Crazy Cat Lady Chapter 4 - The Aftermath

foxgloves

Awww, fingers & paws crossed here for Tortie. That was a huge bill for the previous op. I can understand the worry, cost-wise...... but there again, like you, I'm also a cat lover.
Dentist trip sounds grim. Good news that all of you shared a roast chicken though, even if your son is a vegetable dodger. Maybe he could agree just one veg that he'd eat, just for health reasons? But it was nice to think of you all sharing the same meal together. 
F x

joeyjimbles

Oh fingers crossed for Tortie, and you, so glad you have fabulous bestie to help you through. 

crazy_cat_lady

Morning all I'm not in such a good place mentally today at all . I've been doing a lot of reflecting and trying to give myself a break but I am in full panic and anxiety mode - it's been a busy few weeks and I think things have just caught up with me a bit. I am without a doubt beyond panicking about Tortie, money, paying this debt off etc - feels a bit out of control at the minute and like I'm not sure where to start making a dent in things, and every time I move forward something pushes me back. Work has been busy and a bit unpleasant, plus the exam marking has meant I'm tired. Add to that the end of the legal situation with Fexit finally happening and then the small hurdles that have happened with the mortgage since then and it's just all a bit meh. I've waited almost 2 years to get this done, and now it's finally here it still doesn't much feel like a victory - yet! It will once I give myself the time and space to recover and come to terms with my new situation. I feel as though I'm doing all I can - although if anyone thinks of anything else please let me know AND I had to take my tuxy cat to the vet as well yesterday. She was on the list to take to the vet as she's losing quite a bit of weight and is a bit off her food. It's sort of good news bad news. 1. She is still insured and 2. Her blood tests came back clear but that doesn't shed any light on what's going on with her - vet is talking about doing scans and all sorts, so I'm desperately trying to encourage her to eat. She may need dental work but that definitely isn't covered by the insurance so would be more cost. We shall see. I am trying to remember my brain is in complete panic mode at the minute so I haven't got a rational outlook on things. Anyway, I am still madly worried about tortie, but there is some good(ish) news on that front too. A couple of days before the PPI deadline last year I got a text from a claims company asking me to reply if I wanted them to have one last look. I'd gone through the same claims company a few years before and gotten about £1500 after they took their share so thought there was no way on earth there would be anything else - but I sent a text on the off chance. Then a couple of months ago got a letter with a massive form to fill in for S&nt&der saying they thought there was a claim of less than £100 and I filled it in figuring that my share of £100 was better than a share of nothing. Then yesterday I got a letter, offering me £1320!!!! It nearly knocked me off my feet - my share is a little under £1000 and I have no problem giving that company £350 for something that I didn't even know existed. I should be more happy, and I think I will be when it sinks in but it feels like no real gain because that will cover the vet fees that are coming. And I know it's better than having to get into more debt, but I wish I could have chucked the money at the debt. Ah well - I will be grateful I'm sure. In other, less interesting news (what could possibly be less interesting than the fact that my cats are all getting sick at once?) both of my kids ate the chicken curry I made with the leftover roast chicken! I am so relieved and so pleased about it. DS complained a bit about the rice being boring but the curry was grand apparently (I had a shake in my desperation to get back onto my diet). I still have enough chicken left for one more meal for the kids - any suggestions gratefully received. Off out with bestie and the boys today (dd doesn't want to come - she has been invited). A local brasserie is doing afternoon tea for £10pp with kids eat free so we are treating ourselves (I know I shouldn't with the finances being the way they are but I am). No other plans like shops or anything apart from looking for some soft pate food for Tuxy and Tortie (think gold label) - which is cheap at Bee Emm. And crochet, and watching last night's Brits.

PurpleFairy26

Excellent news on the PP I cat that will make a difference wherever it gets spent. 

Left over chicken:
fajitas
stirfry
hot chicken and stuffing baguette
another curry of a different variety?
chicken and mushroom with Chinese (oyster type) sauce and rice

I’m sure others will be along with better suggestions. 

The tea sounds barginous value - do enjoy! Never forget how amazing you are doing. 

beanielou

Good news on the PPI. Have you thought about taking a loan for the debt & then you will know how much you need to repay & for how long & you can overpay when you can. Might help you to feel more settled with it? 

Baileys_Babe

I think you should spend the money on afternoon tea. It will be money well spent, quality time with bestie and a treat for ds and friend into the bargain. I wish we had a deal like that near us.

southern_chick

My cat will only eat L1dl own brand pate. The price varies depending if it’s on offer between 17 and 21p a tray. It’s soft and comes in a variety of flavours. He won’t eat anything in gravy or jelly. Might be worth getting one to try to see if it will tempt her to eat, hope she perks up soon. Brilliant news on the PPI. Hope you enjoy the afternoon tea xx

f0xh0les

Oooh, although I am the least qualified person ever to comment,  how about chicken pesto pasta or chicken & veg fried rice. 

I  went to Mr T's on the way home from foodbank on Monday night and picked up 4 packs  of basil for 18p, so combined with a little bit of oil, and half a pack of peanuts, garlic, lemon juice and a splash of water to bring down the oil content (I did have cashews but was saving them for a mega cheap fried rice lunch for the kids today) I have enough for 2 meals worth.  The only annoying thing is you can't put fresh basil in the fridge or it goes black and slimey, and if you freeze it, it loses the bright green colour. But if there is a layer of veg/olive oil floated on the top of the pesto jar to stop the air getting to it, then it is fine in the fridge for a day or two. Aldee do quite a cheap jar of pesto in relation to the other supermarkets. But it is so stupidly quick and easy to make I rarely bother buying it in a jar now.    Ooh, how about chicken noodle soup or chicken noodle stirfry. Both of those are 10 minute meals and easy to pull bits out/put bits in for fussy-pants kids.  I got ys sesame oil/ soy sauce/stirfry sauce this month so am a bit chinese obsessed right now.  Or you could try giving it to tuxy cat as  a bribe to eat something but the other cats might stage a protest.

The PP1 sounds great! It would leave you in no worse a situation than you are now, with less cat worry.  And you absolutely should go to that Afternoon Tea for a tenner! It is half term, it works out at £5 each for you and DS and saves you having to cook a meal containing chicken goujons.    Having said that, I am going to go and put the central heating on, it is flippin' freezing.

janb5

How wonderful to have an injection of cash and just at the right moment!  And I agree with everyone`s comments to have a lovely afternoon tea.  This is what half term is all about... a bit of fun to gladden you heart after all the flak that`s gone on!
Also love the idea of Foxholes`s pesto!

DawnW

Do your kids like pizza? Try Nigella's naan bread pizza https://www.nigella.com/recipes/naan-pizza You don't have to stick to the toppings she suggests, you can add chicken (one of my grandchildren chooses chicken and sweetcorn as their topping of choice), and you don't even have to use naan bread, if you have any firmish unsliced bread about that could do with using up. You can use any tomato sauce for the base, or just tinned chopped tomatoes if you like, and any cheese. Basically it is some kind of bread base, tomato sauce, grated cheese, or not, and almost anything that could conceivably go on a pizza, piled on and baked in the oven. It takes minutes, uses up all / any kind of stuff, kids can choose their own toppings from what you have available, and it is one of my go to ideas for when I have a pile of kids/ teenagers/ anybody to feed (which is fairly often even though my own 3 are grown up!)