Crazy Cat Lady Chapter 3 - A New Beginning

beanielou

My recently adopted cat has quite severe arthritis in her back legs.
Hope the meds help.

Boo boo boo to the cost of the divorce & buying ex out.

DawnW

You've done it before CCL, and you will do it again, this time without having to carry someone else. ((Hugs))

Florence_J

Hi CCL,

I've been away from MSE for nearly four months so have only just caught up with your new diary.

We've often spoken about how I remind you of (ex) OH with my mental health problems, and I often feel for you in the way I feel for my OH and his suffering as a result of my mental health.

I'm not sure if you knew this or not but my mum was an alcoholic and although she is (for the most part) clean now and has been for the last 16 years her breakthrough had to come entirely from herself. Just like my breakthrough with my mental health had to come from me.

I just want to assure you that you have done the right thing by OH, and I feel that even more having got to the end of your new diary. I hope things proceed smoothly for you now.

(ex) OH needs to get better for himself by himself, you did all you could during your time as a couple, I hope OH gets better, but he needs to make the change himself.

I hope you have a good remainder of Summer and well done on the GCSE results.

Fmess

Congratulations on your results ccl, they are amazing. It is lovely when you are validated by good student results after all your hard work. Our school were also pleased with our results in science, so hopefully we will both have a good year and if your school is like mine, there will be less scrutiny!

Try not to worry about the divorce debt, it is a necessity, you are not wasting money and you are setting yourself up for a better future. Think of it as an investment in you and the kids.

crazy_cat_lady

Hello :coffee: :wave:
I had a complete day off from the computer yesterday - hence my lack of checking in. I went to bestie's and then we went for lunch with all of our kids. She's back at work next week, and we're off to the Lakes for a few days, so it was a final bit of a get together after a fortnight of us both being off work together. Then went round primarni, where dd spent the last of her summer money on new pjs and swimsuits (her budget). We were out way longer than I planned to be and by the time we got home it was already after 5pm. Watched tv and then stayed up late again, still stressing about money and stuff. I might also be starting to worry about the fact that it's back to work in a week and I'm nowhere near rested and relaxed :eek::rotfl:
Up early again this morning. Heavy rain. But I'd already arranged to go for a long walk around the park with my friend and her dog, and I'm not soluble, so me and ds wrapped up and headed off for 90 mins fresh air and exercise. It was lovely - and after that we popped to Mr S on the way home as I desperately needed a new pair of casual trousers after discovering a huge hole in my old faithfuls yesterday - they had literally worn through. Also got ds a couple of pairs of reduced swim shorts, and a reduced long sleeved top for me as well. I spent all my cash on a new work wardrobe and wasn't really planning for my weekend wardrobe to need replacing - still a top and trousers for £18 isn't too bad. Grabbed a sandwich for lunch and I've spent the last hour since we got home getting all of the annoying little jobs done - changing cat litter, sorting rubbish out, recycling, washing, dishes, starting to pack things for tomorrow.
So we're off to the Lakes tomorrow until Friday. I'm really excited - our cottage has a hot tub so very happy days indeed. I would happily batten down the hatches and not move for the week, but it'll drive the kids insane. I asked them to pick some stuff that they wanted to do but neither of them have come back to me as yet. I've decided to take them to Kendal tomorrow. I don't think I've ever been there, and I've printed off a walk that we can do and explore the town a bit. Plus dd has found a chocolate caf! and shop in the town centre that she's very keen to try out - so I'm sure that we can find out way there Then we'll grocery shop and check into the cottage at 5pm. Hot tub evening then sleep then who knows what for the rest of the week. I'm sure that the kids will think of something.

Chrystal

Hope you have a fabulous time at the cottage, it sounds brilliant.
Come back feeling refreshed and energised .. (hugs))

System

Have a lovely week in my favourite place. The cottage sounds lovely with the hot tub . I read your diary often but don't often comment . Well done on everything you have achieved in the last few months .

wishingthemortgaheaway

Ooh have a fab time in the lakes, we love it.

Low sizergh barn sells raw milk which is lovely, farm shop and you can sit and watch the cows milking from the coffee shop.

Wray castle at Ambleside (national trust) is 'not your typical' NT place, the nt took it on Becuase of the stretch of Windermere shoreline, they got the castle for free. Interesting building. I'm sure you said your son is 9, if that's correct, it's perfect for him.

Fell foot park (nt) again has some great walks and I'm sure the boat runs from there to Windermere,
So at least you don't have to battle to park in Windermere itself.

Not sure what else in the south lakes, sorry, we usually hang out around Keswick.

Have a great time

crazy_cat_lady

Morning all :hello: :coffee:
I confess to having a bit of a wobble this morning. This break was originally booked for the 4 of us, so I've had a few moments of reflection and thinking how much things have changed. Still all for the best of course, but I've been quite tearful. I keep thinking what if... I'd never bothered, if he'd made the effort, if I'd fought harder etc. But it's as you say Flo - he has to want to help himself. I'm best out of the situation, even though it's making me cry lots and is breaking me financially at the moment.
Thanks for your kind words everyone - I intend to try and relax but we are going to explore as well. Thanks for the tips Wish - I will try and check some of them out. I'm the same as you in that we spend a lot of time in Keswick, which is actually much closer to the cottage than Kendal, but I thought somewhere different might be nice. I also don't think we've ever done much around Ullswater - we always tended to go to Windermere - so I might see what's around there as well. If I can be bothered once I get there :rotfl:
Suppose I had better make a move then - I told the kids I wanted to get away at 11, and I'm still sitting on my bum after half nine. Packing not even started, never mind clearing the house of rubbish and tidying. :eek: Wish me luck!

Eager_Elephant

Have a fab time CCL.

You are coping superbly, you are stronger than you think - i know you are spending lots of money and getting into debt but is it any worse than when he lived with you and you paid for basically everything?
At least at the end you will end up happy and without someone else dragging you down.