The Mighty Frugaleers Meticulously March into March

[WreckTangled]

New thread. Sorry for lame title

The NHS staffing problem is weighing on my family this week too. Lovely dm went in last week for a hip replacement and the hospital staff muddled up her routine medication. By the time they realised the mistake she was so broken that she's been unable to eat or drink anything since Saturday (25th March).

She's now on about drip number 6, and still unable take fluid by mouth and I'm making frantic plans to get north to visit.

This would be easier if I didn't have CFS from the exhaustion of having to care for ds during the years of obstructive apnoea that went undiagnosed because GPs were too overwhelmed to notice.

School system says we only go if the situation is terminal and then only for a week, a fortnight is out of the question apparently.

Bloody tories. Actually fucking awful situation.

Morning all. Dh is up early packing. His flight is at 3 to Gatwick then at 10 from Heathrow. He's done a load of washing already this morning. someone isn't organised. I'd have packed a week ago

i forgot that so many of you work/ed for the NHS/healthcare jobs. I've said it before and I'm going to say it again. Thank you.

Today's tasks:

Bit of a tidy up
Riding
Get dh to airport
Don't cry while at airport
Get home without crying
Cry

Could dh work flexi hours to facilitate you going up north & ds staying home with him ipsos or could you employ someone like a nanny for a couple of days & him take annual leave for others?

em

Have bacon lardons eggs Parmesan think spaghetti will become carbonara!

Thanks mammy I'm only going to cry a bit.

I'm strangely looking forward to the 2 week on my own. I've not had time like this to myself for ages.

And I've got loads of things to keep myself busy: nail appt, vets, hospital appt, flat to be cleaned then valued etc etc. Tons of new shows to catch up with on Netflix!

Well said about the NHS Em.

Mammy yes we've thought about those options. It's too complicated to explain on here really without going into mega-detail. Just wanted to put my tuppence worth in about the tories/public service understaffing. We'll figure out a way to work it here.

I have things to do but the cat has just got all comfy on my lap and is purring. I can't move him can I??

No. It's not really allowed.

Thanks Em, that means a lot. The patients were always the one thing that kept me going - for today

Seacow I must have missed that you were in NHS management - are you a SAHM now or did you move on to something else?

Busy day planned today with a kids party and then I am meeting an old work friend for drinks this evening

ipsos what an awful situation

NO snuggly you must never shift a sleeping cat. Stay where you are.

I have friends who work for the NHS. And they complain about the hours and conditions etc. But I know they truest love what they do. A friend is a nurse on a paedeatric cancer ward. She has to deal with tough stuff. But is so kind. And so gentle and so loving. She was made to do that job. Absolutely so much respect for you guys.

dgm is in hospital in uk at present. She is being cared for by some lovely people. she doesn't think so and is causing all sorts of problems but my family have said that the staff are fantastic.

We don't have NHS here. We have a similar version but from what I know it's not in such a bad way. The only issues I have personally experienced are: dh being sent messages to remind me of my midwife appointments (yesterday) and last year I had a letter confirming an appointment for a follow up from smear test with abnormal results the day after my appointment was due. So I missed it. The departments here also don't seem to talk to each other.

Our social security dept have sent me another letter telling me that as a self employed person I haven't paid into the system this year. I've pointed out twice that I am employed. So my employer has paid on my behalf by deciding x% from my wages.

This stems from 2015 when I had a month off as I was between jobs. Apparently during that time I was self employed. I have asked them what I was doing as if you are self employed they need to know the type of work so they can charge accordingly. They can't tell me this. because it didn't happen but I "must have been" gah.

Rant over - sorry went a bit off topic there.

Still in bed. Dh has brought me a pain choc.

Resisted the pancakes & had my own homemade brown bread a fried egg & Serrano ham. Yummy.

Ok ipsos only thinking outside the box a little I know the school rules are much stricter there than here in ROI

Morning all, sorry to hear that ipsos sounds stressful.

Trying my dd was in PICU for 2 days last March (flu related complications) and the care was outstanding I was honestly blown away and I'm a nurse!!

Blue its the patients that keep me going as well, just wish I could spend the time i should be able to spend with them iyswim?! Says a lot that yourself and Seacow left completely as it was too much

Right, need to get myself sorted so can take dd to riding in half an hour! Need to pick a few bits up so going to pop to Sainsburys later as they sell the cat food my two like at a price I like

Our nearest hospital is one that frequently makes the news for being about the worst, but honestly, the care we gave recieved has always been amazing. Dp isn't chronically ill, but has had a lot of things wrong and thus fixed. I think nhs staff are amazing and dp always says the nhs care here is better than the private care he had in Scotland after he broke his back (compensation paid for that). My mums breast cancer was diagnosed and dealt with within 10 days, which I don't think happens everywhere. Nhs has always been there for us and like everyone I'd be gutted to lose it.

We have to scrape ourselves together and get to the shop (we open at 11). Hoping to just not shop today, but will probably need something, as usual. Dp has put a curry into the slow cooker for tea, smells wonderful already.

today em

Second wash is on (mostly dhs undies and socks - seriously that boy is disorganised - he's currently playing x box moaning that he can't find his kiwi passport...... I have pointed out that he still has his British one...but nope. Not good enough...!)

Anyhoo. Have also started corralling all the rubbish up into binbags. Out flat is a bit of a tip actually today. Ick.

Butternut squash soup is cooking mmmm

First load of washing almost finished and have hoovered the house. Ds is still in his pjs and we've had weird YouTube shit on the tv all morning. Meh.

The tories have allowed the city of London to prosper at the expense of social services, schools, prisons, nhs, buses, libraries, care in community etc plus ignoring the plight of the unemployed in many northern and rural places.

Anyhow, £25 in lidl and £10 at a birthday party in a pub!

em hoe he gets his flight ok and you enjoy 2 weeks.

Went to a cafe for lunch as a treat on my own and a woman asked to join my table which was fine as it's really busy but she's making loads of noises - loud sighs, "nmmmmm" noises at every bite, surprised noise at each new page of her magazine, more sighing....

Oh MissA that's annoying. Maybe start burping really loudly

Trying Your poor DGS and all of you guys. Puts our own supposed or imagined/undiagnosed health issues into perspective when a child needs open heart surgery. The NHS will come up trumps, this is when they are at their best imho. Take care.

Bless you Em. Hope you are okay. 2 weeks can feel a long time.

Possibly going out for dinner later as a family, but maybe not. So far, NSD.

Have run 12.5 miles off road and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Been an odd week for me. Been feeling a bit off colour not sure what with though been really tired.
Went out for tea on Monday which was £21 for 3 courses including a coke and coffee so not bad.
I'm out tonight but I'm hoping not too spend too much.
I'm still on the sofa in my pjs really need to get some jobs done. The sun has gone in now so you can't see the dust!!

Just got in from a mornings o overtime. Spendy afternoon as DD needs school shoes, maybe DS too. Bookshop, primmark and boyes too. Then aldi
Takeout tea

I just went to an absolutely cracking 7th birthday party. I feel like a brand new person. Who knew that musical statues could be so much fun?

missa I'm afraid to say that those noises are the same as my mum and she has Alzheimers. But it is highly annoying too 😊

Its bright her but still cold.