Hello. It's chuffin cold outside, freezing cold in fact. I went out to do my walk and came straight back in to change into a thicker, heavier jacket with a hood. Three miles and one hour later and I was back. It would have been 50 minutes later, but I stopped to talk to Ken and Jade dog. She was a bit mucky on her back, I expect she is happy now that she can roll about and run free in the fields.
This was last night's dinner, and I had exactly the same for today's lunch. Piping hot Quorn and vegetable mild curry, very tasty. Another portion left for dinner later. The fridge is bare, not much left in the freezer, and only a few tins and packets. I have to go to town tomorrow so I will pick up some more supplies while I am there.
It seems I am mentioned in a newspaper article in The Times today, about frugal living. I can just about make out the text on my Twitter feed, it's a mishmash of what's already been in print in various other newspapers. I don't tweet very much, mainly follow people I am interested in. Mainly people I have met, or who I would like to meet.
I was just thinking the other day, that I have never been on a protest march. I can't think of a cause that I feel so strongly about that would tempt me to join in. I have never liked being in a big crowd of people, and have only been to a couple of big star concerts. Cher at Sheffield was good, and Meatloaf at Birmingham was good.
Thinking back to how I was treated as a lorry driver in the 70's and 80's, I felt the best way I would survive was to knuckle down and quietly get on with my job. I always felt I was equal to men, I just happened to be in a different body. Times were tough, the men didn't want me there, but I stuck it out because I felt no matter what I looked like, I was equal to them.
People often asked me what it was like to do a mans job. My answer was always the same, it isn't a mans job, it's anybodies job. Other drivers would ask me, what does your husband think of you driving a lorry? My reply, what does your wife think of you driving a lorry? Years later they eventually got it, and the questions stopped.
Life is unfair for everyone at one time or another. I remember going to London to appear on a chat show on TV. It was a live discussion on a new course offered by Shell, the oil people, to train women to drive trucks and get their licence. I felt this was positive discrimination and unfair. If they were offering free courses for women, they should offer the same amount of free courses to men. In my eyes, equality works both ways.
Anyway, I'd better wrap this up. I need to get off this computer and do something else.
Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip
Having done men's jobs for most of my life , I know what you mean , you just get on with it , equality was a myth and I could lose count of the times I have been accused of being a butch lesbian , still get a few snide remarks now and then , couldn't care less.
ReplyDeleteGood morning. Well, it's morning where I live! I was just wondering how you feel about keeping a supply of food and other products at home if, for some reason you can't get to the store. Today you were talking about not having much left, in the way of food, in your home. I always make sure, in the early fall especially, that I have at least two weeks of can goods and kleenex toilet paper, paper towels, etc. in the house in case we get a bad winter storm and I don't want to try to get to the stores. Or we could get snow and ice, or the power could go out for days. It has happened in the last few years. Do you plan for emergencies, and if so, what do you stockpile?
ReplyDeleteHi Tana. It's not very often we get snowed in here. The gritter trucks come round and clear the roads. There are power cuts in some parts of the country, but again not very often, and not here where I live. If I don't want to drive my car I can get a bus to town, or we have a village shop. I don't plan for emergencies, we don't have them, and I don't buy in extra food.
