'supporting each other through really tough times'

kidcat

7ww - I second the gas fitter, but if it needs sinking into the worktop you will likely need a kitchen fitter too. I would try to find a gas fitter that cann do electrics too as even gas hobs require electricity for the lighter thingy.


I would guess that wherever you buy from will be able to offer names of people if not have the right people on staff.

As for blogging I began as a diary really, I am really bad at keeping it up though

Pooky

Morning all

DD1 got the job! Woohoo. Great confidence booster for her as her last manager really talked her up. New manager has promised lots of overtime and training and is happy to work her shifts around college and volunteer work. She starts Sunday.

Enterprising soul that she is found a camera in a charity shop yesterday, got it home and cleaned it up (it came with filters and a spare lense, she's keeping those) and she's managed to find a buyer at college for it, nearly doubled her money. Theres a filter in there that would have cost her £15 which is less than she paid for the entire lot.

I managed to get lots of bed linens suitable for patchwork in the charity shops so they're now washed and drying and will be cut (I take all the seams off before I store them) and ironed and ready to store. I got over 25 meters of fabric in various widths for £5. Can't be sniffed at.

@tos assessor came on Wednesday to see DH, didn't have any recording equipment with her so she apologised and left. Honestly beyond a joke now. DH was so stressed I gave him a knock out pill and put him to bed. Now need to compile another complaint letter and speak to our MP yet again (although he's been less than helpful so far). The original form DH sent off is now a year old so the information has changed, tried asking customer services what we do about that but they said they didn't know, helpful lot.

mardatha

I think even the poor sods who work for them haven't a clue what they supposed to be doing cos the govt is firing off all these orders and changes. Rotten firm with rotten bosses.

katieowl_2

A question one of you might be able to help with... I'm running some figures through 'entitled 2' and I'm pretty sure we should get a substantial council tax rebate...but I'm 'loosing' £6 a week because I have a non-dependant (DS20) in the house. He FEELS like a dependant to me...as he's no job or any income :P and I pay all the bills, and feed the blighter, but he's only at college 1 day a week, and not getting any financial support with that either? I've read the options through several times but it's not computing in the little grey cells this morning! It says:

Who counts as a non-dependant
A non-dependant is a person who:
resides with the claimant, and
is over 18, and
is not a partner, or dependant child of the claimant and/or their partner, and
is not liable for paying the rent or pays rent to you as a sub-tenant.
Non-dependants are often people like grown-up sons or daughters and elderly relatives.

So that's a YES DS is over 18 and a non-dependant.

But then it says:

Do you share your home with non-dependants?

A)non-dependants on Pension Credit, or full-time students, or aged under 25 and on Income Support/income-based JSA/income-related ESA (assessment phase), or ignored for other reasons

B)non-dependants on income-related ESA (main phase), or aged 25 or over and on Income Support/income-based JSA/income-related ESA (assessment phase)

C) non-dependants aged 18 or over and on other benefits (e.g. Incapacity Benefit, contributory ESA), or working less than 16 hours per week, or working 16+ hours and gross income under under £124.00 a week

D) non-dependants aged 18+ and working 16+ hours per week:

D1 gross income £124-£182.99 a week
D2 gross income £183-£237.99 a week
D3 gross income £238-£315.99 a week
D4 gross income £316-£393.99 a week
D5 gross income £394 or more a week

So which box would you think I should tick? :mad: Help!


Kate

ginnyknit

I heard somewhere the DWP is in chaos, staff dont know where they are up to and things are not getting dealt with - God help us :mad: cos the government won't. So I am sure Atos will be even more terrible than usual.

