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

burtha

hi just quick hi , spent 1 hour writing post that somehow vanished , not impressed ,,will try tomorrow.............

FairyPrincessk

Morning all,

SQ, I'm glad you've had a chance to clear the air a bit. All I can say is try not to worry about things that haven't happened yet. If it is easier to scrape together vouchers then perhaps you might be able to pay the couple next door in vouchers? Or, maybe there is something you can trade. My OH and I are probably more of the 'young couple next door' and we'd be happy to trade baby sitting for the use of next door's lawn mower or similar. Just a thought. I don't think anyone thinks you're making excuses--the more ideas we share the more likely it is you'll find something that works in your circumstances.


Kidcat, I'm glad your son has been able to remain on the course. It still must be stressful for him though!

Well, I did make it do the gym yesterday but only did about half of the workout I would do normally. Don't worry SQ--I'm not one of those no pain no gain types. I go to the gym because I've watched my dad suffer from years of inactivity and poor diet, he is of a different generation and found it difficult to change late in life. I've also watched my mum suffer not being able to help him change it. I was shattered afterwards, but it felt good to be active again. Things are busy at the moment, so I haven't had much time to contemplate the OS. Instead I'm leaning on the preparation and routines set up in quieter times. Tonight's tea is a chicken and leek pie. Both the filling and the pastry are in the freezer, so it is all ready to go.:T

Pooky

Morning all

SQ - We couldn't ever afford to go out and pay for a baby sitter when the girls were little so we didn't go out - we just used to have one night a month that was "our night"....The girls were told I was cooking Daddy a nice dinner - they could help set the table and have a little taste of food whilst it was cooking but then it was our time - they'd have a sleep over in each others room, watching a film or just have an earlier night than normal. As a stay at home Mum and a childminder I didn't have occasion to wear anything other than jeans and a jumper so I asked if for that one night a month we could get dressed up - just to sit at the kitchen table....but it made me feel more grown up and a different person. We didn't talk about the kids, we made an effort to make conversation, make plans, actually talk. We still do it now but not as regularly but we do have evenings together, no tv or computers where we sit at the table with some nibbles and a few games of cards.

I think it's good for the kids to see adults having "adult" time too - I never saw my parents do anything together aside from sit in front of the tv. DD1 made sure that she had a proper "date night" with her BF once a month whilst he was here - it just stops it being quite so "samey" - and whilst samey is nice and comfortable, we all need a bit of excitement and spark now and then.

My AF order should be here in the next half hour - no idea where I'd going to put it all!

Feels really autumnal here today - it's lovely. Have some washing on the line but not sure it'll dry, there's no sun (after a gorgeous sunrise).

Lots of leftover bits and bobs in the fridge to use up for tea - a portion of pasta bake, half a pie from last night, some tuna pasta.....think I'll just plonk it all on the table and let everyone help themselves with a bowl of coleslaw.

silvasava

FP - You've just motivated me to go to the gym today. I was prevaricating & I REALLY need to keep the old muscles & bones in as good a shape as I can. Thank you!

kidcat

FPK well done on managing the gym, my theory is always that a little is better than none at all.

Pooky - good luck with your AF order. We too have done date night type things over the years when babysitters were out of reach.

I am aching all over today, having done the two school runs and then walked to church with DS10 for the school harvest service, then back again my head decided to join my body in protesting So have come home to eat take meds and rest. Tonight I am on swimming duty with the kids as the last two times OH has taken them DS10 has ended up having a massive meltdown and needing dragging from pool.
Turns out (one of the other parents told me) that OH is being very impatient with DS and she thinks he is transferring his stress across. So I am taking swimming back, I hate doing it as I like OH to do stuff with them, and also he is a much more able swimmer than I am. But its vital that DS learns good swimming skills (a high number of autys are involved in drwoning incidents every year) and that he doesnt develop an issue with the pool as he goes with school again soon.

Makes for a very long day, with school pick ups at 3 and 4, then swimming at 5.30 with DD8, race home swap kids and take DS back for 7pm.

