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

kidcat

Thank you ladies
Had the job of telling DS10 today, and it turns out to be really hard dealing with an auty and human mortality, there was alot of but are you sure comments, followed by but did you check, then but can you not fix him. We finally got through the definiteness of it all and then had the whole issue of his friend being sad at losing daddy, issues around stuff that will have to change at school (he ran IT at school) and the whole heaven discussion again, which brought such gems as ooh mum we will have to help them find a new daddy, I'll write a list what he needs and you can find one!!! Or oooh heaven is amazing though so its probably really good thats hes there now - we can wish for them to get there soon then!!!!
After many questions and deliberations we have I hope fixed it in his mind however we are now faced with the terror settling in that one of us will just disappear so we have velcro boy back, and of course the slightest cough or sneeze is warranting a full inspection, interrogation and discussion on the need for an ambulance!!!
I am exhausted and have a migraine. I am hoping that school can cope with this tomorrow, but I very much fear this is end game for us and school this year, losing their colleague will be hard enough without the addition of these sorts of questions and debates.

Ginny - ouch for the nose, hope your eyes settle soon

Nutty - methinks puppy was missing you! Good luck with the vetty person tomorrow.

mardatha

Kidcat are your kids still at school?? Ours broke up end of June.

[Deleted User]

MAR in England the school holidays don't start until the end of July and it's usually 6 weeks and back again in early September.

Pooky

Kidkat - Hopefully school can cope, sounds like you could do with a bit of time to yourself before the holidays start.

Heartbreak over - they're back together - sigh - teenagers are hard work sometimes.

The sun finally broke through and it's drying up nicely here - managed to get some washing dry at last! It's been so muggy and damp that nothing was drying even after 3 days - typically as I put it on the line I remembered we brought a dehumidifier last year - doh!!

DD1 is off to the South of France with 4 others on Friday night - they're driving down to her BF's family home down there, a proper road trip for them all lanky teenagers squished into a little fiesta - it will be an adventure - BF's mum is trying to get someone to go turn the water on for them or they might be living a bit "rough" for the week. I tried to discuss the need for a bag of basic items to take with them like washing up liquid, loo rolls, tea towels, bin bags but they all muttered under their breath that they'll "deal with when they're there".....it's going to be a steep learning curve! Great fun for them all though before they all go their separate ways for Uni.

kidcat

Oh pooky they have so much to learn

Yes Mar we have a week and a half to go yet, am waiting to see how things go tomorrow, but have begun to clear my diary to enable me to be at school of need be. There are a number of things I could probably cover for them as they will be reeling from losing a valued staff member who was very involved in the whole school life.
We have also had a date for DS16 operation, its the day the kids break up from school, which falls really well for us in the most but means the holiday I had planned for first week in August won't go ahead.
Its ideal in that it will mean he is back on his feet for college.

savingqueen

Hi folks

So sorry to hear your sad news kidcat, how awful. I hope you all manage at school ok. Good you have DS16's op, shame about the holiday but great it fits in with starting at college. Hope your migraine has gone - please be kind to yourself, not that you shouldn't always be but.....

Ouch Ginny - your poor nose AND 2 black eyes. You don't do things by half do you? Another one to take it easy....

And nutty - another one to have take things a bit easier. Every day off or holiday you are like a whirlwind.... everyone needs to chill sometimes - including you!

How are you burtha?

Glad young love has been restored Pooky.

I don't know where the weekend has gone, though a chunk of it was taken up with cooking, masses of washing up, laundry and everyday chores. Spent a little time with DS10 studying, took DS7 to a party (and had to stay) and little bit more decluttering - still a load to go but a few small gaps appearing in random places like under our bed.

Boys have given me a long list of teaching staff they want to give a little gift to - not only regular teacher and TA but others who come in certain times of week, dinner ladies, gardening club leaders. I haven't the heart to say no and had intended to bake but I have some important stuff to do this week and need to declutter so have somehow cobbled together about 13 very small gifts plus found 2 suitable pressies for 2 of my friends' birthdays - we only give little gifts. Some of the gifts are broken down from big toiletry sets given to me and rest are bits stashed away from sales. I am buying no more for school gifts from now on all will be handmade or baked with the kids, much more personal, cheaper and less storage room needed.

off to settle DS7, this hot weather keeps him awake
sq

kidcat

Oh SQ thanks for the reminder. I will need to organise 15 teacher gifts this year and have alot less time to do it in. If anyone has any bright quick ideas on what I can make this year I would be very grateful.

stiltwalker

Probably only applies to our sort of school - ie small village primary - but I've decided that as so many of the staff have supported and helped DD in so many different ways this year that instead of doing presents I've done a whole platter of tapas/nibbles stuff - olives, cheese, chorizo/cold meats, nice crackers/biscuits, sundried tomatoes etc and am taking it into school tomorrow at the start of the last week of term so staff can have treats in the staff room. DD will do something individual for the TA who is leaving but that'll be a HM crafty thing, probably a mousemat or coaster she can draw something really personal for - X

shegar

Children break up here July 23 rd, and go back around 5 september......

Had some really heavy rainfall here this arvo, lovely and fresh , its still so muggy and have all doors open , and its 9.05 pm.......The garden needed it ,
I jet washed the front drive this morning , its come up nice and clean , needed doing badly, at least with the jet wash it also removes the little weeds that are just coming through the blocks.......

GINNYKNIT....Hope the black eyes arnt too black, so painful when the snout gets hit, I know I had my broken a few weeks back......

My depression is lifting slowly thank god ......
Cant believe how quick this year seems to be going...I went in to B&Q today as I needed some floor varnish , 2.5 litres Ronseal was £42.99....:eek:.The last time I bought the same tin was £24.99 and that was last year , my god how paints go up at huge leaps , no wonder the place was very quiet with only few people about , I dont know how they keep in business , as there seem to be no end of DIY shops about, I dare say that I could have bought a cheaper brand , but I dont believe in cutting corners on paint , its a false economy , at least with good brands they cover better.....It will do 2 floors so I suppose £21 per room is not too bad.......

Thank god the world cup will be over tonight , getting sick of it on the tv everynight, its on BBC 1 and ITV tonight.....
Nothing much to say , apart from goodnight all, sheila

Possession

TBH I think everyone would understand if you didn't do gifts this year , Kidcat, but if the kids are going to insist why not bake a big batch of cookies and put some in a bag tied with a ribbon. At least that's just one baking session.
Pooky glad all is well again in love's young dream.
We've had an interesting weekend, had booked someone to housesit while we are away and I met her on Wednesday. She had been recommended by someone on Facebook, and used to live here. Anyway she seemed OK but very scatty so I was having 2nd thoughts. Then on Friday the police turn up at 9pm because she has apparently been missing since Wednesday and they didn't want to say but from little snippets I got that she must have mental health issues which mean people are worried about her. Unfortunately I am not going to make her life any better because I definitely don't consider her reliable enough to housesit now, but I do hope she's OK. She hasn't seen my message on Facebook so I have no idea if she has resurfaced or not, and I don't suppose the police will contact me to tell me either way. I wonder if they will give out that information if I call 101? I have managed to make other arrangements for the animals but I do feel bad as I get the impression she really needed the money. However I'm not prepared to have someone housesit that I can't rely on absolutely. I was having enough problems reconciling myself to the idea as it was!