I am a blogger and use it as a diary of things and it also keeps my pictures safe.I tend to record what I make and my tiny triumphs - its mostly for me really and though its public I havent had any bad comments except a nasty one about a friend of mine, who swore on her blog, which was pointless as I just told them to s*d off

[Deleted User]

POOKY wonderful news about your DDs job, congratulations to her, and well found with the camera, she's obviously been well trained as an OSer!!!!! Hope you and your poor OH are feeling a bit better after Wednesdays visit, Hugs Lyn xxx.

nuttyp

Morning everyone, no snow here yet, but is slightly colder. I wrote some bits earlier and then i lost it all.... annoying or what.

Sorry to hear about your uncles health kate, warm hus sending your way.

Re pets, we had fish - quite a few of them. It was hard work and fish poo in water sinks like hell....yuck. We had a dog from when DD was 2 until last year when he dies. That was so traumatic, the house was so quiet too. As for the lizard thingys, dont you have to use anti bacterial handwash after doing anything with them as some carry salmonela.

Youngest DD is doing a 2 week work placement at the village primary school. Yesterday she had to take a PE class. She wore her tracksuit she had from competing in the 2011 world tae kwon doe finals in spain. See im very proud, she only took up the sport so she didnt get bullied any more. It stopped as soon as they heard she was learning, not as tho she is lawfully allowed to use it.
Well the class of little ones wanted to know everything, so she did a demonstration and then answered lots of questions. She approached the subject of bullying along with the teacher. She said after the class someone spoke to the teacher, i hope they get things sorted out. Bully's yuck!!! nasty.

OOOOOH its big brother final tonight, i am so likeing rylan - hes so funny. Well i will attempt to watch it at work before i leave. Another late shift and then tomorrow i have work all day. Oh well all money!!

Have just been paid, the first since before christmas, and blimey did we need it. Had to tax the car OH has just bought, it was £215 for the year. See thats what happens when he gets to choose the car, he doesnt look at the cost of tax etc.

Yesterday DIY S0S finished doing a conversion of a bungalow for a disabled girl, her mum and bro n sister. It is only a few miles away from were i live. they were there for nearly 3 weeks. Not sure what they have done, but they put an advert in the local paper and letters tho the doors of the local houses appologising for the distruption in the area. They even had traffic lights in the road to help!! will let you know when its on tv.

Well i must get my tea packed and then go to @ldi on the way to work for some fruit.

Take care x

fuddle

Quick log-in to tell you Timothy shall honk no more... I have internet :j

Also need to tell you that the day after I picked up jalopy the exhaust fell off on the drive (small blessings, it could have been worse) and then the electrics went while in the garage. All fixed and running nicely now. The different garage DH took it too confirmed it was a decent little run-around and had much of the gubbins replaced but the exhaust part was on it's last legs.

Also, applied for 3rd job. In with the little babies within a private nursery.

Called deposit scheme today. The review will be done on Monday so I'm to call on Tuesday to find out what is happening but my account (5 days on from his deadline) still says awaiting landlord evidence. I think he's known right from the word go he didn't stand a chance getting out deposit legally/rightfully/through the rules and tried to wear us down and at times bully us into submission. I may be quiet but I've been through so much financially I have learned to read everything, to know processes and educate myself with rights and wrongs of procedures.

Snowing here and set for a lot of the night.

Eldest has signed up for Judo They are getting friends now and are settled. They both said that they prefer their new school than their old one. I'm so pleased with that.

And the last thing... this is going to sound so daft but - I feel like now I have the internet back I can begin to be frugal/old style again and I have realised I don't have the skills yet, the knowledge etc. Trying to meal plan, find recipes (apart from yorkshires fuddle is canny good at yorkshires ) finding info for different ideas I have or building on my knowledge has been so difficult. The internet maybe a technological tool so far removed from Old Style living as you can possibly get, but so important when you haven't got role models showing you the way.

