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We could see the beacon. A pin prick of light... Flares were set off all over the place.
Have tried taking pics, but will see if they come out tomorrow.
Hi hazeleyes
HGV driver
Morning everyone - only 3 weeks left of school thank goodness although things now getting crazy - a bit like the Christmas term - what with sports day - trips out - and lots to organise within school but I feel like we are on the home straight!
Have a good day everyone particularly those who have today off!
Hello one and all
I had the day off yesterday and spent some time with eldest. Seems so strange to kiss your child and they have a beard 
There was a party at the neighbour's house on Sunday night which was great fun, we ended up doing a Take That medley. I was a backing singer with the lady from next door 
I dragged youngest away at 11.30 as he was up so early for work the next day.
Watched the concert last night (thought it was excellent)and thought of you, sparkling, when they lit the beacon. I wondered if you could see it from your house! When are you getting the new loo seat? Do you want one of those unusual ones eg with barbed wire inside? I would not dare sit on that! As you can imagine I once decided to get one with pink roses on, to horrify the boys 
but that eventually broke so now we have a normal sensible one 
Hazeleyes, you have had a rough couple of days 
It is the thing that all parents have to go through at some stage as our children grow up and do more independent things. And it is a reflection of great parenting if they actually feel confident enough to go and do them!! BUT, it is harder for you....when you are a single parent of one child, you have spent years with just the two of you and the relationship bewteen you is likely to be more intense. It has also been a big learning curve...and as C goes out and about more, it is time to reconnect with yourself as a person, rather than as a parent. For example, you have realised that none of your friends are single. Time to find a new single friend or two, I think, and to have a really good think about what you're interested in. I agree that horse-riding is a strain on the budget but there are lots of other things. It's about turning it on its head and saying it is an opportunity 
I spend a lot of time on my own these days and I really enjoy it. What are you up to today?
Lrh, you have your alone time coming up in the summer and you can start to plan it now! Only three weeks of school left now and you will also have lots of times with the girls yourself. In the meantime it sounds very busy at school!
Hello Looby it was lovely to see you in here again, have missed you
Hopeful, I saw that you were very good at the quiz questions . what are you doing with your Mum today?
Went into town again, because daughter wanted to go - she had a point, she's recently grown lots and all her trousers are too short. Too bad it started raining again!
Trying to work on presentation now, although I don't feel like it!
Hope everyone is fine here!
Good luck with the presentation work, Hopeful
Hazeleyes, you have gone quiet, are you Ok?
Sparkling are you working this week?
LRH are you at the school every day? I have never asked you about your working hours.
Looby, hello (waves)
Everything has finally reopened and I am off to do some errands and to get petrol from what should be called the Dick Turpin Garage (highway robbery!!! 
)
Am okay Louise thankyou, just plodding along.
At the moment I work Mon/Tues mornings in one school and all day Wed/Thurs in another school and am off Fridays but as its so frantic I am doing overtime Mon/Tues afternoons and we are only at school mornings on Fridays where I live so till 12.30pm on Fridays
I hope to go back to 25 hours after the summer but we will have to wait and see
hope everyone is ok
Hello everyone!
Thank goodness today is over! Had to get payroll done in one day, have been at work since half seven this morning and finished at half six tonight. Its been like a flashback to my life before having J. J is having a great time with his dad. He gets upset when he phones at night and wants to come home, but when he's distracted and talking about his day he's fine. His dad has been sending me photos of what they have been up to. I'm waiting for him to ring to say goodnight and then I am going out to Asda, because I can! I am usually 'trapped' in the house from seven at night when J is here so I am going to make the most of it. It has been weird without him (and very quiet) but I am enjoying it in a weird kind of way. Does that make me a bad mummy? It was nice this morning to be able to get ready for work without J shouting 'how much longer' 'how many more things have you got to put on' lol
Spoke to J a while ago, apparently dad's girlfriend has had to go home for some peace and quiet! Is she trying to say my son is noisy
Glad you're enjoying your time out Looby. Sounds like J's having a good time too. Long day at work too for you, and shopping?
lrh, no school for anyone on Friday afternoons? That sounds great, right up my street hehe.
