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

boultdj

CRANKY40 wrote: »

Katieowl I was more or less coming to the conclusion that they would have to be decorated at the party venue. It makes more sense. Boultdj I'm only used to transporting ordinary stuff too. Fancy decorated things usually get eaten without leaving our road:rotfl:

With my OH, it normal dosen't get chance to get decorated, you should see what I have to do to get a xmas cake done, he's worse then any kiddie:eek::mad::o

savingqueen

Afternoon all,

just wanted to send you a hug Cheapskate and strength to keep on keeping on. Your mum is very lucky to have you and your siblings to care about and for her so at least she has support with her dementia. It won't always be easy but you, your mum and your siblings will muddle through together and treasure the time you spend together.

Well done youngest Master kidcat with his homework award and well done to his amazing mum who helped him get it. :T

Stiltwalker - I am glad you have some ups at least to balance the inevitable downs and are able to appreciate the positives. You are another truly amazing and inspirational woman, just getting through an average day is an achievement in itself.

Pops hope you are ok today, if you are not up for going out then don't go. I know it's boring and frustrating being stuck indoors but there will be lots of others day to go out on your adventures.

Well day 3 of being stuck indoors myself. My back is a bit better, I am able to straighten up more but still not good. DH is on childcare/domestic duties and trying to juggle his college work. He has been a bit snappy having to do it all and "take orders" but managed to coax him out of the grumps. Only asking him to do bare minimum like meals, dishes and wash school uniform, he can't even work the washing machine without detailed instructions.

The place is appallingly messy, the downstairs needs a good sweep amongst other things and I am biting my tongue not to moan about anything as DH is doing his best. He is not a natural with housework and his cooking skills seem to have vanished as mine have improved. It's times like this I realise how much I do for everyone in this house and how they struggle to cope without me. Having said that we would struggle to live without DH's wage and hard enough with it.

I have bits I can do sitting down but finding it hard to focus as feel so tired as not sleeping well. Guess it's another muddle through period. We all get through our individual struggles somehow don't we and it's so comforting to know no-one is on their own when we have this thread.

Oh and DH checked about withdrawing from his course and we would have to pay back his employer an obscene amount (the whole expensive course fee plus books, professional association membership fees etc). Basically we would be paying out a lot of money for nothing so DH is going to try and stick it out. On the plus side it is the last year and it would do so much to his self esteem to pass the whole course and improve his career prospects (especially valuable if the dreaded redundancy threat looms again.) I think I am in for a lot of grumpy hubby times ahead!

Shuffling off to find something useful to do....
sq:)

savingqueen

forgot to say gailey - good to hear you are so proactive and trying so hard to be positive. You are doing everything possible to provide for your family - you are great with bargain hunting and batch cooking, taking your children out to cheap/free places and keeping everything ticking over. Well done on those YSs - our Mr T's is rubbish at reductions, wish I could find somewhere that did good YSs.

You are doing so well, keep on going and fingers crossed your benefits will come through next week. Don't forget the library to keep kids entertained for free.

sq:)

jem132

Afternoon all I am trying out my new kindle HD thing but the writing is too small to read so I will go no and read on my iPad unless I work out how to make it bigger lol x

kidcat

SQ thank you, when I am really unable to move I get really down with the state OH lets the house get into, as such I try to have a thirty minute mad dash with everyone joining in once a day which I supervise, basically I sit in chair and issue lots of commands appropriate to the person. Its amazing what can be done in thirty minutes.

Stiltwalker ((hugs)) poor vision on top of other issues isnt at all what you need, DS9 has incredibly bad vision and has double vision without his glasses, but with his glasses he has incredible sight, so its not all bad. The downside will be the number of visits to have glasses repaired and replaced, DS9 is so well known now that they all greet him when he walks in. They know his teachers name, what his favourite program is and when he is going out anywhere!!
If you can build a good relationship up with an opticians it makes a huge difference, ours have even had spare frames sent to branches near where we were staying a couple of years ago, when DS was breaking them twice a week.

Cranky - as has been said its better to make them up whilst there but if thats not possible two cereal boxes taped together with holes cut through should work depending on depth of cones
I have also used egg cartons with holes cut through - but these usually require someone to hold them in the car

stiltwalker

Kidcat - we're already a fixture in local speccysavers for DD's glasses, down to roughly one visit a week to have her glasses straightened out! But have been in up to 4 times a week and she's had a number of repairs and a whole new pair of glasses twice so far! DS broke the record though - breaking his first pair of glasses before we had even made it home - they were quite surprised to see us back there half an hour after picking them up - we'd only tried them on him to show a friend how handsome he looked in glasses and he hoiked them off and chucked them across the aisle in Mr T's and when we picked them up the arm was broken in the middle of the curly back bit!!!

Another big up today, well a couple - DD did fantastically in riding and she was sitting unsupported in the saddle!! We got back to find the postie had brought the family fund card that we have been granted this year (and been waiting for for almost 2 weeks since we got the letter to say we'd been granted it) to get a games console so this afternoon I have ordered a Wii and accessories and games from Amazon which should all arrive in the next week or so going to have some very happy kids (both small and big!!)

Happy Saturday everyone - hugs where needed or wanted - X

kidcat

stiltwalker - that sounds just like DS9, am so glad its not just us, we had about three weeks when he managed to keep them all in one piece, I walked past the store and the lady ran out to see if he was ok because we hadnt been in! He sends them a Christmas card and last year we made cakes too, after all as he keeps telling them, he is keeping them in business!

lobbyludd

sorry about your back sq. I hurt mine 3 or 4 weeks ago. No idea how. It's much better now thankfully but I bought a long handled grabby thing that was a massive help. Twas about 7 quid from a famously non-tax paying online only retailer. In fact even though I'm much better, I've been playing litter picker in the back garden today.if only I could find one big enough to get the laundry I'd never bother bending down again. I also became a great devotee of the afternoon nap. Was the only way to function!

savingqueen

thanks lobbylud. I think my back problem will be short lived though it is one of my health weaknesses every since I slipped a disc some 25 years ago. A good excuse to get one of those grabbers, I have always wanted one! I slept in til 11am this morning, very rare but the extra rest seemed to help whereas usually if I lie in my back aches. If I need a little afternoon nap and my day allows it, I have one myself. Only recently have I given myself permission and as you say you do whatever you have to do to function. Keep well...

sq

bluebag

savingqueen wrote: »

thanks lobbylud. I think my back problem will be short lived though it is one of my health weaknesses every since I slipped a disc some 25 years ago. A good excuse to get one of those grabbers, I have always wanted one! I slept in til 11am this morning, very rare but the extra rest seemed to help whereas usually if I lie in my back aches. If I need a little afternoon nap and my day allows it, I have one myself. Only recently have I given myself permission and as you say you do whatever you have to do to function. Keep well...

sq

I too have to rest when I need to, I too, found it difficult to give in to it. Makes such a difference to my pain levels and my mood.