'supporting each other through really tough times'

Nargleblast

Good morning OS peeps! Lovely and sunny but cool in Nargleland. Day off today so will hit Ald1 this morning to see what bargains are to be had, then expecting big Sainsb's delivery later (such a relief when payday arrives, but it all vanishes too soon on food and bills).

Hope everyone finds at least one ray of sunshine in their lives today.

GreyQueen

Nice to have you back, ginny. Know exactly what you mean about the seaside. Don't know Skeg but the places I've been to in recent years have been Depressing with a capital D. Tat, tat, and more tat. Got to the point where I avoid the coast unless me and the pals can get a ride out to the middle of nowhere (on sea) with a picnic.

Summat straaange is happening outside my window. There seems to be, oh I don't know, wetness? on the pavement and cars. Been dry for so long that I was beginning to forget what it looked like. Weather's grey and overwarm, bit weird.

I'd like a darned good downpour (after I'm in the office, pls) for a few hours so that the lottie gets a good soaking and the plants can get going.

Such a slow start to the season. A few of the tatties planted on Good Friday have breached the surface, but only just. The onion sets planted a week after that have just started to shoot, but not all of them. Sunflowers have germinated. Weeds are managing on neglible precipitation.

I have a nice crop of birds-eye speedwell and red dead nettle which are on a patch of ground which I need to clear. I'm holding back as long as I can as they're beloved of the bees and the red admiral butterflies and there's beggar-all else up there for them to feed on at the moment.

Top tip for anyone who is feeling overwhelmed by an untidy lottie/ garden; do your edges. Such a small thing, but it makes stuff look so much better and improves your morale no end.

Righty, more tea is required. Nursie still hasn't escaped from Heathrow, thanks to my sneaky tip off to Immigration......:p

[Deleted User]

Could you not arrange for Nursie to go into quarrantine GQ? That would surely keep her out of circulation for a while wouldn't it?

nuttyp

morning everyone, Not looking great weather wise this morning. I hope it is going to be nice weather as I have lots of washing to get dry.

Ginneyknit, we go to skeggy for the day and your right everything is just amusement arcades. We walked down the area commonly known as chip pan alley, and there were quite a few empty units.
It is rather commercialised now, which Is a shame. Long gone are the days when kids are happy just digging on the sand and having a picnic. Its what our kids grew up doing, but you don't see many families doing so nowadays.

vjsmum, sorry I forgot your name re the banana bread.

Madartha hope your better today, onwards and upwards.

Softstuff, the toe sounds so painful, It seems that things are expensive over your way as they are here. You probably just get better weather, or at least no snow and sleet.

Today DD has to attend collage for 1 hour, failure to attend these oddly timed lessons means that she will struggle to get a place in September as you need a good attendance record.

Well must get this last bum into gear, have lots to do. Will pop back later, have a good day everyone x

fuddle

Good morning

I managed to catch up on everything from the last few days. From such good news, lovely pics and farmers markets (thanks pops) Greece hols (go monnagran!! ) to the saddest news and despair, and mar, hope you get to kick ME's backside in the coming days.

You may be wondering what I'm doing in here at this time. Well I have appointments today and because I'm not allowed anytime off I have had to call in sick. I won't get paid and feel awful for letting my colleagues down but I need today to put in place a plan for the future. I'm off to council offices soon to talk to family services about childminding and register on the sessions to get the ball rolling. I'm also to call the university admissions after 1pm to talk about routes into peadiatric nursing and also planning to call a distance learning provider about the access course.

I'm struggling with the hours I'm working, I am dealing with guilt about hardly seeing my children of an evening and upset that I work so hard for effectively £2 an hour when you take off costs incurred so I can actually get to work.

The job is getting to me too. I love spending time with children, helping them grow and develop but toughies all I seem to do is behaviour manage or get told off and I'm literally worn out, deflated and no longer enthusiastic.

I'll keep doing the job, absolutely, but not forever and today is the start of getting to grips with the future. I know what I want and I will have to grin and bare it and work hard to get it.

Toughies, you know how fuddle is meant to be driven etc etc. I really feel one just walking out... but I won't. Still feel bad for thinking it though.

[Deleted User]

Morning FUDDLE , if Fuddles are meant to be driven I see you in the back of a Rolls being driven along by a posh Chauffeur .You have given the job a really good go little one and you have nothing at all to feel guilty about. If the hours and working conditions don't suit you then you are very sensible to look at alternatives that will fit better with your commitments and needs at home. I think the future is very important and you need to be in a place where you have some time and energy left to live your own life and not just exist in the left over bits. Good to have you back on here and glad to have you to chat to again, Love Lyn xxx.

kidcat

morning toughies - have been managing a read but not able to reply, sending hugs to all as it seems they are sorely needed across the board.

We have been knee deep in garden work and its coming along nicely - path is dug out and most of the errant flower bed too, today the soil and turf have arrived so its all very exciting:)

alfsmum

Morning all,

Sun trying to peek through here after rain overnight.

Doggies walked, quick tidy round, large vat of veg curry bubbling away, smaller vat of veggie bolognese also bubbling, and rather freestyle broccoli and asparagus soup ready to go. Feeling very virtuous, lots of lovely meals for not too much money but an aching back after all that veg chopping.

Off to earn an honest crust now. Hope Dh will find time to help me on lottie this weekend as there are jobs there I can't manage. Haven't had time to go down for a couple of days so hoping to see signs of life from most recent plantings.

Wishing everyone a good a day as possible, look after yourselves

fuddle

So funny Lyn. I took the first job that was offered but its far away and long hours. I put myself in at the deep end. Im back from council, booked on 2x courses in June. Thankfully they start at 6.30pm. It will be tight (and although I finish at 6pm I don't get out till 6.20 I will have to get permission to leave on the dot. Hope that's not a problem)

I envisage doing that job for at least 6 months, probably more but at least there's a light at the end.

Off I go to catch up on some house work.

kidcat

Fuddle - can I just ask - sorry if its rude - but if you are effectively working for £2 an hour - I assume 35 hrs a week and therefore £70 - are you actually any better off working? I know that if I am really mega busy in a week I dont shop as well so my bill is higher, I dont cook as well so the food use goes up. Then add in the time I dont spend shopping around, and all the other money saving stuff I do - hang out washing not tumble etc - and I would estimate it really adds up.

Is it possible to manage without the money whilst doing your child minder prep? There is lots to be done even before the course, that you could spend time on now and be ready quicker for the minding, IYSWIM.