It was getting tough in 2006 and the workhouse still threatens us in 2011

bonnie_bumpkins

*sneaks up and pokes nose in*

jediteacher

I was in the same situation when my children were younger. But I soon started to wonder who was 'luckier', poor old me with my (mainly) well-mannered children who were brought up to appreciate what they have, or the hooray-henry mums with their (often) snooty kids with no inkling of real life. And do you know what? I came to the conclusion that I was better off than them. I still think this and I wouldn't have swapped places with any of them then; and 15 yrs later I still wouldn't.

If I could copy & paste a 'getting off soap box' smiley I would do so now

Have a good evening all.

rachbc

bonnie_bumpkins wrote: »

*sneaks up and pokes nose in*

jediteacher

I was in the same situation when my children were younger. But I soon started to wonder who was 'luckier', poor old me with my (mainly) well-mannered children who were brought up to appreciate what they have, or the hooray-henry mums with their (often) snooty kids with no inkling or real life. And do you know what? I came to the conclusion that I was better of than them. I still think this and I wouldn't have swapped places with any of them then; and 15 yrs later I still wouldn't.

I think it might help if I made up some sort of timetable dedicating certain times for housework, study, and 'other' - has anyone else done this and does it help? Otherwise I tend to lurch from one activity to another and not really make a dent in any.

Have a good evening all.

I don't like generalisation either way - we are be no means rich but we do have a nice house on a 'good street' that some people consider posh (no pool though!!!) and I would hate to think that people thought we were snooty and had no inkling of real like just cos of the street we live in. Inverse snobbery is as bad a snobbery

When I was studying/ working and running own business I timetabled my whole week up or I started getting antsy and anxious about when I would do certain things - certain tasks assigned to certain days and chunks of time in each day devoted to different areas of life....I am kind o the opposite to you and end getting obsessively blinkered on one task at the expense of everything else so had to force myself to break off to make sure we ate/ had clean clothes etc.

VJsmum

rachbc wrote: »

I don't like generalisation either way - we are be no means rich but we do have a nice house on a 'good street' that some people consider posh (no pool though!!!) and I would hate to think that people thought we were snooty and had no inkling of real like just cos of the street we live in. Inverse snobbery is as bad a snobbery

When I was studying/ working and running own business I timetabled my whole week up or I started getting antsy and anxious about when I would do certain things - certain tasks assigned to certain days and chunks of time in each day devoted to different areas of life....I am kind o the opposite to you and end getting obsessively blinkered on one task at the expense of everything else so had to force myself to break off to make sure we ate/ had clean clothes etc.

Well, they'll be a !!!!!! to clean those pools :rotfl:

Thanks for the freezer suggestions everyone, i will try a few of them before Steve gets retired. The left over curry was nice for tea, even if it's not what was planned.

bonnie_bumpkins

rachbc wrote: »

I don't like generalisation either way - we are be no means rich but we do have a nice house on a 'good street' that some people consider posh (no pool though!!!) and I would hate to think that people thought we were snooty and had no inkling of real like just cos of the street we live in. Inverse snobbery is as bad a snobbery

When I was studying/ working and running own business I timetabled my whole week up or I started getting antsy and anxious about when I would do certain things - certain tasks assigned to certain days and chunks of time in each day devoted to different areas of life....I am kind o the opposite to you and end getting obsessively blinkered on one task at the expense of everything else so had to force myself to break off to make sure we ate/ had clean clothes etc.

Apologies - it wasn't meant to come across as a generalisation, I was referring to the particular set of mums (and their attitudes) I had contact with at that time. Hope no offence taken, certainly wasn't intended

Re timetabling, I think I might try the 'kitchen timer' technique and assign my different tasks to half-hour slots and change when the timer goes off. Simple things for simple minds and all that...

kidcat

I would second the child lock on the freezer, or even fitting a second set of magnets.

Jedi - if you dont invite kids to your home, it will mean your little one always feels different and excluded not to mention sending the message to her that your home is something to be ashamed of, my kids have always gone to school in the "nicest" area and I found it hard at first when the kids came back - but I found that they ended up at ours more than anywhere as they felt more comfortable.
My DS13 has a friend who lives nearby and has had the expensive life ripped away - losing their business, they now live in a small ex council house in a not so nice area. The people buying the big houses etc are probably over extending themselves and getting deeper into debt and at some point it will catch up with them, whilst you will have gotten yourself out of debt and be happy.

jediteacher

kidcat wrote: »

I would second the child lock on the freezer, or even fitting a second set of magnets.

