Hi
This morning we went to the dentist. This is a big deal to me because it really scares me. I worry about for ages before I go and this was only a check up! Thankfully I have no further problems, but I still have treatment hanging over me. I need to have a root canal treatment and then a crown on one tooth, but as it will cost me over £1000 and I don't work at the moment, it may have to wait a while. I have the money saved for the root canal (£520), vut not the crown yet. My teeth cause me a lot of problems. I have extra nerves in my bottom jaw which means I am never completely numbed for a procedure. The dentist has reassured me today that she will use different methods to make sure I am numb so I don't need to worry.
Another problem is that I have very thin enamel and this is because I suffered with hyperemesis gravidarum (severe morning sickness) with Alice throughout my pregnancy. The acid eroded my enamel and this means I am prone to fillings.
My wisdom teeth are impacted and some not even through yet, but causing me trouble. I have to have the top wisdom teeth out at the John Radcliffe hospital in Oxford because they have cavities because I can't get to them to clean them properly. The dentist can't get to them to fill them so they have to go. This will be done under local anaesthetic so I am petrified to face this. The surgeon said that my nerve runs so close to my bottom wisdom tooth that he will not remove it. If he touches that nerve, he will paralyse my face, so he won't take the risk.
Another problem is that I suffer from bruxism (tooth grinding/clenching) which led to TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder). This can be really painful. I have to wear a mouth guard at night to protect my teeth and relax the muscles in my jaw. This has been caused by my stressful life and traumatic experiences.
My teeth have caused me a lot of anxiety over the past few years and cost me a huge amount of money, but I need to preserve them cos I won't get any more! So I was really pleased to get a couple of freebies today... toothpaste samples!!! There were two boxes of different samples and Alice picked up one of each. We discovered later that Charlotte had also picked some up too. They are travel size, but they were free! They will do for the kid's bathroom because I have to have special toothpaste because of my thin enamel.
I have been a bit happier today because Alice was with me, but now she has gone back to her boyfriend's house. Tomorrow is another day.
Much to the horror of my family, we had ham salad and new potatoes for tea. They were annoyed because it's winter. I was bored of meat, spuds, veg and gravy dinners and fancied a change. When I'm down, I really lack motivation to do anything and that was what I was like yesterday.
After the dentist, we had a look round a couple of charity shops. Why are they so expensive now??? Every jumper I picked up was at least £7.99. I can buy them for less in Asda. I didn't buy anything.
Looking forward to a relaxing Sunday
Mandy x
Me
Saturday, 7 January 2012
Thursday, 5 January 2012
The headache from hell
Today has been good and bad.
Yesterday was really distressing in the evening and I developed a headache. It was the sort of headache that is still there when you wake up. This morning it was still there and refused to shift with tablets. It was so bad that I tried to have a sleep this afternoon just to have a break from it. When I woke up it was still there! I really didn't fancy cooking tea because bad headaches make me feel sick too, but i forced myself to make a game pie for Steve. So tea today was:
Thank you for reading and thank you to my new followers - I'm up to 7 now!!!
Until tomorrow...
Mandy x
Yesterday was really distressing in the evening and I developed a headache. It was the sort of headache that is still there when you wake up. This morning it was still there and refused to shift with tablets. It was so bad that I tried to have a sleep this afternoon just to have a break from it. When I woke up it was still there! I really didn't fancy cooking tea because bad headaches make me feel sick too, but i forced myself to make a game pie for Steve. So tea today was:
- Game pie, boiled potatoes, mixed veg (frozen) and savoy cabbage for Steve
- Cheese and potato pie for me and Charlotte (my feeling poorly food and Charlotte doesn't like game), and Ashley doesn't work Fridays so I don't need to save him a dinner today.
- Pudding - while I needed to make pastry for the pie, I decided to make a lemon meringue pie for pudding.
Thank you for reading and thank you to my new followers - I'm up to 7 now!!!
Until tomorrow...
Mandy x
Wednesday, 4 January 2012
Meatballs, doughnuts, flapjack and cake
Today I made meatballs and tomato sauce for tea. While it was cooking, I decided to do some baking. I made:
I got another load of washing dry, it just needs airing. It's been really cold today but windy so it does dry.
More tidying and laundry tomorrow ...
Mandy x
- doughnuts (without yeast and for the first time)
- flapjack
- iced sponge
- sponge with jam and coconut topping
I got another load of washing dry, it just needs airing. It's been really cold today but windy so it does dry.
More tidying and laundry tomorrow ...
Mandy x
Tuesday, 3 January 2012
Sorting the house one step at a time.
Today I have cleared a huge ironing pile. I have always left this chore until there is a mountain and then stood for hours ironing (which is no good for my back). From now on, I will do the ironing as the clothes are dried. One small change to make life easier for me so my house runs more smoothly. I have time now each day, so no excuses!!!
I have got a line of washing dry outside again today. I did need extra pegs though. I have managed to keep my washing up-to-date for quite a few weeks now, so my small changes must be working. I just need to remove bad habits and replace them with organisation.