Yesterday I decided I would get the flooring for my kitchen. Just using sticky back stuff, and obviously not expensive. So, I started it at 12.30 yest, stopped at 7, and then back to it first thing this morning. Turning into a nightmare, especially now I've come to the cutting out bits. Looks like a puzzle at the minute, but couldn't carry on past 5, as back is really playing up. Had something to eat, then stood and ironed, but at least it is now of the way.
Am a bit annoyed too right now. I know you'll all think it's nothing to get annoyed about, but I am. C rang me a while ago. He's waited for days to go swimming with my nephew. Today they went, as my niece has arrived there with her daughter. Now, her daughter has been having regular lessons, and they also lived somewhere with access to a pool. C on the other hand, as you might know, has just started swimming lessons. Anyhow, off they went this afternoon. C told me he wasn't allowed to go in the deep end with the others, and he stayed on his own in the shallow pool. When I asked why he couldn't go, as he had his armbands with him, he told me that my nephew wouldn't allow him to put them on, saying that no-one was wearing anyone (no-one, meaning anyone, not just the ones C was with). To be honest I am upset over this, as C was so obviously left out. He's 9 for gods sake. Would it have really been that bad for him to wear armbands? My nephew didn't have a problem with this last year!!!
Hazeleyes I would be cross too, there was no call for C to feel singled out like that...it is all very well for those who can afford swimming lessons, I know how you feel because my youngest did not learn until he was a bit older and as he has always been really tall, he looked older than he was and felt very self-conscious. Personally I think swimming is a fundamental skill that should be taught by schools, and far more useful to children than some of the other stuff that is "prescribed". I remember in Religious Studies my eldest was learning about good and evil and they actually had the children each designing two football teams, of goodies and baddies to get the point across about what makes a good or bad person. I was most amused to find my son's baddie team included Hitler, Satan and Anne Robinson!!!!
Good luck with your flooring, anyway Hazeleyes.
Hi LRH, thanks for replying about your work, wow you are doing a lot of hours at the moment, 25 is plenty in the normal run of things. Not many weeks to go now, sounds like you could do with a good rest.
Hello Looby did you enjoy your late trip to Asda? At Christmas I always do my main shop at about 5am, to avoid all the crowds and OAPs chatting in the aisles Glad J is having a good time at his dad's but I had to snigger about the girlfriend, heh heh.
Hopeful how is your presentation going? Are you due any more appointments or is is the pre-op next?
Sparkling how are things at work?
One lad was laid off yesterday morning, then a call comes through with more work... The one day install is going ok, with double the man power. No profit at all, but men in work (and women!) for another week at least. Men are all on a permanant weeks notice at the moment and know how critical it is.
Friend looks tired and old though. Such a strain.
Oh Sparkling, that poor lad. Everyone is under such strain aren't they, it must be a nightmare for those not knowing if they'll have a job at the end of each week. Terrifying.
Louise, I loved the bit about Anne Robinson, made me laugh.
Yesterday I received my post at lunchtime. Didn't bother opening until about 3. I'd missed an appointment!! According to the letter, I was in arrears with my rent, so they'd made an appointment for yesterday at 9.35. Guess they'd forgotten that Tuesday was a bank holiday too!! I immediately called them, I'm receiving letters every few days with different payments for my rent. At one point I used to call them, but I've since given up, as I'm told one thing and then another, and nothing makes sense to me 
So, I rang and again told them I have paid the rent, so I'm not in arrears. I asked why I continuously receive different payments, arrears letters etc, and with no reasonable answer, she did say I wouldn't receive any more letters. I also rang Housing Benefit, and the woman said they would be able to tell me why my payments keep changing. My circumstances haven't changed, so I don't understand any of this.
