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

maryb

Ivyleaf, those roadworks are a pain and they keep changing so you never know where to get the bus. I think it will be dangerous as there is no kerb anymore in the bit they have already finished, just a line of darker bricks so there is nothing to stop people wandering into the bit for cars - and conversely nothing to stop the cars wandering into the pedestrians bit if they have to get round a parked van or something. But hey, it looks pretty - until the first time they dig it up

Possession

SQ I was horrified when we finally changed DS's mattress this year. It was 10 yrs old and being on a cabin bed I had never lay on it, but it was dreadful! Poor DS had never once complained.

ivyleaf

maryb wrote: »

Ivyleaf, those roadworks are a pain and they keep changing so you never know where to get the bus. I think it will be dangerous as there is no kerb anymore in the bit they have already finished, just a line of darker bricks so there is nothing to stop people wandering into the bit for cars - and conversely nothing to stop the cars wandering into the pedestrians bit if they have to get round a parked van or something. But hey, it looks pretty - until the first time they dig it up

We have the same thing in our town centre now. It means it's easier for people to cross the straight part of the road, but there's also a (flat) roundabout with "informal crossings" nearby! Everyone's just waiting for a fatal accident.

It also means our son-in-law, who has a Guide dog, can't walk down there on his own any more, as the poor dog is totally confused and keeps trying to lead him into the road as there are fewer people there to get in his way IYSWIM!

monnagran

Have just had a skim through everything I've missed and feel desperate for what some of you are going through. Burtha: you have so much on your plate that I don't know how you are getting from day to day. You need a fanfare of trumpets and a burst of the Hallelujah Chorus just for getting out of bed in the mornings.
Greywitch: I'm throwing a kiss and a lavish bouquet to you too. Welcome, by the way.
Nursemaggie: Don't get me started on the subject of sanctions - we'll be here all night. I told last year of the single mother of three who was sanctioned for a mistake made by the job centre three weeks before Christmas. Fortunately, we got to hear about it and made sure that the family had a Christmas dinner and the children all had presents to open. Her youngest daughter, aged 5, has an ongoing medical condition that involves regular visits to a hospital on the mainland. Recently she was given the date of one of these appointments and later was instructed by the job centre to attend an interview on the same day. She rang them and told them that she was having to take her daughter to an appointment with a hospital consultant on that day and was told that that was a perfectly legitimate reason for not attending the interview. You've guessed what comes next, haven't you? She has been sanctioned for 3 months. She is fighting it like mad but so far with no success. I went to the job centre with the Rev last time, to find out what was going on. I felt quite sorry for the girl we had an interview with. Apparently these decisions are made from someone higher up and the job centre have no say in them. They have to do 'tick-box' reports on the computer and some nameless person makes a decision based on what the computer says. Doesn't help you though, does it?

Well, our trusty plumber is here at the moment - he has almost become one of the family! We've had no hot water for a week now and it's getting beyond a joke. This is a new boiler. The HW situation has been dodgy ever since we moved in. We get about 30 seconds of cold water from the hot tap, followed by 5 seconds of boiling hot water, followed by a couple of minutes of distinctly tepid water and then we start all over again. We could just about cope with that but no hot water at all has been followed by some very hot tempers chez nous. Hopefully we will be better off now although I have just been called upon to provide some old towels so I'm not counting any chickens.

Fuddle: Your pictures are fantastic. Love the cushion and love the fudge even more. I'll be picking your brains because I'd love to be able to post the odd pic on here and haven't the first idea how to set about it.

I'm just going down to see how the plumbing work is progressing.

x

fuddle

monnagran you need an online photo host . Basically speaking you need somewhere to upload your photos and then copy and paste the link. I use photobucket as the IMG (link you need) is to the left of the photo. I copy it from there and paste it into the MSE reply box.

monnagran

Bless you, Oh fount of all knowledge. When I feel stronger I'll have a go.

xxxxxxx

mardatha

Monnagran that sanctions stuff makes me so bloody angry. is there any organisation helping mums like that girl, maybe even for christmas?

savingqueen

We have not long come back from a trip into town that took a whole lot longer than planned, always does with kids in tow! It was also a very mixed experience.

