It seems so long ago since I handed in my resignation and I have come to terms with the fact that right now I am not actually teaching and dont have a job to go back to next month, but the true reality check came yesterday with my P45. So thats it, 11 years of loyal service finished in a wimper not a bang.
The government keep on that there is a shortage of teachers - well I would like to know where because right now there are literally NO jobs being advertised in Kent and in London (which at a real push I could commute to) they only seem to want supply or temps. So whats wrong with supply? Well you only get classed as part time so you don't get all the benifits of being employed full time, plus no one has any obligation to 'develop' you or keep you trained in up to date initiatives.
Yesterday, finally, my daughter managed to buy a dress that she actually likes, and that fits and that is suitable to wear to the wedding she is invited to this weekend. Its taken nearly 10 months of looking and we have traipsed through countless shops in countless shopping centres. She is a geogeous shape, a perfect size 8 and really is not THAT fussy, and I know I am probably becoming a bit of an old fuddy duddy but honestly! The rubbish designers are putting out on the shelves these days. Its practically impossible to buy that 'little black dress' anymore. Everthing is either huge flowers on strange coloured backgrounds, or cut to a shape impossible to wear or made from material more suited to covering your sofa with. At least we have a bit more time to find something for her to wear to the annual Dinner and Dance at the Cricket club. Lets hope the designers come to their senses for the Christmas party dresses.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Cricket
Ok I guess its probably a generation thing or maybe being born and bred for most of my formative years in a village but I just love village cricket. I can't actually stand the game you understand, its so slow and borring (and its not because I dont understand it, I do, I used to get collared to be the scorer when hubby played in his younger days). I think its the whole 'Darling Buds of May' thing, lazy summer afternoons, the sound of leather on willow etc etc.
Anyway my youngest daughter's fella plays for the local cricket club, she does the teas, helps run the bar and is social secretary. Today she invited us up to watch an annual event, a friendly against a team from London - mostly West Africans - play. The Londoners make a day of it, hiring a coach, sending the rest of the family down the coast for a day on the beach, picnics, the whole shooting match. It wasn't quite the 'birds singing' 'sun shining' 'oh well played' afternoon you would expect as Bob Marley blared out across the pitch and those wonderful West African accents shouted out encouragingly with that wonderful humour these people have, but it was a lovely way to spend a sunday afternoon.
My eldest daughter spent the day at Southampton being given the grand tour of the Queen Mary 2 (she has just emailed me some fab photos). One of the blokes her and her fiance went to school with works onboard doind something to help run the engines (don't ask me what he officially does, no idea) so they were finally invited for a look see. Lucky girl eh? Mind you its a lot to walk round, especially if you are told that in the interests of helping out the guy in the party who had the hang over you are not going to use the lifts. So she has achey little leggies this evening.
Anyway my youngest daughter's fella plays for the local cricket club, she does the teas, helps run the bar and is social secretary. Today she invited us up to watch an annual event, a friendly against a team from London - mostly West Africans - play. The Londoners make a day of it, hiring a coach, sending the rest of the family down the coast for a day on the beach, picnics, the whole shooting match. It wasn't quite the 'birds singing' 'sun shining' 'oh well played' afternoon you would expect as Bob Marley blared out across the pitch and those wonderful West African accents shouted out encouragingly with that wonderful humour these people have, but it was a lovely way to spend a sunday afternoon.
My eldest daughter spent the day at Southampton being given the grand tour of the Queen Mary 2 (she has just emailed me some fab photos). One of the blokes her and her fiance went to school with works onboard doind something to help run the engines (don't ask me what he officially does, no idea) so they were finally invited for a look see. Lucky girl eh? Mind you its a lot to walk round, especially if you are told that in the interests of helping out the guy in the party who had the hang over you are not going to use the lifts. So she has achey little leggies this evening.
Saturday, August 26, 2006
BBQ and patio heater.
Not really done much just general chores kinda stuff.
