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

grandma247

I eat a peeled very thinly sliced apple very slowly after having a stomach bug. I don't know why but it always makes me feel better and gets rid of the headache.

alfsmum

SQ hope you are feeling a little more positive this morning and that your house is secure. I'Ve just been trying to clean some of the scuff marks off our walls from where dogs and teenagers rub past, the kitchen is all steamed up as I am cooking a heap of veggies from the freezer which will be reheated with something for tea, as a result I have shoehorned everything else into small garage freezer and kitchen fridge freezer is defrosting. Great chunks of ice crashing down occasionally making me and the dogs jump. DW not been working since last week and engineer only does Mondays and Thursdays which aren't good days for me so trying to keep up with hand washing and drying as I go along. Result is chaos - we will never have a show home! May I borrow the flame thrower when you have finished with it monnagran?

Have lots of stuff from my Mum's house boxed up for CS, lots of pretty mugs, vases, bits and pieces. Hopefully dd19 will help me take them to the animal shelter shop later - Mum is a great animal lover so thought I'd try to help them out as I know they will receive so many poor unwanted animals in the next few weeks and that will outweigh any cash we may have got by trying to sell stuff.

Still have an Aldi voucher to use so may get dd to come with me after CS and hope it's not too busy. It's in a very populated area and I'm not too keen on crowds. Our local Lidly is much quieter but dd is a convert to some Aldi stuff so needs must.

Sun shining but chilly, torrential rain forecast for tomorrow. Doesn't feel Christmassy weather yet.

Off to make inroads into the ironing now. Have a good day everyone.

savingqueen

Hello everyone,

thank you so very much for your supportive messages, you have had me in tears. I will need to re-read them all later.

DH is going to see if he can lock the door shut from the outside today, just means we won't be able to use it for now. Luckily we have a front door as well, will just confuse the cats! We are getting someone in to fix it properly on Thursday. We will find the money. DH also managed to break his reading glasses (cheap ones) and his cafetiere so we are having a running of it.

Had a difficult morning, DS7 got upset and didn't want to go into school as he was anxious about playing Joseph in school nativity. Managed to get him in class ecventually and stayed a few mins. Teacher suggested I leave and then few mins later the nativity started. Managed to get the last front row seat, DH should have had one too but one person had "saved" 2 places in the quueue. Grrrr. Wanted so much to be in front not for the best view (though that's nice of course) but so that DS could see us and focus on us.

I asked his teacher who sat next to me if he was ok. She said she couldn't understand him as he was fine, very clear and confident when they practised as a class. I mentioned his anxiety and she laughed and said "he's a funny thing isn't he?" Hmmmm. if it hadn't been for a hall full of parents I would have said something. Anxiety isn't funny and DS is only 7.

He managed just about to hold it together trying not to cough much until his line which he just shook his head and they moved expertly on. Then the tears came, it was awful to watch. I knew it was near the end so resisted going to fetch him down from the stage myself. I could hear people behind me saying poor boy.

I took him out to a quiet spot on our own after and he sobbed his heart out. I know he will feel he has failed not saying his part though we said how proud we are of him - in fact I have never been prouder today as he did something he found very hard whilst feeling unwell and to cap it all "Mary" was off sick so her replacement was girl from the lower year who looked so worried when DS started sobbing, poor girl.
I also had words with his teacher while DH stayed with DS and said I didn't want him put through it again for the afternoon performance (which we are aren't going to, limited tickets given out) unless he was ok with it and maybe they could say he doesn''t need to speak etc. I made it clear again how he doesn't feel well still and is anxious and very upset. She gets that he is upset obviously and I hope now she gets his anxiety issues a bit more. Anyway she led him off to say his Learning Mentor who understands him well and is brilliant.

DH has his exam today too so I am having to try and hold it together publicly for him. Feel better though after a cry at school. A lovely teacher I have worked with a lot as a volunteer saw DS and I and set me off crying as well.

