No T Words mentioned at all - a fresh start

scottishminnie

Lainey - I've just bought salmon fillets for tomorrow nights dinner so now they will have pesto and breadcrumbs. Excellent idea ( and the Parmesan and pine nut pasta) all things I like

Fuddle - your bedroom is beautiful, looks so inviting. Oh my though, after all your patchwork effort that's not a good use! My Canadian friend started an heirloom quilt when her daughter announced her engagement with the intention it would be a wedding gift. Well all three daughters were married before the quilt was finished and when it was done it was a much smaller "crib sized" version for the first grandchild. Some months later the daughter and her husband were having a garage sale with all the stuff out on the sidewalk to sell. Baby was by them in her pram. Some time later the quilt was noticed to be missing - yes, you guessed, son in law had sold it to someone for about $2 or so. there was no replacement ever made and my friend maintains that 90% of people who make quilts only ever make one. I'm ashamed to say I've never even made one! Maybe some day

Gloriously sunny and dry here. My father is clearly thrilled with the weather. I can hear a tractor working and I don't need to look out to see what he is doing. I smell dung - large quantities I suspect. I can see it's going to be a fragrant weekend. Ah, the joys of rural living!

candlelight_2013

Fuddle your bedroom is gorgeous, you should be proud. How lovely, when you are tired, to go to a lovely room like that.

I am pleased to hear you are feeling much better, sorry about little one.

Well the weather is beautiful here as well. It was very overcast this morning, but now the sun is shining, we just need a little more of the sun to dry my quagmire and we can be out in the garden.

Lainey I am glad you were impressed with the kennels, it is such a responsibility finding temporary homes for our pets, to be honest I am sure nowhere would measure up to our home comforts. We are lucky because DGD1 lives here so she will look after Flora the cat when we go away.

I am off to have a hair cut tomorrow, was due on Thursday but she phoned and said she wasn't well so re-arranged for tomorrow.

Himself bought me 2 bunches of roses today, pink and white, they are lovely.

On the topic of Mothers, DD1 has never married, but knew quite early on that she wouldn't be able to have children. She looks on DD2s children as her surrogate children and spoils them rotten.

Whatever you are doing have a good weekend

Much love

Candlelightx

[Deleted User]

Y'know what's the best feeling FUDDLEY ONE? knowing you'll NEVER be damp, cold, mouldy, unhappy and uncomfortable ever again, remembering that awful damp mouldy house you were in when I first knew you and seeing what you've made of your OWN home now, what a contrast girlie, what a journey eh pet? xxx.

fuddle

We were in that damp house because we made a big mess of our financial lives. We'd lost the girls their home and lost us our dignity. We had debt and had to give up the equity in our home to pay for it. We've both learned from that, regrouped, relearned and rebuilt.

Although nobody wants a bankruptcy on their life history, I'm stuck with mine but It has been the best thing that could have happened to me and my family because our mistakes made us hit rock bottom. It's been in the learning of how to recover that the appreciation of just what things mean happens. I'm proud of myself for being the person I am today, for how DH has also changed and for how we gradually teach our girls what not to do.

It is has been a shock that we have our own home. It's because of my mam and my dad that I have been able to do this and although I knew mam wasn't going to be able to live for longevity I always was scared that the bankruptcy and the Official Receiver taking back our house (we had to go through the motions of repossession in order to do so) would mean that a mortgage would be out of the question.

Landed on my feet? No. We have our home because we've made do and will continue to make do in a house that isn't quite right for us really, but it was cheap, well maintained and achievable so we settled. It's appreciated and it's loved and ultimately, given the stress and anxiety of the journey I appreciate every wonky bit of stone in this place. All I ever strive for now is contentment.

I make a point of warching Shop Well For Less with eldest. We were watching last night. The woman was pretty much like me in that she continued to spend on credit to keep up appearances even though she had given up work to look after her children. Although I didn't tell DD about the BR and reposession (we will, when she begins to look at money seriously) I told her about how I had the good clothes, expensive make up, new car every year and she could't believe it. "Mam I just thought you were always an old fuddy duddy" She said with this kind of wow, proud of mam glint in her eye. I had no choice but to explain that while I was dressed like that, driving around doing lunch etc we had little food to eat, was stressed because we couldn't pay bills, had people knocking on our door asking for the money we earned. She got a stark reality. I maybe said too much but I didn't like that look of 'woah Mam was pretty cool'. Do you know what she said to me as she left the room? "Now I know why you only buy half a cucumber when you could buy a full one" Gobsmacked at the observation in the first place I was but taking it in I like the way she connected that I only buy what I need, keeping costs low, being as savvy as I can and, ok, I'm an old fuddy duddy. She's watching, learning and assuming.

