Its tough, it will get better and guess what its freezing brrrrr!

BB1984

mardatha wrote: »

Am wondering why we don't hear of all these council job losses- when is that to happen ?

We've been told that the "staffing committee" is currently considering all of the various cost-cutting measures, including redundancies and changes to terms and conditions. They're reducing our redundancy payouts before making us redundant, which a lot of people are quite upset about. I think the last I heard, they said they would start putting things into action from the end of this month, and I imagine jobs cuts will really get going just before the end of the financial year.

To be honest, though, a lot of our redundancies will come through natural wastage/voluntary redundancies/early retirement, so the figures in the press aren't as bad as they sound. It's not actually in the control of central government - yes, grants to local authorities have been cut, but then it's up to the individual councils as to where they want to spend or make cuts.

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ceridwen

Still not been able to force myself to get going yet - so..yep..ahem...lurking..ahem...:o

Mardatha - I'm sure we will hear more in the New Year. Its a common strategy for private firms to know very well in the run-up to Christmas that they need to make/intend to make redundancies and to keep that from their workers till January and then hit them with it. I was only remembering that one the other day and thinking that a lot of public sector employers will probably take a leaf out of that book -"January - here we come - any minute now........"

A lot of the public sector job cuts will come from natural wastage over the next few years - but I think there will be a few in that sector who will find themselves getting a New Year "present" they don't wish to have..

BB1984

Brrrrrrrr! Chilly here, I'm freeeeeeezing! We just tried putting the heating on for a bit, but had to turn it off after a few minutes as the racket the boiler was making was quite scary! Unfortunately, because it's a combi, it fires up whenever we turn the hot taps on, too. I just hope we can get it fixed by the end of next week, because I just looked at the forecast and it's gonna be COLD! :eek:

No plans today other than carrying on with my work. I'm trying to finish a first draft of my 4000-word report today to start giving to various people to read for me next week. So much to do, so little time! Still, DH has said he'll be more useful today than yesterday...! :cool: We might go for a little walk on the beach a bit later, so we get some fresh air and I have a break.

Best get on with it then, I suppose! Have a nice day, all.

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sammy_kaye18

ceridwen wrote: »

'morning all...

Sammy - are you around lass? Things going okay?

:wave::wave::wave:
Oh you do watch over me Ceridwen dont you? lol. Have a very suspicious looking hug :grouphug:

I'm still here, although haven't posted for a few days as my baby girl has decided to find her voice so whenever she is put down for longer than 2 minutes she starts making herself heard so I cant get any peace unless she's asleep - she's the only one still in bed the lazy little moose.

Have been having problems with my HV again and took Owen with me to have holly weighed on Wednesday - she's been having no food at all - only milk and has still put on 3lbs and 5ozs!!!! I think she's just destined to be a mini heffer then once she's up and about she'll lose it all - her brother was exactly the same. Health visitor wanted to make another home visit - she said there's nothing wrong with kids but she'd liek to come to the house so she could give me more time to talk rather than rushing me through clinic - I suspect she's being nosey now and Owen aired his views. Much to HV disapproval and Owen said he didn't want her there so she said she'd have to talk to her manager. Which she did and later called saying I had 3 options - either she visited, another health visitor visited or she had to contact social services because we were refusing entry. Told her its not like Holly isnt seen at clinic because I can see it from my house, brought to the doctors, shes happy, healthy, fed etc and she said with the whole Baby P in the press she had to do her job - Holly is 18 weeks old now and she refered me to social services when Holly was 3 weeks old - because of mould in my flat. So I will make an appointment with her and my sister in law and mother in law are going to come down as a 'visit'. My SIL had to tell her straight when she had her daughter - her 3rd child - so I know she'll have no qualms about airing her opinion!

and just for a quick chubby cheek update
[URL="[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/welshbird/mumandholly.jpg[/IMG]"][/URL]

Apart from that we are good - have treated the house to some new curtains for the living room and a nice rug - to help heat proof us a bit more as our current ones are ever so slightly too short. Think our blinds have given up the ghost too - they are roller ones and the material is starting to come away from the top so will get some nets on Tuesday (pay day woohoo!) so will have sorted my living room.

I have been de-cluttering a fair bit this week too . Have put loads on free cycle and 90% of it is being collected tomorrow which will give me a bit more space. So I can get cleaning tomorrow around various pick ups.

