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

[Deleted User]

Hey FUDDLE I bet the grass snake was a lot more scared of you than you were of it love!!! They like to lay in a warm sunny place and next to a concrete garden path would be choice spot to warm up and go hunting for it's dinner. I remember visiting a friend in the country some years ago and sitting watching a couple of them on a very hot day slide into her shallow pond and lay there with thier heads out on the rocks sunbathing it looked like they were nattering, it was lovely to see. They are completely harmless and won't hurt you in any way. The other thing you have down in Dorset are the little sand lizards, we've some in what was heathland here and I've seen them a couple of times when I'm walking Docky, they are less than 3" long and browny coloured and very fast and they skitter across pathways and into the grass to hide, again completely harmless and wonderful to see. If you're near ponds you'll see the Damsel Flies at this time of year and they really are beautiful they are either shiny turquoise blue or red and they lay eggs on vegetation round damp ponds, shine in the sun like jewels, lovely things.

SILVASAVA did you end up at the Meon Hut when you were out on the trike? I get severe envy whenever we drive by and see some of those bikes, oh my, lovely memories of days gone by and people we lost and people we still have, nothing like riding in this weather is there? Lyn xxx.

Floss

boultdj wrote: »

We don't bite to hard in Derbyshire, pity you can't come and join him for the week end, it's our welldressing this one coming up[ we're the 3rd of the season] and most of the village has been out gardening this last couple of day's to make sure we look our best, I will be going down to help[hinder more like] with the board's after work on wensday + thursday[drat! to the course tomorrow]

And finger's crossed ready for your inspection.

Thanks He's staying near Tideswell, we've been there a few times & had some lovely walks so I know he'll be safe!

Gailey great news on the new home, sounds much better for all of you! And well done for being able to help your friend out so well, and to donate to the foodbank too. See we all told you it would all turn out OK in the end!

Ivyleaf Enough sleep isn't a problem but having time after work to do "stuff" is, especially when I have baking orders and when everythings planted at the lottie that needs watering every night!

Right, am staying home for the next hour - next-door has just taken his son out for his first driving lesson so will keep off the roads for a while!

FairyPrincessk

Good point Wondercollie. I'll try to get a bit extra in next time we order her food and I'll also take her into account when we store water. She doesn't drink much, but she does need it.

Fuddle, 70L for two people does seem a lot--I was hoping it would be a bit less here as it is on par with what I stocked in California and that was a desert and quite warm!

silvasava

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

SILVASAVA did you end up at the Meon Hut when you were out on the trike? I get severe envy whenever we drive by and see some of those bikes, oh my, lovely memories of days gone by and people we lost and people we still have, nothing like riding in this weather is there? Lyn xxx.

You mean Loomis where all the bikers congregate! We went through that junction & it was HEAVING with bikes & the layby's were full too. We didn't stop 'cos our route was all planned out with about 20 other bikes. DH goes to Loomis every Tuesday with his bike/trike friends - its like the Last of Summer Wine - :rotfl:

boultdj

Floss wrote: »

Thanks He's staying near Tideswell, we've been there a few times & had some lovely walks so I know he'll be safe!

I know it well, but I prefer the walk's round Bakewell and Matlock Bath, but home town is more famous for the church and it's 800+ year market[also it's the last welldressing of the season]

[Deleted User]

I think my sums are severly out for water storage now I look at them, I was thinking 1 weeks worth when I said 70 litres, it's usually around 5 liters per person per day so 3 days worth would be 30 litres not 70!!! I'm a NIT!!!

FairyPrincessk

Just getting us extra prepared Mrs LW! 30 is a lot more manageable in terms of space. After last night when we had a SM delivery I'm well over half way there! I think I used to keep two gallons a day for three days in california. My flatmate used to get wound up about how much space it took, but I'm sure she would have expected to share had there been an earthquake.;)

Haircut this morning at the academy, which is just as well since I slept terribly and doubt I'll be good for much work. It does take quite a long time there, although I think they're about to graduate so maybe it will be faster this time. Still, they're so very careful and always do a good job. Can't beat that for £6. Hopefully I'll be a bit revived by the time I get home and can really get down to it and make up for my morning off.

Pooky

Morning all


Another bright and sunny morning here although we do have some showers forecast later this evening typically as its DD2's school prom, they really don't want it raining when they're all dressed in their finery.


Ended up in bed by 9pm last night with another heat headache - I seem to suffer more and more with the heat each year. I think I need to go live somewhere snowy.


Chucked together a BBQ last night - just some sausages and a HM burgers with a bit of homegrown salad and some rice, it was very tasty and lovely to eat outside when it had cooled down. We hardly used the BBQ last year but this is the 2nd time already this past 7/10 days. The beauty of it is that there's plenty of leftover sausages and salad to use for tonights meal.


Got to pick DD2 up from school and rush her to the hairdressers for her "prom hair" to be done, then home for a quick tea, do her nails, get her into her dress and get her to her friends so they can all arrive together. I shall go to the town hall and watch them all arrive and go in - it's lovely to see them all dressed up but I'm sure it will be disturbing to see how many oompa-lumpas there will be.

ivyleaf

Hope DD has a lovely time pooky, at the oompa lumpas, I bet there'll be quite a few!

savingqueen

Really struggling today after a good day yesterday. Have so much planned before I collect the kids and I feel completely stuck. I will tidy up a bit and pop to supermarket before I collect the kids, have to get my head together somehow.

Had a text from my sister, such a small thing but it has made me realise that it seems very unlikely now that we will ever heal the rift between me/DH and parents/sister/BIL. My mum wants to send DS9's birthday money directly to him. She always send me a cheque and I choose and wrap a pressie from them. I have offered to open a savings account so he can pay in a cheque from them, what else can I do a few days before his birthday. (He does have a savings account but that is for long term savings and its not to be seen by DS9 otherwise he will want to spend it!) As all birthday and other occasion cards/gifts have now stopped - other than for the children - as well as emails, phone calls, this cheque with a little handwritten note just saying hope you are all well really is the LAST form of communication left for me from my parents. Just typing that is making me cry.

I emailed my mum in January and have had no reply since.

I emailed my sister a couple of weeks ago to suggest we all get together for a meal near us - in the past my sister has offered to drive down to collect kids and take them to their home (where all 4 of them now live) so thought they may say yes.

A meal out would be on neutral territory and not too lengthy. I was hoping we could develop some sort of relationship again, even if just a meal once or twice a year, it would be great for the kids and I thought my sister and parents would jump at the chance after 2 years of not seeing us. DH is so busy and adamant we are not driving even halfways as we always used to visit them and they have purposely made it impossible for us to stay as a family unit with my sister and husband firmly planted there now.

We are meeting up for a similar meal with in-laws end of May - dreading seeing MIL and FIL but will go for DH's sake. it will be the 2nd meal since the last one end of 2013. I know the kids will think about not seeing their other grandparents and auntie whom they were the closest to out of all the relatives. They have stopped asking about seeing my side and even that is telling.

It also my mum's birthday this week and I thought I would get the kids to do a card but not sure this will upset them. What with DS's birthday next week, I am feeling the estrangement completely and utterly and its all a horrible, ugly mess.

Sorry to be doom and gloom, nowhere else to "talk" today with DH at college til late, my good friend on hols and the other with too much on her own plate just now. Oh well at least my dreaded dental check up went well this morning and its over - unless the x-rays deem a return visit.

take care everyone
sq x