Today is a new day!

POSITIVE_AND_FOCUSED

Ok, mum has a friend who has used Care for carers, and she was sure they could liase with school if any further probs. So, I contacted Care for Carers myself. It turns out sw has written to them and dd more than qualifies as a young carer. However, they still can not support her fully till she is 8 yrs old. But, if we do not hear from sw ourselves by end of half term, I can call them up again - the carers charity - and they will do a self referral for dd which will mean they will talk with the school on our behalf about situation. The lady I spoke with was v understanding, understood the frustrations of the situation, and v helpful. I felt she was really listening and understanding where I was coming from. Re the school bus thing, there is no school bus from here, they have just set up a walking project where parents can drive their children to a car park away from the village to avoid congestion on the roads re parking, and then the school walk them all in to school from there. My sit is that my parents live opp the school, I park in their drive way, job done. My parents are also on hand if I fall over or anything like that to be there for dd. It was all thought out v carefully at time of dds application. As I say until the change of head it was all ok. I know of other disabled mums who dont like the way they are being treated since the new head has come in and this reassures me that Im not going mad!

Anyway, moving on things here are doing ok. Cut my thumb earlier in the week on my good hand. Oh the pain!! I have been adapting to getting dressed etc with just 4 good fingers given my funny hand is redundant anyway. Its been quite funny but seriously has slowed me up considerably. Dd has been quite a nurse putting cinderella plasters on it that fall off within minutes!! Anyway, its getting there, another few days and it should be ok. Sales as a result of being even slower than I normally am have not been as great as I would have hoped. Have done just over £2K over 2 weeks, that said books out to some lovely customers for collection tues. This time next week plan to have another £1500 added to total.

Financially, we are tight but hanging in there. Sorting out ways to reduce outgoings as per prev entry, and looking forward to a nice BH. Its my birthday tom. 45 years of age!!! Going out with dd and parents and generally looking forward to a nice meal and day. BH Mon depending on weather will do some paperwork, my tax return needs finalising for accountant and will have a nice day with dd.

Thats it!

taxi73

Sounds like a nice weekend and happy birthday for tomorrow x

beanielou

Have a great birthday tomorrow.
I am slightly older than you & my menoposal memory loss is truel;y shocking so will say it now.

POSITIVE_AND_FOCUSED

Thank you for your bday wishes. Had a nice day, mum and dad treated me and dd to lunch. Had some birthday cake and a relaxing eve. On with the week, being half term its all a bit over the place with arrangements for dd and working around them. Just need to keep on the ball, keep my focus and get the work done as best as I can. We will be ok, we are doing ok. All will be well.!

taxi73

That sounds good to me.

InaPickle

:bdaycake: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PAF! :bdaycake:

Hope you had a lovely day and that your birthday cake was extra lovely!

hypno06

Happy belated birthday!!

Different_Corner

Morning PAF,
Missed your birthday, glad you had a nice day.
Hope you are finding time to just chill.

POSITIVE_AND_FOCUSED

Long time no see!

Been exceptionally busy and am just about to have a rest before going to work as am feeling tired this am.
A lot to be positive about.
1.Have signed up one of my customers into my team.
2.Have cancelled my total mortgage life cover protection costing me £95 a month. (High because it covers my disability). Will be just having basic life cover from now on.
3. Have a mortgage review appt tom with the Halifax. My mortgage is due to renew end of Sept, I want to know what offers I can secure now to be able to budget accorrdingly. It will drop in amount every month by at least £140 as the rates are so much lower. So with cancelling protection and this I will be saving £250 approx.
4. Everything is paid up to date.Orders are coming through thick and fast although to be fair with the half term my total orders have not been where they should be. However, I can catch up.
5. Did a fair with a friend on Sunday to promote the business. Made some useful contacts and did some good networking. Dd was with me and enjoyed handing out business cards to everyone she possibly could do!

Challenging areas:
1. Despite telling tax credits my income has fallen, they have said I owe them £1411.50 from previous tax years. This can not be right because I was investigated 3 years ago and it was all only resolved at the end of last tax year with the help of my accountant and the local MP. Nothing was owing either way at that time. I have called them, and apparently my details have not been fully processed, the person I spoke to could not say where the over payment to me was from and has advised me to wait for the final advice which may not show I owe anything at all! I know I owe them nothing, I will get my accountant involved if I have to. Nevertheless, its a worry that sits in the back ofmy mind and rears its ugly head from time to time. It will get sorted.
2. Social services. Have heard nothing more from them so we are in limbo as to what the school expect us to do re lateness. I also want to find out where the reports came from regarding dd's apparent tearfulness at school when her school teacher knew nothing and I have never been informed of it. For this to have been deemed important enough to be in the social services report I want an explanation. I have spoken with Care for carers. The good news is that they are prepared to liase with the school on our behalf, the other good news is that they can support dd when she is 8 which is next Jan. In meantime, we will continue to do the best we can!
3. My dear neighbour reversed into my car on the BH weekend. There is only 3 small dents but it needs to be addressed. Just trying to sort out a courtesy car with adaptions is quite a thing. Nothing is known at the mo as to what type of adaption I will have. The garage want the car for repair for 4 working days so I need to fill confident I can drive safely in the courtesy car. At the mo, I am slightly worried at any potential loss of income from it all but will just need to take it all in my stride.
5. Contacted Financial Ombudsman re my "case" with MBNA. that is the excessive interest rate they charge, the fact I was then told they would lower it, and then that they would not be but they would lower the repayments which is no good to me in that without the rate reducing I would never repay the debt. The FO believe I have a case. I didn't keep my correspondence to MBNA but having contacted MBNA they will send me a copy of their response to my complaint to them in 2008 and then in 2009. This I then send to FOc with the completed complaint form they are currently sending to me, and they then deal with MBNA on my behalf. So, it will take a while but just maybe this will get resolved.

So, overall life is busy but I feel I am making headway. Went to an advice centre and the man I saw was amazed at how much I have achieved, and to do it with my disability and the emotional back log ofmy dh situation which I am accepting will always be in the background, particularly as the release day comes closer of the offender etc. Anyway, he thought I was doing well and I left the appt on cloud 9 for the rest of the day!. I will be seeing him again depending on the MBNA, tax credit, and mortgage outcomes. All will effect my outgoings/incomings greatly and how I proceed depends alot on the outcome. I personally feel all will be well. Things are v tight but dd and I are still holding our own!

taxi73

And that man was right..you are doing amazingly well..well done x