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

monnagran

Stilty: Such sad news, I am so sorry. Like the others I pray that your MIL's life now, however short, will be comfortable, peaceful and pain-free. All my thoughts are with you and your family as you will have a difficult few weeks ahead. Lots of love.

Kidcat: What a rotten thing to happen. It does seem that your lovely dog has been spared to spare you. It's so unsettling isn't it?

SQ: Don't worry about finding a friend, in my experience friends find you. Sometimes the most unlikely person can be the one who ends up being a soulmate. It's not easy finding someone who is on the same wavelength as you but they are out there somewhere. In the meantime there's us, and we are not about to let you slip through the net!

Have had a lazyish day today. Made a loaf and some bottom of the fridge soup. It was a bit bland so shoved a spoonful of mint sauce in it which cheered it up no end. Also have some tired looking mushrooms so am thinking mushroom omelette fo tea. Trying to use things up before we go away on Sunday. To hear me talk you'd think we were off for a couple of weeks and it's only four days. I just go into my 'going away' mode where everything has to be just right before I leave the house. The Rev thinks I'm batty - even the oven has to be clean.

Love to you all.

x

ivyleaf

monnagran - It must be lovely, and well worth it, to come back from a holiday to a clean and tidy house. I've never managed it yet :D

Mrs VP Hot pink is lovely, I hope you chose hot pink Probably a bit late now for me to comment though!

Maggie - Is there perhaps a sunny window ledge you could grow your seeds on? (Personally we have only one window ledge in our house, and that faces North so nothing grows very well there as it never gets any sun).

Had a string of bad nights as DH hasn't been sleeping well. I ended up going for a sleep from 4.30-6.00 p.m. We were going to go food shopping this afternoon but I couldn't get my brain to work, and my body didn't seem to keen either so we'll go tomorrow. DH has an appointment at the sleep clinic next week so I hope they can help.

nursemaggie

Monna I used to clean my house top to bottom before I went away on holiday every year but I don't ever remember coming home to a clean house. The kitchen and hall were always full of grass and sand within minutes of getting back and the mountains of washing were everywhere.

I decided 6 years ago it was a waste of time. I still don't know if it is true or not as I have not had a holiday since. The grass and sand will give you the idea what sort of holidays we used to have.

I finally managed to get our housing application in today they admitted there was a fault on the website. We are near the top of the list can start applying for everything 2 bedrooms we are eligible for.

Mrs_Veg_Plot

I did choose the hot pink for my toes but used a colour called quicksand on my fingers as I have a couple of meetings at work tomorrow where hot pink would not be appropriate.
Well I took advantage of a day at home and pampered myself. I have given myself a pedicure, manicure, top to toe body scrub, facial and conditioning hair mask. I had some fab toiletries for Christmas and enjoyed using them today. I am feeling thoroughly pampered. It is rare for me to spend so much time on myself. I also sat and read for an hour.
I' m feeling nice and relaxed and would recommend a bit of pamper time to anyone as a free treat.

camelot1001

stiltwalker I hope you are ok, sending hugs to you all.
monnogran, wishing you a happy and safe trip away. I am another that has to leave the house 'just so'!
savingsqueen, you will find friends in time, one or two good ones are better than loads who aren't there when you need them. I found this out when my DH died - those I seemed to do a lot for were suddenly nowhere to be seen.

We have been burgled once and it was horrid, they were in the house when I got home, things were stacked at the doorway to each room ready for them to be put in a bag (my very expensive gift of a Cath Kidston travel bag to be precise, never to be seen again). Luckily I was in another room when they left, I think there was just one burgler in and the other(s) were in a car along the road.
Anyway, they took all my late Mum's gold jewellery and jewellery belonging to my DD that DH had bought her when he travelled abroad. Never heard if they caught them, Police useless and hope I don't have the misfortune to have this happen again.

On a lighter note, I haven't eaten any rubbish foods for 2 days, I would imagine I will be a size 8 by tomorrow!!!

chickens11

Helen stilty...So sorry to har of the bad news with MIL so sad and very shocking cos its all happened in a few days , no time to take it all in , so sorry....xx
Monnagran...Im like you I cant go away until every bit of house work is done , its so lovely to open your front door after a week away to a fresh clean home...Then all you have to worry about is all the washing to get done and dried......

Sq...Glad your car as got through the MOT , always a worry when its due, I may change my car , ive seen and test drived a lovely car its a Nissan Qashqai , diesel, 4 years old, got 31,000 on the clock .....
I had a test drive , it made my 11 year old car feel like a classic...!!...I have to do 66 mile round trip when I go see OH , ive not rushed in to buy it , I had the drive in it last Friday .....
Nursemaggie...It dont sound too long away and you may have a house then , be lovely if something come up for the spring.....

