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

nuttyp

hi all, its 25 degrees here. Mum is having the day with us today, as my brother and his family had a day planned to go out to. We have been for a pub lunch, returned a top to next from the sale and then exchanged it for another in the correct size. We also popped into john lewis to be nosy at the summer house on display for 3K. We bought a parasol base for £6 in the sale, bargain!! as listed online as £29.99 on the web.


time for a cuppa x

smileyt_2

Hello everyone xxxx. Long time no 'see'. I hope you are all OK - far too much water has flowed under the OS bridge for me to read back and catch up. Can I rejoin the toughie thread, please?

The reason I have been MIA is that, shortly after I rejoined this time last year, my darling sweetheart Tessy died very suddenly. I had to rush her to the emergency vet in the middle of the night, but she had to be pts the next day. It will be her anniversary on 15th August. I'm welling up now just thinking about it. Not a day has gone by when I haven't missed her. Then I had to go through an an appeal hearing for my job, but I wasn't reinstated. It was all a bit much really so I went into hibernation.

So now I have just the one dog, my old man Bruno. He is 16-and-a-half and a bit of a doddery old boot now but he's still hale and hearty for his age.

I'm currently running my own 'business' (in commas because it's not making any money at all) and am getting some Working Tax Credit, which at least keeps me off the dole. I couldn't stand another summer claiming JSA, I would have lost my marbles completely. I'll hopefully be going back to notetaking in September although there are a lot more people competing for hours now. I'm getting some discretionary housing benefit until October (stung by the bedroom tax) but have been informed I won't be allowed to claim again in the future. I'm hoping to avoid having to downsize, am just praying for a Labour Government next time!

I retired from the supported lodgings scheme not long after Tessy died. I had a young lad with me who self-harmed and ended up in A and E more than once and I just couldn't cope with it at the time. I may go back to it in the future, but I'm having a rest for a while now.

So, that's a potted history of the last twelve months. Have I missed anything exciting? I hope at least one of you had won the lottery and retired to live the life of the idle rich!

stiltwalker

Hey smiley - so good to hear from you but so sorry about Tessy - it's 5 1/2 years since my Meg had to be PTS and I still miss her so big hugs, We'd love to have another doggy but TBH at the moment with 2 small ones with disabilities it just isn't possible.


Busy 12 months here - DH gave up work to be full time carer with me, DD done her first full year at school (got 4 expecteds on her early years assessments - way to go little lass), got formal diagnosis for DS (Jouberts, same as DD, but then we all knew that), moved house to forever home that will be adapted for the kids, new car, again for kids - big enough to transport all their gubbins, I forgot to sit on my hands quick enough so am now co-chair of our parent carer forum, got results for my 5th OU module end of last week - another grade 2, so got a 2.1 in the bag with one module to go ........ and breathe!! No lottery win, but as I never remember to put a line on that's no big surprise!! but in general all going well.


Not mentioned the OU result before as playing it cool in RL and it kind of spilled over into forgetting to say here, as poor DH missed by 3 marks and has to retake his exam. Poor beggar did have his exam in the middle of the move though which completely threw him. I'm really made up though as it means all I need to do is pass the last module and I'll have a 2.1 degree which I am major league impressed with, particularly considering everything else that has gone on while I've been doing it.


One week of the summer hols gone already - I do have to say though that I am glad stay and play starts tomorrow - the kids are so much more chilled when they have been there.


Hope you are all keeping well - hugs - Hx

[Deleted User]

Hewo BRUNO, Ize veri gladd vat yure Mumi haz postid er messig ergen, I'ze misde hur annitz nyse tew heer vat yew iz stiw goin stronggg!!! I'ze bin er hotte buoy in awl vis wever an layin atta bak ov ver howse inna shaydey bytttz!!!Howze iyt bin few yew??? Plees gyv yur Mumi er grate byggg SSSLLUUUUURRRRRRRPPPP frum mey, wiv luv frum yer frend DOCKY xxx.

paidinchickens

Smileyt has it been a year already? how time flies.

Prozac was pts three years ago and it still breaks my heart to think of it so your definitely in good company here.

I've been a little spendy over the weekend at garage sales and carboots I think I must have spent around a tenner..........gulp

I've finally got matching bedding to the £2 paint I bought last year for a grand total of £4.50.

