'supporting each other through really tough times'

Possession

Mine just have school dinner once a week too - always on a Friday since that was their favourite, fish. (However since getting his goldfish DS has sworn he will never eat fish again as it shows disrespect!) Is that not a possibility at your school Fuddle? If it is, they should have given you a menu so that you can choose a day where it's their favourite. Mind you, I can't do a month's packed lunches for £25. DS eats like a horse now. I haven't costed them up, and costs would need to include DH's packed lunch stuff too, but I'm sure it's more than that. : (
The baby bunnies are in the bargain indoor cage, and it's really sweet watching them. They like to sleep on top of the feeding station at the top, and Truffles gets so floppy hanging half off it that she keeps falling off. Why she doesn't move further on I'll never know. Also interesting that though they have the run of the whole extension they mostly stay in the cage.

Pooky

Ss - hope she's on the mend soon, how dreadfully frightening for you all. My FIL had a stroke last year, very minor and he's absolutely fine now (although he's just decided to take early retirement as I think it gave him a shock).

Fuddle - hope its the £30 bill not the higher one. Don't look at it as denying the girls a hot meal, look at it as giving them a healthy, homemade lunch tailored to their requirements. School meals are notoriously naff, at least you know what their eating when you pack it.

My house is all upside down and driving me scatty. New boiler going in next week and all the radiators need new valves so I've had to clear furniture away from them, add to that, that most of my kitchen is packed away and sitting in corners in boxes, I'm trying to paint furniture for when the kitchen is done, airers of washing everywhere, I've just had to empty the airing cupoard for the plumber to put the new boiler in and I've had to move half the stuff in the loft so he can get to tanks etc. My garage is semi empty awaiting delivery of the new kitchen/cooker etc and my conservatory is full of stuff I can't fit anywhere else....arrrrgh!

Taking the girls to the ballet this evening, DH doesn't want to come so I'm trusting him to behave whilst we're out....I did offer to get his Mum and Dad down to baby sit him but he promised to sit still and not fall over....hmmmm.

The_Dragon

Healing thoughts coming to your family SS

savingqueen

silvasava - sending hugs and positive thoughts. keep us posted

sq:)

[Deleted User]

Oh FUDDLE rotten luck with the pot hole, the roads are in a dire state wherever you go, they just haven't been maintained properly for a very long time and patching doesn't last, I so hope it's the £30 and not the £90, will keep everything crossed for you. How lovely of your MIL to give you the laptop, even if it is old, it has to be easier to use than the phone. It's a shame that schools have the 'Hot Dinners Drive' from time to time, it puts undue pressure on the pupils and I'm sure you won't be the only one who can provide them with a lovely packed lunch every day for a quarter the cost. Is it possible to find out what the school menu is from the kitchen? (I remember the menu being on display each week when my girls were at primary level) and perhaps make the same or a similar dish for them each evening during the week, then they would feel the same as thier school pals and perhaps not mind so much taking a packed lunch. Hope you have success with the stupid woman from the agency re your CV, keep your chin up petal, it will all come right in the end, Cheers Lyn xxx.

Peanut2013

Spent the afternoon at my mums while LO slept She showed me how to make a quiche (my favourite) and I didn't realise how cheap it was to make! Will now have that with chips for tea and leftovers for lunch tomorrow

Keeping a close eye this month on our spending, can't believe how much we've already spent! Lol.

Will ensure I post our SOA once I've done a full month of tracking

nuttyp

Silvasava, sending you good vibes, wishing her a speedy recovery.

Have done a bit more painting, and now im pooped. I have painted the damh ceiling 3 times, so now no marks from the mold. All cleaned and sealed before painting. The walls have had 1 coat and need at least another. Then i can start hanging the big canvas my DD got me. It is sad to be excited over a hanging a fresh shower curtain and picture?

OH is work all weekend, as its mothers day and they deliver flowers amongst other things. It is also a great oppertunity to earn overtime pay.

This weekend is free listing on Eb@ y if that helps anyone. I have a lot to list, but need a big shove to get started.

fuddle

Oh Lyn, you are a star! I have looked on the schools website and sure enough there is their menu plan. We went through the list with DD's saying 'you make that, I don't really like that, what happens if there's non of that left and I have to get that?' They like their packed lunches

A knitting question if possible. I'm practicing a row of purl, row of knit etc to make a scarf. The sides of the scarf have turned under and now my scarf looks like a tube! What am I doing wrong? How can I rectify it?

Real dank evening to come. A night of fairy lights on the reeds in the corner and you know what? I might just have a glass of red from my valentines meal (didn't open the wine) after my bath. We're having left over chilli for tea with a fresh batch of rice. Kids want pasta with grated cheese.

OH! I remember I wanted to ask you. Cut and come again lettuce leaves? Do they really just keep growing and growing?

Margaret54

savingqueen Bless your heartx I could be reading about my life with my Mother and sister. I had to make the decision to cut ties long long ago, as my mental health was suffering so badly, with years of being treated differently,( long long story) but it had to be done. I still suffer today at 59 at the emotional damage done to me by my Mother but I have a wonderful dh who is there for me and my children(adults now) I fully understand your feelings. I too used to think on Mother's Day the cards say such nice things but don't fit in with what I know with mine. One day when my children were wee I had bought her a big bouquet of flowers and lovely boxed card, and she said to me the flowers did not go with her d!cor but my sisters were beautiful and hers could stay in the living room, and mine could go in the kitchen "where no one would see them" I could never please the woman, never. One day she did something to hurt me yet again and that was the last straw, and I stopped. I did not take the decision lightly, but wish I had done it years ago. I am a different person these days to then, stronger and would never allow anyone to treat me badly again. I deserved better from her. Take care lovex Margaret

kidcat

Round one of the birthday family negotiations are over - my parents have been, were unimpressed to discover our life has moved on without them! Then when OH needed to collect car from garage, dad offered him a lift - I suggested they drop him off on their way home. They were shocked to say the least.

DD6 asked them to stay for the usual birthday dinner, before they could answer I said oh we arent doing that any more, I am much too busy tonight icing your party cupcakes!! Their face was a picture.

I think they have the message now that they are sidelined, and whilst we will engage with them it will only be on our terms, and maybe just maybe she gets just how upsetting it was to be sidelined by the family for the funeral.

Of course real life has set in for the others now too- she wont see or hear from them again until the next crisis - she never does, until she retired she hadnt seen either of her brothers in at least 6 years. She had not spoke to either, didnt know where the cousins lived or anything. When she retired and she no longer lived and breathed her role at church she started to come with me for visits but still not often - last party one of the brothers held she tried to find an excuse not to go!!

My guess is that she will be very lonely in coming months - and I cant find it in me at this point to feel sorry for her at all.