To have a cry?

[AnaisNun]

Moved into a new rented property this weekend. Just me and DS (4).
It’s been hell, juggling pressure at work, move, pandemic, recruitment process for new job (didn’t get it) & the usual single mum shit.

Tonight I found out the oven in my new house doesn’t get any hotter than “a temperate breeze” and the hob doesn’t work at all. It’s not me. I’ve checked it’s switched on. I’ve checked the fuse box. I’ve fiddled and twiddled. It’s fucked.

I could scream.

Checked the oven turned on when I did the check in, obviously, but didn’t go further than that. Idiot.

Emailed agent but not sure if they’ll be able to sort by Christmas.

Don’t own a microwave or anything other than a toaster to “cook” with, so poor DS went to bed with toast, fruit and a bowl of cereal (not the end of the world I know, but it’s bloody Christmas).

Can I have a cry without being considered an utter soft head?

Def check the oven timer thing. It's a complete sod and I had it recently ish in a rental house. Google the model and you'll find the instructions.

Put the oven make on here. Someone may help.

If local Facebook groups can't help, it might be worth putting in a call to any local kitchen companies - ours lent us a small table-top oven while our kitchen was being fitted, and they wouldn't be using it over Christmas.

You should have been given an emergency number for problems like this.

Have you googled the oven instructions? I had a bastard of an oven once, pretty much gave up on the fucker; only to discover it was the most complicated bugger to switch on, I had to set numerous timers and twenty billion different settings.once I finally got the hang of it, it worked brilliantly but I swear you needed to be Einstein to work the bloody thing.
Hope you get it sorted

So sorry OP, what a disappointment it must be.

I also second the suggestion of an instant pot or multicooker. I have a multicooker and can cook a whole meal in one, e.g. pressure cook or slow cook a joint of meat, use it to cook rice, steam veg, etc. it also does brilliant risottos, rice puddings, etc.

@AnaisNun

These are all brilliant ideas and have made me feel about a million times better. Like poor DS won’t actually starve to death on Christmas.

He looked at me when I put him to bed and said all big eyes whilst I was reading to him... “mummy... will I have to have just jam toast for my Christmas lunch?!”

Ofc that broke my heart, but more to the point, I’ve saved up for a guard of lamb and a proper cheeseboard. No way am I forgoing that for jam toast. I’ll set up a fire pit in the garden if I have to!

Why would a child be privy to the issue in the first place? Children should not have to bear the brunt of financial or logistical problems. Surely it wasn't necessary to lay that on a toddler?

Find a solution that does not involve more debt.

AnaisNun

I've got a new slow cooker you can have. I live in the North West (England). X

Is there a local FB page, OP? I bet if you asked somebody local would be able to lend you something, and it can be a nice way to meet friendly people.
I’d have cried too. (Though I’d have loved toast for dinner when I was 4!)

Of course Yanbu to be on your last tether OP it's a setback and it sounds shit. I don't think referring to ds as 'poor ds' because he has has cereal etc in lieu of a meal once is necessarily fitting to the emergency though, he will be fine, there is no need for 'heartbreak' or comments about starving to death when you're under a roof and able to eat something until it gets fixed, it really doesn't sit right.

Can you not go to the supermarket and purchase a microwave oven or a slow cooker though? Stock up on a few ready meals in case but most things can be cooked in them. If not, see what takeaways are open over xmas just in case and play it off as a treat. Convenience shops also open xmas day if desperate.

Another vote for either an instant pot, halogen oven (they're brill) or similar gadget.

But don't buy first -- ask on a local fb page. If you were local to me, I'd lend you mine over Xmas til your oven was fixed

Just for the boot-stickers that have woken up.

Comments about DS starving were tongue in cheek. I know he won’t starve. Hyperbole is allowed surely?

And @PerveenMistry NOTHING was laid on DS! How awful of you to assume that- I’m INCREDIBLY careful not to expose DS to any “adult issues” as I grew up in a house where I was very much the parent. I think you’ve made an assumption that’s actually very hurtful.

