Coalition trying to cause a recession

[Rainbow Moonlight]

Good to spend, but not on credit. That is why Rudd's ten billion is a good idea.

[mantra.]

Very good point. I used to mend my socks - better get the needle out. And the built-in obsolescence of machinery, whitegoods etc. is infuriating. Our dishwasher just packed it in, and we're not replacing it.

You might even enjoy doing some sewing Hebe - it's a rare craft today. We just buy clothes which we throw out when the seams fall apart, insteading of spending a little time repairing or making them and with the price of water rising drastically - washing up manually would you save you a bit. People either have forgotten or don't know how satisfying it is getting back to basics sometimes.

But it was announced today that even though Europe, the US, Japan and some other nations are officially in recession, we are just managing to stay afloat and will get through this crisis. Business has slowed down a lot, but it is plodding along. We still have growth and that is a positive sign.

So Turnbull's negativity has been counteracted by the government trying to remain positive and it is working.

That is why Rudd's ten billion is a good idea.

Yes it was - surprisingly after all the criticism he received from the RW when he first announced this.

[Hebe]

Makes good sense Mantra. I don't know if it's my age (which is IMMENSE! ), but I'm increasingly bothered by things like seeing a truffle being sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars, the stuff I see in the weekend papers' fashion pages - a couple of which would pay for my annual 3-4 weeks in Noosa. So I actually have unearthed the sewing-machine (we never got on that well), got out the darning stuff and the knitting needles. Of course, so much of what we buy now isn't even worth mending - it's Chinese crap that just falls apart. But I am enjoying cooking more, even washing the dishes (good opportunity for taking), growing some veg (every seedling a triumph) etc.

The phenomenon of the R word is interesting - almost seems as though if you say it,it will cause it. Sort of like a negative placebo effect. I think we're doing OK but I wish people would stop harping on about how much worse it's going to get next year. At least I have a job - a safe one - and am grateful for that. The super will have to hang for a while.

The Libs are shooting themselves in the foot daily, especially Julie (meeeowrrr) Bishop. Why on earth do they leave her as Shadow Treasurer? She's the ALP's best weapon.

If I manage to make anything, I'll post a pic. I'm aiming for a throw for the bed, so to speak.

[Jovial Monk]

Some spending may be sensible, a new(er) car or fridge that is more economic to run etc.

Spend some money planting a garden, homegrown veges are way better than the best you can buy. My tomatoes are over a metre high already, all heritage, open pollinated variety and so extremely delicious. Any glut can be given away or even better turned into sauce, sundried tomatoes etc.

[mantra.]

I can relate to your post Hebe - especially this bit. That thought had crossed my mind.

The Libs are shooting themselves in the foot daily, especially Julie (meeeowrrr) Bishop. Why on earth do they leave her as Shadow Treasurer? She's the ALP's best weapon

As far as cheap Chinese clothes - how true, but thanks to the dumping of so much Chinese rubbish here over the last decade, it's almost impossible to find anywhere to buy material even if you wanted to make your own clothes. All the fabric shops have disappeared. And knitting - that is so relaxing - but no-one bothers anymore - that's even if they knew what knitting was. Another skill which has almost died out.

Spend some money planting a garden, homegrown veges are way better than the best you can buy. My tomatoes are over a metre high already, all heritage, open pollinated variety and so extremely delicious. Any glut can be given away or even better turned into sauce, sundried tomatoes etc.

Lucky you Dita. I would love to have a vegetable garden, although I sometimes get a few wild vegetables growing - but my tomatoes get to a certain size and then the animals or insects get to them. But it may become a necessity eventually. I heard today that we are importing 70% of our fruit and vegetables. This is unbelievable, but if it's true - we can thank Coles and Woolworths for that. They've finished many of our farmers off by purchasing their produce at the lowest possible price, too low to even cover production costs in a lot of cases. Farmers are just walking off the land or committing suicide.

[Jovial Monk]

Yup importing lots of food from China,

I do not buy my food at supermarkets, {shudder}

I don't have to worry about animals here (apart from my idiotic terrier) and insects kept at bay with pyrethrum, derris dust, companion planting etc. Keep veges healthy with manures, foliar feed of "Charlie Carp" etc and a little bit of insects won't do any great harm

Birds are a problem: will be netting my fruit trees over Christmass-New Year week.

Even one of my quandong trees has flowers, hope to have a nice harvest soon!

[mantra.]

Sounds good Dita - having your own little market garden. I always thought most of our fruit and vegetables were produced here - living in ignorance obviously. I buy from small fruit shops and they usually say locally grown - but who would know. They usually get their produce from the Sydney markets.

For a couple of years now I've tried to avoid anything produced in China. It is well known how disgusting and unhygienic the conditions their products are grown in, not to mention all the strange chemicals added to their meat and dairy products. Pity so much of our manufacturing is over there now - but perhaps the less we purchase from overseas, will force many of our former manufacturers to return to Australia. Less profitable for them of course - but better quality produce for us.

[Jovial Monk]

Yeah, I don't have a lot of time, a bit in early morning and some time on Sunday, my only day off, but I manage. With the water restrictions I am allowed two hours on Saturday and what I have done is buy a couple of weepy hoses, a timer and a splitter and when I head off to work early Sat am I set the timer and turn the tap on. Tomatoes already over a metre high from that once a week watering (& deep mulch etc)

Everyone should do some: healthy and delicious!

[White Indigene]

Ooooooh

Aint yas all just lovely an sweet and all

Dutiful ferals all, out pontification for the Left.

Why on earth would someone throw a net over there trees for Christmas??, Is santa gonna steal all Gods fruits?? will you be covorting naked later to frighten the birds??? Man
And just how does pressing against the harsh reality of a Labor/Labour induced economic depression make it all goood??? Boy you ferals are sure of with the fairies. I wonder what satans clause could bring you this season- perhaps an ak47, 12 feet of snow, empty bank accounts of the once rich, a land free of 'other' humans, social justice in the form of a rightist uprising.

Youre all of with the fairies, mad and hopless

Unless of course youre all being sarcastic for Christmas

[Jovial Monk]

Hey WI

I throw a net over my fruit trees to limit losses to birds. Birds bloody spoil more fruit than they eat.

They don't like tomatoes so I don't net them.

If I cavort naked I would scare the neighborhood as well as the birds.