Hubby got signed back to work as of Monday, but there wasnt any more doctors appointments left for me so I have to go see him on Tuesday.
Yesterday my youngest daughter wanted to make a scrapbook for her boyfriend to put all her cinema stuff in and concert tickets etc since him and her have been an item so I set her up in my scrap room, gave her carte blanc to use anything she liked and left her to it. She made a half decent job of it too, although she didnt make much of a job of clearing up so I had to do that. Mind you that was partly because her boyfriend gave us all a bit of a scare by being 3 hours late home from work and not contacting anyone so there were a few tears before bedtime.
Our eldest decided to invite herself and her other half round for dinner so hubby decided a BBQ was in order. It ended up with 8 of us, my mum and dad and our best mates. Then having eaten they all decided they were tired and cleared off home. We have just spent a couple of hours sitting outside chatting to our best mates and using the BBQ as a patio log burner. We needed it, the temperature dropped to 15 degrees, pretty poor for August.
Hubby got signed back to work as of Monday, but there wasnt any more doctors appointments left for me so I have to go see him on Tuesday.
Yesterday my youngest daughter wanted to make a scrapbook for her boyfriend to put all her cinema stuff in and concert tickets etc since him and her have been an item so I set her up in my scrap room, gave her carte blanc to use anything she liked and left her to it. She made a half decent job of it too, although she didnt make much of a job of clearing up so I had to do that. Mind you that was partly because her boyfriend gave us all a bit of a scare by being 3 hours late home from work and not contacting anyone so there were a few tears before bedtime.
Our eldest decided to invite herself and her other half round for dinner so hubby decided a BBQ was in order. It ended up with 8 of us, my mum and dad and our best mates. Then having eaten they all decided they were tired and cleared off home. We have just spent a couple of hours sitting outside chatting to our best mates and using the BBQ as a patio log burner. We needed it, the temperature dropped to 15 degrees, pretty poor for August.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Ali Edward's challenges
I don't have the book - I would dearly love it - but lovely Anne http://www.ahafermann.typepad.com/ is putting one up every three days or so on her blog. I have loved every one but just not got round to doing them so I am cutting them out and putting them into a little ideas journal to do later. Today however I had my sewing machine out already as I was replacing a broken zip in a skirt my youngest daughter bought yesterday. So there was really no excuse not to have a go at it. I used a scrapmap sketch and lots of scraps plus a photo of my beautiful eldest daughter.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
And today will bring....
...nothing in the post because even though I saw the post about the cheapo Ellison dies, I didn't bother to order as I really thought they wouldn't honnor them and I worried about finding £25. How stupid is that? I am really kicking myself now and just hoping some kind person will have ordered two sets and be willing to sell me one????
The Social Worker came yesterday for the initial visit to discuss our application to become Foster Carers. She is going to recommend us to go forward although she had some reservations because of us both having been off work with stress. Apparently this is ok if you have not had medication or therapy but if you have they wont touch you for a year. Now this seems a bit odd to me because surely if you have gone back to work having HAD councelling you are going to be far better equipped to deal with stress than if you have not had councelling?? Anyhow now we have to wait for the medicals.
Oh and the back? Well its strange but it went from 'absolute agony, cant move without loosing my breath and having to be bent over double' to ' yeah thats ok'. So I am now off to Bluewater with youngest daughter to help her buy something to wear to a wedding.
The Social Worker came yesterday for the initial visit to discuss our application to become Foster Carers. She is going to recommend us to go forward although she had some reservations because of us both having been off work with stress. Apparently this is ok if you have not had medication or therapy but if you have they wont touch you for a year. Now this seems a bit odd to me because surely if you have gone back to work having HAD councelling you are going to be far better equipped to deal with stress than if you have not had councelling?? Anyhow now we have to wait for the medicals.
Oh and the back? Well its strange but it went from 'absolute agony, cant move without loosing my breath and having to be bent over double' to ' yeah thats ok'. So I am now off to Bluewater with youngest daughter to help her buy something to wear to a wedding.