Mardatha - did you get your tooth sorted??

fuddle

We never go out together any more and that suits us fine really, although I do yearn to be child free too often :rotfl: I wouldn't dream of leaving the girls with anyone but MIL (and used to be mam) so do take advantage if she's down but other than that we're quite happy doing stuff as a family or individually.

Bit of a disastrous morning here. The afore mentioned girls decided to use too much toilet roll down the toilet so therefore blocking the toilet. DH had to go to work to get a big mop and thick refuse bag to wrap round it and give it a good plunge. Just pleased it didn't cost. Children people have seen the error of their ways - if it cost to fix then they would have lost their bookshop trip at the weekend all in the spirit of learning about consequences and all that.

The milk and bread arrived this morning. I don't know what time, I didn't hear but I looked at 8.20am and there in the cupboard were the goods. I get a free wholemeal loaf next order so will make sure I receive it.

DH is being took out by the rep from work tonight. That means he'll get his tea paid for and we will have pizza.

I intend on having a child free, husband free night in front of bake off and continue crocheting a 100% lambswool chunky scatter cushion cover for my bed.

The sky is heavy and the temperature is icky. Is it naughty to wish for the Indian summer to go?

Pooky

Not naughty at all Fudds - I'm bored of this sticky close feeling. I want to be wearing my boots and jumpers (or a cardi at least) not still wandering around in sandals and t-shirts.

The light's all wrong for the temperature too - it's going to throw a lot of wildlife off track.

AF order all arrived and packed away - lots of lovely nibbly bits put by for the festive season. Managed to crick my neck whilst in the depths of the larder and keep getting pins and needles down both arms and into my hands....tried to do some work but wasn't productive so have been doing a bit of hand sewing instead.

Left over pie and chips for tea...Yum!

[Deleted User]

Music to the ears pet, I long for a frosty morning and a cold nose. Well to be honest I've already got the cold nose, it's stuck on the lurcha but I'd like one of my own!!!

Glad the milk and bread arrived safely, anything to make a busy life a bit easier has to be a good thing.

silvasava

I ache after the gym - but in a good way! DS2 turned of for a cuppa and to ask DH to look at his revering lights on his van as they wern't working. DH managed to isolate the problem but DS is going to have to get an electrician to fix DGD turned up earlier with a dress that the straps keep slipping down on. DM's phrase comes to mind - made with hot needle & burning thread There's a hospice craft shop round the corner from me & its SO useful for the 'odd bits' I found some petersham ribbon to match dress & half a reel of thread to match as well for 80p the lot. The craft shop takes all those odd dress lengths that never got made and ribbons, lace, threads, buttons,zips, sewing books and old patterns - I love seeing all these redundant pieces being used & for a good cause.
Have to get a wriggle on as I'm out tonight & DGD is coming round tomorrow as I've promised I'll finish it for her for the weekend.

chickens11

Hi all , hope you are all doing ok , Ive now got another date for my plantar fasciitis foot operation its 13 October , I just hope it goes ahead this time, im still in agony with it even if I rest it 1 hour or 24 hrs , this pain wont go until its operated on, 3 long years of constant pain, I pray it will go ahead on the 13 th.......
Ive got a hospital appointment tomorrow thats for the lung function clinic, got to be at hospital at 9.10 so I will have to leave home at 8.15 , hope im not waiting too long , as I need to do some shopping after as my supplies are dwindling in the kitchen......
I havent kept up with this thread for 3 days so I will have to go back and have a catch up with whats doing ......
Im dreading this winter as im suffering SAD already , ive just ordered a SAD lamp so hopefully he will give me some relieve , thankfully September has been superb weather we have had sun near on everyday and the temps have been up to 23 degrees , at least having a decent September it will make winter shorter......
Ive got plenty of coal at summer prices in the shed , plus loads of logs , and my gas and electricity is also well in credit , so at least I can afford to heat the home this winter which is a blessing........Im now gonna do a read back and see what everyone is up to .....( was shegar)....sheila