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

Rosanna79

It's ages since I visited- the last tough thread became so unwieldy it was overwhelming. Great to hear of people's reminiscences and I remember so much of what has been mentioned from an outside loo when we lived in the village right through to dressing in bed on the very cold mornings of a North Lincolnshire winter in the days before central heating. We seemed hardier then but I guess we were much younger?! I can't say I relish this aging lark but it wonderful to be retired. Getting up later or doing 'dressing gown gardening' just because one can is brilliant!

We have a very productive kitchen garden as well as a massive cat & other feline visitors. We cover everything in a particularly fine insect mesh & OH has put extra netting on top of that which cats seem to find unpleasant to walk on. We use a system of fishing rod rests, plumber's tubing and home made frames resting on that over which the mesh is draped and secured with bricks, wood and garden clips. It's a bit of a clat and we lift it all every so often for weeding but it's perfectly possible to water etc. through that and the cat lives happily without causing any major damage.

I seem to attract cats and recently a very thin one with an extremely loud voice was having a row with our own massive moggy, He is less than half Henry's size and our boy is very quiet. I'm beginning to wonder where this ? tabby has come from. His markings are like a tiger. He has huge light jade green eyes and is very friendly. He can eat his own weight in food but seems to stay very slim.

He looks healthy & today when I nipped into the vets I met a lady whose cats has similar markings and also had plenty to say for itself. She told me he is a Bengal. Never seen one before but he was beautiful. The one who visits us whom I've nicknamed Tabbicat also has a big mouth, never gets his claws out like Henry - just makes a racket every time he visits.

We'd taken to putting food out by the door as he seems to be starving and the resident hedgehogs have been helping themselves. However we were both gobsmacked when a cheeky blackbird not only started stealing it but actually came indoors to our kitchen to help himself to Henry's biscuits!! The sight of this bird sitting our kitchen sink looking at us was really disconcerting. We've had to shoo it out twice in one day & now the gentle water spray bottle for seedlings has been set to water pistol setting!! I wouldn't mind so much if we lived in a rural location but this is a suburban street!!

I must agree with previous posters regarding the cost of weddings. When OH & I married we did have a church wedding. They had a hall at the back where we held our reception. One friend gave us the wedding cake as a present. we married in West London as a central location for family & friends. I bought a cream evening dress for £32 in Oxford St, I can't remember what the veil cost but I wore the same shoes for going away with an Indian dress that was fashionable at the time & an investment buy velvet jacket I already owned. OH had a new suit and we went away to the south cost for our honeymoon. It was an afternoon reception and about us starting our life together as a couple not being flashy... I hate fuss. We'd known one another for 12 years before the wedding and will have been married 34 years in September.

Last year my cousin's youngest daughter got married with all the expense & show that is so common today. I simply couldn't connect with the demand for money as presents. We couldn't afford a lot and were invited to the evening do. I was attending a patchwork course in the run up and made the bride a beautiful patchwork /quilted shopping bag , a cushion and a patchwork wallet to hold the money we were able to give her.

What I still find hurtful to this day is that we have not received as much an email or text acknowledgement of the gift. It seems so bad mannered to us and when I remember how we wrote individually thanking all those who gave us wedding gifts, however small I wonder if I'm missing something in modern manners or etiquette??

We do try to move with the times but I cannot help mourning the passing of good manners & graciousness. We were always taught that no matter how humble our background that it costs nothing to be polite.

As for the cost of food, especially fresh veg we've been appalled by the rises , especially in favourites like broccoli which we really don't have the space to grow. As we have a second massive freezer in our garage to hold our frozen gluts we've taken to buying frozen veg as well either from Farm Foods or Iceland. Used as a supplement to whatever we can grow , steamed and well seasoned it makes sound economic sense to our budget. We're amazingly fortunate to have an Aldi at the end of our road plus a weekly market, Home Bargains, Iceland & Wilko. Whenever we are passing the bigger SM we hop in to see if anything we can't get up pour local high street is available.

Today OH did the main shop locally whilst I cycled over to town to get the items we needed but could not get locally. So I got my exercise in - a 5.25 mile bike ride & himself had the use of the car if he wanted.

I'm 8 weeks over a flu type virus and simply cannot get over the ridiculous tiredness that seems to hit, especially in the afternoon.. I had to go for a lie down this afternoon but as the GP says getting the balance of pushing and pacing oneself is quite difficult. Feel like a right old bat having to sleep in the afternoon!! Thankfully this should be a short term thing. When one's get up & go has got up & gone I guess one can only hope it eventually comes back??

the_cake

Hi Rosanna! About the aftermath of your flu type virus - I had bronchitis for a lot of last winter (never had it before), I was completely exhausted and the one thing which really helped me get fully better and feel energetic again was manuka honey. I am a real cheapskate, usually broke, and hated paying the price (you need at least 10 or 12+ grade for it to be effective) - it was I think about £12.50 for a smallish jar, but so glad I did, it was amazing, after only a few days I was really feeling quite normal again, such a relief. You might give it a whirl!

ginnyknit

I just remembered my Mum had a bandage dipped in honey popped in a gap in a scar after her hystericalrectomy 35 years ago and doubt it was Manuka. In those days I imagine it was plain old Gales anyway it worked brilliantly and I have used it ever since.

MY Ds was a premmie and had to be kept calm and I always dipped his dummy in the honey - just a smear -and when he had whooping cough the hospitals were full so he stayed home with Gp calling everyday. She saw the honey and as she said ' I dont necessarily agree with it but if it works do it!' He recovered amazingly fast and has beautiful teeth and has never seen a dentist in 32 years.

