For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for April 10, 2011

A couple of under- and over-cooked meals will change his tune.

I heard that when I asked for a new computer at home!

Hi Nab. I work for the NHS and we are miserable. Can’t get any equipment. Can’t get nurses, can’t get anything. We do have a stove though.

Kim: Guess it depends which hospital you are at within the NHS… I know at least two that have decent equipment… all we need now are decent doctors… at least at the ER level…

Last panel subscript; “And then the fight started.”

I hate stingy people.

So - for breakfast, give him cold cereal. When he comes home for dinner, it’s cold cut sandwiches or send him for take-out. Keep it up until he gets the picture.

carlady you are so right on! Good plan. Be sure to make him take note that the “take out” food costs will add up quickly to the cost of a new stove.

Jury won’t convict you………………

Elly, kick John’s butt!

I had the food wasting disposal that was worn out after I used it for 16 years. It was brand new since I moved into the condo in 1995. When I turned it on to grind the foods, the disposal was shaking so violently and the water spitted. I looked under the sink and puzzled why and where the water spitted from. The water leaked from the old disposal. Also, the leaking water from the disposal ruined my tools in my tool box. I took my tool box out of the cabinet under the sink and put the plastic pan under the sink just in case the water leaks from old spitting disposal! Good grief! :-/ I will plan to buy and replace the brand new one for the disposal with my refund from my income tax. :-)

I remember a cousin of mine whose kitchen was just awful. For years she tried to get some of the half-dead appliances replaced, but as long as they still worked, her hubby said no new appliances. Then she got sick (managed to get some childhood disease she hadn’t had as a child) and ended up in the hospital for a week. Hubby had to fix breakfast & supper for the 3 kids for that week. She came home to all new appliances. And refurbished cupboards!

Get a gas stove!!!

If repairs will cost less than a new one, and it will work properly when repaired, then fix it. Otherwise, replace.

John is likely somewhat chauvanistic in his final comment, but remember, that is where he makes his living!

Try the Gibbs approch ‘head slap’

My 24-year-old electric stove was still going pretty good when we “retired” it in 2009. That was the year our same-age dishwasher gave out on us … and since all the kitchen appliances were the same age, we knew it was only a matter of time before the rest of them went out too. That’s when we finally brought at least part of our old kitchen into the 21st century with brand new stainless steel (instead of just replacing everything piece by piece as they quit). Everything else in my kitchen still screams 1985 but at least the appliances look good anyhow!!!!!

P.S.: John, you’re a chauvinistic pig butthead! Elly may not say it … but I sure will!!!

Well, I’m sure improvements to the office are tax deductible, whereas a new stove for home isn’t.

They’re free at the office.

Cartoon “Betty” has already had my comments on this issue last week but I just had a new stove delivered last Friday. I only have electric service (no gas) but the one here when I moved has been bad (oven handle had to be tightened at least every 60 days, temperature control was bad, and exposed element on oven floor was in a position where I could not clean- new one has hidden oven element and steam clean, a new electronic control and handle appears well connected. I’m happy! Learning to use the new one.

Besides, they’re tax deductible for my office. The stove is a personal expense we can’t write off. Now if they’d give us a tax credif for buying an energy efficient appliance, that would be different. So, meanwhile make do with it.