That's irritating Wreck. Just make sure they know it is company policy only to give factual references as standard. Fwiw that is becoming fairly common these days - most of the large London NHS trusts will only do that now (so confirming employment dates, job title /grade and sickness absence). They shouldn't get too sticky about it. Will probably help if your direct manager can write something though.
Meadow I am glad you had the confidence to do that and found it rewarding too. Win win!
I'd love some new clothes too Snuggly but it ain't happening.
I am really annoyed with DS's nursery. They sent out their parents' newsletter yesterday and announced that my son's 1:1 support worker was leaving. And they hadn't actually bothered to tell me it DH directly. Nor when she is going, whether and when they will replace her... there was a period of several weeks before they managed to organise this lady. (And I know IABU because she has a perfect right to leave her job but I am a bit disappointed in the 1:1, who knows DS best, leaving just as we need the nursery's input into the EHCP process.). It just seems so hard to get things moving for him and keep them that way!
On the plus side the potential project people have agreed to pay my juicy day rate so I think it will happen... will just take a couple of weeks to get me set up on the system. I just need to steel myself to start working again just as DS's EHCP process kicks off, which will be a fair bit of work and stress too. No more leisure time for me! first world problem I know