I managed for a couple of years with clothes but have to do something about warm clothes soon as autumn is definitely on the way. What I have falls down. Where i now live is in a colder spot than down on the plain. Loads of warm knitwear but definitely need new trakkies for home use etc.
Yeah, I'm only 5'2", and have dropped two sizes. Not helped by size inflation in the meantime, which meant I was blithely buying size 12 and wondering why it still fitted. I have clothes in my wardrobe that are a size 10 or 12 from way back when, which equate to a size 8, euro 36, now. I'm finding it easier to find things from the kids ranges, particularly the boys as the shape is better on me and men's jeans don't come in 28" waist any more.
I'm also finding it difficult to find commercial dressmaking patterns small enough or with a petite fit - it's not so much the length, that's easy to change, it's getting anything to fit around the neck and across the shoulders. And the ease in the patterns - bloggers are saying they have to start with measurements then go down two sizes from the pattern size. The trousers I'll finish today, US pattern sizing for stretch, my hip is size 0, I made in size 2 in ordinary cotton then had to adapt a lot. My daughter, equally petite, but more feminine, has just made her second hooded sweatshirt from Ottobre's Children's collection and dresses in kids clothes, preferring the girls' sizing. I'm planning to make the boys' jeans.
In my present state (every waste basket in the house is brimming with snottered tissues) I am not ascending the brightest heaven of invention when it comes to cooking. However, if I do not make dinner, Mr F will Starve.
So it’s back to the (hopefully) failsafe like beef+onions+mushrooms+red wine+2 hours in the oven.
@daisydaisy those dhoti pants on the Sewing Bee were amazing. I wondered if they would be worth making (from cheap market fabric), as I'm still looking for trouser patterns. Problem is I am currently wearing pre-teen boy's jeans (152/158cm - age 11 or 12) and am definitely not the shape women's pattern cutters are using.
You might find a shalwar (another name for dhoti trousers) pattern on something like Pinterest that you can scale down. My pattern (I am so relieved that it has survived so many declutters) is entitled “dhotti Shalwar Kameez”.
@Heavenlyannie you can lower the meat in meatballs by buying half as much and adding an equal volume of porridge oats and an egg to bind, a little salt and chilli powder to lift the flavour but not make it spicy is also good.
I fancy making meatballs now, maybe for tea tomorrow.. Tonight we had spicy burgers in chappatti with cucumber and mint raita and Bombay potatoes. I thought burgers might make my 14 year old less grumpy at mealtimes but it didn’t work...
... I thought burgers might make my 14 year old less grumpy ...
I'm no expert, but aren't 14-year-olds meant to be grumpy? It's a long time ago now, but I think I was pretty horrid when I was 14 ...
@Firenze, I do hope you feel better soon - season-change snotters are Not Nice. My recommendation would be a curry of your desired heat - home-made if you have the energy, or a takeaway if not. Followed by a generous dram of your favourite tipple.
Re: sweet potatoes, we'd never really come across them until we crossed the Pond, and were put off them because in Newfoundland they were served as fries, which always managed to be simultaneously soggy and burnt. For all I know, they might be quite delicious in something like a curry, but I haven't yet had the nerve to give them a try. Maybe one day ...
ION, the shoes I ordered from the interweb arrived today, and they fit!
Now to find a nice dress for those weddings ...
I know the more sensible order would be to buy the dress first, and then get shoes to match, but I saw the shoes ages ago when we were skint, and promised myself I'd get them when we were a bit more flush.
A family member has had some money from an unknown source paid into his bank account. Several payments, all of the same amount and all paid in on the same day.
No investments or insurances were due to mature, as far as he is aware, and he had not had notification of any payments due to him.
Nothing on his bank statement gives any clue to the source, and the bank is not a bit bothered about whether or not it is his money - it is in his account and they just want him to invest it with them.
It would be lovely if it is a legitimate windfall, but he's concerned that somewhere down the line someone will pop up and say the payments were all a mistake, and demand the money back.
Crikey! Is there nothing the bank can do to trace the source? After all, it won't reflect very well on them if they encourage their customers to invest in something that turns out to be illegal (or even something that's a legitimate mistake).
That is worrying, Roseofsharon! Seems quite irresponsible of the bank. Shouldn't they, by law (one might assume!) or at least by common sense, be required to investigate? Money-laundering and all that? - I think the account owner might want to explicitely state their reservations about this to the bank, and in writing, so that there is proof the sudden influx of quite unexpected riches is just that.
