How to Get Through The Tough Times The Old Style Way.

Greying_Pilgrim

mrswive - can totally understand why you are feeling the need to vent a bit of frustration. Certainly there have been times recently when I have found myself having the same sentiments. It's usually the 'unfairness' of other people's mess ups having a negative impact on my life that finally punctures my (usually ) sunny disposition.

Still, we take the small victories, or simple pleasures where we can eh? We had a wonderful time out yesterday (we had to make the trip anyway so just had to not think about the diesel cost), and managed to find ever such a peaceful spot - that we'd not been too before - for our 'picnic' lunch. It was a bit nippy, so ever so glad of the HM soup, but dining outdoors does have a bit of magic too it - summer or winter (magic or mayhem - depends on the UK weather situation!). The change of scene was just the tonic, and so nice to see banks of snowdrops in bloom - such a cheering sight.

Of course, back to earth with a bump at Greying towers today, when I went outside to start potting up some broad bean seeds I was just in time to see the manhole cover over the sewer start floating immediately after a loo was flushed ....... Investigation (and a previous episode) led to discovering that the drain is blocked on the neighbour's side (we share a drain). Fair do they will sort it out ......tomorrow........ They have somewhere else to stay overnight................ we do not

Therefore, trying to remain cheerful, and calling to mind the relevant excerpt from Emma Kennedy's book - 'The tent, the bucket and me' which made me roar with laughter at the time.........

Greying

kezlou

hey zara, glad your feeling better today!
I had that my OH, he soon stopped soon his b!tching when he realised what i did in a day.

Ah just had another peaceful day, was going to go to york, but boys took too long, so we missed the train. Instead i was treated to a magic show, and played lots more games with them. Been really good spending time with them.

Boys decided to scamper along to the park, both came running back after 20 mins, saying it was too cold. Turns out most of the kids went home too as it was freezing. Someone said its 2 degrees outside, and boy does it feel it.

Managed to persuade the boys to help me clear out the front garden, well my strip of of concrete. Looks like they's shoots coming through on the raspberry plant.:D. Repotted the gooseberry tree, snips decided its going to in front of the window. So that's where its living for now. Looks good too. Just need to clear a few more bits and thats ready for when the seeds start peeking there heads out.

All i can hear is the boys humming the iron man theme tune. Ah the joys of black sabbath!

hornetgirl

((((hugs)))) zara. Hope you're feeling a bit brighter now.

bertiebots

Hi folks ..can I join this friendly little thread please? Its so nice to have somewhere to come and feel normal . I am also feeling a bit lonely at the mo (sad but true:o) and want somewhere to pop and say hello....vitual hello's are better than none in my book so hello:j:p
My kids have been at their dads all weekend and I am still not used to this whole single parent malarkey and have missed them terribly. Am off to have a bit of hm lentil soup with some hm bread before they arrive back home ..(the soup was made for me by my friend as I cannot make edible soup:eek:) ..and then I am going to try and catch up on the posts;).

Rowan9

(((Zarazara))) - keep those microwave meals stacked in fridge and don't do Sundsay roasts as well as muck out horses! I really feel for you.
All else - wow re all the baking that's going on here
Great ideas for kids' parties
and (((hugs))) to those going through a hard time:grouphug:
Today I've done Sunday lunch for us and for DD and her partner and DH's uncle. Now, I did cook boeuf bourguignon from Julia Child but I can freeze loads and also I used shin beef which I just love for long slow cooking as it becomes tender as anything and is a cheap cut. A$da's is always good. so...I reckon this is simple elegance - now who is it on here who says we should have this:)?
DD brought fab desserts - a lovely orange cake and also the Guinness gingerbread which she says is from the new Nigella (which I have). I've had such a great day, really enjoyed family sitting round the table, and now have a heap of stuff ready for the freezer as well, including mashed potato and also all the big stalks from brocolli which I shove in the freezer and then chop and add to soup.
For the rest of the week we will be eating mostly vegetarian food and a good number of the meals will be thrifty things like omelettes, veggie curries, soup, so it all balances out.
Have a relaxing Sunday evening folks
W

ETA - Hello Bertie!! Now, I remember those days well, believe me! You know what I used to do? Have a special meal, just for me, dim the lights, put on jazz music and have my meal with table cloth, napkin etc. I might have had to buy the food yellow stickered as opposed to my ex having a heaving trolley of food and drinks, but I made sure I felt pampered by myself and treated myself as I would a dear friend. PM me if you'd like a listening ear.(((hugs))) to you
W

kitschy

bertiebots wrote: »

Hi folks ..can I join this friendly little thread please? Its so nice to have somewhere to come and feel normal . I am also feeling a bit lonely at the mo (sad but true:o) and want somewhere to pop and say hello....vitual hello's are better than none in my book so hello:j:p
My kids have been at their dads all weekend and I am still not used to this whole single parent malarkey and have missed them terribly. Am off to have a bit of hm lentil soup with some hm bread before they arrive back home ..(the soup was made for me by my friend as I cannot make edible soup:eek:) ..and then I am going to try and catch up on the posts;).

Hi bertiebots, welcome to the thread:hello:

It's lovely here, so grab a cuppa, put your feet up and make yourself at home x

shegar

mardatha wrote: »

Shegar I'm gobsmacked. ROSES? HONEYSUCKLE? my god. I have snowdrops and thats the lot. No daffodil has yet been mad enough to raise its wee head here !

Oh cmon you lot get outside and have a look monday and see if you have buds on some shrubs, I know im not the only one, its usually warmer and drier on the East Coast than a lot of places,my neighbours lilac bushes and budleia has green buds on too.............so to all you people out there in different parts of the country let us know whats budding in your garden..........

littlecal

Hi Bertiebots It IS a friendly thread - welcome aboard!!!!

anguk

ceridwen wrote: »

I DO often suspect that some of the prevalence of readymeals/readymade chemical cleaners/leaping in cars to go a distance that can perfectly well be walked is partly down to Him Indoors not doing his fair share of keeping the house running - therefore the woman thinks "If you aint sharing the cooking - there wont BE any cooking. Its readymeals for you me lad." Men - I couldnt fancy the thought that I might have to "housetrain" one to do his fair share in the end. They either came "ready-trained" or forget it...:rotfl::rotfl:. I wasnt prepared to put up with living that way to suit any mans idea that I was going to let him get away with doing nothing very much in the house;):)

I've seen quite a few men who are already house-trained, who have lived and coped quite well on their own, quickly revert to type once they get into a settled relationship.

I think quite often the problem is us women , it's as if we're programmed to think we have to do everything and some men see this, take advantage of this weakness and take the opportunity to do as little as possible.

I'd bet that in at least 80% of households where both the man & woman have full-time jobs it's still the woman who does the majority of household duties and childcare.

bertiebots

Thanks wmf. I am normally ok with having a bit of me time now, and dont really know why I am feeling so "off" this weekend! I am slowly gathering together a collection of dvds to watch when I am on my own, usually enjoyed with a glass of wine (or the bottle!) with no-one sat in the corner huffing loudly its heaven!!
But just when I think I am getting used to it all wham I have one of these weekends...cant wait to get the kids back and start the new week tomorrow. The kids are off school so I am trying to think of some free things to do and hopefully the weather will improve enough to have lots of dog walks to the park! It was snowing yesterday..and it is feeling like I will never be able to switch the heating off!!
I am also waiting to hear if I have got a job I went for this morning and should find out tomorrow and if I get it will be starting tomorrow! It will mean no more jsa if I do , and a bit more money in the bertie pot! I am on holiday from my other job which is in a school so my days will still be free for the school hols:T