The OS Doorstep - a helpful and supportive thread in these tough times

[Deleted User]

Thank you, I'll do that this afternoon when we have our Skype call, he's such a lucky laddie you know, with all of you lovely people wishing him well and sending him so much love, he'll grow into a very sunny little person and I hope return the love he's given to the world in his own little way, hugs to both your littlies too from Zebra, Lyn xxx.

PRINCESSX87

Good to have you back lyn & stilty.

Fuddle, Everywhere is getting the same, I noticed the other day that a white cabbage in mr T’s went from £1.30 (Small enough for 2 adults) to £1.65 over night.

We’re having to tighten up here too. This week wage was very low, Thanks to flooding still near Somerset OH couldn’t work for a few days. Luckily it was just about enough to pay for the bills / debts. At least we’re covered for rent, electric, heating ect. So not all bad. I couldn’t have said this a year ago. A week like this would have pushed us over the edge.

OH is working this morning. Well, Doing odd jobs for family. They normally “give” him money for a drink, Takeaway ect. So that could be put away for emergencies I suppose.

Today, I’m home, Making these pies & pasties. I have cooked all the fillings. Just letting them cool now. I feel totally run down, Maybe due to the lack of “Real” food. So hopefully a nice HM pie should do the trick.

Just pottering along really. It seems my stitches are not dissolving like they should be so, I might need them out (sooner rather than later hopefully) their driving me mad. They have come to the surface of the gum now and are pinching / moving when I talk.

Anyways, The washing just stopped, Better get it out on the line whilst we have some of the round yellow stuff x

savingqueen

Hello doorsteppers,

We also have a beautiful day here, it makes such a massive difference to my mood and I know the same applies for many others. Washing out on the line and another to follow - I still feel joy seeing washing blowing on the line and if I feel stressed I take a couple of minutes to just watch it swaying.

Finally getting a bit of my mojo back lately and was busy for a few days until Thursday when I had to slow down as was exhausted again. Paced myself Friday as well and felt better for it.

Success this week: back to the gym (only 1 visit but still) and various social things including a friend of DS7's over and a friend of mine for lunch and other visits to friends with kids. Got house "good enough" for said visits. Coped calmly with a stressful time in the week when we were running late for something important due to traffic/parking problems. I could feel myself getting panicky as DS9 would have been late and stressed too and managed to calm myself down and keep him calm.

Proud mum for both boys: DS7 had a wobble going into school 2 days and managed to sort himself out before it escalated and had great days. He also copied down wrong maths homework pages for a topic they haven't covered and did it well (with a teeny bit of initial guidance from me.)

DS9 was chosen for a course at a local secondary school as gifted and talented in science. He still insists he is "rubbish" at science. He managed his anxiety going in to a massive school (their primary is a small one for the area) with new faces and came out beaming. I hope the course will boost his confidence and self esteem most of all.

DH is just about coping with the massive stress he is under at work but it is affecting his sleeping. He has a whole weekend of study to do and has been told to write a report (same as all staff) connected to the redundancies and new contracts. Basically they are asking them all to justify their positions dressed up as something else.

Day of chores and homework. Tomorrow DS7 and I off to a film and burger bar birthday treat for a friend's birthday. Just had a call from DS9's friend's mum to invite him to a water park and meal after for friend's birthday so both boys will be happy and DH gets quiet time to study.

back to beds and dishes, later to re-read posts and add my 2penneth

sq

Pooky

Afternoon all,

SQ - I know what you mean about the mood lifting sunshine and watching the washing on the line is one of my "content" moments.

It's been a gorgeous day here after a thick sea fog first thing. I've been digging and weeding, planted all my seeds and generally pottered about. DH is having a bad week so he cheered on from the sidelines and made constructive comments (!)

Had both DDs BFs here last night, we are trying to help DD2's one as he's so miserable with his apprenticeship. He left school with no qualifications and is painfully shy, his Mum just seems to shout at him constantly and hasn't helped him at all. DH sat with him and helped him write a CV (not easy when he's got nothing to put on it) and helped him search for suitable jobs and other apprenticeships. I gave him money for a bus ticket this morning and got DD2 to take him off to all the local garages and drop in a CV in the hope that something will come of it.

I think it's so importent for youngsters to get out there and get some work experience under their belts in any form, my two have done volunteer work in different guises. This poor lad has nothing, no hobbies, no clubs or sports. He's a lovely boy but as he's so painfully shy he needs a bit of hand holding and shoving in the right direction (as well as a bit of parental encouragement).

DH is now shouting at the rugby so I'm off to cook something for dinner (that stretches from the 4 portions planned to the 6 portions I now need!).

mardatha

Seriously SERIOUSLY cheesed off here. Hellish wind screaming and howling and my fabulous new double glazing is singing its head off. Was so bad I thought the roof was coming off earlier - yet no warnings at all!! Heard Stornoway had 90mph gusts. Rain cleared away and nice blue sky but not a chance of getting anything done outside. Am ready to bite somebody honest to god lol

Mrs_Chip

Hi Everyone!

Lovely day here, but quite windy. We had our first 'cuppa up in the garden' of the year, surrounded by lots of tweetling birdies and spring flowers. Hoping that the weather next week will spur me on to get up there and clear the winter's detritis and start with seeds.

Pooky - has he considered volunteering? I know the RVS has what they call an 'intergenerational' project to bring youngsters together with older folk to treach IT skills etc - maybe doing something like that, non-threatening and in a controlled environment would boost his confidence, and it's good for the CV!

Hope eveyone is able to enjoy the weather, Mar, I know you are struggling with ME, feel free to moan if you need too!

mardatha

Very ratty indeed MrsC, not a happy wee Mard at all today lol

Mrs_Chip

Sorry Mar, our posts crossed - didn't realise it is quite so hairy up there!

ginnyknit

Not a lot of fun chez Mar then Its ok here but getting cooler by the minute. Dgs is a ratty little man today despite playing out in the back and front but now he is asleep on the couch so hopefully will wake in a better mood. Oh is still weary but we have cancer clinic in a couple of weeks so am going to ask for help. He has barely been out of bed for months, just a couple of hours here and there.

Going to get a bag of compost tomorrow and start my seedlings. I read about some mini cabbages that you can grow in tubs so may invest in the seeds if I can source them as they never grow in the garden itself.

Pooky

Mrs C - I've mentioned several volunteer positions to him, I shall wear him down eventually

Mar - doesn't seem fair that we had such a lovely day and you're blowing away up there. I've even got a bit of a lobster look going on, didn't realise my face had copped the sun so much.

Ginny - hope the cancer clinic can help, is he just tired or is he in pain too? It's hard work keeping your spirits up when your OH is feeling so rotten, hope DGS mood improves after his nap too x

I've planned an evening star gazing on my swing, I've dug out a couple of blankies, got the chiminea in place with a pile of wood and will sit and enjoy a bit of fresh air.