You dirty rat.....

Over the last few weeks we've been blaming the squirrel's for eating up the bird seed and fat balls we've been putting on the bird table each day.  Well, surprise surprise today we've found out it's not the squirrel's at all...it's a big fat rat!

Hubby has suggested getting an air rifle, I've managed to talk him out of it...just!  I, know rats are pretty much everywhere nowadays but I really don't want them on my bird table thank you very much.  We live fairly close to the railway tracks and I understand that it is quite common for them to live near the tracks.

Today I have purchased some proper bird seed feeders that will hopefully mean the rats will not be able to eat the food now and in time will leave our garden.

Stern words were had with the cat this morning, who is clearly not doing his job very well.  He's 16 this year so I'm guessing his past all that rat-catching malarkey!  Not surprising really as he spends most of the day asleep on my bed....lazy little git.

Weather has been lovely this weekend.  Spring is in the air that's for sure.  We loose an hour next weekend too as the clocks go forward, so we will have the lighter evenings to look forward too also.

We had our first jumble sale as work yesterday.  It took weeks of arranging, collecting items, sorting through them and most of the morning laying it out before the doors opened at 2pm.  Let's just say we won't be doing another in a hurry!  Very poorly attended, even though we advertised it well.  Now, what to do with all the stuff left over!!

Hubby hit me with a bombshell when he got home from work last night.  He's given it alot of thought and decided that we could really save money if we got rid of one of the cars......MY CAR.  He realised that it would mean making compromises but he's sure WE could manage it (WE!!!!!) It could save us nearly £1000 a year if we did.  He'd sell his car as it's older then mine and then he'd use mine to get him to and from work.  He would drop me at work each morning as it's 5 miles away and I would get the train home at the end of each day.  Sounds easy doesn't it.  But I would have an hour round trip walking to school to collect Alex each day after work, would not have the car for shopping in the week as he doesn't finish work till 10pm each day and wouldn't have it on Saturday either as he works most of them.  He couldn't understand why I was a bit pee'd off by his suggestion and the fact that he'd given it so much thought - even found out the cost of the train fare AND the timetable.

I gave it some consideration and made a few suggestions myself.

If I was too loose the car then I would have to cut my hours back at work by 3 hours a week (12 a month), I would not be able to do any overtime as and when work needed me too.  This would mean a big drop in my salary.  Also, he would have too get up really early in the morning to take me in and he could no longer fall out of the bed at 8am.  I also suggested that we could save more money if in fact he got a scooter/moped (like he had a few years back) as in all fairness he only uses the car to drive to and from his work place which is nearer to home then my work place.  I said that at present I am spending around £150 a month on fuel but if I walked a couple of nights a week to school to collect Alex now the weather is getting better it would reduce this bill by around 15%.

He sat there, very quiet and starting rubbing his chin.  The upshot of it is ......we are keeping both cars for the time being !!!! Bloody men.

Only 3 more weeks left of this term.  Wow, doesn't time fly!

Hope you have a great week.

Sue x x x

Too many questions...

Have you all had your census land with a thud on your door mat?  What's all this about I wonder?  I understand why they are doing it but I don't remember the last one asking so many questions.   For some reason I feel very suspicious about it all but I shall complete (most of it) nevertheless...better had else I'll get fined!

Busy week so far at work and school this week.  Alex's school has had a science fair this week and he had to do a project for it.  We decided to do it on his favorite all time hobby...food, and how long before things go 'off' or become rotten and took pictures each day over a week so you could see how the food changed.  I say his project but I really mean mine!  It's hard enough to get him to school each day and do his homework, so as soon as he found out about this project he made it clear that he had no interest in taking part.  It was tough going but we managed to do it - just about together...cost me few kit-kat's though. 

So today he took it in to school and this afternoon it was presented to the whole school and parents.  His friend who also wasn't too bothered in joining in, was quick to jump on Alex's band wagon and the project quickly became 'theirs'.  You've got to give his friend 10 out of 10 for his quick thinking! I would have made a fuss but I like the lad and he's been through a tough time of late with his Mum and Step Dad splitting up so I let him have his moment of glory along with Alex.

My friend filled me in on Monday about the party last Friday.  I nodded and said 'Oh good' as and when required.  Have been a bit cool with her this week but not too offish.  I shall will not be making as much effort as I have done in the past, and see how we go.

Seems as if some of the text has become hi-lighted....don't know why!
Hope your week is going well.

Sue x x x

You got a friend in me.......

I hold grudges......there I've said it.  I can't help it but I do.  Some I've held on to for over 20 years.  I guess that's just the way I'm made. 

I've become quite close to one of the Mums at school.  I've known her for over 5 years.  We help each other out when needed with taking the kids to school and collecting them.  My friend doesn't drive but I do, so I bring them home at night from school.  I've been doing this now on and off for a couple of years and almost every night for the last year.  Even if her hubby is home from work I would still bring them home. It means I am late to pick up my daughter from her school but It's ok she starts to walk home and we meet her half way.


Over the holidays I took my friend and our children out for the day to an indoor play centre.  I even brought her lunch.  I'm good like that. I'll always pick offers up for her from the supermarket if I know she uses them.
In the past they have even invited themselves to stay at our caravan with us for the odd weekend when we've been down there and have made noises about doing the same this year.

Now, you're probably thinking why am I telling you all this?

Well, her hubby is quiet a few years older then her and was offered the chance of early retirement.  He thought long and hard and decided he would take his companies offer.

He finished work just before half term.  A couple of weeks ago she decided to hold him a retirement party.  She told me of the venue they had chosen and the date they had hoped to hold it.  I spoke to my hubby to see if he could get the evening off work and pondered on ideas of what pressie to get him.

Then it all went quiet. 

So last week I asked her if she had booked it.  She said she had, she'd hired a small hall and was looking to do the food herself and was probably only going to do just some sandwiches.  I was just about to offer my services as I'm a dab hand at this sort of thing - even did the spread for the do after we got married all by myself.

Then she said, they'd been looking at numbers and adding up the relatives and his friends she is not going to be able to invite us as the hall only holds 50 people.  She hoped it would not be a problem and maybe we could get together in the summer and have a BBQ.

So, me being said yes, that's fine.

But actually it's not fine.  I'm really disappointed by this. I thought we'd gotten quite close over the last couple of years but it seems as if I was wrong.

So much so, that I have even made the decision  not to do a charity walk with her in the summer now.  It was a 9 mile midnight walk in aid of a local hospice.  They will not loose out as I will still sponsor her and my other friends who also do the walk.

I know I must sound all bitter and twisted but I am really feeling quite 'used' now.

I know a similar thing happened with her and another friend of hers who used to drive her everywhere and the relationship kind of cooled all of a sudden.

So, the party was last night.  I'm sure they had a lovely time and am expecting a call/text soon from her to tell me all about it.  I consider myself a loyal friend to my close friends and I would really give them the shirt of my back if they needed it.  But I'm beginning to feel that it's all one sided now.

Have a lovely weekend.

Sue x x x