A few months and several questions

RosaBernicia

kerri_gt wrote: »

Congratualtions on your Msc Rosa :beer: It's an amzing achievement.

You might be feeling a little 'underwhealmed' about it but life rarely seems to follow the path we think - I am deff not doing the job I dreamed of at 16yrs old, I wouldn't have even known what my current job was at that age, but I do enjoy it. Sometimes I ponder whether my degree (just a plain old dull on, no Msc) was worth it and whether it's helped my progress, but I did pull my socks up when I did it and got good marks, to make up for my not so good a-levels. I can imagine you poss feel a little flat as well as that's kind of it now for the Msc, all the stress of study done, the elation of handing your last piece of work over, having your time back to yourself, but still thinking about the Msc results, and now you have them.

Does any of that make sense or am I waffling?

Thanks Kerri :A

Hmmmm... I didn't have a clue what I wanted to do at 16, and didn't know that either my current job or other field really existed. I think maybe a little of the annoyance is that it seems to be a recurring pattern that I start something thinking it's going to be OK and people tell me I need it, despite it not being exactly what I wanted, and then end up having to really fight to get it finished. (I won't bore you with the long story as it would pretty much ID me.)

I am feeling better about it today as have had some congrats from lovely people at work. And the realisation is sinking in that if I can pass under rotten circumstances, I do know stuff and it may be worth chasing up some of the thoughts I had about interesting future work after all.

I think I'm going to try and hang on to the realisation that I should be working for what I WANT now... I've done enough to make myself as secure as possible and it's time to change my priorities.


Rosa xx

Souk08

Hi Rosa, just lurking about tonight and see that you've passed your MSc. :j Well done.
TOTALLY understandable to feel underwhelmed, quite apart from everything you might have sacrificed it's the end of an era and it's normal to have a wobble. A few real MSE stalwarts felt the same I know when they got debt free as having the debt and dealing with it on a daily basis had become very much a part of them and they were kind of left with a gap in their lives, much though they wanted shot of it at the time.

So whats next? Well that's up to you And you don't have to identify with anyone. Though there's nothing wrong with a bit of fabulousness every now and again :T

ZTD

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Distracted yesterday ... think the new thread start will have to wait til next weekend.

What are you making this thread out of?!

RosaBernicia wrote: »

MSE

• Ordered cable to extend distance between speakers instead of buying different size furniture :rotfl:. V proud of myself for attempting techie stuff and as cable less than £3 won't be a major issue even if I did order the wrong one.

Up to a point, cable is cable. I've got a drum of the stuff and I've used it for *everything*. Even tying my car boot closed...

RosaBernicia wrote: »

• £12 on M&S posh biscuits for the office today in celebration of passing MSc. Possibly should have got something a bit cheaper but it's not likely to happen again :rotfl: and will come out of gifts account.

Twelve quid once in a lifetime is not going to break the bank.

RosaBernicia wrote: »

MSE

• Need to buy either replacement mini-greenhouse or cat kennel - the current mini-greenhouse is leaning sideways and about to collapse! - have taken out cat's outdoor bed as worried about him getting hurt if it does fall.

Why wait for it to fall? Dismantle it. The mini ones don't last. The thin steel tubing rusts like Rusty McRust of Rustville, and the plastic parts should never be exposed to direct light.

Expect them to be disposable.

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Must do some more reading and thinking coming round to feeling happier about the MSc result though. It's just taken a while to sink in

:T:T:T:T

Not so sure about the thinking thing though. That always causes trouble.

RosaBernicia wrote: »

I am feeling better about it today as have had some congrats from lovely people at work.

And lovely people here.

RosaBernicia wrote: »

And the realisation is sinking in that if I can pass under rotten circumstances, I do know stuff and it may be worth chasing up some of the thoughts I had about interesting future work after all.

:T:T:T:T

Didn't take too long for that to sink in...

RosaBernicia wrote: »

I think I'm going to try and hang on to the realisation that I should be working for what I WANT now... I've done enough to make myself as secure as possible and it's time to change my priorities.

