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

Rowan9

Feel very sorry for people having bad experiences about appeals. How awful.
MaryB - thinking of you - mine both went back to Scotland to uni (we lived in England at the time) - this is 8 and 6 years ago now - and the sadness of them leaving each autumn didn't correspond to time marching on, IYSWIM. Sometimes I was fine, other times very mizzzzz.
KatieO - good for you thinking about helping your friend. We have 2 dogs and I can only imagine how it would feel to have to scrimp on their food. I think I would tell the truth but maybe couch it as saying that you have been shown a kindness (don't need to elaborate) before and you will like to have the chance to 'pass it on' by helping him with some dog food, if he is ok with that. It kind of takes away the 'charity' label and replaces it with acts of kindness (also know as random acts of kindness:D). How lovely it would be if everyone did something like this :T.
Lunch eaten - peanut butter on wholemeal bread and carrot & celery soup. Interesting combo. Instead of braised sausages in a pan and pots and veg separately for tea, I'm chopping everything up and cooking it in one pan on a ring. Enough for a heat up tomorrow. Loads of kale to go in there obviously.
DD tells me that we are to be offered free cholesterol checks in Scotland if over 40 (I think that's the age). So, as I have a dr appt next week, I'll make sure I have my porridge for breakfast and avoid sugary stuff. Actually I rarely have anything sweet - don't tend to bake as we'd eat it (:p) and only bought biscuits yesterday as DD was coming round (MrT value shortbread - incredibly yum for such a low price). Had she told me beforehand about the check up, she wouldn't have been offered them ha ha. As others have said, though, about illness, a lot is in genes. We can do quite a lot to avoid things but I try not to stress about the things I can't help/ avoid.
Sun shining here but bbbrrrr cold - I needed my warm hat for the early dog walk. Going out again - ah, have just looked out the window and big black clouds scurrying towards us - hopefully they will pass as it seems to have been a morning of sun and then heavy sideways showers.
Bed stripped and washed. Bed made up but need to iron top pillowcases.
Keep warm folks, if you have this blustery weather. Keep smiling all, if you can. Warm thoughts to all having a hard time.
W

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mardatha

We have sideways sleet here. Horrible day.

lizzyb1812

mardatha wrote: »

We have sideways sleet here.

Show off :rotfl: (Sorry Mar )

Very windy here - end of garden is dangerous as apples keep being blown off the tree, poor cat narrowly missed being apple-bombed

In case anyone is in Asda and likes cup-a-soups, they have them for 50p reduced from £1-08 - I confess I'm addicted to the asparagus with croutons so at least I can stock up in an MSE way even if it isn't OS :T

Glitzer

GreyQueen wrote: »

A neighbour, a lifelong but intermittant sleepwalker, pitched headfirst down her stairs in the small hours of Monday. Her OH woke at the crash and shot down after her; she'd been asleep and was in a heap at the bottom, not knowing what had happened and with a head wound pouring blood.

He rang the GP and the out-of-hours service picked up and told him to call 999 for an ambulance. He did, explained the situation inc her age (nearer 80 than 70 btw) and they told him it would be EASIER if he brought her into the hospital himself in their car.

:mad: EASIER!?! This is a 15 mile trip with a very elderly lady who has a serious head injury fer crying out loud. When I did my first aid training we had it dinned into us that your didn't move a casualty who might have a neck/ back injury without paramedics putting a collar on as a precaution. I'd say someone who'd fallen headfirst downstairs might just possibly fall into that category, wouldn't you?

He took her to the hospital in his car and, when they arrived, there were 4 ambulances parked outside doing burger-all. That poor lady had to be admitted and is still there for observations with a shadow on her brain (don't like the sound of that at all).

I suppose if they hadn't had a car the ambulance trust would have suggested that they call a cab?

That is awful! :mad:

When I fell down the stairs at work two weeks ago, someone heard me, told me to stay still, got a first aider who called security and 999 all of whom told me to stay perfectly still and I was strapped up until I had x-rays. I am young, fit and healthy and I am still recovering from the fall myself having been sent home from work today. I was told I was incredibly lucky. And my work is but a 15 minute walk to A&E, and 1,500 people have cars parked on site.

Fruball

katieowl wrote: »

@ Grey Queen...I agree with you totally. Once you hit a 'certain age' there seems to be an across the board sub-text that you're in God's waiting room anyway, and it would be better all round if you quietly dropped of your twig. :mad:

Anyway...I have a question for you guys of appropriate response?
I was chatting to someone yesterday, I haven't known for very long, but he's a nice guy and disabled with MS which as you will know comes and goes in it's severity for a lot of people. He told me that he went into hospital earlier in the year, and his DLA was reviewed. (I'm sure he said ELA? But I can't find that anywhere) He said he had a conversation with the review people that went like this....Q Can you sit for two hours? R I'm in a wheelchair Q so you CAN sit for two hours? R Yes....I'm IN A WHEELCHAIR! Result -2 points of the scoring and they cancelled his benefit!!!

Now I know he's got by with an overdraft, and he said he was trying to get some kind of emergency payment through, while the whole thing goes to appeal, but he said something to me that really made me sad "The hardest thing of all when I feed the dog and he looks at me and it feels like he's saying to me 'Only biscuits again?'

OK, so I want to take him some dog food. Do I stick six tins in a bag, and hand it to him and say 'this is from my girls (ie my dogs) for your dog' Or 12 tins?

Do I buy 12 tins from the Farm shop and take one out and lie and say I bought this but my fuss pots won't eat it?

I don't know where he actually lives, but I could find out and do an anonymous drop?

Do you think he will be terribly offended? I can't bear the thought of his dog going hungry I was lying awake worrrying about it last night, as I probably won't bump into him until the weekend.


Kate

How lovely of you to help him out like that I would do it honestly or secretly

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westcoastscot

Its horrendous weather here - sleet and hail with a gale on top. I finally came home from work when I witnessed a lady getting blown off her feet into the road - I drove home up the coast road through what seemed like a river, with massive hail showers head on.
My chucks arrived today - they are refusing to come out of the chicken house - have their heads together in a corner pecking away - we think they're trying to dig a tunnel back to Skye where they came from!

Stay safe everyone
WCS

Margaret54

Hi everyone We have had awful rain and some hail today. Windy and miserable. I had to put the light on at 5.50 tonight as it is so dark here. Made a pot of stew last night for tonight, and also a crusty loaf made in the breadmaker, so that was tasty. My dh works night shift so at least he will have a hot meal with him(only a microwave no oven there on site. He has a kettle so can make hot drinks too.
Placed shopping order online today for delivery tomorrow night, with 10p a litre off fuel when you spend £60. That will come in handy and I needed to stock up again. Have already got tinned stuff in from another shop which was cheap(beans corned beef soups) I also got a few things for christmas food in. I got my second hand book hairy bikers cookbook (Mums know best ) today from play.com and am looking forward to trying some of the meals in it.:) Have taken steps a while ago to keep us warm and cosy now. Very very important to watch the pennies and with this great thread we are already streets ahead I feel. Warmest wishes to you all.xx