Return of the Ragman?

Unbelievable article in the guardian today

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/poli...us-enough.html


MPs complaining at £15 a day meal allowance


I and many people like me who work part-time and claim a little  housing benefit are living on £15 a week for food once bills are paid. That is if we haven`t had to use extra heating in this freezing weather. Often it is a case of living on £10 for food and putting another £5 towards the heating bill. 


Work full-time then I hear you shout, not that simple with caring responsibilities and no they do not live with me. No I don`t receive extra benefits for caring but it does restrict my ability to work longer hours. No I don`t smoke or drink. I have freeview tv and pay £6 a month for internet access.

I was born in the 50`s so I know how to live on porridge and home made soup, go to the market at the end of the day etc.  Many people do not.

I do strongly resent paying for Mps meals at all why can`t they take a packed lunch like the rest of us.

Return of the Ragman    (now called a clothing distribution centre)

When I was growing up in the 50`s my father worked as a window cleaner in the mornings and a ragman in the afternoons.  I and my brothers and sisters often went to the rag yard where he weighed in what he had collected. The woman in charge sat with a large stick near the scales and used the stick to check for bricks and stones amongst the rags. Just in case the ragman was trying to make the weight seem heavier.  I was always terrified of her she seemed so daunting to a child.

Today I took my few unwanted clothes to a ragyard and received £7 for them. I spent this in the £1 shop on household bits. A year ago I would have given them to a charity shop.  Life in Britian today for many people is much harder than many realise.

Maybe I will follow my fathers example, get some cheap toys to give the kids in return for rags and trawl the streets shouting `Any old rags!`

I have lived through hard times, three day working week, repossession in the 80`s when interest rates were sky high, job loses and divorce.  I have never taken my worn out clothes to a ragyard since I was a child.

How scary is that.

Silent Night Dream Bedroom #Springmakeover

This is a  pinterest board I made  which shows some ideas for my dream bedroom. I have used white for the bedroom furniture to keep the room feeling spacious and I like mixing old style with new.


http://pinterest.com/chrismse1/silent-night-dream-bedroom/


I like lilac colours and purple so I have used some coloured cushions and a rug to keep my room cosy.  The huge white mirror  will reflect light and looks amazing along one wall. Lilac bedding is my favourite so I would have lots this and some fabulous throws. The striking picture on the wall is a nod to my love of theatre and complements the colours of the bedding and rug.

For my bed I have chosen the 6ft Amsterdam Divan with deep firm mattress
further details here:

http://shop.silentnight.co.uk/divan-beds/amsterdam-divan-bed-6.html

I liked the simple divan style and the comfortable deep mattress has a memory foam topping for extra comfy sleep.




or this fabulous bed that the winner will receive would be wonderful in my bedroom.




‘This blog post is part of the Silentnight Spring Bedroom Makeover Challenge’



My current bedroom is dark and has bedroom furniture that I bought over thirty years ago so its desperate for an update.  I think like most mums our space is always last in the queue after new football boots and school uniforms.
I am sure Allyson Houghton the ideas and design consultant at Silentnight would have lots of stunning ideas for my room.

Part of my bedroom

This photo shows part of my current bedroom which is in desperate need of an update.





My other blog http://alondontourist.com
twitter  @chrismse1