OS Singlies - We Do It Our Way!

mum2one

Spent the morning at my favourite place, accident and emergency....... for a change it wasn't for dad, but DD, when we were away at the weekend she fell out of bed and came a cropper, she could move fingers etc, so guessed wasn't a break, she didnt want to get checked out while we were away as the nearest hospital was the one where dad had been in!

So this morning took her, not bad 2 hrs in a+e, shes got ligament and muscle damage and soft tissue injury. She didnt have the best of nights sleep, she was talking, shouting and thrashing - as well l as a couple of conversations with her, which she doesn't remember.

From the sleep chat, and follow on conversations, she and her friend are being bullied by a group of 4 lads at school, there yr 8 (12/13yr olds), they have both told the teacher who is dealing with it, but after the weekend, I rang and spoke to the head of year, who was really helpful and is dealing with it tomorrow, i know she can fight her own battles but shes only been there 3 weeks, and with the goings on with dad, just dont want her taking on any more stress.

onwards and upwards, x

Horace

Dreadful that your DD is being bullied Mum2One - it was a good idea to ring the head teacher to get it nipped in the bud. Hope your DD's had gets better soon too.

I had the most bargainous day today, my freezer and fridge were bare and I was wondering if I would ever be able to afford meat again. I took the car to tai chi this morning and then headed off to the supermarket, couldn't be bothered to drive to Aldi and instead went to Morrisons. Firstly their stewing steak on the butcher counter had 25% off so I got a large piece for £2.77 and the butcher cut it up for me. I then found the fridge that contained the meat whoopsies all with sell by today on them. I thought I had died and gone to heaven when I saw the bargains - a small pack of lean minced steak for £1.15 when usually it is over £2, a butterflied pork tenderloin (it was huge) for £1.95 instead of £7.99, a large joint of silverside for £3.75 instead of £7.99, a large piece of topside steak for £1.99 instead of £3.96.

I cut the pork tenderloin into 3 pieces and froze them, the topside of steak has also been cut into 3 and so has the silverside joint. My freezer is now full of meat. Of course I haven't labelled any of it so will take pot luck when I pull it out of the freezer.

I hate being skint and apply for loads of jobs but no-one wants a 50+ year old with a visual impairment, I might be blind in one eye and shortsighted in the other but I can still do stuff...grrr.

I picked up apples and a few nanas as well as bread and milk, even a tiny bottle of vanilla extract (a tiny bottle lasts me ages).

Tai chi was good this morning, I had a little wander in the oak wood too and picked some leaves which I will soak in a mixture of glycerine and water to preserve them. Lots of ideas being bandied about for the shop window that we need to decorate for the festival of light.

Met a chap last night who I promptly co-opted onto our committee because he is an event organiser who has recently moved to the area and he is the organiser of a huge carnival in a Herefordshire town, hopefully he can work his magic and we can get some events in the calendar and get some money coming in. It is a great weight off my shoulders because although I am superwoman, I know my limitations and acknowledge that I cannot do everything.

ellie99

Thanks for replies re the cat.
We're pretty certain he's found somewhere better to stay, as his visits home sort of "petered out" rather than him just suddenly disappearing.
I talked to DS again today, and he's going to go round all the neighbours (not in a street, it's cottages in the country so quite spread out) and see if he can find out who took him in.

Then I guess he'll just have to accept the cats decision!
He works long hours and that isn't going to change, so nothing will be changing at home to entice the cat back.

mum2one

as for cats - I had to smile today, left the front door open and the next minute we have a kitten sprawled out comfortable on the carpet..... we then found out it was the next dr neighbours.

Unfortunalty this was to the displeasure of the dog!!.

Horace - that sounds some brilliant bargains, popped into Mr M earlier, went in for a paper, and spent £10.... whoops, but was pleased as got 12.5kg bag of potato's for £2 been paying £2.50 for 5kg in Mr T... got home just as my lovely neighbour (one who lives facing us), just getting dropped off by his daughter, so he carried them in for me!.

Bit of an update, DDs teacher spoke to the lads concerned and told them it has to stop pronto or things will become a lot worse for them, so fingers crossed we have nipped this in the bud xxx

MummyBobble

Sorry, been MIA for a couple of weeks and have loads of posts to catch up on.