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Lazy Sunday
Not much choice with the back ache, feel like I'm hundred and eighty and moving like it too. I have had several offers of a walking stick - ha ha!!! I'd laugh but it hurts too much, so anyway it looks like a trip to see the quack tomorrow.
Other than that, finished another Ian Rankin book (I've read them all before but there's not much choice at my local sub-library), sent off for some job application forms (why is it they make job vacancies sound so alien? I'm sure I can do most of them but they word them all in this strange 'job speak'), tried to do some scrapping (but it hurt to much) and watched some of the athletics.
No more news from the entrepid Festival goers, I did text but either the phone has finally run out of power or the music is too loud or the tent drifted away in the floods. Stay posted.
Other than that, finished another Ian Rankin book (I've read them all before but there's not much choice at my local sub-library), sent off for some job application forms (why is it they make job vacancies sound so alien? I'm sure I can do most of them but they word them all in this strange 'job speak'), tried to do some scrapping (but it hurt to much) and watched some of the athletics.
No more news from the entrepid Festival goers, I did text but either the phone has finally run out of power or the music is too loud or the tent drifted away in the floods. Stay posted.
Saturday, August 19, 2006
V Festival
So day two of painful back. At least I can move from the bed to the computer desk ...slowly! I think hubby is getting a little bit fed up with me, he's downstairs now trying to work out how to make a banana sandwich. I don't think men have the concept of comfort eating. LOL
Eldest daughter and her fiance have gone to the V Festival this weekend. I can't find a live feed on the net but I have been texting her and so far the fun has involved four hours in a traffic jam, lugging tents across 6 miles to the pitch and apparently now it is raining as they stand in front of the V stage waiting for some guy they have never heard of to come on. I THINK they are having a good time????
Update on V - I have just had a phone photo of a really really muddy field and a message to say the tent leaks!!! Yes they are still having fun!
Friday, August 18, 2006
Tagged!
Good greif! Blogger for less than a day and already tagged by Suzanne!
1. If you could build a house anywhere, where would it be?
I loved the Cotswalds but couldnt cope with being so far from the sea so with a bit of artistic licence if I could move the sea a little inland thats where it would be, best of both worlds - Oh and my dream house when I was a kid was an exact replica of the on LOTR's built for Bilbo Baggins so Peter Jackson- that was my idea and you stole it!!!!!
2. What's your favourite article of clothing?
My PJ's ('cos it means I can take me bra off!)
3. Favourite physical feature of the opposite sex?
Brown eyes and floppy hair!
4. What's the last CD that you bought?
God its so long ago I cant remember, but the kids bought me Nelly's double Sweat/Suit christmas before last
5. Where's your favourite place to be?
Home - I get so homesick when not there
6. Where's your least favourite place to be?
I think Suzanne has pinched all my answers because like her, anywhere hot
7. What's your favourite place to be massaged?
Depends on who is doing the massaging! My shoulders.
8. Strong in mind or strong in body?
Big believer in mind over body!
9. What time do you wake up in the morning?
Naturally? About 9ish now I am not working but I still wake up at 3 in the morning for the night feeds ...24 years on :lol:
10. What is your favourite Kitchen appliance?
What's a kitchen? Dh does all the cooking.
11. What makes you really angry?
Injustice, expecially when others get the blame and can't stick up for themselves.
12. If you could play an instrument what would it be?
As well as being able to spell guitar I would love to be able to play the opening rift from Eric Clapton's Layla without it hurting my fingers. I bought a guitar with my first ever weeks wages blugh years ago. It fell to bits from lack of use.
13. Favourite colour?
To wear - red, to scrap with - green.
14. Sports car or SUV?
Sports car, I love my old beat up soft top and I always wanted a triumph spitfire.
15. Do you believe in an afterlife?
I hope there is.
16. Favourite children's book?
Unfair, I teach infants so there are just too many.
