Flying solo

missrlr

*Robin* wrote: »

Hello Diary, :hello:

It's daft; for so long DH and I planned for this time in our lives but now that future has gone. Am still finding it hard to believe a complete year has passed without DH in it. :A
..Seeing that written down still stops me dead. Shouldn't, but it does.

:think: Guess getting past this block must be my ambition for 2014.

Nothing daft in feeling upset that plans have not made it to fruition
Nothing strange in being incredulous at the passage of time
Nothing odd in still having your breathe taken away by thoughts and memories
It is not a block it's a natural pause with no predefined limit or required duration
What will be will be and you are doing just fine x x

debtfreewannabe321

Happy New Year Robin, I agree with everyone elses comments and I hope that 2014 is a better year

*Robin*

Hello Diary and Dear, Wise Friends, :hello:

Thank you so much for your supportive words, Piq, Granny and Missrlr - honestly don't know what I'd do without all of you to prop me up during 'wobbles'! :T

DFw you unwittingly gave me pause for thought too yesterday, re the [STRIKE]£100[/STRIKE] £60 bedspread you were so pleased with..
I wouldn't hesitate at spending £60 on an xmas gift or week's festive food, or vehicle maintenance, or a 'plane ticket.
Hairdresser? Everyday clothes or shoes? Spa day? New towels or bedding? Nope; can't afford it.
D'you know, I still use a hairbrush bought in 1983 (to replace one chewed by a pup, which was a gift from Grandma in 1960!). Both came from Ha77ods and were probably extortionately expensive at the time, but the quality and longevity can't be denied.

Oh - the sun has just come out! Must postpone the rest of this post to plant out a flower-bed before the Good Lord sends more rain to water in the little succulents so beloved by bees - will be using Grandfather's garden tools to do it (need further thought on why I resist replacing anything until it is broken beyond repair ).

missrlr

I agree with you, do not replace ANYTHING until no longer fit for purpose. But I have to say in some cases my definition of fit for purpose has been tempered by the need for ease of use and my own sanity. So there are some things that I have replaced as the old items technically worked, but the effort and energy required plus time to perform was wholly inefficient e.g. Still have a broom from Grandad and it sweeps perfectly but the car will be replaced as getting in and out of it is becoming complex although this works technically ok.
I have boots from nigh on 20 years ago I have had reheeled many times but fit and work and when I give a polish to are great. The cost an absolute fortune and far more than I pay for boots but quality not quantity
We have bed linens that are old for use, but transferred to dog bed linens and then to garage dirty rags before before meeting their demise
Similar paper products, clothes and so on.
My hairbrush I have had since a puppy chewed y original one into 3 bits! Long live hairbrushes!

HeadAboveWater

(very belated!) happy new year Robin!

Just been catching up on your diary - missed your updates when I was off!! :)

You are an amazing person and have come through so much in the last year. You are brave and strong and I have every respect for you. I truly hope 2014 is a great year for you:)

*Robin*

Dear Diary and Amazing Friends, :hello:

Happy New Year HAW, and thank you for your very kind comments.

Missrlr are you all right? Every time they show more floods on the news I think of you; sending out a beam of hope that it's not your area they are talking about..

Thanks for the reassurance that I'm not the only person who hangs onto possessions until they fall apart.


Where have the last few days gone? Must report two SDs; only one deliberate shopping trip [£20], then was called on to give someone a lift and found m'self 'parked' at a new supermarket while they tussled with officialdom. Spent £60 while I was waiting, and £50 on diesel.

Gardening got me through the latest bout of negativity, thank goodness, although there are a couple of elephants jostling for space in the living room which I know must be dealt with soon:
One is called Tax Return and the other House Purchase. :cool:

Right now I ought to be clearing up the remains of our last festive meal (cause of the deliberate shopping trip). But it's a cold grey day, and I'm aching from the exertion of cooking and hosting, and the sight of all the dirty dishes piled up right across one side of the kitchen surfaces is too much - umpteen times today I've looked at the mess, then gone off to find something else to do!

But am not regretting stretching out xmas by one more feast; a very close friend is about to travel to the other side of the world, where he'll be enduring considerable privation while helping to rebuild the lives of thousands of tsunami survivors.
The least I could do was celebrate his effort by providing a memorable farewell meal! :T
Of course the idea escalated, to the point where it was uncertain that there would be enough plates for everyone, and had to use both ovens to roast sufficient veg as well as two mains and pudding (lamb, chestnut loaf, and apple/pear crumble).

It was a great success. Our honoured guest was delighted; he made me laugh when he said "You've even made real gravy!" - had to admit I wouldn't know what to do with a packet of bist0. :rotfl:

Divo One and DGS were among the throng, which was lovely as I've not seen much of DGS recently. He just keeps getting cuter, and behaves very well - held his own at an adult gathering with equanimity (and without mishaps in using cutlery - unusual that such a young child can tackle roast meat without needing it cut up for him).


Oh dear. It's nearly dark again. Time to fetch up firewood and sort out the stove.. :cool2: (Not that sunglasses have been needed today - really never got light properly. Clouds are low, and laden with snow which tastes sharp on the air).