DeleteIt is very cold and more to come so the weather forecasters say; I always look forward to March being a Spring month when nature has woken and lighter days. I've worked in male workplaces for 20 years and in my experience you 'give as good as you get', no point in being upset by coarse foul language (ignore it or speak up for yourself); if you are a rather introvert character it is going to be a real ordeal. I'm not saying that's right in the working environment but it is the way of the world at the moment. Most men are intimidated by a strong woman (sweeping statement) so I've found I don't need to swear and shout but a few choice words and quick retorts work well; I've never had any serious problems. Amanda
ReplyDeletewant for a better word its bloooody freezin oop North in Lancashire, sat here wrapped up in multi layers and dressing gown on haha i love quorn curry chuck it all in always tastes lovely, ive batch cooked a quorn chilli today with two big portions for the freezer and two portions for tea tonight i cant wait for it it smells lovely :)
ReplyDeletesammie xx
I think I'd have found working in a male dominated profession much easier. With blokes you know where you stand whereas in a mostly female job there is far too much bitching and back stabbing. I've worked in nursing for most of my life and have experienced the worst kind of nastiness in some jobs simply because my face didn't fit. I learnt long ago to simply get on with the job. Fortunately my life isn't defined by work unlike some nurses and I've always made sure I have a life outside nursing. Kristel
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ilona - your musings illustrate what I've been thinking lately. There's so much hatred going around, much of it fuelled by social media, in my opinion. Perhaps if we just got on with our jobs and tried to treat one another kindly, we'd actually see some positive change!
ReplyDeleteHi RP, You're right about the hatred on social media, my troll is very active at the moment. Sarcastic and nasty comments coming in most days.
DeleteI am very sorry to hear you have been "trolled" a lot of late. I had always thought of folks who do that as sort of sad and lonely, maybe depressed or such... and using that type of activity to pump themselves up. However, when you mention it is happening a "lot", I have to wonder. It seems to me that would take a fair bit of energy and such. Odd.
Deleteat any rate, will send you great thoughts/kind blessings to counter such chit.
have a great weekend.
Hi RP. Thank you for your kind blessings. The troll has been coming and going for a few years. They keep losing their rag and then disappear, months later they are back. A bit of OCD I think, can't help themselves. It's not sad and lonely which drives them, it's jealousy that my blog is doing well. This person has admitted that we have met in real life, other clues point to the same person, or people, there are two of them.
DeleteEnjoying your blog Ilona and yes you did make the times today ! The worlds most frugal people article . I cannot believe you live on such a small amount of money every year ! Amazing and well done! I totally agree on your stance with equality - nothing less is hypocrisy. Having said that we are made differently from men and should revel in that. Any who keep up the good work and more power to your elbow! X
ReplyDeleteHi Hala. That figure is not accurate. When I was first interviewed the reporter came up with that, don't know how she worked it out. I just went along with it. I think it was for the food I ate. My pension is more than that.
DeleteHope this link means you can get to see that article better.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/times2/the-bloggers-who-told-us-not-to-spend-and-made-money-from-it-sqlh227xq
Thanks Sue. It won't let me read it unless I register. If I do it will give me two complimentary articles every week. If I want more, I have to pay. I won't bother.
DeleteI actually prefer this time of year to Oct/Dec, I noticed today that it didn't get dark until 5, every day now brings us closer to spring and more daylight. I get SAD and find the winter v hard going. Christmas is insignificant to me as I don't have family any more, and whilst I don't begrudge others their excitement/ interest, the whole lead up to it wears me down as everything is very family orientated, and I find it harder to find things to do in terms of days out etc. I've just booked a summer holiday, and started some new projects so I feel things are moving forward a bit now all the holiday bedlam is over. Also love it when the shops go quiet again!
ReplyDeleteHi Kate, I know what you mean. Us singlies have to make the effort to entertain ourselves. I have no family around me, I chose to move away for work. I am visiting them less and less, they have their own lives and don't want to visit me. No point in feeling sorry for myself, that's just how it is.
DeleteTypically at this time of year I am poorly and feeling sorry for myself with a headcold, sore throat, aches and pains. I decided best thing was to give in to it and have a duvet day with some cold remedies. You mentioned going on marches and demos? I've done some crackers! coalition against the war in iraq, women's day marches, reclaim the night, climate change. I would meet some really interesting people and learn a lot. At one camp a guy was showing people how to run a washing machine from a bicycle, I think you'd love it Ilona. I love watching Heartbeat aswell and the Hannah Hauxwell films, all creatures great and small, not just for the beauty on the eye, but for tips and clues about simple domestic living.
ReplyDeleteI love your responses to people about doing a "man's" job. Well said.
ReplyDelete