Lucielle's daring debt free journey

TizerCat

.....and I looove hearing about your cake baking ...............yum yum yum!

savingholmes

Hi lucielle - just popping in to your diary to see how things are with you... Just read back a few pages... Sorry you are finding things tough.... I've had times in my life where I've felt very broken too... All I can say it that with time, effort, and some time spent nourishing and nurturing yourself, looking after you (not just others) it is possible to heal again.

I don't know if you are a book reader - but Louise L Hay's book The Power is within You - positively influenced me. She talked about the fact that for some people like me - the only time we feel strong enough to say no is when we have a reason like illness that prevents us from doing things we don't want. She says it is healthier to think regularly when making a decision "is this loving for me?" I have therefore over this last year made a conscious effort to be "kinder to myself". I am kind to others but not kind enough to me..

We can often fall into the trap of beating ourselves up as if we had our own little Hermione style bogart calling us a failure - when we need to do the ridikulous charm and turn it into something funny. I've had to remind myself of that often but it does help....

You've had a lot to contend with - just the size of debt alone would sink others...:( Yet you've pressed on, raising your family, working your socks off as a family to try and lift yourselves back up and get on parr. You are doing amazing :A just to be keeping on putting one foot in front of another... It is not surprising if you are feeling exhausted! It's like in an airplane emergency - the adult has to put on the oxygen mask first before doing their child's or they could pass out... My prescription if you will forgive me is that you spend some time thinking about what would make you happier and then start to do some of those simpler and easier things - and get your family and friends to help make it possible - and be kind to yourself.

HTH and hope you don't mind me butting in out of the blue...

lucielle

Been shopping today, had to get DD1s glasses, 2 presents for DS2 who's off to a party tomorrow night, bank and cards. Did buy lunch in town, as they were going swimming they needed it. Dropped them off at the pool and then went to Lidls, called in at Sainsburys and finally managed to track down some Paneer. Its an indian cheese and I need it for a new recipe I want to try. Now need to go and find the recipe.

Chaps came round to look at the telle box as it had packed up. Talk about blondness and numtyness together. It turns out a wire had come out of the booster box. Did ask if he was going to charge me a fortune and he said he would try and forget about it. Not got round to making the jam but will post the recipie when I do. I did sucuumb to some Port in Lidls specifically for the jam.

Friend had her cat put down yesterday, asked to go round for a few drinky poos tonight so I'll go and annoy her and try and cheer her up.


Ooh Ooh, some other news. Got a phone call about 8.30 last night and it was the principal from one of the colleges that DS1 was going to go to but had sort of ruled it out. He has decided on an apprenticeship but that means going to college twice a month and to be honest, if he went to this one it would be a good 2 and a bit hours each way. I explained that to the principle and she said not to let that put him off and they have ways round it. She also read out the reference that the school had given him. Which was pretty good and I asked her what she thought of it and she said it was good but he wouldn't make Prime Minister and I replied I didn't think it would appeal anyway. She said she didn't normally ring parents up but every year she takes an extra interest in 10 pupils and he was one of them! I had to go and lie down after that.

Paid £60 off the debt. Also discussed board money with DS1. Does anybody know who reads or lurks if he still gets child benefit whilst on an apprenticeship?
L

lucielle

Thanks SH, trouble is things that would help me to feel better cost money. I know money isn't everything, believe me I do, but I would love to ride once a week as I feel as if I can do anything after a great lesson. I'm also exceedingly lazy and I know that this would pep me up to do other things. Make sure you rest up properly.
L

savingholmes

Hi Lu - thanks for the good wishes... Is there anyway to eke that money out so you can have the ride? If it would make such a positive difference to you - could you plan it in at least once per month even if you can't do it every week?

My OH had a go at me as I was reluctant to buy new knickers which would feel more comfy after the operation but was happy to waste money on chocolate... Is there anyway you could set some money aside just for you? OH and I now have pocket money again which has cut down on the arguments in our house...

I don't know if you have ever read the richest man in babylon book - but again he advocates some money for you...

The_Golden_Goose

Lucielle where are you? PM me if you prefer.

SH you are veeeery wise. I've taken note. Of your advice. Not purely taken note concerning your wiseness.

lucielle

SH- I'll look out for those books.

GG- sent you a PM

Made a very nice tea yesterday, even if I do say so myself. Had 1 cooked chicken boob and I was supposed to cook a couple more to make a pie, but I couldn't be bothered. I had a packet of Campbells soup mix, which I'd ordered by mistake as I wanted the tins but they don't seem to do them anymore, so I made that up with a bit less water, cooked some onion, courgette and pepper added the chicken, cooked some pasta and mixed it all together. It was delish.

OH took me over to my friends last nigth and picked me up later, so I could have a few drinks. Really didn't sleep well and was up at 4, read for a little while and then dropped off to sleep.

DS2 was in a grump with me yesterday. I asked him of he'd help with the garden and he said he would and went off to get changed. I was outside digging. He came round in a right strop and I was in fear my piggies were going to get chopped off with the fork. Asked him what was up, turns out he'd fallen off his bike and put holes in his trackies and it was my fault!
L

lucielle

Plum jam with port

2lbs 4 oz plums washed and stoned
8 floz water
small glass of port (optional, have made it without)
small knob butter (hope that gets past the swear filter)

Boil plums with water til pulpy (I throw them in, wait till it cools a bit and then get the stones out, saves loads of faffing just lob a few extra plums in). Turn down the head, add sugar and stir until dissolved. Add butter and boil til setting point is reached. Remove from heat stir in Port and then into jars.
L

turfy6

Ahh you sound much more like our Lu!:T Glad youre feeling better and the plum jams sounds yummy, hope you enjoyed your few drinkipoos.:beer:

Pippilongstocking

Ey up lass - nice to hear you on here iyswim

Plums we do the same, much easier I reckon

Making your cheesecake for italian student arriving on sunday - ta muchly for recipe , my kids call it 'English' cheesecake, its the only time they've had it in england........................tee hee