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

nuttyp

Well I was kindly woken up by a drill this morning at 8am, I know I know I should have been up by then. Have ventured to the post office to weight some bits for ebay. I really must be more organised and get some other bits listed.

Finally received a refund for something that was never delivered, the company closed their account the day after I paid - how convenient - luckily paypal refunded me.

Sat watching Disney planes with DD, I love Disney, all the cuteness and innocent tales.

Did another load of washing, I just hope it stays fine and a little breezey to get it dry. All pegged out. The cost of a tumble drying all the washing each week uses approx. £4 in the pre payment meter. Would love to have the prepayment meter removed but I can understand them wanting a bond and I just cant justify or afford to.

Car is still in the garage, needs a new wheel and has to come from Holland as there aren't any available in the uk. Add that onto the other parts needed, its going to cost a bit. But we need the car.

AOT I hope your feeling much better today, maybe as others have said keep your distance and see how things go. He sounds like he needs to start accepting responsibility for his actions as he is an adult now, your not responsible for them. Things happen and sometimes we just need to accept them, and try and move on.

Kelzou good luck with the fund raiser, I would like another dog or even a cat but OH has said no. He said we are working too much to give it enough attention. I will still go the dog sanctuary with a Christmas hamper of food, treats and a few toys. I know its not much but im sure if a few people gave it would all add up.

Monnagran, the service sounds wonderful. I often wish I was around when things were far simpler. Everyone still had worries but it wasn't about if you had a computer, foreign holidays etc. Im sure the locals appreciate there area and the coming together for all for the service - magic!!

Well jobs to do, take care x

ginnyknit

Monnagran that sounds so beautiful - time stood still for a little while didnt it?

lobbyludd

hope everyone is OK with the terrible weather (we didn't get it here). Hopefully good news with SS shergar, I imagine as with other public departments they do really want to help but are overloaded, and unfortunately it's those who make the biggest pest of themselves that get help.
AOT, no matter what his problems are or what caused them, you don't have to be his whipping boy and as bluebag above said if you have to love him from afar to protect yourself then that is the loving thing to do.

Monnagran, that sounds lovely, I'm an agnostic/atheist but I love christmas ceremonies, they have a great feeling of community and joy and when at my mothers we attend a church ceremony around the biggest local village tree with carols and candles (weather permitting) which is similarly lovely to yours.

we collected the tree last night, it has a lovely shape and has had a drink and settled into place. DD has overloaded it with the christmas decorations LOL including the ones that really haven't stored well and are a bit broken - paper stars and things, there was a point where it looked really beautiful in a stylish sort of way and now it looks beautiful in a 5-year old exuberantly overloaded way (we will not be buying our traditional one new decoration each this year, we clearly have far too many!!!). however it has tipped the lounge over the top I'm feeling a little claustophobic, so will be forced to sort my sewing and knitting stuff out and put away, which is no bad thing.


beautiful bright day, and the cream fleece under curtains are shut in the front and filtering the light in a really great way. they are also hiding the horrible bare new 6ft neighbours wall that my lounge looks out on to so that the only bits of outside I can see is the greenery of my garden and I can pretend we live in the countryside

hope everyone has a lovely day.

bluebag

lobbyludd,

So lovely to hear your tree is 'overloaded in a 5 year old sort of way' she will always remember it.

Mine are adults now, but we don't do a stylish colour co-ordinated tree of decorations. It's just the same now and I am still putting out busted up stuff they made in nursery and favorite ornaments from holidays and places we have been.

Nothing matches, but the tree tells a story, the story of my children growing up, a story of the joy of family fum, holidays and memories.

It sounds like you are starting on such a tree, missing chic elegance but rich in memory and love.

fiftyeighter_2

AOT. I don,t often write but just felt for you so much.
Sons, hey they can be so hurtful. I,ve had 4 and 1 daughter. You bring them up all the same and they turn out so different. I,ve had so much heartache with 2nd son. In trouble etc. he,s now 42. But the one I,ve had most hurt from is the eldest. He seemed to disown me because I refused to carry on trying to help said son and baby son ( who died 8years ago now) he was only 29. I,ve found out now the eldest has apparently moved hundreds of miles away without letting me no. I am so hurt and cried so much. My other sons and daughter tell me to not get upset, he isn't worth it etc ect. But I love him.
If only they could understand how much they hurt. But then again I can't help thinking he must truly hate me.
I am so sorry for you AOT. I do hope everything turns out ok and he can have the guts to apologise to you. Lots of hugs.

fuddle

Monnagran a special moment. It's moments like those that are priceless and appreciated for what they are - a chance to loose yourself in a reality that is made all the better because imagination , mind's eye and past experience helps to create something special out of something seemingly ordinary.

I know many of you have cats so I was wondering if you could help me with a situation?

My new neighbour has told me of the ginger cat that roams our estate. We've seen him. He or she is lovely, watches us all as we walk past. Spends most of its time sat on the garden next to the footpath over the road from our house. My neighbour has told me the cat belonged to the previous tenant and that it has been culmination of ye tenant leaving it but also that the cat had enough and went elsewhere.

Its killing me the thought of this cat no longer has a home but at the same time trying to rid the cats pee smell from the carpet. I'm not sure I can cope with a cat in my home but feel I need to look after it should he want to come back in the house/garden. I've never seen him in the garden but I wondered would it be OK to put some cat food out? If I encourage it back here would it expect to get in the house? I don't want that responsibility but I feel I owe it a little kennel and cushion of some sort and food.

