'supporting each other through really tough times'

monnagran

Kidcat: Yes, the Rev's had her op and is now going mad with inactivity.

I, on the other hand, am having a wonderful time as I can get back to some sort of routine. When she is working I never know when or if she'll be back for meals which throws the whole day into chaos. Now she is stuck here and we are eating regularly and I can get other things done as well. I feel quite organised and housewifely.

Stiltwalker: I think the design of modern cars and the obsession manufaturers have with putting everything into sealed units puts a lot of people off trying to do their own maintenance. When I had my first car, a 1935 Austin7 - I'm talking about 50 years ago - I could almost rebuild the engine at the roadside, and often did. Once my boys grew up and got into the car trade I never lifted a bonnet again. I didn't have sons to have to do my own car maintenance.
Of course Santa is a woman........
Men can't pack a bag.
Men wouldn't be caught dead in red velvet.
Men don't answer their mail.
Men aren't interested in stockings unless someone's wearing them.
Men don't think about buying presents until Christmas Eve, when it's too late.

x

ginnyknit

Monnagran, you obviously move in different circles than me, my dearest friend, a large man to say the least, buys my stockings when he buys his - they are cheaper in bulk and we wear the same size :eek: When I used to get changed at his house before we went out he used to stand next to me so he could copy how I did my eye make-up. He is also my tower of strength and a constant source of wonderful Hm cheffy meals, but no I doubt he could change a tyre.

OH used to be a builder, could make anything, fix anything, build anything.... except at home so I taught myself to do it all and am pretty good at most things except plumbing - too many consequences to getting it wrong.

Why oh why has Mr T got only pink Christmas tree's? I just want a simple small green fake tree, Dd is going to get me one tomorrow when she has been to my Mums. On a similair note why did I go to Lidl today to get my steam cleaner when they arent selling them till Monday whoops! I did get a lovely Chicken Tikka sauce for 79p though.

kezlou

I can change a tyre in theory. When we got our first car we didn't have a clue about anything. We changed our first tyre in the middle if a blizzard. After that we learned how to change oil and al sorts. Yep all you tend to see and oh outside armed with a manual and a cuppa figuring out west to do. Since we've got the van we tend to take it to the garage as a lot of the components are electrical.

My partner can do all sorts plastering plumbing tiling bricklaying he gates painting though.

[Deleted User]

Morning all, we have RAIN - yes that much!!!!!! He who knows and his boy have just floated off for their morning perambulation and decided to go inland and not to the river as it's extremely windy and we are expecting a very high tide today which will put the footpath under water. The good news is that it is sooooooo much warmer today I've only had to put on two layers and not the four of the past week or so.

MONNAGRAN - Best wishes to the Rev. for a speedy recovery from the op. hope she is going on well and not in too much discomfort. Look after her and you too, it's easy to forget yourself in all the caring, so make time in your oh so busy schedule for the odd ten minute break and do NOTHING except drink tea or you'll be crocked too!!!!!

FUDDLE - Good luck with the move tomorrow, we'll be thinking of you!

PAH - Hope you are still reading along with us and are keeping yourself warm in all this cold weather. Miss your posts and sending you lots of hugs just to let you know we're still here.

SUNSHINE 4 - Denise, hope you are coming to terms with life again and that the family is coping with the sadness. Sending all of you hugs and happy thoughts and hoping you get the sunshine back into your lives really soon.

Stay dry today everyone and be careful outside in the wind - Monnagran, if I get it wrong and end up on the I.O.W by accident, I'll come and give you a hand, Cheers Lyn xxx.

kidcat

My dad booked me on a basics car maintenance course when I passed my test, as he was determined I would be able to manage. Of course I am usually driving the tank so its all useless as I cant even lift the tyre up never mind anything else.
Its horrible weather today, really dark and dismal, raining, windy and cold.
DD6 is out doing a santa dash with school in the weather and am now regretting not pulling her out.

stiltwalker

Morning all - icy and rainy here, a very bad combo! Got up early to take the car key to the garage for them to sort the car - the kids were most unhappy being dragged out of bed (not literally but anymore 'want lion mummy' and I would have needed to!) DS has so far only attempted to dismantle the bottom branches of the Christmas tree once but he's been strapped into his chair having milk and crumpets most of the morning when he's not been in the pushchair going to and from the garage so I'm sure we'll have plenty more attempts before lunch time - wonder how long I'm going to have the energy to keep putting it back together until we just end up with a tree with bare branches at the bottom!!!

