I have lost my OS ways, help!

Caterina

Good morning,

Sorry for the hit-and-run post last night, I had been very busy and was falling apart with sleepiness!

MOS I understand your worry about your DD's shyness and concerns about finding work, I have DS who even at 25 is not exactly talkative, so no matter how many interviews he goes, he remains fairly tongue tied and as a result does not get jobs. Let's hope that our adult children find their niche in the world!

Villagelife good for you for the overtime work, why not, at least at weekend you might not have the weekday headaches, and the money is good.

Amandaatnumber7 good luck with your drop in hours, you will be fine, I am sure, as an experienced OSer. Glad to hear about your windfall, it will help with your reduced income. Looking forward to hearing about your veg growing, we have an allotment (much neglected at the moment sadly) and love growing and eating our own veg!

Today is a food day, I have a mystery restaurant visit for lunch, going with DS as he loved it so much when he came with me to a past visit, in another branch. I requested this visit especially for him. It will mean a whole afternoon of report writing. Ah well, it will be a good meal, as it is a lovely place. Sorry I am not allowed to mention ithe name otherwise I would recommend it very highly!

Tonight DH and I are invited to dinner at friends, so more food. I am not having breakfast otherwise I will be bursting!

Apart from eating and writing about eating, DS and I need to do a trip to the CS to give away the results of DS's massive decluttering, books, clothes, stuff he had since he was a child. Yesterday, with a heavy heart, we ceremonially threw away a box containing his little milk teeth, we agreed that it would have been a little creepy to keep them, but I was sad about it nevertheless.

Yesterday we popped into a CS and were told quite rudely that they had no space so we should take our stuff back. Won't be buying from them again and I am in a mind to ring their main office and complain, but I know they will say sorry sorry, they are volunteers etc, don't know if it is worth the bother.

Well, start of the day now, hope you all have a good OS day.

villagelife

Managed to start some meal planning yesterday but need to do a stock take of whats in the cupboards and freezer.
I sorted out towels yesterday and now have cut some up for rags, some to keep for the dog and then some left for the RSPCA - DS1 has also taken a couple for uni. I had asked him at christmas whether he wanted any and because they weren't in a pile in front of him the answer was no.
Today I need to try and feel organized I know its a mindset but it does make me feel better. I don't seem to achieve more but means life feels easier and I'm more relaxed and nicer to live with!

To Caterina and MOS it is a worry with children who are shy and often its getting past the interview stage and then the initial period at work before they show their true colours. A collegue at work was hard work to have a conversation with initially but now she has settled in she is delightful and certainly makes my Thursdays more bearable.

Icey77

I have to do a comment and run too, I have to go to the dump, Homebase and the pet shop this morning with the kids, fun fun!!!

Caterina, that infuriates me in charity shops. One of our local ones had a large "Stock unhealthy needed" sign in their window but rudely refused my donations when I brought them in. I won't go in there anymore.

ailz95

I know what you mean about charity shops. I went into one in Steyning in my mobility scooter and was asked to leave as I might move rails to get past and they'd got them where they wanted them. And there was a sign at the door welcoming disabled people and offering any help they may need.

Ailz

moments_of_sanity

Good Evening All,

Bit a bit up and down here, DD came back for my Birthday on Thursday and didn't want to go back as she hates London but wants to continue with her course.....not sure we have resolved anything but she is here until Monday and will have to commute to Uni on Monday and may come back or stay with her Boyfriend for a few days. I really thought it got easier the older they got but I worry just as much now as I ever did.

DH needed some new steel toe cap bots for work as his others one's let in water but we managed to get him a pair from a well known sports store for £22.99 so very pleased with that.

DH and DD2 are having pulled pork rolls for dinner but I fancy a couple of boiled eggs, since I mentioned them this morning, they have been calling to me! :rotfl:

Wishing you all a lovely OS evening.

CRANKY40

I hope everyone is well. I'm doing the grocery challenge this month to help with the savings fund. The boy and I also have a weekly "allowance" built into our budget each month. It pays for things like a hair cut for the boy (last Friday), lunch if we go anywhere in the school holidays - that kind of thing. I have been wanting the boy to have a better understanding of money and how it really works so I have started a profit sharing scheme with him instead of just handing over pocket money. Each purchase from our allowance is discussed (apart from the haircut, he was starting to look like a pineapple) and at the end of the week, any money left over is split 3 ways. One third to me, one third to him and one third to our holiday spends pot. Two weeks in and he's already asking if we need things or are buying them just because we want them.