What do you think?

Landlord dropped off some oil filed radiators. Toasty here for a fraction of the cost. The heating issue is in hand apparently. We shall see.

nuttyp

Fuddle a few bits of food out would be ok I am sure, I also wouldn't want it to be hungry. If you can make a box for it to shelter from the wind and rain, that is nice too. Hopefully ginger will appreciate your concern.

Its nice the landlord has dropped off some radiators for you, nothing worse than being cold. Hopefully the repairs are done quickly.

Have you got your tree up yet? I remember your tales of last Christmas and when you moved then. How are the girls settling in? Have they made any friends yet? How is OH getting on with his job, has he got nice collegues like in the other depot?

Take care x

mardatha

Fuddle my ginger tom was a stray and I put food out every day for him. Then made him a wee bed in my stick box. He stayed with us ten years until he died last winter.

gailey_2

Afternoon guys.

hope every ones ok lots catching up to do.

been hectic few weeks and hectic few weeks ahead.

recap whats happened here.

small girl won fancy dress at xmas fair last weekend big girl dident and strop but they did get free advent calenders typical after brought some day before reduced.

Looked round a potential primary with small girl.

did aldis shop got some xmas bits like meats and few frozen deserts but not huge amount cant do rest untik payday so will be mad dash.

Got few 2nd hand pressies for small boy and may have to reconsider sadly what i get him as shes the smallest i doubt he be too bothered.

girls wont be able to have everythnig and will have to wait until 20th.

my house needs a sort out.
we still havent got a tree.

spoke to agents they think landlords selling but been quietly looking not much about was hoping find something gumtree direct landlord no agents and no credit check but will see we really cant afford cost moving but if we have to would make my life much easier if we did move im prepared comprimise on location but husbands not.

biggest bombshell is both our cars are dying, The small one inherited from fil clutch has gone past its mot as clutch not part of mot but now getting harder to drive new clutch 300 probably only worth £300 as its old and no power steering/central locking but so far its been cheap to run.

The bigger people carrier started making horrible noise
had to book it in yesterday feeling very sad just under £600 which has cleared us out until next pay day have to very careful which is early 20th but means long period between jan 30th so need to do well on reductions this year intend to hiut xmas eve, boxing day normally gets loads of chikens We cant live without car for hubbsyw work and public transport so unrelaible here so need to suck it up.
Its drastically messed up any xmas plans and dont know how much next pay packet will be .

Feels like we cant catch a break always something cars or appliances never get on even keel, can never save its frustrating.

Husbands practically been living in work but has 3days next week as small boy has dental hospital appointment im veiwing another 2schools as schools deadline very soon and thats stressing me.

Also book small boys hearing test at city centre hospital and his speech therapy so hopefully get help he needs.

Im trying to stay cal and plough through my lists and not worry but I am always worried about how we will get by having pressure of no school place and looking soemwhere else to live in new year fills me with dread never mind every month struggle of just etting everythibg paid, making sure everyone eats well and is clothed.

Been lucky with clothes got some great charity shop bargains and feel happier small boy has snowsuit and i have 1 all terrain buggy wand well stocked freezer and cupboards if it does snow.

today i plan to just stay in in warm and tidy house.

kids are downstairs watching kids movie, making mess and had snaky lunch.

Eldests fixated with soups so got few tins from aldis.

ohh distaster struck last thur was struggling put away aldi shop waset huge amount of xmas got the frozen pheastent and 3bird roast might get hicken or duck if redued no tukey again this year.

I was just about to go driving lesson puttig away last of it.
Husband was off and went on school run.
whole cupboard came down on me everything came out was rice krispies and spiceseverywhere couple of tins dented luckily no jars broke but was almight mess and had to leae it asdriing instructer came so rang husband warn im I stank cury powder hubbys got stressed couldet fit the cupboard so put it in the garden and rang agents next day squeezed all the tins into the plastic veg rack shelves but its literally cant fit much more stuff in kitchen its a nightmare.

I donated some stuff for hamper for local elderly man who,s was robbed.

It was school cake sale baked 60 cupcakes and tink 30 made final cut was pleased mine sold out fast i like cake making but im not most talented cant do ornate icing and was up until midnight as cant do it when small kids awake.

I cant make school church advent services but have carol, no nativity this year as shes a junior feels sad. The flipping christingles been mobed to jan never heard anything so mad so may have to switch denomination and do christingle at methodist church and nativity at coe but not been to xmas at methodist since small girl pinched baby jesus out of cot during crib service then put small boy in crib to replace him as mary got pancicy was bit embaressing.

So schedule for next few weeks is

3hospital appointments
4school visits
xmas foodshop-will be a few shops.
last min xmas pressie shopping
3church services
buy and decorate tree
outdoor icekating
santa -somewhere
batch cooking/making pressies.
2 xmas parties.
eldest has panto with school.
see some family and freinds before xmas.

boultdj

Don't encourage it fuddle, if it want's to have you and your family as it's new pet's it will let you know, but if it had enough of the old pet & home and found somewhere new then it could be 'old' home could be end of it's stamping ground.

p.s. for getting rid of cat pee smell, sprinkle soda bicarb on dry carpet,leave for 10-30 mins then hoover it up.hth