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29 June 2007

I've had a very long and somewhat difficult day today. [More:]
I just got back from my sister's. Today's her birthday. I set off at about 6am (she's 150 miles away) and just got home (nearly 11.30pm).

As those of you who've followed the saga are aware, my sister went into meltdown about 10 days ago, attempted suicide at the weekend and has got herself into the worst mess she's ever been in, emotionally and financially.

When I got there this morning, I asked her how she was and she said "Not good. I've had [ex-boyfriend] on the phone for ages." This is jobless, deadbeat dad, total loser ex-boyfriend who moved in with her after about two dates and who the police had to remove from her house.

Now, what part of this does she not understand? HE IS ONLY ON THE PHONE FOR AGES BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T HANG UP ON HIM!!!I did not yell at her, much as I wanted to.

Breathe deeply. Count from 1-10.

We went to Asda to do a big shop and to stock up on all the staples. So if for the next two months she gets sick of eating pasta and sauce, rice and beans and other such things, well, that's just too bad.

It was an experience, Asda. We went down aisles I had forgotten existed. My sister, despite being a cook and having all kinds of culinary qualifications, believes soup comes powdered in a packet, as does cheese sauce. She eats these lots of these things called Quavers, which are like those polystyrene packing peanuts, only flavoured with something which is meant to resemble cheese.

She bought a single apple "to try". No other fresh foods made it into the mix. (Does anyone have any idea what "beef-style animal protein (contains no beef)" might be? That seemed to be in quite a number of 'meals' she bought.

Oh well, at least she won't starve for a while.

We went through her finances, and the upshot is that things aren't as bad as she thought. It turns out she has £750 in a savings account which she said she's keeping "in case the shit hits the fan".

*sigh*

After explaining that, not only has the shit hit the fan, it's been splattered over everything and needs cleaning off, she (reluctantly) agreed that she needs to use that money for her mortgage payment.

As a quid pro quo, I have agreed to make her car payments for her for the next three months (£112 per month).

And - I lobbied hard for this - I bought her computer off her for £300. It's a year old, she has no clue how to use it and I have been her telephone tech support at least three times a week since she's had it. (Once when I told her to go to the desktop she said "it's not on a desk, it's on the dining table.") She said she uses it for maybe 10 minutes a week, so there's no way she can justify the cost of her internet connection. I pitched it to her that this would be the cost of the dogs' food for the next few months, and, put that way, she chose dogs over computer.

It's not the best computer in the world - it's a Compaq Presario - but the spec is way ahead of my 7-year-old hamster-powered clunker (which has just one USB port and no ethernet connector), and as I don't torrent or game, it'll be just fine for me.

I told her that my financial support is a one-off (this is money which I've had to take out of my home renovation money, of which there is not a huge amount left), and that if she fucks up again in future, she's on her own, and that she absolutely must take up the counselling offered by her doctor because if she doesn't, she'll fall back into the same old, same old again.

So, it's been an expensive exercise. I used a month's petrol (£40) in one day, it cost me £150 in Asda, £336 in car payments and £300 for the computer. But, yay, new computer, hardly used. I may ask for help next week in transferring stuff onto it, so be prepared, O techie ones.
You're an amazing woman and a damn good sister, Jan. Don't ever think otherwise, not even for a second.
posted by scody 29 June | 17:54
A hard day but a good day, jan. I hope that these lines you have drawn will stay there and not creep any.

((hug))
posted by danf 29 June | 18:00
Yes, danf, this is a once-and-for-all bailout.
posted by essexjan 29 June | 18:06
Well, happy fucking birthday to her.
But hey, new computer.
posted by ethylene 29 June | 18:16
Essexjan, you are a hero for sticking with it, for representing honour to yourself, your sister and to us.

You should name that computer in some snarky way to commemorate the experience ;)
posted by By the Grace of God 29 June | 18:20
Sorry about the tough day; you're a trooper.

I'm really impressed with your caring and firm heart.
posted by Specklet 29 June | 18:35
Essexjan, I can't tell you how much I admire you. You're there for your sister, but firm and strong. I just hope some of it sticks with her.

plus? new computer!
posted by gaspode 29 June | 18:35
In case no one has told you yet, Jan, you're a good person and you're doing very good things.
posted by brina 29 June | 18:59
If I'm ever in the shit, I want you leading my platoon, ej...

Like the others have said, your strength and patience are admirable, and just add more fuel to my overall impression that you're cool as hell.
posted by BoringPostcards 29 June | 20:23
Very cool for helping your sister, after all of this, ej. Any tech support you need that I can help with, just shout out.

(I'm with BP too)
posted by Sil 29 June | 22:49
You're one of the good guys, (((EJ))). Don't let anyone tell you different.
posted by deborah 29 June | 23:54
Jan you say that now (a once off bailout etc.,) but please, please look after YOU!
From following this it is clear that the takers of this world can really fuck up the givers, so please be careful.
Hugs
posted by Wilder 30 June | 04:37
*hugs* I have no idea what I'd do...I don't like the idea of being obligated/having others obligated to me.
posted by brujita 30 June | 10:26
You're a good person, jan. If your sister is still employed, that would certainly help, in the long run. There's a big gulf between what I'd call "functionally crazy," meaning you can still take care of things fairly well (i.e., hold a job, pay the rent, do the laundry now and then), whatever messes there may otherwise be in one's life, and "dysfunctionally crazy," where someone just can't, for whatever reasons (mental illness, alcohol/drug problems, criminal behavior, bad luck). Seems like you may have caught things before they totally derailed. She's lucky to have you. Some people, though, as you know, remain determined to destroy their lives, no matter what anyone tries to do. But it's worth the effort. Even if things get worse, and I'm certainly not saying they will, you'll be glad you did.

(Sounds like that guy is something of an emotional crutch. He may be "stabilizing" her mood in a way, albeit in a less than healthy way.)
posted by Pips 30 June | 12:14
You're a good person, essexjan. Probably better than your sister deserves, but that's what being family means in the end, doesn't it?
posted by dg 01 July | 22:47
Wow, wow. What an amazingly caring person you are. Be good to yourself, cause the world needs to keep people like you around for a long time - there's not enough nice things to say about all you're accomplishing for yourself and for your sister.
Take care.
posted by mightshould 02 July | 07:29
Imagine watching Micheal Moore's movie SiCKO when you see YOURSELF in it! || Sometimes work isn't the worst thing in the world.

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