Oh dear... Here's a rum old state of affairs...

RuthnJasper

chiquito wrote: »

Take out a very small pay day loan - one to buy you enough food too eat. Make sure you pay it all back next month and forget about it. You are doing your best that is all you can do . Chin Up

Thank you for your advice and your encouragement Chiquito; much appreciated.

Good luck to you too. xxx

RuthnJasper

Cyril wrote: »

This thread is exactly why this country should not be giving 9bn in foreign aid.

When we have people such as the OP doing her very best to hold things together and is eating nothing more than a sandwich there is something wrong.

I haven't read other post so I apologise if i've missed something but I would speak to the vets about a payment plan. I have no doubt this would be fine as there are an awful lot of people in the same boat.

Secondly can your parents help out. Most would be upset their kids hadn't mentioned how hard things are.

Good luck.

xxx

Thank you Cyril. Your words are very helpful.

The vets HAVE been very kind with regard to my payments. I have an easy relationship with the vet in charge as he treated Jasper's predecessor, Tess, who fought courageously against the cancer which ultimately killed her - he hadn't ever (and he's not a young man) encountered a dog with such a strong will to live before her - that's why I almost bankrupted myself in trying to help her to survive - and he sometimes used to put packs of her tablets into my coat pockets and whisper "shhh!", so that the nurse wouldn't charge me for them. One of life's good ones. (And before anyone suspects me of keeping poor Tess alive for my own selfish reasons, I supported her until the instant I saw the fighting spirit and will-to-live fade from her eyes. As soon as that spark flickered out, at 3.20am, I made "the call". Twenty minutes later, she was wagging her tail as I lifted her onto the vet's table and (whether you believe this or not, it's true) she held out her arm, unaided, for the rubber tourniquet and final injection). The treatment for Tess was largely responsible for my present circumstances - as well as the necessary sale of my entire collection of Dr. Who videos (which paid for Tess's third operation ) But as I have mentioned before, I don't regret a SINGLE penny and would do it all again for Jasper in less time than a heartbeat.

It's not so much the foreign aid thing. What REALLY bothers me is the blatant tax-evasion going on even now by prominent companies and wealthy individuals - including major donors to political parties. If THEY paid their fair share of taxes we wouldn't be in half the state we're in now. And this is before we even begin to look at the billions wasted on IT c*ck-ups (the abandoned air-traffic control system, integrated NHS records, et al) and local government corruption.

I am very, VERY lucky in that my parents do what they can. Mum and Dad paid for some petrol for my car a week or so ago - and that is SO much more than many people receive. My parents love me, I've no doubt of that, but I know that I'm a huge disappointment to them in a number of ways. My brother has made that abundantly clear to me.

I am far, far better-off than many people in this country. It's true that my default sense is one of vague hunger - but I have a roof over my head, running water, a car, a job, and MOST importantly of all - my dearest Jasper. You might think I'm nuts - but the love and (mostly) selfless friendship of a sentient companion (albeit a dog) means SO much more than anything.

This is a long post. Sorry Cyril. Guess I needed to let-off a bit of excess steam.

But I am so, so, SO fortunate. I found my way to MSE - where there are genuinely lovely people whose mere gestures and typed words can make the world of difference. I have friends and a dog who thinks I'm fantastic, whatever my circumstances, and parents who probably don't hate me half as much as they occasionally seem to.

Oops - bit of a rambling old post tonight. Sorry about that. Blame a difficult day and a brief dalliance with insomnia!

Thank you Cyril - and everyone who has posted here. Your support means SO much to me and - by association! - Jasper. Bless you. xxx

Norfolk_Jim

Can I just ask, do you live in a city or do you have access to the countryside? I don't want to make pointless suggestions. Sorry if its already in there somewhere - I read it all but maybe I missed it.

RuthnJasper

Norfolk_Jim wrote: »

Can I just ask, do you live in a city or do you have access to the countryside? I don't want to make pointless suggestions. Sorry if its already in there somewhere - I read it all but maybe I missed it.

Hello Jim, good morning.

Although a London lass by birth, I live in a small rural town in Hampshire, so countryside, really. I'm about a 40-minute drive from Southampton and 10 miles or so from Winchester. The bus fares are extortionate and the service isn't the most reliable sometimes. If I was in a city, I'd get rid of my car in a heartbeat - especially my current one, which I despise with a deep and passionate loathing!

Can't complain really - Jasper-dog and I love walking in the countryside, and are only around an hour's train ride from London (haven't been able to afford that since getting the IVA though:().

Thanks for your post. x

countingthepennies

Blimey Ruth, reading your posts has made me cry!! I am guessing you have some food in your cupboards now, or a little bit of cash to stretch some meals out of? I sincerely hope so. Its unbelievable that in 2011 someone like yourself who is working and paying taxes and is obviously a lovely person should have to live like this.

Have you looked at the old style thread? I expect you have but they have masses of advice on creating meals from next to nothing, and cooking meals from basic ingredients, and this might help you stretch any money you do manage to get for food. The main thing I have learnt from that thread is to build up a store cupboard of staples - value pasta, rice and noodles, BOGOF soup and beans etc - to feed us when we have a tight financial month (the last two months have been incredibly tight). And also to squirrel away any spare money that you can - my jar of loose change has paid for many a school dinner .

Also do you have a local RSPCA or PDSA kennels near you? I am sure that they could help you out with food for Jasper, maybe in return for an hour or twos volunteering on a weekend?

I really, really hope that you and Jasper will be back on your feet/ paws very soon

ctp x

vocalclaire

Hi Ruth - You sound like a Norfolk gal (Rum un' reference!!) if that is the case I'll happily get you a bag of food to see you through. Genuinely don't think it is a case that if you get a food parcel someone else with kids doesn't. The help is there for those that need it and my dear.. you need it. You cannot go without food til Sunday!

Cyril

RuthnJasper wrote: »

Hello Jim, good morning.

Although a London lass by birth, I live in a small rural town in Hampshire, so countryside, really. I'm about a 40-minute drive from Southampton and 10 miles or so from Winchester. The bus fares are extortionate and the service isn't the most reliable sometimes. If I was in a city, I'd get rid of my car in a heartbeat - especially my current one, which I despise with a deep and passionate loathing!

Can't complain really - Jasper-dog and I love walking in the countryside, and are only around an hour's train ride from London (haven't been able to afford that since getting the IVA though:().

Thanks for your post. x

You are so resilient it makes me humble and your love for your dogs is evident. I also live in Hampshire and can really sympathise with the lack of public transport. I also have no buses unless I walk 2 miles down a busy road with no pavement to catch one into the nearest town.

If there's anything I can do to help just PM me. I also have a dooglie and she says hi to jasper

xx

jennikitten

Aww you sound so lovely OP. What else are you signed up to other than OnePoll? Pinecone Research is good, as is dooyoo.cou.k and I've heard good things about Survey Network as well. I'm in a bit of a rush so haven't had a chance to check out your blog, but you could get some advertising up there if you haven't already, even if it's only Adsense.

theoretica

I wonder if this is what NJim is thinking about. Have you considered eating wild food? At this time of year there are quite a few green things growing which could keep you in vegetables. I used to like stinging nettle soup when I was a kid - you want to hunt around until you find young plants that got off to a slow start this year, under 6 inches tall is good. Then wash well and cook a bit like spinach. Ground elder was introduced by the Romans intentionally as a food and google will find you many more suggestions and advice.