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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think this is it! Things now really can't get much worse (more of a whinge really)

26 replies

larks35 · 04/02/2012 09:08

I've been a bit low recently - 31weeks pregnant with DC2, anaemic , juggling full-time job with DS1(3yo) and a slightly depressed DP who has been self-employed but not getting any work and is seeking employment. Money worries abound but we cope just about on my wage.

Anyway DP got some work in another city for the weekend and left on Thursday, due back on Monday. Got home from work and picking up DS last night, to an extra cold house. Yes, the bloody boiler has packed up! Why does it wait for the coldest weekend this winter? When DP (an effing plumber by trade) isn't here? DP has tried to talk me through trying to get it working (needs more water, but the valve isn't working). Spent all of yesterday evening lying under the boiler trying everything I could to budge the bloody thing. DP offered to come back but we need any extra money we can get due to impending DC so I've told him not to.

DS and I are going to spend the day at a friend's house which will be great but I'm already dreading returning this evening to an even colder house Sad. Things can't get any worse can they?

OP posts:
Molehillmountain · 04/02/2012 09:13

Poor you Sad hope it's fixed soon.

Snufflebabe · 04/02/2012 09:16

Treat yourself to an oil filled radiator. You can plug it in, and it heats up in no time. We live in an old house, with very few radiators, and we use one of these plug in heaters when it's really cold. About £50 for a decent one, but they are super!

SiamoNellaMerda · 04/02/2012 09:16

YANBU but things most decidedly could be worse. Can you get yourself a plug in heater to make do until it's fixed? I know it's a pain having no boiler and you're feeling a bit shit anyway - but believe me when I say things could be worse.

RillaBlythe · 04/02/2012 09:17

Oh god, poor you. Does DP have a friend in the trade who would be willing to come help a heavily pregnant lady & small child out?

RillaBlythe · 04/02/2012 09:18

btw, this might be off track, but I found being pregnant with DC2 much more miserable than either my first pregnancy or having a newborn. So hang on in there.

Nagoo · 04/02/2012 09:18

Has your DP not got any mates who could come round and help you out?

ZeldaUpNorth · 04/02/2012 09:19

Where are you? Maybe a nice MN'er could borrow you a heater til you get yours fixed?

HellonHeels · 04/02/2012 09:20

Poor you! Could you stay over at your friend's house? Any family nearby? Otherwise, live in one room and do your best to keep that one warm. Have you got a portable heater? Hot water bottles?

If you still have hot waer, a hot shower will help you warm up. Lots of warm drinks.

Making it a bit of an adventure for your DS might help it seem a little less cheerless. Feel for you, OP :(

lesley33 · 04/02/2012 09:21

These things alway seem to happen at the worst possible time. Things will get better - honest

Original poster
larks35 · 04/02/2012 09:29

Thanks for replies.
Friend is lending me an electric radiator today so we'll have that tonight.
SiamoNellaMerda (thats got to translate to something about shit! a bit like how I feel?) you are so right - as soon as I read through what I had posted I thought well, of course things could easily get worse! I suppose this feels a bit like the last straw for me atm but in the grand scheme of things it really isn't. I suppose I was just looking forward to a relaxing weekend at home and am now trying hard to find places for DS and I to go.

OP posts:
Original poster
larks35 · 04/02/2012 09:34

HellonHeels - no hot water! I think that's why I feel extra miserable this morning as I haven't had my shower! Will have one at friend's house later. DS is absolutely fine - he's keeping warm by running about and has never been one to feel the cold anyway.

OP posts:
squeakytoy · 04/02/2012 09:38

Put the oven on, with the door open, that will heat up your kitchen.

We have no shower this morning as the pipes have frozen up. (Apparently they run close the the roof in the loft).

fedupandtired · 04/02/2012 11:06

Of course things can get worse. Things can get a hell of a lot worse.

My boiler packed up two weeks ago and we've just had to have it replaced (and packed up couple of years ago in weather a lot colder than it currently is). My car battery died yesterday so my husband is currently out trying to replace that.

Oh and my mum died last weekend.

Things can get a lot worse than a broken boiler. A broken boiler really doesn't even figure on the radar of shitty things to happen quite frankly.

WorraLiberty · 04/02/2012 11:12

When you say the valve doesn't work, are you sure you're turning the right one? Ours has an actual tap but it's hidden from view right up the top on the left. You have to stand on a chair and feel your way around for it.

Youtube is brilliant for this sort of thing.

