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

VJsmum

Morning all. DS gone off to school, he seems ok about it - as he is 14, it is sometimes hard to tell

DD in bed as she has one more day, though I am leaving her a few jobs to do, which won't please her and I am off to work very shortly. Found out yesterday that a well regarded colleague is leaving to join a rival university . He is the one member of management I trusted, so I am afraid we might be "doomed" (to be said in your best John Laurie voice)

Still skimming food off the top of the freezer as there is so much in there, I can't get in to see what is in there. Today we are having beef in beer - I have so far spent only £30 on this weeks shop :T as there is so much in. Makes up a little for what I spent on kids stationery yesterday.

I have been reading up and watching some lectures on the horror that it fructose and am trying to find out which products are high in it - especially high fructose corn syrup. I know the obvious fizzy drinks and fruit juice but is anyone up on this as to what might be especially high? I went to France for two weeks, ate what I liked and came back having put on one or two pounds. I went to Wales for one week, didnt especially eat what I wanted (was a little more restrained, but only a little) did more exercise and put on four pounds. French food contains less HFCS - it can't be a coincidence.

Right, I will empty the dishy and poodle off to work, have a nice day all

LOL just seen it says poodle off to work :rotfl: I meant pootle, it would be handy if I could get a poodle to do my work for me

Molly41

Thank you Mrs LW.

Im on day 3 and am sharing with a very eccentric and loud fellow patient. Anyway Im thankful as there are many worse off than me.

Molly is very sad and Poppy is laid by the front door waiting for me. Im going to skype the doggies later but hope it wont confuse them. I stretch out my feet at night and stroke Molly and miss her at night x

mardatha

Son is in hospital waiting for op, he will lose two fingers, middle and ring I think. He phoned last night in a lot of pain although on morphine. Is worried sick about losing his job, and his van is still parked outside his work. Told him if he needs us to do anything we're here.

FairyPrincessk

Oh,Mar! I do hope he can keep his job and have time to recover, that does sound like such a worrying situation. Hugs.

Molly, Hugs to you as well. I'm glad to see you are reading along with us. I hope your roommate is at least entertaining.;)

Mrs LW, welcome back!

Alfsmum, I definitely still have some of my books as reference, although things go out of date in my field very quickly. I do hope at least some of the tips work, although I'm not familiar with the specifics of nursing. I do know that the price of books can be really crippling for those on a budget. I went to a University with a lot of kids whose parents bought them luxury cars for passing their first term. etc, meanwhile I worked part time jobs, accrued a lot of debt and was always trawling for the cheapest used books. Now, when I watch my students I can always tell the ones with a trust fund and the ones who are worried about buying books or buying food. I always do my best to even the playing field where I can, indeed I think it is getting worse not better.

Hugs to anyone else who needs them, and best of luck to those heading off to school or out for driving tests!

Things are picking back up at work, although working from home I'm mostly immune to the day to day things. However, all of our teaching contracts are issues on a term by term as needed basis. This year, we're all worried as we know there will be less to go around. It didn't help matters when yesterday it was announced that three senior teaching positions will now just be allocated without interviews as the permanent staff don't have time. Fortunately I'm not going for any of those as I need to focus on finishing up, but it still doesn't bode well and it makes things more stressful for many of my friends and colleagues who are.

In the mean time, I leave for Stockholm in the middle of next week so I'm trying to finish up my summer work and prepare for that.:eek:

A bit of nice news though, today is our anniversary. We aren't very far in, like some of you, only two years. We're going to splurge on a steak, oven chips and some of that packet pepper sauce. I saved a bottle of fizz that someone gave me for my birthday so we'll open that. Poor OH starts work on Wednesday so I don't think we'll go too crazy.:rotfl:

Right, I think I need a poke around the garden. Courgettes are still going strong and the peppers were, although I don't think they've liked this cooler weather!

Hard_Up_Hester

Mar, how terrible, I'll keep you both in my thoughts and prayers.
Mrs LW, glad Docky's ok.
Fuddle, glad to hear you had a good holiday.
Hester

Pooky

Mar - huge hugs, what a dreadful experience for him.

Ginny - my lip is being bitten silly too at the moment. Lucky DS off to Vegas (baby ) its somewhere I'd love to go to just for the ostentatiousness, I'd just love to see it all.

Mrs LW - fluffy kitten is fine, she's very bouncy, full of purrs and cuddles and no lasting effects from the small bird....yesterday's big fat thrush went down the same route and there was just legs and a head to deal with....she keeps flopping at my feet this morning demanding belly rubs.

Right I've done the hoovering, the ironing, the dusting and the dishwasher, DH has been showered and dressed and I'm now off to work out how to put a concealed zip in a cushion cover for a seat cushion in my 50s chair I've reupholstered. I've only ever done one concealed zip before so I need to refresh my brain.

stiltwalker

DD safely off to school for her first day! She looked so grown up in her uniform and was raring to go, quick kiss for me and DH then straight in to class with her TA.

Hugs to all who need one - sounds like we have a few today -
Molly, good to hear you are doing ok,
Mardy - oh poor DS, hope he's ok and the job situation is ok,
Crossed fingers for the driving test.

Take care all X

fuddle

Mar such awful news. I'm really sorry your son is having to go through this. I hope to goodness it isn't life changing and that he can learn to work and live with the hand he has. Take it easy. It's a big shock

Molly I'm pleased you're recuperating ok. I bet you can't wait to get home to see the pups and to lie in your own bed in your own home. When is that likely to be?

Jem it's a long time and having done it myself I can appreciate what it's like and why you do it. Believe me if it wasn't for crossing the dual carriageway I should be doing it myself but... please treat yourself to the ride in horrible weather. There's nothing more moral defeating then coming home drenched and cold.

alfsmum

Fabulous early morning here. Intense blue grey sky at 5.30 with a thin sliver of sparkly moon and the odd bright star, inky black outlines of trees and rooftops against the sky. By the time we were half way round the dog walk it was light enough to see a low mist lying across the fields. Autumn is definitely on the way!

Very warm now and more warm days forecast tomorrow and Thursday, too hot for me but won't complain as temp due to plummet on Friday with rain coming in.

Dd2 off to second day at college on seven thirty bus, long journey as she doesn't arrive until ten to nine by a roundabout route but so far so good and she is enjoying life.

Mar, terribly sorry about the fingers, I do hope you have better news today.

MRsLW, enjoy being back with your boy.

Hugs and calming thought to all those getting ready for the new term.

nuttyp

Morning everyone, ive been up early and got a few jobs done already. DD had the hospital for 9am, they quarterised one side of her nose - she gets the most horrific nose bleeds that pour for half an hour at a time. He had a look and said that the veins were very enlarged.

She has to return in 5 weeks for the other side to be done and they will then decide if further treatment is needed.

I worked last night, all hectic as usual. Today is my only day off and then the manic work begins again.

My mum is 70 on Thursday, and we have arranged to go for a meal on Saturday. We have invited some of her friends too.

Must get the washing pegged out. take care everyone x and all the children I hope are having a good day at school. x