NST December A - Z

mothernerd

Wednesday 8 th December 2021

People who have to work over the holidays
Essential workers - doctors, nurses, care workers, all the support staff (I know they let as many patients as possible go home for weekends but there are plenty left) and someone has to staff the x-ray machine and A & E (plus ambulance paramedics, firefighters and the police for the inevitable motorway smashes - never complain about the two drivers waiting by their ambulance at the hospital who stay for hours, they're on standby, ready to go to the worst tragedies).

Essential services. My ex once volunteered to be on duty in the computer room of the firm he was working for. In case of the aforementioned emergency situation he could call up plans of gas pipework to send via the internet to workers tackling a serious gas leak, potential explosion or a situation where gas could escalate an already dangerous or volatile situation. Not needed thankfully but someone had to be there.

Farm animals still need to be fed, and all those living in rescues. The hospitality trade does lucrative business but is often built on minimum wage employees (lots of contracts have been rewritten over the last twenty years, double pay has all but disappeared under the heading of normal working). My two eldest sons and myself have all worked in pubs and clubs, finishing work at 3am, I've worked every evening but Christmas at the workers club to cover various parties (retired members, one for charity, one to raise money for the children's party etc). 

Twice DS1 has ended up being the main support for the pub tenants. In the first case the landlady was being sick and as she was only slight to start off with she had to be hospitalised to be drip fed when she couldn't keep anything down. DS1 looked after the pub by himself when the landlord went to visit his wife and he and the other barman frequently looked after the toddler and the 8 yo as well.  

I've cleaned the pub on Christmas morning ready for a meal for the regulars. The other cleaner (should have been 3 of us - it  was down to just me for a while and then one of the bar staff took it on as extra hours) asked in disbelief who went to their local for their (free) Christmas lunch. I replied "someone who's so alienated every living relative to the point where he's banned from stepping over their Threshold"

back later

ditty1234

Ecco that @mothernerd sometimes things just needs doing, that will be a joy once it is done. 

I am grateful for doing little bits one thing at a time, a bit of socialising and getting ready for the holidays. (still need to do all the shopping though).

Calling14

Just reading through as haven't managed to get on here last few days.

Saturday - grandson not feeling well, so had to stay in all day. Craft corner with sprout carols with granddaughter. We had fun.

Sunday - insisted on a day to myself as felt worn out with trapped nerve and stress going on with water board/ plus sprout day.

Monday - phone call dreaded from water board I need to find someone and pay to put in a new water supply to my property within next 30 days! Cost guessing about 2k. As you can imagine I was upset and tearful. Left msgs with 3 different companies for quotes. Stomach was in knots so didnt sleep well.

Yesterday - took my car for MOT, as the week was not going well, not surprised it failed. brake hoses and suspension chain needed £270 Said ok then they were getting on with repair and managed to break nipples? so I then needed 2 new calipers extra £200.  Now this work took near on 6hrs for this time, walked around town, in lovely wind and rain. Cold and fed up totally. Total cost £510 including MOT to Jan 2023. As my car will be 17 years old in January yeah I have had it all that time, will look around for a new one to me in about 6 months time.

BUT there is good news Water Board rang me said they have now extra budget to fix large leaks in my case they will now pay cost of installing a new supply to the property. Nothing to do with my threats to write to CEO ot they realised not got a leg to stand on with supply not on my property in the first place.  Anyway I was so happy besides being very wet and cold when I eventually got home last night.

Spent a bit yesterday on clothes for me, plus food and coffee to keep warm.

Will look at budgets now, today will be NSD as not going out in this. Can't wait to get home on my cosy couch. I did enough exercise yesterday walking around shops.

Grateful for

Having a car

Staying in warm office today

Nice people in the Water Board !

f0xh0les

Today will be NSD 3 - I have food, and petrol - and ds3's food tech bits in the fridge already for tomorrow's lesson.

mothernerd

Broke off and went to my CBT session on Teams. I had sent a technophobia induced phone message giving up my place, but didn't get a reply so thought I should at least try, not give up altogether. I do need this (I recognise when all my regular fixes aren't working and need extra support). It was good. Just made brisket and chips so will be back later (laptop will need charging soon).

apple_muncher

Calling, well done on that result from the water board.

lcc86

@Calling14 glad the water board have agreed to pay, I feel like I've been reading about this leak for months, I can only imagine how stressful it is for you!

@mothernerd I think once the deep clean is done you're well within your rights to get a cleaner to help, sometimes we all need a bit of support!

I've had a frustrating day with work, still issues with my notice... somehow what my contract says seems to be irrelevant and they've decided I have to work a longer notice period. Not impressed. Going to try and negotiate with them. Also can't seem to log in to complete some important recruitment info for my new job so frustrations all round!

Some planned spends today, needed petrol and also got my car washed, shopping is also being delivered this evening. Realised when I got home that I left my computer charger in the office so will have to drive back down there tomorrow and hope no one has nicked it.

Kerry_Woman

Was a spend day.  Brought weekly bus pass for next week.  Did go into my favourite shop after work, had 20% of newspapers and magazines on loyalty card, so brought the tv guide for the festive season and saved 30p.  Also got some biscuits for the festive season.  Used the money I got for selling my old mobile.
Grateful for:
Good bus connections.
Relaxing bath.
Book to read on bus.

Buffythedebtslayer

Mothernerd, 

You 100% deserve a clean house. 

You 100% deserve to have someone else do it. 

I am so happy to read of the progress. It is wonderful XXX 

mothernerd

Thank you all. I keep thinking I should feel guilty or ashamed and I really don't. It's just another intolerable situation that I've been coping with for too long. Had another long day and don't really know what I've done. Discussed using an old bed, some of the wardrobes and both tables for various purposes.

Told DS3 he needed to look at clothes and he's agreed to letting several cosplay outfits go plus some random accessories including a beautiful black broderie anglais parasol. He also donated 2 old pairs of trousers and has a keyboard to go to the Hospice shop (it had been stored on top of a wardrobe so he's spent a lot of time cleaning each individual key and books for the library (or Oxfam). 

Beloved donated some t-shirts (they sent the wrong size and refunded her and said to not bother sending them back), a rabbit onesie that never fit properly. She told DS3 they had more duvets than they needed so a tatty one has been binned and a good condition single one donated. Most of the second little filing cabinet is on the skip pile and DS3 rooted out the old printer from the bottom of the wardrobe. I don't think it was working when we moved back to the little house over 7 years ago. I put a dress, a linen skirt and a silk blouse in the cs bag - love the dress, only worn a few times but it fit me 6 years ago and it's been keeping the wardrobe warm ever since.

I got DS3 to fold up a duvet cover, a sheet and a piece of curtain material that were all dry. I refilled the airer and the front room radiator and have hung some throws over the doors. Pillowcases and t-shirts have been pegged on the line (it will stop raining at some point and they'll all dry quickly when it does). I brought back the brown bin and emptied 4 sacks of plastic bottles into it. I've gathered a lot of things for my reverse advent calendar and hope to take them tomorrow and all the bagged cs donations.

Grateful for more progress (will take a selection of screwdrivers tomorrow I want some items dismantled), sorting the reverse advent calendar (bought some items today for variety - biscuits, tinned sardines and mackerel) just hoping for good weather tomorrow, leftover food for meals.