The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: plumseverywhere on June 17, 2011, 12:37:31 pm

Title: Having an awful week
Post by: plumseverywhere on June 17, 2011, 12:37:31 pm: Hope its ok to spill some of my troubles here. Am having the most awful time.

I feel like this week has been sent to really test me. We started the week by finding out that my 9 year old is being picked on by one of her classmates but that this little girls mum has also been bullying my daughter verbally behind closed doors and when no-one else is listening. This is being dealt with by school now.

This morning my goat was covered in scours - this is my maiden milker who was fine yesterday but now, as I wait for the vet to call me back she is passing blood and mucus.

On the way home from school run I found my gorgeous black persianX cat had been killed by a car and was laid on the verge some way from our house.

what else could go wrong? of course I am eternally greatful that i, hubby and the kids are all healthy but this week has knocked me sideways :'(
Title: Re: Having an awful week
Post by: HappyHippy on June 17, 2011, 12:54:50 pm: Oh Lisa :-* :-* :-*
I'm sorry you're having such a rough time :( Can sympathise with the bullying thing - Rebecca has been getting picked on by a girl in her class - started with name calling, progressed to kicking and the little s**t even headbutted Becca in the face :o and yesterday I found out that she broke a whiteboard and started battering her with the broken bits >:( Rebecca is such a softy, that even the teachers feel like telling her to lamp the aforementioned Little S**t (but obviously they can't say that to Rebecca ;)) It's really frustrating to say the least :-\ I teach my kids to be polite and NEVER hit or kick anyone or anything, respect the world around them etc etc etc - how I wish other parents would do the same ! But for a parent to do such a thing ! OMG ! No wonder the daughter is a nightmare - what kind of example is that to set >:( I'm really lucky though that the school are being great about it, severe loss of privilages for the other girl and Becca is getting a bit of one-on-one time with the teachers to give her the chance to talk about it. I hope your school takes the same line - and your wee one gets through it okay. I would be seriously considering taking some further action or advice with the other parent though - how dare they ! >:( >:( >:( I hope all's well soon.
Do you want to email me a photo of your goat & I'll try sending her some Reiki ? It won't do any harm and has got to be worth a shot ;)
Oh and thank you for my soaps - spoilt for choice ! The wee lavender lovehearts are gorgeous and I can't wait to get into the 'Reggiemintal' one ;)
Stay positive, this week is nearly over and next week WILL be better :-*
Take care, Karen x
Title: Re: Having an awful week
Post by: knightquest on June 17, 2011, 12:57:12 pm: Of course it's ok to spill on here Lisa. I hope your week gets better real quick. Lots of virtual hugs and best wishes coming your way.

I'd be taking out any frustration and anger that built up on Mrs Bully and her nasty child myself but you are a better person. You've had all bad news now, so no need to expect any more :)

All the best,

Ian
Title: Re: Having an awful week
Post by: plumseverywhere on June 17, 2011, 01:02:31 pm: Thank you Karen and Ian :) Feels better to talk to people who understand, and I know you all know my history with poorly goats...so now I tend to fear the worst each time :(

Mrs Bully got a mouthful from me in the playground the other day, luckily hubby was with me and calmed me down but I was literally at the end of my tether. It is so obvious why her child is as she is, like mother like daughter (gosh, wonder what that makes my girls lol!!)
I will email you a picture of savannah - thank you Karen :) and I am glad you like the soaps!

right, deep breaths because the next task (aside from having to run a soap stall at the school fair tonight.) is telling the kids that another cat has been killed. we must had driven past his body on the way to school but not seen him (thank goodness) and I saw him as i drove home. Scarlett my 4 year old is very upset and we are worried we've pretty much filled rainbow bridge with our animals this year alone!
Title: Re: Having an awful week
Post by: Sandy on June 17, 2011, 01:32:21 pm: Lisa, how awful for your daughter and you and y our family, bullies don't stop when they leaves School sadly, the mum of the bully was most probably a bully at School as well, strangly, often children sort things out and adults are left as enimies!!! The School should have a meeting with you both as parents to find the route cause, I hate the fact that parents make thier kids worse in regards to being a bully. It is sole destroying as we want to protect our children and when they are at School they are open to all sorts that is out of our controlle. Also, amazing how children will lie to thier parents, the little girl bully may well have said your daughter did some thing!!!!! I HATE BULLIES the eventualy get thier Karma!

