2026 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

PipneyJane

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81949259#Comment_81949259

Good idea, @Laura_Elsewhere. I see H&B sell Elderberry Syrup - there’s a branch in the local market town, I may venture there this afternoon. (Worst case, Sainsbugs sell it and I have to visit there tomorrow.)

How is MrE now? Well, I hope, all treatment over, and no longer as vulnerable to colds, etc.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81949304#Comment_81949304

Remind me, please, @itsthelittlethings - what did you purchase with all your coupons? Do give us a fashion show. You’ve 9 months to survive before we get the next set, so we have to ensure you enjoy what you’ve purchased.

• Pip

itsthelittlethings

Oh Pip thank you for giving me the chance to show off a bit. If I can remember everything I’ve bought that is. I only bought the jersey blouses to see mum.

So - a pair of sandals. They are so nice but rather rub so I am wearing them round the house at home. They are a bit big. Hopefully the war will end and they will do a street party or something. Knowing my luck they would rub too much and I’d end up having a gin and walking around barefoot. If the war would end I really shouldn’t care though.

Some unmentionables, socks (rather too thick and in a very synthetic material - I may give them away). The two blouses I mentioned. They look oh so First World War. Do you remember that series on the wireless during World War One? I feel exactly like the heroine. The name escapes me.

I also bought two pairs of cotton nylons. Mum got me some footless nylons for my birthday. It wasn’t quite what I asked for but I shall have to keep them. I once had a pair of high boots, guess I will have to wait for that style to come round again.

So that’s about 25 coupons which along with the wool (don’t mention the wool) I’d rather my lot. Do you know, Mrs Smith from the post office offered me some leftover tokens. Unsure if it was a hint as I had a bit of shoulder showing on a warm day. I told her in no uncertain terms to give them to the lady down Town Lane with 6 children.

Safe to say I also can’t afford any more clothes. I had a fight with my friend Kathy in London so probably won’t get there this year. She has a new fellow who publishes!!! It’s always the way that your pals get a chap and don’t have time for you.

Last but not least, and I am not counting this, I got a silk blouse with musical notes on from that tiny shop in the next village. They don’t take coupons. Pretty sure it was second hand. It’s only open on odd days. I just happened to be cycling past. I got an old Raleigh out of the shed.

I have a whole load of tops like that to wear if I can ever get an office job. Sad really. If the war ends and office jobs open up they should rightly go to the people who have fought. I don’t know.

itsthelittlethings

Oh my god! How could I forget to tell you! Me and Mrs Miller were unloading last week. She told me the war is definitely going to end (well we all hear that ten times a week right now). She also told me they will be fitting out some old buildings in town as flats and it will be first come first served. She said they would even be affordable on a cleaning wage. It’s my dream to live in the big town. I would work seven days a week to keep my own place.

itsthelittlethings

Heavens. Mum just took a phone call. They are doing sea shanties at the pub (donations to the RNLI). I have 8 shillings in my purse but I do need to buy a train ticket home on Monday. I will buy mum a couple of half’s and me a lemonade if they have any. Otherwise just water.

Forgot to tell you about my new pumps. They were ruinously expensive but on discounted coupons. I sent away for them. That’s what me and Kathy fought about. She wrote back saying she thought I was a disgrace and how could I let the war effort down. I miss her a lot.

Laura_Elsewhere

@PipneyJane - many thanks for asking! Thankfully, every blood test comes back as absolutely stable in the "negligible" level of findings, which is our ideal preferred option!
Very very early macular degeneration in one of his eyes, but we hope that will be as slow as his very-slow kidney disease! :) meanwhile my cataracts are acting up and being difficult but not at the threshold yet for NHS referral, so I just have to put up with it… what a bunch of old crocks we are! :)

I have some pretty wool fabric, with 10% silk, in pale warm plaid, which I would love to make into a cap-sleeved wrap-dress but I fear this flat is never going to have enough space ever again…!!!

I hope the elderberry helps you, Pip- we take it every day and think it's made a significant difference…

maryb

You are a chatty lot! I've got nothing to say re rations. Not buying anything doesn't give much to talk about.

Hope you feel better soon Pip

Baileys_Babe

@Laura_Elsewhere said:

I hope the elderberry helps you, Pip- we take it every day and think it's made a significant difference…

Do you just have a spoonful of the elderberry or do you dilute it with water?

Laura_Elsewhere

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81950050#Comment_81950050

we just take a spoonful! And if we're going to be in crowds (at a gig or museum or on trains, etc.) then we take a double dose for a day or two either side :)

PipneyJane

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81950150#Comment_81950150

The bottle of syrup that I purchased this afternoon has the dosage of 2 teaspoonsful per day for an adult. It also says “not to be taken on an empty stomach”. HTH.

Another thing that may help immunity is honey. I was listening to a recent episode of The Science Show from the ABC, where they talked about the antibiotic/antiseptic properties of honey. One of the reasons honey keeps is because bees secret antibiotic and antiseptic substances into it. Studies have found that depending on the plants upon which the bees feed, you need solutions of between 10% and 25% honey to kill off bugs. (Australia has no native species of honey bee.)

• Pip

Laura_Elsewhere

We have just looked at the flat and decided that this summer we are going to tackle the unsorted stuff!!

so I hope to get rid of quite a bit of the unused fabric, haberdashery and wool… and then be more able to use what's left!!!