The sad part was we saw a homeless man sitting outside a closed down shop. He looked utterly defeated and distraught, quietly sobbing and it broke my heart to see him. I knelt down for a chat with him and he told me some of his plight. He said he had a place at a hostel quite a way away and they would help with his alcohol dependency there but that was 2 weeks away. He knew of a more local hostel but they won't accept him tonight as he had a drink - I couldn't tell he had, no signs and he said how hard he is trying and how impossible without support and somewhere to stay. I wanted to do something so offered him something to eat and drink which I got. DH wouldn't agree with me but I won't tell him - unless the kids do which is fine. I can't stop thinking about him, he was so gaunt and dirty and worse of all looked completely broken but spoke to me so gently in spite of everything. He thanked me for the coffee and sausage roll and as we left I saw him start crying again. I feel ashamed at myself for every time I have wished for something material. I want to do something but there doesn't seem to be a local shelter, I will ask my friend (a vicar's wife) when I see her if she knows of anywhere. I don't have much money but I could volunteer, ask for donations, there must be something. What a world we live in when some people sleep on the streets and others live in gated communities with luxurious lifestyles, cushioned from harsh realities.

Anyway don't want to end on a sad note. DS7 got his new trainers, fortunately in the sale, they are IMO hideously garish but he loves them and they were the best fit and price. Asked for DS10's trainers to be checked on a whim and his toes are at the end and so ended up buying him a pair too - he is now the same size as me!!

Hair cuts done and odds and ends needed, remembered whilst we were out that DS10's good friend has a birthday tomorrow so got him a card and gift. Once again spent a whole heap more than planned but we had fun for a change as shopping can be stress with the pair of them. I bought a witches hat in the £shop and will use the kids' face paint and a broomstick we have kept from a previous year..... just got to practise my cackle :eek:
Off to make cauli cheese tonight, having with sausages and not sure what else. Lots of the brownies left for pud but DH is banned as they gave him heartburn last night.

kboss2010

It is really sad how some people end up and it must have been really horrible seeing that poor man suffer, at least you spoke to him and gave him hot food and a drink. But I can see why your husband's reluctant to help homeless people.

When I lived in Manchester the city centre was full of homeless beggars who my mum always felt sorry for and gave money to. The thing was, you would see the same people for years and years in the same spot, each time they would give you a completely different sob story so they were clearly lying. They also never seemed to do a thing to help themselves - sold the Big Issue but got their badges pulled for breaking the rules, got places in hostels but constantly got themselves kicked out etc.

Aberdeen is worse. A lot of the "homeless" aren't actually homeless, they just make more money begging than they do working and paying tax. I've sat in traffic watching several of them aggressively refuse food and hot drinks when it's cold and deliberately go back to sitting with their hoods up and heads down looking "sorry" for themselves so that they get more money. I've also been yelled at and followed by people I politely refused to give change to and my friend got attacked in broad daylight by a guy because he wouldn't give him any change.

Trying to find the genuine cases is like looking for a needle in a haystack.

I'd rather give money to homeless charities than give money to beggars.

Rosanna79

Just lost a massive post so running out of time. Ivyleaf Fancy you remembering Henry Hoover! It's almost exactly 3 years ago. He moved in, rehomed himself the day after Jenny died and proceeded as all cats do to take over the house! He's the total centre of attention and a constant source of amusement to us! He's turfed me out of my armchair which is now his bed, despite all the usual cat facilities being available. I now sit on a dining chair but in view of an old whiplash injury and now practising Alexander technique it's very good for me. SQ yes I've popped in many times before and had quite a break from posting (although I lurked) due to a variety of health problems. I keep going and am making the best or retirement. Having been forced to retire due to health problems I really miss fighting people's corners and getting a result. It does not, however stop me from taking an interest in what young parents are dealing with these days and cheering you all from the sidel ines! I'll post at greater length when this stops playing silly beggars with me! I need to get on with the tea. All the best you who're currently struggling and don't let the beggars get you down!