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Jan 09 Summer sun, peachy bums and... toddler tantrums..

845 replies

120 · 29/06/2010 21:31

New thread here...

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
treedelivery · 30/07/2010 22:55

Thanks 120.

Are you tea? oh that's the pits for you. That's a lot really isn't it. I'd feel that big style.

How did you settle on the amount if you don't mind me asking? I agree, they will surely have to see they have moved the goalposts and it isn't really fair. Although old perma tan Cameron has no real idea of real worls, so maybe not!

BTW Tea, if you don't mind me asking, do you work or are you a stay at home mum? Only asking cos I don't know, if you see what I mean. Certain element of noseyness too

Am going to try sell that lovely Boden coat again, and dig out some other stuff. See if I can start gathering funds to stash for the repayment in April. Feckers.I think I'd rather do that than be saddled with a huge monthly repayment crippling us.

teaandcakeplease · 30/07/2010 23:08

Not working, H barely supporting me as he's on Job Seekers so I am now a statistic and on income support

However Tea has a plan, starting course with Open University in Sept to start to qualify to work in a playgroup, pre-school, nursery or as a teaching assistant. So that my work will be able to fit around the childrens school hours as a lone parent. The Job Centre people have been really sweet to me and supportive and are not rushing me into work and kids into care. But I think they know I have no intention of remaining on benefits forever. IYSWIM? It's just tricky right now with divorce, 2 DCs so young and close together, H not working and supporting me etc. So I'm busy carving a new life out for myself

I have to say I live hand to mouth right now. I only make ends meet due to friends generosity and kindness often. Sainsbury's gift cards, food parcels, anonymous gifts of money etc. I don't understand how anyone lives a high life on benefits at all.

teaandcakeplease · 30/07/2010 23:11

In regards to the tax credit overpayment, the chap on the phone was very kind to me when discussing overpayment, he'd have arranged it differently if I'd asked. After the separation they had to close our old joint claim and commence a new one in my single name, which is why the overpayment came to light. Anyway in 3 months it'll all be done and dusted and I will be free of this debt!!!

Right must go to bed

treedelivery · 30/07/2010 23:21

Night night tea.

I have no idea how you find that money, you have my awe.

I like your plan btw

tinktellyaddict · 31/07/2010 09:00

oh no tree!! and mm - with money worries

bless dd2 has just learnt to do a buzzing sound for bee sounds so cute

parents over today lots more wallpaper to strip off

teaandcakeplease · 31/07/2010 09:07

Well Neil and his parents footed the bill for the bouncy castle for her birthday and the food I bought was all Sainsbo's basics

I get healthy start vouchers for food and veg, council tax benefit and housing benefit right now, so I only have to pay for tv license, utility bills. As well as tax credits and child benefit. I just hope my H gets a job soon and starts supporting me.

Still haven't sold my dress on ebay. Need to take some better photos.

treedelivery · 31/07/2010 13:17

Oh tea, I meant the tax credts money Sorry, I hope I didn't sound rude or patronising.

I think we should have got those healthy start vouchers aat some point, but it was all so confusing and changed every week I never got on top of it!

I hope he gets work too x

Had a lie in till 11.30!!! Imagine. Am babysitting at 6.30, what a short day. Going to take dd1 to bed and see if she wll sleep, she's really tired after 2 late nights of 8.15 pm

I want someone to buy my Boden coat

D0G · 31/07/2010 13:38

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treedelivery · 31/07/2010 13:55

Oh poor you Dog. I hope you enjoy your shopping. I love tht oatmeal colour on babies, it suits them so well.

How lovely

DD1 has fallen asleep!! 2nd time since she dropped her naps at about 1!!

D0G · 31/07/2010 16:40

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D0G · 31/07/2010 16:54

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teaandcakeplease · 31/07/2010 19:07

That is seriously cute DOG though. Do you know what sex your baby will be?

I can't remember anymore what has been said

teaandcakeplease · 31/07/2010 19:09

This one is vaguely oatmeal isn't it? But it is stripey

D0G · 31/07/2010 19:27

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D0G · 31/07/2010 22:16

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moosemama · 01/08/2010 00:00

I'm here - well I'm not really, just popped online to print something out. I shouldn't be here at all really.

So sorry to hear about so many of us with money troubles. We have been paying back an overpayment with the CTC/WTC people for years now, really galling considering I called them to tell them they'd overpaid us - they disagreed and insisted the money was ours - I asked to speak to a supervisor - he agreed the money was ours, told me to stop being so paranoid and go and spend it! Then 12 months later they tell us it was an overpayment and they want it back!

We actually had payments for the first time in years after dd was born but they have dropped by 2/3 rds this month - such a huge drop in income with no warning. To be honest, I wish we'd never had them, as then we would never have become reliant on them iykwim.