It was too cold to go anywhere today anyway, so we had a baking lesson. He has asked to be taught to cook (he's 10) so today we made shortbread and he now knows the rubbing in method. Michaelangelo couldn't have taken more care with his paintings than my son did cutting out his shortbread shapes but he did the whole thing himself from scratch and it kept him busy for ages :j

He used to be a very shy person when he was small, but he managed to force himself round the door at our local karate club (it took him two visits before he would go in) and the difference it has made is amazing. He is still reluctant to put himself to the forefront of anything that is going on, but he managed to volunteer for a non-speaking part in the school Christmas play and enjoyed the experience.

When I moved house, as well as the local hospice shop I donated to a group that sell things to raise money for new toys for the local hospital and managed to let a fair bit go on a free site. It's always worth a look round to see what groups are about and asking for things.

Take care all of you

Caterina

Good morning,

Icey and Ailz, the attitude that some CSs have is a major irritant for me, but also the idea that people can be rude and dismissive "because they are volunteers". If they trained and monitored their volunteers properly they would not like them to be rude to customers. Bad customer service and lack of manners are bugbears of mine! Luckily there are other charity shops and if I don't succeed then I shall freecycle the stuff.

MOS sorry to hear that your DD2 is having a bad time in London, where in London is she? I would be happy to meet her sometime for a cup of tea if she needs a chat, PM me if you want.

Cranky how lovely about your DS being so grown up, about money but also cooking and martial arts, you must be so proud of him!

Today I have a breakfast mystery shop (with a good 2+ hours report writing afterwards) but afterwards I am accompanying DH to the allotment, for our "dig one box per week" project, so that by end of February all boxes are cleared and covered in manure, ready to be planted in. I need to order first early potatoes to start chitting, so we can plant the still unclaimed areas of ground.

Tomorrow is the start of my Fiscal Fast, DH is on board and we have all the food we need. I did a shop yesterday using the Marks voucher, not a stockpile, just a normal shop, although I bought a few more eggs than normal, because I cannot rely on carbs all the time, I would normally buy those eggs in the week anyway.

I shall document my progress here.

Have a good OS Sunday.

CyclingLondonSaver

Hello all! Does anyone mind if I join in on this thread? I've been reading it for ages but have only recently started subscribing and posting. You all seem like a lovely bunch of people

Icey77

Evening all, this weekend has been an interesting one where DD is concerned. She can be lovely and then she can be hideous. And I'm always trying to avoid the Hideous Frog

I'd posted on Saturday morning that we had to go to the dump, Homebase and then Pets at Home. Well, she was fab and I felt a little bad for assuming she would be horrendous. In Homebase she refused to go in to buggy with DS but was brilliant at helping me pull the wheelie basket and put things in it and then in the petshop we had a look at all the rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and fish etc (several times) but we left with her walking beside me holding my hand ... Unlike previous times where she's been screaming and I've had to carry her out over my shoulder or under my arm. Oh the shame!! :mad::mad:

After all this we went to the park in the afternoon, which was a mud bath but I was prepared with wellies and old clothes and she had a good run about and swing on the big and little swings. Then best of all when we got in Fleetwood Mac were playing on the radio and we had a dancing session in the kitchen. She declared the music to be "good music" quite right I say!!

Caterina

Good evening,

CyclingLondonSaver of course you are very welcome to join, I hope you will enjoy reading and posting here.

Icey that's nice that Frog behaved well, children are rather surprising little beings! No shame, though, in carrying a screaming toddler under your arm, if anyone has had kids, they (we!) have all been there and won't think any bad thought, in fact we would probably pity the mum!

Nice day today, the mystery breakfast was just grand, fantastic food and lovely fun place. Then DH and I fell into the Barbour shop where they were having a 50% off sale of jumpers and shirts, on top of a Buy 2 Get One Free promotion. It would have been rude not to take up the offers. We did spend a chunk of money but bought life-lasting jumpers and shirts and it was the delayed Christmas gift that we had promised each other. We gave each other very small stuff on the day, planning to get something at the sales. We are very pleased with the jumpers and the shirts I got for myself are the loveliest, best-fitting ones I have ever had in my life.

Then back home, quick snack, made the big flask of tea and we went to the allotment. Another box dug and covered in manure and a whole load of spare raspberry canes given away, some to a stranger who was passing by the allotment gate!

Dinner was veg risotto, extra yummy, with a glass of Prosecco (tut-tut to myself as I am on the January Dryathlon). This is my second glass of wine in the month and I only had it because DS goes away tomorrow for a week and really wanted to open the bottle to celebrate.

I am going to miss him as he is such a lovely company but I hope he enjoys himself, and I also look forward to a much simplified life for a week, no spends, nice walks, housework and simple plain food.

Good night.