Poor Goat too, may well be something that will soon be out of her system although I know absolutly nothing about goats so no real advice other than you are trying to make her better and so are others.

Cats always seem to want to cross busy roads, poor thing but I bet she died quickly, a lot of cats meet thier maker via the car rather than make it to old age, well it may help teach your children how roads are dangerouse!!!

Next week it all will become better again, not sure why but we all have those up and those down days, heres to some great up'S

Karen, that sounds like a child with an educational/behavioural problem and not just a bully, hope some one is looking into her behaviour.....like you, I have worked with many children with such problems and there is often something that can be done!!!

Makes my sad week without money look well sad :(
Title: Re: Having an awful week
Post by: plumseverywhere on June 17, 2011, 01:49:50 pm: What you said about the bully girl and mum is spot on!! daughter has been going home and filling mum in on what my eldest has allegedly done and here's a good example..."mum...XXXXX said the f word today at school..." so the mum goes marching into school only for the teacher to find out my daughter said "flipping" but the other girl twisted it. At least 6 children all stood up for my daughter and said NO! she said flipping!!
unfortunately the mum does lots of volunteering at school so has access to info about all the children, which she duly shares in her gossip sessions! aaaaaaaagh!!!
I think you are right about the cats death making the children more road aware. when Scarlett (who is 4 found out) she said "stupid cat" which suggests she thinks he didn't know or use his green cross code I guess! dreading telling the older 3 though, far too many animals have died here in recent months - some elderly, some tragic and some (poorly lamb) born to die sadly.
Title: Re: Having an awful week
Post by: Sandy on June 17, 2011, 02:10:45 pm: I often find it hard to say or at least make others understand what I am on about as it is all ok in my head but, children grow up facing death all the time when they have animals and it actualy prepares them for other sad events in thier life, our emotions are like muscles and need to be used all the time other wise, some one who for example live alone on a island (that would be nice) will be very much more upset if they break something rather than some one with a house full of people, animals and other breakages with deal with it like just another thing!!!!! Mind you, too much emotional excersise also makes you pretty bomb proof to happiness as well!!!!! like many people from horrid pasts etc.

When my kids were school age I heard stuff like this all the time, parents that gossip etc are horrid, to be honest I am not remotly interested in others haves and have nots and it used to make me made and I left those gossipy groups when all they seemed to discuss is how fat mrs so and so was, what a crap car they have and how thier children are naughty...just hate that sort of stuff.....Oh being a parent IS the most difficult job in the world and you get vertualy NO instruction book!!
Title: Re: Having an awful week
Post by: Dizzycow on June 17, 2011, 02:21:34 pm: Sending you warm thoughts, good wishes and a virtual hug. Rotten time, hope it passes soon. Special good luck with your daughter, I have a nine year old too so fully understand how you are feeling. The mother should be strung up and stoned, how dare she. Sandy's right about bullies not just being at school - I took my third daughter out of playgroup because two women decided they didn't like me and were being very unpleasant. HORRIBLE. So difficult to teach children how to deal with it. A close friend of mine has had to take her nine year old our of her local primary school because of one girl - it's had a significant effect on the daughter, she has become very anxious and paranoid - despite the best efforts of the school and her parents. Keep a close eye, and stand up for her. With luck this will be something she can learn from rather than being adversely affected by. So sad about your cat, poor little thing, and hope the goat improves very soon. What a crappy week. Keep us posted with updates regarding your daughter and the goat. Lots of love. x :bouquet:
Title: Re: Having an awful week
Post by: egglady on June 17, 2011, 02:25:20 pm: Hi Lisa, a friend of mine was very very poorly a few years ago and wasnt expected to survive. He did, against all the odds and says he did so becuase he didnt let one single negative thought enter his brain. Everytime something bad happened, he turned it around to 'see' the positive side. So when they told him "cases like yours dont normally survive", HE said, "so there's a first for everything". And when visitors came to visit, he made his family put a note on his door saying "please do not enter unless oyu are prepared to tak to me about the future, what i am going to do for the rest of my life and how quickly i am going to be healthly again".

now some may say this was ridiculous, BUT he was totally cured (from a supposedly incurable cancer) and is still alive and well (20 years later).

and the best bit of all, when i asked him why he thought it had happened to him he said "God is giving me longer legs for longer strides"....it still makes me cry, but by god, did it make him (and his family) stronger for all the ups and downs that life offereded along the way.