As for SAHM mums theres no such thing - there are just Mums with one job' At home' or 2 jobs 'at home and work' You are blessed if you can scrape by and stay home with your children and I think you should ignore critics and do what you feel is best.

kidcat

Hello toughies a very late pop in for me,

((hugs jem))

cranky - yes that is exactly the issue, he misses the cat, we visited a farm this morning and he spent an hour stroking the cat, the owner said it was unusual as the cat usually hated people but she was all over all of us
Was a brilliant farm though, empty as well so kids were able just to roam back and forth.

Kezlou - try merlins magic wand for tickets to lego - we were so lucky they gave us tickets to go.

I took DD18 and DS15 to Harry potter studios this evening, it was incredible, absolutely stunned and all the staff were so helpful, they knew DS was autistic and before I asked said if he needs to be out of any queues just let our staff know. Couldnt ask for better treatment. One lady had a camera run out of battery half way round, they radioed to the shop to send some through for her
It has made a very long day though and we are not long back, tomorrow is Longleat and I am so looking forward to that one.

Night toughies

tattycath

(((Hugs))) Jem, hope your FIL is soon on the mend. Xx

moments_of_sanity

My eldest DD swears by Manuka honey, she quite often gets sore throats etc especially in the summer as she suffers quite badly with hayfever so has a teaspoon every day in a cup of hot water (yuk, hate honey).

Just spent 10 minutes in the garden with one of my cats, he loves to lay across your shoulders and rub his face against yours, we call it lovezies, he is now content and laying in the middle of the garden. Problem is, my youngest Border Collie isn't happy that mummy smells so much like the cat so has been trying to sit on my lap!

Got a big batch of chicken and mushroom pie to make today, I tend to make up enough for 3/4 pies and freeze and then make the pastry and freeze that so that when it's pie night it doesn't take me anywhere near as long. Everyone here loves my home made pies much better than shop bought one's so I am constantly being asked to make some more

Cranky40, thanks for the info on the mince meat, we love making mince pies at Christmas and we make Eccles cakes with it the rest of the year so will pop in and get some :j

mardatha

Rosanna, be careful to rest a lot - I think now that's how I got ME, after a bout of chest infections.
Agree 100% re the honey and I use Sainsbugs Basics to put on wounds, it's amazing. Would love some Manuka for winter time.
Jem, sending love and light for you pet, you really are going through a bad time xx

kezlou

hi rosanna, sound like your feeling much now. This happens to me whenever i have a cold / flu typre virus, one way i found to ease the after effects i.e the tiredness. Pour some blackcurrant cordial in a mug, pour in boiling hot water and about a tbsp honey (or tsp if you prefer). This really helps with tiredness, headaches ad sore throats. Its tastes quite nice too.


oh honey never thought of using that on wounds thanks I just use the cheapest honey.


thanks kidcat, i applied to them last night On the website legoland was not available so trying for warwick castle.
Oh ds1 adores harry potter, the staff sound fantastic.

Well i'm about to picked up for an information day, help out there for a bit , then going to my aunties funeral. Really i shouldn't go to the info day but i need something to distract me. I'll only be there for about an hour then leave. Have to phone my dad up at 10:15 to make sure he's up for the funeral.
Can't believe its today.
Just hope my dad isn't late late as the boot im wearing it really loud and looks like i'm doing the goose step!

SDG31000

Morning all

jem My thoughts are with you and your family ((((((((((hugs)))))))))))

kidcat I am so glad that the visit to Harry Potter went well. Enjoy the rest of your holiday xxxx

:wave: Hello again Rosannna79

monnagran You are a truly wonderful woman and the world would be a much better place with more people like you in it

Hello to anyone new and welcome

I forgot to tell you about our wedding the last time I posted. DS1 was a bit of a surprise and I wanted to get married before he was born. So my wonderful PIL organised and paid for most of our wedding. We had no spare money at all and no savings as we hadn't been living together that long. We were also 110 miles away from where the wedding was held. Add in morning, noon and night sickness and my DMIL was left to sort everything. She made my dress, did the flowers, cooked a lot of the food for the buffet, (Including three turkeys. They were in various ovens and she ran between them to check on them), and was generally fantastic. Their church had watched DH grow up, so the organist, the choir and the bell ringers were free. A friend paid for the cake, another friend did my hair, one did the favours, yet another did the table decorations and lots of people brought food. DH jokes that our wedding was catered by the local WI. I spent the day before the wedding making lemon meringue pies. I stayed in a hotel just around the corner from the church and just walked there on the day. It's amazing how easy it is to get cars to stop for you while wearing a wedding dress and veil All in all, it was a truly wonderful day and our 18th anniversary is in 25 days.

Today's plan is to get the laundry mountain down to base camp level. The heavier stuff will go onto the line, apart from DS1's stuff which will go on the airer in the conservatory to cut down on the pollen it collects.
I also need to think of something for dinner that isn't going to heat the whole house up to oven temps. I'm thinking breaded pork chops at the moment, but I'm sure to change my mind by dinner time.

Take care everyone xxx

kittiej

Morning everyone :j

Jem - hope FIL will be OK x

On the subject of honey, it has been used to treat MRSA sufferers so it is good for wounds.

Bees are a bit of a cause of mine atm as I am trying to find a way of supporting beekeepers. It's in its very early stages so far though. Honey bees are really suffering with colony collapse especially in the countryside. Interestingly urban hives are doing really well because there is more food available.