Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally

HairyHandofDartmoor

Sun_Addict said:

Is it the official school holidays now? I’m glad you got the Mr T delivery and plenty to keep you occupied to take your mind off things and keep you out of mischief 😁

Thanks SA . The official school holidays started a week ago, but the school is working all through the holidays now so key workers can keep working. I wouldn't be surprised if we keep doing the three week rota all through half term and the summer holidays too. Oh well it's not like I can go on holiday.

I do have plenty to do at home and in the garden (even if I don't feel like doing it) so it should keep me out of mischief 😁. 

Willowtree222

HairyHandofDartmoor said:

Nicnak said:

I think that's also the thing Hairy. You are used to that structure, but at home you don't have anything similar. 
The house being tidy is for you, but at school the classroom benefits everyone in there. I don't think I am explaining it very well, but it's about having a purpose to other people other than those immediately around you. 
Hopefully this will all be over soon, and we can return to some level of normality. Although I do suspect things will never be the same again. x

You understand perfectly Nicnak . I love the school routine, the fact that I'm too busy to ever feel bored, I'm constantly challenged, constantly out of my comfort zone, constantly learning new things and the fact that I'm helping hundreds of children and a dozen or so staff. School is a frenzy of activity and I love it.

Home is lovely and I love my family, but I need more stimulation than I can get at home.

I know exactly what you mean. x

[Deleted User]

HairyHandofDartmoor said:

DS1 managed to book another Mr T delivery for next Friday, he's a miracle worker . That should save us going into too many more shops in the coming week.

Can't believe his (and your luck) getting a slot unless he's online watching 24/7 LOL.  I'm registered with 3 supermarkets but still can't get deliveries nearer than almost 3 weeks in the future.  I have delivery passes for 2 of them so they know I'm a loyal and regular customer.  DH has a type of leukaemia and I daren't let him out further than the garden.  My health is OK but I've been told by DH's GP to not venture out for the next few months either to make sure shielding is successful.  Sadly, he isn't on the list the Government sent to supermarkets/volunteers  or who get the food parcels.  I think people need to be undergoing more rigorous current treatment or have other vulnerabilities for that but can't imagine how serious they need to be if DH doesn't qualify..  Our  GP phoned him specially one evening just to see if he was OK and to apologise and said it wasn't his decision to make but he would see what he could do.Maybe it's because his consultant only needs to see him once a year since the last time (was every 3 months, then every 6 until last year).  Sainsbury's are aware of our situation and emailed to say I would get priority slots but as soon as any come up on the website they are snapped up within seconds.  I think it's because people who are physically able to do shopping in store are choosing to get it home delivered instead.  PLEASE NOTE:  I DEFINITELY DIDN'T MEAN YOU, HHOD>  Perish the thought if anyone thinks I did (insert embarrassed emoji!). There's a perfectly able bodied couple who we know who are getting more regular delivery than us. Apparently the wife said to someone that they wouldn't catch her wasting time queuing outside a supermarket! They both work in the pharmaceutical industry (a factory) which is classed as essential.  They work regular hours but very part-time  in the wife's case, so they should in theory have time to go to a supermarket sometime during the week and actually have to drive past a couple on their way to and from their work.  I see the Tesco van drive past our house pretty much most weeks/every 10 days and theirs is the only house down the lane.

There's a lovely lady who volunteered to bring DH's repeat prescription each month.  The dispensary is within our GP surgery building as being very rural the nearest chemist is 7 miles away.  This lady works there and is dropping off people's medications on her way home.  She has to do a considerable detour to come past here though so I consider her a saint after a very long and what must be stressful working day.  DH is on so much medication, a huge carrier bag of boxes, but worries people who aren't aware of his health history think he's some sort of malingerer because he looks so fit and well.  Only yesterday he spent most of the day dragging out all the fallen tree branches from the winter gales and sawed them up into sizes suitable for a friend's woodburner.  I was worried DH was overdoing it, he is an OAP after all, and told him to just saw them up into lengths that would fit the man's SUV for when he comes to collect them (with us safely behind closed doors) and he can finish them off himself. He's getting monthsworths of free wood as it is and the man is only in his early 40s!  DH said he's rather do it as at least it was good exercise and he's so much missing going out on his bike  for a fast spin every day.  Lucky we've got our washing line 'Badminton', but DH was too tired to have a game in the evening so he had a bath instead (first for years, we usually shower nowadays but I think his muscles ached after all the dragging and sawing) and I did some skipping with my HM rope.