so maybe Lisa, God is giving your family longer legs for bigger strides :)

so talk to your daughter about what it will be like AFTER this girl stops and why your daughter is so so clever and big and strong to be dealing with this.

and when she goes to bed at night, just before she falls asleep ask her "and what did you do today that made you proud?" and watch her fall asleep with great feelings insider her...

i wish you all that's good hun xx
Title: Re: Having an awful week
Post by: plumseverywhere on June 17, 2011, 02:47:26 pm: you are so right sandy - it would be wonderful to get an instruction manual!!
my daughter and I were only discussing this the other day,some of the children at our school face VERY real issues every day (they live on a traveller site and some only get to visit their dad's once in a while as they are HMP. these kids have also been bundled into police vans and other stressful situations, not to mention the names they get called...however, they never moan about the small stuff, they don't nit-pick the other kids, they don't run and tell trivial tales. these children know about how hard life CAN be so don't make much of the trivia bless them. my daughter is very good friends with one of these girls and her friend has taught her how to ignore the name calling etc. Sadly mum of bully child, is quite intolerant and her daughter is the first person to 'grass' or complain about every little thing.
the school gate gossips used to make me nervous and cringe at the old school, they were really posh and I am not. here there is a great mixture but you know that certain mums are commenting on the size of my bum, our rusty old van, the wellies with goat poo on, the fact my children don't do an after school club every night...drives me nuts ;0)
Thanks Dizzycow - just saw your message :0) Women can be soooooo horrible and half the time they are slating us to make themself feel better about their own shortfalls I think. I've been telling hubby about this woman for months and he thought I was imagining it. he doesn't anymore, he's livid. This woman came here for coffee a couple of times but wiped the rim of the mug before drinking from it ::)
Title: Re: Having an awful week
Post by: plumseverywhere on June 17, 2011, 02:48:22 pm: Thank you Egglady. that's an amazing story and I AM going to try that iwth my daughter. she does loads that makes ME proud so its time for her to enjoy being the lovely girl she is too xx
Title: Re: Having an awful week
Post by: Rosemary on June 17, 2011, 03:01:11 pm: Sorry you're having a sh*t week. Love egglady's philisophy and story. Do you remember a song with the lines "What have you done today to make you feel proud"? I was brought up to "not boast" or "blow your own trumpet" so sometimes (most times) never feel like I've done enough :) I shall give myself a pep talk every night now.

Slightly off topic but Dan met a woman at a conference once, who worked at the (then) new Scottish Parliament and who was bumming herself up - name dropping and so on. But she kind of let herself down when she said, "Donald Dewar is a lovely man - very self-defecating." We laughed and laughed about that.
Title: Re: Having an awful week
Post by: jaykay on June 17, 2011, 03:16:55 pm: Sending you lots of cyber-hugs, what a lot to deal with :-*
I'm so sorry about the cats (I'm afraid my current kittens are going to be house cats after losing three on the road in quick succession).
What does the vet think about your goat - hope she mends quickly.

As for the nasty mother, and the bitchy ones previously, behaviour is always about them (and often their insecurities), not us. Sadly she's teaching her daughter the same sort of nastiness. I'm glad school is acting now. Your daughter will have a much happier life and be a far nicer person, because of the broad range of friends and positive outlook on life you're encouraging her to have.

I really hope things start to look up and that the weekend is a good one :-*
Title: Re: Having an awful week
Post by: Roxy on June 17, 2011, 03:21:09 pm: Sorry you are having a bad week - sometimes its like that, and you do wonder why. Kids can be so cruel. I was bullied by a girl at primary school, don't know why she picked on me. But to this day, I still remember dreading playtime, knowing she would be there to push me around, and call me names. I finally told my dad, who insisted on going to the school. In those days, the cane was still used, and I think the headmistress threatened to use it.....cos this girl came and apologised, and offered to be my friend (not that I was keen, you understand!)

As to your cat, thats sad, but I am sure your cat enjoyed its life, crossing the road, and dicing with death - just unfortunate it did it once too often. But it was much better and happier doing that, than cooped up indoors. Children do cope with death better than us adults, who tend to dwell on things.

Do hope things look up for you from now on.
Title: Re: Having an awful week
Post by: faith0504 on June 17, 2011, 03:46:10 pm: Hiya,

I truly hope you start having some good luck and good times, you are such a lovely lady, you deserve it.