Also had call last night from C's half sisters Mum. She rang me earlier this year to see if I would go to Doctors and get her some sleeping tablets. Long story, but she forged a prescription, was caught, and now her GP reduced the tablets. She's been on them for years. She's switched GP's, so is waiting for them to read her notes (or so she says). Personally I think they just aren't giving her anything, apart from the recommended dose, and she needs more than that, hence the forging of the prescription. So, earlier this year, I wouldn't do it, heard nothing from her, but over the past few weeks, she's been phoning about nothing in particular. I guess she's been building up to last nights call. Again, asking me to go to my GP as she is desperate. Like I'm going to do it!!!!
Off to have a bath, and then get cracking on my puzzle of a floor. Does look okay though, and better than what was originally there.
Oh no, hazeleyes. I'm guessing rent still isn't sorted then? Blooming ridiculous!
C's half sister's Mum is definitely trying something, isn't she?
I've got my friend's VAT return in front of me. So on avoidance. Have been on the phone about scouty stuff and with MiL though, so good excuse.
Good luck with the floor. I'm sure it will look brilliant xx
Your floor will be great, Hazeleyes. Heck, that lady has a cheek, guess she doesn;t know you very well then?
Sparkling what a nightmare at work, so many people are hanging on by their fingernails. My friend's son works at a joinery/furniture place and they are on a four day week already and been told might go down to three.
For now I've walked away from the kitchen. Can't seem to get it right, so best to leave it and go back to it later. Might need a big mat or something underneath the table, to cover the mistakes, as they are noticeable
I have to admit to not even noticing how really, really awful my ceiling is anymore. And I bet your flooring will look brilliant compared to my ceiling... You could put a draping table cloth over the table as a distraction...
Had to laugh. Just read a letter. It's from the council, dates to visit to see if tenants are needing renovations to kitchens or bathrooms. My friend had her kitchen done, and it looks great. After her road was done, council ran out of budget, so we didn't get a look in. Wonder if I should leave floor looking like puzzle, just in case I'm one of the lucky ones that'll have mine renovated. Would save my back and knees, pain is awful at moment.
Not wasted afternoon completely. Have gone through letters that have piled up, and have filed or thrown.
I have to say that my neighbour's kitchen looks fabulous...
It's a Welsh Assembly thing that all social housing is brought up to modern standards.
Well done on sorting out the paperwork. I started that here on Monday and filled two bin bags of shredding.
I've cancelled scouts. Half weren't going as it's half term (no Cubs this week). My back is killing me and walking is, shall we say, a challenge. I'd have got soaked walking that slow up to the car.
Just popping in to say hi! Am soooo busy, plus of course my mum wants some attention. Got 76 for last weeks presentation! Am well chuffed. Working on next weeks and then that module is finished already.
I am sorry I've not got time to catch up properly, but I am thinking of you all! Sparkling, I hope you can find a magic trick to keep all thosest jobs going! Hazeleyes, sending you well wishes against stupid pain and good luck ones for new kitchen!
Louise, didn't read yours, but hope you're ok! xxx
Hi Hopeful, congratulations on that mark. Big pat on the back for you. We're all rooting for you on the next one.
New Kitchen, I really hope so, cos I'm not having any luck with last few pieces of the puzzle. Floor is uneven (that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it)
2 more sleeps, cannot wait.
Keeping those jobs going is such a trial! At least now its not on my shoulders as it was last year as new girl is there.
Well done on your assignment. I'm so chuffed for you. I've decided I'm not going to open my envelope when the mark arrives. If ever I did another course, it would be at a local college and not remotely like the OU. Definitey need peer and tutor support.
Enjoy having your Mum with you.
Thinking of you hazeleyes. xxx
Well done Hopeful and yes am OK!
Sparkling I am getting out my glasses...you are not looking at your marks???
Hazeleyes, C will be back tomorrow. My experience of boys coming back is I long to see them but once they have been back about an hour I feel cross with them about something, and then feel guilty.
