A report in one of today’s papers wails that we throw away half of our food. Pah, provided that they aren’t including potato peelings, egg shells etc, then I would claim that our household throws away no more than half of one percent of what was edible!
BUT, sadly, I have to confess that ultimately 99.5% of my socks get thrown away, before their time; this terrible waste is entirely due to the dearth of darning wool. My mother taught me how to darn socks when I was a student and, when she passed away, I seem to have inherited her wooden darning mushroom – a small but perfectly formed piece of oak.
In these double-dip days, we are supposed to be penniless and sensibly adopting a wartime make-do-and-mend lifestyle …………..…. so why is there no darning wool?
But maybe someone knows of a supply?
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I think you are meant to salvage your own from other even more worn out garments.
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>> A report in one of today’s papers wails that we throw away half of our
>> food.
Sounds about right, half the country don't have a dog.
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>> Sounds about right, half the country don't have a dog.
Most of our waste food gets thrown out for the birds and cats.
The cats can sometimes have two meals if the birds are still there ;)
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Market stalls may be a source of darning wool?
Even if it's not still made plenty will be turned up in house clearances etc - the trift generation kept such stuff. We got enough needles, cotton, darning thread etc etc from Mrs B's Mum to keep us sipplied and the next generation as well.
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"Sounds about right, half the country don't have a dog."
If our poor old dog had to rely on our scraps, she would have starved to death years ago. Mind you, she is a labrador and I'm sure, if offered them, she would polish off the potato peelings, egg shells and most of the packaging as well!
Many thanks for the darning wool link, RP, I'll review my bag of dying socks and get the appropriate colour wools ordered; for some reason, I seem to have missed the e-bay suppliers. Whenever I've asked for darning wool in a haberdashers (is that the correct term?), the staff look at me as though I'm completely mad.
Combining both the dog and sock themes, my BiL used to have a very stupid, black standard poodle that would eat any socks and underwear that it found on the floor. Imagine his embarrassment one morning when he met another regular dog walker (a young lady); he glanced down to see a (once) bright red sock dangling out of his dog's backside.
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Mind you, she is a labrador and I'm sure, if offered
>> them, she would polish off the potato peelings, egg shells and most of the packaging
>> as well!
My old lab managed to eat a whole bar of Vanish soap which found its way to the floor. Was never the same again. What hits the ground belongs to the hound.
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It's gone the same way as old fashioned Vim & Ajax scouring powder.The only supermarket listing these two is Waitrose/Ocado and they are out of stock.
We found some in Wilkinson's eventually and SWMBO while talking to the checkout lady (as they do) was unsurprised to hear that the lack of such a basic, but good, item at other stores is often the subject of comment from customers.
I guess the fact that it's only 70p may have a bearing on it as supermarkets prefer to sell creams at more money.
Tip:- AVOID Sainsbury's "Basics" cleansing scourer - it's rubbish!
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What do you use Vim for these days Roger?
Certainly not reccomended for plastic baths and a damp cloth pluse spray is enough for the cooker top.
The stainless sink gets discolured but bleach revives it without scouring and cleans the drain at same time.
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"Astonish" is a reasonable substitute for Vim. Often cheap in pound shops too. Recommended for enamel and probably a bit finer than Vim.
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>> It's gone the same way as old fashioned Vim & Ajax scouring powder.The only supermarket
>> listing these two is
>>
I've just googled Vim and there appear to be loads of places selling both Vim and Ajax.
Don't say "not available", say Amazon!
Or buy in bulk here:
www.brandrefill.co.uk/vim-classic-scouring-powder-500g/
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Yes - but have you seen the prices on-line, including postage?
Vim is for cleaning the sink and draining board.
Nothing like it for removing grease , particularly tomato enriched grease, such as bol. sauce or similar and also tea stains and washing up detritus.
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>> Nothing like it for removing grease , particularly tomato enriched grease, such as bol. sauce
>> or similar and also tea stains and washing up detritus.
There is plenty like it, much better in fact. Vim and Ajax are, frankly, animal poo from the arc. Would have them destroying my kitchen stuff.
Last edited by: Zero on Thu 10 Jan 13 at 14:20
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>> Vim and Ajax are, frankly, animal
>> poo from the arc. Would have them destroying my kitchen stuff.
>>
Certainly got the pattern off my Mum's Formica!
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Factoid alert ! - If you need to darn socks either your shoes don't fit or your toe nails need cutting. Or both...
:-)
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You'll all be having a 'Who's got the frilliest pinny' contest next!
Pat
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Well yours is pretty, certainly unsoiled by cooking stains......
Last edited by: Zero on Thu 10 Jan 13 at 14:57
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Me?...in a pinney??
Never been known. Boiler suit more like!
Pat
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>> Me?...in a pinney??
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>> Never been known. Boiler suit more like!
>>
>> Pat
>>
I am sure you look lovely in either ..
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"Boiler suit more like!"
I gather they are now called "onesies". But then you always were a trendsetter Pat!
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>> "Boiler suit more like!"
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>> I gather they are now called "onesies". But then you always were a trendsetter Pat!
She wears "Diesel" - clothes and atftershave.
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The boss suggested I put my overalls on to cook after I left the lid off the blender once.
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>> The boss suggested I put my overalls on to cook after I left the lid
>> off the blender once.
>>
You got wine all over the house? Wot a way to die...
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....which reminds me of trying to ice a christmas cake I made last month with my very, very old and tatty Bero recipe book.
It tells me to make icing with raw eggs, but I know you shouldn't do this so I looked at alternatives online and found ready made Royal Icing powder with dried eggs already added.
Following instructions to the letter I transferred a whole paket of icing powder into a bowl and added a tablespoon of cold water. The recipe stated this MUST be mixed with a food mixer on slow speed.
I only have one speed, I think, on mine as I've never used it before so I lowered the mixer into the bowl.
I couldn't see across the kitchen, the work tops and hob had become a shade of off white, the cats decamped to the back field and when I looked down the floor was covered as well.
There was two perfectly formed footprints where I'd been standing.
Give me a Jizer tub, a paint brush and some oily bits any day.
Pat
Last edited by: pda on Fri 11 Jan 13 at 05:53
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"Give me a Jizer tub, a paint brush and some oily bits any day." Sounds like a repost of something from BBD :-)
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>>
>> >> Vim and Ajax are, frankly, animal
>> >> poo from the arc. Would have them destroying my kitchen stuff.
>> >>
>>
>> Certainly got the pattern off my Mum's Formica!
Me ole mam used to brush her teeth using Vim. She still had all her own, in good nick, when she croaked at 82. I think they started putting bleach in it which wouldn't have made it too kind on the gums !
Incidentally, she would have been 100 yrs old today...Happy Birthday, ole girl, wherever you are !
Ted
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Whatever happened to darning wool? - Cliff Pope
