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

kidcat

Sdg - I did of mice and men too, hated every minute of it, and z for zachariah too. Both were extraordinary depressing and mentally draining.

saratoga

smileyt wrote: »

saratoga - 6 kids! Wow, you must either be full of energy or totally exhausted; I take my hat off to you!

.

Before I go to bed...... They are good kids really,the youngest is 9 and Autistic but beautiful in so many ways,one is Home Educated ,one is at primary school still,and the other three although only 14,15 and 16 are at college already because they were Home Ed too.Two boys are doing Plumbing and Building and my 16 year old daughter is doing Carpentry so they are all spread out doing different things!!

Byatt

Mrs_Chip wrote: »

We are - never read the book, but seems a bit dark -I wonder if that is just the way they have done the adaptation, or if the book is like that (will kindle it tonight and have a quick peek).

I haven't read it either, and yes very dark. It's odd seeing a classic I know nothing about!!

sammy_kaye18

Evening all

Well I've had a very rather depressing week.

But then I am always the same after Christmas. Have had to borrow £20 from the kids accounts to get nappies and baby milk, have £8 to my name until the 17th and Ben just brought home a letter saying he has a trip on the 16th and it's going to cost £4.50 for the bus.

Also the local papers are plastered with 'poverty line' maps for children in poverty and my area is the big bright red blob, making me feel extra miserable in that we have literally scraped by this month but at least 90% of the bills are paid bar £40 water and we are using up our freezer stock although I will need to make bread tomorrow, just thankful I have the know how to do it.

Slight good feeling too. Weighed myself on December 1st and I was 13st 2lbs. Weighed myself today and I am 12st exactly so that's a bonus.

Will be sat tomorrow too working out my veggie patch, and putting a few things on gum tree. Plus tomorrow is my day to clear out Benjamin's toys as he has far too many and his room seems to be closing in on him.

Just seen the mice and men post - I loved that book. And flowers for algernon.

And as far as piercings etc are concerned my mother is 47 and she has 17 piercings and 13 tattoos including a full back piece!

Right am off to watch the biggest loser!

Night all
Xxxxx

sammy_kaye18

SDG31000 wrote: »

Here's hoping my legs will work tomorrow as I have to go and visit the dental hygenist. Then I have to go into town to buy "Of Mice and Men" for DS1. An unusual 16th birthday present I know, but after suffering through it for GCSE and having a retake of the exam on Friday, we have promised that he can burn a copy of it. Not something I would ever normally agree with at all, but DS1 has mostly overcome severe dyslexia and has had real problems with this book and has studied so hard to do well in his exams.
(Also I had to study it at GCSE as well and developed a deep dislike of Steinbeck in the process)

Time for me to head to bed as I'm still getting back into the morning routine..Night everyone, sleep well xxx

Hi SDG,

If it helps I may have my copy of mice and men that I used for GCsE which has a lot of case notes in that could help with GCSE revision if it is of any use to you and your son

Also to throw in another GCsE fave of mine was the colour purple - I've still got that from GCsE work too! X

Byatt

sammy_kaye18 wrote: »

Evening all

Well I've had a very rather depressing week.

But then I am always the same after Christmas. Have had to borrow £20 from the kids accounts to get nappies and baby milk, have £8 to my name until the 17th and Ben just brought home a letter saying he has a trip on the 16th and it's going to cost £4.50 for the bus.

Also the local papers are plastered with 'poverty line' maps for children in poverty and my area is the big bright red blob, making me feel extra miserable in that we have literally scraped by this month but at least 90% of the bills are paid bar £40 water and we are using up our freezer stock although I will need to make bread tomorrow, just thankful I have the know how to do it.

Slight good feeling too. Weighed myself on December 1st and I was 13st 2lbs. Weighed myself today and I am 12st exactly so that's a bonus.

Will be sat tomorrow too working out my veggie patch, and putting a few things on gum tree. Plus tomorrow is my day to clear out Benjamin's toys as he has far too many and his room seems to be closing in on him.

Just seen the mice and men post - I loved that book. And flowers for algernon.

And as far as piercings etc are concerned my mother is 47 and she has 17 piercings and 13 tattoos including a full back piece!

Right am off to watch the biggest loser!

Night all
Xxxxx

Well done on the weight loss! Do you have any tips for me please?

Can you sell any of the toys? I've tried the FB selling, just found out about it, but can't remember who it was who said about it. And I'm sorry your area is a big bright red blob. I live in a rural area, so although picture postcard, and people envy me, rural poverty is rife. I know Wales has been hit hard though.

sammy_kaye18

Byatt wrote: »

Well done on the weight loss! Do you have any tips for me please?

Can you sell any of the toys? I've tried the FB selling, just found out about it, but can't remember who it was who said about it. And I'm sorry your area is a big bright red blob. I live in a rural area, so although picture postcard, and people envy me, rural poverty is rife. I know Wales has been hit hard though.