Jedi - if you dont invite kids to your home, it will mean your little one always feels different and excluded not to mention sending the message to her that your home is something to be ashamed of, my kids have always gone to school in the "nicest" area and I found it hard at first when the kids came back - but I found that they ended up at ours more than anywhere as they felt more comfortable.
My DS13 has a friend who lives nearby and has had the expensive life ripped away - losing their business, they now live in a small ex council house in a not so nice area. The people buying the big houses etc are probably over extending themselves and getting deeper into debt and at some point it will catch up with them, whilst you will have gotten yourself out of debt and be happy.

Thanks for the advise kidcat. It's only her second week at the school and we do not live locally either so that makes it a little difficult too. I will try and invite some children over but really, really need to sort the house out first - it really is a tip. As one so called friend stated 'it's only a step away from those houses on How Clean is Your House!'

Beef chopped into stir fry size, put into casserole and cooked on gas mark 5 for 3 hours and hubby and daughter thought it was delicious. Thanks everyone for the info.:beer:

shegar

kittie wrote: »

footwear!! what do you wear on your feet on an ordinary everyday day? I wear crocs and I give thanks for the day I tried my first pair on, I wear socks and trousers with them and I must have a dozen pairs as I stocked up at bargain time. I have to smarten up when I go out but what a relief when I get my crocs on again. I had to throw a pair out this morning as the soles had worn so thin that I could feel a hair underneath them but all in all they are real hardworking good value for money

Lovely sun today and very warm, so a big wash out and almnost dry and a quickie wash on now as my gardening clothes got mucky. I planted up 25 more troughs for the 2 patiogros today, so they are now full of winter lettuces, endives, corn salad and winter spinach. Each patiogro is holding 20 troughs as dh made a couple of supports for the top sides, out of old trellis and I have put the fleeces on as shading today and to divert the rain I am expecting during the next few days

I am having a go at boston type baked beans today, in the slow cooker and used frozen cooked beans. Never done them before so fingers crossed that they are not too sweet

The stuff I am hearing about europe is also scaring me GQ, I am trying not to listen but can`t help it as I am always hoping for good news about something or other

Ive been having some real serious pain in my feet/heels, for the past 3 weeks I keep thinking that if I ignore it it will go away cos im always ill and get get up with it ......:eek: but when I needed a wee in the night I have to slip my feet into my crocs because they seem to cushion my feet, so I made an appointment and went to see the Dr he examined my feet and said I have planta fasciitis:eek: sounds painful and it is, he gave me some excercises to do and some ointment to rub in and told me I must rest them as much as possible, I told him the only shoes I can wqear is crocs and he said they and trainers are the best for this condition because they are cushioned and shape your arch.............its a thing that a lot of woman get between the age of 40 to 60 yrs old, my mother had it real bad for a yr a long time back.....if its not better in 12 weeks he wants t o inject cortisone:eek::eek:god im gonna do those excercises 3 times a day and try my best to get them back to normal........................so tonight ive got my feet up.................its been a super day here today, long may it continue,........................dam boiler is playing up ,it will not come on the timer, so someone is coming out next week, its under insurance so we are covered, I need to have it come on for a hour in the morning for hubbys shower.....................good job the temp is near on 21 a day..........so we dont need any heat during the day still...........

Had a hen die on me this morning,well she didnt suffer , all were ok last night when I put them to bed, its old age with some of my hens.........still saddens me a lot to lose a hen......

Hope your all well and feeling fine .............hugs to all of you that need them.......:D

Charis

ceridwen wrote: »

Thanks GreyQueen for the explanation.

I wondered what the excuse is for charging single people extra - ie compared to what someone who is married/living together pays. It still dont make it right do it?:mad:

I get 25% off single person discount and once DS goes off to uni I shall glory in the luxury of having my own space. This is not a palatial bungalow but I've got twice the space of a couple sharing a similar one After a lifetime of sharing with others it will be a novelty to only have to clear up my own untidiness.

The thing I get cross about is that this is an expensive council tax area simply because of the house prices, on which the council tax is based. The scenery is pretty but the facilities no way match those in the county town, where the rates are the same and we have a Parish charge on top. I think we should have a Parish charge deducted, not added, since we have to go to the city for things they have on their doorstep.

rachbc

bonnie - no offence taken - I just think that thinking in terms of being 'better off' than anyone else is a hiding to nowhere - I'd rather work on being happy in myself and comfortable with my choices - cos if i compare myself favourably to someone they'll always be someone else to compare unfavourably with - so I just stop comparing!

I have some birki birkenstoks - like crocs but slightly more substantial and my feet always feel great even after a day gardening in them. Have my eye on some fleecy lined croc type clogs from aldi for popping out to do the chickens in the winter!

Mrs_Chip

Shergar

OH has has Plantar Faciiitis for a number of years (in one foot only). He was advised to use heel support insert in his shoes, and these helped greatly. It never seems to go away, once there is a weakness it can always come back, but by using these (they can be purchased online) he has been able to keep it at bay without further treatment. sometimes he forgets to put the inserts in, then he pays for it!