MOOLOO'S Muddling on into 2013

Savvy_sewing

~This evening Biggest of Mooloo popped in, surprising me, with her new chap. They stopped for a cuppa and a chat. He seemed very nice. Mind you he probably thought that I was a total and utter nutter.
I waffled on about my dream to go to Portugal to retire. Well actually just to go for more than a holiday. Possibly to work of course.
However its a pipe dream that I have probably wasted a lot of time on, when I should have been doing something else.
Anyway, I was pleased they had a good weekend, and as long as Biggest is happy then thats fine by me. He certainly treated her well, and she had flowers as well as the Show and a higher end hotel, with breakfast in bed. Now thats the way to go if you ask me.
I am tired, was supposed to have been watching Ripper Street but was on here and so I didnt actually watch it properly.
OH well never mind.
The Police rang me this evening, and wanted to keep up to date, and keep me up to date with the twins and the things that were going on. The friend of DS, the lad from the family from hell, is a concern as he is still at twin2's too much.
The fact that Twin1 still has a lot of youngsters going in to her place, especially as they are distracting from a local "vision" youthclub or something on a Thursday night. He doesnt want the numbers there to drop, that keeps them off the street etc, and that the funding would be in jeopardy apparantly.
I did say that as a mother I would talk to them but I do not have any durisdiction or what ever over them as such. I can only advise them.
I had a worrying discussion about the habits of one of the places that DS is going to more and more, and the police have an ear cocked about the place. Of course I tried to ring DS but he was not answering his phone. I rang home and he had already gone out to meet the Lad from hell, and possibly they were on route to the house of this other person. Not happy bunny, if DS has got involved with drugs I am not going to be happy at all.! After years of trying to keep him on the straight and narrow, if he does get caught up with it. I am not sure I couldnt just disown him!!!. Maybe thats anger talking but you know what i mean.
I am sick of it all, and the dream to go to Portugal seems even more of a WANT that I would love to work towards in the next few years, as I am not fighting and spending all my money, time and strength on my lot to DGD and my own detriment. We deserve our own lives and thats that.

Time for bed. I am really tired all the time. I hate this weather. I get really gloomy.

thistledome

Mooloo wrote: »

Time for bed. I am really tired all the time. I hate this weather. I get really gloomy.

I've noticed that from all your threads, you always feel down in the dumps in the winter. Didn't you used to have one of those special lights that's meant to simulate daylight? I thought you had one in the cottage? Or am I mis-remembering? The cottage seems a very long time ago.

pennib

Sorry you're having a tough winter gloom. My dd and sil love Portugal and would move there in a blink. They are saving so who knows maybe they will meet you there;)

Savvy_sewing

thistledome wrote: »

I've noticed that from all your threads, you always feel down in the dumps in the winter. Didn't you used to have one of those special lights that's meant to simulate daylight? I thought you had one in the cottage? Or am I mis-remembering? The cottage seems a very long time ago.

Well remembered, yes I have one of those lights. The only problem is that somewhere along the line, I have lost the power supply for it. I keep raking through the cupboards and drawers but to no avail. Funnily enough this morning I woke up thinking that perhaps I will have to ask the manufacturers if they sell spares!.
I definietely get the SAD syndrome.:o

Savvy_sewing

pennib wrote: »

Sorry you're having a tough winter gloom. My dd and sil love Portugal and would move there in a blink. They are saving so who knows maybe they will meet you there;)

Alas with all of the studying that I have been doing about the area, its becoming a more distant dream then ever.
Reading the Expat experiences etc although the weather is good, etc, and that the winters are milder then here (sometimes - 2009 was a very wet winter), the economic climate is obviously a huge factor and Portugal has very very few jobs. Working out there would be practically impossible. The Pub/bar/waiting staff are paid terribly low wages, and the work is seasonal. Estate agents get paid on commission only. As there is a surplus of properties, prices are falling and if you get it wrong, you can be stuck out there as you are unable to sell. It can mean properties are on the market for years.
The bueraucracy, is quite frustrating, and the paperwork is endless.
The summer if you go to the algarve, is over run with tourists and it blocks the roads, and the beaches are packed, etc. So going to those sort of places is out. Etc.
So its not all greener on the other side.
Taxes are high, and if you work from home, as I was thinking of doing, you have to pay your taxes approx 20%- 36% it seams, you have to pay High Social Security and that appears to be some €180 a month!
My little sewing work wouldnt really cover that. So I would need to be fairly wealthy to go out there!.
But I can maybe have some extended holidays off season, and satisfy some of my dreams. Who knows.
I am not beaten yet.
The economy may change by the time I am ready to go.
(Oh OK I want to go NOW- run from the family and the stress, but of course its only a dream).

