If you don't laugh, you'll cry. WFA

But I don't like crisps ☹

Gone are the days when chocolate was wrapped in silver paper.

Sorry. If you can afford two bedrooms, you are deemed to be able to afford crisps

Oh no, Mollygo!

So those of us rattling around selfishly in our over-sized mansions when we should have downsized to a one-bedroomed flat will be deprived of government-issued survival blankets?

Allira

I've a better idea.

We could all be issued with a survival blanket, so much easier to wrap ourselves up than faff around trying to push crisp packets behind radiators.

For those nifty with needle and thread, we could make ourselves survival outfits so we can wear them when we move around our chilly homes and go to scrape the ice from the inside of the windows.

Good idea, but they’d probably be means tested- that means you can only get one if you live in a one bedroom house and can’t afford crisps.

M0nica

Good point. How about recycling cooking foil? Specifically for a survival blaanket, then you can supplement your diet by nibbling at all the burnt on food bits.

😁

M0nica

Good point. How about recycling cooking foil? Specifically for a survival blaanket, then you can supplement your diet by nibbling at all the burnt on food bits.

Brilliant.

Good point. How about recycling cooking foil? Specifically for a survival blaanket, then you can supplement your diet by nibbling at all the burnt on food bits.

This assumes everyone eats crisps! I do not.

I've a better idea.

We could all be issued with a survival blanket, so much easier to wrap ourselves up than faff around trying to push crisp packets behind radiators.

For those nifty with needle and thread, we could make ourselves survival outfits so we can wear them when we move around our chilly homes and go to scrape the ice from the inside of the windows.

Allira

M0nica

I have just found a flaw in all this. If we, oldies, are too strapped for cash to pay our fuel bills, we wont be able to afford to buy crisps either!

I made a suggestion earlier in the thread M0nica, a cunning plan!
A crisp packet bank where everyone can donate their used crisp packets 😃

It will be so useful for those of us who don't like crisps, can't afford them or are worried about the salt content affecting our blood pressure.
Our blood pressure is at risk of going up anyway with helpful suggestions like Mr McShane's.

Nor the double sided tape to patch it all together!!

welbeck

but given that foil is so thin, and flexible, how do i urge it into the dark recess, so v narrow, between radiator and wall?

You talk to it very very nicely.

Threaten to replace it with crisp packets if it doesn't behave.

welbeck

but given that foil is so thin, and flexible, how do i urge it into the dark recess, so v narrow, between radiator and wall?

With a bamboo plant cane or something similar, long handled wooden spoon, stair rod, short bit of curtain rail.

Ooooh urghhh!

I cannot open the link, but mention of crisp packets makes me groan.

Many many many moons ago, as a social worker I was trying very hard (and failing) to help a lady with mental health problems who had taken to her bed years before and lived on packets of crisps brought in by a neighbour. I soon discovered that she also used the empty packets to defaecate in and stowed them under the bed - until the floor boards rotted and the bed started to sink towards the room underneath.

Poor woman - not sectionable so there was little we could do. It was seriously grim.

but given that foil is so thin, and flexible, how do i urge it into the dark recess, so v narrow, between radiator and wall?

welbeck

by the way, re foil behind radiators, how do you get it to attach to the wall ?
the radiators are v close to the wall paper, and on long brackets.
i don't think i can access it.
i am currently sitting eating, wearing thick workmen's socks, heavy trous, vest, t-shirt, velour hoody, fleece cardigan, and another thick hoody on top.
feet are a bit chilly, will have to go out walk about.
was 54 fahrenheit in bedroom night before last.
managed to keep warm enough to sleep, well wrapped, but having to get up to go loo is a bother, and loses heat.

It's warm today, sitting outside in a t shirt (it's warmer out than inside!).

Apparently you use double sided sticky tape to stick the foil in place.

However, looking at my disastrous efforts at present-wrapping, I'd probably catch the sticky tape to the wall somewhere else. Luckily we don't have wallpaper or else it would rip it off.

Bump

by the way, re foil behind radiators, how do you get it to attach to the wall ?
the radiators are v close to the wall paper, and on long brackets.
i don't think i can access it.
i am currently sitting eating, wearing thick workmen's socks, heavy trous, vest, t-shirt, velour hoody, fleece cardigan, and another thick hoody on top.
feet are a bit chilly, will have to go out walk about.
was 54 fahrenheit in bedroom night before last.
managed to keep warm enough to sleep, well wrapped, but having to get up to go loo is a bother, and loses heat.

i think an easy and much fairer way of reducing the WFPs, would have been to take it away from pensioners who are higher rate tax-payers.
it ought to be a simple matter of codes for DWP and HMRC computers.
then again, given the difficulties i've had with both recently, each telling me that they couldn't pay me what they otherwise would have done, because the other agency had paid me something.
i pointed out to each of them that this was logically impossible.
it's like being told by dad, i can't give you pocket money because your mother has given you it.
but she hasn't!
well you need to speak to her about that.
she says, ask your father.
and so it goes on.
HMRC sent me 5 letters in a month, telling me i owed more tax, more with each letter.
then they said i was due a refund as i has paid too much. and i needed to claim it. on ringing the number automated voice says if it's about rebate, you will have to wait, no point ringing.

ronib. If you read what I wrote, I said that transition arrangements should have been put in place for those just above PC level. I have said that many times

As for the single persons council tax rebate. What has that got to do with pensioners, in particular? Yes, there are people of pension age living alone, but there are also many people below retirement age living alone and claiming it. DD has been claiming it since she was 23, she is now over 50.

I have never offered an opinion on it, I didn't even realise it was being discussed. Personally, I was always in favour of poll-tax. Local taxes being paid by all inhabitants individually. The current system unjustly favours households with more than two adults.

If you needed to, though, you would.
Just because you personally have kept healthy, doesn't mean others have.

Also what are the extras that pensioners get? Free bus travel - minimal cost to the taxpayer when so many pensioners still drive. Free prescriptions from 60 - depends on how healthy you are - I have not had many prescriptions at all over the years from age 60. And so on ….

Monica I have just seen the irony of this government’s position - definitely on the side of the wealthy pensioners and uncaring towards those who are struggling. Would you feel the same if you were just above pension credit? Also with regard to taking away single person’s council tax discount? Hitting single parent households too? Again the wealthy are happily insulated. Under Labour?

Why buy crisp packeta? A roll or two of kitchen foil will be cheaper and easier to manage.

Anyway this is an old hackneyed much recommended over many decades way of maximising the output of your CH system. Most of us probably been doing this for donkey's years already.

The same with using bubble wrap as disposable double glazing, assuming you still have a home with singleglazing rather than double.

I have no problem with the new laabour government. I keep reminding myself wjat the alternative would be, and while i think the withdrawal of WFA has been handled badly, there should have been transitional arrangements for those just above the PC level, there are many millions of pensioners whose income is way above that level who can manage very well without WFA.

We talk, quite rightly about those pensioners who live on small incomes and for whom life is a struggle, but rarely mention the millions on comfortable incomes. Too many pensioner extras are universal when they would be better and more effective if they were targetted at those who really need them.

Dr Watson Labour Party did have the motto of Change Change Change…. No one thought to ask for the details.