Dh has died and the MN lifesavers are helping us to keep our heads above water

[JuanPotatoTwo]

New thread :). Thought I'd start this one like I ended the last one - Bertie crashed out after a busy day's mischief making.

Hi all, the hoover blew up yesterday. Just feel a bit what next at the moment really. DS woke at 4:30. The only positive to take from that was a lovely sky.

I wouldn't drink that either Juan so well done!

Hugs for all x

Morning all
It's not raining, so that is a plus already !
Willow - it is such a bitter sweet time, the transitions from school - in fact the worst for me was when DD1 went to Uni . We drove her , set up and sorted her room , and left to come home - I think I blubbed most of the way .
Cake - thats a real pain - just hope its not the last straw and the camels back. Hope can can sort out the vacuum cleaner.
A day of sorting here - I work on election days, ( have done for years as a presiding officer,) so a very long day ahead tomorrow. Need to go and pick up the ballot box today, and pack up loads of food - it can be so boring, I have my crotchet, and a magazine but always end up eating too much...
Have a lovely day all x

I miss UK elections, always the possibility of school being closed for the day.:o Here in Australia, elections are always on a Saturday, and always, for some reason, have a sausage sizzle going on outside for the queueing voters. It must be a law.

Well, I've alerted my proxy voter, so let's see what turns up.

echt - I once worked in a school on election day that didn't close ( primary school) - we got a school dinner . But it is usually in draughty village halls , though was once in someones kitchen !

book you sound like such a lovely grandma and mum. You're always so up and at it, I'm envisaging you these days as a 21st C Nella Last. Hope you get all that you need to sorted today ready for tomorrow.

Cake what a pain about your Hoover. Plus side is no hoovering for a couple of days? We do (all of us I mean not just my family) seem to go through phases of "what now?" don't we? Drama I'll swap your ds2 and his smoothies for my ds2 and his green pond slime - surely you can't refuse an offer like that?! I'm going to post a picture of the next one he makes so you can all marvel at my devotion to duty!

Not sure what I'm doing today. My leaky bathroom is still leaking and the plumber (not the one who gave me a lift) has said he doesn't know what to do next for the next. So he contacted the man who originally put the bathroom in about 7 years ago (which I could've/should've done myself I suppose but wasn't really thinking straight). I thought it was really kind of current plumber to be in touch with old plumber - saved me the hassle of doing it - and he (original one) told current one he would come over either yesterday afternoon or this morning. He didn't show yesterday and current plumber has said this morning he will contact another bathroom man he knows. So after boring you all with that most boring of boring stories, the question I am asking myself is am I now having to wait in this morning for original man or has he been written off?!

Look what I saw this morning? First one on Mark's roses planted at end of last year.

Morning all.

Thoroughly p'd off now.
Got txt from bank to say I was hitting overdraft! Finally got an activation code to 're register' my online banking, you know the same one I have had for years! Turns out the £ hasnt been paid back in and it looks like more has been taken out! Cant get through to fraud squad because they want my debit card number which I was told to cut up! I am marching down to the bank soon to see if they can get through to them... just when I thought it was all sorted out.

Dropped off my baby and welled up on the drive home but managed to 'get a grip' He looked so small and vulnerable but big brother was actually walking and talking to him so fingers crossed. He is a sensitive wee soul with a fierce sense of right and wrong, I hope he copes with high school it can be a bear pit!

Was still raining this am, been bucketing overnight, but sun is out for now, fingers crossed. If it starts raining again I am building an ark!

Oh and look at this lovely picture my friend sent me yesterday.

Aww lovely rose Juan and a little vole, how cute.

Well things just get worse and worse. Apparently no actual fraud case was opened at the bank, and the B'stards took another £405 out before card blocked! Thats why I went overdrawn as had big cheques and rent to go out too (had plenty money in account for them!) Will get the first load of money back by 6pm today allegedly and the guy I spoke to is opening a fraud case and it may go further! Just what I need with everything else going on and the holidays looming. At least I got my new debit card through with the post so can actually get the airport parking sorted today.

Hope you get your bathroom sorted pdq Juan its a pain waiting around for tradesmen who never turn up.

I remember having the day off school for elections not now though our community hall was totally revamped and is used now. Poor kids missing out on a day off

Arf as book a modern day Nella Last. Being a presiding officer sounds very exciting, though I accept the point that there are lots of dull parts.

I live opposite a building that is used as a polling station. I take over a cafetière of proper coffee every now and then, as they only have instant over there. It makes me feel Important; my coffee is feeling the democratic process.

Fueling not feeling.

That's dreadful Willow, really hope you get your money back. Must be so stressful.

Somer that's very thoughtful of you - the fueling that is, not quite sure how the feeling would go down!

Watching a great tennis match at the minute - well, if I have to wait in I might as well make good use of the time. I met Thiem couple of years ago, he seems a really nice modest young lad - feel qualified to comment on his character after all of five minutes spent talking to him!

Hi all. Hope everyone well today.

Is that a Pygmy shrew in the photo Juan, so cute. I'm glad to hear Thiem is a nice lad, hope he wins this tiebreak!

DS started his exams this morning. English paper today. We will all be glad when they're over.

