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

ginnyknit

FP it sounds as if you have given your friend a lot of support and not much back, maybe she will see what you are getting at from the e mail. Her gossipy ways are obviously causing her problems and blaming you is easier than shutting up.

Kidcat, dont you dare feel guilty, your Dd can get the bus, you do enough for everyone without spending Sundays running after her.

Sq well done on the trips out, sounds as if everyone is enjoying them. I wish we could take Dgs out more but he doesnt do events yet but am sure he will enjoy them eventually.

Been out in the garden revolutionizing a big bare patch at the back of the garden, it was hidden between two fences until the LL re-fenced and opened it up for me. I gave myself a budget of £20 and am doing it truly O/S. Its going to be a cottage garden around my apple tree's and so far so good. Have been gifted perrenials by friends and have drilled holes in various buckets and an old bread bin to use as planters. Just need the warm weather to saty for a couple of days to bring everything on a bit.

Hubby has had a few health issues this week since his back injection so I have been housebound much of the time but its been a very productive week in home and garden. Also used up freezer backlog and will be able to re-stock soon.

kidcat

FPK ((hugs)) I have had similar with a friend I thought was really close, but I chose to distance myself a few months back and was working through it. she has this week decided she needs my help with something so is eagerly trying to be close again. My guess is you will find the same, if you distance yourself she will soon be back when she needs you.

Ginny - I hope you DH picks up this week, your garden sounds really good, I have lost impetus with ours

I have managed to get all the ironing done, a big chunk of the washing done and hung out, roast dinner all done, sorted the top landing out and got rid of a chunk of stuff, had a change around in DS10 bedroom and a sort out in the bathroom.
OH has been in touch and he will be home later than first thought, so I am now looking at baths, school prep and bedtime solo again. Oh the joy!

Pooky

FP - I'm having friends issues too - I sympathise.

Ginny - Good luck with the "new" garden - plenty of sun here today, you could have had some. Hope DH is feeling brighter soon.

Kidkat - You're a whirlwind! (hope DH's pay packet is worth all this over time!)

Blimey it's been hot here, bootfair was huge and I picked up a few bargains before retiring back to the car for some aircon! Came home and did a pootle round doing a bit of half hearted tidying, cut the back lawn and had a bit of sweep up before collapsing on the sofa with my crochet for an hour. The heat just zaps me, I wilt and go very grouchy. DH went straight back to bed as soon as we got in with a heat headache and slept through until 3.30pm. DD1 went to work at lunch time and DD2 has spent the day lounging around and has now flaked out in the garden on the swing seat with a book and her ipod......she's very good at being a lazy teenager.

BBQ burgers for tea with a bit of rice and salad, couldn't be faffed to get/make any rolls so they shall have to go without!

savingqueen

((((((((((((((((((Fairy)))))))))))))) I have let lots of friends 'go" over the years as well as the ones that have moved away or just lost touch etc. One friend whom I considered my best friend (and the only one invited to our little wedding ceremony) avoided me for ages and I eventually gave up contact. Then out of the blue years later she got in touch and I was thrilled though a little cautious. Lo and behold before we even got to meet again (and she moved a long way away) the same thing happened. I don't get it and have accepted at long last that our friendship is not meant to be. The good thing about it is that I have opened several other friendships doors since (and closed some more.)

Personally I would leave things be - if the friend gets in touch you can decide what you want to do then. If a friend sent me a nasty email, she would need to do a lot of explaining and a proper apology before I could consider carrying on a friendship. Whatever happens you have lots of friends here and you can make new and decent friends, not easy and it takes time but it can happen. You sound such a lovely person, you deserve friendships that are 2 way relationships.
Well our day didn't go to plan as DS10 was rude to me this morning when asked to do a simple task whilst I organised laundry, dinner, picnic etc. DH got involved and it got very heated with DH and DS shouting, not pleasant and DS is spending the rest of the day until dinner at least in his room. He is never spent that long in there as a punishment but he really went too far today. It didn't feel right doing a big day out after but not fair to keep DS7 in so we went to our local country park for the afternoon and had great fun just the 2 of us.
Right off to finish dinner then its clean bedding on beds, baths all round and school prep before I hopefully flop on the sofa before bed. Try and pop in this eve, see how you lovelies are all doing
sq x

kidcat

SQ its odd how these things spiral sometimes yet others blow over. And I can never pin point what changed. Hopefully a quiet day of reflection will work it's magic.

Pooky the heat zaps me too. I have only achieved today because I had to keep moving otherwise I would have sat down and not got back up. Pay packet will be massive but we will lose much more elsewhere and it will be lost when we need it most as ever.

