The Tougher Thread continues.....

flowertotmum

:rotfl::rotfl:my son calls my wardrobe "mums WW3 survival cupboard"..i like armageddon better though...i have just as much in there as a$da..even nappies..

Well morning ladies and gents..its a lovely bright day here,bit windy and chilly but sunny...got some woolies on the line..hope they get dry...

I have to say that Kimsmum's post on the little girl the other day really touched me to the point of tears..my own tot asked me why and i explained that some children do not have any toys and that even though mummy and daddy love them they just don't have any money to buy them...i didn't think at 5 she would get it..but last night she surprised me and sorted out her toys and teddies and asked me to take them to the CS so other children could have them and play with them..o it made me cry..how grown up of her..and the bag included some of her favourites too..so today i am properly de-cluttering the toy room...they want to keep the toy kitchens and bits..the supermarket tills..some dollies,2 pushchairs and 2 tea-sets..the rest they have said can go...i am soo proud of her..so the CS is going to get about 10 bags of toys and games plus books...
How amazing is she..so thoughtful..so whilst on holiday next wk i am going to get her a little something..not sure what but something to say "thank you"..


I love this thread..please keep posting for us all..you are all like the big sisters i never had..full of love,life and laughter,wisdom...i share you pain and laughter..please don't leave.

Totally fed up with DC..plonker..maybe he should get his head out the clouds and come live in the real world for a while and let him worry about bills,food,clothes etc..something i suspect he has never had to do..he is so pompous,would love to skelp him:D..

Right have to go got lots to do and still not enough hours in my day..
love you all
ftm

bonnie_bumpkins

Well I was just plucking up the courage to post again... (after being 'jumped on' on the previous thread for a comment which was totally misinterpreted and the response really upset me)

Eventually I start lurking again, and among the really interesting and really funny posts I see... in-fighting between posters and smacks on the wrist for... well I'm not entirely sure what for.... from moderators.

So I'm out again before I even got back in again Some of the soul seems to have gone out of the thread - from an 'outsider's' point of view anyway. Maybe it's the dire economic situation making us all (to some degree) tetchy and defensive??

Anyway I'm off. Job to find (still).

taurusgb

bluebag wrote: »

To everyone thinking of not posting.

In hard times the one thing that kept us British going was support for each other, solidarity and community. In this highly fragmented society the internet is one way we can all continue the old 'neighbourhood' ways even though we are miles apart.

We are united by a common purpose, to cope as best we can in the difficult financial times that lay ahead.
We all need each other and together we are stronger than individuals.

The govenor if the bank of England stated openly on TV that we face the worst economic crisis, probably EVER!
Now more than ever, we need to put our differences on one side and help and support each other.

Thankfully this forum is here for us all.

And how heartily I agree with that! Very well said. I love the "tough" threads!

Many, many thanks for all the supportive, caring comments and PM's. As far as I know I don't know any of you in real life, but the warm, fuzzy, cared for feelings that came from all the lovely people on this thread have helped me through a really TOUGH time. And there I think is the nub of the matter. TOUGH times come in all shapes and sizes and because of numerous reasons. Essentially this is a money saving site but having a TOUGH time that doesn't actually start with money doesn't make it any the less TOUGH, and often what starts off as a TOUGH time due to illness, family problems, work stresses etc can often end up becoming money related. If people on this thread have been helped through a TOUGH time that doesn't start, but does end up being, a financial crisis, then surely that makes this thread useful? I hope that makes sense. I know what I want to say but transferring it to the page isn't always as easy as I would like it to be

I don't want to say too much on an open forum (am happy to answer PM's though) but would like to say that the visit to the consultant yesterday has ended up a mixed blessing. The test results could have been worse, but I am going to have to have a major operation, probably within the next 6 weeks to remove my spleen. I have a secondary problem with my blood clotting mechanism whhich needs to be sorted before they can operate and I have to have the operation done at a university hospital not the local one which I have come to trust and feel comfortable with....but never mind - there is at least a direction to follow now which is a vast improvement of being scared to death of "what if"...by the way, if anyone on here has experience of life after spleen removal (it's a big part of our immune system for those of you who may not know - I didn't before illness struck) I'd appreciate it if you could PM me.