I have meal planned this afternoon, ready to do an online shop tomorrow - another much needed change in lifestyle. Today I ate the leftover potato bake and jelly with cream for my lunch. I am getting much better at using leftovers, rather than throwing food away. I can't afford to waste a penny!
For tea today, Steve had roast mutton, roasties and veg. Ashley had the roasties and veg, but with sausages and Charlotte and I had sausage, mash and beans. I will have the mash and remaining beans for my lunch tomorrow (I can't seem to cook for four instead of five).
Charlotte very kindly dyed my hair for me this evening. I seem to have many more grey hairs in the past year and they come through much quicker than before. I can't afford for my hairdresser to dye my hair, so Charlotte puts a box dye on for me instead.
Tomorrow is another day and I hope to achieve lots in the house.
Until tomorrow ...
Mandy x
I have got a line of washing dry outside again today. I did need extra pegs though. I have managed to keep my washing up-to-date for quite a few weeks now, so my small changes must be working. I just need to remove bad habits and replace them with organisation.
I have meal planned this afternoon, ready to do an online shop tomorrow - another much needed change in lifestyle. Today I ate the leftover potato bake and jelly with cream for my lunch. I am getting much better at using leftovers, rather than throwing food away. I can't afford to waste a penny!
For tea today, Steve had roast mutton, roasties and veg. Ashley had the roasties and veg, but with sausages and Charlotte and I had sausage, mash and beans. I will have the mash and remaining beans for my lunch tomorrow (I can't seem to cook for four instead of five).
Charlotte very kindly dyed my hair for me this evening. I seem to have many more grey hairs in the past year and they come through much quicker than before. I can't afford for my hairdresser to dye my hair, so Charlotte puts a box dye on for me instead.
Tomorrow is another day and I hope to achieve lots in the house.
Until tomorrow ...
Mandy x
Monday, 2 January 2012
The decorations are down
Well the Christmas decorations are down and packed away for another year. I haven't felt christmassy at all, when I normally love it. I'm actually glad it's over.
Today I have got my washing dry outside. I wouldn't normally dream of hanging out washing in January, but it's been so mild and windy, so it's been drying really well.
Tea today was cold beef and a lovely potato bake:
I've got a really busy day ahead tomorrow. Steve, Ashley and Charlotte are back at work and I've got loads of housework to do.
An early start to look after Flo, so I'm off to sleep now. I always listen to my ipod because I have trouble getting off to sleep and music helps me. I will listen to Scritti Politti first then maybe The Communards or Alison Moyet or Pepsi and Shirlie. I LOVE my 80s music!!!
Night, night ...
Mandy x
Today I have got my washing dry outside. I wouldn't normally dream of hanging out washing in January, but it's been so mild and windy, so it's been drying really well.
Tea today was cold beef and a lovely potato bake:
- grease an ovenproof dish with butter
- slice potatoes and an onion
- layer potato and onion then repeat
- pour over a pot of single cream (or milk)
- sprinkle over some parsley and black pepper
- dot with butter
- bake for 1 hour @ 200 oC (you may need to cover with foil if the top gets too brown)
I've got a really busy day ahead tomorrow. Steve, Ashley and Charlotte are back at work and I've got loads of housework to do.
An early start to look after Flo, so I'm off to sleep now. I always listen to my ipod because I have trouble getting off to sleep and music helps me. I will listen to Scritti Politti first then maybe The Communards or Alison Moyet or Pepsi and Shirlie. I LOVE my 80s music!!!
Night, night ...
Mandy x
Sunday, 1 January 2012
A new year, a new beginning ...
I'm back after three months of hell. Sadly life is still treating us badly, but I am trying to look for the positives and hope to take up my challenge again for the new year.
Since I last posted, Alice has left home (against our wishes) and I left my job. Life became too much to cope with and I was signed off with stress. Something had to give and it had to be my working life, so that I can concentrate on improving our home-life.
Christmas has been sad because Alice refuses to be in contact with us and didn't even wish us a Happy Christmas. She hasn't spoken to us since just before Christmas. She fell out with her sister, but wants nothing to do with the rest of us either. I can feel myself slipping backwards emotionally, so I am trying really hard to control it.
On the positive side - Charlotte got a puppy! She's a bulldog cross and she's gorgeous!!! She's called Flo and she's the one with the black spot on her head. She has 10 brothers and sisters! More photos to come of Flo, she has grown quite a bit since this photo was taken with some of her brothers and sisters.
Now that we are down to a single income, we really have to tighten our belts, starting now. I have been cooking from scratch everyday since finishing work. Today we had roast beef, yorkshire pudding, roasties, parsnips, broccoli, sprouts, carrots, swede and homemade gravy. The beef was bought with voucher savings from Asda. There is still quite a bit left, so we will finish that tomorrow.
I plan to keep decluttering and start to sell stuff on ebay until the carboot starts again in March. It's a slow process, but I am getting there.
What we really need to do is cut back on our electricity consumption (the bill was huge yesterday). We have done well with the gas bill, because we wrap up warm, rather than have the heating on all day.
