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

the_cake

Pooky - not very inspired I'm afraid but I love cold sausages! Little chipolatas with a mustardy dip, maybe? Mini Scotch eggs?

kidcat

Jem - ((hugs)) you are right camhs are moving at an incredible pace for you. With regard to school - I have faced the same issue last year, a specialist from the council had to go out to school and do a formal risk assessment before school could have him in, then the risk assessment had to be acted upon to make it safe- for us that included an increase of staffing around him to make it that two ASD trained staff had to be outside on the yard at all times, and a variety of other measures.
The main advice CAMHS gave was that if DS was happy at school he wouldnt escape - and its true, a change of teacher and we have a different story.

I suggest looking at why he wants to escape and having school address what they can do to make him enjoy school and want to say, because at the end of the day they can put whatever locks on doors and fences around him, but if he is determined it wont stop him, change the environment and he will stop running

Mrs_Chip

Morning ( is it?)

Pooky - so glad fluffy kitten is doing well. I had to laugh at your post - out cat (poorly old boy) has several breakfasts when he's feeling chipper - I'm often told ' George is on his third breakfast' :rotfl:.

He is currently chomping through a box of Mr M cat fud with gravy. He used to be ultra fussy, but now he seems happy as long as there is lots of gravy. Wilco and Mr M are fine, he turned his nose up at Mr T. As the boxes are only £2.49 it is a blessed relief to be able to buy cheaper food for him.

As for the meaty meal (human) - how about loaded nachos - put the nachos on a heat-proof plate and spread them out . Top with spoonsful of heated beef chilli and I also add spoons of salsa if I have it, even Greek yoghurt. Chopped chilli, red pepper, red or spring onion sweetcorn (anything they will eat really) sprinkled over the top (this can all be prepared in advance) then a good sprinkle of grated cheese. Bung under the grill for a minute to melt the cheese and it's done. Messy but great fun to eat!

fuddle

One of the princesses, I forget sorry. I was only ever on 20mg a day when I had citalopram last year. It was enough to help me but I know from shegarthat citalopram is the 'go to' drug of doctors who start the process, is really quite mild compared to others on the roll and there's other drugs available on the market. Someone PM'd me about No More Panic a forum full of people who suffer with anxiety and depression. There's a section for citalopram so maybe worth a nose. One thing I have noticed these past 3 weeks of eating extremely healthily is that I quit my new course of Cit after a week and have been so happy, stable and have a lot of ooomph. I also take magnesium and B vit supplements as well as cod liver oil and evening primrose, multi vits too. It's working and I'm quite upset that when I went about my not coping with life to the GP I wasn't told 'ooooh lets just take a blood sample, see your stats, see if you're deficient in anything' just 'here, have this drug'. Citalopram was uber great in helping me last year and if you need it, you need and definitely take it! I just think this time round I didn;t really need it and sought to sort meself out a different way. Maybe worth looking at nutrition though, it might give you a bit of a boost.

I didn't at all enjoy the benefits programme. You just can't compare and contrast. I actually felt cross at the workers judging the claimants at times and got very annoyed at the girl in the supermarket banging on about wasting money on 'chicken bones' whole chicken when she could buy fillets cheaper. The woman went on and on to the point where the girl just said I can't do this any more. Bless her, I knew what she was trying to say but she just couldn't form her argument. When you have children I agree, there's meat enough for a few meals in a whole chicken to go round. Buy a few fillets, even though chicken, will not likely get around one meal let alone a few.

I did enjoy the great british budget menu and would love to see a resource produced based upon it. Not a £15.99 BB.C book but a pamphlet, cheap and easily accessible. Off to go look at the recipes on the website in a moment.

Welcome to our new posters

Girls wanted pinapple pizza for tea so knocked up a dough, added mixed herbs to it, smothered in tomato puree, some chopped tomatoes, tinned pineapple chunks and grated cheese.

Mrs_Chip

I wonder if those who suffer from mild depression (down days rather than the horrible deep dark place of full blown depression) might keep a diary of their blue days and what the weather was like? I know it sounds mad, but I really do feel better when I have been able to get some sun and warmth. It is a known fact that daylight/length affects mood - look at the gloomy Scandinavians - and if by keeping a diary it is possible to prove a link then the answer is not necessarily tablets. We are all different and not everyone does well taking medication, and there have been studies that say that some of the benefits anti-depressants give comes from the fact you know you are taking them, not the drug. And you might be right Fuddle, diet may play a part too.

Thankfully I have never had to take ADs, but do know what it is like to feel 'hollow' and have teary days. Luckily I am able to drag myself out of it, but I know a lot find it very hard.

savingqueen

Big hugs to jem and Princess.

Big hello and welcome to our lovely newbies.

Big wave to everyone!

I liked those knitted art things at the beach pops (sorry can't remember what they are called) Thanks for posting. Haven't seen those before, they must put a smile on many people's faces.

Just come home from my last parent volunteer training day. We visited a local women's refuge - got shown around, lots of talks and DVDs etc. It was humbling and inspiring, feelings of deep sadness and anger and also of joy at some of the positive outcomes. I held my emotions together well, able to ask questions but until a DVD came on featuring a young lad talking about his experiences, I couldn't stop the tears then. A lot of us want to do something to help whether by volunteering, donating unwanted clothes, fundraising or whatever. I think the best thing we can do is encourage any of the parents we help to contact the refuge if they are experiencing abuse. We will be allowed to go with the parent for a visit if they would like that. The refuge was such a lovely place and far more homely than I had imagined. Thank goodness for places like that.