Youngest has a date with a new girl this evening! So far he has had two proper girlfriends and both of them went and slept with someone else, during the relationship with him. I have had to give him a lot of reassurance that not all girls are like that and that it is really important that he does not change his own principles because of these experiences.
It's raining cats and dogs out there again today. Good excuse for a movie, that's what I say!
No. I'm just going to stick the envelope amongst the files and books in the cupboard
I hope things go well with your youngest Louise.
Its dry here at the moment, but forecast isn't good.
'New' girl's daughter is getting married tomorrow (lived together for yonks, and have five children. Massive wedding. 'New' girl not impressed, but her husband (their step dad) is paying for it all...). I'm working three full days next week while she shares the child care with the other grandma. I need to pop in today to make sure I know what's due to be happening on Monday (I usually start at 9.30, going in for 8.30), as usually stuff's sorted by the time I'm there.
Youngest has had two friends staying over (one who comes up every holiday from South Wales to stay with granparents and see his Dad), so I'm taking them to manky cinema later. A lot closer and a lot cheaper than the multi-screen place in Llandudno that I thought I was going to at first... Dropping them off and picking them up.
Sparkling will open that envelope, or she'll have us to deal with Louise
That's horrid about your son's ex's. He's been very unlucky to have had a bad start with relationships, but fingers crossed, this new girl will turn out differently. You'll have to vet her Louise, hehe.
Hope they have a great time at cinema Sparkling.
One more piece to lay in the kitchen, and it's done. Not at all perfect, but I did it myself and that's the main thing (or so I keep telling myself). Tried to send a pic of it to C, but for some reason won't send. Oh well. For the last few days, he has been itching to get back home, so now I know he is missing him, awww. He's told me, he'll miss his little cousin, which I knew anyway. They are leaving in the morning, but he said he wants to surprise me, so won't text me when leaving!!! I wrote him little notes to open each morning, and he was saying yesterday that I'd only written them until Thursday, so was disappointed that he didn't have anymore to open. Told him to re-read them again, hehe. Cannot wait to see him. You're probably right though Louise, I'll moan at him for something or other, though I'll try and hold off until Sunday at least.
One more sleep
Hi everyone! I have been off sick recently so have missed the general chat, I hope you are all well.
hazeleyes, I am most impressed with your flooring, good for you I have bodged all the jobs in my house over the last 16 years. Many moons ago my neighbour offered to wall paper my baby's room, I was over the moon, except he bodged it around the light fitting and I thought if anyone is going to bodge job my house it is going to be me!! And so it is!! I am very proud of myself and I actually think I have got better over the years!!
C will love to see it too, his clever, resourceful mummy!
It made me laugh when C said that he wanted the time to be a surprise when he gets home!! I think you should surprise him, walk around with face pack and dressing gown all day!
sparklinglime, I hope you don't have to be in work for too long today. Glad that your youngest has their pal over, they won't mind which cinema they go to, what will they see?
Oh and can you tell me the best way to defrost an upright freezer??
Hi hopeful well done with your previous results good for you! You must be beaming
Hi looby! I don't think it makes you a bad mummy for enjoying a bit of child free freedom! I love it when my daughter goes away...as long as you know they are in safe hands, you can actually have a break - being a single parent is an all consuming full time job mentally, emotionally, physically and physcologically - so I am glad that you are enjoying the space :)
Actually Anna, me doing the floor was basically down to you. I was feeling so low at the beginning of the week, and knew I couldn't go through the rest of the week like it, so I 'pulled myself together' and decided to get on with the floor Everytime I look at the bodges, I shall think of you
Hope you're feeling better now Anna. Sorry to hear you were ill.
Hmmm, is there a spray you get get for the freezer? (I bet it is not ozone friendly if there is one)
Yes one more sleep Hazleyes
What are they going to see at the cinema. sparkling?
