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

FairyPrincessk

Mrs VP, legally I believe the girls may change to any provider they wish (if they're in England, not sure about Scotland). The only stipulation is that they have to let the landlord know who they go with. I did once have a contract that said otherwise, but when I pointed out that tenants were legally allowed to choose their own energy providers the landlord got a bit sheepish.

PRINCESSX87

Mrsvp: How cool of your daughter pulling together a M/S outfit. Its refreshing to hear of young people using common sense. I'm sure her outfit was better than the shop brought one anyways.

I just suggested to OH about rubber chicken. He's reply " Most of your cooked meals are like rubber anyway, Why change a habbit of a life time" cheeky so & so!!

I have decided to try and cook our Sunday tea in the S/C today. So far I have leeks, potatoes and lamb all cooking nicely. Then I will steam the cabbage and M/W the yorkies. Saves me running back and fourth, Plus, More electric saved as we've noticed that our cooker is very expensive to run!! Will let you know how it turns out.
xx

paidinchickens

Windy up here and started to rain again.

Saved up to take the kids to the flicks but have made them do a few chores first so we can get there on time

Pups on heat so we can now book her in to be done at the right time, I always forget how long you have to wait and different vets have different ideas these days. Sick of the mess IYKWIM.

Sore throat, tired, headache and a smear test on Tuesday what a week to look forward to.

PiC x

glitterkitty

hello all.
Very windy here this morning! We had very heavy rain and wind about 6pm last night, and as soon as it stopped there were fireworks going off everywhere! A lot of people must have planned parties for last night!
Got the A**A shop done last night, but had to go to 2 stores as the big one next to us had a lot of things out of stock. Had to go back this morning for bread and a cooker hood bulb. Hopefully though I wont need to step foot in a supermarket for a few days!
Need to start planning for christmas. We already have in Whiskey for BF's dad and a couple of boxes of matchmakers for his Granny, and I am crocheting her a cushion cover too. My mum wants some DVD's and we will get her some chocolate to go with that. Don't know what BF's mum and brother want, but usually for his mum its wine and smellies.
BF wants some CD's and playstation games, so thats easily sorted and ordered online! He keeps pestering me about what I want, and also what I want for my 30th birthday which is 12 days after Christmas, but he has already booked for us to go to the Warner Brothers Studio Tour in London on my birthday, so I'm more than happy with that!

Bought the Christmas issue of Mollie Makes magazine, purely for the 2014 calendar which is beautiful! Really need to crack on sorting out my craft room! I have a couple of days off work this month, so I can make use of those days to get on with it!

Cant decide what to make for tea tonight, probably something out of the freezer no doubt! Looking forward to getting settled on the sofa for Downton Abbey tonight! Might make some mint chocolate truffles this afternoon and have a couple of them with a cup of coffee later on!
Hope everyone is well!

Pooky

Thanks for the iron rich foods advice

She's not keen on red meat but loves veg so that's the way I go. She's only been home for 3 meals in the past 2 weeks due to work/social stuff so I know she's not eaten enough veg as its all "on the go" food.

She loves hummus/chickpeas and I've added chickpeas to the curried pastie filling. I've also made some cakes with chopped dried apricots in with a jammy middle - she's just pinched one of those still hot from the oven so it's a start.

It's another Eason I dread her going away to Uni as she really has issues with her food intake/iron levels, she's under the GP after he weight dropped dramatically last year. She's managed to put on nearly a stone but at 5ft 6 she's only just over 7 stone now.

fuddle

A beautiful day here today. Chilly and breezy but the skies are a glorious blue with full sun.

Today is the day for moving in to MIL's. All I own is in a storage unit with bedding, clothes/toiletries and a box of paperwork/school stuff to my name.

