make do and mend for tougher times

savingqueen

Margaret54 wrote: »

Hi savingqueen I haven't posted in a while, but just read what you had written, and wanted to say that I am similar. I too have a mother and sister who together have put me down and said stuff that really has hurt me. I believed what I was constantly told and it still affects me years later. It does so much damage to a person and I am working on myself now to believe in myself and that I am important as well. Margaret x Take care of yourself.

Thanks for sharing Margaret. I'm glad you are working on yourself - :A you are important.

sq:)

Popperwell

savingqueen wrote: »

DS2 (aged 5) had a little friend over for tea today and the friend asked me if I would ever move house?

Anyway I said we might one day but have no plans to move at the moment. He asked me if we could please stay in our house forever as he loves coming to play here. I have had similar comments from both boys' friends lately (we have had a lot of their friends over in the last few weeks.)

I am still working on accepting and being grateful for what I have and remembering that true friends (even the 5 year old ones) don't give a fig if your carpet is threadbare and your (only) TV is a fatscreen but remember the homemade cakes, the insanely friendly stripey cat and the warm welcome they receive.

Can I also say something that has been playing on my mind? I worry that sometimes my posts come across as bragging in some way.

sq:)

People are a home, not possesions...

Nearly all I have is now second hand and...a bed/sofa/carpets need replacing but as I am alone and no one visits I can live with it. If I knew I could stay put I'd replace all three but won't spend in case I must move...

You don't come across as boasting to me so I won't be ticking you off:)

missrlr wrote: »

Saving queen and Margaret54 blow your trumpets, if you don't no b0gger else will! Well actually we might here ... Well done you both

Well said...totally agree...

I'm not looking forward to next month as I should be buying my contents insurance...as most of what I own is old I'm not why I am bothering with it...unless I am burgled(and they won't find anything much of value)they'll be disappointed. And everything except the CH is electrical and I have no bare flames anywhere.

Not boasting but the last treat of the year for me happens on Sunday seeing the 60's pop group The Searchers...hope the weather is as bad as has been said as I use a bus and have travel a little way to get to the theatre...and it is further North...

Pooky

Morning all

SQ - its lovely when you know that other people (whatever the age) want to spend time at your house with you and your family, it's a great compliment.

VJs- glad DD has settled, she deserves her treat. Hope the SAD eases up for you.

Had a tight and crackly chest for the past 3/4 days so took a decongestant last night and now have a full blown cold....Blugh. Supposed to be going to my parents at the weekend so will see how I am, really dont want to be taking germs to them.

Last nights chicken, spinach and bacon pie was a hit and DDs are taking leftovers for their lunches today. Logistical nightmare tonight with DDs needing to be in different places at the same time (hospital for one, work for the other) so I've no idea what's for tea or when it will be.....might just opt for "on toast" night.

I've got three kittens doing laps of the house at high speed this morning......they pause only to kick each other in the head before setting off in the opposite direction.....it's fun!

westcoastscot

VJsmum wrote: »

"A woman is like a tea bag, you never know how strong she is until she's in hot water" Eleanor Roosevelt

Thanks folks!


My quote du jour - Be the heroine of your own life, not the victim : Norah

Thanks for the linky Fuddle - I think its a bit of an over-reaction on the part of the reporter - it won't be like the poll tax, that taxed every individual in a household and there were no "choices" - I understand the "bedroom tax" will be very difficult for many but there will be a bit of choice - sharing property, moving to smaller property comes to mind. I work with those with severe poor mental health and for them sharing is not going to be an option as they're too vulnerable, but there is becoming an understanding among those people that the high rates of DLA that some rightly qualify for can be used to put towards this.
I know it is another burden on poorer people but we cannot go on as before - the money just isn't there.

WCS

GreyQueen

bluebag wrote: »

Lists...LISTS!!! I have lists of lists and lists of lists of lists. I am very organised, I have to be coz I don't have the physical energy to botch things or do them twice.

I am totally inert without my lists, post it notes, calendar, diary and phone reminders.

I have a passport with my photo on it and my name in it so I know who I am at all times.

I don't even have a disease to account for it either ... flippin' useless without a list, note or dingly bell.

Every morning when I wake I remind myself what day of the week it is (relevent as I have different start-times on different weekdays) and try to concentrate on placing myself immediately on the right schedule. Once or twice I have spent a terrifying 2 seconds not remembering my name!

My catch-phrase is; If it ain't in the diary, it ain't happening. I use a week-to-view diary but one year couldn't get one suitable and had a page-a-day and it caused chaos.:o Also can't remember either of my phone numbers when I'm tired and once lost a bank account.......doh.

Possession wrote: »

YAY!!! DH has a job! :j:j:j
At the moment it's the 3 month one, still going for the others just in case. Bit of a day.
A bottle of wine is called for I think. Will have to go and get one.

:j:beer::j Congratulations to Mr P!!!!!

westcoastscot wrote: »

Congratulations Mr Possession - lovely to have some good news for a change!

can I have a wee moan? - i've had a rotton day - found out I have psoriatic arthritis ontop of my osteo-arthritis. Happy to have found out why i'm so shattered as well as sore, but a bit gutted to be honest.

