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

kidcat

Molly - you are a hero, I could never have managed 31 needles, for any reason, heck when DS15 had his lumbar puncture at 18months I collapsed and only just stayed standing when DD7 had her bloods done two years ago. I pass out when I have my own needles and have been known to throw up over the nurses.

Has anyone heard from nutty?

We have had a really busy day, it was DD19 birthday and after dropping them at their various places I was at a conference, picked up DS15 and DD19, nipped home to collect clothes for the younger two and then we headed out to do the last two pick ups. Then we headed to the safari park to use our passes, which was lovely.

We had dinner out at a local pub which was nice and made the end of the day stress free as we werent worrying that my parents would arrive at any minute

A friend of ours has just found out he is being made redundant, his wife is in major panic mode and cannot see how they will cope. I tried to calm her and talk her through basic strategy to cut back now to save.
I dont think she understood it at all, he earns over double what OH did at old job, they have one child and no mortgage. So to me things are nowhere near as dire as they could be.

I figure they could probably manage to slice their spend in half currently but am not sure she sees it yet. Early days yet, and I hope when she calms we can talk more and try to work it through.

monnagran

I hope nutty is OK. It's worrying when you don't hear, you imagine that something has gone horribly wrong. Why do we think like that? Things are just as likely to have gone goriously right but experience tells us to be prepared for the worst.
I am impressed with you all having your flu jabs. I've never had one yet. I did have flu in 1957 and again in 1999. I reckon that if it's only every 42 years my next bout is due in 2041 and I will be 102 so hopefully it will carry me off.
Injections don't worry me unduly. But 31!!!!! Molly, you're a martyr. I just hope it works.

Kidcat: It's hard to imagine that there is anyone who can't see what to do when money is short. Perhaps they have had no experience of making do. It'll be good for them - she says hard heartedly.

x

fuddle

No monnagran, you are so right. It will be good for them because they will learn how to get through it and have to stave off that panic the next time and to make their money work harder when they get on their feet again. There's nowt hard hearted about it, it's life isn't it.

Molly I've seen those injections on TV. Ouch ouch ouch! Has it lessened the pain?

Well, my house has gone. We're to be out November 5th. Girls sleeping at MILs while DH and I kip in her caravan out the back until the last week of November. A lot of travelling to get the girls to school but needs must. We're contracted to pay rent/council tax until 15th December so this is a huge relief. It gives us an extra stash of cash in which to use for the move. Big relief.

Slowly but surely things are happening but many a mile off actually seeing the end of it all.

I have frozen salmon to use so think ill purchase broccoli and make a pasta bake for tomorrow's tea.

What is happening to nutty if you don't mind? It sounds worrying

savingqueen

Princess, I also try my hardest not to shop at Mr Tosspots (GQ's terminology I believe ). There are a couple of things I need to buy there like cat food (fussy cats and cheaper than branded stuff) and I tend to bulk buy those bits with any vouchers. I used to look for any good offers but I find it so annoying in there for various reasons that I usually don't bother. Their YS are a joke, a few pence off - I wish we could buy some really reduced stuff but I am so tired in the evenings now it's just as well, saves me being tempted to go out.

Molly, well done getting the injections done - let's hope they do their stuff and it will all be worth it.

Good news on the extra money fuddle :j

Kidcat -glad you had a fun birthday with DD19. Your friend probably needs a bit of time to calm down... and then a big reality check and a plan. I have a friend going through a divorce who will have less money to play with. She seems to think I can wave a magic wand for her - I am more than happy to help but I don't think she wants to be OS (she likes things out of packets, even buys those ready made coffee drinks and if we take a picnic, hers is all packaged stuff, not even a sandwich in sight.) The main thing is she will have to cut down on extras like expensive days out with her son and big nights out with her friends - these are very frequent events. She is coming to terms with it though and has cut back her spends a fair bit already rather than getting into debt. Hopefully your friends will learn to spend within their new means too.

DS9 was saying that he wishes they learnt how to sew in school, he thinks it will be much more useful than some other subjects like Art and Music (neither of which he likes) Funny as he has never been interested in learning but is fascinated watching my attempts. Both boys want me to use the sewing machine again so they can watch me. When I get caught up with the boring stuff again, I will get my machine out, grit my teeth to get it threaded and set myself a little simple project. I need a proper hobby really.

sq:)

kidcat

where is Grey queen? does anyone know if she is ok?

SQ - my son has done sewing a few times, his teacher says it helps him with lots of things educationally.
Could you suggest a lunch time or after school group maybe with volunteers to help?

Bigjenny

GQ is posting on SHTF , I think she is on holiday this week and fighting the lottie.

kidcat

thank you bigjenny - I have really missed her:)

topsyturphy

Saving Queen my ds13 does textiles at secondary school, has made a cushion cover and is currently making a bag. He has used an embroidery machine at his school. He is at a school that has a dyslexic unit attached and has made very good progress there, although he still doesn't like school.

Popperwell

AOT I will give you fair warning if/when I am around Newcastle and say hi:)and yes Durham is just a little too far I agree:(I'm back in the Sunderland area for the illuminations in Roker Park soon.

Back from The Hollies concert annoyingly I was sneaking photo's "here and there" expecting to have the hand of an usher on my shoulder or the group saying stop but no one did. So they could have been better and I could taken loads.

The concert was great. Annoyingly(for the second time)I missed a bus to the concert by seconds(I did not know one was scheduled at that time)and was in a different road but the bus stop was just across the road. I went to my usual stop and the same bus was sitting there as it was slightly early, it pulled away with me only seconds away so I missed it twice.

The one I was going for(5 minutes later)I found has been withdrawn so I would have to wait until 19.10 but the concert started at 19.30 and it takes at least 25 minutes to get there and then 15 minutes walk if you don't connect with a town bus that runs past the theatre.

So I reluctantly went to the taxi rank on my town, no taxi's. The local taxi office was closed. Coming home was wasting time so I went to Tesco's to use the free phone(the earliest one was 19.25)I phoned another firm and he came for me within five minutes. He got me to the theatre with five minutes to spare. And managed it without speeding but was lucky the roads were not busy.

I was fortunate that he knew me as a regular customer, well I used to be more so when Mum was alive.

The Hollies performed all of their hits, some extras, some different versions of some hits and the concert lasted two hours. Most of the band have been together for many years so have earned the right to call themselves a "Hollie" but only two were there at the start but they all are between the ages of 53 and 72. Its the music that speaks.

But I did not expect having to add an extra £13.50 to the night:mad: with the taxi. At least the bus home was free...and I now know the new bus schedule I'll see that doesn't happen again. I have a little spare amount of money saved because I am so in advance on my rent/water rates but I'd rather have it for a rainy day or for some unexpected bill so it could have been worse.

The Hollies as I saw them this evening...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqMLne_Up4U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8SE-mAoUoM

burtha

hi everyone, haven't posted for a bit because I have found it hard work just trying to keep up with home life..still not 100% after crash , have had a few physio apt and they are going ok, still having headaches so visit to doctors yesterday ended up with a stay in hospital,came out tonight, after a ct scan and mri scan they have found I have a brain tumer . back on Monday for anther mri and to see brain doctor after to to what the options are.. think I am still in shock,carnt stop tears,have told older kids but not younger 2 , didn't think I would be back tonight so had wrote a quick planer for younger kids ,whats on each day,so that hubbie and older kids can get them to where they need to be, breaks my heart to think about the future, hubbie is keeping it together for the big kids, we have talked and talked and have had every conversation that you never want to say, need to write this down somewhere and don't know where else to turn ,sorry ..x