It's STILL tough and not getting better - so how are we coping?

katholicos

Lindy_-_Loo wrote: »

Well done to your daughter, shes done really well you must all be so proud. I stayed at home when I did my degree, couldnt afford to live away from yet I still ended up in debt! xx

Thanks Lindy-Loo!

My DD is going to be living at home and commuting at least for the first year, maybe all the way through, we are not sure yet. She is so close to me on every level and although she has a lot of independence and can drive etc, she still loves being with her family. My DD is realistic and she knows she will accumulate debt, but at least it's a debt that hasn;t been built up with being silly with money.

Once again, thanks so much and also for sharing a bit about your own situation

elona

Just found out we can finalise contracts on new house on 3rd September!!:j

DH has already organised two guys and a van to move boxes etc. that day and a proper removal service the next day to move beds, wardrobes, sofas etc.

Can't wait to get moved and want to get a "Sheila Maid" to dry laundry in utility space, shelves in linen cupboard for towels and space for tins, jars, toiletries etc in garage. Really want to get organised for winter as it sounds as if it will be severe.

DD(24) has new job in early September and looking for a rental place nearby and DD (21) has an interview tomorrow for a possible three month contract which would give her work experience after graduating and might just lead to something.

katholicos

seasalt wrote: »

Can I add my well done as well to Katholicos' and Charlie's Aunt's DDs.

Thank you very much, and well done on harvesting food from your garden today

ceridwen

LAUREN

Re the allotment question - I know of some allotments near me (that dont come under the control of the Council) and had the chance of one when it came up (which I turned down - as its not near enough to me) and I have a good idea who else gets offered one when its available. Because they are offered round amongst a group of friends/friendly nearby others - then no-one has to be asked if they "match the profile" - as its known how people will think on this.

If someone wasnt known anyway then it would boil down to whether people are organic gardeners or no - as the assumption is that everyone IS organic. I'm sitting here pondering what other (unspecified) criteria I fitted to be offered one - and I guess it boils down:
- general respect for the Planet
- a willingness to "muck in" and help out with keeping an eye on each others allotments
- a willingness to swop our surplus produce with each other

I think that the fact that I "tick all the relevant boxes" is why I had a chance if I wanted it.

So - my two thoughts here are:
1. These allotments may not be Council-controlled - so they may be able to set their own criteria for filling "vacancies".

2. Whoever controls them wants to know that new allotment holders will "fit in" with existing allotment holders. The thing to do would be to find out what the "unofficial criteria" are. I suspect they might be the 4 criteria I mention above. Its HIGHLY likely that everyone there already gardens organically and are therefore very worried that they might find that the next "plot" to theirs was taken over by someone who gardened "chemically".

So - my own thoughts are to figure out whether you fit in with the likely "unofficial criteria" list that applies to the ones I know and, if you do, then let them know that you do. If you are an organic gardener - then tell them you are. If you're not - then....errrr....the situation is more difficult and I guess it would boil down to either converting to being an organic gardener or finding some allotments elsewhere where they arent that bothered (because they already have several people there who ARENT organic and there is no "shared culture" ethos prevalent - its run on a more individualistic basis).

******************

So - I hope that no-one takes this the wrong way - as its meant to be a helpful verbalisation of the likely criteria - in order to help solve the problem. Fit the criteria = get the allotment and problem solved.
(I very much doubt that being "posh toffee" - as you phrased it - is one of the criteria......I think its just down to purely practical considerations.)

sammy_kaye18

Morning All

Well done to all the A Level Results yesterday - my sister got herself 2 A's and a B so she is off to Birmingham university now which was her first choice so she is landed.

My run of rubbish luck continues - I am meant ot pay council tax on the 14th of every month at £87 a time. Well las tmonth if you check my signature you can see I was slightly pre occupied so it wasnt paid so yesterday a bleeding summons arrived on my door for £588 for unpaid council tax!

So rang the summons office and said I couldn't afford to pay and could I set up an agreement and she said I had until March next year to pay in full so how much did I want to pay. She said minimum would be £74 - that's £13 lower than what I pay now. She then said I had to be realistic with my budget - I know I can afford the £87 as I do every month already so said I'd keep paying that and get it gone slightly quicker. Then asked her about if both us had to attend court as both were named on the letter and she said I didn't actually have to attend anything , the council would go along with my agreement letter and obtain a liability order and that would be that unless I failed to pay - she then gave me the option of how often I wanted to pay and I said 4 weeks from the 1st September (pay day for my tax credits). So not only was it a pointless letter as they were informed last months payment would be late, the phone call was useless anyway as after I'd agreed a payment, dates, etc she then decided to inform me that the computer systems was down and that she would have to ring me back up to repeat and clarify it all! . :mad::mad::mad::mad: why not just say that in the first place but note that I'd rung!

On a good note though - my sister got a job! She will be a business promoter in Cardiff. She starts her training on Monday and begins work on Thursday - her shifts are 11 - 8 and she will be getting free 'work' tickets to some big events - how come i never find the jobs like that? . Either way she will now have a wage coming in and is moving in with my mum on the bank holiday weekend.

Grandad is out of hospital too :j - turned out he had a bad chest infection (due to an old job and asbestos on his lungs), an ear infection and vertigo! not to mention he already has high blood pressure and thyroid issues.

Am off to see grandparents in Cardiff on Saturday - have all of £20 to my name until Owen pays me on Tuesday when its his pay day and even then I have to pay rent and have bills to catch up on that was meant to be paid today but he needed petrol and I had £105 NTL bill to pay!

ceridwen

Sammy

Sorry about that hassle with the C.T.

Having had problems wondering how to physically get to paying the bills when I've been ill before now - I've just stuck the lot on monthly direct debit (apart from the insurance - which I can't do - as I would be charged more if I paid it monthly, rather than yearly). So - thats a bit of a weight off my mind now - knowing I only actually have to think about bills for that once a year insurance bill - as they just come out automatically - job done...

Is that one way to go possibly?

jackieglasgow

Ceridwen, I don't think your surname or how old you look can possibly show to others if you garden organically or not, it doesn't sound at all like Lauren's local allotment committee even consired anything like that when considering her application. I think you were being a bit over generous to them.

taplady

sammy_kaye - well done to your sister!:T and its good news that your grandad is out of hospital. x

crickett1234

Ever have one of those days when it feels like all you ever do is attack a to do list? I am having one of those WEEKS this week. Thank God its Friday... except I have an equally bad list for home this weekend. Its never ending.

I think I am feeling so low because I have not been even attempting to OS anything this week. Not surprising when I am trying to co-ordinate international communications vis a vis Dad in hospital and doing a full time job, and then trying to keep my house in order. But I feel guilty. Plus I haven't had time or energy to do any crafting or anything. And I can't see when I will do either.

Think I need to indulge my inner child and have a bit of a sulk. Will come back when I feel a little better. Sorry for being so miserable.

Primrose

crickett - don't beat yourself up. There are times in all our lives where job or family crisis demands simply take over and we just have to go with the flow and let the less important domestic tasks slide a little. There are only so many hours in a day. I've learned from bitter experience that the only thing which happens if you try to be perfect is that you place yourself under an impossible level of stress which makes you perform even less effectively. Sometimes shutting yourself in a quiet place for just 15 minutes and doing some deep breathing exercises is enough to help calm yourself down and allow you to refocus with a little more energy.