You have achieved your goal of making yourself as secure as possible. Of course it's time to move onto the next step.

RosaBernicia

Souk08 wrote: »

Hi Rosa, just lurking about tonight and see that you've passed your MSc. :j Well done.
TOTALLY understandable to feel underwhelmed, quite apart from everything you might have sacrificed it's the end of an era and it's normal to have a wobble. A few real MSE stalwarts felt the same I know when they got debt free as having the debt and dealing with it on a daily basis had become very much a part of them and they were kind of left with a gap in their lives, much though they wanted shot of it at the time.

So whats next? Well that's up to you And you don't have to identify with anyone. Though there's nothing wrong with a bit of fabulousness every now and again :T

Souk! :j Lovely to 'see' you, hope all is well with you.

Fabulousness is definitely part of the plan


Rosa xx

RosaBernicia

ZTD wrote: »

Why wait for it to fall? Dismantle it. The mini ones don't last. The thin steel tubing rusts like Rusty McRust of Rustville, and the plastic parts should never be exposed to direct light.

Expect them to be disposable.

It will be taken apart as soon as I'm home in sufficient daylight to do that... which is looking like next weekend. Or tomorrow if I take a break between work stuff.

ZTD wrote: »

And lovely people here.

Yes :A

ZTD wrote: »

Didn't take too long for that to sink in...

ZTD wrote: »

You have achieved your goal of making yourself as secure as possible. Of course it's time to move onto the next step.

Yes! That!


Rosa xx

RosaBernicia

Hmmm. It's just as well I'm still here.

My total debt currently stands at -£10,081 :eek: , net status -£9,271.

That's £350 put back on since last month. Though it looked worse til I realised one statement hadn't included the TKMaxx boots repayment that hit after it was generated .

Most of the difference is a £250 vet bill for moggie 1. I decided not to claim for it as it's only £50 over the excess (I deliberately set it high) and claiming would have worse effects on getting lifetime insurance in future. Not entirely sure where the other £100 went to which is a little worrying... but dinner out for a friend's birthday and work expenses will have contributed.

I've only made pretty much minimum payments this month as have quite a bit of expense for moggie 2 (and there will be more for vaccinations in a couple of weeks). She arrived today and although sweet basically has no manners - if she doesn't figure out the litter tray pretty quickly I may have to rethink this. Also did order a cat kennel to replace the mini greenhouse and think this may work very nicely - am surprised how much bigger the garden looks without the greenhouse.

Soooo am rather peeved to find myself back in five figures, and a little embarrassed to see how little progress I've made since this time last year - it's only £1,115 or 10% which is a bit sobering. On the other hand, I've had a lot of other things going on. I was hoping to be sub 8K at the end of the year, but it looks like it will be more like sub 9K. Progress all the same onwards and upwards


Rosa xx

kerri_gt

Patience with kit #2 Rosa, she's prob still settling in and I imagine if she's been staying in any kind of animal shelter she will be used to being in a kennel where there's no real differenitation to inside and out, and she can pretty much pee etc where she likes. Plus she's got her place in the pecking order to figure out with you and mog #1 - put yourself in her paws and imagine how you'd feel.

If poss try keeping her in one room for a bit with food and her tray so she can feel secure, let her out in the rest of the flat supervised. Do you know what litter she had before? Cat's are really creatures of habit so if it's not what she's used to that might make her reluctant to use the tray. Also, I've read you should have one litter tray per cat (although must admit when we had two they had a tray between them - wasn't turning our one bed flat into a giant litter tray for them!)