PiC x

nuttyp

PIC I can appreciate how you feel, we lost mr ben when I had to have him pts 2 years ago as was april. Nightmare time and I went for counciling for grief. I should be there today, but I have had to cancel what with mum in the state on mind she is in I cant rake up too much at the moment.


Me and OH have finally started to talk, it does cause a few tears from me but some thing need saying.


Today I am helping DD take baby rachet tot he vets for his second jab. Need to ask how long before he can go for his first walk and possibly a play date with another puppy.


Its considerably cooler here today, which is a blessing. The washing mountain has appeared again, it seams that DD has 'found' some clothes that need washing. She is currently sorting them into appropriate loads and then will be doing it herself. At 18 she is more than capable to do it herself. Me, well im having a cuppa and chatting on here!! feel lazy as well.
Take care all x

ivyleaf

smileyt How lovely to see you again, i was thinking of you just last week and wondered how you were getting on. So sorry you've had such a difficult year ((HUGS))

stiltwalker - Congrats :j :beer: Poor OH though I take it he can do a re-sit?

Kidcat - Sorry you've been having a scary time with DS I hope he's continuing to improve now they've worked out what the problem was.

Anyone heard from Fuddle recently? I expect she's madly busy.

I hope monnagran and the Rev are getting on okay - I think it's meant to be their moving day today.

Lunch with brother and sis-in-law went okay - I think he was trying very hard, as he was rather quiet. He was probably more relaxed than last time we saw him as he was in his home country and with family. I did have a migraine as I was so anxious about it, but it cleared that evening. I rested the nest day, as it left me wiped out.

A bit cooler today thank goodness! :j Not that I'm going to be jumping up and down, but you know what I mean.

savingqueen

Morning all,

hope you and DS are ok kidcat?

hello smiley, nice to hear from you again, welcome back

well done stilty! sorry your DH has to resit. you both do so well to be studying side by side, where do you find the time?

ivyleaf - well done for getting through yesterday and glad it went ok. shame you had a migraine though. nice easy day today for you.

PIC - you are great finding bargains!

anyone heard from McCulloch lately? hope you are ok if you are reading.

Cooler today and really appreciate it. Poor DS7 has had terrible trouble sleeping in the heat and nightmares to boot and has kept me awake half the night, last 4 nights in a row. I am running on near empty. Last night he got so upset that he couldn't sleep that I suggested he have a "rest" on the sofa downstairs where it is cooler (sharing bunkbeds isn't the coolest option!) whilst I surfed on PC. It worked. Went back to our bed where DH was snoring like a good un so made myself a makeshift bed on the floor next to DS7 and got some sleep. Went back to bed when DH got up for work and grabbed another couple of hours. I guess just got to get sleep when I can, feels like back to when ours were babies!

Today we need to go shopping, running out of the basics with my temporary low store policy (don't like it) and I have my A voucher to use. Hoping it will be quieter on a Monday though the cooler weather might draw shoppers out.

DH took boys swimming yesterday which was a hit. I had literally not slept all night with DS7 sprawled out asleep in our bed, hadn't the heart to wake him and he is way past the carrying him back to bed stage and has been for years. I took the opportunity to grab a couple of hours. Then he went to one of big 4 to get some bits he needed, catfood and an easy dinner for him to cook, well heat up but I was so tired I didn't care.

Today will no doubt be another quiet one as rain forecast later but I plan to get some outdoor holiday fun in from tomorrow as I haven't done a single thing with the kids so far. Plan is to get up and go out really early to beat the sun and then boys can play at home in the afternoon and I will have a rest and do essential chores. None of us are coping well in the heat!

sorry for boring ramble, only seen DH and kids for days on end and going a little stir crazy!

hugs all round
SQ

[Deleted User]

I went into town on the bus this morning and took a look in Robert Dyas. They have a 2 person GEORGE FORMAN GRILL on offer for £14.99 which seemed to reasonable that I got one. It will be ideal in this hot weather for cooking a steak, chicken breast, gammon steak without having to hover over a hot stovetop or have the oven on and I think that's a reasonable price to pay for a comfortable life!

kidcat

Hi all am popping in to say thank you for all your good wishes. We came home this afternoon and whilst its manic getting organised and sorted, it is incredibly good to be good.

Ds is set up on temporary bed in dining room which is causing some logistical problems but nothing we can't iron out.