Son stomped in from work saying he thought this girl was messing him about, she keeps making excuses when it comes to an actual date even though she is the one chasing him. He said "It's her loss" and went back into town. It is indeed; he was going to take her out for a nice meal.
Hope everyone will have a good evening
Oh no, really feel for your son Louise. Do you think she's maybe really nervous, so making excuses. Perhaps chasing him is one thing, but an actual date might be a bit scary? Just a thought. Saves him money though I guess, but does mean I suppose that you'll have to cook a meal for him now!!
I use a steam cleaner, or steam gun as mine is called. Worked wonders, and didn't take long at all. Best thing about it, was food wasn't out long enough to defrost. Bonus.
Ooh I have never heard of doing the freezer with a steam cleaner, you really are a mine of information I might be able to run to a takeaway curry for son and me. Over the course of this year I have been letting him try different dishes (I know when eldest goes out with friends he has the spiciest thing possible but am sure that is bravado) and youngest seems to like one called Dupiaza so I will see what time he gets home.
Anna will be pleased that she inspired you to do the flooring!
I was going to say hazeleyes did hers with a steam cleaner... Hope you're feeling better Anna.
Hazeleyes, didn't I tell you he'd get home sick? (I'm perfect, you should have known I was going to be right).
Boys had fun in the cinema. Youngest in bed asleep. He fell asleep in Nana's (called in after I dropped the other lads off...)
Hi,
Yay its the weekend again! Could get used to three day weeks.
I have enjoyed my week of being me, rather than being mummy, but I am very ready for J to come home. Only two more sleeps! When he phoned earlier he has been counting down the days with his dad. Ex says he's starting to miss mummy now, which is nice to hear. He's excited to be coming home and I am hoping this is more to do with the fact that he wants to see me rather than the fact we are going to buy the guinea pigs!
Anna, I use a hair dryer to defrost my freezer. There is something very satisfying about watching the ice melt away, or is that just me?
Friend has just emailed me the pics from our weekend in Blackpool. I especially like the one of me stood on the glass skywalk on top of the tower. I look terrified with a frozen grin on my face, but hey I beat my fear of heights and did it!
Sparkling, of course you were right (perfect in every way)! I'm so excited about seeing him, NEVER AGAIN!!
Looby, I'm sure your young lad is missing you and not just interested in the guinea pigs, though it could have something to do with him counting down the days, hehe. Glad you've enjoyed your week. Have to say on the hairdryer thing, that is the worst thing apparantely that you can use. Tut, hehe. I used to do that though 
Wow, Sparkling, J must have been shattered to be in bed so early. He's not feeling under the weather though is he?
Going to bed shortly, if I sleep, the time will go quicker. Looby, a tip there for you
sorry to hear you have been unwell Anna - hope you are ok now
hazeleyes what time did you wake this morning then?
hope everyone else is ok
kids away with the idiot today so am going to town to buy some new clothes
have a good day everyone
Yay day for hazeleyes and looby!
J was tired as he'd had two friend over and they talked most of the night. One of the lads fell asleep on the way home from the cinema!
We have a spare hutch here so we can have a couple of rescue guinea pigs, but we're waiting for the weather to warm up
Daughter was talking about her brothers yesterday. I pointed out to her that they are men, with youngest not far of being one and that she, being a girl would be perfect like me 
and so must there fore learn tolerance - which is easy as we're perfect.
She laughed. Sixteen year old didn't 'get it', which is possibly just as well as he'd have probably stomped upstairs and woken his little brother up!!!!!!
Haha sparkling, you have such funny times with your four. I really am quite limited as to comic possibilities now there is only one left at home 
Mind you he was quite feisty after his date did not happen, and enjoyed his evening anyway.
So it is Zippy-de-doo-dah for Hazeleyes today and Looby tomorrow. What can we say about your day LRH, can we call it a Gloria Gaynor?
The date didn't happen... Aww, Louise, I hope he's ok. Glad he had a good evening though.
