I'm going to retell the Nolan story that I tried to type up last night but then lost the whole bally thing before I saved it. Doh.
Joanne T, at work, is a huge fan of The Nolan's. So 10 of us went on Wednesday night, to see them in concert. It was a great night, starting with Coleen and Shane Ritchie's sons, Shane and Jake as the warm up act, short intermission, then the 4 sisters with a group of male dancers. The whole show was a success, they can all still sing well, and move around. They all took a turn at a solo, and their harmonies were lovely. But the most entertaining part was people watching. Sally and I laughed all night, mainly at cavorting to the music with so much gusto. Then there was the lady who worked for Doncaster Dome showing people to their seats, which she regularly got wrong. Sally had 3 different people sat next to her as this lady moved people around. Then she told people off for dancing and taking photo's, and to cap it all, whilst showing someone to their seat, and walking along an isle using her torch, she tripped up and went flying face down. What a laugh. Well we thought it was.
We didn't have Chloe last week, it was half term and she spent it with Matt at her grandparents in Rotherham. Chloe is a mixed up kid and struggles with her feelings for her family and herself. Whilst at Rotherham, she sat and wrote her dad a letter about her feelings us all and how she fits in. She struggles to talk face to face preferring to text us, but this was something that was longer than 10 texts.
Basically, she is unhappy with her life, and is suffering depression. She started with me, the house is always a tip. True, I can't argue with that. I'm too sarcastic to her. Yes I am, but I hold a load back and bite my tongue, and when I know she's upset I'm nice to her. And perhaps if she were to show that she wanted to be part of the family, and do things, and join in, I'm sure I'd be a lot nicer to her. Wouldn't I?
Then she laid into her mother, Helen, and her partner Gary. I got off mildly. Helen and Gary drink, then they argue and then they turn it around to being about Chloe or it's her fault. Well this is how it's been explained to me. Gary swears and turns nasty. I do agree that she is a pain, but his language is atrocious and not suitable for a 20 year old, never mind a 16 year old and all the years up to now. Helen, unfortunately sides with Gary, so Chloe feels that no one wants her around.
I'm more than happy to have her around. She's not a bad kid, I just don't understand her much of the time, and I feel as though I've been explaining the same things to her for years and she still doesn't listen.
My biggest gripe, is her lack of hygiene. I've known her for almost 6 years now, and I still struggle to get her to have a shower every day and brush her teeth. And yet she makes me feel as though I'm asking her to clear the dog muck every day instead. One day I came in from work around 6.45 ish, she was sat watching the TV. Fine, but I had tea to prepare and cook , and wash up, she never once offered to help me just continued to watch the TV. Now why would that be. I was still busy cooking and washing when her dad got home at 8.15ish and I had to ask him to help me, so that I could get changed out of my uniform. At 8.30 she had the cheek to ask how long tea would be. Then she wonders why I'm sarcastic.
A few years ago, Rob was away at the time. she stayed with me for about a week, and she went out one day with her friend Emily. It poured it down and when she got home, she stripped off her wet clothes and left them at the bottom of the stairs. Literally. I had to step over them to climb the stairs when I got in. The clothes were still sat there four days later. In the end I asked her about them. What did she intend to do about her wet trousers. She had no idea what I was talking about, which I got annoyed with her about, because she also had had to step over them. How on earth could she not know what I meant about wet trousers. For goodness sake.
Anyway back to the letter, which from reading, I realised she is struggling with depression. One of her suggestions would be that she move out to Matt's house, but that would never happen. After a week she'd be pining to come home. So after we had all talked to her about her letter, I suggested to Rob that we let her move into the caravan for the next few months. Well at least while it's cold weather. She'll have plenty of storage and hanging space. and she can cook her own tea and do her own washing up. Then she can see what it's like to run her own place. She wouldn't be stopped from coming into the house of course, as she would need us for the toilet and the shower. She can come in and watch TV with us or in the caravan and please herself. She can even have friends stop over with her. Obvioulsy Matt is included in all this. I'm hoping she will learn to be more independent this way. She's trying to grow up far quicker than myself and my peers ever did, so this fits in nicely for her.
Our task for this weekend then, is to prepare the caravan for her. We've plastic plates and cups in the van, so I'll be buying her, her own set of crockery.
I think the next few weeks are going to be very interesting, so please keep on reading. I'm sure you'll enjoy it
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