Dont let the b*******S get you down rise above them,

Sending you loads and loads of positive vibes

All the very best,

:bouquet: :bouquet: :bouquet: :wave: :wave:
Title: Re: Having an awful week
Post by: Dizzycow on June 17, 2011, 03:49:49 pm: Just having a chortle about your rusty van and pooey wellies! (I managed to get the girls on the school bus so that I don't have to go to the playground any more - result!) When we changed my Touran for a 4x4 I insisted that under no circumstances was he to get me anything which might make me look like the loads of posh ladies driving spanking new Range Rovers to Harvey Nics for lunch - give me the pooey wellies every time! Not that I wouldn't like a new Range Rover, of course, but I love my battered Landy which is full of sheep nuts and sweetie wrappers. I like your attitude towards the travellers; everyone has something to offer - I can't bear snobbery. Perhaps we're just laid back folk, I don't understand people who make life difficult for others, and there are plenty of them around. I have also distanced myself from a few of my friends who spend too much time bitching about other people, and since doing so I am happier and I can see that they are fairly discontent with their lot. Life is so full of dramas not of our making that I have learned to avoid people and situations which are going to be troublesome, and I'm much happier for it.

That was all about me! Sorry! Just wanted to big up your rusty van and poo!

Rosemary, I love your story. We should all try to be more self-defecating! (Ahem!)
Title: Re: Having an awful week
Post by: SallyintNorth on June 17, 2011, 04:07:46 pm: I already sent you some good vibes today, Lisa, not then knowing what a rotten time you have been having. I had a baaaath this morning and tried my new milky baaaa soap - lovely. I was very impressed with how nice it was to use, great lather, feels lovely, and doesn't go all gloopy and soft on the side of the bath. Top marks.

I've no children of my own and very little experience (other than my own childhood) so will leave the words of wisdom to others. And I know even less about goats.

I do know quite a bit about losing cats and the only comfort is that it sounds as though it was quick - and no doubt puss cat was enjoying himself on a mission at the time. So sad to lose them though.

I send my good wishes to you and your family. {{{hugs}}} Sally x
Title: Re: Having an awful week
Post by: robert waddell on June 17, 2011, 04:12:35 pm: rosemary reminds me of a late friend (who was well into his nfu meetings) this guy strolled into one of the meetings and proudly stated DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM henry shouted out to everybody heres a c*** does not know who he is
plumseverywhere there is a saying snitches get stitches and it is indoctrinated into the young gypsies
we have had experience of bullying first with eldest son at primary school he always came home happy and talkative then for weeks very withdrawn Finally we managed to get him to talk this little bitch was bullying him so we told him thump the barsteward he did and we were dully summoned to school as bobby was a disruptive element let the high head yin prattle away then told her you are wrong it is the other way round about she observed for a few days then the apology came back to us problem solved
we keep our cats in to many road kills to let them out
Title: Re: Having an awful week
Post by: Anke on June 17, 2011, 04:58:23 pm: Hi, hope your goat is improving - could be enteritis from what you describe.

My nearly 8 year old has just been to the first goat show with me, and has shown one of the kids - she is very proud (she was the only child there!). If your kids are good with the goats, why don't you take them to one of the local shows? Very good for their self confidence (and something other than Ponyclub...), some of them have young handlers' classes, and there are often other (human) kids there that do the same!

PS.: Re bad week - I have (last Friday) annihilated my strongest (and the only viable) beehive, by squashing the one remaining queen cell, and with no eggs present no more queen cells can be raised... I am still kicking myself for it!

Anke
Title: Re: Having an awful week
Post by: egglady on June 17, 2011, 05:57:13 pm: anke, dont know if we can help but might be able to get a QC to you?
Title: Re: Having an awful week
Post by: Anke on June 17, 2011, 06:10:02 pm: I will ask here on Sunday at the next beekeepers mtg, but not sure how to get out of this mess... Thanks for the offer.

I have another hive where a new queen has started to lay just a week ago (quite small still), so may be able to unite. My third hive - still waiting on the queen to get her session with the boys (or she may have decided to move somewhere else...).

