Hi Everyone

[SUPEwoman]

Hi Everyone

I've been reading the site for a while (very interesting, right up my street) and this is the 1st time I thought that I could contribute something to a forum. I'm a forum virgin, but you all seem so friendly so I'm not put off. Thanks! (Came from a link on Quinta das Abelhas site whilst looking for accommodation in Portugal.)

I live in a semi with a very small garden in Nottinghamshire. I've always grow herbs (organically), have a compost bin (full of ants, what do I do about that?) and use essential oils for family ailments and for cleaning as I hate chemicals of any kind and detest pollution. I've always been the nutter who arrives at work on a bike when I've left a perfectly good car parked at home, and I make a lot of my own clothes.

This site is inspiring me to dig up my lawn and grow veg, nobody uses it and mowing it is a chore. As me and my husband drastically want to change our lifestyle in 3-4 years time, I bought a book on downshifting. Only to find I do most things it suggests! I know we live simply compared to family and friends although one luxury I couldn't live without is an internet connection.

Looking forward to learning and picking up hints and tips from this site.

[shiney]

Ello SUPEwoman!

Welcome to SELF SUFFISH. I did welcome you earlier on practice and delete but here's another welcome anyway!


Goodness, you are quite inspiring about using natural cleaning stuff. I am bad at this I have to admit. Please share your tips for using safer cleaners in the house.

Have a good time here, it's very friendly and there's lots of advice and tips.

[Millymollymandy]

Goodness, you are quite inspiring about using natural cleaning stuff. I am bad at this I have to admit. Please share your tips for using safer cleaners in the house.

I'd be interested too.

Welcome SUPEwoman. Is that supposed to be Superwoman? Glad you find the site useful and the folks here a friendly bunch. That's why I joined!

[shiney]

Morning MMM,

You're up early as well today, by the time of your reply here!

I try not to make a habit of it, but the other half was up and out at the crack of dawn.

Supewoman, I don't know why you have lots of ants, I have a million and one worms in my compost. Sometimes there's more worms than mulch!

[2steps]

hi supewoman

I think the only place my garden doesn't have ants is the compost!

[Wombat]

G'Day SUPEwoman,

Nice to see you here!

Have you tried digging the compost bin over to crap the ants off so that they leave and go elsewhere?

sounds like you are doing some really interesting stuff.

Nev

[Millymollymandy]

to crap the ants off

Nev

Hey! We need a Moderator on here!!

[Wombat]

[SUPEwoman]

Hi

Do I post a reply here?

Thanks for the welcome. My compost bin has a slide opening at the bottom, I guess it's time to turn it and maybe bury the ants?

As for SUPEwoman, I needed a name and as I'm an administrator for SUPE, it seemed to fit

[Lyds]

I think the ants prob help the compost - you know, making tunnels ank keeping it airated...

[gunners71uk]

hi all the best to you

[diver]

Hi, welcome...what's SUPE....am I being stupid here ...am I the only one not to know???
Tell us more about cleaning without chemicals
And what sort of accomodation are you looking for in Portugal. I am looking to move over ther in about 18 months/2 years because I want to have bees and hens and I could get a small holding over there...I'm going over in October to have a look

[SUPEwoman]

Hi Diver

SUPE = Service User Participation & Empowerment! Couldn't expect anyone to know that! I work on behalf of a homeless charity encouraging their clients/service users to have more of a say in the decisions which affect them, felicitating residents meetings/interview panels etc. It's an interesting job.

As for Portugal - well we love the Algarve but have always wanted to go further north. We've flights for a week in October & were looking for somewhere to stay. Ended up browsing property for sale too! Really looking forward to our holiday.

[ina]

Hi SUPEwoman

I've been thinking a lot about your signature - maybe it's your experience with cats, but mine is different! At least my cat treats me like any daughter would a mother: only sometimes she behaves like a toddler, sometimes like a teenager...

To explain that:

She's like a toddler when she needs to go to the loo just when mum does. Her tray is next to the toilet in the bathroom. It must be quite a sight, the two of us squatting there and doing a synchronised pee...

And her behaviour is very much like that of any modern teenager, when she is out all night, gets home at 5 in the morning, is sick on the best rug, hops into bed with dirty feet, sleeps all day on the sofa, demands a huge meal and, without saying as much as thank you, buzzes off again!!!!

The joys of family life. The advantage is that you can lock her out of the house and let her sleep in the garage if you are really fed up. I love her, honestly.

Ina

[Muddypause]

Hi SUPEwoman

I've been thinking a lot about your signature - maybe it's your experience with cats...

Churchill once reckoned that cats look down on us, dogs look up to us, pigs treat us as equals. Apparently he kept all three.