Taking control of my life

Ames

Thanks for the heads up about the electron card Squizz, so there's going to be a charge however you pay, that's pants!

I'm used to not having anyone with me at appointments, most of the time it's fine.

I went to the GP this morning. She hadn't got the ME clinic letter on her system yet so we couldn't talk about that, but I got my extra tablets, and she's put it on my repeat so that makes things a lot easier and better.

Now, I've got a dilemma. I've got mild conjunctivitis, my eyes are just a bit sticky and itchy. I'm supposed to be driving to Wales tomorrow for a heavy metal weekend, but I don't know if I really want to go. Flashing lights don't really appeal right now!

I'm sure if I went I'd have a great time once I got there, but I'm feeling a bit under the weather and just want to stay curled up under a duvet. On the other hand, I'd lose the £130 I've paid for the weekend (but I'd save the money I'd be spending there). I'm also worried that I'll end up arguing with my sister. The other week she told me that if her contract's not extended I'll have to help her move out at the beginning of January. 7 hours of driving and then packing the car and unpacking it again is really how I've always wanted to spend my birthday! I'm getting very sick and tired of her just expecting me to do stuff for her, she doesn't even ask, just tells.

Plus, she still hasn't done the credit card chargeback for the tickets we were scammed with on ebay.

I need to talk to her and this weekend seemed a good time to do it, but I'm not sure I've got the patience to do it calmly.

Aaargh!

redsquirrel80

Martin does recommend a prepaid Mastercard you can use without charges - http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/travel/2009/11/ryanair-to-charge-for-visa-electron-bookings - but the power of MSE appears to have crashed their website at the moment!

Katy83

Hi Ames,

Just wanted to second Buffy, you are amazing, truly. For the visa electron, I think you can get prepaid ones of those as well. Conjunctivitis is miserable, poor you. Sounds weird but try sitting with some cold teabags over your eyes, it will help draw out the infection. Maybe if you aren't feeling great it wouldn't be the best time to deal with your sister, you might have to make an arrangement to see her some other time.

Hope your eyes feel better soon xx

Ames

Thanks Katy, I might try that. The doctor did say to bathe my eyes in cold boiled water, but I don't know how! Do you wipe them with a damp cloth, use a cup to lap water against them, or just stick your head in a bowl of water?!

I'll look into the prepaid mastercard, £100 minimum top up's a bit steep, but I guess I could put the monthly food budget on it, maybe then I wont go over!

LouiseJ

Please be careful when bathing your eyes Ames so that you dont cause cross infection.......

I was advised to use a cotton wool ball pretty soaked in cooled boiled water (you do get a bit wet) and then wipe 1 eye from the inside to the outside once DO NOT REUSE THE SAME PIECE OF COTTON WOOL OR GO OVER THE EYE AGAIN WITH THE SAME PIECE!

Repeat with the other eye.

I hope your eyes get better soon xx

Ames

Well, after a crap start to the day, this afternoon's got sooo much better.

I've had a call from the ss department that deals with employing carers, and she's found me someone already! She mentioned yesterday that someone had asked for extra hours, but I didn't want to get my hopes up. Well, she gave me the girls number and she seems really nice, so we can set up a meeting and get things started. The financial side still needs sorting, which'll take till mid Jan, but then it's all ready to go. And because the girl's already working for someone she can start before her CRB check comes through. Personally I think it's madness that you need a separate check for every person you work for (or every department in the same council), but red tape is red tape. I'm so happy about it, finally things are moving.

Secondly, I've just booked a holiday. I nearly did it last week but was put off by having to pay Ryanair £10 just to pay. But today the flights had gone down from £8 to £5, which covered over half of the charge. So, flights to Barcelona - £20, and a youth hostel for £9 a night (with 5% cash back), and I've got three nights away for less than £50. I made sure the hostel has a kitchen though cos I've heard Barcelona's stupidly expensive - £10 for a sandwich!! My £2 jar more than covers it, but I'll wait and see if I need it. If I don't go to Wales tomorrow then it's covered by what I would have spent there.

I also noticed I could go to Dublin for my birthday for a night for a fiver each way, but that's just being selfish. Sister might need me to move her stuff that day, so the only reason to go (apart from to get !!!!!! faced on real Guinness) is to avoid that.

Having to miss Italian tonight though, my eyes aren't up to strip lighting, and I've got a headache and feel all snotty and don't want to go out. I'm catching up on my OU work instead. Just watched a video of an old Romanian leader getting executed (I know the name but can't spell it). It wasn't graphic, but it was sobering. Somehow seeing the video made it more real than when you read about it in books.

Ames

Thanks Lou, I'll do that. I'm enough of a muppet that it wouldn't occur to me to use different pads for each eye, so thanks for reminding me! Thanks button's disappeared, or I'd press it!

GeorgeUK

Hi Ames

Good to see you again.

Glad to see you're still plugging away - just wish the medical situation was better and you had more support. Must admit though, when you said you didn't know if you had enough patience to tell your sister calmly - i thought, well tell her anyway!!

She is taking advantage of you and expecting things when she has no reason to. You're not at her beck and call. It's about time she realised that.

Anyway, glad you're still doing things for yourself and getting out a bit.

redsquirrel80

Ames, for cheaper food in Barcelona, head down to the seaside bit at Barceloneta - not the posh restaurants right on the shore but along the more touristy streets there are loads of cafes who do a 'menu del dia' for 10-15 euros - usually three courses, bread and a drink, there's usually 5 or 6 dishes to choose from for starter and main, and a couple of desserts - incredibly good value and generally really good food. We found that sandwiches etc were quite expensive in the city centre, so it is a good idea to have somewhere with a kitchen - the markets and supermarkets are good value.

Shoe_Gal

Enjoy Barcelona I went for my 40th and it's one of my favourite ever places