A Singularly Lonely Christmas

moneyistooshorttomention

Me neither re the "crying to order". No can do...but its just downright obvious when I'm upset, even though I've never yet burst in tears in front of a workman.

That...and they can see me doing the mental arithmetic trying to tott-up what I estimate the latest house disaster will cost me to sort out...

LavenderBees

LizzieB wrote: »

This thread has been so much of a comfort to me. I'm only 37, but lost my husband in November 2012 so have spent the last year getting back on my feet again as a single person. Its been so nice knowing there are others out there in a 'single' position still trying to keep the OS traditions.

Really sorry to hear that, Lizzie. In my experience, it takes quite some time to get truly on your feet again when you've lost a loved one, however that loss happens.

Nearly 9 years I've been single...emotionally, much more settled, but still often struggling through every day life and its challenges.

Baby steps...and be kind to yourself when you need it.

xx

LavenderBees

calicocat wrote: »

A male friend of mine always says to take a bloke with you when going to a garage to get the car looked at....but aside from just grabbing one off the street that isn't always possible......although I guess that would be another way to meet new people...lol....kidnap.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

LavenderBees

Byatt wrote: »

I have pootled outside again, walked to the local post office to post a parcel, which is an event in itself as person who runs it, rarely speaks...very difficult when you are trying to make a transaction. She is always "doing" something when I walk in, doesn't say a word until she finishes, which is usually just to confirm what I;ve just said...and that's it.

Still productive in other ways, as notices go up in the window for different events, and so I might be popping along to a "talk" run by the village garden society, I also have the number for said garden society which I intend to join. They do a village fete in the summer too, so I can be part of that.

All I have to do is actually go now...:o

You know, I've been mulling this all afternoon, and if you don't mind me saying...;), yeah, I know, I'm going to say it anyway...but you have a choice here...

1. To continue to let this rude woman in the PO make you feel cr*p

2. Avoid her by going elsewhere

3. Tackle her about it...sometimes I don't let myself think. I just hear a voice, realise it's mine :eek:, and there, it's said. Of course, I have nae friends now :rotfl: No, but seriously, one day, go in, when she finally looks at you, keep your chin up, look her in the eye, and simply say very quietly "you're very rude". I bet she'd be so taken aback, that she wouldn't be able to respond.

Oh, and then run, just in case, I'm wrong....:rotfl:

Seriously, though, this woman sounds incredibly rude to you, you're worth better than that. And you've dealt with far worse than her. If you don't, I will..its always easier sticking up for someone else, after all.

xx

P.S. and on the subject of the gardening club :T. Just remember, you are only saying you're going once. That makes it manageable psychologically...I find.

calicocat

Another one who stocks up on stuff here...however I do have hoarding tenancies, and am a serial shopper so not sure how much of it is me being single....no but seriously I think I have stocked up more since, also being on this forum actually. a constant battle between....'stock up in case the world ends....to get rid of everything....to buy all bargains....to don't shop at all....quite funny really. No wonder I haven't got a clue what i'm doing.

On a more serious note though...take last month and hospital appointments....another expense as didn't want to rely on friends every other day, so whilst I couldn't drive it was taxis to and from. to be honest I only asked someone once for a lift so that could be said to be my own fault, but you get so used to relying on only yourself. I have been single (as in not living with or B/f) for probably 6 yrs now, and it's amazing how you get used to it and become quite a hermit, as I never used to be.


So, this evening I have learnt that I need to join an acting class to be able to cry at will without laughing, and that good vans can still mean crap workmen (which I had suspected anyhow).