Ooops sorry. A bit of an out let there. Yes, a journey. Here's to contentment

Nargleblast

I remember, Fuddle, you posting once about going for a walk and talk with your DH and both of you agreeing that you will never ever be homeowners, and resigning yourselves to make the best of things. Sad that it was through your mother's premature death that you have achieved your dream and got your own home, but that's how things sometimes work out. Good often comes through in the end. I know this weekend may be a bit poignant for you (Muvver's Day) but I am sure your lovely girls will show you how much you mean to them.

[Deleted User]

Raising steaming mug of tea 'TO CONTENTMENT' and also 'TO FUDS' because you've fought for freedom, fought your demons, fought hard for what you now have and you may not have landed on your feet but by golly girl you surely know how to stand on them, stand straight and secure and proud and you've earned every wonky brick of what you now have as your home. Contentment??? BRING IT ON !!!!! xxx.

LaineyT

Oh my goodness Fuds, I didn't until today realise just how much you have been through my friend and have to say that I have massive respect for you for coming through all of that and more no doubt.
Your house is simply lovely, cosy and warm, you must be so proud x

monnagran

Yes Fuds, I remember the damp, mouldy house and the creepy landlord as well, and all the other homes you and DH have made out of unpromising rental properties.
Making a beautiful house is no great deal when the funds are there but to make a warm, loving home in whatever providence turns up for you, on a shoestring, is a gift that not many possess. You have that talent in spades.
I am glad that you have let DD1 in on some of the difficulties you have coped with. They are very lucky girls to have parents who have been so resourceful. what an example and inspiration you are to them.
While I'm on the subject, just ruffle DD2's hair for me. I hope she gets better soon.

The most wonderful thing about owning your own home is doing whatever you like inside without having to get permission. Also knowing that you will still be there to enjoy the work you have done.

On a different subject entirely, I have just had an e-mail from one of my old school friends. Our year have often had a get together at certain times. We started it when it was the 50th anniversary of our starting at the grammar school. This year it is the 60th anniversary of the year when we all left school and went off to University, College or whatever the next stage of our lives was to be. It seems impossible that we are all now within spitting distance of 80 years old. Yet when we meet we all revert to our 18 year old selves. The years roll away and we can be as noisy and silly as we ever were. Some of us have never lost touch and some fly in from foreign homes to re-establish lost friendships.

This year we are meeting in October and I am looking forward to it already. It's quite true, you can't make old friends, and how precious they are.

I've finished making Easter Chicks for Pickles Nursery School and very cute they look.

I am now knitting Buddies for Myeloma.UK. Myeloma was the cancer that DIL's mother was suffering from and although she died from a quite unrelated emergency we have been supporting research into Myeloma and will continue to do so. These knitted buddies are sold to raise funds so I will be knitting as many as possible.

x

karcher

fuddle wrote: »

All I ever strive for now is contentment.


Ooops sorry. A bit of an out let there. Yes, a journey. Here's to contentment

And Contentment is the ultimate aim imho.

I have strived for anything vaguely resembling it for years...horrendous and heart breaking events over recent years have pushed me to my limit..but I have fought on alone, it's nearly destroyed me, but ....Oh how I would love to just be content.

I guess unless you share, others never know the pain and struggles life has thrown at you.

Wishing you all the best: find and enjoy that contentment Fuddle..you know you can

LaineyT

Another cracker of a spring day here, if you excuse the rude wind that goes straight through you instead of around and just concentrate on the sunshine and blue skies it's been perfick.
The bedding was washed and on the line by breakfast, all the windows open to the fresh air and the house feels like its breathing again
Had a text from eldest DSS to say he was popping in before playing football so quickly whipped up a macaroni cheese with added chorizo and was gratified to see him work his way through two big helpings plus salad.
I then left Capt S to his Saturday afternoon sport whilst I went over to the grave with a planted up basket of grape hyacinths, the cemetery was quiet and peaceful in the sun so I had a good long chat with Mum and Dad, plus my darling brother, whilst I tidied everything up, it sounds daft I know but it did me good and like to think that on some level they can hear me.
Not sure what we will have for supper, have a hankering for an apple and cheese so will probably go with that, hope everyone has had a good day and are enjoying their weekend.
Better go, Rosie is mithering for her evening walk, love to all x