A new 'tougher' thread... and so it continues

VJsmum

Oh Mrs Chip - what a terrible thing for you.

My dad has been a self centred so and so at times but, I have to say, he took fantastic care of mum during her last years when she was desperately ill with emphysema. She couldn't have asked for a better nurse - though they still argued like mad at times. Our house had been noisy and boisterous and it seems so sad now that he is housebound and alone (although much of the housebound is because of how he has abused his health over the years). He is actually my stepfather but took me on when he married mum when I was 6 so is my dad in all but biology and has never treated me any different - he has been a miserable sod with us all at times.:rotfl:

wen3

Oh where is everyone, thought I would have loads to catch up on

lizzyb1812

wen3 wrote: »

Oh where is everyone, thought I would have loads to catch up on

Ditto :rotfl:

I got up late - as in haven't slept in that long since I was a teenager! Dunno why.

sammy_kaye18

Hello my darling OS friends, Long time no see!

What a mental few months!

Bar illnesses, lurgies, anxiety attacks and a weird bout of agoraphobia afterwards I am now back again! Although now I have become so addicted to competitions that I have neglected this forum for a good few months now! and boy am I suffering for it.

Quick update
We moved from our grotty little council flat, into a nice 3 bedroomed house with a nice back garden. Owen has already decided on his part of the garden for his workshop and I have already decided where my vegetable patch is going but the kids still have plenty of space to run and be kids. Who are now 7 years old and 17 months! My anxiety attacks took over and I had to go back on meds - sleeping pills are the devils work Im sure! and I developed a weird case of agoraphobia but fair play my new neighbours and In Laws have been angels and workmates are the best! None the less work and christmas shopping was interesting! :eek:

Anyway
* my bills have suffered over Christmas as I expect everyone's have
* Ive neglected the housework
* Half my house is still in boxes
* My washing pile may take us captive at some point and there is piles/mountains everywhere
* I honestly dont know what my food budget even is anymore. I spend roughly £120 on a large shop and anything from £5 - £15 a time as and when Im out.

So basically I need to attack lots!

The house is decorated to an elderly gentleman's taste, there's no carpet upstairs at all so we managed to salvage some of our old flats stuff, Ive lost count of the amount of times I've cut my foot on a carpet runner on the stairs!

We've basically just about survived Christmas and despite me being paid £299 yesterday and due no more money until the 17th I have the grand total of £35 to last me!

thankfully some of my MSE ways remain and yesterday after work I brought home
~ 3 x 1kg bags of sprouts
~ 2.5kg bag of spuds
~ 3pks streaky bacon.
~ bag of truely irresistable cookies
~ packet of 6 scones
~ 3 packs of 4 BIG onions
~ two bunches of banana's.

All for the grand total of £0.00 thanks to my supervisor being a thrifty lady too. They were wasted in work yesterday, after we put them out at a reduced price and still didnt sell, we bin them as the dates were up and they hadnt sold but my supervisor lets us all have a last look to see if we fancy anything.

So so far I have
* printed off the MSE calendar - genious btw!
* done an outlay of my bills / spending etc
* decided that £130 fro food should see us right. £40 frozen fills the
chest freezer, £80 Tesco (late nigth reductions) and £10 coop
reductions. Not to mention a load of veg seeds I brought in the wilkos sale which will be grown this year thanks to the guidance of a nice little grow your own forum I found.

Just need to figure out how in holy cheese I get all this washing done and dried in Wales! and then a housework plan!

So I will be here for the duration trying my best to sort everything. I may be needing a search party from under my washing pile, someone to nag to get it done etc. I will have a home though - Im determined!

Although dining room currently housing various tool boxes and bike bits until the shed is built but the start of foundations are underway as I type so fingers crossed for some nice weather soon!

good luck all and hope you had a merry christmas and a happy new year!

fuddle

wen3 wrote: »

Oh where is everyone, thought I would have loads to catch up on

I guess there isn't anyone having a tough time today yey!

Hi sammy-kaye, I only really lurked when you were posting but great to see you posting again

I too have to attack loads!

sammy_kaye18

katieowl wrote: »

@ tink1981 and Grey Queen

We have something very similar in Wales too...it's called Bara Brith (Speckled Bread) and it's made by soaking the fruit overnight in cold tea, and then mixing it up with sugar, flour, and eggs. Also fat free and sometimes served with chunk of cheese. I had a 'Welsh tea' at Dylan Thomas's boat house in Lauharne (pronounced Larne!) which was slices of bara brith, a good lump of Welsh cheese, butter, welshcakes, raspberry jam and a pot of tea. Very tasty indeed, very memorable as the place and the view are awesome.

Kate

OR you could be like my nan and make barab brith with no sugar in it - bargain I thought thinking it was low cal, but infact she just forgot to add it in! Still tasted fine though.

I still remember moving here and hearing people talking about DAPS - confused me no end mind! lol. but I love Wales now - its home and Im an adoptive welshie in my little village. x

sammy_kaye18

fuddle wrote: »

Hi sammy-kaye, I only really lurked when you were posting but great to see you posting again

I too have to attack loads!

Hi Fuddle, very nice to meet you and glad to hear that it isnt just me. x

Bobbykins

Hi Sammy-Kaye.
Like fuddle, I only used to lurk before, but used to love reading your posts about your lovely little family. Great to see you back. Hope that gorgeous little girl of yours is doing well, along with her big brother.

Well, we had a lovely Christmas, very frugal as we were fed by friends on the big day :D:D. My daughter and various combinations of grandkids stayed with us for a few days here and there, which was lovely although a bit tiring - I'd forgotten how 2 under 7's, a baby and a very tired mummy can make so much work for grandma. I don't think I had a clean towel in the house yesterday after they'd gone :eek::eek::eek:.

I am going to strip all the beds today but think I'll wash all the bedding in stages over the next few days, drying it is going to be a nightmare, think I might actually have to use the drier (gulp).

I have started on my meal plan for January. Fortunately we have pretty good stocks in the freezer and I have some Tesco clubcard vouchers left over which can go towards the shopping. I expect everyone else is the same as me, facing a rather tight January! Never mind, I'm sure we'll get through it together with the support of all the lovely peeps on here.

Right, I've finished my cuppa so guess I'd better get back to the housework................(well, maybe after I've done a bit more catching up on the pooter ).

If I don't get back on-line over the next couple of days, I hope everyone has a fab New Year and look forward to "speaking" again in 2012.

7_week_wonder

Afternoon all,

It definitely is quiet in here! My excuse is I actually made it out of the house for 2 hours this morning to do a wee bit of shopping to keep us going over New Year. After 72 hours and no signs of improvement I phoned NHS direct about my stomach (if nothing else it is costing us a fortune in loo roll!!!) They suggested immodium and if no improvement call them back after 48 hours. Flamin Heck is Immodium expensive - just under £6 for 12 tablets - I must definitely check if there is a generic alternative. Anyway TMI.

GreyQueen - thanks for the pumpkin seed details. It made me want to go and get another squash there and then to give roasting the seeds a go. I will definitely report back next time I get a squash.

Sammy-Kaye - welcome back. I'm another one who remembers your posts but was mainly lurking when you used to post alot. I'm sure with a little help from these boards you will soon be back on the straight and narrow.

Have a good afternoon all.

mardatha

Immodium is worth its weight in gold! Keep some in the stash always Horrible sleety wet day here, we been out for the last time and all cosied up with tons of food and coal. Not moving until next year!