Picking oakum

Never picked it. Just looked it up. Perhaps she's been looking at the problem from all angles trying to make sense of it all or find a solution hence unravelling of threads etc.

I find it best not to. It takes too long, it damages you and the results are not really all that use. The time and effort involved isn't worth it.

'Picking oakum' was to pull apart ship's ropes, and as you say it took place in Workhouses.
The resulting oakum was used to stuff mattresses.
The ropes were very tough and covered in all manner of stuff.
It was very painful work.

That's how I understand it, anyway!

Yes, Fanny and it was terrible on the hands. Open wounds, infections.

Isn't trisher's explanation of the figurative meaning correct?

I thought it was going to be about some autumnal pastime we could all enjoy!

??

Nitpicking?

Callistemon
Sorry to disappoint you!

That's ok
Anyway, I learnt a new term today, thanks Greta

Hahaha Callistemon

I always thought the term was used to describe a difficult and thankless task. My father explained to me it was used as a punishment in the navy. The resulting fibres were used to caulk ships (seal the gaps between planks)