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

kidcat

Morning toughies

Have been keeping up with reading but not able to get around to posting.

Sending hugs all around and have really enjoyed hearing the good news. Hope the RV has settled Mar

Its been manic here all week, and looks like being worse this week, I have made the decision that I have to leave the problem group after an event this week as the treatment I am getting is just getting worse and more hostile. I appreciate I am letting school down but I am just not strong enough to cope with this right now.

Havent even had the time to sort of cleaners yet although I have got two people who are interested, I had intended on going via an agency but they approached me via a friend so am going to speak to both this week.

DD19 has chipped in this week and made things more manageable but to be honest the house is a total mess.

Loving the micro pudding recipes - I have done cake in a cup a while back and this has reminded me how easy it was

Need to get Christmas pudding made this week - hopefully tomorrow as I am waiting in for all sorts of parcels
And then mini Christmas cakes for teachers - which I know are late but hey ho I am busy

PRINCESSX87

Morning all.

Shattered this end. Yesterday was a long day but baby ruby experienced loads of new things and she loved every moment.
We was pulled up by 11 people and 2 stall holders who commented on how pretty ruby is and how her eyes are amazing. One women also gave her £0.20p. It was very kind of her, She said she was 96 and still going strong, But, I don’t think she relies that giving a baby a small object was a good move. So OH put extra pennies together and she brought her mummy & daddy a present.

This morning OH & I are aching! Think old age is catching up on us tbh.
But, alas, I have managed to be a naggy nora & we’re finally putting our decs & tree up!!

Hope everyone is keeping well, Just a quick one from me. Will come back for a read later. x

savingqueen

Afternoon folks,

Having a very quiet weekend, not venturing anywhere. I need our boys rested and fighting fit for school tomorrow. DS7 has missed 3 days. I am also snotty and grotty.

We have promised we will buy our Xmas tree next weekend so they are happy about that. We also have our wooden advent calender up, its has little drawers with tiny wooden decorations and I put 2 little choccy balls in each one. We all love it. As soon as our first Christmas card arrives, DS7's birthday cards come down... he gets upset taking his cards down bless him.

DH is getting more and more on board with OS/MSE ways of late, he realises how we need to keep our spends down. I have suggested trying the 'swedish shop beginning with I' Xmas tree deal (thanks kidcat) and we can visit Santy for free and have a treat in the cafe. If we can't get a decent tree there (if they have sold out/too small) then DH is willing to buy an artificial one after insisting very strongly every year that we must have a real one.

I finally emailed DH's SIL about the books we were going to send them for the kids' Xmas gifts. I have waited til I felt calmer and as I logged on to draft the email she had emailed me as I hadn't responded. I said it was a shame the books were not wanted as I spent time choosing them carefully and thought they would be well received as a personal gift. I said I would keep some books for eldest until he was older and donate the rest to a local charity shop. I also said we will just exchange vouchers for all the children to save unwanted gifts and hassle.

I got back another rude email beginning with words to the effect of "did you read my last email as I said we already have some of the books etc?" She wants us to give vouchers to her kids but is not happy to give them to ours. Peppered in the email are nicer bits, I just don't understand her. I sent a very short email back saying that I had read and understood her email perfectly and vouchers will be fine for our children and we will do the same for theirs. I said DH will be in touch about visiting. I have no reply since.

The difference is we value the thought behind the gift as much or more than the actual gift whereas they value the gift in itself first and foremost. DH is pretty cross and says we are not visiting them over the break now. I have never done anything like this before with DH's rellies, always bite my tongue and smile sweetly. I am feeling very uncomfortable but refusing to be a doormat.

Glad you enjoyed your eve out fuddle and hope yours went well last night Pooky. Pie, mash and liquor is my thing, lots of people including kids and DH think it is gross with the green liquor. I used to take boyfriends to a pie and mash shop and see if they were willing to try it... sort of a test if you like!

Tiramisu is my favourite dessert Mrs LW.... enjoy! What lovely neighbours to have.

Glad your mum and DD are much better nutty, great to hear.
How are you all kez and family? Hope you are able to see the lights and reindeer today.

Glad you both had fun with baby Ruby - did you take some photos?

Kidcat - you have absolutely done the right thing in giving up the group. All those hours of commitment were very valuable and there are other people who can contribute. There will also be many other chances to volunteer your time but sometimes you need to think of your own health and family first - you would advise us to do the same. I am not doing any of the volunteering I signed up for which is difficult especially as I had months of training for one role and haven't done a minute of actual volunteering. However I know I can't cope at the moment with extra stuff and have to accept that. There will be other opportunities for me to help and I have volunteered since DS9 was a couple of months old (and previously before we had children) so its not as if I can't be arrised.

