you get a few flowers too, they make such a difference to morale. And when not gardening, is his line of work suitable for hybrid working?

Laura_Elsewhere

Oh heck, @PipneyJane, it's a bit bloomin' much just now for you!! 

Mr E was made redundant last autumn but is now contracting for six months on flexitime and better pay, and working from home entirely...  I hope Mr Pip has something equally good turn up! 

I love @Cherryfudge;s idea of his making the Anderson shelter in the back garden! 

As for your tastebuds, I hope there will be things you can taste that will help you miss the other things less... I'll leave this jar of damson jam for you, as damsons have a rich strong flavour that might be palatable. Lots of food-exploring for you to do!

I have a couple of 2-4 day stints of work, back at my old place, in the next two months, but have nearly finished the main preparatory work. After today (why am I in this Village Hall? Well, I wanted to borrow the typewriter, honest...), I should be able to get on with things like finishing off my green mohair cardigan, and making my blue linen frock and so on... I am looking forward to it...

Cherryfudge

In the house where I grew up, there was the tin roof of an old Anderson shelter in the back garden. The actual dugout was long gone but it was a good history lesson.

MrsCD

Sorry to hear your DH's news, Pip. Rotten timing, but hopefully you can both make the most of what time he has at home before he finds another job. Hope he knows what he's doing with the Anderson shelter!

Gem-gem

@@PipneyJane, , Sorry to hear about both you and your husband's news. I hope you both find time to do something nice whilst he is off. 

Like your DH, I am spending my spare time in the garden - dig for victory - have been moving some soft fruit plants round, plus removing dead leaves and canes. I said to my DH tonight, I wonder what size plot you would need to keep yourself in potatoes, veg and fruit all year round. 

Cherryfudge

Gem-gem said:

 I said to my DH tonight, I wonder what size plot you would need to keep yourself in potatoes, veg and fruit all year round. 

I decided to find out, then I decided there are too many variables for me at this time of night. However, I did find this calculator, though for some reason it seems to omit potatoes, unless they are under 'vegetables'.