Did I say a quick post? :rotfl: All is well and looking forward to interacting with you all again, not just post daily updates. See you tonight as I have a hoose to clean

elizabunny

silvasava wrote: »

Woo Hoo for Mrs VP :T:T:T

Elizabunny theres a thread on here for the 5:2 diet. I've been on it for about 3 weeks now & lost about 5lb AND its gone from my 'muffin top' My DH also likes his HM food & cakes - I just dont have a second helping on my non fast days but eat normally but sensible (fasted yesterday & muffins for brekky - yum) I find it fits around my lifestyle with no faffing - found at first it was a bit difficult but no probs now - good luck!

silvasava Thanks for the info on the thread, I will pop across and have a look!:T Well done on losing 5lbs! That's absolutely brilliant:T I downloaded the book to my Kin*le last night to have a read and it's cheaper than buying the book. DH is very enthusiastic, so I think that is going to help me. We are going to have Mondays & Thursdays as our fast days. Not sure we could be that good over the weekends:D

I have made 2 HM loaves of wholemeal bread this morning and a kilo of yoghurt. Plus, I've tidied around a bit and hoovered, unloaded and reloaded the washing machine for washing on the cheap rate tonight. I'm afraid I have been using my drier, because there has been no possbility of drying anything outside and I can't stand wet washing draped over everything (but that's just me -had too many days/weeks/years of that when I didn't have a drier). At least I get to dry everything on the cheap rate:)

Also filled up the birdie feeders, filled up the bunny's hay box and cleared out his sleeping quarters. I have to do that daily because he lives in the house with us and although he is an exceptionally clean and tidy boy, I like to keep everything just right. Now the dog is looking at me as if to say "Why are you sitting around -I need to go for a walk now!"

This afternoon I have to go to the butchers and pop to the SM for shopping and also put some flowers on DM & DDs grave. Just hoping I can get this done before it starts raining/sleeting/snowing. I feel bad if it doesn't look nice and always feel better when I've done it.

(((hugs))) to those who need them

savingqueen

Afternoon all.

I missed reading yesterday and am going through posts backwards (often do this, don't know why:D) so apologies if I miss people etc

Kidcat - so sorry to hear about your uncle. Thinking of you and sending hugs. We are all here for you love.

nuttyp - that fact that you are proud of your daughter shines through - why wouldn't you be, she sounds a fantastic woman.

fuddle - glad you're back here properly (though will miss the typo thingies!) and that the car is fixed up and kids happy at school. Roll on Tues!

eliza - you have been a busy bee!

Today was supposed to be a stay indoors and "clean/tidy all day" day and yes our house does need it, been sorely neglected. I just can't seem to get motivated (scrubbing loos and mopping floors just doesn't do it for me anymore :rotfl:)

I just want to sit in the warm with blankets and eat things I shouldn't! 2 large mugs of coffee and 2 big slices of choc swiss roll have just vanished (and had lunch the hour before )
I've done some bits and chilled a bit (that's important too ) and will divide rest of chores between Sat and Sun. Have an hour left and will whizz round the house in a sec so it looks like I've been busy at least!

More good news - or potential good news any road. I registered an interest in a volunteer scheme months ago and heard no more and forgot about it. Now I just signed up recently for various other courses and lo and behold I get a call yesterday about the volunteer scheme. I'm getting a pack in the post and if I choose to apply, I need to fill in an application form and attend a panel interview (think this will happen before my interview skills course, never mind I'm :cool:.) Thing is there are at least twice the applicants for places so will just have to see what happens. The woman who phoned knows me well and she hinted strongly that if it was up to her, I would have a place but of course these things must be done fairly so I must take my chances same as the next woman(or man.)

It would be a big commitment in lots of ways and then if I get through the training (about half don't pass or drop out) I will have to commit as a volunteer. So excited and scared in equal measure! The scheme is a parent support one - trained volunteer parents support a parent(s) who is struggling in some way eg. money problems, children with extra needs or challenges, feeling overwhelmed or isolated, the list is a long one and we live in a deprived area so life can be tough here at the best of times.

ok enough, sorry I am excited about the above. Must go and sort house. Back later, large cuppas and cakes all round - you all deserve them :coffee: