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

savingqueen

Hello everyone,

I have been reading alongside you all lately but couldn't seem to concentrate enough to post anything so you lucky lot got a breather from my ramblings .

Huge hugs all round especially for those struggling with dentists, depression, exhaustion, other health problems, work, housing and other worries.

The most excitement I have had this week has been the arrival of a shiny NEW washing machine...I think I'm in love with a White Goods Appliance. I have been managing with an ailing machine and then no machine - don't think I will ever again handwash bath sheets no siree. It is a better make than we can usually afford as I found one by chance in a clearance sale for a good price. (Sadly the one I really coverted for £999 was just a little out of our price range :rotfl:)It does all sorts of fancy things and best of all it doesn't sound like a jumbo jet so I can do washing before 9am in the morning! :j

It comes to something when you get excited about a WGA!

Also been to the docs for repeat ADs. It's a good job I am not relying on him to talk to... blood and stone. Anyway he did do something for me which was give me a precription for 2 months instead of one so I will save £7.85 and miss out an appointment next month. The only thing is that it now seems more long term and that doesn't feel good.

DH has also had some worrying work news. He told me before Xmas that his work have a biggish deficit and his dept need to make 30% cuts again to overall budget (already cut down staff considerably) and I didn't realise (how I don't know???) that his work have already made 2 rounds of voluntary redundancies and so the next lot will be compulsary. This week staff have been asked to comment (had an afternoon to do so) on a proposal to centralise services. Another dept has already gone the same way and another support service contracted out. It ain't looking good but nothing is certain and I am very thankful every time DH gets paid.

Anyway like Christmas, I have been both looking forward to tomorrow and dreading it - my birthday. Not dreading being another year older (past it.... caring I mean )but the wider family stuff. I usually meet up with friends for a coffee and cake, didn't feel like it so wasn't going to this year but a couple of friends have nagged me until I caved in into arranging something.... we are meeting for breakfast in a local cafe tomorrow.... I love breakfast out plus and it is cheaper than lunch and means people can eat at home first if they prefer and just buy a cuppa.

One of my amazing friends (a nagger!) came round this evening with a homemade chocolate cake, all covered with glitter and chocolate stars and hearts. I am bowled over, she knows how much homemade stuff means to me and she doesn't usually bake much and certainly not decorated stuff. Even thinking about it makes me teary!

A couple of cards came from family yesterday so I had an idea.... open them early on my own and then cellotape them back up (for the benefit of the kids) so they won't upset me as much tomorrow! There is a cheque in one envelope which I would have loved to give to charity but have decided I won't even cash it and will make my own donation when I can afford to from my own money.

Enough rambling, DH had an exam this eve and has arrived home shattered. Tomorrow our little family are are going out in the eve for a cheap cavery meal and then back home for my birthday cake and we will just enjoy ourselves and . Haven't told our boys, they will be excited to be eating out.

sq

savingqueen

ps DH just came in and said thanks for.... you know.... (no I didn't!).... well for putting up with me lately. He has been really stressed with work worries and exams. Hoping he will sleep soundly tonight.

Hope everyone else has a good sound sleep and tomorrow is kind to you all

sleep well
sq

mcculloch29

I know it's very, very late but I just had to post some bits of good news... So many bits of your news to post about. Gailey, excellent advice from Kidcat and Fuddle, good luck too.
Possession, what a relief, SQ, may all be well and :bdaycake:I love my new washing machine that rhymes with squash, even if it's too posh for my kitchen.
Nuttyp hope Mum is continuing to improve.

Good News 1. I got observed on my teaching this week. I got a Grade 1, Outstanding, same result as Oct 2012.... However in a different teaching job in 2010, I was only just satisfactory.
To all those struggling in work situations I hope this offers some hope that their situations can change. My current job brings variable monetary rewards but I love it.

News 2 . Am@zon are sending me a SOUP MAKER TO REVIEW! :T :j I am seriously excited about this. Normally January is a quiet month for review stuff - I only had four items offered to me, but one was the soup maker. I have lentils all ready and waiting...!

The other item I chose actually came out this time last year, a book by Harry 'Superscrimpers' Wallop about consumerism (bit ironic... being offered that by Am@zon).

