This site is an archive of the OneSpace Forums. Return to forum index.
**shudder**
I know I've seen them in our garden, and I do try my utmost to make sure that around the hutches are clean - we have dustpan and brush especially for the job.
I have a tub of poison too, which I had to use when they dug under the shed. I can't tolerate them after my experience in the "family" home.
Claire-Louise
You are always very supportive, and give great advice. :)
I hope you're having a lovely Sunday
Take care
Alison
x :)
Hi Alison and Sparlinglime
Can you believe it, the people who empty the brown bins, cardboard and xmas trees did NOT come today either!!!! I have been religiously following my card from the bin men about what recycling is due when and putting it out accordingly but the brown bin people have not been for 3 weeks! Now I know the snow messed things up but this is getting rediculous, especially after xmas when there is load more cardboard anyway, plus food scraps and xmas trees blocking up the pavement - what is going on? The brown bins are a real health hazard with magoots and flies and now rats - if they want us to recycle then they need to come and empty the stuff on time.
Sorry for the rant but it is getting rediculous. Anyone else still got unemptied brown bins????
Cheers for your comment Alison but ditto goes for you too!
C-L (a little red in the face!) :oops:
I don't blame you for being narked.
We've been lucky here, I have to say, as the bins were emptied as per the timetable, although rather later in the day.
Not nice. I have an email for the environmental waste dept, and they're pretty good at replying - just incase emailing them's an idea...
Hi Claire Louise
Our recycling guys were redeployed onto gritting duties during the snow. I also heard through the grapevine that the binmen had been sent home because the management did not want to risk claims for compensation if any of them fell on the snow :shock: . I suppose now we have the thaw they are on their way round again but if everyone now has two or three lots then it will take twice as long to do each house. Very annoying, especially when we pay so much Council Tax!
Well I will have tot ake some of i back now as they were emptied today, the cardboard taken and the xmas trees! Still they were outside my house for 3 weeks!
I just thing if they want people to recycle stuff (not everyone wants to do it) then they need to encourage people rather than discourage. If the binmen and the balc box recyclers could get out each week, why couldn't the 3rd lot?
Enough said!
C-L
I have just spoke to the council and the rats problem will be there for a few weeks yet minimum. The council still need to come out and see the problem first, then they will put the bait down or tell the landlords to sort it out.
Yesterday we had 5 in the front garden, all "playing outside" :shock:
I run to the front door without even looking at the garden area, but I still see them on the path to my front door. I am getting so much exercise with all this running lol
One neighbour refuses to leave the house and her grandchildren won't visit. Another neighbour, who is 6 feet tall and well built, (but not fat) is terrified of them too.
Claire Louise, do you have any tips on how to cope as you have had rats before in India? I wouldn't have been able to use the toilet if the rats were there lol
Hi lightatnedoftunnel
It was about 20 years ago and I was young (18) and so at bit naive and full hardy which I think really helped. I am not sure I would be able to cope with them in the same ay now and especially not with children involved.
I guess it is quite good to try to take a step back and look at what it is you don't like or are scared about? Is it the fear of infection? Is it cos they move quickly? Their tails etc? Ask yourself a list of questions and then from the answers to those questions you might be able to deal with it a bit more.
Generally they are more scared of us than we are of them - we are bigger. They are not particularly hygienic but it is the food they are after, not us.
Are they in your house again?
If not, are they mainly in the front garden? Do you have a back door and could you use that instead?
Does that help?
Cheers C-L
Thanks Claire Louise, for your very kind comments. What don't I like about rats?
Their tails
They run so fast
They are hideous
They look vile
They have diseases
They aren't even cute
They don't like new things, so take about a week to eat poison
They run by my feet, about 1cm away. (four times now)
Knowing they will return
Seeing one after the other
Knowing i have to keep the house much cleaner now lol
I get shocks when I see them
I hate the way i cope with loads of things, but rats I am scared of! They are the only time my kids have seen me struggle, I am usually a rock for my kids!
If they didn't run fast I could cope a lot better. Acually, I wish to move now as my house isn't the same anymore. I always wonder if a rat will run by me as I'm cooking
Loads of hugs lightatendoftunnel.
I'm sorry they're about again.
xx
Hi lightatendoftunnel
I would have listed those too. I'm sure it has made you feel like you want to move house, but once it is sorted for good, then hopefully you'll feel a lot happier there.
Take care
Alison
x
Hi lightatendoftunnel
sorry to hear that the rats are making you feel so unnerved. My daughter used to have a hamster, so I try and think of them like hamsters but bigger. They don't mean any harm and far more scared of us.
Glad to see you back on the boards, please bear with us while we get the glitches ironed out. :)
Hi Lightatendoftunnel
Thank you for your list of rat hates - that is very clear and all pretty understandible and rational reasons really. I don't like things that scuttle quickly either so I am with you on that one.
