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

[Deleted User]

I'm glad I caused so much debate!  As I said in my post I was playing Devil's Advocate.  It never does any harm to consider the full spectrum of viewpoints does it?   Incidentally, I realise that the school will have taken every precaution to keep people distanced etc whilst there  but it's just that each child will go home to a group of family members who in turn may have been in groups of people at work  etc. Like ripples on a pond.  Children aren't in hermetically sealed individual bubbles.  But. as several people have said, you'll be there anyway at lunchtimes so it's just a case of being with the same group of children for  longer.

I absolutely agree that this virus is going to be around for a long time and it's going to be  a case of risk management in all areas of our lives.   No one wants to live in fear, we need to get on with life whilst being sensible about how we go about it.


Forgive me for misunderstanding the extent of your DH's risk factors, HH. He was the main reason for my arguments about your mixing with more people.  I recall that you've often mentioned that he's obese, diabetic and, I think,  had a mini stroke and that when he has to drive you to places like supermarkets he stays in the car when there. I assumed he was on the very frail side.  I know you haven't mentioned his being on the official Government/NHS 'shielding' list but my DH wasn't on it either initially and he has a type of leukaemia and some other high-risk conditions!  His GP couldn't understand what had gone wrong but there were lots of anomalies in drawing up the list and DH did subsequently receive  'the letter', over a month after most others on it.  It means I have to stay locked up too in order to shield him. I'm not sure how long we have to do this, Boris intimated yesterday that there may be announcements on that.   Prior to DH getting his letter we were both being super-careful anyway and only venturing out for walks etc when there was absolutely no chance of encountering anyone else which isn't so hard in such a rural area.  Strangely, there is quite a high concentration of cases in our region as a whole (although I don't know how near to us which is a bit disconcerting).  I know, according to the song, that  'the hills are alive with the sound of music', LOL, but those round here are very much alive now with walkers and visitors from goodness knows where.  That's what worries us most.

Enjoy the rest of your days off xxx

foxgloves

Well done for finishing your assignment, HHoD. I think we are all going to be on the learning curve for managing risk as we move forward. Despite Johnson's ridiculous assertions, we were never going to get shot of the virus in 12 weeks. It will be here & keep popping up until there is a vaccine. Mr F is gearing up for returning to work in Phase 3 & is currently at the stage of meeting his team individually to talk about all the safety measures being put in place. On the home front, I'm looking at measures we need to add - sanitising bags, changing clothes, etc. I think this will be our collective 'normal' for a long time.
F x

HairyHandofDartmoor

Thanks everyone.

In an IDEAL world I would stay at home and take no risks at all. (Yes DH does have his health issues, but he has NOT had a letter and if he was employed he would not have the luxury of staying at home if he was in a job where he coudn't work from home). But in the REAL world we need my wages to pay our mortgage and bills. This virus will cause a deep recession which will affect how much work comes in for DH. As he was short of work before the virus this could be catastrophic for our income. Last time we had a recession our debts tripled and we got behind on utilites and other bills too. The government self-employment grant was a one off for three months and is not likely to be repeated.

So I don't really feel like I have a choice in going back to work. All I can do is take precautions to mitigate the risks.

HairyHandofDartmoor

Well yesterday was productive because I painted the garden bench with wood stain. It looks like new from a distance and even close up it looks so much better. I'm very pleased it's done as it look much smarter and it will help to protect the wood and as my Mum gave me the bench it's precious to me 🙂. It was warm and sunny but with a nice breeze so it was quite enjoyable working on outside on it 🌞.

After that I cleaned out the bottom of the fridge where a mystery food item had leaked into the vegetable tray and onto the floor under the fridge 😣. I also did two washes and dried them in the garden. 

Today we had plans to go for a walk by the sea in the morning, but DH has had a swollen eyelid for the past few days. This is something he suffers from occasionally and puts ointment in which normally sorts it out within a few days. But this time his eye is getting worse and he had stabbing pains in the night. So I made him ring the doctor and he has a telephone appointment at 10am. The doctor asked him to text some photos and it does look gruesome 😱. I don't think he'll be up to driving as he can hardly see out of one eye. So instead of a walk by the sea I think I'll be queuing up outside B00ts to get a prescription for forty minutes 😭. Never mind, we'll have to go another time.