Well rest of today (now my mini moose is awake) will involve her shouting her head off, Ben playing with her and winding her up no doubt, and he wants to make flapjacks later and watch Harry Potter. So I've got all the uniforms etc in now - just need to dry them, and will get beds made and basic housework done then sit down for a cwtch with my little man.

Going to leave it till wednesday too and then phone about my cheque I think - still heard nothing about it.

hugs to all who need them too. Owen suffers from depression and did seek help but he still dips every now and then and I lost my friend when I was 17 because of it. He took his own life at the age of 17.

cyclura

morning all, I just wanted to pop on with some good news. We went to visit a local pig farmer yesterday and we are collecting 3 pigs in 2-3 weeks time as weaners to grow for meat :j . we have a small amount of land behind our house that the LL has allowed us to use and its really overgrown so we have decided to get some pigs to clear it and have slaughtered for our own meat when the time comes. I am so excited as I love pigs and I am a bit weird when it comes to my meat so this will be better for the whole family.

We are looking into chooks next but want :rotfl:get the pigs in and settled first

jackieglasgow

Oh Sammy she is a gorgeous and such a wee chubby. I love chubby babies, my two were huuuuuge and Ds1 had four little lines round his thighs, he was so chubby, but he is now 11, five foot two and a skinny minnie! The other one wasn't much better, the only fat he has now are two chubby butt cheeks. I seem to remember that my two sisters who didn't like our HV refused to see her, and simply went to the clinic for weigh ins every couple of weeks, and that was that - she sounds like she's a nightmare, can you not contact your GP, and the practics manager and discuss it with them? Glad to see you here though, I don't know what to suggest about the crying, my DS2 liked being fussed, and I couldn't ignore him either. Mind you, he's grown into a sweet affectionate boy who loves kisses and cuddles so ita not all bad!

determined_new_ms

Hi I've been reading these posts and wanted to say re depression. Anti-depressants can help lift the fog of demotivation and if necessary should be taken (I suffered with depression for years. 3 years ago I sat on my computer researching effectives methods of suicide - very frightening & sobering experieince- & now I work with ppl experieincing enduring mental health problems). However for long term relief of depressive symptoms there are a couple of things that ppl can do
1. deal with whatever the problems are that are making you depressed (this is where you need the anti-d's to help take away the depressive symptoms enough to be motivated to make long term changes)
2. get counselling. I had counselling for 18 months. It helped me work through some issues. It hasn't changed my problems, they're still there although thru doing 1 (its still a working progress) they are not as severe. It has also made me see while these difficulties are painful & real they are one part of my life and do not have to colour every other part
3. I took up running in the summer. Again really has helped me see things in perspective, when a new problem arises its easier to deal with and I don't think "my life is awful I want to die". Exercise is so important to stay healthy & is now proven to be more effectively than anti-d's for mild to moderate depression.
4. Eat a healthy diet
5. surround myself my people who make me happy & weed out the ones who made me doubt myself
6. learn to trust myself


Hth x

jackieglasgow

Excellent post DNM, thanks you!

Rowan9

Good to see you posting Sammy. Lovely pic!! Sorry the HV is being so difficult. i think she will get a surprise when she comes to visit and finds you are not on your own.
Catz - thanks for the CFS info. Great that you are facilitating an event. Indeed a really good way to say thank you. I have decided i can only be here for my friend, and listen. I can't advise her obviously but i do worry that she does too much. She loves gardening and has a big garden which they landscaped before she became ill. She is just so exhausted looking when we meet up. Really pale and drained.
We have my Dsis and B-i-L coming on Wed for a few days so need to get the back bedroom tidied for them and a good clean to kitchen. I'm another one whose energy has gone out the door. Small lists and rewards of a sit down with a book seems the way to go. However, might head to the shops this afternoon to get another couple of pressies. Doing it in little steps has worked so far but i'm determined to get myself organised this year. This is our first Christmas in our new home and i want to be able to enjoy it without last minute rushing. Ah - that reminds me - Kittie, thanks for the idea of singalong CD to get myself going. I'm off to put one on right now.....lalalala
W

BB1984

Just quickly popped back to say AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW at baby Holly! I'm like jackieglasgow - I love chubby babies! My little sister had great rolls of fat on her legs, we called her Michelin man! She's got a model figure now though so it didn't last!

They are just gorgeous at that age, I could eat her up!

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