Hope life is treating everyone well. Will try and get back later to catch up with you all.

debtfreewannabe321

Well done to dgs for being so well behaved (especially with the cutlery!) My ds is a nightmare and will only eat with his hands :wall:

Your comment about the bedspread made me laugh as my main reason in getting it was because all my duvet covers have holes/ stains from kids and dog and I thought I was being uber clever in buying one bedspread to cover all the tatty covers instead of buying new duvet covers every time they fall apart I'm waiting on next months budget to cover the cost though

missrlr

Oh. Robin the meal sounds absolutely lovely. Shame the clearing up and recovery is taking its toll on you.
Not sure what to say about tax returns other than I am afraid it needs to be a just do it affair. I have to say I get mine done in two sittings, one to get the necessary mess together and one to DO IT otherwise I panic and really I cannot cope with that at present.

Still remarkably damp and soggy here. Haven't managed to get serious repairs sorted as a consequence, realistically anything other than a temporary fix that has already been done is off the cards until it gets warmer and drier and everything has an opportunity to dry out, so probably about September! I do appreciate the thoughts though, maybe it stopped the rise of the flood water at the back and brought the nice sunny day today?

A rare day and night to myself today, spent having a swim, vacuuming and cleaning carpets, washing, ironing, gentle and short Doglet walk (all we can manage now I am afraid) and mammoth bed change session. But with sit downs when I need and now a rare welcome gentle session on the sofa under a throw with Doglet and an even more rare glass of wine!

Good news though we have a new lodger to help with matters fiscal! Just as well with the repair bill mounting and the upgrades now noted as being essential from the weather issues we have.

Here is to revamping and upgrading houses to withstand the global weather and actually if I am honest here, repairing degradation of time.

*Robin*

Hello Diary and All Friends-in-the-Box, :hello:

Thanks for popping in, DFw and Missrlr. :T
We have cheesecake topped with the first of this year's strawberries to go with our tea today, so pull up a chair (umm no, you'd better keep on your jackets, because the Nest hasn't got central heating and it's only 14'C inside ).

Missrlr after reading your post yesterday I was inspired; shut down pc and got out Paperwork Mountain again - shifted to another room where hopefully it won't need to be disturbed when visitors arrive (which is what has happened every time thus far ).
Today's mission is to get the first pile organised and calculated - giving me a figure to put into one of the boxes on HMRC's wretched form (a section I've not had to complete before).

The Good Lord is helping by watering the garden, so that's one thing to be grateful for today - will save me at least an hour's time and energy! :T
Last night I finally got all the clearing up finished after our feast; total of four loads of washing up, several portions of chestnut loaf in the freezer ready for easy meals, the remaining leftovers transformed into a tasty veg curry (so tonight's dinner is 'sorted' which gives me more time to wrestle Paperwork Mountain Part One into an accurate record ).

debtfreewannabe321 wrote:

Well done to dgs for being so well behaved (especially with the cutlery!) My ds is a nightmare and will only eat with his hands

Oh dear DFw[!], but don't worry am sure DS will get there - meantime he'll be strengthening his immune system and I suppose it's a good reason to reinforce the hand-washing / hygiene lesson, lol.
Your DS is younger than DGS anyway, isn't he (DGS has just turned four)? When my boys were small, eating with cutlery became compulsory when they were promoted out of the high-chair. Don't know whether DS1 used the same trick with DGS, but the reason I was surprised at his dexterity is because DGS lives in a vegetarian household, so only encounters meat when he and his Dad are invited out for a meal. ..DGS got through an adult portion of both roast lamb and sausages - he carefully anointed each mouthful of the latter with mustard, lol.

Thanks for explaining the bedspread dilemma. Suppose I was lucky as when the kids were little, an aunt gave them all new bedding every other year for xmas (alternated with new winter coats - bless Dear Aunt! :A).
Couldn't have afforded new stuff otherwise (lifestyle choices; always too many mouths to feed, travel costs to save up and bricks to buy, lol). I used to put the old covers on the top of the beds during the day; yes they were scruffy but kept bedclothes clean - whipped off the old ones at bedtime so it didn't matter if there had been 'an accident' with felt pens or biscuit crumbs, or one of the cats or dogs jumped up with muddy paws.. :rotfl:


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Aaargh - just lost the second half of this post. :mad:

Sorry Missrlr will come back later to re-write reply to your comment - must spend some time following your wonderful advice; organising section one of Paperwork Mountain right now - before I run out of brain-power for another day!

debtfreewannabe321

My ds is 4 and around 6 months older than your dgs by the sounds of it! Lol! He's a nightmare honestly. My older son and dd are great and you could take them both into a restaurant at ds2's age. Ah well I suppose there's always one that likes to do as he pleases and not as mummy would like :eek:

I've still not bought the bedspread ...still debating I would just love my room to feel more homely and comfy. Being stuck in army housing everything is magnolia and all we can fit in our room is a bed and one small cupboard so I'm thinking the nice new colourful bedspread will help dh wouldn't agree but he's a man and he knows not about prettiness