Ongoing support thread after DH died (Juan et al)

[Chasingsquirrels]

Just noticed we are getting towards the 1000 count ...

That job just doesn't sound right, willow. Hugs to all, what is it about January/February? Apart from those of us swanning around under sunny skies, naming no names ... book, maybe looking at you .

Not sure about door, but bloke/builder is actually former ndn and lovely so I can trust him to sort whilst I'm away and decorator here (fingers crossed all works out).

Case to be picked up tomorrow - done and by front door! Other one I'm taking - nearly there. Sorting - doing ish .

Was lovely and sunny, now gloomy so glad I've been a bit productive whilst bright.

Hope everyone ok and getting through the trials and tribulations.

Willow, how annoying re the tech issues. Grrrr. Hope DS1 isn't too put out!

Cake, don't let the buggers grind you down

Day off for me today - haircut and a walk, weather sunny and cold.
Forecast to get colder too.
Bet book is enjoying the warmth

Chasing, how is work? Mine's busy! Back to it tomorrow.

It just gets worse! Now no internet at all router is on red!

Pc was updating when i left and switched off but when i put it back on it took another hour and half to update! Will call i.t. in morning. Ds1 beside himself! Trying everything to get router to work. If he applied himself to studies with as much enthusiasm he would be straight A's. 😁😁
Got appoint at hosp on monday.

Got phone call inviting me to open day at job centre on sat re the holiday camp retail job i applied for. Inlt thing us its open pm till 10!. I suspect its the 'shop' for the amusement arcade. But they have a mimi supermarket too so will go and see. Its not the place i thought it was the ad is very misleading so further away. Typical.

Selena ooh it's getting closer are you getting excited yet? I would be (and checking my case again....and again)

Anyone looking at the 'blood/ blue moon' tonight? Hoping the clouds stay thin as its very big but not quite bloody or blue yet😀

I'm hanging on in there chocolate chocolate and some more

Exciting times Selena

Oh my Willow WTF is wrong with technology? Out to get you. What is the appointment on Monday for?

horse hope you had a lovely day off. I need to get my hair done!

Cake its at the haemotology dept to see why I am short on platelets.
Well wifi back on. DS1 is a determined bugger! He ended up blowing in the ports and on the connections to see if they were dusty and low and behold its working again. BUT I got a message when I came on pc to say there is a conflict with another server on this ip address! How? Will still phone I.T. in morning. Am sure its going to dissapear again any minute now.

Lots of chocolate is the key I am eating maltesers I treated myself to today.

Froze to death at tkd think next time I will just sit inside and read my book.

And it's the end of the month .......

(Edit to last post: we SLOBBED yesterday evening, not sobbed, oops!).

Maniacally incredibly busy horsemad, I have never had a December and January like that, even last year when John was increasingly unwell and I had all the worry and stress of that situation.
But we got there, and I'm going to work 4 hour days instead of 5 for at least the next month and definitely won't be doing Fridays.
I'm going to assess my hours / holiday situation and either up my hours to 25 (and use holiday to keep at 20 for a while) or get some paid out as I carried so much forward from last year.

I'm just hoping I don't crash now that it's over!

Gosh Willow you aren't half having a time of it, hope you get the IT sorted pronto.
What exactly are prelims?

Squirrels Its the mock exams (preliminaries I presume) in Scotland before the National 5 exams which I suppose are the Scottish equivalent of GCSE's (and thats all I know about them cos when God and I were kids I did 'O' Grades and 'Highers' ) Its all different now, very annoying.

Glad you slobbed not sobbed.

Work hours sounds very complicated hope you sort it out to suit you and get your time back.

I was thinking your ds1 was the same school year as mine (15 last Sep, yr 10 - GCSE's next summer) but now I'm thinking yours is a year ahead?
Ds1 has mocks in March, Oct and next Jan - then GCSE's next June.
Are Prelims national? I saw someone else mention them.

In Scotland yes, always had them in one form or another I remember doing them.
He is 16 next month but he didnt start school until 5 as he wasnt ready at 4. (another Scottish thing )

He has his proper exams in May. (OMG I think I will leave the country I cant stand the stress!)

I asked my friend that does the cakes and she was considering it as she doesnt do them as a rule but this isnt some big complicated thing then she had an epiphany. Her sister does 'professional' standard cakes and she is visiting just before his birthday so could send her the pictures and pick it up. Result!

Willow hurray re cake, yah boo sucks to technology.
Squirrels look after yourself carefully. Repeat after me, 'you, we, are not going to crash. Just not.'
Horse sounds like you had a good, relaxing day, much needed.

Says going to be really cold in Germany over next 2 weeks - but forecasts change every day so should probably take bikini?

Err, no, on second thoughts. Not a sight one would wish to behold.

Horse sorry completely missed your post.

Sounds like a nice day off. I rarely get my hair cut, but I do love having it shampooed and dried at the hairdressers maybe I should make myself an appointment and have a trim

Which part of Germany are you visiting Selena? I remember it being very cold in Feb years ago when I visited - fab heating in the flat though!

Yeah, I did have a nice day thanks Willow. I spend waaay too much on my hair! Trying to keep the grey at bay One of these days I'll just give up and be a lot better off each month!

Ah he is a year older than mine Willow, mine is 16 in Sep. Cake sounds like a result.

