make do and mend for tougher times

SpikyHedgehog

GreyQueen wrote: »

SpikyHedgehog wrote: »

We're in Suffolk, so in the middle of the big orange bit. Errant Husband had DS2 out today, & when my poor baby came home at 9.20, he drank a whole glass of water straight down & said daddy hadn't had much water with him. I'd do an angry smily if I wasn't using my phone right now.

I sponged him down with tepid water before I put him to bed, & he seems ok right now, but who takes a child out in such hot weather & doesn't make sure they have enough to drink?[/QUOTE]:( Loads of people, Spiky. At one earlier time in my life, my crew and I used to run a mobile children's play facility which worked the fairs. Standard kit was aftersun balm, sun block and loads bottled water to treat overboiled and dehydrated kiddies whose parents had them out for hours in full sun without hats, cream or adequate hydration.

I can still remember one wee girl, probably about 18 months old, whose father couldn't work out why she wouldn't stop crying in his arms. I could see quite clearly why; she had bare arms and bare legs burned red, no hat and was clearly suffering.

Once we got her in the shade, creamed those poor limbs, the tears stopped immediately. She also needed lots of water. Poor lamb. And don't even get me started on the parent who had a girlie of about 7, a pure copperhaired milkskinned redead out in full sun at 30 degrees in a haltertop dress.....:mad:

Muggy and hazy here today and I have carpenters outside sawing some wood up. Makes a change from uPVC window fitters, I suppose. Gotta go to work and do a few bits and bobs afterwards.

Have a good day, everyone. GQ xx

Poor little ones! :-( I shouldn't be suprised, I've seen it at work too. Just feels worse when it's someone you know & your own child :-/. He's fine this morning, thank goodness.

Going to take cat to the vets today. Either supermarket Frontline doesn't work as well as vets stuff or she's now got a flea allergy, as we Frontline'd her last week when we got back, but she's still furiously itching. Old cat had a flea allergy which made her life a misery. & the neighbours don't treat their cats for fleas at all...

I need to make bread, but don't want to have the heat of the oven. I might use the bread maker if I can't steel myself to face the heat!

Pooky

Thick fog here this morning so everything feels humid, dank and quiet. So warm over night though, managed a few hours sleep but was woken continuously by cats/husbands/seagulls. I shall be cranky later.

Spiky - one of our cats has a flea allergy so we have to treat all 6 with the vets prescribed stuff - cost me £86 for 2 months supply! I normally get away with making that last at least three months though.

Got our budgets all worked out for the next 6 months and have moved money around accordingly so that DHs lump sum pay off is being used wisely. Brought some premium bonds too, had a lot of luck with them in the past. Not going to do anything major with the money for 6 months and will then look at how/what/where/when life is taking us.

Popperwell

Weekend went reasonably well. Going to keep busy today and my mind occupied. Slept ok but I have woke with my stomach in knots.

That "Butterflies in the tummy!" feeling so I am assuming again that is still do with grieving.

I have no particular thought going around in my mind to cause sadness/depression but I suspect there is a connection. I don't think it's an all out wobbly like a few days ago though...

Still raining here...so perhaps we won't have the trouble with the heat today.

Its awful when you see a child suffering in the heat, no doubt some parents don't care but I wonder how many do not realise. I would but some seem to genuinely have difficulties with what we would see as basic life skills...

Possession

Popperwell wrote: »

Its awful when you see a child suffering in the heat, no doubt some parents don't care but I wonder how many do not realise. I would but some seem to genuinely have difficulties with what we would see as basic life skills...

I'm not sure that has really changed though. My dad was a deputy and head teacher for more than 40 years, and it's all different now, but the number of times he had to take a child home and even go searching in the pub for their parents, because they had 'forgotten' to collect the child. Or he'd gone to have a word with the parents because the child was persistently not at school, and found the parents absent and the child playing with a large axe. It isn't new that teachers are feeding children who are coming to school hungry, or finding them shoes because their shoes are so tight they can't walk properly. What has changed is we think that kind of thing shouldn't happen any more, and we're right, it shouldn't.

Popperwell

Pooky wrote: »

Brought some premium bonds too, had a lot of luck with them in the past. Not going to do anything major with the money for 6 months and will then look at how/what/where/when life is taking us.

Would love to do something like that but in my situation unless kept to a minimum it would be seen as capital I suppose. Of course if I won a tidy sum...:D

That's why I have gone back to doing the euromillions whilst I can but if income becomes more tight as it will even that possible pleasure would be closed to me.

I did a basic calculation maybe a year ago and worked out that to pay full rent. CT(The BT had not been mentioned at the time)electric/gas, food, taxi fares/buses, tv license, internet/phone going for the next 25 years I would need approx £500,000 even if I was very thrifty(either my own money or from the state)

So I suspect the same woud be true of most households in the UK(in work or out of work)possibly more if you want more luxuries in your life...

Caterina

SpikyHedgehog re. Cats fleas, we used to use Frontline but our vet told us that Advantage is much better, apparently cheaper too. HTH

Popperwell

Possession wrote: »

I'm not sure that has really changed though. My dad was a deputy and head teacher for more than 40 years, and it's all different now, but the number of times he had to take a child home and even go searching in the pub for their parents, because they had 'forgotten' to collect the child. Or he'd gone to have a word with the parents because the child was persistently not at school, and found the parents absent and the child playing with a large axe. It isn't new that teachers are feeding children who are coming to school hungry, or finding them shoes because their shoes are so tight they can't walk properly. What has changed is we think that kind of thing shouldn't happen any more, and we're right, it shouldn't.

As you say it's always gone on and probably will. It shouldn't. The worry is we go the other way...but all too often we hear terrible cases in the news, some resulting in the child losing their lives and they are only the cases we hear of course. Some don't get reported, some do but remain as local newsand then some are taken up nationally by the media.

Then we get the "We have learned from our mistakes and we will see it does not happen again!" but it does...

Popperwell

I'd love a pet again but I suspect the Housing Association aren't keen, I'd have to be committed to looking after one, if on a low income it might be seen as wrong and difficult to afford and you need to be there for them so I'll probably have to do without.

fuddle

My children are not allowed suncream at school, not even to apply it themselves. I have to lather them in the morning and hope for the best. I've even gone down at a lunch time to cream them up as it was overcast on the morning and bleezing by lunch. I felt like I was a nuisance! Still, that's the flip side. Parents who do have their head screwed on and people in care who let health and safety issues or risk of being sued ahead of their duty of care.

On our way to holidays I could hav throttled DH who cleaned the perishables out of the kitchen, including have a chicken and bread destined for sarnies on the journey! Grrrr, men!

I'll be reading when I can but not posting as its too difficult on my phone. Xx

Popperwell

What you say is true...you are often criticised if you care for your children and criticised if you don't.

Enjoy your trip Fuddle, a safe journey and see you upon your return with many tales to tell. Hopefully, you'll get some days where it is not cold and wet but it's a change...