To make a big tea cosy, not being a skilled sewer (!), I cut the arms off my worn old jumper, neatened the edges and then went online to find out how to make a pompom to attach to the top of my cosy. I bought two balls of wool in the same colour and it made a humungous pompom which helped to keep the top of the teapot warm. I could have used the cutoff arms to make a matching base for the teapot to sit on but that looked like too much work.

Love getting your email. I live in Pt England [[Auckland] and around this area and also reasonably far-reaching suburbs there are the “Free Cycle” web site people can join and everything (as the name says) is free and also the “Neighbourly” web site in most areas and expanding also has free stuff and wanted free stuff etc.

There are recycling depots around Auckland you can now go to and get cheap items.

I hate seeing rubbish (especially mattresses) dumped on the roadside when Auckland Council actually have a recycling site for them where they break them down and recycle them.

People spend too much on vices because the Government hands out too much money to them, they do not know how to budget and with all these agencies handing out lunches, raincoats, shoes, breakfasts etc whey should they bother. Other people are basically looking after, feeding and clothing their children so they do not have to bother and cannot be bothered anyway when it is does for them. More money for the vices (alcohol, ciggies, drugs, Lotto etc).

Stop some of it and make people stop and look around. They have X amount of dollars coming into the house, budget the necessities – mortgage/rent/board, power, basic telephone (instead of all this high tech and expensive cell phones) water etc.

Every State house around where I live has a Sky dish. Flash cars parked in the driveway.

I own my own home, have one income and I cannot afford Sky! Why can beneficiaries and the like – because their children are being provided all the free stuff because they scream poverty. Grow a vegetable garden, budget hard and be money savvy – it is not hard. Stop looking to the Government and agencies – people bring these children into the world – they need to look after them or put them up for adoption to a well-earned family who cannot conceive. I bought up 3 strapping lads on my own with no help, I cooked, grew vegetables, shopped savvy at the markets, never ever had handouts for anything and they have gone on to places as did I.

I feel good about the journey and it makes you a better person for it.

My grumble.

Always buy same brand and colour.
When you find a ladder cut the leg off.
After the 2nd ladder wear together with 2 tops – keeps you warm!
The cut off leg is excellent for washing children’s soft toys.
The small pieces of soap from the shower put in the feet 2 together for using to wash dirty hands, knees and feet.

• Use sea sponges that wash up on the beach to clean pots and pans. Being rough in texture they remove scraps but do not scratch the surface of the pots.
• Recycle bike chains as hinges for gates and small doors.
• If butter has gone rancid it can ‘sweetened up’ by immersing it in cold water with a pinch of bicarb soda for two hours.
• If the inside of your chimney catches on fire, place wet newspapers on the fire. The steam from the papers will put it out. Try it before you call the fire brigade!
• Recycle the canvas from deck chairs. Turn it into carry bags for groceries.

Speaking of carry bags, our local New World supermarket is encouraging shoppers to give up plastic bags. If you take in your own reusable carry bags they reduce your grocery bill by 5 cents per bag or a clip on a coffee card. The good thing is the store gave away the reusable bags in the first place. While the saving is not all that significant in the overall scheme of things, the cause is – and good on New World for taking the initiative to help reduce plastic waste in the environment.