OS Daily Monday 20th Aug 2007

recovering_spendaholic

Hello everyone - nice and bright (though not too warm) here in Liverpool so have managed to get three washloads out with third one drying on the line now. DD1 has gone to town shopping with her friends and DD2 is at Splashworld with her Dad so I took the time to go to the gym and do a little bit of exercise, which I ruined by coming home and eating far too much toasted pitta bread with philadelphia and then two ice creams from the freezer :mad: I always get like this when ex OH comes around - he is so pompous and patronising.

Alibob - so glad to hear that your Dad has come through the op and is proceding nicely - it must be really stressful for you ATM

N9eav - well done in Cornwall

Happy Anniversary Mr and Mrs Peem

Happy Birthday Ladygrim (I was 40 5 years ago and I will be 40 next week;) )

dlb- DD2 has always had a problem with bedwetting and I have to say that if you get to the wetness early enough and douse it with bicarb and water the smell doesn't linger, but it is hit and miss.

Kyle - Well done on your continuing weight loss

frogga - sorry to hear about the Tax Credits people, but do not just take what they tell you. I was overpaid (their fault) about three years ago and owed them £3000 and I was like a total maniac about it. I wrote to Gordon Brown, Tony Blair and my MP. I said that I would be facing financial ruin if they took all the money back off me and made a formal appeal against overpayment. I had personal replies from Gordon Brown and Tony Blair and my MP was really good about it. It didn't get me out of repaying but I am only paying back £200 a year which is much better than paying the whole lot off by losing benefit until it is paid off. Good luck!

I had some of my hm jam before (on one of the toasted pittas:o ) and it was much firmer than usual - I had used jam sugar for the first time and I think I had boiled it for too long - I did it for 12 minutes and it is really solid.... Does anyone use jam sugar and how long do you boil the fruit for? I have made about 8lbs and suppose it will all be too solid - do you think I could make another batch and then when it is cooking melt the too firm jam in with it before putting it in the jars?

Don't know what to make for tea as I am a bit too full to think about food, so kids might just have to have cheese and pineapple on toast I think, and I will abstain.

hope you are all having a good day

meanmarie

Dia Dhibh!

Ha:bdaycake: ppy birthday again LG....thought 20th had gone by ages ago!

Pen Pin, sorry to hear that you are still not feeling well...about your proposed Polish helper, since Poland became a full member of EU, no work visa is required to work in another EU country, so nothing to worry about.

Frogga....sorry that I have no helpful comment beyond saying, weren't you adventurous to get married in your school uniform! Can't remember how old your LOs are, is there any chance that you could get extra hours work, that's a huge money drop with no warning. Would OH consider becoming full time employed as opposed to self employed? Might be more work for better pay....could he sell vehicle to generate some cash to pay off overpayment?

Csarina....how many people will you be cooking Christmas dinner for??Just assume the role of executive chef and order your minions to do all the prep and fiddly bits. Congrats on at least being listened to on storage problem and good luck with your proposal.

Alibob, glad to hear of Dad's successful operation, you sound so much less tense, take as easy as you can for next few weeks.

Hester, glad that you got off work earlier than you expected.

JuliaP....just cooking some of your flat bread, smells lovely...

Tooties....take care of yourself.

Happy anniversary to the Peems.

Congratulations Kyle on your continuing weight loss.

Hugs to all...reckon we need them with this weather, it is as dark as January here and misting rain more or less all the time..I just want to attack some chocolate...none in luckily...wait now, maybe...no Marie, not for to-day!

Love,

Marie

mioliere

Hi everyone - just a quick post at the moment to wish Happy Birthdays and Anniversaries and (((hugs) to everyone needing one. Have only been able to read the thread briefly but will try and catch up later. Weather here is really gloomy - it hasn't rained yet although it did all over the weekend but it is so cold. Definitely feels like autumn.

Anyway, must go - will try and call in later.

kathyXX

stressedoutmumof1

Hi all, back from work and just about to take the [STRIKE]mutt[/STRIKE] dog out When I get back in I'll make a start on the Moussaka for tea, then I'm going to gut DD's bedroom for her return (can't wait ).

Didn't make my chocolate brownies yesterday, so think I'll have a bash tonight.

