make do and mend for tougher times

fuddle

Morning friends

I thank you all for your support, I feel overwhelmed by the kindness of the toughies. First off, we're not going to try for that credit card. That was me, last night, not seeing the wood for the trees and looking for a quick escape. Normal fighting spirit resumes today but I have to tell you what happened last night.

I had a panic attack. It all just got too much as I did what I do to cope? Anyway, DH has taken the lot on. He's instructed the LL to contact him only and DH is only going to drip feed me information. For once I'm relieved to have my head in the sand. My job is to sell, sell, sell and raise money. I'm to get very creative with our eating so we can claw back some of the shopping budget (should be easy as going to use the stock pile :eek: I Know, it's not at all sensible to run it down but?) and I'm to sort through our 'stuff' and whittle it down/recycle/charity ready for the move.

We're staying here for christmas because the law says we can.

I'm absolutely fine I'm going to try rescue those mouldy patches on my clothes and sort out a cupboard.... it's ironic in that we have a nice big room to store our packed stuff ready for the move (if not smelly!) :rotfl:

Oh, and also, no I didn't mention my depression/anxiety/panic on my council application. I just didn't think it was relevant. It didn't even cross my mind. GQ the houses I've been going for are rural houses. I avoid the properties that are in the towns that have 100+ applications

[Deleted User]

omg fuddle, I wish I lived close and had spare rooms and I wouldn`t be taking no for an answer. A static caravan, anything has got to be better than what you are going through with that !!!!!! LL.

Hard upH, I crocheted some dolls blankets with wool leftover from making childrens cardis and jumpers and they had fun recognising where the colours came from

PAH, you are an inspiration not a moaner. A roll-up sleeves, very helpful person, just gets on with it, whatever life throws and still keeps compassion for others.

Weather action has been bang on for all of october, get thermals and gloves ready up north, for end of month and I`m getting all allotment stuff finished early next week. Onions planted, the lot. I don`t like leaving stuff for freezing cold weather

jem132

Fuddle you need to go see a housing solicitor if you get tax credits it will be free they will work on your case for the last to house you for a number of reasons your house problem sounds inadequate there for you have a case my ex husband is a young solicitor if you need any help let me know they can get you rehoused really fast la. Work well when solicitors are involved they usually will offer a management let. Good luck and feel free to pm me and ill ask him whether best one is in your area he's good like that lol

mardatha

It is possible the LL is playing mind games to either get you to stop complaining or to try and scare you into moving. In which case I'd sit so tight I'd have to be surgically removed from the foundations. Nasty wee sod.
Him, not me. LOL!

Possession

Kidcat I hope the news isn't bad. Re. the meat, I used to make over 100 sausage rolls every week so they aren't an option I'd have forgotten!
Stiltwalker, so glad you're having lots of fun and building bonds with the other parents. Since they are ahead of you as it were, I'm sure they will be loads of help in the years to come.
PAH ignore that silly dream. You are a constant source of help and support on here.
Fuddle, that's the spirit.

prepareathome

Morning from a rather cold and foggy 'pool. Its very, very slowly thinning as I can now see the houses that back onto ours - well the gardens do, so can see about 500ft although there are thickish patches in-between.

Birds don't sound that cheerful either and its the crow that is making the most noise.

Fuddle sending you more hugs. I hope you wake up this morning raring to fight your corner and realise that LL is a snake hoping to shed his skin(you and your family being the skin) rather than a man who has to deal with his property. He obviously hopes by telling you to go and threatening not to give you your deposit back that you will now cow down and not complain to authorities about the damp, he knows he is in the wrong and thinks by doing this you will put up and shut up. Just you make sure you sing loud and long to all you can so if you go there is no way he can let the house again without doing the work he is trying to get out of doing now.

He most likely told you yesterday as he knew you could not contact anyone till Monday so thinks by tomorrow you will be so upset and down you will just accept he is in the right and not tell anyone. So instead you must tell council, shelter, local councillor, local paper if you are will ing to do so - get them in and let them take photos of the damp and your clothes and your story of how when you told LL he told you to go, he needs shaming but you will need to be strong to do it.

Its so dull I am going to light the candles in my sitting room fireplace - usually only light them in evening, but need some brightness.

If it will not upset you fuddle I would like to post some photos of my sitting room to ask everyone here for ideas for decorating it as I just have a mind blank over what to do, but only will do so just now if you can bare it, there is no rush for me to decorate. I have I think got the furniture I want in here and where I want it. I managed to sort it so the wooden trolley that had been my parents ( they got it as an engagement present and was the one thing I had no problem getting after mum died as everyone knew how much I loved it). My sister had painted it so it fitted with d!cor in mums bedroom years ago and I want to take it back to it original and had asked for help on shabby chic thread and someone there found its an original art deco trolley so will have to slowly restore it as its fairly rare now as it still has all original wheels and undamaged. Its funny as I usually do not like art deco style but this trolley I have loved as long as I can remember, I don't know why. http://www.cloud9artdeco.co.uk/art-deco-round-trolley That photo is what it will look like when I restore it.

I must admit its nice getting up and having another room to go into - no room to sit in kitchen as to small, in past I have sat outside but weather been so bad not been able to do that much this year. I had been stuck in my bedroom so long I had almost forgotten what its like to have separate rooms to live in and to sleep in. Even when my OH was out the living room was his and if I moved anything he would notice and complain when he came home, so was quieter not to use it.