The postie just rang the bell to hand me a parcel along with the post. He said "I hope you don't mind me asking but did your husband die?" I said yes and he offered up his condolences. My first thought? "I must tell Mark the postie just asked after you" :(

Morning Jane, good luck to your ds. Friend who sent picture just said it was a shrew. Whatever it is, it's so sweet :)

My brain is mush!
I meant shrew not vole! I think I should just crawl back in bed and hide!

morning again
Just got back in after a quick trip to the allotment .
First strawberries - must be summer ( ignoring the look of utter dishevelment because of the wind ....) Nella Last ! - well, I have read her diaries, but I do see her in my minds eye as Victoria Wood in the programme from her diaries. Luckily, I don't' wear a brown coat and hat... or old brogues
Beautiful rose Juan - Mark is there with you, you see ? And of course you can tell him the postie asked after him.( I still 'talk' to both my DM and DF , just not out loud. ). Whatever you decide about the plumber - wait in or not - it will be the wrong decision., I would bet my bottom dollar on it :)
a pretty little shrew - love those wiffly noses .
Somer - can you possibly come and do that for me - pretty please? . I rang the caretaker to ask about the facilities, and there isn't even a kettle. let alone a microwave - so that takes out having something warm
to eat .Its honestly not very exciting - but I feel as if I am doing an necessary and important thing .
Willow - that is just about the bank - how wrong can they get it. I would keep all the contact and replies together , and maybe be ready to complain . ( My DD had a real run in with her first bank a few years ago - finally, after an official complaint , they actually got some compensation ). Hope today gets better
Exam time is almost worse for Mums I think - we send them off with encouraging noises, and wait to see the look on their faces when they get home .
Hope it goes well for your DS Jane - and all the others going down the same route

Hello you lovely lot. My friend is letting me borrow her hoover tomorrow. I have someone coming round on friday so it can't be a total pit. New motor on order. I'm lucky to have some good friends.

I need to stop moaning as I'm so much luckier than a lot of people - you bereaved ladies included.

Juan the rose is beautiful. I'm so sorry you're still struggling with the bathroom and bless you and the postie. How is DD?

Willow I really hope they sort the money stuff out as they promised.

So far I've eaten a choc chip brioche, a costa hot choc, a costa brownie and 1/3rd of a costa flap jack that I got the boys. Hmmm... really need to get the eating under control! And aiming for a 7pm bed time tonight

Cake that all sounds lovely. TBH I could just run away to my local Cafe Nero for a sustaining latte and almond croissant but I have been good and done housework instead! Also filled the holiday box with stuff we need to take. Have resisted the urge to get the cases down kids room needs tidying up first to make room!

I got a letter from the bank, how hilarious, they hoped they have been reassuring and supportive and have taken action to secure my bank account...yeah right!

I now need to go through all the places that my debit card details are on like Amazon, Now tv etc to update the card, what fun I bet I forget somewhere!

OOh I could go a glass of wine as I dont have to do school run later but need to take DS2 to marial arts pm so better not.

Good luck DSJane

Thanks everyone for your good wishes for DS.

Willow I have some almond croissants in the freezer. I may just have to bake one now!

How did it go Jane? DH teaches GCSE English and was doing revision sessions all through half term.

Yes, it was all lovely but it's not healthy is it? But I guess it's getting me through a day that has already been 9hrs long with no end in sight.

Going to put my big girl pants on now and try and sort something dyslexia related for DD which seems so straight forward but like hell can I get into contact with the people I need to speak to.

He thinks it went well Cake . Comprehending and Composing today. Having had a look at the paper it was fairly straightforward.

Had my croissant, it wasn't that nice. I only bought them because they were on offer but takes 20 minutes just to cook one! Bit of a false economy I think.

Hey Jane, just been on the tennis thread . English Paper I today wasn't it? Glad it went well for your DS. Hope you are not too stressed out about it yourself, Leaving Cert is tough for students but its very hard on parents too.

book I haven't seen Victoria Wood as Nella. In my mind's eye you/Nella look like the actress in Yanks who went out with the American (unsurprisingly given name of film!) officer. Might have been one of the Redgraves - she lived in the big house in the film and her dh was away in the navy! Not that I've given this much thought or anything :)

Drama how does your ds2 feel about Djok's loss? I'm a Djok fan but also like Thiem and on the whole I'm glad Thiem won. I don't know why I can't find it in me to venture over to the tennis threads at the minute - I've been posting hardly anywhere on MN lately (other than my foray into AIBU the other night) except for here :(. Please say hi to everyone from me.

Cake you seem to be having such a stressful time of late, not to mention long days, that I think some cake and calories will be fine. And you do do some exercise to counter the effects. Not that you look as if you need to do exercise.

Dialysis machine being collected tomorrow. I've spent a couple of hours this afternoon sitting in the chair Mark spent so many hours of his life in and crying (me crying that is, not him). Have even taken pics of the machine which I guess is a bit strange but it's been a part of our life for so long. I hope now it goes on to help some other family and perhaps make their lives a little easier. I'll be making myself scarce when they come to collect it though as I know I will be very emotional :(.

Oh Juan that's going to be painful whether you're there or not. If you do go out will one of the DC have to be there?

I've done pilates the last 3 nights but not had the energy to go jog. Maybe tomorrow. DD home safely after her camp. Massive storm back in SA. Family safe, thankfully.

Good to hear dd safely home and family also ok Cake. Mark's dialysis nurse has had a key for it for years in case technician's needed access to it - which they often did - and we couldn't be here. So no, none of us will need to be in. Are you still planning on your early night?