Where there's muck there's brass

RubySewSew

It is managing both cut in maintenance and drop in wages (5 days to 3 days) at the same time. I'm looking after my friends dog today so I'm gonna do a bit in the kitchen and then take him out for a long old walk - nourish the soul a bit.

I'm absolutely ravenous. There is just nothing in the house. I've got dinner sorted for tonight. I can bake some cakes as well for the kids pudding. I've taken some fishcakes out of the freezer for tomorrow (nothing to go with them though). The kids are with their Dad this weekend so they will be ok. I can make some butternut squash soup and some flatbreads which should do another meal. Payday is next Friday (30th). I don't have any breakfasts, anything for packed lunches or really any dinners beyond what I've listed. A few odds and sods in the freezer. I do get 3-4 eggs every day, have some butter, herbs growing in the garden, flour, lentils, rice. And a few tomatoes ripening. Any ideas?!

I don't think its ever been this bad.

And Eager you're right I've been dealing with crisis after crisis ever since I had my operation 2 years ago. And I'm feeling really angry about the injustice of it. I married a man who would rather keep himself in Prada sunglasses than make sure me and his kids have got food on the table.

I do have a scratch card with a £1 win in my purse from an age ago. What do you reckon my chances are ?

RubySewSew

I keep getting this stupid idea that I'm just not trying hard enough to sort things out! I keep thinking to myself that if I re-jig things somehow I can not only make ends meet but get a debt repayment plan up and running. I guess I'm not made for feeling helpless. Gonna try and get some stuff listed tomorrow on ebay and local ads. I can't rely on other people to bail me out - I have to take responsibility for getting this sorted out.

Eager_Elephant

No one wants to feel hopeless so of course you keep coming up with ideas to help yourself.

With regard to the lack of food can you post on MG's thread for the Matrixettes to give you ideas?

How many hours are you doing at work now?

RubySewSew

Hello Eager! Feeling a little bit more upbeat on account of the ex-bf turning up on my doorstep with the 'essentials' - bottle of wine, loaf of bread, rocket, bacon. God love him! He has also offered to make sure that we have basics for cooking next week. And my lovely friend I am dogsitting for has asked me to do 2 before schools a week with her son and 1 day a week with her dog for an extra 80 quid a month. I am so lucky to be surrounded by such supportive, thoughtful and generous people.

With regards to work I am working 3 school days which I have worked out as 15 hours plus 3 hours MDSA. I should check this thinking about it because the way breaks and stuff work it might be less.

Jeepers- bloody big spider just ran across the floor! Has anybody else heard that a conker in the corner of the room deters spiders?

Will try the matrix EE. Will try anything! I need to press the solicitor and find a way to survive between now and then. This is going to get better!!!

RubySewSew

I love those chickens!! Mt front garden is an overgrown weedy mess which I want to turn into a veg garden next year - rather than putting the work in myself I chucked the girls out in the front and let them start digging it over. And whilst they were out there I shovelled up the proverbial from their coop and use it to mulch the garden. And then, bless their little chicken hearts I get home from a gig to a double fried egg sandwich. I had to make it myself obviously but, well, you get the picture

chevalier

RubySewSew wrote: »

I don't have any breakfasts, anything for packed lunches or really any dinners beyond what I've listed. A few odds and sods in the freezer. I do get 3-4 eggs every day, have some butter, herbs growing in the garden, flour, lentils, rice. And a few tomatoes ripening. Any ideas?! At least with the flour you have the makings of bread or pitta bread for the kids lunch boxes? Then they can have jam sandwiches? What about lentil curry if you have the spices?

I don't think its ever been this bad. I know this is only a crisis until next week when you get paid, but it sounds to me that you need to do a basics shop so that you don't get so close to the wire again. Also what about asking the Salvation Army for a food parcel? Or your local church?

