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

Pinkdebster

Hi everyone

It's very wet down here in Dorset today - grey, dull and lots of rain. I keep thinking about that beautiful sunshine in Turkey.........

On the subject of Dorset, if I can offer any advice about Dorset Fuddle please just give me a shout. I live in Bournemouth but spend a lot of time along the Jurassic coast so can probably tell you what most areas are like.

Sewing........I should just mention that I have/had a real phobia of sewing machines - when I was at school, one of my friends hit the peddle when my finger was in the way and needle went right through my finger - I have/had refused to use one since. So I was very apprehensive when I went to the course last night. My other half bought me a sewing machine for my birthday in March and it was still sat in its box so I was determined to conquer my fear.

The course went really well and I ended up making a needle case - something sooooo simple and yet I had a massive smile on my face and such a sense of achievement. And today I have opened up my own machine, threaded it and repeated the process. It really is the little things in life that make the difference.............

We are really struggling financially at the moment so I'm going to make my first trip to Aldi tomorrow..........we spend so much on shopping (considering I can't actually eat!!) that we need to start economising. Is it tomorrow that the vouchers are in the paper?

Hope you are having a good (and dry!) day - love and hugs to everyone xx

jem132

Good luck sq hugs

Fuddle I am excited for you its everything you and your family want you will be fine keep busy that's what I do when I feel crapy and funny.

Love to all its raining still hope there's no flooding keep safe all xx

jem132

Good luck sq hugs

Fuddle I am excited for you its everything you and your family want you will be fine keep busy that's what I do when I feel crapy and funny.

Love to all its raining still hope there's no flooding keep safe all xx

ArthriticOldThing

SQ, I'm sending you lots of (((hugs))). Will be thinking of you this evening.

KatieOwl, couldn't agree with you more about the benefit system. Have thought for a while that we are going back to the time when it was a crime to be poor or unemployed.:mad::mad::mad: I get so angry that I lose the ability to be articulate.

Hope you are ok after your stumble pops and not too bruised. It's so embarrassing though when it happens in public.

I'll add my best wishes for your move to go well fuddle.

Pinkdebster am glad you overcame the fear and got sewing.

Well this morning was my shift in our church charity shop. I went down with one shopping trolley and two bags full from my continuing clear out. Had an enjoyable time but came home with my trolley full again, plus a small computer desk to use as a sewing/craft table.:eek::eek: I'll never get the flat de-cluttered at this rate.

Also had another box full of Christmas stuff for my stall at our church Christmas fair. It'll be time for me to move out and live in a tent soon.:rotfl:

Am now off to see where can store desk til have proper place for it!

fuddle

I've missed that you had a fall pops, really sorry to hear that. Hope you're ok and it's not dinted your confidence.

Thank you for the well wishes. Pinkdebter you're going to wish you never offered - you're about to be interrogated!

floss2

taurusgb wrote: »

Such a lot going on for members on the thread, and most of it hard, sad, or just plain infuriating. Not had time to read all posts up to date but my heart goes out to those of you sufferring for whatever reason.

Haven't had time to read as have been writing instead - furious emails to our County Council. Some idiot has taken it into his head that we adults of the town have a death wish or are just plain crazy or half witted. We have a recycling depot 2 minutes walk from the edge of our small town and the PTB have decided that the good townsfolk will no longer be allowed to carry their rubbish there on foot. Nor will we be able to have a mooch round the recycling shop on site unless we arrive by car.

The fact that not everyone has a car apparantly does not matter. The PTB say it is for our own good, if people are allowed to walk around on their own we might get hurt. And what's more anyone that gets hurt might sue the council. I have asked what steps they have put in place to protect the car drivers that are silly enough to leave their vehicle to deposit their ruubish in the various skips, recycling shop etc. but am still awaiting a reply..... Maybe they're protected by the recycling depot fairy in a way that someone who walks in off the street to deposit their unwanted items is not.

