The Garden Fence - help and support in tough times

silvasava

Another star for JL - I bought my printer from them at the same price as PCW but with a much longer guarantee. I knew exactly what I needed and the JL guy was much more knowledgeable and helpful.

monnagran

Trying to catch up but brain seems to be temporarily (I hope) AWOL.

From what I remember there is a lot of house renovation going on. Ho, ho. Been there. Kitchen installed in very small cottage. New kitchen packed in boxes filling living room floor to ceiling. Family sitting on their beds eating fish and chips.

DB renovated his own kichen. Poor SIL cooked Christmas dinner for extended family with her oven balanced on a Workmate.
Mila, in case things are different over there, a Workmate is a sort of portable workbench, not one of DB's friends.

No Softstuff, 11am is not too early for a stiff drink. In certain circumstances it is compulsory.

Ivy, what a relief for your RD. She will be well rid of her troublesome appendix.

FUDDLE, so good to hear from you. You already know my opinion of your DD's school.
We had the opposite problem, DGD was 'diagnosed' as dyslexic aged 6. DIL had a meeting with class teacher and headmistress and took me along as back up. When they had spouted their nonsense I ventured a mild remark and was shouted down by class teacher who quite rudely asked how I was qualified to comment. BIG MISTAKE. I told her.
Sorry, but not surprised, to hear the news about your mother. No-one can do it for her and she doesn't seem to have the will,or strength of mind to do it for herself. Very pleased that your sister is stepping up to the plate at last and that you are both getting along so much better. It makes it easier when the burden is shared.
A caravan! How wonderful! I hope that you can make full use of it through the summer.

Ah, we writers must stick together. I am still editing my first book with fingers crossed that I am doing the right thing. The poor author is well aware that I am cutting my teeth on his book and is being very kind.

The family are away today and tomorrow visiting DIL's mother, so I have the house to myself. A brief respite as they are arriving back with DGS for the rest of the school holidays. I will be in sole charge during the week . I think I will have my work cut out to entertain a lively 3 year old and an autistic 14 year old. No car so will be relying on feet and buggy or bus. Thank goodness for the beach at the end of the road.

x

Hard_Up_Hester

Ivyleaf, in my opinion it's never too early or late for a stiff one!!!

Enjoy the peace while it lasts Monna.

I had a meal at a local Italian restaurant yesterday with both DD's and 4 of the children, we had a great time and they were all very well behaved.

mardatha

My pet hate, after doctors, is teachers - "experts" who dont know enough to find their own a$$ in a snowstorm but who talk down to us.

Tipsntreats

All too much to read today. Happy Birthday to everyone as I can't keep up.
mardatha I was a teacher. I taught both children and then adults with learning difficulties. I had to do a lot of extra training for this area, as teaching statemented children, needs specialized providers. I was also a school governor for five years. As we are all different, I would ALWAYS listen to the parents first. After all they know their child far better than the school. I left teaching to study psychology, maybe things have changed?
Tips x

Hard_Up_Hester

Me too Mardatha, and I'm surrounded by the !!!!!!s every day!

ivyleaf

They're not all like that though. DGS's teachers at the school his parents moved him to have been fabulous. Trouble is, it's the ones who aren't that stick in the memory.

FpK Glad you had a lovely holiday! Hope you feel better by tomorrow. Flying doesn't do a lot for a tummy that was unsettled in the first place, does it?

No news from DD1 yet, but at least I haven't had a text to say she's still waiting, so hopefully it's a case of "No news is good news". I expect her husband will ring us later, but he will use the landline phone and we'll be at DD2's babysitting and it won't occur to him to try my mobile number instead.....

Tipsntreats

Just to let you all know. I have taken my hot flushes, to the right thread (I hear the sighs of relief).
I have also started a new thread on OS Family Trees. So those of you that want to drop by, and chat about their Family History, please come and join us.
Tips x

milasavesmoney

Ivy, I'm so glad DD is finally having this operation. She's really been through a tough time. It still astounds me that it took so long to get her on the schedule. Hoping and anticipating she will feel completely back to normal after she recovers from surgery.

My DD3's special reading teacher in elementary school is the one responsible for her excellent attitude toward her dyslexia. Mrs. Hall told DD3 (age 7 yrs) that every person has something they really struggle with and wasn't it wonderful she already knew what her's was from a young age because that would give her so much more time to work on it than what other people had. My daughter came home thrilled she already could get to work on her problem. Today she is the religious director at a big private school and has immense responsibilities for so many students. When she applied for the job she told them she was dyslexic and that administrative tasks took her longer that normal. They told her she would be perfect because she would have understanding and empathy for their students with learning disabilities and that would be a tremendous asset in counseling them. :T

FairyPrincessk

Evening all,

I'm doing my best to stifle some yawns. This months budget has been done, the shop is in and OH has just put two HM pizzas in the oven. In laws came round to bring Maggie the Cat home and we gave them tea and crumpets--I couldn't muster the energy to make scones, but the crumpets were nice since it was a gloomy day. It is so nice of them to keep her when we're away since she enjoys that far more than the cattery or having a cat sitter come in--which of course we do when our in laws are away. We had a catch up with them and I've been listening to the radio and knitting since they left.

Thank you Ivy I'm feeling much recovered now and even had a bit of a pre-dinner snack. I hope you have good news about your daughter soon.

I'm the daughter of a teacher, OH is a teacher, both of his parents were teachers and of course I had a fair few. A good one is wonderful and a bad one is terrible. Unfortunately the bad ones always seem to swagger about the most and throw their weight around.

I'm in total agreement with Hester and Monnagran about the timing of stiff drinks. Monnagran, I hope you have your feet up and something delicious to drink and get some relaxation in while you can!

I didn't see Fuddle's post this morning so I've gone back to find it. It is lovely to hear about the caravan, it sounds like it will form the basis of some great adventures for you and your girls. I'm sorry to hear about your mother, although I must confess that like Monna I'm unsurprised. It is certainly nice to hear that you and your sister are growing closer and can feel like a team in this situation. Pop in and give us details of your caravan adventures when you have the time--I'd love to hear about them. I hope your writing is giving you both joy and a sense of satisfaction.

Floss Your post gave me a laugh. All I can say is 'typical.'

I'm happy to report that the slugs and snails have not been munching my courgettes, but all of the salad leaves have bolted. I did some half-hearted weeding, but a bit more is needed tomorrow. I suppose it is time to get the washing in and hope most of it is dry. Using the clothes horse in summer always feels like a particular hardship!