Atm not sure how much future I have with bees, but maybe one of the older guys will be able to sort me out...
Title: Re: Having an awful week
Post by: egglady on June 17, 2011, 07:06:07 pm: hang on in there anke, i'm assured it's all worth it in the end :)
Title: Re: Having an awful week
Post by: plumseverywhere on June 17, 2011, 08:25:53 pm: Robert Wadell, have to laugh - just been to school fair and said to my daughter "what do snitches get" to which she said "stitches" - my traveller friend laughed her socks off and said nice one ;) i think it somes it up lol.
Title: Re: Having an awful week
Post by: doganjo on June 17, 2011, 08:31:45 pm: Quote
This woman came here for coffee a couple of times but wiped the rim of the mug before drinking from it
I've only just spotted this after re-reading some of this thread - that is absolutely ignorant! I'd have ordered her out the door if she did that in my house - either that or I'd have drawn everyone else's attention to what she did by offering her a cloth and soap to wash her mouth and hands first before she drank her coffee! No-body, but no-body, bullies me now after a problem I had a couple of years ago with a 'little' man club secretary. (both in mind and stature!) I have learnt with the help of some very good friends to stand up for myself. If you are afraid of anyone just imagine them sitting on the loo! ;D
Title: Re: Having an awful week
Post by: Sandy on June 17, 2011, 09:07:45 pm: ;D ;D ;D
Here I am on the toilet ;D

Joking apart I would ask her in for coffee again, giver her some scrummmy expensive cake and nice new china and put your bestest wellies on and as she goes after having a nice time say, hope that cake dose not give you the runs as I caught the dog licking off the iceing so had to re do it and I hope gran can find her false teeth as she always put them in that best china and we keep telling her not too!!!!!! Bye bye!! :wave:
Title: Re: Having an awful week
Post by: robert waddell on June 17, 2011, 09:19:11 pm: chocolate crispy cakes made with laxative chocolate and keep her there till she Shiite's herself :D
Title: Re: Having an awful week
Post by: Sandy on June 17, 2011, 09:20:48 pm: ;D ;D ;D and that sugar substitute that also makes you very loose!!!!!
Title: Re: Having an awful week
Post by: plumseverywhere on June 17, 2011, 09:21:33 pm: Sandy that's made me laugh. lots of tears as well, as its just hit me that toby won't be sitting on my lap while i have my morning coffee and check facebook and TAS for messages anymore :'( lots of tears.

robert that's classic, I think I just might!
Title: Re: Having an awful week
Post by: goosepimple on June 17, 2011, 09:40:05 pm: Just read your thread and it sounds exactly like a week I had 3 weeks ago - dead cat on road, upset super shy 9 year old daughter victim of the three witches at school and a goat with a bad foot that just wasn't clearning up. But it all seems 3 weeks ago now and things have improved in all directions - bite your lip, be eternally grateful for the humour on this website and oh yes - I looked up your website today and thought it looked great - I'm definately going to order some patchouli soap (spelling?) - I asked a girl in the body shop last week if she had anything that flavour/smell and she'd never heard of it .... showing my age again.... hope next week's an improvement plums ;)
Title: Re: Having an awful week
Post by: little blue on June 17, 2011, 09:52:20 pm: big hugs Lisa, and littl'uns.
you know, what goes around often comes around, and so those bullies may well have been / will be victims of bullying to (doesnt make you feel any better though, does it?!)

So sorry about Toby, I remember you campaigning for something to slow down traffic on your road - did o
it come to anything? (apologies, can barely remember my own name at the moment! long stories)

hope Savanna recovers well.
and here's to a better week!

(ps PMed you.... )
Title: Re: Having an awful week
Post by: plumseverywhere on June 17, 2011, 09:59:16 pm: Thanks Goosepimple - we sell patchouli baaa or a mans' soap with patchouli and sandalwood and poppy seeds. so patchouli well heard of here! lol. hopefully a few weeks time I'll feel 100% again, today feel like I've been kicked with brick wellies.
Hi little blue. we did have a campaign. it was the week after snowball's kitten 'woody' was hit and a car was written off outside our house. only a few days later another of snowball's kittens 'bobby' was killed too ??? we live on a country lane, 40mph *unfortunately* but prison and local food grower companies staff seem to see fit to drive at nearer 80mph. the campaign came to nothing and even just yesterday i was talking to local police saying i had registration plates of dangerous drivers but they can do nothing...tonight i had to tell 3 little girls that their pet cat was dead. their 4 year old sister was with me when I found out. horrible.
Title: Re: Having an awful week
Post by: little blue on June 17, 2011, 10:16:32 pm: and if those cats had been people that had been hit ....
Title: Re: Having an awful week
Post by: plumseverywhere on June 17, 2011, 10:28:02 pm: Exactly!! and that's not to mention that my neighbour has had 4 hit (3 died) and now we've had 2 killed and 2 more have been killed in last couple of months. Now my children are unable to walk to school and I cannot walk scarlett to nursery along our narrow lane because the huge lorries literally drag them into the road! its mad.
am really fed up today >:( this last cat was an old boy, he'd lived a wonderful life - how dare some speeding person take that?! the children have been ok about it - how sad is that? its almost like they are so used to cats being taken on this road that we expect it. hubby very upset though and he's not a at person. who will keep my lap warm while I wrap my soaps up now?! don't say the lambs ;)
Title: Re: Having an awful week
Post by: little blue on June 17, 2011, 10:32:18 pm: my uncle's cat was killed on the road at an old age - probably couldnt hear the cars or move away quick enough.
rest in peace Toby