Need to start making my plan of what to do when and put my Christmas shopping order in - reserved the slot when they released them so we're sorted for that, just need to put the real shopping list in. Going to make a batch of Christmas shaped biscuits for DD to take into nursery next week rather than getting individual pressies for her 1 to 1's (she has 2 on different days) as he also gets so much from other staff and don't want to leave them out but equally can't afford to get loads of little pressies.

Got Speech and Language appt this afternoon (garage have promised car will be ready) - after how much language and signing we've had over the last couple of weeks I'm expecting to watch DD remain entirely silent and not sign anything while we are there!!!

Right off to do something useful! Stay safe and watch out for ice if you need to go out fellow toughies. X

savingqueen

Hello toughies!

Still a poorly household here. DS6 been off school all week and today DS8's cold and cough combo got the better of him so he is off too. Hoping they will be both back to school Mon - I want to get all the pressies out and wrap them and see what's what with their stockings - suspect will need another shopping trip to complete them. Also need to get Xmas food in and my freezer is still hungry for food, think I will have to fill some tubs with water today to plug some of the empty space at least. Oh and I still have my cold since last Sat but at least I am indoors in the warm.

On a more positive note.... have finally got all the pressies :j(except a tiny something for DH, a little gift for my friend's son and probably more stocking fillers but they are easy enough.)

and feel mightily relieved. DH worked from home yesterday so left him to it (juggling work and looking after a poorly DS6) to collect several reserved bits and everything else on list was.... shock horror.... on the shelves! Plus no long queues at checkouts, for loo, for cafe (I celebrated end of trip with a naughty cuppa and mince pie) and spaces in 2 different car parks - definitely a first for this time of year. I wonder if people are shopping around so much that bought things early or have made a lot of gifts or just cut down. Probably a combo of all three. In any case I was very grateful it was a satisfying and fairly stress free experience.

While I was out shopping I get a text to say a click and collect item was ready in the store (earlier than advised) .... just as I walking past the shop. Then in the eve I was checking books delivery (for pressies) and at the same time the doorbell went and it was the books package!

right better go and hang washing up, full-time job keeping up with it and getting it dry and see what my snotty monsters are up to... its too quiet upstairs

hope everyone's doing ok... try and check back later and catch up on posts a bit

take care
sq:)

savingqueen

Kezlou and nutty - how are both today? Hope you're ok?

sq:)

nuttyp

Morning everyone, have just got back from mr T, only went as i had money off coupons!! Next week will have to get the basics at mr S as i have coupons for there next week.

On the note of punctures, my OH has stopped on an exit from a motorway in his van to help a very distreessed lady with 2 small kids. (this was at the beginning of the week) They were sat huddled on the verge away from the car, and it had just started raining. They didnt have any roadside cover so were waiting for a friend. OH managed to changed the wheel, after a long hunt for the locking wheel nut key!! He said she was so grateful, and and offered him £10. He refused any money as he said she should treat her kids. Bless him!! She said she was going to ring his employer to say he was very nice - I hope she does.

Well i have 1 gift to get and thats it im done. For the first time in nearly 20 years we are exchanging small gifts between me and OH. I have got him a new dressing gown, nothing expensive or flash but it is very warm. We have never had any spare cash, we dont have that much now either, but we have decided we should this year.

Well i must get organised as ihave work in a bit, cant be late like yesterday. Only 2 minutes but i try to be early. Stay safe and warm everyone. x

nuttyp

Hi savingqueen, not as bad today!! Had to buy 2 prescriptions but thankfully it seams to be helping. One is an antibiotic cream as its in that area :-( I have drank lots of water too....

Hope your ok too, stay in the warm as its bitterly cold and really raining here.