Dog, thought I'd found you one, but its out of stock unfortunately. Here. I haven't got time, but it if you like it, it might be worth googling it to see if you can get it elsewhere.

Right I am off to bed. Have good one folks.

teaandcakeplease · 01/08/2010 08:56

Have a lovely holiday Moose

tinktellyaddict · 01/08/2010 09:41

morning

it is horrid having money worries!!

more decorating here today

treedelivery · 01/08/2010 11:27

Moose - we have almost the same story! Only now because of the change next April, we will owe them with no award to pay them out of. So we'll have to pay them from our money.

Cos were so rich. Cos dh earns 22k. But spends 3k of it travelling, and works a 50 hour week to do it!
I need to have a good think about this, we might be better off if he earns his basic pay tbh.

Dog - beige? or this?

Will have a hunt. x

treedelivery · 01/08/2010 11:33

Not white but makes my hormones twitch

treedelivery · 01/08/2010 11:37

these are wonderful. we have one love suit and it's the most snuggly lovely suit. Have bought from Green baby and Frugi trying to get the same thick fluffy cotton but no look. I'd really recommend them Dog. If you fancy a treat [amile]

missjackson · 01/08/2010 19:13

Can't pretend to catch up properly, but I have been reading all week (on my little phone in bed next to N), so I will make an attempt...

dog I love the idea of each one having their own blanket, that's so sweet. I also remember the feeling of buying N his first babygro (after 12 week scan) - I got a gorgeous oatmeally one with a little horse on it. Talking of horses, bet you can't imagine riding now! It's been ages for me too - too scared after mc to try this time around, but am determined to get back in the saddle properly after No 2. Sounds like you are enjoying a bit of hibernating with your gorgeous brood.

stripey So how's bedtime now? Did you manage to reintroduce C's nap? It seems such a delicate balance! I seem to get a good routine going for a few days and then mess it all up with a late/ long nap. And a morning lie-in is always paid for with evening company!

tea your plan for retraining sounds like a great one. Am also in awe of how you manage. Hopefully your ex H will get a job soon and start supporting you a bit.

tree sorry to hear of ££ worries - yes, seems crazy that you can earn just over the borderline and then be made to pay stuff back which I can see will be crippling - def worth working out what you might get if you cut your hours a bit. Crazy system. I can't even begin to make head or tail of it. I don't think you get vouchers unless you get child tax benefit (not working tax benefit) - I had a bit of a look today.

Oh, money stuff is always so depressing. Why can't we win the lottery. I have a nice little fantasy where we do, but I don't even do it. Have just been trying to sort out our finances a bit and I can't even understand how to log on to the new banking thing I've been given .

MM holidays start next weekend? You've still got a whole week to organise everything. I left everything till the last minute and just took my laundry basket of dirty stuff thinking there would be a machine there... but no! I think it was behind a locked cupboard and I spent about 10 mins trying to guess the combination! So had to do some stuff in the bath. Hope the foot allows you to get your long dog walks by the end of the holiday at least.

Am very of hkz off on her amazing sojourn thru Europe - hope you have a fab time!

Pat so sorry to hear of r/ship trouble; hope your family is looking after you down there and you are getting a break from it all, and can't wait to see you and Lenni at the end of the month for a proper catch up. Fwiw my ex-dh and I also did relate and found it immensely helpful in understanding each other - talking with a mediator is so weirdly different than just the two of you, I don't quite know how they manage it.

Lenni hope you are surviving the hols so far, and looking forward to pony rides down this way soon!

tink decorating sounds like it's going well, have been enjoying your pics on fb.

chef you've been quiet the past few days and I miss your funny posts!

That's about all my tiny brain has managed to retain I'm afraid, plus I'm sure this post is already far too long. We had a great holiday, very relaxing, was looked after well by my Mum and sis, and N had lots of fun. My older brother also came up for a few days and that was nice as he had never spent lots of time with N before, so they got to properly bond.

Hoping to get a scan tomorrow or next day - 8 weeks now!

Hope everyone is having nice relaxing Sunday evenings. I'm waiting for DH and N to return from the farm with my roast lamb dinner. Starving!

120 · 01/08/2010 20:33

evening all! Mammouth post MJ, but a good round up.

my news is.....

I have FINALLY done it. BF free. Woo Hoo!

I introduced a cup of milk and a digestive after bath and before 3rd & Bird. He didn't ask at all for the last three nights.

Can I say that again? I think I've finished BF. WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOO!

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teaandcakeplease · 01/08/2010 20:44

Yaaayyyy 120!

Am very of Miss J's lamb dinner. So glad you had a lovely holiday too. Let us know how the scan goes, thinking of you lovely x

120 · 01/08/2010 21:55

thanks tea. meant to mention the scan too. good luck!

My brain is all over the place as we have found a house we want to move into before we've sold this place so we are manically cooly and calmly trying to sort it all out.

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