Sh*t creek - is now in my rear view mirror...!

doingitanyway

Take care of yourself.
The benefits system doesn't handles sudden changes very well, but you will get on top of it.
Wishing you, the dog and your family all the best.

savingwannabe

It sounds so stressful. I applaud you for coping with all of this. I cant look after myself and you have a pet and a relative and just manage it all. Well done you. 

Irenadler

Hey up me ducks!   

Been up since 4am again this morning. This is the part of the day when thoughts creep in and whirl around until I give in and get up....
I decided that the best thing to reduce stress/anxiety was to pay the CT and get it over with whilst I actually have money so that's done. That's helped as it's one less thing on my mind. I have been so lucky and grateful to have that 'grace' period of council tax support. It has really helped the bank balance & peace of mind. I don't come up to the threshold of over £6k, so I am assuming you are right Babs, and UC will re-start in February. I did ask them what impact the last wage would have and no reply. I also didn't think about having to re-apply for CTS..... maybe once (if?) UC re-starts.

So doing my 'stick my head in the sand' thing.... I am finding it incredibly hard to focus on anything else, accept helping the relatives and the dog.

Irenadler

I should add that the dog is having good and bad days. She can't leap onto my bed any more and I am not picking her up to put her on it as it's very high - she used to jump off in the mornings, landing with all the grace and sound of a sack of spuds, and gives a very human-sounding 'Oomphff!' noise, so I know it's too painful for her. She has accepted very quickly a folded-up double bed quilt on the floor next to the bed. Folded in 4 so very cosy, with blankies. She can clamber onto that safely. Still on the pain-killer as vet says, along with joint supplement she was already on (Yumove) for stiff back legs. Vet said she is in her 'golden years' which is a nice way of saying it, and we will give her the best quality of life we can...

When I take her out - now once a day, she will walk (or totter if it's a really bad day) so far, then stop, pointedly make a 180 degree turn to face home, and won't succumb to bribery or encouragement to try a bit further. So then we walk home. I am letting her decide when she's had enough. I don't think the weather is helping.... I am hoping when it's warmer she will be less stiff.

Per vet I am buying C*lpol 6+ and adding to food with syringe provided. The only snag is it has a horrible strawberry scent. Dog doesn't like it - eats carefully around it until she has to eat the strawberry scented stuff. Need to find out if there is any alternative, This is around £2.85 from my nearest supermarket and lasts about a week-ish, so need to see if there are different prices/flavours out there....

Dog is getting to the point now that she can't always leap onto the lower height furniture, and no amount of trying to get her to lay on (yet another) folded quilt in the lounge is stopping her trying! Life in the old dog yet!

Skint_yet_Again

Aw hugs to little dog 🐶 I think you can get calpol 6 plus in orange flavour but it doesn’t seem to be as cheap online I think it’s a bigger bottle 200ml? Used to give my DS orange suspension calpol years ago 

MovingForwards

Your UC will automatically restart as no more wages will come in. When it restarts, put your claim back in for CT and they will refund you the pro rata overpayment. 

The weather really won't be helping doggy. Make a hot water bottle and wrap it in the bed, the warmth with heat up her bed and ease her aches and pains.

Strawberry is a very difficult one to reproduce, there's always that undertone of chemical / fake to it. Hopefully the supermarket or chemist will have an alternative brand.

Try and take it easy, sending virtual hugs 💐

longway2go

You are very busy helping others and looking after your dog but if at all possible try to take 5 mins for yourself. 
Sounds like MF has given some excellent advise on UC and CT and pleased you made your CT parent as it will be one less thing to think of. 
Hoping you have an easier day today. 

atrixa

Just caught up on your diary, Ren. It's looks like you've been through it in the past few weeks! Thinking of you and take care.

Irenadler

Thank you all folks, apologies for not replying individually, I don't seem to have as much time/energy at the moment. I did manage to cook up all my fridge veggies yesterday into a stew before they got to the bendy stage - most of them! I count that as a money saving win due to my mad impulse spending last week. Determined to try and not waste any of it. This means I have around 3 different batch cooked meals to choose from at the moment which isn't bad going.

Instead of mad rushing to relative's without any food - I simply felt ill some days thinking about eating ironically, forcing myself to stop, think and plan. Remembering to fetch one of these portions out either to take with me, or have waiting & defrosting when I am back, depending on relatives need's that day. They don't have vegan options usually at theirs and I don't want them to alter their food intake for me, as I think they need the extra protein at their ages.

Poorly relative has finally gone from anxiety-inducing repetitive memory loops of panicking, to a more calmer realisation of stuff needing to be taken to a safe place. Don't know if I mentioned it (or should mention?) - basically the relative with memory problems etc accidentally caused a fire which has rendered their property partially destroyed. And both refusing to move out despite Fire Service, Insurers and myself/siblings trying to advise them they need to do so... Where is head-banging emoji?

The first hurdle has been a stream of people coming in to assess. Thankfully fire incident commander spoke directly to insurer's and it's confirmed accidental. The next stage is head-ache inducing valuation/listing (hoarders type situation). Followed by clean-up crew. Followed by argh..... The relatives are adamant they are staying put. So assessors are trying to figure out how to screen off area for access without violating C-19 restrictions. Mission impossible.... 

I really don't think the relatives appreciate the stress/hassle they are facing: power will be intermittent, as will heating, dust, noise, did I mention stress? I also cannot see how the poorly relative can manage their various conditions in an urgent way if they can't access bathroom because of these restrictions in immediate urgency.... Shoot me now...

Off I go again.... ta ta for now....

MovingForwards

It's going to be very awkward and add to the time needed to put the house back to how it was, if they don't move out.
- my mom eventually ended up with a council grant to get her house done, after many years of neglect and no money to do things. A secure container unit was put outside the house, aside from key furniture and clothing, everything else was put in it and the property was gutted and redone while my mom / sibling remained in the house. 
I wouldn't wish that on anyone and do suggest you keep trying to work on the relatives about them moving out into property provided by the insurance company. 
They will not manage their physical health living in a part gutted property, let alone MH. 

Forget trying to tell them, instead tell them they are moving out when the repairs are being done as the quicker they move out, the quicker it's done and they are back in.