Edit. Cheap Replacements for Expensive Ingredients.

alfsmum

Happy Birthday sq :bdaycake:

Pooky

Happy birthday SQ hope you can enjoy your day x

FairyPrincessk

Morning all,

Happy Birthday SQ! I think opening the cards early to give yourself a bit of space and not upset the children is a good idea. Don't worry about a longer prescription for ADs, all it means is the doctor isn't worried about you reacting badly to them and so doesn't need to monitor you as closely, nothing to do with how long you might need them.

SDG, big hugs.

Kidcat, I hope you're getting some sleep.

Possession, I'm so glad things are not going to immediately get worse.

In good news, my side effects are minimal today too!

I'm taking my test on life in the UK today. Silly, but I'm nervous about it. I've passed every single practice test in the book, but sometimes get the odd question about sport on which I'm absolutely clueless.:rotfl: When I get one I don't know it makes me more nervous. With as many tests as I've taken in my life I should know better.

I have lots of marking to do and I know I won't be able to focus on thesis work today so I'm going to head to the gym this am and then head in to town to find the test centre early as I'm a bit worried about finding it--its down a side street from a shop I go to regularly so should be fine. I'll sit in a cafe and mark until test time and then going to reward myself for Wednesday's meeting and hopefully doing well today with a trip to the fabric and haberdashery shop. Will come home and mark until time to make tea, so at least I'm getting things done anyway.

Neighbours have been kicking off for a couple of days now. Fortunately they've been downstairs during the night so haven't kept us awake, and the room I work in is on the other side of the house (we're in terraces) so doesn't share a wall--but it isn't nice. I don't understand how people can live constantly shouting and fighting for days on end. I don't think the drugs and alcohol help.:(

kidcat

SQ happy birthday I hope today is peaceful calm and joyous for you.


FPK good luck. If I had sport questions to answer I would fail dismally. It is just not my thing I'm afraid.

mardatha

I'm very lucky with my neighbours, but my daughter has moved into a brand new HA 4 bedroom on a new estate - and her neighbours are ex-homeless from Glasgow. Been in the place 6 weeks and the garden is a wasteland of rubbish and torn black binbags, they have no carpets and clatter up and down 2 flights of stairs day and all night, windows wide open in the freezing cold and the whole family constantly yelling and swearing at top of their voices. Life is def changing - and not for the better is it!

nuttyp

Morning all, SQ happy birthday. Princess good luck with the exam.


Went to visit mum yesterday, she is a little better. While in ressuss she had a heart rate of 137, they thought it was a blood clot but it isn't. Apart from that I know no more.
DD had to go back to hospital last night after having her wisdom tooth out Monday as it was bleeding heavily. She is now on antibiotics as it is badly infected.


I collected the desk and chair I won at the weekend of landofbay, Youngest DD is very happy and was doing her homework last night on it.


I have a couple of days off work again now, and need to catch up with housework and washing. for the next few weeks I will be very busy doing extra hours as we have people on holiday. The extra pay will be handy. OH compay have closed one of the local depots and reorganised things. He is ok for now, likewise we have been told that we will be required to single man at work for more hours a day. \no mention of more pay, just more to do for the money. We aren't even sure if we will get a bonus now, as they don't think they can afford one - whats the chance that the area manager and directors don't get one. Absolutley none, its the little people who are suffering.


Well I must do some jobs, take care all. x

PRINCESSX87

Morning everyone

Hugs to everyone that would like one!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SQ!!!! Hope you have a great day xxx

Been quite on our front. Just doing the usual chores, debt arranging, ect.

Looking over our funds today. Not sure without double checking, But I’m pretty sure we’ve managed to clear another 3 debts. The list is getting smaller. Its so powering to see them getting cleared - But I have a awful feeling like I have forgotten some somewhere.

Today is washing day. I have one load on already. Normally I run the machine of a night time but I only managed one load. I have around 5 to do today. Kicking myself as I usual do it as required instead its built up.

Not sure if this is of help for anyone. But on Wednesday we received a call from our bank. They said that each bank is required to call their customers to update their accounts. They ask that you come into branch and they also look at anything they can make cheaper for you.
If you have loans, CC’s, paid services from you bank, Insurances ect. Then your within your rights to ask for a appointment.

It seems, That our household insurance is cheaper elsewhere. We should save around 45% if I take a print off from a compare site.

Right, Must dash, Pups require their walks!!

xx