Thread 25 - Covid Cohort - Christmas Trees, No Omicron Please!

I'm worn out after my first long working day! I got up at 6am and have just sat down. Though there is ironing to do and packed lunches, but I can't be bothered. Hats off to all of you that do these hours daily. I am glad it's only a 10 min drive to work, that makes it easier.

Came home to DH laying on the sofa as he's hurt his back. He's coughing a lot (always does with a cold!) so I shall sleep in ds1's room again. Ds1 messaged me lunchtime telling me how ill he is still. Not quite sure what I'm meant to do. The gp refused to see him. His covid test finally came this eve 6 days later. Negative. I thought it would be. I suggested he call the gp in the morning if he really isn't better. Maybe he just needs to man up. I can't tell when he's not home.

I daren't ask ds2 if his ucas application has been sent. He won't tell me anything or do anything I ask. He bought himself clothes from ASOS a week ago. Most don't fit. They just lay on his bedroom floor. I've asked so many times for him to sort it out and get it ready to return. He tells me he's too busy. I give up...He can just lose his money. I also ordered trousers from next that came today, I asked him to try on so that I can return them tomorrow (as I'm going away for a few days) Again...he's too busy doing school work. I shall pack them up and send back tomorrow, he makes me cross when everything has to be done in his time. There are several other things he needs to do but won't.

I expect he will tell me if he gets any university offers. But that is all I'm going to get.

I love hearing about other peoples working patterns aswell.

I'm about to change my working hours in January. Not for the better.
I worked 9-3, 3 days a week for 18+ years, since Ds1. My job of the last 10 years then went down to 2 days in recession. After a while it became embarrassing - I can't work only two days this is ridiculous so I took another 2nd accounts job for 2 days.

I worked 4 days for the last 18 months. This was perfect and I decided I will never work full time again, not that I have worked ft for 2 decades!

But now 2nd job, for 2 days want me for 4. At a salary I just couldn't refuse.
So I've asked old job to drop down to 1 long day, and I'll make up the rest of the hours at the weekend?

I'll be doing 5 full days plus 1/2 a day. My friends and mum are concerned. This is not sustainable for a diabetic. But my old job might not survive another imminent covid lockdown. But I intend to somehow get back to my ideal of 4 days, asap.

It's interesting to hear of such a variety of working patterns and their pros and cons. I have gone from being employed by a big organisation for donkeys years to being freelance, with nothing to do at some points and absolutely run off my feet at others.

@OrangeCinnamonCocktail Thanks for the shiny new thread, though it's 2 pages in, never too late and that.

'Ella F' phew! that's a tough act, so your DD must be an amaaazing singer. I wish her all the best and pray it all goes ahead as planned.

I see there's an ongoing discussion about working hrs?? i used to work full time, then after ds2 went down to 3 days. It was sheer hell, basically 5/6 days work crammed into 3. I then went back up to 4 because by then I was starting to have awful anxiety every Sunday night plus I was experiencing aching all over. 4 days still didn't help, the workload was just unmanageable, 6 months project crammed into 6 weeks! with other projects running concurrently. I stopped work in the end due to my fixed term contract not being renewed. I was gutted at the time, but now so thankful because taking my foot off the peddle revealed an Tsunami of undiagnosed illnesses affecting me and the dc that were slowly simmering underneath whilst I had been rushing around with work. I think i'd have just woken up one day to find I couldn't move and puking blood. I also noticed ds1 had developed a tic (the beginning of many more!). It's been a long painful journey. Thankfully we can live on one salary which I know many can't afford. Life is tough for many, very tough.

I'm quite jealous of all those working full time with healthy families. The loss of the independence working brings as well as the career achievement. I work voluntarily though when I can and also run a charity that I set up.

Lovely to hear of all the concerts and performances. Everything crossed they all go ahead and all the DC shine.

Everything crossed, Orange - that sounds like a performance not to be missed!

Thanks to the way Wales is handling the boosters, I was invited to have mine on Friday - very glad not to have to hustle for it.
Good luck to everyone trying to get one. 🤞🏻

and for your DD too @AnneOfCleavage

Fingers crossed @OrangeCinnamonCocktail

Fingers crossed for you too @AnneOfCleavage. My DD is not a serious musician but she is in her school choir and they had their carol services with parents a couple of weeks ago, it was lovely and may be the last time I see her in choir if she decides on college not 6th form for y12.

@ealingwestmum - Sounds lovely. We were hoping to enjoy the school Christmas concert this year, but lots of restrictions and masks have been put in place. Makes sense, but it does change the atmosphere (oh and we aren't allowed to sing...)

De-rails 🙄

I hope nothing details tomorrow for you either Anne. DD had her concerts 2 weeks ago thankfully before the rise in rates. It was emotional, having a full theatre, parents of years 7 & 8 who’d never attended one before, with Y13s on run-off. The best thing was seeing DD play sax in one of the ensembles which she’d picked up in Y11, we never thought she’d ever make it to Band and she looked equally happy to be playing jazz as she’s always been with classical.

Hope those not doing music at HE will still find music making groups to hang out with.

Aw I'm also crossing my fingers 🤞as DD also in a concert tomorrow evening and is doing a solo dance - haven't seen her dance since November 2019 so am so ridiculously excited. Was offered my booster at the pharmacy I volunteer at today but I declined as was worried I'd have a reaction (like I did after A/Z) and have to miss seeing it. Am booked for one on Wednesday which I will definitely have despite DH having booked Thursday off work so we can have a "date" so I'm hoping I'm okay for that.
We love a bit of Ella here Orange so would have loved to see her perform.
Got a feeling I will get v emotional as last chance I'll see her perform before Uni and it's been so long since we've been to see something normal like this in aaages. I also used to well up at nativity plays and Carol concerts she was in too. I call it my yearly cleansing 😁

Heifer, I have never made that chocolate tart before. I just looked it up. Recipe attached.

@icanbewhatiwant When I went back to work full time, after several years not working or just doing a few hours, it took me at least a year to get used to it.

I rarely do anything in the week other than make dinner & put on a load of laundry. Most weekends I only have time for a quick Hoover and clean the bathrooms & kitchen. No way would I ever Hoover daily. But I don’t have a dog...

@OrangeCinnamonCocktail 🤞it goes ahead. I’d love to hear it too. Ella Fitzgerald is favourite of mine.

X-posted, 🤞for her @OrangeCinnamonCocktail

We moved our work Christmas meal from this coming Fri evening with partners to last Fri lunchtime without partners as a precaution.

🤞🤞

Fingers crossed Orange - I imagine you're really looking forward to seeing her perform.

Did you have an appointment or was it a walk in? Thinking of trying our luck with walk in after school but it seems queues are hours long...

Hatti hope the interview goes well.

Just checking in for the new thread. Thank you @OrangeCinnamonCocktail and @singingstones for the very useful list!

DD had her interview with Liverpool that she called 'weird' and will have Nottingham interview on Thursday. No words from Bristol or Edinburgh yet. Congratulations for those that have had offers, goodness knows how long we will be waiting...