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

charlies-aunt

redlady_1 wrote: »

Well, I walked in to find an electric bill for £232!!!! :eek: It's not even winter yet! That will teach me to let a quarter go on an estimate rather than read the meter. Thats the first months wages of the second job taken care of then!

Oh no! Can't you send in your own meter reading and get them to re-jig the bill?

Kitcaboodle

I am determined to get DS cooking as early as possible (he's only 5 months at the moment so I'll let him wait a leeetle while yet!) I plan on telling him he's allowed cakes and biscuits if he bakes them himself & on encouraging him to cook savoury stuff too. Even if he's only motivated by sweet stuff at first, he'll still be confident enough to use kitchen equipment and follow a recipe that way!

He's also going to learn to sew, glass paint & do mosaics (and other arty crafty stuff.)

My boy is going to learn life skills (including budgeting!) whether he likes it or not!

sammy_kaye18

redlady_1

---

Well, I walked in to find an electric bill for £232!!!! It's not even winter yet! That will teach me to let a quarter go on an estimate rather than read the meter. Thats the first months wages of the second job taken care of then!

I would ring in with a correct meter reading - only problem is - it may go down............but - and this is my luck or lack of it speaking

---

it may go up! :eek:

Trying my best to be good with electric/gas at the minute.

Boyfriend got suspended from work yesterday on full pay over an incident with a co worker apparently but the other guy involved is a little sod and not even the boss believes what the guy told him, but told Owen he had to investigate it despite knowing full well Owen wouldn't do such a thing.
Although needless to say Owen was not amused at his suspension so did tell his boss that the other guy in question had been stealing fuel on a works payment card and had sent abusive text messages to him on a works phone )the boss already knew about this but Owen showed him the texts on his personal phone so has the proof).
So he has no idea now how long its lasting for but will be home for the foreseeable future --- probably only a few days max as he's one of the only people who will do the crappy long runs that no one else likes. Plus Im hoping Owens work Partner doesnt have few words with the other guy abotu his actions :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

Apart from that made a nice chicken curry night before last and there's a portion in the fridge, last night made Ben sausage,waffles and beans and cooked a few extra sausages which Owen had mixed into pasta so covered the rest and will tub that up in a bit for in the fridge too.

Had a bad night again with Holly - decided to go to bed at 9pm as I was shattered, she was up at 12, 2, 4 and finally got up at 6.25 ---- needless to say if Owen is home today and not up his mums then I will go back to bed I think for a few hours kip as Im shattered.

Also was quite shocked as Bens togs (that's a welshy term for football boots) were ordered on Wednesday morning and arrived yesterday afternoon (says 2-3 days on the website) and they cost £14 but are smart. Also paid his football insurance yesterday £25 (without it he cant play for rest of the season) so he is all sorted now thankfully - just hoping the rain stops so he will be playing - he'll be gutted if he misses it now he has all the kit and Owens coming to watch him.

I agree too that I think schools should teach more life skills than they do. Ben has already planted tomatoes as his school with the Morrison grow your own scheme they did (or whatever its called!) but he knows all the ingredients for fairy cakes, flapjacks and pancakes already. He has chores, earns his pocket money, but I want him to know basics - he does help me cook and prepare veg but think I will try growing some veg at home next year and let him help. I think my cookery lessons - what I had of them - I made scones that were inedible, soup and apple crumble. I did go on to do textiles at A level and have made skirts, denim wall hangings, a floor length chinese dress, a native american full costume and a boned corset ! :D:D:D clever little bugg*r I am see :D:D:D

As for the whole 'explaining things to children' ---- Im not too worried about Bens questions atm -- and I know he is ok with a bit of gore and scary stuff --- think I have one of the only 6 year olds who loves all the Jurassic Park movies and finds The Mummy (Brandon Fraser one) hysterically funny especially when the decomposed mummy shouts at him and he shouts back.