Have a look on Google Earth at Blackpool's HWRC at Bristol Avenue - lots of coned-off walkways for pedestrians.... PM me if you want any more info to support your letters to the PTB

Popperwell

Thanks for the good wishes over my fall...it was funny in one way...in slow motion and gentle I kind of crumpled onto my back and was not in a position to take the rucksack off and at the same time it acted as a cushion. I had to roll onto my front.

At that late hour the aisle I was in was empty but for myself.

Am I a scrooge? My heart is in the right place. I am a sucker for all the sugary sweet programmes and stories associated with Christmas, Santa Claus, Pantomime and also the real reason behind it. I think I will again attend the late Christmas service at the church(I wonder why I seem oblivious to danger walking alone at such late hours)

The family orientated image Christmas is given in the media(even if for many it is stressful time and nothing like the image that we are supposed to live up to)and trying to keep it special for children.

Even the media does less to make it special and its just a holiday for many and the media seems scared of upsetting those who do not believe or are of a different religious persuasion.

I love the sparkly decorations and yet...living alone I have no intention of buying or putting up a Christmas tree/lights/decorations myself.

I am determined to make a Christmas meal this year, it didn't happen last year as planned. The music club will have a buffet and show a few days before. The same week the bingo club I now go to will have a Christmas Dinner at a local pub with some entertainment so that will get me amongst people even if you return home alone. It can be a happy but sad time for many and probably is a nostalgic fest for many of times gone by.

But in November in memory of Mum and myself I will start to play all my Christmas music, I have so much of it and so many different versions so you don't tire of hearing the same arrangements and singers. I'll stick it on shuffle and let it go...

So not totally a Scrooge?

bluebag

Popperwell wrote: »

Lots to catch up on. Don't apologise SQ, we all have our fears and need support, financially, emotionally and physically. Nothing shocks/embarrasses me.

I may be single and male but there will always be times its appropriate for me to leave you all to discuss and advise from personal experience(but still I know a fair bit of what goes on from what I have witnessed/heard directly and what is talked about in the media.

Heck...I often hear Woman's Hour:)and men have their problems too. Often the mistake we make is that men don't open up enough.

A problem shared is always easier to bear, I am a great believer in a good old moan personally. ( much to my families eye rolling) I know I'm getting over stuff when I am even sick of my moaning.

BTW Good stuff that Durham do, love that re-enactment stuff, looks like you had great weather for it too.

bluebag

gailey wrote: »

Thanks just weathers bit glum, we been no where, keeping spending to essentials only so, tired so today just been lazy mope day whilst constant tidying of 2year old and 4year old.

husbands fed up being off.

Feels like way we living now in alternate universe.

We live in affluent area and don't know anyone in similar dire situation as us.

I know it will get better.

taking one day at a time felt positive and energetic on weekend
today and yesterday just back to weekly grind of school runs, cooking and housework. nothing to look forward to this week not seeing family or freinds and no party to attend.

Have long list things we need to buy.

Also xmas be here soon enough.

suppost to look around primary schools for no 2 this term.

I know we would be worse off. just need a good sleep and enjoyable hobby take my mind off things.

Hon, I can sympathize with you 100% I used to feel exactly as you do, that somehow I wasn't doing things right,my mates seemed to be doing so well and I was behind all the time. I didn't know how they did it.

My good friend let me into her secret, every time her house went up in value up she re-mortgaged and spent it.

She has only been paying the interest on her mortgage for years and is now very scared she will lose it. She also has 35k in credit cards and is only paying the minimum.

You can't sleep because your babies fancy some milk. She can't sleep for worry. It ain't always how it seems.

taurusgb

floss2 wrote: »

Have a look on Google Earth at Blackpool's HWRC at Bristol Avenue - lots of coned-off walkways for pedestrians.... PM me if you want any more info to support your letters to the PTB

Thank you Very Much....can't get google earth to work on my machine and googlemaps says no streetview available so have PM'd you ..... never thought of cones!