Ouch, hun, that sounds uncomfortable. Here's hoping that there is a treatment which can make it less painful. Honestly, various forms of Arthur are the bane of existance in these islands, aren't they?

I have mild OA in my kneecaps which is a great excuse not to take up jogging.........if there's an up-side, I'll use it.

Another grey and misty start but I was coming home from the cinema last night about 9.30 and it was very mild with only the faintest touch of mist and the autumnal leaves glowing vividly in the streetlights. Autumn can sometimes be magical.

I was once driving down a straight country road lined with trees all of the same kind which were shedding a snowstorm of bright yellow leaves which were driven diagonally on the breeze with the sun shining right through them. It was stunningly-beautiful.

Righty, spose I should wash some dishes. Oh, and my (once) spendthrift pal brought a bog-off voucher to the restaurant (on his i-phone;)) last night. To say I was pleased it to put it mildly. And he says he gets the MSE weekly email......I was astonished.

ETA; re the CTB changes, and benefit changes in general, I think a lot of the trouble is the the NMW is too low. It's an absurd situation when people work a normal length f/t week and are still so lowly-paid that they qualify for means-tested benefits. It's a clear indicator that the NMW isn't keeping up with the cost of living, and neither are wages which are above NMW.

Effectively, the benefits system is being used to subsidise the profits of companies which could very well afford to pay more but won't do it unless forced to. I used to work a company whose workforce was mostly lone Mums on benefit working (legitimately) part time. One of them was a thoughtful woman who said to me on the subject of agitating for higher wages at this company I know it's not the right attitude but if I got any more pay it'd just mean I'd lose benefit and I'd be no better off so I'm not risking it.

I notice from the boards outside the recruitment agencies here that most jobs are NMW to the penny, and never even one pence per hour more.

PipneyJane

Good morning everyone.

Fingers crossed the sun manages to break through the clouds today. We took some American friends to Stonehenge yesterday and it was bitter. No rain, fortunately, but the damp went straight through you.

D&DD wrote: »

Morning all
Thanks Pipney he's right fed up with it all now and his boss is now off for a weeks leave..will keep you posted X

Had Bernie Lawrence's chicken curry for tea last night done in the slow cooker its such a nice recipe but noticed my book is starting to disintegrate so need to get the recipes copied out,having her macaroni chicken tonight

Having a can't be bothered day today..some days you just don't want to do it all do you?? Or is it just me
Good news is I did loads yesterday so hopefully no-one will notice!

Hope all are well XXX

Mmmm.... Macaroni Chicken!

I love Bernie Lawrence's cookbook. Wish it'd be reprinted so I could give copies to friends. It's probably the most used cookbook in my collection. My copy is 20 years old.

Sadly, work calls, so this is just a flyby post. Hope the day improves for everyone.

- Pam

mardatha

Giggling at this GQ, remembering the year the only calendar we had was one sent from a penpal in Norway... none of us speak Norwegian and the whole family spent the year in panicked yells "Oh GOD!! is this mandag?... when the HELL is torsdag I've got the dentist?" :rotfl::rotfl: but the pictures were pretty

GreyQueen

mardatha wrote: »

Giggling at this GQ, remembering the year the only calendar we had was one sent from a penpal in Norway... none of us speak Norwegian and the whole family spent the year in panicked yells "Oh GOD!! is this mandag?... when the HELL is torsdag I've got the dentist?" :rotfl::rotfl: but the pictures were pretty

Thanks, Mar, just had today's first laugh-out-loud moment.:D Happy Wodensday, btw.

kidcat

WCS - I think fuddle's link is referring to the massive changes in council tax benefit rather than bedroom tax, which is why they are likening to poll tax. There is no way of reducing the effect of the CT changes at all. The only rules the govt have laid down are that councils must maintain full CT benefit for pensioners and the 25% single person discount, after that councils have a free hand how they manage it - but the govt has reduced the amount given to councils by 10%.
Effectively that means that councils have to find ways of cutting the benefit for most claimants.

For instance in my area in order to keep the pensioners full benefit and the single person discount, my council needs to reduce all other claimants benefit by something like 25%. So for a couple on JSA living in a band A house they will need to pay a minimum of £5 a week towards their council tax.

But each council is different and some will end up having to charge more as their pensioner numbers will be higher. Its going to be a postcode lottery.

Mad morning here, my mum is still spending all day here (which is getting very old quickly - kids are acting up, OH is losing his temper more and my dad moans if I go out shopping and leave her) the car has finally gone to have exhaust fixed so that I can MOT it, but OH didnt take car early enough so we have lost another day effectively. I have two sets of tickets I bought ages ago for days out which we still havent been able to use and cant without car.

kidcat

mardatha wrote: »

Giggling at this GQ, remembering the year the only calendar we had was one sent from a penpal in Norway... none of us speak Norwegian and the whole family spent the year in panicked yells "Oh GOD!! is this mandag?... when the HELL is torsdag I've got the dentist?" :rotfl::rotfl: but the pictures were pretty

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: