Ongoing support thread after DH died (Juan et al)

[Chasingsquirrels]

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

Hi all

Hope you're feeling better soon Squirrels.

We've had bitterly cold weather but none of the snow settled. Bracing ourselves though the forecast is now saying Thus/Fri for snow here.

Wow, willow, that is good including the nap 😁

Hope your day at work was OK horse and that DS got away ok.

Book a meal fit for kings! I've eaten nothing but sugar and junk today really - like a bear getting ready for hibernation ( and just as round)

I've finished another 12" square and now doing DD's 2nd hand warmer. Keeps me out of trouble.

Check in later when all goes quiet.

School closed early today. The electric was off. Most of the children had gone by the time I finished at 1pm. We have had snow. Hopefully more tonight so no school tomorrow.
Several parents passed on their condolences as they collected today. One of the mums who I'm friendly with and hadn't seen was aware it was a month ago today and gave me a huge very welcome hug.

I'm hoping we don't get much more snow 84 and that everything is open.

Eaten a very filling meal of roasted peppers, tomatoes and onions with Cajun chicken and now I DON'T need anything else to eat (haven't got any of the raspberry smoothie lollies which are just enough for my sweet tooth).

Cor, I'm almost as shattered as carpet fitters. Seven and a half hours, working right through. Looks great .

Had to take 2 sliding doors and 2 ordinary doors off, builder friend going to come on Wednesday, shave them so go over carpet then fix back on. But they've put all the furniture back, hoovered and left all immaculate.

I can't believe the whole kitchen, rewiring then upstairs projects from that are to all intents and purposes ---- finished! Hurray and thank you for being alongside me over the last months. , and to all of you.

Keep warm and get well everyone, very cold here, only half a dozen flakes of snow so far.

Snow disappeared, although by all accounts it's going to be like Ice Age along the Eastern side of the country tomorrow...!

DS got away ok and said no snow there either

Oh, hahaha, just looked out of the window and the road is covered in snow!!! That'll teach me!

Evening all.
Selena yeah house transformation finished. Bet you are glad to be able to get back to normality asap.
Squirrels hope you are feeling better tonight but of course these things are always worse night and mornings till they go away.

Still blooming cold have heating cranked way up😀

Watching Alien Resurrection one of my fave films. Lots of great one liners (apart from the great story/horror bit i mean)

84 hope its bad enough for a day off but not that bad iyswim.

No snow here so far hope we dont wake up to a ton of it😀

XPosted with you Horse now am scared to look out the door😁😁

Evening all
well, it has been bright but cold , driving home was no problem at all this evening.
All well here - every scrap of brownie and cream went, after a humungous amount of the macaroni cheese ...
Tomorrow however - we were supposed to be going out , but its looking much worse. - Will decide in the morning
Keep warm and safe everyone,

Morning all

Messaged Juan last night and just got xx back - nothing to say is there? Just keeping her in my thoughts.

No snow here over night, just freezing!

Glad you got a much needed hug Lottie

Well done to you and the team Selena - sounds like a loooong day!

Stay safe all! If I survive 3 hours with new baby, 2 year old and the freezing cold, I will check on you at all at lunch time x

School is open.... So will walk there as have a slow puncture and then go to my other job after.
The dogs will get a very short walk this morning.....

We got snow here and its lying so far, windy too. Ds1 dissapointed school not closed.

Minor panic as phone playing up just now was jumping all over place and touch screen not responding properly. Fingers crossed i dont need to take it to get fixed!

Hope day goes quickly Cake and kids behave😀
84 Bet the kids will love the snow might be a long walk😀 watch out for snowballs.

Morning all!
Cake - hope the day goes gently for you :)
84 - I actually prefer to walk in snow than drive as long as its not too far - especially when the snow gets all hard and packed ice like
Willow - is the poor phone just cold ? fingers crossed anyway , stay warm
well, just watching the news and smiling a bit - the reporters all stood in fields to report snowmaggedon, and here all we have is a thick dusting so far , laid overnight, but barely worth the worry. I will believe it when I see it !
Cold though in the wind .
Will have to wait a bit longer to decide on going out - if its still like this at 10, we shall go
Have a good day everyone, and wrap up warm

I don't drive and school is 5 mins away.... Wilfs college in Kent closes at lunch time... He is pleased!!!!