I had a friend once with a violent partner whom I tried to get into a refuge etc but she wasn't ready to go. In the end I had to end the friendship as I didn't feel safe with my children being in touch and visiting her house - her partner was involved in dealing drugs and violent. I thought of her today and hope, hope, hope she isn't another statistic and is now living safely away from that man.

Sorry for a long post, needed a safe place, still things on my mind I guess.

Some of us went for a late lunch at a local caf! after to mark the end of the training but also to offload a bit after the training session. I can't get my head round a thing now, just had a coffee at home and will pop into one of my fav supermarkets on way to school for milk and a few fresh bits. Can't even think of what to cook tonight, will just grab some mince and decide later.

big hugs to you all, my toughie friends
sq:)

FairyPrincessk

I have just skim read since this morning, but I wanted to offer hugs to Princess. A/Ds are very complicated and it can take some experimenting to find the right ones for you. A very dear friend of mine is doing very well now, but went through countless medication changes for years--that isn't to say it will take that long to get you feeling better again, but to say that there are LOTS of options out there and three changes is certainly nothing to worry about. I wonder if some of your up and down is also due to all of the recent stress and excitement? It does sound like it is time for you to see your GP again. I wonder if you could ask about some counselling? It might help, particularly if you feel you have no one to talk to. I know the waiting lists can be quite long, but sometimes it helps to do that alongside medication. In any event, there are many, many options left. I know it can feel so dark when something doesn't seem to be working. Big, big hugs.

Jem, I don't have any words to offer except hugs, and possibly a nice long quiet cup of tea. It sounds like you're stretched as far as you can go. It must be so worrying, exhausting and terrifying, but you will find a system that works, hopefully sooner rather than later. Big hugs to you too.

Pooky, I'd think about HM sausage rolls and perhaps cold chipolatas as someone else suggested. I'd also consider something wrapped in bacon...but then my neighbour keeps cooking bacon every afternoon with her windows open. I've resisted so far, but the shop this weekend might get dire if I can't get bacon off the brain:eek:

I've watched the food budgeting programme. For the most part I thought the chefs did a good job of genuinely looking at how difficult it would be--and I liked that they seemed to acknowledge that with time and money constraints it was very difficult. I wish they had done several things differently, but for the most part I just found it heartbreaking. I teach on the topic of poverty so I use the stats day in and day out, but I think I might try to incorporate some stories of people at a more specific level from now on. It really drove home to me just how well off we are to be able to spend between 35-40 pounds a week to feed two adults. It also made me grateful for the skills I have that allow me to truly enjoy my food, even if it is not expensive.

Popperwell

Afternoon All,
Think FairyprincessK has put all I would have said v. well...I appreciate that I am lucky but fear that will change but live for the day as much as possible.

Am grateful for the skills I have and that I can make reasonable meals with v. little.

Agree regarding the AD's too...

For anyone in the lower part of my county(Durham)Arriva have announced a reduction in their bus fares...not before time. Doubt it will be much but it all helps.

Lots of free events this weekend I could go to and the problem is which to attend...music, food and the historic Miners Gala in Durham. Never been to that, its historic and under threat financially so I think though its political that's where I am heading.

Tonight a cheap concert in an ancient church. Favourite live performer. Others are on the bill too...better get dressed and have something to eat(salad and fruit)

I see they are trying to ban packed lunches in schools. Most parents do packed lunches to save money and will the government increase free school meals? The only good thing is there is talk of the reintroduction of domestic science but never has there been the wealth of food information in books, on tv, on radio and the internet.

Good post Fuddle on AD's and that TV programme on benefits...

Take Care...

fuddle

I heard this morning that government want to lobby headteachers to get them to ban packed lunches. Nobody will ban me from sending my children to school with a packed lunch, no one. Seriously, if it came down to it I would Home School I feel that strongly about it. It is possible to send nutritious food to school in lunches, I know I do it daily. I cannot afford the luxury of £80 per month extra on school meals and manage quite nicely using the ingredients I already buy for the household.

I understand that stats about the healthy lunch box but I am not a parent who sends chocolate, sweet and crisps. Too many solutions in society are about blanket bans. Where's the education, the schemes, the expert view, the pamphlets through schools to give tips and ideas, the seminars, the campaigns? That would be too difficult, enable choice, cost money etc non of which we can afford in society these days eh? Rule with the iron rod is far cheaper eh?

See 'em try

Pooky

Thanks for the food suggestions, I had a rummage in the freezer and found a pack of cooking bacon and one lonely chicken breast so I shall make some mini curried chicken and veg pies and a cheese and bacon style pastry too. I'd planned loaded nachos for the teenagers, they'll be playing console games/watching films so can get stuck in. Us card players need one hand for cards, one hand for nibbles! Lol Or in DHs case (as only one arm works well enough), he can pop his cards on his lap trap and stuff things in his face with his good hand.

I've no advice on the anti-d's, I've never had them, Like Mrs C, I get down days but I recognise them and allow myself a wallow for the day. The next day I feel far more chipper and move on. I think that's why I always found the notion of depression hard to understand. No one in my family ever suffered and it didn't touch my life. I now have a really good understanding of how DHs depression drags him in different directions and can spot when he needs to change dosages. We're very frank about it and have a set of trigger words that I can use if he's having a bit of a rant or if he's feeling very low. They remind him to stop and take a step back, I didn't want to be nagging or be seen to critiquing his views in front of friends and family and especially the children so our "trigger words" really work.

Picked up some wine kits in Wilkos today, we normally just make berry wines but these kits had been reduced from £37 to £20. Enough to make 30 bottles and no extras required. Thought they were worth a punt, for around 70p a bottle!