Anorak

Thank you to all for your advice and support. I'll certainly keep some of the numbers handy just in case, and I'm sure I'll find some of the contacts really useful. I finally managed to talk to my partner (very difficult in itself). I kept calm and my partner kept walking away to smoke cigarettes, then coming back. Then we sat down as a family and talked together. After years we're starting with day one with the alcohol thing. Alcoholism is awful. It never goes away. We're going to see the GP together so my partner can address some of the underlying issues. We both know it's not going to be easy. I don't know if this hs just been a blip or if it's a taste of things to come. I suppose time will tell. What I do now realise is that I do have choices, and I do know there are people out there who can help, whatever choice I make. Thanks again.

You just brought a smile to my face for the first time in about a week. Theatre sounds ok, and I could walk in one direction at the minute and not come back - as far away as possible. I had a look at the links and there seems to be some really useful numbers - I'll definitely try a few.

Thank you Strix. I've discovered the Samaritans, who are really nice. I've never been to a forurm meet. I don't have a social life out there without my partner, and I'm not very good at socialising. I don't socialise much with my partner because of the alcohol thing - so we tend to stay in....... and now look where I am!

I'm not really sure where to put this. I'm at my wits end and don't know where to turn. Spent the night on the phone to the Samaritans. Moved to Sheffield last summer with my children (13 and a half and 15) and partner, so many things are still unfamiliar to me. I don't have any friends here, lost touch with the few I did have. No family to turn to. My partner had previous alcohol problems and mental health problems, although has been stable for a few years, and not had a drink. during this time. Been through hell in the past. Anyway things have been going down hill pretty rapidly over the past few weeks. I haven't had much sleep over the last few nights. Yesterday while I was out at work my partner decided to start drinking again, blamed me, and I'm starting to believe it was my fault, although I don't know how. Children came home from school and found my partner on the bathroom floor. My partner gets pretty aggressive when they've had a drink, just verbal, and it frightens me, because I don't know what they'll do or say next. They told me to get out of the house and take my "brats" with me - and said a lot of pretty horrible things. My children are both upset and frightened. I don't want to uproot my children again, but I don't want to stay here in this situation either. I've got no-one and nowhere to run to, I've failed my children and I'm pretty desperate. I'm now living on pins - is my partner waking up or not, if they wake is it all going to start again? My son asked if my partner was going to die last night! I really don't know where to turn and can't see any way out of this. What can I do?

Thanks SpiderPete

I checked their website - it looks really great, but no admission prices. I'll give them a call or email.

Thought it was about time I ventured to fuel to see what it's all about - so I've applied for my membership, (better late than never!!). Can anyone tell me what they charge for admission? I'm sure it's in this thread somewhere, but I don't really want to have to read through 101 pages.

I agree that Woodhead is not the best of roads to take in the windy weather, but then I don't think Snake is much better. There's not really much to choose between the two. If Woodhead is open I would personally choose that route. Another route we took once was via Derby, that was a better road, but took longer to South Cheshire, and as Knutsford is mid-Cheshire would definitely be out of your way.

Having done this journey on a regular basis for a number of years - originally from Cheshire, I find that Woodhead about the quickest and easiest route, especially in the winter when the weather is bad. Route from Knutsford Cheshire. At M6 roundabout take the 556 to the M56. Take theM56 following signs for Manchester airport, go past the airport turn off, then take the M60, signposted Sheffield. Stay on the M60, go through Stockport on M60, then take the M67 turn off - again I think this is signposted Sheffield. Follow M67 right to the end of the motorway. Keep left, following signs for Sheffield. This bit is a bit of a bottleneck, and if you travel at a busy time you will get help up here a bit. Stay on this road, if you keep following the signs for Sheffield it will take you across Woodhead pass, 628, and eventually bring you out at the end of Stocksbridge bypass. Like I said I tried all routes over a number of years and this seemed to be the best. I travelled from South Cheshire, and the whole journey used to take approx one and a half hours, on average. Quickest I did it was an hour and 15 mins.

Can anyone recommend a cheap reliable taxi firm in North Sheffield? Taxi's are not something I use on a regular basis, and I don't know who's ok and who's not?

I'm in North Sheffield. Had terrible problems with TV reception. Analogue was totally unwatchable, digital is slightly better, more choice of channels to watch, but many channels are still impossible to receive, particularly ITV channels and channel 4. Even with a digital aerial the analogue picture is terrible. I think I will probably eventually try satellite.

Problem sorted .......... thank you all

I know this is a strange request for a Sunday afternoon - but I would be very grateful to anyone who could help out with the loan of a set of car ramps as my car is currently in pieces - and needed urgently. Didn't realise what a big job this would be before we started it!!!

Well this has pursuaded me to come out of my hiding place, so I'm going to give it a go - I would be really interested in joining in with this one if I can find my way there - will get my A-Z out. The picnic sounds good too.

I agree, having benefit services contracted out to outside agencies is a massive problem. When you phone to make an enquiry about your claim the person on the other end of the phone may be in a completely different part of the country to where your paperwork is. Fortunately this has not yet happened with Tax Credits, and we can still blame the Inland Revenue themselves for their incompetence.