My children are desperate for a snow day. It has just started here, but who knows what will happen!

Baby was very good this morning the other little one isn't well, so in bed with Calpol!

Instead of anything useful, I am eating a premade shop bought sandwich, watching Loose Women and on here!

Stay safe and warm!

Been a funny ol morning.

Discovered as we were about to leave for school this morning that DS1 failed his English prelim (as I suspected) so is dropping down a year for that. I am not happy really as this should have been picked up on months ago not a week before the exams! (especially considering the mark he got!)

Have a nagging feeling I have failed him somehow. He has so many issues that keep holding him back from life I am so worried I cant get him back on track. But I have written him a letter to read while I am work. I am taking all the leads for the devices so they can tidy up their room, get tea, do homework without distraction. THis is how its going to be until he bucks up his effort. I have told him I will help but he has to put the effort in. I also found lots of sweet wrappers under his bed in bin and have tackled that and his lying in the letter. (He has an unhealthy relationship with food/compulsive eating) All money is going to be hidden/locked away from now on. Sanctions for lying will be severe and immediate. Its going to be a fun week/month/year but I need to get him to feel good about himself for the right reasons, not cos he is a whizz online. Wish I didnt have to go to work, just want to curl up and cry. I am obviously a crap parent.

Snow all melted, then snowed again but thankfully not lying this time.

Been sobbing my way through the new episode of TWD and TD. I hate that man Gimple, just no need at all you smug git! (I know I know but if you had invested 7 years in something you would be mad to )

Oh willow, you're not a crap parent - it's tough, especially as you seem to have no back up. Sending you big (((hugs)))

Thanks MrsJ

I just feel I have failed miserably, funny how your hopes and dreams for your kids can go all to pot. Not that I expected them to 'be' something I chose, just to get the most out of life like I never did. I want them to have the confidence I never had, the go out and grab the world by the throat experience. Well maybe its not too late.

Oh Willow, I'm fairly sure we all go through this or similar stuff - I could write a litany of ways I've failed my step-children and DS.

Donald Winnicott, paediatrician and psychoanalyst in my parents' time, hero of counselling courses , talked inter alia about 'good enough' parenting. Don't spoil, don't neglect, as both as harmful. Just try and be good enough. And that's exactly what you're doing, have done and will do. If you hadn't, then you now wouldn't be bothered.

Snow here first thing. Now mainly gone. Started a tiny bit of sorting stuff back into place. Now ready for hot choc and feet up!

Afternoon all
Didn't go out as planned, as we have had more snow showers, so this morning went to the market, this afternoon is blanket constructing.
Willow - I will be surprised if there is a single parent who hasn't thought exactly the same thing. We all bumble along as best we can. It is very easy to beat yourself up, but please don't. As a SP, you are doing all you can, and the care and thought you put into it shows that. (Selena - fabulous advice :) ) Chin up!
We are still getting snow showers here, and we have laying snow, but its not bad at all in truth. Later in the week may be more interesting.
I've had a coffee, and a biscuit, so back to the coal face of crochet!

Just echoing Selena, cake & book xx

Thanks lovely ladies. Will KBO

Going to work soon and its hailing! Couldnt it have waited till I got there ?

Catch you all later, hope you all have good afternoons and minimal snow. Its blooming freezing here, just want to curl up in the blanket with my book, not go out there

Bittersweet evening here. Watching the evening ITN news. There was a premature baby born at the same hospital that my Jack died in. Also one of the nursery nurses was interviewed. She looked after my Wilf at Nursery school.....

That's tough 84, unexpected things popping up can floor me x

I caused my parents the most worry between 18 and 30, so maybe be glad he's getting it out of the way now?

So, so cold! Glad I'm in my flannels and slippers. Poor DH still out.

DS got a good report at parents eve so a win on balance today!

Juan and Mark in my thoughts...

How are you doing Lottie? Wilf had lots of snow?

Evening all.

Weird weather! 5 minutes up the road from us was inches deep in snow and got worse once I got to work! Been snowing off and on all night and came home in a blizzard of hail. Not fun.

Work slow but found lots of jobs to do and played a waiting game for others... still not worth it as I just feel constantly watched and judged. Feel like sayiing "I am twice your age, spent 20 years in charge of peoples lives and 10 years running my own business, sod off." Sigh.

Good for DS MrsJ