Ginny....Sorry that your OH had his op cancelled, seem to be too often its happening with lots of us on here......
Nutty.....Glad your little dog is home where he belongs and wrapped up in his little bed , bless him......My Bo is sound asleep in his basket in front of the fire , he love all of the home comforts , I love him dearly as he is my soul mate now OH isnt here anymore , he is so much company for me , and now my feet are coming along nicely ive been able to have a walk every day with Bo .......
Ive got one son who fell from a ladder yesterday while window cleaning and now cant walk on his foot, and the other son was just getting some coal in and he pulled a muscle in his back and is in agony with it , cant believe both boys on the same day :eek:...They both wont go to the drs just yet , and they are hoping they will repair within a few days .......
Cup of drinking chocolate for me then bed by 9 for me...Catch you all later ...Sheila

Softstuff

Ginny, cancelling the op like that just sounds ridiculous, but then it isn't the first time I've heard of it. As regards bread flour, it's higher in gluten so would be great for anything that could use a bit of stretch.... in this house that could include cinnamon rolls, gyoza skins, pizza, calzone, pierogi.

Kezlou, sorry to hear you've been in so much pain. As regards the taxi, I do think you're better off with DS2 being unhappy about it rather than him having to cope with you collapsing. It may take time for him to understand it, but so be it.

I'm not aiming to keep you in suspense SQ and Ivyleaf I promise, it's just I'm not quite sure what's happening yet. As soon as I know I'll let you know one way or the other. Managed 5 hours sleep last night and am no longer in need of caffeine I'm so darned jumpy.

Don't give up on finding a good friend SQ. Took me 36 years to get a BFF and quite accidentally. Have a cake to make for her 50th birthday party, rather a large one for 30 people, and I think as usual I'm overreaching (opera style with joconde edging and chocolate piped butterflies??). I joked to her husband, if it went wrong there'd be a pile of sponge on the very large cakeboard and a bought carton of custard.

Monnagran, I've been known to defrost the freezer before holidays too... there's something niggly about knowing a jobs not done while you're away.

savingqueen

well done you Mrs VP, sounds a perfect day. I bet you keep looking at your toes!

Talking of digits, keeping them all crossed for you on the housing list Maggie.

Good to hear you are able to walk Bo Sheila. I remember when you were so exhausted and poorly and listing all your ailments and ops....you have come a long way.

Kez, you always do the right thing for yourself and your family. Life can't always go just the way we want it for our kids but you are there when they walk in the door, when they go to bed and when they wake up. Don't you forget what a brilliant mum you are.

Thanks for all the encouragement re friends. I am lucky to have a few nice friends including a couple of close ones but the close ones have found another friend each they are now closer to. This is simply because they click better/circumstances more similar (children are friends etc) and I understand and that's ok - they are still my friends as well. However I am definitely missing those really special relationships. With no family support now (other than DH who is good to talk to but at work long hours, often tired and well a bloke!) my friends are my form of family. I feel that eventually everyone I get close to goes away in one way or another. This started in childhood with one set of grandparents moving out of the family home one day and breaking all contact with us. The pattern seems to have continued throughout my life really. I do have my DH and my children and you lovely OS family so I am ok really just find it hard at times. DS8 asked at bedtime for the first time in about a 1 year about seeing my parents. He asked if we would ever see them again. Heartbreaking to hear. I am stuck between the devil and the deep blue sea.

I have been pouring my heart out for the last few days when they are others with far bigger worries. Sorry if I sound insensitive. I just really feel the need to talk and no-one really available other than you wonderful listeners. Thank you.

mcculloch29

Thinking of you, Helen, I so hope that your MIL is in as much comfort as is physically and mentally possible. Both my parents died of forms of cancer, but in both cases the timing was very unexpected; sudden, but peaceful.
Hugs to hero, companion and recovering dogs too.
I have no major worries really atm, but a survey I did tonight asked me about the worst thing that happened to me last year. The June 16th break - in, for sure, was the answer.

shanks77

stiltwalker so sorry to read about your bad news xx
Kidcat pleased your old man still was able to look after you and yours despite his advanced years
Nutty hope the pup recovers quickly but with all that spoiling he may try and milk it for all his worth.
Monna a clean oven for going away? I have no idea what a clean oven looks like I think mine is held together with grease lol
Kez look after yourself a taxi will prove to be less truamatic than a mum who collapses by trying to be perfect. Don't beat yourself up about it
Hugs to anyone else that needs it xxx