Lot's of carp both at work and home that set the downward spiral hurtling at breakneck speed . Been off work for a week and unlikely to be back before the end of October. I'm going to take the opportunity to go for a daily walk (fresh air, even in the rain, improves my mood) and catch up on chores and decluttering (may turn into a Stepford wife - without the controlling husband - but a frilly apron and a permanent smile will be a must). That would really scare DD and DS :rotfl:

Cats? My old cat (who passed when he was 19 in human years) used to go across the road, in through their cat flap and sleep first thing in the morning on their front room window ledge because that was where the sun was. Beware any cat that tried to get in through his cat flap though

We all have our own stories, but what I see is that we are all positive and making plans. We may not get it right every time but we learn from it and move on (apart from my appalling lack of judgement on the man front). You are all so lovely and I am so very grateful for the way you share the ups and downs. I wonder how many of the folk we know that seem to be gliding swan like, effortlessly thorough life, are actually frantically paddling like a rabid duck below water trying to hold it all together? (OK I need to Google if ducks can have rabies - not obsessive or anything...)

Night x

moneyistooshorttomention

I shall remember that apparently gliding through life like a swan, whilst in reality paddling frantically underneath the water.

I guess couples are better able to maintain the "smoothly swimming swan" illusion than we can, because we have to 'go outside' for any help or even just verbal back-up we need.

Though, having said that, I am still feeling very appreciative of a couple I have made friends with here for the way they were yesterday. They know the difficulties I am having with Little Sod neighbour and it has come to a peak now (as I've had to make it very plain that no more of their nonsense will be tolerated and THAT IS IT in no uncertain terms). They knew where I would be at one point yesterday and had worked out I would probably be having a coffee stop-off and there they both were "by coincidence;)" and I promptly got hailed/bought a coffee/back to their place for another drink and then given a lift right back to my door and they stopped long enough to make sure I'm okay and "show solidarity" so to say. That was very very appreciated indeed:T. I don't think many couples realise just how things feel to a singlie on her own sometimes, but it was clear they do and were doing their best to be helpful. Aw:D.

I have come to realise recently what that phrase "snake in the grass" means, as I've witnessed that recently, but true friends are "there for you" and they were.

Horace

Back from my Nordic Walking - it was great fun and a real good workout (although it doesn't really feel it at the time). I had to borrow poles because mine are broken (I think I have learnt my lesson to never lend anyone anything). Might be getting some free clothes too so I don't need to keep wearing my own stuff - although it will have some advertising on it (I don't mind as it is for the park).

Money Glad you managed to go out for coffee with some friends, I don't envy you having a Little Sod for a neighbour though (there is someone like that that lives next door but one but they are a couple and they are vile).

It is a blustery and cold day today - I think I will go and bung a stew on.

RosiePuddingPaws

Woo hoo! I have a newly plumbed in washer dryer!! (I also have masses of polystyrene). Thanks to a work colleague I have also been put in touch with a really nice local chap who will happily do those little odd jobs that I don't know how to do. Such a relief. He has also said he will look at the leaky en-suite loo for me too. He hasn't offered to live in the cupboard under the stairs though ...

ellie99

Good news RosiePuddingPaws

I spent yesterday afternoon visiting care homes, and today meeting with aunts social worker, we are hoping she can move to a home near myself and her sister so that visiting is easier, those homes have no vacancies just now though.

Also went to her flat and fetched homes bags and boxes of paperwork and letters...a quick glance revealed bills nearly 20 years old :eek: Dreading going through that lot! I will approach it with the "eat an elephant" philosophy. I am trying to stay calm and tell myself everything will get sorted eventually, but am aware it's going to cause a lot of extra work, don't foresee much spare time for a while.

Horace

Its fab when you find a chappy do to things that you can't do, isn't it RosiePuddingPaws - glad you have had a recommendation for a reliable chap.

Ellie I don't envy you going through all that paperwork - 20 year old bills do not sound good but then they may well have been paid and are being kept for reference. I know that my mum has kept cashbooks since the day she married and she has all of them - they should be fun to go through when the time comes. She has tried to instil the cashbook usage to me but I am afraid I forget where I have put the book and forget to write in it.

I have spent the day wrestling with Public Liability insurance for the Friends group - at least it is now sorted and what is even better is that we don't need to pay for it because the council are paying. The quote for my park is £131 and we are covered for £10million - it took an age because I had to make sure we got the right one and asked for additional cover for larger community events of 500 attendees on average (as the events are unticketed, how will we know how many people we will have? - the insurers have okayed it).

The stew I made last night (I used a sauce mix especially for slow cookers - I wont be using it again as it was too tomatoey for me probably because I used passata as I didn't have a tin of chopped toms) tasted ok and it got thinned down and re-heated today and had some additional veg chucked in and it became soup. The stewing steak that I bought from Mr M was actually a bit too much so I split it and froze half. I love this bargainous food. I am due to have some free food soon because I am getting some vouchers from Mr T's Orchard to get fruit and veg - I will have to provide feedback and will be given vouchers to give to friends.

Have been searching for jobs - more umming and aahhing about a part time Directorship of a local charity but I have decided I am going to apply for it anyway (they can only say no).