Lovely sunny morning here,  I hope the sun is shining on whatever you are all doing

[Deleted User]

HairyHandofDartmoor said:

Nicnak said:

I think that's also the thing Hairy. You are used to that structure, but at home you don't have anything similar. 
The house being tidy is for you, but at school the classroom benefits everyone in there. I don't think I am explaining it very well, but it's about having a purpose to other people other than those immediately around you. 
Hopefully this will all be over soon, and we can return to some level of normality. Although I do suspect things will never be the same again. x

You understand perfectly Nicnak . I love the school routine, the fact that I'm too busy to ever feel bored, I'm constantly challenged, constantly out of my comfort zone, constantly learning new things and the fact that I'm helping hundreds of children and a dozen or so staff. School is a frenzy of activity and I love it.

Home is lovely and I love my family, but I need more stimulation than I can get at home.

What a pity you didn't train to be a teacher when you were younger, HHOD.  You'd have been perfect for it and would have enjoyed  lots of good years when teaching was how it should be, not made unbelievably stressful through lots of paperwork and red-tape.

Sunshine_girl2

@Delichon would click and collect not be ok for you if you can't get delivery ? 

greenbee

@Delichon - from the sites I'm waiting on, I think Tesco are the only ones who aren't reserving slots for vulnerable people. Sainsburys were very quick to identify their vulnerable customers (at least, in my mum's area!) and she's be told she can have one slot a week based on age. Waitrose and Ocado are apparently releasing slots (Ocado are only letting people book 3 days ahead if they're not on the vulnerable list) for non-vulnerable customers occasionally but I have yet to spot one. I'm on week 4 of self-isolation, so it would be useful to have one.

However, I have had some things delivered by volunteers in the village - you don't have to be on the vulnerable list for this. They know i'm self-isolating (and having collected my prescription yesterday are very aware that I'm unwell and a potential infection risk to them) and have offered to shop and get prescriptions. I was even told yesterday that they can cook and drop off meals if I'm not feeling up to feeding myself. It might be worth checking your local FB groups to see whether there are volunteers organised, and you may also find that places that don't normally deliver can help - a lot of our local shops are, and some of the pubs/cafes have turned themselves into shops or delivery services as well. A bit of searching online might extend your options. 

HairyHandofDartmoor

Delichon said:

HairyHandofDartmoor said:

DS1 managed to book another Mr T delivery for next Friday, he's a miracle worker . That should save us going into too many more shops in the coming week.

Can't believe his (and your luck) getting a slot unless he's online watching 24/7 LOL.  I'm registered with 3 supermarkets but still can't get deliveries nearer than almost 3 weeks in the future.  I have delivery passes for 2 of them so they know I'm a loyal and regular customer.  DH has a type of leukaemia and I daren't let him out further than the garden.  My health is OK but I've been told by DH's GP to not venture out for the next few months either to make sure shielding is successful.  Sadly, he isn't on the list the Government sent to supermarkets/volunteers  or who get the food parcels.  I think people need to be undergoing more rigorous current treatment or have other vulnerabilities for that but can't imagine how serious they need to be if DH doesn't qualify..  Our  GP phoned him specially one evening just to see if he was OK and to apologise and said it wasn't his decision to make but he would see what he could do.Maybe it's because his consultant only needs to see him once a year since the last time (was every 3 months, then every 6 until last year).  Sainsbury's are aware of our situation and emailed to say I would get priority slots but as soon as any come up on the website they are snapped up within seconds.  I think it's because people who are physically able to do shopping in store are choosing to get it home delivered instead.  PLEASE NOTE:  I DEFINITELY DIDN'T MEAN YOU, HHOD>  Perish the thought if anyone thinks I did (insert embarrassed emoji!). There's a perfectly able bodied couple who we know who are getting more regular delivery than us. Apparently the wife said to someone that they wouldn't catch her wasting time queuing outside a supermarket! They both work in the pharmaceutical industry (a factory) which is classed as essential.  They work regular hours but very part-time  in the wife's case, so they should in theory have time to go to a supermarket sometime during the week and actually have to drive past a couple on their way to and from their work.  I see the Tesco van drive past our house pretty much most weeks/every 10 days and theirs is the only house down the lane.