Anyway its widdling it down here again, holly is olbas oiled up to the eye balls. Hoping Owen will be up before the school run so I don't have to drag her out in it. Might give her a nice bath later (if not before bed), will attempt to find something out for dinner, but am shattered so I think football kit washed and hung up to dry - one airer still full of towels - will fill other one up and do basic housework (make beds etc/dishes) and thats me for the day. Nice shower and a kip I think

redlady_1

Unfortunately, that was with my correct meter reading. It went from £70 to £232!!! Still, at least I can get it over and done with now rather than at Christmas. I am just completely shocked at how much it is. My heating is a woodburner so it can only be the immersion and the dreaded electric shower - which I suspect has been left on alot. I had my bathroom created so moved out for a while whilst it was going in. I guess workmen are not quite so careful with electric!! I need to get some big church candles thats for sure.

Sorry to hear about Owen Sammy. I hope it is sorted quickly for you. Not good.

sammy_kaye18

redlady_1 wrote: »

Unfortunately, that was with my correct meter reading. It went from £70 to £232!!! Still, at least I can get it over and done with now rather than at Christmas. I am just completely shocked at how much it is. My heating is a woodburner so it can only be the immersion and the dreaded electric shower - which I suspect has been left on alot. I had my bathroom created so moved out for a while whilst it was going in. I guess workmen are not quite so careful with electric!! I need to get some big church candles thats for sure.

Sorry to hear about Owen Sammy. I hope it is sorted quickly for you. Not good.

No they dont seem to think twice about leaving electric on do they - I have learnt that council men are just as lapse when it comes to YOUR electric consumption - we are on meters for both now thanks to Swalec's mess up and putting wrong payment onto wrong card - most unamused and it is a nightmare trying to keep on top of what's on meters all the time.

Even worse now the weather has suddenly gone cold rather than gradually. Although do have the back up of a small electric heater - we don't seem to get through as much electric as gas so that might come into use in the winter a bit more I think. I do fancy one of these wheeled gas fires that you can position as and where you need it. We had one when ben was born and it was a god send when our boiler broke over Christmas - fancy another one that I can at least stand in the living room and pop on for an hour/half hour rather than putting central heating and water on.

ceridwen

Hi Sammy

Well - at least the suspension is on full pay okay. Sounds positive for things working out okay from what you say.

I guess the positive take on this is "At least Owen is around to help out a bit and I have the chance to catch up on sleep courtesy of baby-induced sleepless nights - whilst he minds her and does any outstanding housework.":D

northwest1965

Just a bit of a heads up for you mummys on here that buy from ebay. Have you seen the news about certain fisher price items being recalled? Apparently they are still being sold on ebay though.

Have a good day everyone:)

On the subject of teaching kids to cook in school, has anyone been watching Jamies American Food Revolution. I was appauled at what they feed their primary kids for breakfast and lunch !!

sammy_kaye18

ceridwen wrote: »

Hi Sammy
induced sleepless nights - whilst he minds her and does any outstanding housework.":D

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

have you seen my flat! All my housework is done before 8am thanks to sleepless baby nights!

and Id be :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek: if Owen ever did housework - I think he's swept the floor maybe 5 times in the last 5 years! and the closest he comes to doing the dishes is washing 'his' bowl so he can have cereal.

Rigth its absolutely bucketing it down now, so I'm off to bang about getting Ben ready for school in the hope that it will wake Owen up and he'll keep my poorly cold filled princess here with him. Any ideas on how to help her out with her cold (bearing in mind shes only 11 weeks) . She has olbas oil on her bib at the minute, and is kept warm, warming her bottles etc.

mardatha

Shove the baby in beside him, SK. Then make for the door fast, and pretend you're deaf.

ceridwen

Holly's cold = off the top of my head I read a tip recently about leaving a cut open half onion by the side of the bed - summat to do with onion "fumes" helping to clear the head as I recall.

Will have a very quick look before w**k.