I received a 2nd letter yesterday from the letting agents. This time threatening to take us to court for CCJ due to our rent arrears. Even with a telephone blasting after the first letter it seems someone isn't able to tell their systems that we move out officially Tuesday so therefore don't need to pay the remaining 10 days rent as the new tenant moves in after. This means we still have not got an appointment for the check out clerk, even after calling in Friday to arrange one. We caught our landlord yesterday (here as their unit had a break in, stealing all sorts of equipment and tools) and he's spitting feathers a he's paying for their 'services'. I don't know what is going to happen but need to sign that paperwork in order to get my deposit back. I will be requesting it as soon as I move out in Tuesday which will set the clock ticking and hopefully a bomb up their bottoms too!

My new letting agents is a very small personal firm who we already have a rapport with so hopefully future dealings will be dealt with better.

DH reverse into my car last night. Thankfully just tow bar hit the bumper - slight scratch. Big auld bang mind. My car is super strong.

Oh! We don't need to sleep in the caravan as all 4 of us at in MiL's room and MiL and partner are sleeping in the small room downstairs. I so hope we don't irritate them too much.

Also I don't have to drive my car down. I have been very worried about doing it, especially with having the girls in too but MIl's partner is driving my car, MiL and me down in my car and DH is driving the first lot down with the girls (I trust DH's driving and even in a van prefer them with DH rather than in the car with MILs partner). MIL's is then staying down for a few days where DH will drive them back up in the van and collect the remains of our stuff. It all fits in with plans and although seems daft we have a smaller van and petrol gratis with DH's work - cleared by the boss.

It's all on. Very exciting!

Friday morning and all yesterday was spent in mam's house. Mam actually faced it and helped me. No sign of sister. It was horrific. There was piles of stuff dated from 2009. Add in all those bottles and rotting food, wetting accidents from being drunk... I couldn't paint a picture bad enough to be honest but I'm very proud I got stuck in (industrial mask and gloves adorned!) mam has been abroad till last Thursday then with me. She's clear headed and coping fine in half a bottle of wine a day. Everything is out of sight in the spare room (which sister will have to deal with because I'm not here) with mam and I buying in cleaning stuff, ready made meals and putting money in her gas card before I dropped her off yesterday. She wants to get he home back and now its clear she feels like she can begin to clean and get some self respect back. I'm going over next weekend to help her further.

Even if she can't get better and the problem isn't just blocking out living in a hovel, well I have done the very best I can to help her, we've grown closer because of it and making plans for her to visit us down south. My mam and my relationship is sketchy and always will be but she's my mam. I had to help her regardless huh? I'm hoping she can pull it off and help herself now. Please, please, please.

Molly41

Really well done Fuddle and I am so sorry about Alfie x

Cheapskate

Afternoon folks

Fuddle, so glad you got sorted at your mum's, and hope your sister does her share, too! . Love 'em or loathe 'em, we've no choice in our families, but hope this is the start of a new start for your mum x
Fingers crossed all goes well for the move down south, sounds like you're well organised.

Really cold here this afternoon, and the wind is making it feel colder. Got a SC full of lentil and bacon soup on the go, last bit of bread from the freezer defrosting, might be cocoa for supper to warm us all up! The forecast is for a few cold and windy days, close to freezing at night part of the week, so hats and gloves at the ready for school tomorrow!

A xo

Nargleblast

Fuddle - am feeling very pleased and excited for you. Things are starting to fall into place, aren't they? And whatever happens in your mother's place, nobody will be able to say you haven't done your bit.

kidcat

kezlou wrote: »

Thanks for the info everyone regarding the iron, i suffer from anaemia and i'm pretty ds2 is anaemic to. I had no idea chick peas and dried fruit had iron in them, guess what were going to be having later .

Kidcat just ignore him, my OH has been like for months, its like walking on egg shells.
OH is the one who normally does this, he just keeps topping the tank up with diesel till he thinks it outweighs the petrol. Then drives around in it. Two guys from the RAC and AA told him. Advice is when the tank gets down to a 1/4 fill it up with diesel and drive around and do the same again. Last time it took a week to drain it.

I had errrm well sort of errm filled it up -:o:o well close to any way - its an awful lot of fuel to throw away I can tell you