OS Daily Tuesday 2nd September 2008

Larumbelle

Morning all! :wave:

N9eav, have fun on your fishing trip. What are you out to catch?

Redruby, :grouphug: Put your feet up and REST. There really isn't anything more important than your health. There's nothing that can't wait, and if there is - well, someone else can do it.

HUGE HUGS for all who want and need one!

ZoeGirl, yes, we are none of us wonderwomen (well, I know some are, but I'm bloody not!!:rotfl:) and of course OS gets on top of you sometimes. Any aspect of real life does! I have been thinking a lot about how OS has changed my life, so I'm going to try to explain.

Before I was OS, life used to get on top of me then as well. I was in that cycle where I was paying off debts, working a million hours, then having to buy ready meals and that because I was so busy, then do overtime to pay for the ready meals. And most of the debt came from the times when I got really ill, I have had to live with my illness most of my life and I simply wasn't managing it properly, I'd store everything up and try to convince myself I was fine, the result was a major breakdown every two or three years. At that point I would lose my job again, get in debt again, this would hammer my health even more, and looking back it was a vicious circle. When I got a bit better I'd go and find another job, and generally it would be one far below my capabilities but where they didn't ask too many questions about my health or the gaps on my CV. I'd be bored and unfulfilled so I'd have nothing to think about, so my brain would go into overdrive, I'd get ill again and pretend it wasn't happening again, and the whole cycle would start again.

And when I started OS, I thought, this is ridiculous, I don't have time for this! Then last time I was really bad we worked out that we could afford to only have one salary coming in for a while, which was something we'd never even considered before (luckily our debts are pretty much non-existant now). People do find it strange that I am home even though I don't have kids etc (but who cares what 'people' think?), and it won't be forever, but at the moment OS has given me the freedom to get off the hamster wheel for a while and get myself truly well again before I worry about careers.

I also find OS to be actually helpful in dealing with my illness. It helps me to organise myself and focus on something, and I feel that I am actually achieving something in a way I never did in a job. I don't mean in the 'ooh look I've made a perfect cake' way or the 'wow my partner loves me more now because my house is tidy scary-anthea-turner-perfect-housewife' way. I suppose it's that I have taken a relatively small amount of resources and turned it into something worth much more than the sum of its parts, which is, after all, the point of most businesses. I can live my life the way I want to, not in the thrall of big business. Not worrying about the effects of my actions on the rest of the planet, because I have a choice about how I live, so I can pick the least damaging alternatives. Not worrying about additives and hydrogenated fat and food miles because I know exactly what goes into my food and where it comes from. When I told my CPN that she was horrified, I think she thought it was OCD developing or that I'd been kidnapped by the Stepford Wives but now she understands what I mean she actually thinks its a great strategy, and said it's a pity she's not allowed to recommend a course of it for some of her other patients! OS has given me something much more than a way of trying to keep on top of my housework and food bills, and I will never forget all the people on this board who helped me to achieve it. I mean that. I firmly believe that most of the people who post here, and on DFW, and on a few of the other boards, never realise just how much impact their words have on peoples lives. If they did, they'd probably be too overwhelmed ever to write anything again!

So anyway, where was I? Oh yes, Zoegirl, well, sure, it gets on top of me sometimes, but so far as some things go I have a strategy; foodwise, I always have something batch-made in the freezer that can be just warmed up, or a recipe I know I can make in five minutes, stood on my head, far less effort than calling a takeaway. As far as laundry goes, my strategy is having more than a week's worth of socks and underwear for each of us, so if the laundry isn't done on time it's not a big problem. So something doesn't get done? Big deal. There's really not that much that has to be done Right This Second, and so long as you do those things, everything else'll still be there waiting for when you do have time, and nothing terrible will happen in the interim! We are lucky enough to be able to pick and choose what in the OS world works for us, so we get to pick and choose just which domestic drudgery we want to do


Rats, I've just realised I've spent forty minutes raving about this and that conversation has probably moved on now. Never mind. Have a good day everyone :wave:

mioliere

Happy Birthday, Master Pixie :bdaycake:

KathyXX

Pooky

Good morning all

Hugs to all in need

DH started his new job yesterday, he came home a very happy man as he can see so many things to do and the prospects for advancing are fantastic - along with all the other benefits that a larger company has. Long may it last - nice to see him happy.