I went to make dinner, I told him there was a change of plans for dinner, he asked why, I said the oven wasn’t working, he asked why, I said not sure but I’d get it fixed today and not to worry about it. He’s 4, he’s not an idiot- he understands the difference between chicken and rice turning up on his plate as discussed, and a bowl of cereal and some toast. I can’t just say “because I fancied lozzing off making a hot meal!”
He’s bright so he asked about Christmas- I assume because we’d just been out to collect our food from the butcher- and I reassured him it would be fixed in time. He asked again later.

Dear me! I know AIBU is very different in the day time but please please at least stick to being mean about what’s actually been said, rather than making assumptions.

Everyone else- thanks so much for the kind offers. I was at the end of my tether last night but woken up today realising I was just worn out and a bit despondent and it’ll all get sorted one way or another. Most of you were very kind at moment when I was just feeling very low after a long few weeks. Thank you.

Oh ignore the miserable fuckers OP, maybe they too are having a hard time and taking it out on here.

Moving is stressful enough but you say the house and area are lovely so hold onto that and this will get sorted one way or another. Jam toast sounds like heaven tbh. With a bottle of Baileys. Maybe not for the 4 yo..

@ProfessorInkling

Funnily enough a friend had dropped off a bottle of Baileys yesterday (we’d been laughing about stuff our mums drank at Christmas and both got a hankering) so did have one before bed last night.
Medicinal you understand

I had a counter top oven when we moved in here, the oven wasn’t working and I didn’t rush to get a new one as I was replacing the kitchen, well, I say kitchen, there was a sink and a tiny bit of island.

Its obviously not huge, but it worked well, I still have it in the utility.

www.robertdyas.co.uk/tower-32l-mini-oven-with-hobs-black?source=&gclid=CjwKCAiA8ov_BRAoEiwAOZogwYR4aYhWH6oAjjVtZo8oawAHkCE7AXURDOcmhUTI_gnzWGUVpTTQJRoCZPsQAvD_BwE

@PerveenMistry you sound delightful. The OP didn't say that she had "burdened" her child with financial information. You made that up in your head to make her feel bad. Have a think about that.

OP you sound fun and I hope you manage to get something sorted. Merry Christmas

Another vote for asking on freecycle or Facebook if there’s anyone with a halogen oven you can borrow. Good luck.

Definitely ask on free cycle pages on FB. If you lived near me I'd lend you my slow cooker!
Definitely if you have £40 try a mini oven that goes on the counter or something. I bet there's someone near you who can help. That's so awful. Keeping everything crossed for you.

Spoken to the estate agent.
Estate agent very sympathetic and will
Speak to landlord straight away but not hopeful can be fixed before Christmas due to workman availability.

I’ve also said if landlord doesn’t want to replace oven that I’ll find a way to do it myself if he’s happy for me to.

Have spied a reasonably priced halogen oven with hob top on Argos which can be delivered today so definitely a way to feed kiddo something other than toast and cocopops. He’s also drily noted that “at least chocolates don’t need cooking” and eyed up the box of celebrations so, he’ll be fine.

You sound resilient and resourceful and a really good mum. I hope these are just teething problems and you have a happy Christmas and go on to love your new home

@AnaisNun you sound like a lovely mum OP. Hope you find solution that works.

Oh gosh. Estate agent called back. Landlord coming today himself with new oven and he’ll fit it.

Having a(nother) little cry in the kitchen (away from DS before anyone asks!) I think I just realised I’m so used to things being shit, that I assume the worst every time... you know, that it won’t get fixed, the landlord won’t care etc. When did I get so cynical?

Just watch... it’ll be the same bloody make/model I have now that all the reviews say is totally dodgy

OP, you sound great.
However your land lord needs to fix things.
Make sure he fulfills his responsibilities.

Come back for recipes if you need them.