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

Pinkdebster

Sorry to hear you've been poorly...............hope you feel better soon xx

mcculloch29

I've read through all of the above.

For those who stay and benefit from it, I hope this thread offers you the solid loving support that it so often has in the past.

I know Pops in RL.

I am even minded enough for it to be possible for me to see why some of you have taken the line that you have.
I share some of those frustrations - my brother was a senior housing officer who was seriously injured by a client. He was completely dedicated to doing the best that he could for people and did they appreciate this? Of course not.

So..... Nobody's perfect.

Pops is a very gentle, very, very chatty, friendly, kind and considerate person overall.

Qualities that don't come over in writing when sharing the worries of daily life, including lots of little details that you only mention because you have nobody else to tell, and see writing as a safe release for your feelings.

As has been said, we all say things we may regret, except that the Net preserves such things until they are lost.

To end on a positive note, Fuddle, YOU DID THE RIGHT THING. Alfie had a wonderful home with you at a time when it was right for you to have a dog in your life. Things changed, and it was no longer possible for that to continue with certainty.
May all go well with the rest of your adventure!

Cheapskate

Fuddle, so sorry to hear you had to let Alfie move home before you! You know deep down it was the right and responsible thing to do, even if it upset you all. When you're settled, maybe you could find another rescue friend to adopt?

Sheila, hope you get well soon, sounds like you've had a carp week. Remember I'm on facebook if you want to hook up and have a natter/chat!

If it's not time at the bar yet, can I put in a bid for any rose that's left. Failing that, a G & T? . Need to shore myself up for a family party tomorrow, a kids' pop party Sunday and back to school Monday! :rotfl:

A xo

lobbyludd

good luck with the new house fuddle, you did absolutely the loving thing with Alfie, making sure he was alright no matter what the wrench was for you.

Hope everyone with pains and sickness gets well soon; please take all the opportunities for self-care you can as the weather worsens.

Mine's a large red wine too, or some lovely sloe gin (if I'd managed to find any this year - fail!)

I've recently seen the first ladybirds of the year - they've been coming inside, but we've had none in the garden all summer which is very weird.

quick question to those talking about gluten free stuff - dad has left some gluten-free spagetti here (rice based) - I'm not going to eat it as I can't get the hang of cooking it - it says it can be frozen - but it's been opened - does anyone know if I can still freeze it?

my lovely dad has gone home after a week looking after the littlies and he paid for some radiators to be fixed/replaced as my christmas present. I do miss my family, and feel bad that at my age (40+) my parents are still having to help me out, when at my age they were supporting their parents, emotionally and financially. Feels like they've been stretched at both ends, and that's not fair.

hallowe'en was lovely last night, T&T'ing, apple bobbing, costumes, laughing with strangers, people not taking themselves too seriously, and an acceptance of the wonderful oddness/difference of people. Got the 14-year old paper bats out again (they've been well worth the effort I put in to make them!). Talked to the children about the pagan festivals that predated this one, eldest is old enough to appreciate the history, the progression of faiths putting their own twist on things, and the human need for a festival celebrating this side of the magic of existance, the circle of life/seasons and a good dollop of fun as the nights draw in.

Always a very special time of year for me - as my dad says -I wait all year for hallowe'en/samhain!

stiltwalker

Had a lovely hallowe'en yesterday. DD and I went out trick or treating with friends - our village does hallowe'en in a big way with lots of houses decked out and people in costume answering doors, was lovely how many of them knew DD by name!! and were patient with her lack of speed in choosing treats. She was so impatient to get trick or treaters before we went out (sat on her stool by the front door) that not only did we have to trick or treat ourselves but DH also had to sneak out of the back door and go round to the front to knock on the door!! We did get caught by the rain and get a bit soggy though, but not as bad as last year!

Went to a hallowe'en party in the village hall today which was also much fun as always.

We finally got our car back from the garage on Wednesday afternoon and it turned out to be just a sensor so was not as expensive as feared. Will be able to take DD to her riding lesson tomorrow myself as she had a meltdown over putting the hat on when DH took her last week (but had to be him as we'd only put him on the hire car insurance as would have cost extra for another driver and I really didn't want to drive the big posh car!! Not just wimpiness - cars make my back ache, ours is a van with seats, Berlingo, so totally different driving position). She didn't end up riding as she was too upset, so just patted her pony for a while, there were a few other minor (to us) differences as she had gone at a different time too and they'd tried to put a new hat on her and she doesn't do well with slight alterations to routine although can cope perfectly with complete change, hopefully she'll be ok tomorrow once all is back to normal.

Wishing everyone well - if the bar's still open mine's a pinot grigio (if not I've got some in the fridge anyway :P). Hugs to all - X

EstherH

I have come on here for the first time today and am saddened by what I have read so far. Now I have just read FUDDLES post about having to let Alfie go and I am saddened again to think that any one would judge her for doing what she had to do. My first thought FUDDLE was who would judge you for doing what was best for your family and for Alfie. I am sure that no one will judge you for it. I know it will have been heartbreaking for you.

Now I will carry on reading.

Esther x

Mrs_Veg_Plot

Evening all

Have not posted for a while but have been keeping up with you all.

Life continues to be busy in the VP household but we are all keeping well. MIL had her hip replacement surgery on Wed, she has decided not to stay with us when she is discharged but as she lives locally we can still keep an eye on her. I cannot believe how well she looks now she is not in constant pain.

We are in the process of decorating the hall stairs and landing using the pain we already had in the garage. We are at the glossing stage now (my least favourite part). OH has re draft proofed the front door and the internal garage door ready for winter.

OH's debit card would not work at the hole in the wall a few weeks ago. When he went to the bank to sort it out they had stopped the card as it had been used in Sri Lanka.

While the drinks are being handed out mines a large damson gin I've got plenty of that and blackberry gin to spare.

EstherH

Wow, I have finally got to the end of today's posts, not seen that many pages for a longtime in one day. FUDDLE, I am so glad that people have supported you. I was sure they would but a little worried with everything else going on. If you are still reading KEZLOE and POPS, I hope you will feel able to come back and carry on posting.

Esther x

lisakay_2

mrsVP, thanks for posting about your MIL, I hope she makes a quick recovery. It's really reassuring to know that she already feels better. DH is a bit worried that it's being done with an epidural rather than a general. letter from the hospital says no more than 2 people round a bed and it says nothing about children. sorry nurses, but he'll not rest without getting to give his girls a goodnight kiss so there'll be 3 of us round his bed each night he's in.
got home from the Halloween party this evening and he's lay on the sofa with a HWB tucking into the snacks I've started buying in for his hospital stay!
I know there's lots of other stuff going on, but 'the op' is at the forefront of my mind for now.
laptop needs charging so will click send and wish you all a good weekend x

wondercollie

lisakay, epidurals are great pain control during surgeries. My father had his TURP surgery done with an epi and never felt a thing. His cancer was too advanced for it to be safe for him to be put under. The tumours in his lung were wrapped around his heart, so it just wasn't safe at all.

If you approach the ward manager, they usually work something out about children visiting for short periods. My unit has a two at the bedside rule and we bend. What we won't bend over is people staying overnight at the bedside. Not safe for us in the middle of the night to have to climb over sleeping relatives.

Epidurals are great. I liked mine (well not at the time) but it was good.