One thing I am pleased about is I have not started smoking again, oh boy have I wanted a cigarette but haven't bought any. Am using the electronic lookalikes and I am sucking on them like a baby with her dummy, but they are getting me through and a pack of refills £5.99 does me a week so not using them to much thankfully even though I feel I am.

Today will choose what pictures I want that are hanging in the living room to put in my sitting room plus need to work out where I can hang my collection of lanterns and put my oil lamps but this room is small so maybe will eventually have shelves put up to show them off.

Oh well back to normal rambling on and on sorry folks.

Born Blonde I am sorry kept forgetting to say I am so sorry about your arm, what a nasty thing to happen.

Hugs and Love to each and every one of you.

xxxxxxx

shegar

Yea its a bit of a job to know whats going through poxy LL mind, but even if he say to you,"its ok you can stay", id still be outta there at the first chance . You will be ok and the family, its such a pity its so close to christmas and horrible winter on its way........

Be good if you can keep rural,and get a older style house, cos that way you will probaly end up with your chimney:D and that nice little Esse lionheart that youve got your eyes set on..:D.....

Please dont think im joking about your situation , but im trying to make you have a goal and get through all this........:)You will come out of this ok, its such a shock for you to have only just been told.............As the days go on you will get stronger in your mind and be able to think of different ideas........

I get a lot of my thoughts when im asleep, and sometimes wake in the middle of the night with a solution to some problems.......:).....

It rained all night here, not cold though, so that helps a bit with the heating bills, we are so nearly into Novemeber..........

My son rents a 2 bed cabin in the woods, its under loads of huge trees , his LL lives next door, its a super place in the spring and summer, but autumn and winter its so dam damp and cold, they have expensive LPG:eek:.......Mould everywhere, I can sometimes smell their clothes, damp,:eek:what they are wearing .....

They pay £500 per month..........

Everytime his LL come round hes afraid that LL may give him 2 months notice, he feels so insecure ..........He never complains about anything that doesnt work, but he knows that if LL did want them out that ive got room here for a static caravan , just so that they wont be homeless............He is not a too bad LL but all he is interested in is his £500 each month, I suppose like most LL .................

nuatha

Good morning Fuddle (and everyone else)
I've several years experience of working with homeless families in temporary accommodation and seen the grief that good intentions or trying to do what's best can cause. There is excellent advice upthread, especially the post (GQ?) that mentions staying put until the Landlord gets a possession order - though each local authority is slightly different in how they actually implement things, leaving a tenancy before the landlord has gone to court (or the house has been declared unfit or unsafe by the Powers That Be) can easily result in a ruling of intentionally homeless.
Get in touch with environmental health regarding the damp and mould (ensure the word mould is mentioned in the conversation) they being one of the PTB that can rule the house unfit for habitation.
If memory serves, your current housing application is with a different Local Authority? You may find you need to file an application with your current LA as well (local connection is a major factor in the criteria to assist, though I have known LAs cooperate in obtaining housing in another LA this is relatively rare).
There are a number of deposit guarantee schemes running in various parts of the North East, I'd be very surprised if there wasn't one in your area, your local housing dept should have details (but the criteria for qualifying might be that you are deemed priority and require a referral from LA or Social Services.

I hope that the above makes sense, if it doesn't tell me and I'll attempt to clarify when my brain is working a bit better.
Meanwhile, chin up, you will turn this to your advantage, and I'm pleased to see this morning's post.

VJsmum

shegar wrote: »

He is not a too bad LL but all he is interested in is his £500 each month, I suppose like most LL .................

Obviously LL have made an investment which they want to see a return on but you would think that they would want to take care of their property. No property is going to be a great asset if it is literally going rotten. Fuddle I am sorry for your woes but you have received some great advice. Once again the collective wisdom and sheer goodness of people on this site never ceases to amaze me.

I am a little down in the dumps - I always struggle at this time of year. I am a summer person and don't much like any other season - which is a problem when you live in England:o though I can just about tolerate spring. Hibernation is underrated, I feel. Give me a week or two and i'll be in "getting on with it" mode, I am going through a "please don't let summer have ended" phase. When OH and I retire and the kids have left, I shall be nagging him to take the caravan to spain for the winter...

I have marking to do today and some housework. Tea is cottage pie, which isn't very Sunday-y but is part of the great freezer emptying crusade. Definitely comfort food anyhow. OH is fixing the tap washer for the bath :T It's only needed doing for about 10 weeks I really need to get to the veg patch and prepare it for winter, too.

Random question - when you freeze bananas do you just pop them in the freezer in their skins or remove from skins? Then can you just defrost and use as normal? I seem to have over-bought.

Oh I also need to go to Aldi to buy some thermals for DS - he is going skiing with school at Easter and definitely needs a set or two.

Coffee first, though, obvs..

Have a good day all

katieowl_2

KIDCAT Another nice thing to do with sausage meat is make it into a swineherders pie!!! You make it like shepherds pie, but include some diced apple, and some sage. You can use cider to make the gravy too if you've got any. Then you top it with mashed potatoes and brown it in the oven.

Kate