Final bit of advise from Dr Doolittle, could it be possible she might have a touch of cystitis? Our cat had it earlier this year and pee'd everywhere which was totally out of character for her.

xx

RosaBernicia

Hi Kerri

Thanks - she found the main litter tray overnight and has used it twice today, so I think yesterday was just her being unsettled. They have litter trays at the shelter with newspaper, so I had put paper in the main tray and shown her an extra one too. I can't really shut her in one room as the living and dining areas are open plan, so it is quite a big space for her to get used to. She wandered into the bedroom and I didn't want to chase her out, but I was worried she might be bothered by mog1 being in there and not want to come out past him. So I fetched mog1 and... no mog2. Still no mog2 later, went in to look for her... uhoh smell. Which turned out to be coming from just below my pillow, carefully hidden with the duvet :eek::eek:.

Fortunately everything has washed ok. She ran out of the bedroom when I was stripping the bed etc and I let her find herself a place overnight rather than forcing her to be in the bedroom with mog1. But was glad I put a collar on her yesterday because this morning I was convinced she'd managed to escape until I heard her bell! She stayed in a hidey place behind some boxes until this afternoon, then came out for dashes to the litter box and food bowl. Then stayed out and has been happily parked on the sofa or a chair near me ever since. She and mog1 seem to be getting on fine (he did eventually hiss at her yesterday, but she was practically barging him at his dinner) and I've given her major brushing today and yesterday. Her coat is an absolute mess - all unshed fluff and matting - and she is quite stinky with it. Absolute handfuls of fluff have come out with the brushing and she already looks a lot better. She's also starting to groom herself as well, which is good - I guess she couldn't when it was all matted. So hopefully she won't be stinky for very long!

Mog1 is now whining because I won't let him out. Clearly nobody told him about fireworks or people being sillier than usual about black cats at Hallowe'en


Rosa xx

kerri_gt

Glad she seems to be settling Rosa - ugh to the bed present (#1 or #2?) if she does do anything anywhere just make sure you use bio-laundry detergant to clean it with - it breaks down the enzymes, unlike bleach where cats can still smell where they've been and are therefore more likely to go there again.

At least they aren't scratching each other's eyes out, so that's a good sign and it sounds like she's greatful for a brush.

Often at shelters they can't / don't change trays as often as they should - cat's really aren't keen on going on used litter so if they get too bad, she'd have prob gone elsewhere in her pen. Sounds like she's doing well though and just getting used to things. Give her a cuddle from me. x

RosaBernicia

kerri_gt wrote: »

Glad she seems to be settling Rosa - ugh to the bed present (#1 or #2?) if she does do anything anywhere just make sure you use bio-laundry detergant to clean it with - it breaks down the enzymes, unlike bleach where cats can still smell where they've been and are therefore more likely to go there again.

Err, #2 but not of normal consistency! Unfortunately I'm sensitive to the bio stuff... hopefully the lavender oil in the Ecover will put her off! I will pick up some white vinegar and a spray bottle though - my mum swears by 50/50 water and vinegar sprayed on any pet accidents and insists it's as good as any of the marketed stuff. As moggie's used the tray today, and especially as she came out of hiding to do it, I think she'll probably be OK. I'll be shutting them out of the bedroom when I'm not here anyway, until I know they're both settled. She is already looking to go outside and explore there, and she has to wait!

kerri_gt wrote: »

At least they aren't scratching each other's eyes out, so that's a good sign and it sounds like she's greatful for a brush.

Often at shelters they can't / don't change trays as often as they should - cat's really aren't keen on going on used litter so if they get too bad, she'd have prob gone elsewhere in her pen. Sounds like she's doing well though and just getting used to things. Give her a cuddle from me. x

The shelter is a local independent no-kill one and I think they're just swamped - you're right she would just have gone outside the tray if it was too bad and with 6-8 cats to a shed that probably happened. They also wouldn't have time to sort her coat - once they knew I'd offered to take her they made a start on it, so she has a clear black stripe down her back and faded gingery fluffy tats on the sides! She's going to be rather pretty once she's sorted though. It's a bit of a shame as she'd been there a year and I suspect people just either didn't meet her because she's shy, or thought she was ugly because of the messy coat. Still, at least she's still here - some shelters would have given up on her.

Oh and she says 'mrrrp' 'prrrrrr' which I'm guessing translates as a thank you for the cuddle


Rosa xx