One of my problems is severe lack of energy and I'm often very tired but Christmas Has To Happen as normal. We don't go overboard with money, it's all about home made gifts, food and family here. But that often means a lot of work. I am determined to have everything possible done, wrapped and sorted before I go into hospital just in case recovery is prolonged. The thought of our happy times is my goal through, so I shall be spending lots of time wrapped up on the sofa sewing, knitting, crocheting and making lists for DH to follow.

As usual, I have read through most of the thread and made mental notes of people to reply to, but it's all vanished from my mind now I'm typing, so as ever, hugs to all that need them, thanks to those who make me laugh (mentioning no names GreyQueen and [STRIKE]Madartha[/STRIKE] Mardatha) and deep appreciation for Haribo's common sense, humourus approach and, once again, for starting the thread - a lifeline for many of us.

Whew - that must be the longest post I've EVER written!

greent

dumpy wrote: »

Hello, Can I join?

I can offer 6 cans of tomatoes but as my trump card can I add that due to a complete inability to engage brain when I ordered them each one weighs in at 2.5 kg.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: Love it!!!
Hello and welcome, btw!


To anyone thinking of not posting - please DO post!! This thread meanders from time to time but ALWAYS gets back on track.. and who's to say exactly what that track looks like, anyway - as HJ said, what is relevant to one may not be to another - but this thread is usually always welcoming to EVERYONE and is fantastic for support.

I've just hung the washing out and my fingers were so cold I kept dropping the pegs whilst doing it - took much longer than it should! I still haven't put the heating on yet, though - although I may do tomorrow if it's like this as I have a group of friends visiting, including some tiny babies - only for whilst they're here, though! I've actually taken a liking to snuggling under blankets on the sofa of an evening - not sure the rest of the family agree with me, but when it gets chilly (around 9pm) they should all be in bed (other than OH!) anyway!

Must tackle house insurance this week....renewal quote is :eek::eek: Got new quote with same company online and it's less than half - with better cover and a smaller excess - phoned them up and they were unable to say why.....:mad:

TudorRose

Kimsmum wrote: »

I am also thinking of not posting.
I feel the same way as I only have my OH to talk to all day, so I look forward to coming on here.

I don't post very often but I love reading about what others are doing as I too have very few people to talk to in real life & it does help to know other people are out there even if I don't 'know' them in real life.

Am off to a flower arranging class for first time this afternoon. Have never done anything like it before but want a new hobby & it will get me meeting new people. Have bought some flowers from the market this morning but goodness knows what it will look like as not very 'arty'.

Making curry for tea using stuff I have in fridge/freezer/cupboards so that will help use things up & be at no extra spend so helps offset cost of flowers (That's my excuse anyway!)

xx_Jo_xx

Hmmmm, sorry HJ and all the other regular posters, I too am going to step out for a while.

Its clear that certain individuals on the thread are happy to bleat about preferring their own generation and standing together as a community and all of the support that entailed back in the day, however they are also not willing to extend the same courtesties to others now?

I have the highest regard for everyone, but what I dont understand is sheer ignorance, and dont understand why anyone should join a thread to be ignored. The fact of the matter is, we dont live 'back in the day' - we live here and now and whilst Im sure some have nothing better to do than discuss the economy and where government are going wrong, most posters on this thread, as far as I can tell - are just simply trying to get through, make ends meet and get through another winter heating the house, feeding the family, keep the car running without venturing more into the red.

And whilst yes, the economy has driven us to this position, it is not for us to sit around all day solely discussing that - that alone will not help us on our own mission to learn how to save money in our current situations. This entire site - not just this thread - is MSE.... MONEY SAVING EXPERT... we are all here to try and save money.