I hope all ends well, and will become clear very soon! <votive>
Had a nice training day in Big City, a couple of miles away, on Saturday, with useful updates and information about job-relevant issues. I left a bit early, because I had to do some shopping, and was joined on the way out by two lovely elderly ladies, one from Ireland ('the south') and the other from Inkland. The, cough, Brexit thingy, cough, was mentioned rather immediately, and mutual confusion, worries and anger was exchanged, which was pleasant venting. (Sorry for mentioning it...)
And now the weather: in these 'ere Urpian Continental climes, it is at nights still around freezing point, daytime now in the mid to high tens C, mostly sunny. - But like mentioned before, copious rain is needed. Although I do enjoy the sunshine, we've had plenty of that in the last few months and in the last, long summer, and by far not enough rain. It somehow feels really unnatural.
I've got a slight bout of the sniffles, and light coughles too, which seems to be going round here what with them constant temperature changes. Ach well. Already getting better, moi. Onwards and upwards.
That is worrying, Roseofsharon! Seems quite irresponsible of the bank. Shouldn't they, by law (one might assume!) or at least by common sense, be required to investigate? Money-laundering and all that? - I think the account owner might want to explicitely state their reservations about this to the bank, and in writing, so that there is proof the sudden influx of quite unexpected riches is just that.
I hope all ends well, and will become clear very soon! <votive>
I hope the bank is keeping a keen eye out for surprise withdrawals. If an unknown party knows enough about your account it is only a small (albeit significant) step to draw funds from that account.
As Wesley say, money laundering ought to be a concern: is your bank in a reputable domain or a tax haven?
I have done an internet trawl, and it seems that unexpected payments being paid into accounts is not uncommon, and is often an error on the part of the bank.
It's obviously a mistake of some sort, as all the payments are listed as BGC (Bank Giro Credit), which I think are for over-the counter payments - and surely no-one is going to make half-a-dozen (or thereabouts, I don't know the exact number) separate over-the -counter payments into the same account, on the same day?
The most worrying thing is that in the other incidents I read about online the same amount was taken out of the accounts some days, weeks, or even months later.
If, as the bank suggested yesterday, this amount is put into a separate investment the current account into which it was paid would not have enough funds to cover it (it is a four figure sum).
I have told the account holder, who has an appointment at the bank tomorrow to discuss where to put this money, to say that it is not leaving the current account until they can identify a depositor.
I hope the bank is keeping a keen eye out for surprise withdrawals. If an unknown party knows enough about your account it is only a small (albeit significant) step to draw funds from that account.
As Wesley say, money laundering ought to be a concern: is your bank in a reputable domain or a tax haven?[/quote]
It's The Halifax which, apparently is pretty lax about putting information about the source of deposits on their statements. They seem confused about the difference between BACS and BGC.
It's definitely not BACS, as the person concerned does not receive any regular payments.
"I never could get the hang of Thursdays" Douglas Adams RIP
But the yellow thing is out there, and the battery for the lawnmower is recharged. Maybe this will be a good Thursday.
My signature on the old ship was a Douglas Adams quote, though not a Hitchhikers one. ‘I love deadlines, I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.’
A quick search tells me it is from The Salmon of Doubt.
But BACS can be used for single direct payments as well. If it really was a BGC, the bank will have processed a piece of paper with an instruction in it to pay into the account.
Your bank must make the following details available to you for every payment into and out of your account:
● the date of the transaction;
● the amount of the transaction;
● who it was to or from (where
appropriate); and
● a reference so you can identify
the payment.
In most cases this will be done through a passbook, monthly statement or internet banking.
A very quiet day. Sitting on patio beside the pool. Sun shuning and it hardly seems like 'autumn'. We have two days left and then fly home -- to winter???
Not quite winter - it’s nice and sunny here, but temperatures are cool. I still don’t need to feed my fish.
My ribs continue to hurt - owch. I was to;d it could be three weeks before they get better. I tend to be pretty hyperactive and find it hard to rest. I keep having to force myself to take breaks or, by evening, I’m feeling rather rough.
The airline which is supposed to be taking my son on a school trip to Iceland in 3 weeks has gone bust. They’re looking at alternative arrangements and our money is protected.
On the upside, we’ll be richer next week if it gets cancelled.
"grone"
I just wandered in to ask Lothar II to perform a menial task - and he's asleep. The joys of youth (and to be fair, it is his day off) But this delays my menial task, because I can't do it until he's done it. And I'm not doing it for him. The stuff's only been out there since last summer.
I'd have been absolutely heartbroken (and more than a tad livid) if I'd been planning a trip to Iceland and the airline had the cheek to go bust: there would have been some seriously bad language. Is it safe to blame Br*x*t?
It's another bonny, springish day here: sunny and 6°. Path probably still treacherous, but at least the drive is a haven of visible tarmac.