How are they now? I wonder if the fact that the dustbin men have now been and emptied the bins?
Have the pest control people been?
Not sure if this link might be of use:
http://www.kingcounty.gov/healthServices/health/ehs/rats.aspx
Good luck
C=L
Thanks for your comments.
The rats have finally gone. It's great to be able to walk down my path instead of running lol The exercise was good for me!
I have some great news. I have been told that there will be a job vacany where I do my work expereince and if I want it! I will need to work more hours and it will be a bit stressfull as the mangager shouts if staff get things wrong, and expects people to work really hard. Nobody really talks there! The opputunity is great though.
I'm proud of myself that I have been offered it. But scared too, as it is a new career and I don't know anything at all about it. They know this though. Just the manager doesn't like mistakes and I'm bound to make some as I'm learning.
Haven't made my mind up yet! I will need to leave the kids at home alone a lot more though. That's what is holding me back really.
Hi lightatendoftunnel
Congratulations
Fantastic news about the rats. One problem eliminated anyway!!!
To be offered a job where you already know people is a huge plus. I know you say that the manager shouts and doesn't like mistakes, but I'm sure you'll adjust. I have to say though that it doesn't sound too friendly if no one talks!! Perhaps you could help loosen things up there.
Can I ask how you went about getting the work experience. Was it to do with the voluntary stuff you did?
Are you happy for the kids to be left longer on their own? If they are used to being left for a number of hours etc, then I'm sure they will be fine, and it will show them that you think they are more than responsible!!
Thanks Alisoncam.
I got the work experience by annoying them I think! I sent my CV a few times to them over several months. And I have just been willing to do anything really.
I will have to leave my kids 2 hours a day if the job finishes at 5. Sometimes the job will finish at 5.30 though if there is a lot of work.
Also the holidays. The most I will be prepared to work is 4 day week. I haven't told them that but I'm sure it will be fine.
They don't really talk when the manager is there and he is there quite a lot! The people are nice though.
Hi Lightatendoftunnel
I agree CONGRATULATIONS on the rats and CONGRATULATIONS on the job offer - well done you! It just goes to show that perserverance does pay off.
What is the voluntary work that you are doing there? What is the job opportunity? Will you be given some training and supervision if you take the job? How many hours will you be doing?
It sounds like it will be a challenge but as alison says, if you know the people there already, that is the first hurdle already overcome.
Well you are in a great position to be able to think about it, chat it over with friends and family and decide.
Good luck with it all.
C-L
Two great pieces of news there, lightatendoftunnel, you are living up to your name!
As for the children, they are older now and maybe you would feel more comfortable if you put a structure in place as to who to call/where to go in case of not just emergencies but also any reassurance needed?
Congratulations from me too!
Thats how I got into my job here, by doing voluntary work and then a job came up, I applied and the rest is history.
Don't worry about the children, I know, easier said than done, but it is something that we have to do as single parents and at least they will have each other.
Hooray, good luck if you go for the interview :) Do you have to go for an interview, if so when??
Hi lightatendoftunnel
I was wondering how things are going?
Have you started the job? I'm so excited for you.
Thanks for thinking about me.
I told the manager I'd like to start in summer (that's when I will be needed) and he said he will draw a contract over Easter. He said one wage to me a few weeks ago, and today he was saying that's higher than other people here!! But he told me the numbers.
I will see what he says in writing over easter. But I will already take a pay cut so if he goes down too much I'll have to say no. Fingers crossed it will be OK, and at least I have a job now.
I will carry on getting experience there, so hopefully I will get a new job soon even if it isn't here.
My current job is great as it fits in with the kids. BUT I really hate it, and working alone is getting to me. But I'm at the point where I need to put me first, even if it means I leave the kids alone all holidays and after school
Hi lightatendoftunnel
Lets hope the manager pays you what you are worth. It must be a relief to know that you are moving on from your current job.
Is there an after school club attached to your childrens school? Does it run during the holidays?
My daughter sometimes does holiday camp. There is quite a cheap one that she goes to once a year. It is only a week and I have to drive her 2 hours to get there, but it is such a relief being at work and knowing that she is being cared for and entertained too.
Did you say that your new job is full time? If so that means that you get paid holidays :) Therefore your children won't be on their own all the time, you can plan some fun times together :)
I have felt a bit down over the past few weeks, although I'm taking St Johns Wart so hopefully I will feel better soon.
I'm just fed up with being tired, working hard and nothing to show for it or look forward to. It's relentless isn't it? And then I have to cope with the kids on top with no support.
The kids alone can be hard work. Working and studying is also hard, but put them both together! Double hard work lol I can't even afford a car, but see people who don't work being able to afford one.