x
Title: Re: Having an awful week
Post by: jaykay on June 17, 2011, 10:56:22 pm: One of the reasons my current kittens are house cats is because I became homicidally angry about the speeds people do past our house. I was planning stingers, air rifles to tyres, all sorts >:( I lost three young cats and four pullets in two years >:(

I put big notices up to that effect - made not a blind bit of difference. There's an 8 year old girl next door who runs across the road to look at the lambs in the field opposite. When does it stop :o

Now we park the pickup by the side of the road, outside the two houses. Apparently some folk complain like mad - but it has slowed them down >:(

PS it has to be said there is enough extraneous livestock in the house to keep the cats busy ::)
Title: Re: Having an awful week
Post by: plumseverywhere on June 17, 2011, 11:15:45 pm: Jaykay I feel the same. some days I feel like shooting the tyres out with an air rifle or throwing eggs at them! even though I wouldn't the thought still helps!
we live about 5 miles from long lartin prison and 2 miles from a salad grower who employs dozens of uninsured, polish workers. both of these set of workers drive very fast, very early. I see the prison staff, still in uniform, driving like jenson button with mobiles pressed to their ears and navigating tight bends here >:(
tomorrow, my girls are writing letters to the bosses of both places to beg the employees to slow down. we will enclose pictures of my 4 yr old huggin 'her' cat Toby. fingers crossed someone has a heart and conciense I suppose.
Title: Re: Having an awful week
Post by: Sandy on June 17, 2011, 11:48:15 pm: You need one of those mobile speed cameras!!!!
Title: Re: Having an awful week
Post by: SallyintNorth on June 18, 2011, 12:23:18 am: Quote from: Sandy on June 17, 2011, 11:48:15 pm
You need one of those mobile speed cameras!!!!

Doesn't even need a speed camera, just an ordinary camera will do it - it is illegal to use a mobile phone (not on hands free) while driving. Snap! Gotcha.

Quote from: plumseverywhere on June 17, 2011, 11:15:45 pm
I see the prison staff, still in uniform, driving like jenson button with mobiles pressed to their ears and navigating tight bends here >:(
Title: Re: Having an awful week
Post by: Hilarysmum on June 18, 2011, 07:56:31 am: Hi P.E. sorry for coming into this so late on, I would say that the ladies who have to concern themselves with the mud on your wellies or the size of your behind are sad people with sad and empty lives who can only justify their own miserable existences by trying to drag a well balanced, caring and busy person with a full and happy life down to their own miserable level.

Bullies sadly are normally people who have no self confidence and who bully to make themselves feel better/superior. Its rotten for the bullied.

Hope this week will be a million times better. HM
Title: Re: Having an awful week
Post by: Skirza on June 18, 2011, 10:26:30 am: When my kids were small we were still farming on the family farm in a very 'posh' area of West Sussex (thatched cottages inhabited by wealthy families with 2.2 children and a labrador). Now our farm was around 1800 acres and surrounded the village and on paper we were worth a little bit, if you see what I mean. In reality we drove rusty vans, my kids wore hand me downs and I permenantly had poo on my wellies, trousers and under my finger nails. The 'posh' mummies just didn't know what to make of me...we were the biggest land owners around but I didn't fit into their little world...I didn't give a flying fart (am I allowed to say that?). They lived in a plastic world of facials and hair do's and had a cleaner do the dirty work for them (I usually had half the farm yard on my floor).

