Monday, January 4, 2010

Things are a changing.......

We got a notice in our mail box last week to say that Eva our mail lady was retiring after 56 years.....I thought it had only been 52 years.......gosh time flies by...LOL  Anyhow our new mail lady is called Amber, and the letter sort of said as with anything new there will be teething problems and to be patient with her.  So far so good right?  That's all to be expected.

So I popped into the post office on Saturday to mail a package, and I was talking to the ladies, and mentioning how I was going to miss Eva, and is Amber going to be the same type of mail lady.  Basically it was a one word answer...........NO.  Oh no, Amber although nice enough is the total opposite of Eva, and as Amber has a small route to do in the morning, we won't be getting our mail until later in the day.  They never did say exactly what was "wrong" with Amber, other than just to say she was no where near like Eva.  So I guess I have been spoiled with Eva's service for the past 8 months, as I said "things are a changing!!"  I suppose I should be grateful they are still delivering mail to your home and not expecting us to pick it up at the post office, as I can see that happening down the line........

I don't normally feature giveaways, but Tracy at Sunny Corner Farm is a relatively new blogger and is having a giveway.  So I thought it would be nice for us all to support her, by popping by and saying hello.

As you know I originally come from Britain, specifically Cumbria.  Well they have had some bad weather, normal weather for us in Canada, but bad weather for them, which has resulted in Carlisle Hospital running out of plaster to fix the many breaks and fractures that have come into A & E due to people falling on the ice which has not been sanded or gritted by the local council.  Some of the elderly haven't been able to leave their homes in a couple of weeks as the pavements haven't been gritted?  You can read about it here  Also read about what my brother had to do on the estate/subdivision he lives on, read about that here.

As I was saying to my brother it's like living in a third world country at times.  You pay all that council tax and for what?  Mind you we have plenty to complain about over here in Canada, but I have to say we are geared up for winter here in the country and the snow plows are always out plowing the roads or sanding them in the area we live, so that's something to be thankful for.

Did you remember to put your money in your pot for the Daily Savings Club?

Today's Money Saving tip is something I do and totally agree with:
Get a crock pot. A crock pot is perhaps the best deal on earth for reducing cooking costs in a busy family. You can just dump in your ingredients before work, put it on simmer, and dinner is done when you get home. There are countless recipes out there for all variety of foods, and every time you cook this way, you’re saving money as compared to eating out.

13 comments:

Tracey said...

It makes me so mad......that the damn council won't grit the pavements! I've complained to them, as no doubt countless others have, but to no avail. It's been lethal here in Lincolnshire for weeks on end too. xxx

BadPenny said...

I can't believe they ran out of plaster !

We have finally had some frost & a lot of ice down here in the South of England -
our village roads & pavements were lethal yesterday...where were the gritter trucks ?
I'm writing to the council about the state of our pavements - full of rubbish & dog poo. As a dog owner I'm all too aware of the small amount of poop bins there are around.

Grumble Grumble !

Elcmae said...

Hi Gill, Thanks for your comment on my blog. I am loving your money saving tips. Funnily enough I bought a crockpot in the December sales - reduced to £15 from £30. Can't be bad at that price!!
All good wishes for 2010.

Unknown said...

Its true - we have family in Carlisle, some are getting on a bit, and terrified to move out of their homes. The pavements are so slippy, and yes - no plaster at the hospital!
Where does our Council Tax get spent - not on gritting the streets thats for sure!
Slippy here too - I'm lucky, I have means to go get, and afford, bags of rock salt from the supermarket - and it must be said,a nice young man at the supermarket helped me with the heavy load.
Please everyone do take care in these slippyery conditions!

Vicky x

Prairie Farmstead Ponderings said...

Thankfully, out here in the Midwest, we're all farmers of one sort or another and have tractors ~ we don't have to rely on the county. A true blessing we are grateful for!

Praying that your experience with Amber proves to be pleasant, other than adapting to getting your mail later in the day. I'm just sure God has provided her unique blessings to share with you!

I treasure my crock pot so much that I have two of them! Heehee! They are fabulous for all sorts of things.

QuiltedSimple said...

Our road is the last to get grindings put on - love the four wheel drive! And I LOVE my crockpot...
Kris

Scrappy quilter said...

You might be surprised once you see what Amber does with your mail route. Who knows, she might be just as nice only in a different way. Hope it all works out for you.

Love your tips too. Hugs

chksnowqueen said...

Hopefully the new mailwoman will work out, despite the dire comments. Where we are, we have to pick up our mail at the local post office.

Slow cookers are great. For recipe ideas, check out this blog; http://www.crockpot365.blogspot.com/ This woman used her crockpot every day for an entire year in 2008. It is amazing what you can do with it!

Take care,
Christine

Kadeeae said...

The weather report for our area (Norfolk) at least is very cold and possibly more snow all this week - tho it won't be anywhere near as bad as it is in the north. As others have said, the pavements are pure sheets of ice in places. Even if the roads have been gritted, they've left the pavement untouched in many places :-(

My slow cooker (crockpot) gets lots of use, more in winter, but it is so nice in the summer too as it doesn't heat up the kitchen!

DeniseinVA said...

Good luck with the weather up there Gill. Sorry you're losing your mail lady and hope the new one works out. Will check out the blog too.

Saz said...

l read this post earlier, but as l get to rad some whilst at work, l cannot comment it wont allow me..so apologies l dont always leaves one, for this reason.


Working in a council building as l do...we get amny a visitor complaining about the lack of grit on our pavements......interesting to read via your blog the C news article stating the grit storage bin has ben a empt a good while...so thats why we have not grit on the sidewalk. I was hoping they would leave some on the corner..I have to drive my son to the bus stop 15 yards a way, as the cul de sac is sheet ice....transparent and very dangerous...what about the elderly, infirmed, ridiculous..it is!!

It wa sminus 10 when l gt to owrk at 8.15 this morning l was practically crying my fingers were white....and l drove in!! ANd used to live in Quebec, and l get cold winters...

happy new year!!

Saz said...

ps.. have used a slow cooker in winter for years..great things...and makes old skirt and tough cuts mouthwatering..

Lib said...

Yes, times are a changing!
Thanks for taking the time to give helpful hints! They are great!
Stay warm!
Blessins',Lib

{{{SIGH}}}

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