I am so grateful the weather here is relatively mild still and even more grafteful for our warm bed. A new charity shop in our town is requesting warm clothing to distribute to people who need them (as well as needing donations to sell). I am in the middle of a long process of decluttering and several bags of unwanted clothing already. I am going to see what I can find to give to the warm clothing appeal.

DS7 is requesting lego help... he had a big box from us for his birthday and there are many pages of instructions. Stripey cat loves to bat the tiny pieces under furniture so lots of fun to come!

sq

SDG31000

Just a quick pop in to say that the scan went ok and it turns out that the Dr put the wrong thing on the form and I didn't actually need a full bladder. I wasn't a happy woman after feeling like I had been holding back Niagria Falls for an hour.


savingqueen if you end up with any missing bits of Lego, you can order replacement bits from them. My friend's DH makes all their kid's models once a year and gets the missing pieces.


DH and I seem to have the same low grade lurgy. He went to bed yesterday and slept for 5 hours. I really want to do the same today. We battled around Mr T's this morning and spent a fortune. There were a few Christmas presents in the trolley, but it was still too high a total. DS1 and DH are unhappy as Mr T has decided to stop selling ground almonds. I can get flaked, whole, chopped and toasted almonds, but no ground ones for my mince pie pastry recipe. I can't face going out again today, so might see what time DH gets home tomorrow and go and try Morrisons.
Ok I'm just rambling now. Time for a nap I think xxxx

fuddle

Can I ask if anyone knows how to clean bathroom pull cords. I shiver every time I have to touch the one I've inherited.

Thank you for the tip a wee while back (might have been SHTF thread) about ironing dry washing. I will be doing that this evening.

We've found a big Lidl about 5 miles away. Stocked up nicely and so relieved to see the same prices as Ooop North.

Found both schools and think I should do the afternoon pick up of eldest DD in time. I'm feeling nervous and not sure why. Probably that I am on my own as of tomorrow when DH is at work. Travelling on different roads and quite busy ones at that has got me worrying. I so wish I could walk it! I have realised that I have got a job that requires local road knowledge so that is playing heavy on my mind too. But... nothing to worry about at all. Everything will fit into place and if it doesn't I'll find a way to solve it.

kidcat

fuddle it may be worth you investing in a sat nav for work it will help with your anxiety and should speed you up as well.

topsyturphy

Fuddle - sounds like your settling in really well. I have an mobile phone which has a mapping app on it and works like a sat nav. I bought a holder off eBay for a few pounds off bay of e. don't know if this suggestion is helpful, but the app is as good as my dh sat nav.

[Deleted User]

FUDDLE if the cord is just the silky coated normal one you should be able to use soapy water on it, I find that for things like that it's as easy to use an old toothbrush to give it a scrub with as you don't have to take it down then. Give it a good old scrubbing and then rinse it with a wet cloth and it should dry overnight. You could put a little disinfectant in the rinsing water too, just for your peace of mind. You'll soon get used to the local roads and know your way around, talk to the people at work and they might have thier own map you could use until you're confident about where you're going, Lyn xxx.

rosieben

It may be possible to replace the cord, check if the ceiling fitting has a screw on piece; you push the new cord through the screw-off bit, make a big knot on the inside so it can't come back through and then screw the piece back on.

If its just a dirty patch on the cord, the how clean is your house duo used cotton wool or kitchen roll soaked in bleach and wrapped around the cord - it was held in place with cling film I think; leave it overnight and it should clean it up.

nuttyp

Fuddle 0 I changed our pull cord, just bought a metre from boyes for a few pence, I expect you will have wilco's or similar that will stock it too.

Well we ventured out and got 2 presents, a reduced priced ornament for my friend - and then I used a coupon ended up at £6. I got her daughter a wii game from sainsbobs was £7 cheaper than morris and then paid with nectar points and a coupon so total spend £7. Moneysaving or what.

OH is asleep, and very snuggly wrapped up on the sofa.

On a sad note, DD Saturday job on the flower stall has ended. They aren't busy so they have said she isn't needed until the new year. It made her cry as she loves the customers and the chance to actually work. Maybe another door will open soon.

Must go watch sister act. classic film!!