Good morning all. lrh, I woke at 7.15, so have been pottering, just giving a quick tidy. Lord knows why, it'll look like a bombs exploded by the time I unpack C's stuff!!
Sparkling, of course your daughter will be perfect, just like you.
Louise, really glad that despite the date that didn't happen, your son still enjoyed the evening. Did you get a curry takeaway?
C has just called, asking if he can sit in the front of the car. I checked it all out yesterday, and the age recommended is 12, so I told my sister and him yesterday. My niece has her 6 year old in the front all of the time, but I'm not happy for C to do this. It's a long journey too.
Sister just texted me, they are leaving now.
More animals Sparkling? You'd do well to live on a farm me thinks
Youngest was able to sit in the front because I can switch the passenger air bag off. That's the main reason for being in the back. In theory youngest is old enough, but in my opinion still rather short for the air bag. So air bag is still switched off.
My lot have declared that they're now ready for another cat. I'm not sure I am as I miss Ellie so much still. They've even got the dog involved as she misses the cat too (she does...) **sigh** Our pets are our lives really, and this lot will be around a few more years to sort the dog out. I should be able to manage a cat. They're demanding a ginger one though
Feeling very happy for you hazeleyes. I know its been a very long and difficult week. I'm sure C's had a great time, and that he'll never want to go again without you!!
If we lived on a farm we'd have a donkey. I love donkeys...
Rabbits need another telling off though as they've kicked all their nice clean bedding out of their bedroom into and out of the run. Right mess again. Tut!
Sparkling you have the patience of a saint.
Hazeleyes, is C back yet???? yes we did have the curry last night, I had chicken bhuna and son had lamb dupiaza and we shared some rice and chapati.
LRH yes that's a good track. I was thinking of "I will survive" but your choice was even better! Did you get anything nice for yourself?
Hope you are Ok Looby and you have enjoyed your last quiet day
One more sleep before my mini monster (otherwise known as J is home)! I can't wait, I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve. Hazeleyes, I hope that C had a lovely time away, but I bet he's glad to be back with his mum isn't he?
I have built the guinea pig hutch today! The man in the shop lied when he said half an hour. I needed twenty hands for one thing to get the flipping side panels screwed on, but its done and I am proud of my handiwork. Just waiting for the piggies tomorrow now. Treating myself to a Chinese tonight to celebrate. Also, I haven't been shopping yet so have no food in the house!
sparklinglime have a look at the rspca web site and the link to your local rspca and try and get a cat from them you can look at the details of each animal on line.
Aw, look at all the newly reunited families! :-)
Have taken my mum back to the airport - she should be home now...
Am trying to watch the football, but have No2 son and daughter bickering all the time - they are really driving me mad. Anybody want them for a little while, please!!!!!!!!!!!!
Had some friends from Derby stop for brunch which was lovely.
Should be working on presentation, but can't concentrate because of bickering (football is not so good, noone seems to make a real effort there either). Also I'm a bit tired.
Which is probably why I am moany. I am so sorry!!!!! Please ignore me.
Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend! x
Our last cat was from the RSPCA, and we had been planning on going there tomorrow. Then see one on preloved, local - and find she's a friend of mine! So off to see a ginger moggy tomorrow. At least I know I can say no to her, and a good excuse for a catch up. The cat we got from the RSPCA was lovely. We were told she was 4. Took her to 'my' vet (I like to know if there's any problems with things we adopt - well the bigger pets) and he said she was at least 8. We had five and a half lovely years with her.
I'm not a footy fan I'm pleased to say. Hope your Mum got back ok Hopeful. Hope you're ok too, not surprised you're tired. My lot are laughing too loud to be finishing this VAT off - at least its not bickering...
One more sleep looby...
Oh gosh. Madness on the roof of Buck Palace and projecting remarkable images onto the palace.
Do youtube it if you're not watching - I'm assuming someone will put it on there... or iPlayer...
Am off now.