DD2 went back this morning - got soaked on the school walk, she met a friend half way there so I was surplus to requirements and came home but had to dry and thaw out - it really is like mid winter here, thick sea fog, gales and driving rain.....not keen on this lights on in the morning lark.

DD1 goes back tomorrow so we're going to have a bit of a catch up today - hardly seen her over the hols, she wants to have a play on the sewing machine so will dig it out later for her....she's been making stuffed hearts to hang in her room but is fed up of sewing them by hand.

Sausage and mash tonight - got loads of potatoes to use up so will mash them all up and freeze them down - not sure where in the freezer as it's stuffed full but I'll have a shuffle around and see what I can do.

Made a pea and ham soup yesterday which turned out very salty, despite soaking the joint first.....I tried the potato trick but it didn't work, had a goodle around and found another remedy of adding equal measures of balsamic vinegar and sugar until the saltiness is bearable....worked a treat. :j

Hope you all have a great day.

mioliere

Silvercharming - what a lovely and inspirational post! I couldn't have put the OS theory better myself. I'm so glad you are enjoying life better now than when you were tied up with work and debts. I agree with you about the people on here - without them I would still be racing against time and feeling dissatisfied with life on that horrid hamster wheel. Working from home and being OS gives me such sense of achievement that I don't think I'd want to change it. This gives me a reminder to thank all my 'virtual' friends on here for their love, concern and support, as well as all the OS advice and tips, since I joined. Hope you all have a great day!

KathyXX

Squiggly_Diddly

Just to add Happy Birthday to Master Mix!!!! And good luck to Mioliere's DS2 for his interview

Right, I really must get up & do something...

catznine

:T Silvercharming you summed up OS perfectly for me. I too am learning to live with a chronic illness and have recently had to give up my part time job again, but being old style as and when energy allows gives me a very important feeling of achievement. I make a list and if I don't manage to do it all it doesn't matter too much but if I do (today is chutney making) then I can feel good about myself even if I am shattered. Believe me that while it won't make you rich the pennies saved do add up!

Catz x

hilstep2000

Morning All!
Grotty old day here. Kitchen cupboard turn out I think. DS is still asleep:rotfl:
Kids go back to school Thurs here, but I don't have to go in till Monday, as I don't work Thursdays and Fridays!:rotfl: :T
Suffering with post holiday depression at the moment. Oh for the warmth of St Lucia:o

Finally got my Skype working, so I can talk to OH when he's away.:T

:bdaycake: to Master Pixie

Essex-girl_2

Hello back again to say

:bdaycake: Many Happy Returns to Master Pixie & Master Mix:bdaycake:

& Good Luck to Mioliere's DS.

DD has gone to school and DS is mooching about.

Dogs are driving me mad as cant go out coz it hasnt stopped pouring since 8am.

RosyRed

Morning all.Happy Birthday to those who have one,and hope poorly people start to feel a bit better soon.
The last few posts about old style struck a chord with me too.Yes it can be hard work,specially when you've had a mammoth cook-in or baking.I say to my DH that I seem to have a lot more dirty pots these days!But when you see those jars of chutney or jam or a well stocked freezer,you do feel a sense of well-being and pride.
People who I used to work with say'what do you do all day?' ...I never stop doing stuff that interests me,but it also benefits our family.I say 'Long live OS'
Its a lovely day up North.Am off to have a mooch round the market for bargains!

Take care xx

Dazi

Morning everyone

for the birthday boys.

Yesterdays washing is back out on the line, got towels in WM at the moment hopefully I can get it all dry today.

The wii fit says I've put a 1lb on, so I am going to skip the bit that tells you that in future

Did loads of HW yesterday, but then started doing some craft stuff, place looks like a bombs hit it again as I am not a very tidy crafter :rotfl:

Plan for today is, do a bit more to a couple of bits I did yesterday, then seeing how the time goes I may pop into town, I really do need some sort of smart jacket for these interviews now its getting a bit colder. Also need some bits for my craft projects.

Dinner tonight is just me OH already knows he won't be back, have got some salmon out of the freezer and will have that with a jacket spud and salad.

Have a good day xxx