Back to try again..

Robin09

Thank you Jwil

Took DD out for the morning to the caves, she has wanted to go back for a while and she's been so good coming into work with me I said I would treat her. Spent around £25 with admission, a small gift from the shop and a muffin as big as her head . She loved it, she's got a thing about caves at the moment.

Weather put off anymore work being done in the garden so we all cracked on getting some more of DS's bedroom done. He's been very patient waiting for it to be finished. Still some jobs DH will need to do but we are getting there slowly.

The whole local area had a power cut, just as I was about to start dinner. Had used up the bread at lunch making them toasties so couldn't even give them a sandwich. Nearly ended up going out to find somewhere with electric to buy something when it came back on so very quickly made them omelettes before it went back out again, which it did but thankfully not for long.

Robin09

Finally nearing the end in DS's bedroom! Be glad when it's over as the whole house seems like a tip as his stuff is all in our room and the upstairs hallway. Downstairs hallway is taken over by his old wardrobe, hopefully off to the tip tomorrow. Did spend more money on some shelves but he is going to have less storage in there now. At the moment he has a lovely solid oak unit with compartments that we was going to sell but have decided to move our bedroom around and keep it.

DS's glasses went missing over the weekend, we searched everywhere for them. While my parents are on holiday I've been using their bins to get rid of extra stuff that can't go to the tip so thought I'd go and have a rummage today, yep we had chucked them away :eek: :rotfl: whoops.

Had my first podiatry appointment before work this morning, as I thought my ankle is weak and stiff and slightly wonky. Got insoles and exercises to do and go back next month.

DD is going to spend the day with some of her cousins tomorrow, otherwise she will be in work with my everyday this week. She never moans but definitely getting some of that mum guilt that the holidays are flying by and we haven't done much nor do we have the money to do much stuff she's very happy to go out walking and exploring but I just wish we were doing more. DS seems to be happy enough just having lie ins every day

Robin09

Dropped DD off, felt just as guilty dropping her off than when I take her with me and I missed her chattering while at work :rotfl: but she had a fab time playing with her cousins and went out to the park and for a walk with the twins. They dropped her home in time for her swimming lesson so she's had a nice day. Had time to get downstairs clean and have a bath before she got home too.

Last night I loaded the wardrobe into the car ready to drop off at the tip today only to find out this morning that it's closed on Tuesdays :mad: will teach me to check beforehand.

Finished the painting in DS's room, I officially hate painting. But started to move his stuff back in so will be able to sort out upstairs tomorrow

Have felt quite teary today for no reason in particular. Feel a bit better now the house is getting some order again. Money is tighter than its been in a long time and I don't like that either. Also dropped and smashed a bowl and a mug this morning :doh: think I need a early night.

Robin09

This week has dragged by. Work has been busy and DD has got a terrible cough which has made her sick a few times and not getting much sleep she seems to be getting rid of it now and we are looking forward to having a lie in tomorrow.

After work today I popped to clean my mums house before they get back from their holiday. Then decided to go try Aldi. Nope, not for me. I really do not like going shopping, so much easier getting it delivered plus we went over budget because I lost track of what we were spending. Also couldn't get any kitten food and they had no cat litter so need to go out and get that at some point this week. It's also over half hour away each way. Definitely haven't got time for that. Then when we got home, the post had been and my Nan had sent me a £50 tesco voucher, bless her. Will come in very handy next week.

DS's room is finished, just a few more finishing touches to buy but they can wait and he's very pleased with his new space. Will be able to crack on getting the garden sorted now, if it ever stops raining.

DH's pyhsio went well yesterday, he's got a new hand splint. Since he's had his operation he's had this weird splint that had bars and bent his fingers over so they couldn't go straight incase the tendon snapped again but the new one will try and straighten out his fingers again. But they got a parking ticket :eek: his sister accidentally parked in a space for electric cars only. We will be paying it as she was only there for him.

My best friend is home :j been lovely to have her back. Lost another 2lb at SW this week, aiming to get my 1 stone award next week.

Robin09

Haven't updated in a while. Felt like I'd only be coming on to moan most days.