My advice....be PROUD of your rust and poo...it means you're a real person...go get 'em girl ;D
Title: Re: Having an awful week
Post by: plumseverywhere on June 18, 2011, 10:48:26 am: Thanks everyone - your messages have really cheered me up ;D

There are a few plastic mummies at our school (the last one was worse - nearly everyone drove a posh, brand new 4X4 which had never gone off road ::) )
I think like you say, Skirza, the mums here don't know quite what to make of us either. we bought the house that everyone now comes to us and says "oh I dreamed of living there, if only we could have afforded it.." yet there I am rust, poo, mud and all LOL. My children play with anyone and everyone so long as each individual child is what they consider a friend. The posh mums tell their kids to avoid the travellers and the people that live in the small council estate for no good reason other than they are snobs. I tell MY girls that those children and parents actually don't know what they are missing out on. having a diverse group of lovely and genuine friends is far more important than a clique of competitive snobs that are not comfortable in their own skin really!

Goat still with us. Still poorly but showing positive signs (I think and hope). opened the bedroom curtains dreading to see a 3rd run over cat but thankfully this morning both cats came home for breakfast. Toby will have a lovely flower covered grave once the girls have seen to it :)

Thanks again - I know i've never met anyone of you in person but you've all been lovely while I was at rock bottom. thank goodness for the internet!!
Lisa x
Title: Re: Having an awful week
Post by: doganjo on June 18, 2011, 11:14:40 am: My Candy went out one day and didn't come in that night - never saw her again. Even Network Rail sent a team out to check the line next to my garden, and found nothing. her brother, Rio, walks the line every day - on the rails so he doesn't have to walk on the gravel ballast. I just have to hope he'll feel the reverberations of a train coming and get off in time. Cats are free spirits, you can't do anything but love them and let them go their own way. Hopefully the two you still have will know the dangers of the road now.

If I ever feel depressed this forum always cheers me up!
Title: Re: Having an awful week
Post by: plumseverywhere on June 18, 2011, 11:17:58 am: That is sad Annie :'( its the not knowing isn't it? you spend ages wondering if they are hurt somewhere or have been killed. Snowball goes missing for days at a time - it was her kitten bobby that we lost last year a week after his brother woody was killed - everytime she goes (and lives with the mad cat lady) I'm checking kerbs. horrible.
Title: Re: Having an awful week
Post by: SallyintNorth on June 18, 2011, 11:50:17 am: It's anguish when they're out and you don't know where and if they're safe. I have several times been very moved by the kindness of neighbours and strangers in responding to my leaflets about a missing cat - often with just messages of support and hoping I find him and sometimes with sightings or other information which of course is tremendously helpful.

I always put a reflective collar on them and a dog tag with address and phone number and so far have not had a one where I never did find out what happened. (Although I did have to search for literally hours every day for a week before I found my beautiful Brendon shot dead and left in a wood. The b@$t@^&s had taken off his collar, so clearly had known they'd shot him and hadn't the decency to let me know or return his body.) It has amazed me how many times a cat has been found alive, often unharmed, through a network of cat lovers and neighbourly people.

I may start a thread in Cats...

May all our cats (although I now have none and no more intended :() stay safe and happy and well.

And may this next week be a much better one for you, Lisa!
Title: Re: Having an awful week
Post by: Sandy on June 18, 2011, 11:54:33 am: I had 2 kittens and one was killed by a Foster child the other remained with me until it was 8 and was always off crossing a busy main road and looking around the local train station but he managed to die of natural causes, then another 3 cats, 2 disapeared and one killed again by a Foster Child, the same child also kicked the neighbours elderly cat in the ribs so needed a lot of vet treatment....I found out most of the reasons for the cats dissapearences ages later and the same child was seen being cruel to some ones dog but the RSPCA did not come out to chat to them!!!! I was so sad that they met such a horrid end and refective on how that childs past made her so cruel as thats what she grew up with.
I would love a cat now but dare not 1 due to the road and 2 due to having a B&B, the cat would end up on peoples beds!!!!!!
Title: Re: Having an awful week
Post by: jaykay on June 18, 2011, 04:40:22 pm: It's hard to think about how horrid some people can be. Then you have to remember they're the minority, most people are lovely :)

As for cats, they are their own independent spirits, bless them. Mine are currently taking advantage and lounging on the dog beds in front of the Aga, as the dogs are outside desperate to help with next door's sheep gathering :D I think I might be having words about earning their keep however, because there are definitely mice in the hall......they may be indoor cats but that should at least mean the house is a mouse-free zone :D