MummyBobble

LB, I wish now I had at least offered my phone number to the lady I thought I knew (because I wasn't wearing my glasses...) but I will now make it my mission to hunt her down

To carry on with the car tale, I been picked up this evening by a very lovely young man for the second time in a week Just a shame he was only taking me (again) back to the garage to pick my car up (which has cost me almost £350:eek:!) When he rang to check my address I had told him that I'd be easy to find because I have a blue Zafira on the drive covered in stickers. His reply, "I think you'll find we have that car and that's why I'm coming to pick you up" He also suggested I have a hearing test as the noise I said was coming from the back brakes was coming from the front... I think I may be in danger of giving women drivers a bad name! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

spirit

cars can be a minefield (and moneypot) eh MummyBobble. :eek:

A couple of years ago I had my car booked in for MOT at a local garage I had used before. I went to take the car to them, put the key in and - dink, dink was all I could get out of it :eek:

I rang the garage most apologetic and explained. They were brilliant and sent someone out with some jump leads. It needed a new battery which they sorted for me - and didn't rip me off :T
They immediately went in my 'use again' list. I bought a 1 yr old car shortly after that which is shortly due for its very first MOT. No surprises for guessing where i'm taking it.

On another positive note. a few weeks ago my kitchen light switch went. I had often wondered why they had put a dimmer switch in a kitchen with spotlights anyway.. I rang the sparky I had used on the last doer upper house, he was about to catch a plane on holiday and said i could easily do it myself. I nipped to Q and B to get what he'd told me to. 'It's only 2 wires, you can't go wrong' he said.

I was really nervous about it, but hey, I did it!

This year, well last year really, I feature wallpapered bedroooms 1 and 2. Never done any wallpapering previously, so that was satisfying.

moneyistooshorttomention

Congratulations on that bit of DIY.

Must admit that DIY and myself in same sentence:rotfl:. I've got several DIY books including a couple specially for women...but....errrm....I find them very useful for knowing how tradesmen should be doing their work to get it to a proper standard. But...as for the question as to whether I've "used" them directly myself......:rotfl:

Well, I did do a little painting back in my last house and I will paint this house in future years when it needs re-doing (but having workmen do it in the first place, so that the preparation work is all done properly in the first place.....well that's the theory.........).

Former_MSE_Andrea

Hi everyone

Here's an idea. As it's been so motivating for you all how about we change the thread title to what was suggested and keep it on OS?

Pink, if other thread users agree feel free to edit the title on this one.

Andrea

calicocat

spirit wrote: »

cars can be a minefield (and moneypot) eh MummyBobble. :eek:

A couple of years ago I had my car booked in for MOT at a local garage I had used before. I went to take the car to them, put the key in and - dink, dink was all I could get out of it :eek:

I rang the garage most apologetic and explained. They were brilliant and sent someone out with some jump leads. It needed a new battery which they sorted for me - and didn't rip me off :T
They immediately went in my 'use again' list. I bought a 1 yr old car shortly after that which is shortly due for its very first MOT. No surprises for guessing where i'm taking it.

On another positive note. a few weeks ago my kitchen light switch went. I had often wondered why they had put a dimmer switch in a kitchen with spotlights anyway.. I rang the sparky I had used on the last doer upper house, he was about to catch a plane on holiday and said i could easily do it myself. I nipped to Q and B to get what he'd told me to. 'It's only 2 wires, you can't go wrong' he said.

I was really nervous about it, but hey, I did it!

This year, well last year really, I feature wallpapered bedroooms 1 and 2. Never done any wallpapering previously, so that was satisfying.

Well done.....and where do you live...

The other month my electrics went off. The fuse box in this house is different to the type i'm used to so did have a clue what I should be doing without making things worse. Ended up phoning another single friend, who knew nothing about it...but she was at football practice with her son so I got passed around on the phone with various dads there until one knew what to do. To be fair I should have worked out myself what to do as it was common sense.......and if left to my own devices would have no doubt got there in the end...but I seem to initially go into panic-mode and get some kind of brain freeze. I had been renting for 10 yrs up until now so LL just sorted everything, or the bloke in my life. So I guess i'm relatively new at sorting things myself on a practical level house wise and i'm sure i'll get better at it , and the immediate panic will get less.

I think also, as i've just moved I don't really know people/neighbours to ask for information, but this too will change in time. I had a long conversation with the woman next door yesterday about dogs, so if had to would feel more comfortable asking her or her husband for advice if needed now.

I'm fine with painting and basic DIY, and have a huge DIY book, but a lot of it may as well be written in Japanese, I should have got a basic one. Having said that the stirs are so tall here I would get someone else to paint that bit or I could die.