Hi Byatt, I like watching the biggest loser and I listened to one of Bob Harpers interviews (he's a trainer) and he said diet is a horrible word but you actually need to eat more to aid weight loss.
He described it as being 'that fish' - you know on wildlife documentaries there is always that fish swimming up stream, well he basically said 'yo fish, turn around and swim the other way'
So now I have 3 sensible meals and two snacks of fresh fruit a day and any treats sensibly in moderation - not one tinned sweetie over Xmas! Yey me! And exercising and it's falling off nicely now. X

Yes Wales' big red blob is making me anxious - especially with all the tax credit changes that are meant to happen - I'm rather concerned. A lot of people in our village are unemployed or on benefits and there are no jobs around but it's definitely making me nervous. Does anyone have a link to what the new tax credit changes are exactly?

stiltwalker

I still can't be doing with Thomas Hardy thanks to doing Tess of the D'Urbervilles for my GCSEs.

Splashed out on a few bits of fabric today as have been getting going with some patchwork and quilting - it's only taken about 12 years to get around to having a go!!! Will be doing a quilt cover for DD's bed first (only a simple pattern but will get me going) and longer term I want to do a big throw for our bed, I'm going to do it in soft greens, white and touches of yellow and embroider or appliqu! on some daisies to go with the amazing screen print hanging my parents got me for Christmas made by a local artist.

Would love to meet some of you lovely people in RL at a Manchester meet up but as someone else said summer would be better (although less so fr seed swapping purposes!) as it's a bit mental here at the moment. I've got one OU course underway and about to start a second plus 2 littlies (one with additional needs) so getting away might be hard. Hope you all have a lovely time though.

prepareathome

Sending hugs to all who are in need of them.

Well I have done nothing really today apart from a bit of cooking, kitchen is a bombsite just been to tired all day, not even touched treadmill. Tonight though I did get to SW a measly 1 1/2lb loss, so Consultant sat and went through my food diary and told me I was not eating enough and told me to go home stuff myself. My appetite comes and goes and last Thursday I didn't eat at all and other days not much yet I felt I was stuffing my face, but got told the big salads I enjoy with a bit of tuna were ok for one meal a day but not the only meal, and until I eat a bit more weight loss will be either very low or not at all as what I am eating is basically what my body is using to run itself and its keeping hold of the fat stores as it feels as if food is in short supply ( starvation mode). I am eating healthy ( before was eating sandwiches mainly hence the weight gain) but just need to add to it.........so this should be fun

Anyway after that although tired I wanted to go to WI as its only once a month and tonight it was on, of course I had forgotten address, thanks be for smartphones, soon looked it up and off we went. Started at 7.30pm but with my long chat at SW I didn't leave there till then so of course arrived then after it had started so was unable to pop in ask what time they finished and let hubby know so poor guy stayed in car listening to radio and having a snooze till I came out at 9.45pm. I am glad I went tonight, as was told in November they decided that they would have a limit of 70 members and although I had emailed secretary she had forgotten about replying and tonight they were expecting another two ladies which would have brought membership up to 71 but they had asked together. They however never came and never sent word so I am in and they are out. Everyone was so friendly and there are quite a few members who are in their 20's in this group going right up to the oldest member a lovely lady whom I met tonight who is 90. Turns out this lovely lady is an avid vegetable grower, been growing them since she was 2 and she kindly gave me her phone number to contact her so I can go round and have a chat about growing vegetables. I am on cloud 9 about that, as yes got plenty of books but to actually be able to ask someone who has grown them all her life ( almost literally) is worth every gardening book there is. Turns out this year she is a bit behind with her garden as she has decided she cannot quite do everything herself so is looking for a gardener ( 90 remember) so I told her about the guy who does the heavy work for me and has done for years only yesterday was speaking to him and he was looking for more work. So after I have been to hers and see her garden will let him know so can decide if he can manage as not sure where she lives and he doesn't have a car, but I know he will walk 5 or 6 miles for a job. My crutch of course always makes people ask why I have it as obvious no injury so when explained another woman said one of her friends had just been diagnosed with my condition a few months ago and lives very near me so is going to ask her friend if she would like to be put in touch with me - at least her meeting me there makes me look as if I have not given up ( lucky she didn't meet me a year ago:) )

When we got home, with hubby saying on way back I can make him a cup of tea to make up for his wait, I made us both cheese omelets ( Edam cheese so lowish fat) and now feel very full.

So kitchen might be a mess but I do not care today turned out to be brilliant. Now just have to work the membership for WI into budget for Feb.

I want another cuppa so while kettle is boiling I will pack dishwasher and maybe wipe down sides. Still so tired, but its my condition not 'real' tiredness would have it if I laid in bed and did nothing and tomorrow can rest all day.

Byatt well done on going to the meditation class.

Well done other who achieved things - sorry to much to scroll back, I really should note down peoples names and what they did as I read, to others who are having a hard time sending positive thoughts

Hugs everyone

meme30

Early start today, going to daughters to sort Grandkids for school. I have managed three NSD's this week which is very good for me, am trying not to go to shops till Friday. Means i will miss out on reduced items but will not spend any money! It's a bit Catch 22!
Well done all those losing weight, I shall be getting weighed on Friday and then I have to start losing weight in earnest! I have a wedding to go to in April and I don't want to have to buy a new outfit. I think I'm looking at having to lose a stone and a half but not spending money should be a good incentive! Have been eating too well over the holidays and it has to stop.
January does seem to be a depressing month for so many people, me included this year. hope everyone gets through it ok, pay day is such a long way off!:(
Am looking for an easy recipe for chutney - apple based I think. Am getting some jars together to do some Beetroot so I thought I might give chuyney a go.
Any help with recipes would be great, thank you