(((((hugs))))) Frogga

frogga

Hi Mean Marie , My LO are now MSO ( middle sized ones) at 10 and 11!
I did phone my boss tday to ask for more hours and they said they'd keep me in mind if anything came up , but there is nothing in the pipeline. I work term time only in a uni library. 16 hours , 5 hr 20 mins a day which leaves me 2 days off. I really want someting for those 2 days but I cant work holidays because of the kids.

DH firm do have people on the books but the pay is much less. We have tought about selling the van , but it is on HP and would only sell it for a little more than we owe.

At xmas he can earn £1000 a week so that's when he makes up for the tax bill in the comming Jan. It's a bit of a catch 22 , because the money that he earns this xmas will then be paying tax the year after! it cost us a lot to get into this job ( £11,000 on van ) , so need to stick at it until it has paid us back ,if you know what I mean.

Yes I guess it was adventurous getting married in my school uniform! We went down the beach afterwards and had chips too! Last of the big spenders!

I know I moan alot about money , but I feel like a real fraud as we are doing OK really. Last year DH earnt £25 K and built us an extention on the house all by himself. Our home is beautiful, the kids are smashers , and when I think that when we got married 17 years ago we had ABSOLUTLY NOTHING! We lived in one room and slept on the floor because we did't even have a bed!

The reason money is tight is our mortgage is high, I only work part time term time and we have recently had alot of big expenses. when I see how little some of you cope on it makes me ashamed to moan , so I'm truely sorry xxx

meanmarie

Frogga,

Things happen that are out of our control and there is no need for you to apologise to anyone. You might consider Recovering Spendaholic's advise and write to all and sundry...can you appeal the decision and say that you can only undertake to pay them £x per month in respect of overpayment? I know that it is a step that you are unlikely to want to take, can you reduce your mortgage a little by extending the term...when things are easier you can attack it more aggresively. Ignore the ramblings of an old woman if I am driving you nuts!

JackieO, Annistar and Queenie, hope that you are ok....moggins where are you?

Marie

mrs_mix

Frogga ((((hugs))) don't worry about moaning we all have those days the day my dh came home and told me he had bought a lorry and was going self employed I nearly fainted when he told me how much the lorry cost £65,000 our house only cost £33,500 from the council
It will take time to sort itself out and when the children are growing all the time it seems never ending
when I have "days" I list what I have got and compare it to what I haven't or would like and the what I've got almost always outweighs the what I haven't
iyswim
pam xx

odds-n-sods

spendaholic - jam sugar has pectin in it so you only need to boil it for 2 minutes, not 12. there isn't much you can do with it now. You'll just have to slice it for your toast this winter! Tho I have whisked water/juice in to very stiff jam destined for trifle. It loses all jamminess if you put too much in and turns into a sryup, so I wouldn't suggest it unless you plan on making trifle with it.

tooties

hello all
reporting back as promised..............
ladygrim have a great birthday!!!
Frogga have some hugs from me
Alibob great to hear that alls well with your dad.
well i got to the bank, paid in my change jar so its in the savings account, i paid off a loan so my debt total is now reduced a little.
visited my aunty who had DS1's wages from his bar shift on sat night.
made my fruity bread but it didnt rise i dont know why.
never got around to making the cakes though, but the kitchen got a S&S and the washing got hung on the line.
anyways hopeful of getting the baking done yet.
My lovely GP gave me a phone call this afternoon as she had heard about my OD last week and wanted a little chat so i have to go and see her on thursday thats when my sick line runs out too. I was touched that she called, it was very nice of her
have a lovely evening everyone.
tooties

frogga

Thanks for being so kind all. Even though we have been married 17 years I am only 34 so I guess we are still only "starting out"! Things do get better year by year, next year when my youngest tadpole goes to high school I will be able to get a job with alot more hours. Also , we will have paid off the van loan by then so we will be £300 a month better off! Can't wait.

Mrs Mix you made me feel so much better with the storey of your husband! When mine said he wanted to this job I wanted to say NO WAY! , but I had to support him as he was REALLY TRYING to make a better life for us. I have to say he was right as he is really now beggining to earn alot of money. Guess you have to speculate to accumulate!

Thanks for tha advise as always Mean Marie. Your advise is ALWAYS worth listening to and I don't think you ramble on at all. My Gran was called Marie so I kind of feel a connection to you ( not that I'm suggesting that you are an old lady!). I think you should change you name to Wise Marie!

Odds & Sods watch the post tomorrow , seeds on the way! xx