If you Google 'Topping up a (insert brand name) boiler'...there's usually a Youtube video to take you through it.

holidaywoe · 04/02/2012 11:16

larks35 glad you have a heater on its way. Do you have plenty of hotwater bottles to pop into your bed tonight? and maybe let your little boy sleep with you. I suggest cuddling up on the sofa and watching DVDs (then only one room to keep warm)

fedupandtired sorry to hear things arent great for you either, however the tone of your post suggests that as you have more problems then it somehow makes the OP's own feelings less significant. Yes there are always people in a worse situation than ourselves but I dont feel it is constructive or helpful to point that out to someone who is not feeling great!

TheMonster · 04/02/2012 11:18

oh no Sad Bloody typical for the boiler to choose this weekend. I hope your friend has some lovely smellies for you to use when you have a shower Smile

If you're near me (West Yorks), I have an oil radiator going spare.

fedupandtired · 04/02/2012 11:24

When the OP states that she thinks it's the end of the world because her boiler isn't working maybe somebody pointing out that no, it really isn't the end of the world can be helpful.

Being without heating and hot water for a week is an inconvenience but in no way does it even come close to being the worse thing ever. Sometimes people need a little perspective.

featherbag · 04/02/2012 11:32

I have to say, 'cheer up, it could be worse' has never been top of my list of helpful things to say to someone having a hard time! Yes of course it could be worse, but that realisation isn't going to heat the OP's home now, is it? At 31 weeks I was huge and miserable, and couldn't move around easily. Having to contend with trying to entertain a toddler, and keep both of us warm, with no hot water, no partner and limited funds does sound pretty miserable! So OP, you have my sympathy. Make the most of the hospitality of family and friends, do what you need to do to keep warm!

bochead · 04/02/2012 11:39

We've had no boiler since August. Comes with the territory of being a homeowner on benefits : ( Gotta say though, it's far from being on my radar of life's curve balls. Makes the daily grind harder but not impossible.

Hot water bottles are your best friend in the house! The pound shops sell hand size ones and primark always has some with nice covers suitable for children. Lots of layers - including a hat indoors if needed. Live in one room of the house (sleep on the sofa if you have to) as body heat helps.

If you can afford it (£70) argos does a tea urn (it's the lack of hot water imho that grinds you down and makes you depressed). Is there a shower at work? Grabbing one in your lunch hour might help. Lots of offces have them somewhere in the building for those who cycle to work nowadays.

Herbal tea & a slow cooker that always has a nice homemade soup. Porridge for breakfast (seriously this really helps!) In the 70's hardly anyone had central heating but they got by OK.

If you are aneamic that's gonna make you feel the cold far more and make you feel like shite anyways! Dried apricots are a neat snack the cliniclal dietician recc'd for DS - a handful of those for elevenses and LOTS of dark green veg like spinach etc may help. I know it's hard to eat properly when feeling grotty but please make sure you eat wisely.

fedupandtired · 04/02/2012 11:40

Sorry, didn't realise this place was for tea and sympathy only (and I do sympathise but I also know it's not the end of the world)

AlbertoFrog · 04/02/2012 11:56

No it's not the end of the world but hey folks let's have some empathy for a pregnant woman.

When you're feeling tired and emotional (and lonely without DP) the smallest thing can set you off. At least that's how I remember it when I was expecting DS.

We all have woes, some bigger than others, but it's not a competition.

larks35 sorry things are crap at the moment. Hope things get better for your family soon.

holidaywoe · 04/02/2012 11:57

Not saying its for tea and sympathy only Fedup it was just the way you used your own situation to imply that having a broken boiler was insignificant.

fedupandtired · 04/02/2012 12:23

I apologise.

Having a broken boiler to the OP isn't insignificant and is the end of her world. That's both unfortunate in that it's had such an effect that her world is ending because of it but also fortunate that that's all she has to worry about.

I am sympathetic but it just caught a nerve because my boiler broke last week too and we've had to have it replaced. However when I look back on January the broken boiler won't even figure in my thoughts.

She asked "AIBU for thinking for thinking this? That things can't get any worse?" I answered her question that yes they can. Apparently (and luckily for her) they can't.

thepeoplesprincess · 04/02/2012 12:52

Larks, my hot water is working perfectly and I still think this weekend's weather is the end of the world. YANBU.

AlbertoFrog · 04/02/2012 15:54

fedup

You've had a horrendous start to the year.

Condolences on the loss of your mother.

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