Good to have a day off horsemad, how is work going? I stopped colouring my hair some years ago, although I just did a full head myself, I quite like a wash in/out rinse sometimes but mostly I can't be bothered. I think I found my 1st grey hair at 27 . Was meant to be getting my hair trimmed tomorrow but hairdresser is ill so has cancelled.

Work is just quite flexible with me Willow, one of the benefits of having been there 17 years and being valued (I think/hope!), my contract is 9.30-2.30 Mon-Thu but basically the job needs doing and I flex my time to do it.
In the school holidays I used to do full days when the boys were with their dad and not work when they were with me - not sure what I will do now with Charlie.
It's just I worked so many extra hours in Dec which I l then used up to have the week and a bit off over Christmas so had to carry excess holiday forwards and now in Jan I've done more extra hours.
The next couple of months should be easier though, it's historically my quieter time and most deadlines are already met.
The 4 hour days thing for the next month is driven by me as my mum or dad have been coming over to Charlie at lunchtime to let him out, spend some time with him, give him his lunch etc. So if I do a shorter day I can be back around 1.30pm and just give him lunch a bit later and work up to when he drops lunch in a couple of months and then we should be okay to leave him while we are at school / work.

ARGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGHHGH!

Ok stop the bus I want to get off.

The thing I wanted the cake to look like, they thing in his new favourite (sod all the games I got at Xmas game) which was a 'free gift' from Xbox One was a freaking trial....its ended... he needs to buy the damm thing although at a discounted price. I have told him to forget it as spent enough on him and will do for his birthday....

Oh God I am going to have to buy it for him arent I? Or rethink the whole cake thing...my mind is mush. I could find something in another game I suppose....just shoot me now.

Staying with friends near Essen, then joining an organised holiday group going to Harz mountains, the former east side.

My hair is looking forward to Saturday, I've eked out the colouring time to fit going away (no swimming pools to turn the blonde green), so it's a greying haystack look. Why can it not be a lovely silver grey? At least this time of year I can pull on a hat! Talking of which, better pack one.

Hey all, 5:50 today

I don't colour my hair - not many grey ones at this stage but getting more and more noticeable. Don't have the time/money to get it done professionally so thought it best to just leave it be. Might change my mind in a few years though!

Willow can they just make the controller or the play station/Xbox cake? Loads on Pinterest along that vein...

www.google.co.uk/search?q=controller+cake&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiK4bGDjYTZAhXFJVAKHTCNCToQsAQIKA&biw=1321&bih=653

Hope you all have a good day. Meant to be cold but dry here.

Cake oh i realy feel for you thats so early. I did the top of a cake like a controller a couple of years ago so it wouldnt be a 'new' idea iyswim. But thanks for the link i will have a look.

I've spent 2hr going through a year of texts and emails and there is no "discussion" between me and ex about what he says we did discuss " a few months ago" Feeling better that I haven't made such a big boo boo anyway, but he'll hold it against me for ever more.

Hmmm OK, well Pinterest have some amazing cakes and I'm sure you could find some ideas...

Phew. Been busy today. Tidied out 'that drawer' in the kitchen, cleaned and tidied, put dishes away from today so kids have no excuse later (ha ha) Sorted pan rack out. Washing done, put away etc... and made curry for kids tea. Had an hour to myself as off to work in a minute.

Have been looking at cakes Cake and have another option but my head is still mush.

Blooming cold today.
Let him know he is imagining it and to sod off Cake.

'Yes, well, whatever' probably best tactic with ex, Cake, what a pain.
Willow, I'm impressed! Hope work went as well.

I've bought a new case, very lightweight, guaranteed 10 years - from Band M! They've got the dimensions bit wrong on website but really good size. DS now having other one (when I've transferred what had packed into new one).

Been to GP on request of physio re hip as she wants to know 'what it is'. Surprisingly to me he doesn't think it is arthritis, so he's going to stab it with steroid when I get back from holiday. My eye tremor (new since DH died) is blepharospasm. Can be treated not cured with botox. Should I ask for bit more in other wrinkly areas whilst they're at it? .

Botox 😀

chasing, I can honestly say today was a good day at work! Managed to clear loads of stuff, with minimal interruption and really felt I'd achieved something.
Pity it doesn't happen more often, but hey ho!

Selena, my surgery was classed as plastics and I was very tempted to ask the surgeon for a brow lift while I was under!!
In reality I'd never do it as I'm a wimp!

I am sitting here desperate for some chocolate, I've got lots from Xmas still, but am trying to be good...

Evening all.
Selena I had steroids into my shoulder twice. It helped a lot.
Botox!!! OOOOh no dont fancy that at all, well you have a medical reason, but not the usual reason. I will stick with my wrinkles

Horse glad you had a good day, when you feel like you have achieved something its always a bonus. Send choc this way if you dont want it, we have none left from Xmas. Oh wait I have 85% dark choc for cooking with...hmmmm.

Came home to half a pan full of half cooked rice! DS2 put too much in he got my instructions wrong and instead of taking enough curry out for them both and heating it they put it all in the oven! But they have left the leftovers out for last half hour so there are a couple of bits of cold chicken (at least they left me something I suppose!) in cold sauce....funnily enough I dont fancy it.

Yum We had curry too.

I'm fit for nothing now. Catch up with you all tomorrow