I think I'm setting a good example to the kids, but then I'm so tired lately it's not a good example is it? Plus the house is a tip, but because it's so small where we live it makes a big difference. I have to climb over things just to get anywhere lol
The living room was tidy on Wednesday, but now is a mess. Just school stuff all over the floor. Ironing board out. It's the boys responsibility to tidy the living room as it is their mess, but if they don't do it, it stays a mess.
i'm just fed up with being superwoman it's too tiring.
I just wish I had a friend to see this weekend, but still have nobody.
Sorry to hear that you are feeling down, lightatendoftunnel.
You're right of course, it is about the children taking their share of the responsibility...but they won't do that till you make them.Have a look at this link from the main site http://www.onespace.org.uk/teenagers/lazy-teen-keep-them-busy
Teenagers in particular find it really hard to empathis with others so they will have no concept of how tired and hard-working you are. So rather than expecting them to understand, look at consequences if they do/do not help. Yes at first this seems more trouble than it is worth and easier not to bother but honestly it will pay dividends after just a few weeks
Thanks for that Louise.
I did get the boys to tidy up, as I refuse to pickk up after them. But i wish they wouldn't put the mess there in the first place! It probably wouldn't bother me in a bigger place, but this is a small house. I don't even have the space for a fold up table lol!
Still a bit down, but I think I'm just exhausted.
I need to unblock the toilet. I hate that job!
I hate blocked toilets too...
Poor you. Hope it wasn't too awful. Can't beat bleach :-)
We sort of started tidying this morning, but looking around, it doesn't look much better! The Wii sort of got in the way (the christmas present they had between them over two years ago now, and we have used so much). But, they're laughing, which is nice to hear.
I haven't been online for ages but it is interesting reading my posts.
Update, the work experience didn't turn out to be a job in the end as the manager was just talk. I am not really bothered though as the job would have been too stressfull.
I am still looking for new work, but in this market it is a bit difficult. I will just keep on looking though.
I am still in this house, still on council list and still can't afford my own place, but I will keep on looking.
the boys are getting much older though, they are even talking about leaving home (yipee!) I mean that would mean a very different stage of my life. We get on well and I love them to bits, but the housework isn't split equally.
I still need to make more friends though, I am doing courses, meet work colleagues outside of work, met a few people online but it still isn't enough. I am still studying, working and coping with kids so it is difficult trying to balance it all. When the boys leave home I will have a massive hole, but trying to get a proper life for me now is still quite hard (finance and time)
If only I had a cleaner and cook......I could have more time!!
Hello lightatendoftunnel
Nice to see you again! you are always welcome here 
Shame that that job did not work out as you expected, life has so many twists and turns that there is always a surprise round the corner. You're right, you need to think about your life as an individual now the boys are almost grown-up. And do keep pegging away at getting them to do chores. My son has now learned to iron and to do a bit of cooking. I have even managed to leave him on his own for a few days! (he is almost 18)
The other aspect to children getting older is the financial changes....the loss of Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit for example so there is lots to think about.
Friends come from the most unlikely places. You're doing the right thing getting out and about. Would you be interested in getting involved in your local church? or something like the Lions? One of our members has enjoyed going to their local MeetUps club and I have to say that I went to a similar social club nine years ago and still have three really good friends I met there.
You sound very positive about things.
I've found a lot of adult company in the scouts. I do training which involves the adults. I've done all the training, but still go to courses for company. Not found a "good" friend yet, but in time, who knows...
I'm glad you have a good relationship with your sons.
Hi lightatendoftunnel. Welcome back. It's great to 'see' you here again. Sorry that the job didn't work out for you. I'm looking for a cleaner and cook too (in my dreams, hehe). Take care.
Hiya lightatendoftunnel, how lovely to hear from you again
Maybe when the boys move out you can get a lodger or two, who like cleaning and cooking 
It sounds as though you are getting out and about a bit more, why does it not feel satisying enough?
Hi there
Just to clarify the PTA cupboard thing is outside and has holes in the walls and is right next to the school bins so it is not that surprising really but yes they are on the case as we only discovered this at his xmas school disco when we wanted to use the fairy lights!
I am sorry to unnerve you but there is some fact that you are only ever 150 feet away from a rat at anytime around the world!
I personally don't like thembut I have lived in indai and so got more used to them from being there and I did have them in the tiolet once and coming up through the drain holes in the shower etc. We had mice there too and anything like that that moves fast and scuttles alng gives me the willies - cockroaches are horrid too. I once had a scorpion right above me as I was about to turn off my light at night! I was younger then and a bit more acrefree about things. I am not sure how I would cope with that all now and certainly once you add children into the equation, you feel a lot more protective etc.
Sorry If I scared anyone, I was trying to be supportive!
C-L