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

7_week_wonder

Byatt wrote: »

Oh lord, the cat is missing. I've tried 3 times, the last one just minutes ago...up that awful lane, pitch black out in the middle of nowhere and a torch that isn't as bright as it needs to be. The cat is called after the baby who was born in a manger...so there am I...calling, J.... J....(don't want this coming up on Goog!e)...he's a gorgeous cat and I'm worried now. Both pooch and I are exhausted. It's raining, windy and the road is more pothole than road. Off to look for really, really bright torches!

As others have said - try not to worry about it too much. If it is any consolation whenever we go away we have a cat sitter and more often than not we get back to a note from her saying she hasn't seen our cat for the whole time. She just leaves food for him on the back door step and you can usually guarantee that within 1/2 an hour of us coming home he'll be there with a look on his face saying "what?!"

kidcat

Greenanne - hi.

Mardatha - I have no idea what this year holds and for that I am glad, thinking back to last year if I had known how hard this year was going to be I would have crumbled - but having to deal with everything as it arose meant we scraped through - just! So 2012 I hope may be a little easier but fear it will be harder yet again.
May we all rise to the challenge ahead, bending when necessary but never breaking!

On a positive note I did a quick calculation on my energy bills and compared to this time last year our bill has almost halved!!!:j:j:j But even better we are warm - if the house feels chilly we switch heating on, unlike last place where we were always freezing. We could cut back more I suppose but being comfortable makes a big difference and as we are spending less anyway I am happy to keep as we are for now.

kidcat

Byatt - my dad sits our cats I am invariably get a text saying he cant find one - always on our last day!!

littlecal

2012 - well,the XH has bought me out of the house and the divorce has come through so I suppose I'm starting the year on a fresh note.

Reading on here every day has been a lifeline at times,my RL friends are mainly through work,,so I don't see much of them during the school holidays.My closest "friend" took great delight in telling me how silly I was for trying to save money - she's in a fabulous home,mortgage free,expensive this and that - so how come she never seems happy?

I am happy for the first time in years and I can start planning for 2012.

THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!!!
I hope you all have a happy,peaceful,healthy and thrifty new year.xxxxxx

mardatha

SK how can you be working tomorrow ? !! :eek:

Byatt

7_week_wonder wrote: »

As others have said - try not to worry about it too much. If it is any consolation whenever we go away we have a cat sitter and more often than not we get back to a note from her saying she hasn't seen our cat for the whole time. She just leaves food for him on the back door step and you can usually guarantee that within 1/2 an hour of us coming home he'll be there with a look on his face saying "what?!"

The owner's called me this morning (I sent texts last night), and said not to worry, he sometimes stays out all night. I wish I'd known, as I was told it was really important to get him in at night. Note to self to add that question to form! I know cats are very independent but I have an over developed sense of responsibility. All a learning curve however.

Kidcat, I know my cat used to hide in the undergrowth and even calling and rattling the biscuit box wouldn't get him out until he was ready to appear. It's amazing how they camouflage themselves! :rotfl:

westcoastscot

Hi everyone,

haven't read back so hope christmas went as planned; if it wasn't all you'd hoped try and put it behind you - a new year starts tomorrow! 2011 has been really challenging for me - have had to finally accept that my life and life chances have changed irrevocably - it's probably the first time that I haven't been able to tell myself in tough times " so long as I have my health i'll be fine". It's quite scarey!!!!!!
2012 - 2014 are going to be really tough for me financially - although I have a plan which is doable. Coupled with this i'm going to make less crafty things to sell and spend more time making clothes/household items we need/pressies, and try and make a profitable go of the garden. Since leaving the croft - 10 years now - i've never really gotten to grips with veggie gardening in a tiny plot, so this year it's definitely going to happen!!!! The chucks have made a great job of rotavating, so hopefully fertility will be up. My overall plan is to move towards living on less money,being more self-sufficient, which equals less hours working outside the home - currently 17.5 a week.

Have a lovely new year,

WCS

parsonswife8

Oh Sammy..sorry to hear that you are not well.:(

My DH has had a bit of a cold for the last few days ...I'm dozing him with cold and flu capsules and vitamin c drinks and hot toddies with ginger, lemon and manuka honey with a dash of whisky.

Also, lots of homemade vegetable and chicken broth.

Take care and I hope you feel better soon.:)

mardatha

God. GQ honestly that sounds like hell. It would be a totally different planet for somebody like me. I really hope they get their act together and send these people home where they couldn't possibly be any worse off, unless they criminals. I am really shocked, had no idea this stuff happened. My daughter went down to Birmingham once for a horse show and she came back in shock, said it was like another planet. I will appreciate my wet hills and wet sheep from now on !!

littlecal

Birmingham is a multi-cultural hotch potch! I'm used to it so it's always odd when family visit from rural Ireland and they walk around with eyes like saucers:D:D