I am rather stupidly pleased with the top floor today. For over a year it had boxes for dd8 wardrobes stored and looked a mess. Then it was fall out from emptying dd8 room or the living room. And it has been a disgusting mess for so long but today we tackled it and whilst it still needs a good vacuuming it actually looks like a landing again.

paidinchickens

monnagran wrote: »

LYN: DON'T DO IT!! Did you get that? DO NOT DO IT!!!

I had a French Stepmother-in-law who was a nightmare. Don't get me wrong, she was a wonderful woman who did all sorts of unimaginably brave things behind enemy lines during the war but to live with was quite impossible. When Pa-in-law died she came over and spent a month with us. A M O N T H ! It felt like a year! She then told me that she loved me dearly and thought she would sell her house in France and come and live with me.

Darlings. I sold my house and moved into a tiny cottage in the remotest 'off the beaten track' place I could find. Much too small and inconvenient for someone who liked her creature comforts. She was very cross but it worked.
Lyn, I'm not saying you should sell your house but do not put yourself in this position, not even for a week. Get that letter written, honey.

Not much progress on the packing here. I don't understand it. I'm working really hard but every thing looks worse if anything. If only people would leave me alone!

x

Lyn I like this response the best out of all the advice given, I like the subtlety :rotfl:

Pooky wrote: »

Morning all

Lots of solar flare activity lately which will be causing all these headaches....set to ramp up a level or 2 in the next few days too so be warned.

It's a gorgeous looking morning here, lots of little fluffy white clouds over the channel with lots of big cornflower blue swathes. Warm already, I put the washing out about an hour ago and was amazed just how airless it feels. Day 2 of the local towns air show today so lots more planes to see from the garden. Off to a huge bootfair first, need my sunday morning fix!

Started a new "give away" promotion on my site last night, great response so far and lots of lovely ideas for new cuts......my mind is buzzing with creativity.

Have a happy sunday all.

Do solar flares cause headaches? I'm really interested pleaaaase tell me more x

FP I have a friend who was a rather large but bloomin lovely friend and she decided to lose weight. She has done really, really well but she has been moody, mardy, grey, paranoid to the hilt!!!

As in drug withdrawal paranoia, she was the unhappiest I have ever seen her and she thinks everyone is against her.

I'm not saying it is but some people are not meant to diet........ever, ask her husband! could it be the same thing with your friend?

Driveway wars are back on here so in the words of Mrs L, head held high.

PiC x

FairyPrincessk

Evening all,

Thanks for your kind words of wisdom, all of you. I was sure I'd get some here.

Its been a lovely day here. I'm a bit of a hothouse flower myself and love the heat. I just seem to get so much more done when I'm warm, but I feel for all of you who wilt a bit. Perhaps a nice glass of elderflower cordial or lavender lemonade will perk you up.

I've tidied and dusted the lounge and bedroom today, planted a few things, we did the shop this morning, I've made two more blackout sleep masks since our bedroom faces south and no curtains can contain that. I've written my grandmother a letter to post when I post my dad's father's day card. Its so costly to post letters to the states from here but we used to write regularly from the time I was 7 or 8 and I like to do it every now and then anyway. We email a lot more, but nothing beats a letter.

I'm about to make tea now. Its aubergine and halloumi burgers. OH noticed they've started selling Halloumi in Aldi so suggested we make something with it. He didn't like it before and I've never made this recipe, so we'll see. Nevermind, I love it so it won't go to waste!

FairyPrincessk

PIC, you posted as I was writing.

It could be, although she's been losing weight for about a year now and this seems a bit more recent. I think some of it is that she isn't as confident as she tries to make out. She claimed she thought I was judging her the other night and I suspect she means in terms of her clothing. She wore a tight short dress and while it wasn't my cup of tea it looked lovely on her. Normally I'd compliment her clothing specifically but I failed to mention anything the other night and I've wondered since if she took that as 'negative' feedback. Who knows. I can't apologise for things that only happen in her head.

kidcat

PIC I think you must have met my friend! !!!!! Cos you must described her in great detail.

Possession

I sympathise FP, I had something similar years ago with a friend, had no idea (and still have no idea) what I could have done wrong, and eventually gave up but it upset me a lot. In the end I convinced myself it was her loss.
Quite a productive day although I'm knackered now and got very very wet. Did a lot of clearing out of the garage and of DD's room, and a full car load to the recycle centre.
DS cooked dinner - YS shish kebabs in YS pitta with salad and mango chutney dressing. Very nice it was too.