I'm looking forward to not having to wear boots: because there's still snow and ice on the path*, it's not quite shoe weather yet, but I'm finding it a bit too warm even for ankle-boots.
* D. tried shifting the ice, but it was set as hard as granite, and the plastic blade of the snow-shovel wasn't up to it.
That can't be right. I don't know why Monday's blue, but it is, using that Thursday's red. In the world of song, Thursday I don't care about you. (Tomorrow's Friday, I'm in love.)
We actually sat in the pub garden for lunch yesterday - very unexpected and pleasant! And very nice meeting old friends we don’t get to see too often.
On the downside, for some reason, I’ve taken to waking up at 4. The best thing that can be said about it is that it’s better than waking up at 2 (which I did for years). On the other hand, I could wake up at 2 and be awake-ish for a couple of hours and still go back to sleep for an hour and a half or so before getting up, which I can’t do if I wake at 4 and get up at half 5.
Iceland is fascinating, it would be sad for your son to miss his trip, heavenlyannie.
But, piglet, Wow air* (which is the only airline I know of that’s gone down recently) was Icelandic and Iceland isn’t in the EU, as far as I’m aware, so I doubt it’s anything to do with the B word.
MMM
*(I caused great consternation in some quarters the other day because I thought it was Whizz air that had collapsed...)
Strange kind of a day. Sun was shining 7am and I had a coffee by the pool. t has now clouded over and threatens rain. Going to a wine farm at Stellenbosh later. We fly home tomorrow night.
.....for some reason, I’ve taken to waking up at 4. The best thing that can be said about it is that it’s better than waking up at 2 (which I did for years). On the other hand, I could wake up at 2 and be awake-ish for a couple of hours and still go back to sleep for an hour and a half or so before getting up, which I can’t do if I wake at 4 and get up at half 5......
If it’s any consolation, it would seem that this is quite normal for humans, and sleeping longer isn’t so normal (although it might be common). This might illuminate - even Samuel Pepys apparently refers to “first” and “second” sleeps.
There are three others there - I really like the other two. And there's a lot if processing in some of my photographs, the pear and orange in particular.
Pleased to report that the mystery of my relative's strange windfall has been solved.
Apparently it is to do with a pension that should have been paid monthly, but wasn't - this is about a year's worth, all paid in on the same day. It took the bank a long time to get to the bottom of it, but it seems that it is legitimately his. That's quite a relief!
Comments
I'm also finding it difficult to find commercial dressmaking patterns small enough or with a petite fit - it's not so much the length, that's easy to change, it's getting anything to fit around the neck and across the shoulders. And the ease in the patterns - bloggers are saying they have to start with measurements then go down two sizes from the pattern size. The trousers I'll finish today, US pattern sizing for stretch, my hip is size 0, I made in size 2 in ordinary cotton then had to adapt a lot. My daughter, equally petite, but more feminine, has just made her second hooded sweatshirt from Ottobre's Children's collection and dresses in kids clothes, preferring the girls' sizing. I'm planning to make the boys' jeans.
👏🏼
So it’s back to the (hopefully) failsafe like beef+onions+mushrooms+red wine+2 hours in the oven.
Cheaper and healthier and tastier.
@Firenze, I do hope you feel better soon - season-change snotters are Not Nice. My recommendation would be a curry of your desired heat - home-made if you have the energy, or a takeaway if not. Followed by a generous dram of your favourite tipple.
Re: sweet potatoes, we'd never really come across them until we crossed the Pond, and were put off them because in Newfoundland they were served as fries, which always managed to be simultaneously soggy and burnt. For all I know, they might be quite delicious in something like a curry, but I haven't yet had the nerve to give them a try. Maybe one day ...
ION, the shoes I ordered from the interweb arrived today, and they fit!
Now to find a nice dress for those weddings ...
I know the more sensible order would be to buy the dress first, and then get shoes to match, but I saw the shoes ages ago when we were skint, and promised myself I'd get them when we were a bit more flush.
MMM
No investments or insurances were due to mature, as far as he is aware, and he had not had notification of any payments due to him.
Nothing on his bank statement gives any clue to the source, and the bank is not a bit bothered about whether or not it is his money - it is in his account and they just want him to invest it with them.
It would be lovely if it is a legitimate windfall, but he's concerned that somewhere down the line someone will pop up and say the payments were all a mistake, and demand the money back.
I hope all ends well, and will become clear very soon! <votive>
Had a nice training day in Big City, a couple of miles away, on Saturday, with useful updates and information about job-relevant issues. I left a bit early, because I had to do some shopping, and was joined on the way out by two lovely elderly ladies, one from Ireland ('the south') and the other from Inkland. The, cough, Brexit thingy, cough, was mentioned rather immediately, and mutual confusion, worries and anger was exchanged, which was pleasant venting. (Sorry for mentioning it...)