17. What's your favourite season?
Autumn, cosy nights tucked indoors, walking in the rain or shuffling through leaves, street lights.
18. What is your least favourite household chore?
All of them because no matter how many times they get done they need doing again.
19. If you could have one super-power, what would it be?
Control of the weather.
20. If you have a tattoo what is it?
Nooooo way. I hate the sight of blood, especially mine.
21. Can you juggle?
I could when a kid, we used to play four ball and all sorts but couldn't do it now.
22. The one person from your past that you wish you could go back and talk to?
I'll have to think about that one for a bit.
24. What's in the boot of your car?
Rust
25. Which do you prefer, sushi or hamburger?
Hamburger with lots and lots of fried onions - infact without the hamburger just the onions.
Ok I tag Lyzzydee
And for volunteering (tee hee) Jakey.
1. If you could build a house anywhere, where would it be?
I loved the Cotswalds but couldnt cope with being so far from the sea so with a bit of artistic licence if I could move the sea a little inland thats where it would be, best of both worlds - Oh and my dream house when I was a kid was an exact replica of the on LOTR's built for Bilbo Baggins so Peter Jackson- that was my idea and you stole it!!!!!
2. What's your favourite article of clothing?
My PJ's ('cos it means I can take me bra off!)
3. Favourite physical feature of the opposite sex?
Brown eyes and floppy hair!
4. What's the last CD that you bought?
God its so long ago I cant remember, but the kids bought me Nelly's double Sweat/Suit christmas before last
5. Where's your favourite place to be?
Home - I get so homesick when not there
6. Where's your least favourite place to be?
I think Suzanne has pinched all my answers because like her, anywhere hot
7. What's your favourite place to be massaged?
Depends on who is doing the massaging! My shoulders.
8. Strong in mind or strong in body?
Big believer in mind over body!
9. What time do you wake up in the morning?
Naturally? About 9ish now I am not working but I still wake up at 3 in the morning for the night feeds ...24 years on :lol:
10. What is your favourite Kitchen appliance?
What's a kitchen? Dh does all the cooking.
11. What makes you really angry?
Injustice, expecially when others get the blame and can't stick up for themselves.
12. If you could play an instrument what would it be?
As well as being able to spell guitar I would love to be able to play the opening rift from Eric Clapton's Layla without it hurting my fingers. I bought a guitar with my first ever weeks wages blugh years ago. It fell to bits from lack of use.
13. Favourite colour?
To wear - red, to scrap with - green.
14. Sports car or SUV?
Sports car, I love my old beat up soft top and I always wanted a triumph spitfire.
15. Do you believe in an afterlife?
I hope there is.
16. Favourite children's book?
Unfair, I teach infants so there are just too many.
17. What's your favourite season?
Autumn, cosy nights tucked indoors, walking in the rain or shuffling through leaves, street lights.
18. What is your least favourite household chore?
All of them because no matter how many times they get done they need doing again.
19. If you could have one super-power, what would it be?
Control of the weather.
20. If you have a tattoo what is it?
Nooooo way. I hate the sight of blood, especially mine.
21. Can you juggle?
I could when a kid, we used to play four ball and all sorts but couldn't do it now.
22. The one person from your past that you wish you could go back and talk to?
I'll have to think about that one for a bit.
24. What's in the boot of your car?
Rust
25. Which do you prefer, sushi or hamburger?
Hamburger with lots and lots of fried onions - infact without the hamburger just the onions.
Ok I tag Lyzzydee
And for volunteering (tee hee) Jakey.
A blogger? Me?
Well I never thought I would - and I'm not even sure I will. Sharing my thoughts and my life isn't really me, but having pulled a muscle in my back today, and bored out of my brain because I can hardly move I decided to give it a whirl.
Just don't blame me if it never gets updated....or if it is so tedious it sends you to sleep!
Just don't blame me if it never gets updated....or if it is so tedious it sends you to sleep!
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