I have just eaten and had a coffee and I am going to knuckle down and get started with the pressie wrapping and try and just enjoy that.

Apologies for not replying to others now, will come back later but hugs to all in the meantime. I was going to say sorry for venting yesterday but I won't because then others might feel they can't do the same.

take care everyone
sq

fuddle

Aw SQ, Please don't take the teacher's comments to heart. You know I suffer from anxiety too don't you? My eldest DD is also a nervous wee girly and I say that exact same sentence about her all the time. In fact I say it about my youngest too who is quite confident and free in spirit. I just suspect the teacher didn't quite know what to say, especially as he's been super in rehearsals. I know why you're upset about it but I don't think there's anything malicious towards your little one. I guess her only crime is not knowing how upsetting performing in front of strangers is. I had one girl who had her head down and mumbled (embarrassed mammy) and another one who couldn't stop waving at us and making her fingers into sunglasses when the spot light was on her (embarrassed mammy) it's bizarre how children react so differently to stressful situations.

Just carried my shopping from town and sat with a sandwich. My hands are shaking. I'm getting old I think. Normally my arms and hands are used to carrying alsorts without a problem afterwards.

Tried to catch up with the news where I had to turn it off - people of my age won't be as well off into retirement as earlier generations. Pensions are poor etc etc. I know this. I will do all I can to help myself in retirement and just continue to learn and live as OS as possible. It's all I can do.

I have Camembert but forgot the crusty bread. I will dip toast in the baked stuff instead. What a t*t I am.

This is such a stressful week but try not to let it be. We're always in control. The list is our friend but the pen marking it off is our fancy bit on the side much love to the strike through! Stay happy my friends.

Right, loads to do so will do it to Perry Como, Nat King Cole and Dean Martin singing Christmas tunes. Come on... It's Christmas!

mardatha

Bah humbug!!

ginnyknit

Hugs to all the Mums whose littlies are struggling with stage fright. Dgs didnt even attend the nativity or panto as he can't fathom out what its all about. I never went to watch my 2 as I always cried but OH and my Mum and Dad always went.

Everyone seems to be having stress and stupid things going wrong including us, I do hope things improve and we have the Christmas we all would like.

My left leg isnt happy today, not had a minutes trouble with it since a cartilage op 5 years ago but am guessing its the lousy cold I have thats set it off. Got everything done now that was needed so can rest it this afternoon. OH thinks he is funny, he has just gone back to bed and left kids tv channel on to keep me company

[Deleted User]

SQ your little lad is a proper trooper, he was scared and anxious but he still got himself onto that stage and did his bit, so he didn't say his lines? well we all know the story and it's all credit to you both that he managed to be there and even if he did cry he's still achieved a huge step, be soooooooo proud of him and yourselves too as it's mainly parents who have to do the coping before and after school performances, he's a little STAR and please tell him we all think so!!!

FUDDLE theres nowt wrong with toast to dip petal, it's yummy too!!!

GINNY hope your leg eases off quickly (the pain therein, NOT the actual leg!!! I know how you lot think!) and I hope your flu bug is less bothersome today love.

MAR Bah Humbug with bells on !!! and possibly jelly babies too!!!

Cheers Lyn xxx.

savingqueen

Thanks fuddle and Mrs LW. I am imensely proud of him especially as I know like you fuddle exactly how it feels.

Mar - DH came home from work the other day with a big box of jelly babies from someone who appreciates his hard work. Not sure if they were meant for him, the kids or all of us - I am naming it a family gift

back to the wrapping, not long before I have to pack it all away and need to get milk yet. think the parcel I need to post will just have to be another day late.

sq

Pooky

Yay! Proud Mum alert...DD1 went off for her chat at the local radio station and they've offered her work experience, she will be collating and reading the news a couple of mornings a week! She's applied to do a degree in multi media journalism so this will help no end!

She's a clever sausage.

[Deleted User]

Well done Little Miss Pooky, good stuff eh?