And Eager you're right I've been dealing with crisis after crisis ever since I had my operation 2 years ago. And I'm feeling really angry about the injustice of it. I married a man who would rather keep himself in Prada sunglasses than make sure me and his kids have got food on the table. :eek::eek:Will you get a realistic settlement when the divorce comes through in terms of the maintenance. Can you detail all of the stuff that you do over and above what he does, so that he has to increase the money. And by all means PRESS THE SOLICITOR to get the maintenance reinstated or something, or to get the divorce sorted. Is there anyone on his side of the family that you can appeal to to get him to be a decent human being?

I do have a scratch card with a £1 win in my purse from an age ago. What do you reckon my chances are ?

It is wasted in your pocket. Never hurts to ask.

I notice that there is some good news with regards to dog walking, child care, fairy training etc. Good luck with all of that. Just make sure that you keep the tax straight etc. You don't want your OH finding out and then shopping you to the tax man. Ie as proof that you can't 'manage'

good luck my dear you can get through this
chev

RubySewSew

Hey hey. Busy weekend. Managed to clear the garden and clean up the house a bit. Was taken out to a gig, had wine bought for me and lunch and then takeaway. The ex-bf turned up at the house with bags of shopping to last us the week - potatoes, pasta, onions, beans, tomatoes, aubergines, courgettes, peppers.

It takes having nothing to make you realise you have everything.

4 more sleeps and then payday.

Chev - I will get on to the solicitor. I am just so flipping tired I can't seem to get anything done. I am feeling pretty rough at the moment. Don't know if it's change in diet or simply a hangover (very possible after the weekend - I may be broke but have plenty of friends willing to entertain me!) or maybe something else. Gonna cut out the alcohol first then look at diet next. Bit of a vicious circle though - too tired to cook properly = poor diet = more tired . My tummy hurts at the moment to. It could be stress.

Stress does seem to be omnipresent at the moment.

RubySewSew

Despite extreme tiredness I dragged myself off the sofa, loaded the dishwasher, cleaned the lunchboxes and wiped down the kitchen tops. And now, zzzzzz, off to bed...

RubySewSew

Got home from school with stinking headache! Why?! Took new migraine tabs at lunch but hasn't touched it. Not sure it is a migraine because I'm still upright, don't have lurching sickness and haven't fallen asleep on the keyboard so probably just bog standard headache. But why? Why do i keep getting them?

I'm wondering what other people's in the door from school routines are? From next week the boys will have school dinners so tea will be sandwiches or toast so less washing up/cooking stress. However, I come in exhausted and ready for a nap. I'm not very good at relaxing unless you count collapsing comatose in front of the TV. That means I usually come in tired and grumpy and resistant to homework/play/IT support/snack making/tidying etc etc... How can I unwind, relax, chill out and ready myself for a productive evening?! I've had a cup of tea. I wonder if I had a bath. and read for a bit. Hmmm. I might give that a try.

I really need an ebay kick up the bum and a paperwork kick up the bum. Might visit the matrix for some kicking/coaxing!

satchmo1

Hi RSS

I'm no expert, but the headaches may be because you are unknowingly clenching your teeth (from stress). I have a little technique but it's hard to describe in writing so bear with me. Massage in a circular motion the base of your thumb with your other thumb, quite firmly. If it hurts, that means either a) you're doing it too hard or b) you are tense. It's generally b). For some reason, you can't clench your jaw whilst doing the thumb massage.

The beauty of that exercise, if it works for you, is that you can do it anywhere without it looking odd. In a meeting, whilst talking with the ogre (sorry, OH), etc.

Hope that helps?

As for paperwork, try the 15 minute activity from another MSE forum (sorry, my brain is too tired to bring up the name of the right forum right now). The idea being that you do the activity for 15 minutes - paperwork, cleaning, decluttering, play, IT support, homework, exercise, etc - and 15 minutes isn't an overwhelming amount of time, so you're less likely to stop/put if off.

Hugs, Satchmo x