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

Popperwell

Good to see you on the mend Sunshine:)knees though:(a few of us know about that...

Thanks notjustlaura, yes all sorted again...I had 99% of meds in the house but the AD's had run out and I just could not fit an appointment in with plans/arranged days out but have been back on them for a week now...so hopefully the blip will pass soon...I think it has tbh.

This trip via buses today is like planning an expedition:mad:

Gintotmelinda

Hi all

Just delurking to say need a bit of advice....Daughter's friend has just landed a job in Runcorn and needs advice about good reasonably priced areas to live within commuting distance. Anyone here from that part of the world?

Mrs LW hope the day goes well and that you all have a lovely time.

Pops-have a good day out.

Hugs and kind words to all and have a nice day.

Gintot

floss2

Gintotmelinda wrote: »

Hi all

Just delurking to say need a bit of advice....Daughter's friend has just landed a job in Runcorn and needs advice about good reasonably priced areas to live within commuting distance. Anyone here from that part of the world?...

Whereabouts in Runcorn? Stay on the Runcorn side of the Ship Canal & Mersey, it makes life lots easier!

Sandymoor is nice, but may be a bit pricey, look more on the Warrington sid than Runcorn side of it. Helsby or Frodsham are nice but again Frodsham may be a bit high on price. Dutton/ Stretton/Whitley/Daresbury are very pricey, but lovely rural areas!

Stockton Heath / Grappenhall are very nice, but not cheap. However around Gainsborough Road / Chester Road in Warrington may be better prices, and a bit easier to get to Runcorn without going through Warrington town centre.

Penketh/Sankey/Widnes/St Helens are all over the bridge, which will be chaos over the next few years as they begin to build the new one.

ginnyknit

Mrs LW hope you have a fab time and the weather is kind to you all

Pops are there no trains to where you are going? just a thought that it might work better for you.

Just taken Dd and co to John Lennon airport, well at 4.30 this morning :eek: They are off to Grandad France as they call him. DD's Oh's dad lives in a beautiful village towards Spain - Im terrible at geography- The roads are brilliant at that time and it only takes 40 minutes.Was in Mr T at 6.30 as I was craving egg and bacon and had run out of bacon. Just couldnt stop at the services and pay a fortune for brekkie, its so wrong :rotfl:

Just trying to get a grip on the day now, think a nap is in order, then a big cookup for the freezer. Hope all in pain are having a better day today x

VJsmum

notjustlaura wrote: »

I have a cleaner, VJsmum. They need to be able to get to whatever you want cleaned but your house doesn't need to be presentable. I use my cleaner to do the general cleaning and therefore free up time in which I can declutter, rearrange and make presentable the rest.

Thanks, but really, I can't let anyone see this. I have a couple of weeks until my hours increase and I'm hoping the house will be presentable by Monday.

Popperwell wrote: »

This trip via buses today is like planning an expedition:mad:

It IS an expedition that is part of the fun. I have just had a holiday travelling everywhere by train and, whilst it would have been quicker to fly and / or drive, it was so much nicer by train. The journey is part of it.

I always overhear the most interesting conversations on a bus - once or twice I have missed my stop as I was so intently listening in :rotfl:
Have a great day - and well done you for helping someone out.

So a day of tidying, cleaning, hair, shopping and lunch with my friend. Best get cracking.

alfsmum

POPS, enjoy your day out! You certainly do get about

The sun is coming through here now after another grey start. It seems strange to be going out with the dogs in the dark, we leave the house at 5.30 in almost total darkness , makes me realise how quickly the nights are drawing in. I haven't enjoyed the heat wave at all but shall miss the ease with which the washing dries, not having a constantly muddy floor from dogs/teenagers traipsing in and out, being able to manage without any heating or using the tumble drier (since about April), just pulling on t shirt and cropped trousers for the day rather than worrying about socks, gloves, coats etc.....But I love the changing of the seasons and look forward to the beautiful autumn colours and the rhythms of the year. September always seems like a new start, even though my girls will be at college or Uni rather than school it always feels like the start of a new year. But then, I still find myself clock watching at around three in the afternoon, thinking they will soon need picking up and it's a long time since they needed that :rotfl:

So, next month will be a challenge to reduce spending as far as possible as our income will be somewhat reduced and our outgoings will be increasing (sixty pounds a month bus fare for dd2 to college :eek:), plus dd1 will need help buying books for Uni. I will be trying to use all those packets and jars lurking in the kitchen cupboard and make sure nothing gets wasted but at the same time building up supplies of essentials for the winter, if that makes sense?

Well, enough rambling. Good luck to all those doing last minute back-to-school shopping. BTW, did you see the offer in MSE email about free cinema tickets with a certain brand of notebook? Looked at the notebooks in Mr T, they are good quality, three pounds for a small one and four for the A4 size. Obviously you can buy cheaper but if you get a free cinema ticket, it's probably worth the spend. HTH.

What is the minimum spend on the Aldi vouchers that have been mentioned please and how often do they appear in the paper? Dd1 is very fussy and likes her brands but is a bit of an Aldi convert now she has tried lots of basic her BF's Mum buys. She prefers their crisps and wedges to branded goods and we came out with a good sized shop for under a tender this week.

alfsmum

Re the cinema tickets, think the notebooks are probably on back to school half price or bogof in some places so worth shopping around if you decide it's a good deal for you http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/deals/cheap-cinema-tickets?utm_source=MSE_Newsletter&utm_medium=oneliner-one&utm_term=27-Aug-13&utm_campaign=deals&utm_content=4#notebook .

The half price deal wasn't available in our Mr T yesterday but I will check again as the girls will need more stationery anyway.

Gintotmelinda

Floss thank you so much for the info.

I have e-mailed it to DD in Japan who will pass on to her friend who lives in Taunton atm.

Regards

Gintot

FairyPrincessk

Denise, glad to hear you're doing better!

Alfsmum, Ald! vouchers are one Thursday a month and are £5 off a £40 spend. They also usually have about 8 product specific vouchers, often for the more packaged type things, for example this time there are some ready meals, cheese triangles etc. but most times there is at least one of those that is also helpful.

Right, its another long work day for me, and then the gym. Still waiting to find out if we're going berry picking tomorrow.

Hugs to any who need them, and for those of you away, I hope it is going marvellously!

mcculloch29

Back after my long weekend break and an absence from here.
I loved the Isle of Wight, could waffle on forever about it. Was thinking about the Islanders who post on here and wondering where they were on the Island.
Didn't get the Mirror for the Aldi vouchers, but I still save a small fortune in there anyway.
Need to crack on with work, but will be back later.