Willowtree222

That's such a shame about the sea. I have heard that the pollen count is incredibly high so that might not be helping either. I'm sorry it's so sore though. Have a lovely day whatever you do. Maybe you can get to the sea on Sunday before your cover starts? x

beanielou

Sorry to hear about your DH’s eye. 

Hope you get a walk of some kind at some point. 

[Deleted User]

beanielou said:

Delichon. You know I have to say I really find the tone of your posts bordering on offensive sometimes. 

I am sure that is not how you intend to come across but please bear in mind that at the moment people are very often struggling. Thanks. 

beanielou, I'm very sad that you feel that way and felt impelled to say as much.  I can assure you and anyone else reading anything that I write on people's diaries that offending or upsetting anyone couldn't be further from my mind. People who know me would be really upset on my behalf that I'd been accused of something so alien to my nature.  If anything I say has been misconstrued I'm genuinely sorry but I re-read everything that I write with the intention and hope that people won't take things the wrong way.  I do understand that people are often struggling at the moment, you didn't need to remind me of that fact but thank you all the same. I'm having a hellish time of it myself at the moment.

If you feel the need to take issue with me in the future perhaps you could allow me the courtesy of a private message.

Thank you

[Deleted User]

Sunshine_girl2 said:

beanielou said:

Delichon. You know I have to say I really find the tone of your posts bordering on offensive sometimes. 

I am sure that is not how you intend to come across but please bear in mind that at the moment people are very often struggling. Thanks. 

I also find some things from this poster offensive as well. Maybe it's time they had their own diary and then they can express their thoughts there. 

As I replied to beanielou, I'm genuinely sorry if anyone should feel this way but it was definitely NOT my intention to offend or upset anyone at all.  Just the opposite in fact. What's the harm in weighing up all the opinions and advice offered and trying to give an alternate viewpoint?  I did say, if you read what I posted before, that I was playing Devil's Advocate. I'm sure you know what that means.  If anyone finds anything that doesn't agree with their own opinion or viewpoint offensive  I don't really feel that's my fault when to offend definitely never entered my mind.

It would help me to know what exactly you and beanilou have found offensive. It sounds as if it has happened on several occasions. I could then explain why I said what I did.  I am deeply upset myself now, knowing that people are feeling that I set out to offend.

[Deleted User]

HairyHandofDartmoor said:

Today we had plans to go for a walk by the sea in the morning, but DH has had a swollen eyelid for the past few days. This is something he suffers from occasionally and puts ointment in which normally sorts it out within a few days. But this time his eye is getting worse and he had stabbing pains in the night. So I made him ring the doctor and he has a telephone appointment at 10am. The doctor asked him to text some photos and it does look gruesome 😱. I don't think he'll be up to driving as he can hardly see out of one eye. So instead of a walk by the sea I think I'll be queuing up outside B00ts to get a prescription for forty minutes 😭. Never mind, we'll have to go another time.

That's a real shame about your sea visit, I know how much you enjoy doing that.

DH's eye sounds really painful.  It was good that he was able to get such a quick appointment.  Maybe he was stung or bitten on his eyelid, it once happened to my DH. There are all sorts of nasty flying bugs around at the moment.   Sending hugs to both of you xx.

HairyHandofDartmoor

DH got told by his GP to ring the eye hospital and they wanted him to go there for an appointment and told him not to drive. Which is very awkward, so we decided a taxi would probably be safer than a bus as he'll be exposed to less people. DH was worried about going but I told him that they're being very careful at hospitals, are keeping the covid patients well away from the other patients and the doctors and nurses will be in PPE no doubt. He's been taking Chloramphenical for a few days and that normally works but isn't working this time so perhaps he needs a different type of antibiotic cream.

He's at the hospital now and he said they've taped off every other seat and have given him a mask to wear. So now he can't see or breath 🤣.