I hope to get on and keep myself busy so things get sorted and I have less time to worry about Alice and all of our other issues.
I'm going to use this blog to keep me motivated - I need to make changes!
Until tomorrow ...
Mandy x
Since I last posted, Alice has left home (against our wishes) and I left my job. Life became too much to cope with and I was signed off with stress. Something had to give and it had to be my working life, so that I can concentrate on improving our home-life.
Christmas has been sad because Alice refuses to be in contact with us and didn't even wish us a Happy Christmas. She hasn't spoken to us since just before Christmas. She fell out with her sister, but wants nothing to do with the rest of us either. I can feel myself slipping backwards emotionally, so I am trying really hard to control it.
On the positive side - Charlotte got a puppy! She's a bulldog cross and she's gorgeous!!! She's called Flo and she's the one with the black spot on her head. She has 10 brothers and sisters! More photos to come of Flo, she has grown quite a bit since this photo was taken with some of her brothers and sisters.
Now that we are down to a single income, we really have to tighten our belts, starting now. I have been cooking from scratch everyday since finishing work. Today we had roast beef, yorkshire pudding, roasties, parsnips, broccoli, sprouts, carrots, swede and homemade gravy. The beef was bought with voucher savings from Asda. There is still quite a bit left, so we will finish that tomorrow.
I plan to keep decluttering and start to sell stuff on ebay until the carboot starts again in March. It's a slow process, but I am getting there.
What we really need to do is cut back on our electricity consumption (the bill was huge yesterday). We have done well with the gas bill, because we wrap up warm, rather than have the heating on all day.
I hope to get on and keep myself busy so things get sorted and I have less time to worry about Alice and all of our other issues.
I'm going to use this blog to keep me motivated - I need to make changes!
Until tomorrow ...
Mandy x
Sunday, 2 October 2011
5th Car Boot Sale
Hi,
Yesterday I did my fifth car boot sale. Sadly the turnout was poor because of the lovely weather (I think people had better things to do) and I only made £18.70. I have done better before (and a lot worse) but I sold lots of stuff. I have changed tactics and have found that items sell better if they are price tagged. I sell my things for 20p, 50p, £1 or £2, with most being 50p. People are attracted to our stall with labels of 20p and we have sold much more since doing this. I sold loads of books, but still have many more. I love buying books, but never find the time to read them all. Life is too busy and I wish it would slow down! Next week we are having a Saturday off and want to have a wander round the car boot, looking for bits and bobs for Christmas presents. Then we will be off again, selling everything that we no longer use, need or want, to earn pennies for christmas. I spent some of last week's money on my Avon order for Alice's make-up. I am trying so hard not to be wasteful!
My personal life is still rubbish, so I can't post that often, but I have decided to focus on the positives in my life and will support my children the best I can.
My washing machine broke last weekend, so I have been handwashing all this week. Thank goodness for the sunshine to dry my dripping washing on the line! We have got a new one now, £300!!! I have been saving for a new shower cubicle, so thankfully Steve bought the new machine - hopefully this one lasts us a few years.
Steve has almost finished my gorgeous utility room now (will post photos when it's done), another step closer to putting the house on the market. We really need to move away from the trouble that Alice seems to find in this village and make a fresh start.
Meals have been a bit erratic - sometimes homemade and frugal, sometimes rubbish or non-existent because we are having a really tough day and can't face food. My friend gave me a big bag of eating apples from her garden on Friday, which steve loves.
Until next time ...
Mandy xxx
Yesterday I did my fifth car boot sale. Sadly the turnout was poor because of the lovely weather (I think people had better things to do) and I only made £18.70. I have done better before (and a lot worse) but I sold lots of stuff. I have changed tactics and have found that items sell better if they are price tagged. I sell my things for 20p, 50p, £1 or £2, with most being 50p. People are attracted to our stall with labels of 20p and we have sold much more since doing this. I sold loads of books, but still have many more. I love buying books, but never find the time to read them all. Life is too busy and I wish it would slow down! Next week we are having a Saturday off and want to have a wander round the car boot, looking for bits and bobs for Christmas presents. Then we will be off again, selling everything that we no longer use, need or want, to earn pennies for christmas. I spent some of last week's money on my Avon order for Alice's make-up. I am trying so hard not to be wasteful!
My personal life is still rubbish, so I can't post that often, but I have decided to focus on the positives in my life and will support my children the best I can.
My washing machine broke last weekend, so I have been handwashing all this week. Thank goodness for the sunshine to dry my dripping washing on the line! We have got a new one now, £300!!! I have been saving for a new shower cubicle, so thankfully Steve bought the new machine - hopefully this one lasts us a few years.
Steve has almost finished my gorgeous utility room now (will post photos when it's done), another step closer to putting the house on the market. We really need to move away from the trouble that Alice seems to find in this village and make a fresh start.
Meals have been a bit erratic - sometimes homemade and frugal, sometimes rubbish or non-existent because we are having a really tough day and can't face food. My friend gave me a big bag of eating apples from her garden on Friday, which steve loves.
Until next time ...
Mandy xxx
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