The reason for the old-style boards, is the 'back in the day' without the modern convenicences we suffer from now, people did things very differently and we are trying desperately to learn from those who can offer us the cheaper alternatives that they experienced first hand!!

It seems that those happy to applaude the dressing down of those discussing all other money-saving issues as opposed to the economy solely, is happy to bang on about the womens institute when it suits her, yet I fail to see how the state of the economy is directly linked to them? I am more than happy to read about those issues, and the times you faced then, because its those experiences which make what you have to bring to the discussion valuable. But how can you meander onto your own musings and then critisise others for the same?

Im sorry for the post, I know Im new here and all, but the 'clique' attitude on this thread from some is disgusting, and from certain individuls it has been made perfectly clear we are not welcome, and neither is our money saving input. Regarding our desire to learn, we have been told to read the old threads... so I will.

Regards and best wishes to all of you - feel free to hit that ignore button now...

the_cake

Hi taurusgb, glad you got through your consultation and have some answers, and hope you feel that we will all "be there for you" when you have your op. I am not a very prolific poster here but I had been wondering how you were, so very pleased to see your post. I too love this thread - and agree that "tough times" can happen on many levels, and that the generous and caring MSEers on here make me, for one, feel less alone and frightened, as if I am part of a big circle of virtual friends helping each other with our problems and queries, ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous. And the laughs - a crucial part of coping with the darkest days.
Hugs to all who need them, and please let us ALL keep "talking" to each other.
Love all round, the cake xxxxxxx

smileyt_2

Oh dear, I very much think my post on the book I received and the subsequent confessions and links to men's crocheted underwear would be construed as off topic :(

So to anyone thinking of not posting, please do post as you couldn't possibly be as off topic as that. Honest!

Who was talking about book buddies? What about one of those book-swapping sites, perhaps you could find local people on there to swap with, or set up your own by using gumtree, or put a notice up in a local shop? I swap books with a friend of mine and it gives us more to talk about as well as being money-saving.

Good news - work will approve my timesheets today so I will get paid :T:T:T Oh the relief! The other stuff between JSA and HB should get sorted in due time.

I did my batch cooking at the weekend. Five portions of curry, three portions of soup, two portions of vegetable thingy-doodah and fourteen portions of rice. Ahem. I rather miscalculated the amount of rice I put in the pressure-cooker. As I didn't have enough tubs to put it in, I carefully put 'layers' of rice into deep tubs, separating each layer by a sheet of tinfoil. Big mistake. It's all clumped together now and won't separate, so I will have to defrost three portions at a time :mad: So I will be having weeks where I will be eating 'something with rice' three nights in a row. Oh well, you live and learn. Perhaps greaseproof paper would have been better?

Blooming cold and rainy and windy here - not looking forward to my four mile bike ride to work later on ..... :eek: I refuse to use the bus unless it is physically dangerous to cycle (severe gales, ice or deep snow) as it's so expensive.

born_blonde

Well, I don't post very often and I don't ignore anyone ( to nosy). I have found these threads supportive when I've needed support and have tried to give support when I can.
I think it's tough for most people now and can only get tougher. The tips on the thread are great, but it's more than that it's a gateway to the whole MSE community. What someone doesn't know some one else does, complete with links. And it's fun.
At the moment for example,the focus is on fuel prices and I know there are specific threads to help but they are scary which is why I'm here.
I don't like everyone but I don't expect to so I skim read where relevant.
So lets stop falling out and fighting. leave that to other threads.
What can we do to help each other despite our differences?

mardatha

Number one rule in times of trouble - stick together and stand firm! (ok well thats two rules lol) so everybody please just lets get on with our war against the tough times. Pull yourselves together ladies!! chests oot /corsets on/ and smile!
:T:T:T Now sing with Mad Mard all together - "we shall overrrr cuh-uh- ummm " - and no eating sweeties up the back !!!