There's a lovely lady who volunteered to bring DH's repeat prescription each month.  The dispensary is within our GP surgery building as being very rural the nearest chemist is 7 miles away.  This lady works there and is dropping off people's medications on her way home.  She has to do a considerable detour to come past here though so I consider her a saint after a very long and what must be stressful working day.  DH is on so much medication, a huge carrier bag of boxes, but worries people who aren't aware of his health history think he's some sort of malingerer because he looks so fit and well.  Only yesterday he spent most of the day dragging out all the fallen tree branches from the winter gales and sawed them up into sizes suitable for a friend's woodburner.  I was worried DH was overdoing it, he is an OAP after all, and told him to just saw them up into lengths that would fit the man's SUV for when he comes to collect them (with us safely behind closed doors) and he can finish them off himself. He's getting monthsworths of free wood as it is and the man is only in his early 40s!  DH said he's rather do it as at least it was good exercise and he's so much missing going out on his bike  for a fast spin every day.  Lucky we've got our washing line 'Badminton', but DH was too tired to have a game in the evening so he had a bath instead (first for years, we usually shower nowadays but I think his muscles ached after all the dragging and sawing) and I did some skipping with my HM rope.

Lovely sunny morning here,  I hope the sun is shining on whatever you are all doing

Thanks Delichon . I hope you manage to get some more regular slots. DH isn't on the government list either but I'm surprised you OH isn't if he's got leukaemia (that's difficult to spell!). As you say how ill do you have to be to get on the list! 

You both sound as if you're very physically fit but I know that looks can be deceptive when it comes to health and some people who look healthy would go downhill very quickly if they caught the virus.

HairyHandofDartmoor

Delichon said:

HairyHandofDartmoor said:

Nicnak said:

I think that's also the thing Hairy. You are used to that structure, but at home you don't have anything similar. 
The house being tidy is for you, but at school the classroom benefits everyone in there. I don't think I am explaining it very well, but it's about having a purpose to other people other than those immediately around you. 
Hopefully this will all be over soon, and we can return to some level of normality. Although I do suspect things will never be the same again. x

You understand perfectly Nicnak . I love the school routine, the fact that I'm too busy to ever feel bored, I'm constantly challenged, constantly out of my comfort zone, constantly learning new things and the fact that I'm helping hundreds of children and a dozen or so staff. School is a frenzy of activity and I love it.

Home is lovely and I love my family, but I need more stimulation than I can get at home.

What a pity you didn't train to be a teacher when you were younger, HHOD.  You'd have been perfect for it and would have enjoyed  lots of good years when teaching was how it should be, not made unbelievably stressful through lots of paperwork and red-tape.

I really wish that I had Nicnak, but I lacked confidence when I was younger and also I only really discover how much I liked children when I had my own family.

My Mum was a teacher and I remember going to school with her as a child and on school trips to the beach with her children, most of whom had never seen the sea before. She used to work in the east end of London so worked with some very vulnerable children.

HairyHandofDartmoor

greenbee said:

@Delichon - from the sites I'm waiting on, I think Tesco are the only ones who aren't reserving slots for vulnerable people. Sainsburys were very quick to identify their vulnerable customers (at least, in my mum's area!) and she's be told she can have one slot a week based on age. Waitrose and Ocado are apparently releasing slots (Ocado are only letting people book 3 days ahead if they're not on the vulnerable list) for non-vulnerable customers occasionally but I have yet to spot one. I'm on week 4 of self-isolation, so it would be useful to have one.

However, I have had some things delivered by volunteers in the village - you don't have to be on the vulnerable list for this. They know i'm self-isolating (and having collected my prescription yesterday are very aware that I'm unwell and a potential infection risk to them) and have offered to shop and get prescriptions. I was even told yesterday that they can cook and drop off meals if I'm not feeling up to feeding myself. It might be worth checking your local FB groups to see whether there are volunteers organised, and you may also find that places that don't normally deliver can help - a lot of our local shops are, and some of the pubs/cafes have turned themselves into shops or delivery services as well. A bit of searching online might extend your options. 

Good tips from Greenbee for you @Delichon I hope you can get something sorted. We may not be so lucky in future but DS1 does spend all his time online which is turning out to be very useful!

HairyHandofDartmoor

DH and I had a leisurely breakfast and then went for a socially distanced walk in the park 🌳. It's DH's first time outside (apart from driving other people places) for two weeks and he enjoyed getting outside. It's easy to keep your distance in the park as you can go off piste onto the grass to avoid people (much harder on the pavements). We have a lovely sunny day ☀️ with blue sky and no clouds. The daffodils and camelias are going over but we some lovely wild bluebells 🥀 ( I know that's not a bluebell but it's the best I can do 😂). We walked very slowly so it won't do my cardio much good, but it will be very good for DH to get some exercise and vitamin D. I'll get my exercise doing some strenuous housework and gardening 🌱

I've got a long list of things I'd like to do so I won't get them all done, especially if I sit here 😁, but I've got two weeks before I'm back at school.

I hope everyone had a good and safe Saturday 😎.