Lots of things happened at once and money kept flying out of our hands. Things like the parking ticket, needing to get stuff for the car, giving DD some fun memories of the holidays, instead of being at work with me most days, mainly we did free days out with friends but I did treat her to do Go Ape again, as she loves that. DS was quite happy not leaving the house plus DH overdid it and needed time off work again. Plus needing to finish school shopping etc. It's wiped us out and I do not like the feeling at all.

Some happy points. After decorating DS's room we decided that his old oak unit would go in DD's room so she's had a whole new room makeover too, and he gave her all his old Harry Potter stuff and it didn't cost anything. Also did a shuffle around in our room and got rid of lots of stuff, decorating will be on hold for a while for that though. DD had some lovely days out and enjoyed the rest of the holidays, and she finally learnt to ride her bike :j DS didn't go out much but did have his friends over alot.

DD started back at school today, was so excited to get back and had a great day. DS is back tomorrow and will be starting year 11 and all the stresses that brings

DH hasn't been paid for the month yet, happens most months but not usually a problem because we use the savings to cover it and then put it back. No such luck as all our savings have nearly gone. Luckily my parents have been able to lend us the money to cover the rent and the rest of the bills until its paid in.

Big money news is that we are now going self managed for our DMP. Stepchange wasn't very happy about us asking to have a few more months off. Have wanted to do it for a while anyway. All letters to explain and new I and E's are ready and waiting to post off, as soon as we can afford some printer ink offering token payments as that is all we can afford until we get back on track. Have gone back over to the DMP support thread to make myself prepared for anything that might happen now.

Hope everyone is well.

jwil

Good luck with going self managed. Nothing happened at all when I switched. The creditors accepted it all no questions asked. I've been paying token payments for nearly 4 years now and no ones quibbled.

Robin09

Thanks Jwil. That's good to know. I'm not going to worry about it and just wait and hear what they say. Have sent all the letters off now :j

DH got paid so paid my mum back and got ink and stamps and sent the letters off. I haven't bought a stamp in years, usually I nab one of my mums if needed but she didn't have 8 to give me :rotfl: didn't get much change from £10 for a book of 12, so potted the rest.

This month is still going to be tight but hopefully we will slowly start building up some savings again over the coming months. Have over £900 saved for Christmas and DDs birthday already so won't be stressing out about that either.

I am off out for the day tomorrow with my brothers and sisters, looking forward to spending the day with them. Ticket cost £31, which I paid the other week. We all are taking a packed lunch so apart from giving my sister some petrol money, shouldn't cost me much else. It is a few hours away so will be a early start.

Been quiet at work this week without DD, I actually miss her chatting away to me :rotfl: but she is loving year 2 and so far so good for DS

Honeysucklelou2

How lovely that you and your siblings have a day out together. Have a fantastic time!

Robin09

Thanks Honeysuckle, we had a great day out I really enjoy our get togethers. We aim to do it twice a year, just the 5 of us, no kids or partners. We went to a theme park this time, ended up taking us 4 hours to get there this morning :eek: because of road works, would have took longer had we not turned back around and went a different way. It was great fun though, my sister screamed pretty much all day :rotfl: wasn't that busy either so no big queues. Next trip out planned is canoeing the Wye in the New Year, looking forward to that.

Came home to a few letters off creditors saying they haven't received any payments, we haven't paid stepchange for two months, so took them a while to realise. Hopefully they will get our letters soon explaining we are going self managed and offering token payments.

Robin09

First week back at school done and they both had a good week back literally had to run across town to make a 3.30 appointment at the opticians yesterday for DDs eye test, thankfully her vision is all good.

DD had to come into work with me again this morning, she was not impressed but afterwards we stopped to drop a present off to DH's nephew, who's 13 today. Then we went to the caves again, the local RSPB group put on a guided tour at a discounted prices so was £11.50 for the both of us but my mum gave me £10 towards it was really interesting as we learnt some things we have never noticed there before.

Ordered my first Christmas present today, I usually have bits tucked away by now so I am behind this year. Ordered DS tickets to see Six the Musical in January

Yesterday was one year since my brother and sister's brother was involved in the hit and run. For us, that's gone by so quickly but I'm sure it doesn't feel like it to him. Unfortunately he's still in the brain injury unit, he will be going into a home soon as he needs 24/7 care for a long time. His brain injury was very severe and only time will tell if he makes any more improvements.