Right I better get off of the laptop, and get ready to go out. I have to collect Twin1 today, she is coming over to see DGD and stopping the night, as I am going out with a friend for thier birthday today. As long as she doesnt cancel on me again.
Molly's daughter did the school run, and is doing the collection this afternoon. She will be here with twin1 while twin1 does the evening meal, so she can keep DGD distracted. Makes it easier for a few hours anyway.

Brighton_belle

Well done Mooloo on the honest reality check on life in Portugal for expats. However, I think you are also on to something to believe it doesn't have to be all or nothing, and there may be something for the future in the idea of extended winter stays for example.
My own experience of health issues limiting some of my choices is that it has still been worth persuing tasters of what I want rather than believing I can have none of it.

Priority job for today is to ring the makers of your SAD lamp to see if out can sort out a connection lead. If you know the lamp makes a differnce to your energy and mood,this is the bedrock for how the rest of the winter will be for you.

minimoneysaver

If you have a Radio Shack or other electrical supply near you, they'll be able to find a supply for your lamp. I'm sure it'll be a standard size.

pennib

I think going for extended out of season breaks is a good idea. My lot went in March/april time the weather was lovely, tourists hadn't arrived and they went for day trip to Spain, they got a really good deal on all inclusive. It's always a very good idea to research before jumping in.
I hope you get your lamp fixed very soon.

Savvy_sewing

I contacted Phillips the maker of my lamp, and was given a different phone number to contact.So as it was late I will have to try today.
I had my back to works interview over the phone. I have to contact the Jobcentre in Wellingborough if I want to do my volunteering as I am on the ESA.
They suggested I contact the Banbury jobcentre to see if they have any courses etc for poeple on ESA to attend, as they are nearer then the Northampton courses etc. So I will just have to see what we can come up with there.
Biggest of mooloo wants me to babysit this evening for a few hours as there is a meeting at her work, which will be from around 5 till 8.30. It means that I will just have to take DGD with me, and she will just have to go to bed as soon as we get back.
I have someone coming to start helping me with the cleaning for an hour or so later today. I have decided that I cannot cope with the behind the scenes cleaning!. Its starting to become an issue for me, that I havent the strength to do it. I sometimes forget that I am not strong enough. Just becuase the mind is willing the body is not!.
I want to gain control of my surroundings but will have to rely on other resources of man power so to speak.(OK woman power).
I went out to dinner on Tuesday, friends birthday. We had a lovely meal, Jamie Olivers in Oxford. But I think my food was a little bit spicier then I am used to so I have had a bit of a stomach trouble yesterday, which was a bit of a problem. It slowed me down completely.
I dont have Molly's daughter this morning, so I better get my clothes on and get DGD to school. Ugg. Got to go out in the cold.
I sewed together the wrist warmers and the turban, that I knitted the other weekend. HOping that that will count as my make of the day really, cos I wasnt into doing much else. I did start to knit another turban while I was watching the TV but I was in bed by 9pm.

Savvy_sewing

Today is my gandson 2's birthday. Alas we cannot do anything to see or contact him. Mum, twin2 has been on the phone, now that we have the fault on the line fixed. She is naturally upset. I have told he to have a wee "prayer or chat to him in her head, and then to try and get on with her day". But its not going to be easy at all for her.
It hasnt helped that the father has just text saying that he hoped she hadnt forgotten "our son"s birthday. Yet he never ever went to see him from the day that the Social removed him. He never tried to go to the sessions that we all went too for the first year or so. Not once did he go and see him. Makes me so angry that he will say that to her, and stir up the emotions more then necessary.

I found the walk to school a nightmare. Luckily I had taken my walking stick, as the paths were treturous. DGD slipped over 3 times on the way. I had her hand, but still twice she still hit the decks. I think that the paths should be salted as well as the roads!.
Dispite an early night, I am feeling rather jaded. I think that I will have a potter around my fabrics etc and see if I can drag up some inspiration to create and take my mind off of the blues.