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

kidcat

Silvasava I always wondered why families always left meet ups until funerals as well. Its so good you and your friends are arranging a Christmas meet up.

Nurse Maggie my OH would happily eat mince pies every day too, I however couldn't keep up with demand and ditched the practise years ago.
I do find the first mince pie of the year always tastes the best though.

SQ you are being so good with all your school visits, I have visited two last year and that's it. I do have two more to view this next week but I am almost settled in home schooling. I have not seen any evidence that any high school will be a good fit for Ds10 and decided a few weeks back that I want going to stress about it. oh has no idea yet as he hasn't shown any interest in the choice at all.

Nutty first week back is always hard, am sure this week will not be so bad. As for dog I know people who have a special treat toy that they only give doggie when they go out, I also know someone who has spent months gradually increasing the time left from ten seconds upto an hour now. There are a few who have the calm collars as well, which spray something calmy when doggie barks. Having been incredibly lucky I haven't had this issue at all.

My house tonight looks OK, which after a week of being a tip while I tackled DS16 bedroom is a miracle. We have two friends coming for dinner tonight, normally I would have spent all day cooking and cleaning, but decided to order take away which freed up my time for sorting and tidying. It's been worth it as I have got everything done with time to spare.
My parents came today to deliver my birthday present for tomorrow, I was dreading it after the last few years of inappropriate gifts, however this year they have bought a car ornament, it's such a relief both that I don't have to see them tomorrow and that I don't have a huge gift to dispose of. Turns out the neighbour picked it for them as they have been 'far too busy this week!' she always did have excellent taste

[Deleted User]

NUTTYT talk to your vet, they may be able to sell you a pheremone plug that will make Buddy calmer when you leave him or be able to suggest a strategy to make him feel less anxious when he's left on his own. Does he have a cage of his own to sleep in? sometimes the cage is thier 'Safe Place' and they are more settled and happier if left in the cage so leaving the door open for him to be able to sleep in there might help too. Poor little man, I hope he's happier soon, Lyn xxx.

CRANKY40

NuttyP, I know this one. It's an Adaptil collar and an Adaptil plug in that you need. My guide dog puppy walking friend has just been supplies with them for a puppy with separation anxiety. She said it worked amazingly well and after dinner, instead of running round going mad all three of her dogs went back to bed. They both release an appeasing pheromone that mothers naturally produce to their young.

Caterina

Hello all,

Just popping in to say hello after being kindly invited by MrsL (thank you!). I might not be a regular as I am keeping a sort of diary on returning to OS elsewhere in the forum and don't want to duplicate.

But I often lurk here and find all the stories interesting, and I get to know you all better.

Hoping to pop in soon again. Bye for now! xx

savingqueen

Nutty,I know nothing about dogs really but read that puppies often like a soft toy which they sleep with, a bit like a toddler does. Worth a try. Hope he settles soon. No sure it would work if he doesn't want to sleep though!


Hello Caterina, nice to see you over here

I have been doing quick and easy meals lately kidcat to keep on top of things. Once the secondary school stuff out of the way, back to normal. I got the boys' room looking really tidy on Friday - DS10 was very impressed. DS7 had a new friend over and I wanted the room to look nice and tidy. In the end they played in the living room and garden and all the effort I made choosing child friendly food and the friend barely ate a thing!
Still lots I could do house wise but I am getting there and gradually the clutter is decreasing. Can't wait until I can start thinking about decorating... the whole house needs doing.... some hasn't been done since we moved in over 10 years ago!!

hugs nutty re OH's family. Keep well out of it if you can and let them squabble on their own.

I still have several open days and tours left yet - the fun isn't over no siree! plus 2 planned tests and one possible new one. Only doing all of this because the local schools are awful and any parent looking out for their kids in our area does their damndest (is that even a word?!) to get an out of catchment place. I would much rather he could just walk to his nearest school. DS is coping pretty well with it, he has surprised me, I think it has made him more confident but still be glad to get the tests out of the way. He really wants to got to a good school and is prepared to do all this otherwise plans would be different.

ginnyknit

Do Adaptil make them for men? I need something for when Oh is hyper due to his meds - he drives me mad.

[Deleted User]

HELLO CATTIE thank you for joining the family we're very happy to see you petal. It really is nice to have friends join in and get to know us and join in the general banter and warmth that is this collection of souls. I hope you like us well enough to stay even if you can't post often it will be nice to know you're around, Lyn xxx.

GOLDIEGIRL hello to you too pet, I hope you're reading along and getting to know us and feel you'd like to join the family too. We're whacky, giggly, laugh in all the wrong places but above all we're friends and support each other through thick and thin. Like all families we don't always agree all the time but we still care and help each other to cope with the vagaries of life, dip a toe, we'd be very pleased to see you, Lyn xxx.

FairyPrincessk

Morning all,

SQ, I hope you and your DH can sort things out soon. It isn't nice living with all of that tension, and of course you have the school search on top of it all.

Welcome Caterina! I hope you'll join in!

Ginny...:rotfl: Now there is a thought!

Nutty, I hope you find a solution for buddy. I know our vet uses the cat version of the adaptil stuff and Maggie always seems at ease when we go.

Pleased to report that Maggie has not tried to tunnel under the bedroom door in the middle of the night for several nights now. Unfortunately she is doing it when she thinks we should wake up...which is around ten past six. Poor thing doesn't understand weekends I guess.:rotfl:

We're sticking to easy meals at the moment. OH has promised that during his half term he'll double a few things to make some more for the freezer. Like you, Nutty, I sometimes forget that I can't do it all. OH is lovely and always keen to do his share, but it does drive me batty that he seems unable to 'see' what needs to be done. The number of times he has walked into the kitchen while I'm cooking with a pile of dirty dishes in the sink and asked what he can do to help....It must be a special talent.:D Of course he does it happily when asked.

We're still working away on the dresser. It is now ready for painting and wall papering and staining. Not sure when we'll start that, perhaps next weekend depending on what we have on.

I also snaffled a lovely silk dress in the charity shop yesterday. It fits ok, but isn't the sort of thing I would wear very often so I'm hoping to cut it down into something else. I'd like to get a blouse out of it, but still mulling over if that is feasible or not as it is bias cut and patterned. I can definitely use it for a slip or lining though so it won't go to waste. I think I like the plotting as much as the results sometimes.

[Deleted User]

FPK we have an early morning 'cold nose' most days from the Dockling at just after 6 O'clock followed by a 'boing' onto the bed and many slurpy licks and being rubbed with his head. It's very sweet but if Iv'e had a disturbed night it's the last thing I need. He also is incapable of not doing it to whoever is having a lie in if one of us gets up early to make tea. Never mind, we love him really and I know he loves us!!!!!

patentgirl

Morning all
since popping on few weeks ago to say hello not had chance to get back on properly just skim reading now and again, my main reason have been promoted at work which I am not over excited about, I have sort of fell in it to it from couple of days a week just filing now seem to have 3 days of stress not what I wanted at all, pay rise good (which DH is pleased about) have committed to 6 months but not sure it's me. Still 3 more days till back to work so will try not to think about work till then!!

Kidcat intrigued by car ornament?
nursemaggie love mince pies too, I brought some for DD3 went she went back to uni few weeks ago, her favourites too.

Well day of catching up in kitchen , baking, ironing and garden needs an overhaul of cutting back that's my day sorted.