And now the weather: in these 'ere Urpian Continental climes, it is at nights still around freezing point, daytime now in the mid to high tens C, mostly sunny. - But like mentioned before, copious rain is needed. Although I do enjoy the sunshine, we've had plenty of that in the last few months and in the last, long summer, and by far not enough rain. It somehow feels really unnatural.
I've got a slight bout of the sniffles, and light coughles too, which seems to be going round here what with them constant temperature changes. Ach well. Already getting better, moi. Onwards and upwards.
A happy Day of the Thurs to all!
But the yellow thing is out there, and the battery for the lawnmower is recharged. Maybe this will be a good Thursday.
I hope the bank is keeping a keen eye out for surprise withdrawals. If an unknown party knows enough about your account it is only a small (albeit significant) step to draw funds from that account.
As Wesley say, money laundering ought to be a concern: is your bank in a reputable domain or a tax haven?
It's obviously a mistake of some sort, as all the payments are listed as BGC (Bank Giro Credit), which I think are for over-the counter payments - and surely no-one is going to make half-a-dozen (or thereabouts, I don't know the exact number) separate over-the -counter payments into the same account, on the same day?
The most worrying thing is that in the other incidents I read about online the same amount was taken out of the accounts some days, weeks, or even months later.
If, as the bank suggested yesterday, this amount is put into a separate investment the current account into which it was paid would not have enough funds to cover it (it is a four figure sum).
I have told the account holder, who has an appointment at the bank tomorrow to discuss where to put this money, to say that it is not leaving the current account until they can identify a depositor.
I hope the bank is keeping a keen eye out for surprise withdrawals. If an unknown party knows enough about your account it is only a small (albeit significant) step to draw funds from that account.
As Wesley say, money laundering ought to be a concern: is your bank in a reputable domain or a tax haven?[/quote]
It's The Halifax which, apparently is pretty lax about putting information about the source of deposits on their statements. They seem confused about the difference between BACS and BGC.
It's definitely not BACS, as the person concerned does not receive any regular payments.
A quick search tells me it is from The Salmon of Doubt.
According to the Financial Services Authority’s ‘Know Your Rights’ guide
My ribs continue to hurt - owch. I was to;d it could be three weeks before they get better. I tend to be pretty hyperactive and find it hard to rest. I keep having to force myself to take breaks or, by evening, I’m feeling rather rough.
On the upside, we’ll be richer next week if it gets cancelled.
There are two items on my list of things-to-do-before-I-die:
1. Visit Iceland
2. Go to the Opera (something silly, like The Barber of Seville)
I just wandered in to ask Lothar II to perform a menial task - and he's asleep. The joys of youth (and to be fair, it is his day off) But this delays my menial task, because I can't do it until he's done it. And I'm not doing it for him. The stuff's only been out there since last summer.
Nooo, Thursdays are orange. Saturdays are red.
It's another bonny, springish day here: sunny and 6°. Path probably still treacherous, but at least the drive is a haven of visible tarmac.
I'm looking forward to not having to wear boots: because there's still snow and ice on the path*, it's not quite shoe weather yet, but I'm finding it a bit too warm even for ankle-boots.
* D. tried shifting the ice, but it was set as hard as granite, and the plastic blade of the snow-shovel wasn't up to it.
I agree with your daughter. Though I don't know what Rainbow month is.
Orange - Tuesday
Yellow - Wednesday
Green - Thursday
Blue - Friday
Indigo - Saturday
Violet - Sunday?
Is that what you meant, CK?
On the downside, for some reason, I’ve taken to waking up at 4. The best thing that can be said about it is that it’s better than waking up at 2 (which I did for years). On the other hand, I could wake up at 2 and be awake-ish for a couple of hours and still go back to sleep for an hour and a half or so before getting up, which I can’t do if I wake at 4 and get up at half 5.
Oh well.
MMM
But, piglet, Wow air* (which is the only airline I know of that’s gone down recently) was Icelandic and Iceland isn’t in the EU, as far as I’m aware, so I doubt it’s anything to do with the B word.
MMM
*(I caused great consternation in some quarters the other day because I thought it was Whizz air that had collapsed...)
Yes, but mine isn't so pretty as some of those who've done this before
I like yours better - the other has just used filters, yours are ‘real’ photos.
MMM
Apparently it is to do with a pension that should have been paid monthly, but wasn't - this is about a year's worth, all paid in on the same day. It took the bank a long time to get to the bottom of it, but it seems that it is legitimately his. That's quite a relief!