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Friendly frugaleers as the leaves fall our bank balances will rise, hopefully!

997 replies

lifelongfrugaleer · 30/09/2019 12:48

Couldn't see one so took the liberty of starting a new thread.

OP posts:
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Wolfcub · 15/11/2019 10:42

The police station is not a nice place and it is full of waiting suspects who smell Sad

I feel very sorry for my police colleagues what a shit job dealing with this lot

Happierwithouthim · 15/11/2019 11:45

sea how awful for your ds, and worrying for you, no matter whether he's partaking or not he's under her supervision Angry and upsetting when he enjoyed it last year too.

north happiest of birthdays to you, hope you've a really great day and that there's not too much stress with cricket presentation.

wolf towards the end of the week some of the subbies here smell a bit ripe Grin

LivingInLaputa · 15/11/2019 14:11

Wow sea that’s really not ok at all is it Shock I’d be sad too. They need to try and engage him further. Lack of SN awareness still stuns me at times.

I’m excited as DD has a school place it seems! Senco rang today, there’s a bit of a question over whether we do need an EHCP before she starts or not, basically there’s two halves to the support unit and they aren’t sure if the non-EHCP side would be sufficient for her. We chatted a bit but have agreed to meet ASAP, our family support worker is hoping to join us too (she’s worked with this senco before and seems to approve! Our FSW actually used to be a senco herself so she knows her stuff). Eeeek!

WreckTangled · 15/11/2019 14:50

Haha snuggly! 🍌

Happy birthday north!

Sea that's awful! But I'm pleased the class teacher said something and told you.

Lap that's exciting for your dd!

I've spent lots today. Not sure how much over £100. But the dc are more or less done for Christmas and my dad. Not much more to get now. I'm exhausted after driving and walking 😴

Wolfcub · 15/11/2019 17:22

Happy birthday @northender GinThanks

Sea poor ds that's appalling

Bought a few Xmas bits today and party jumper/jeans. Overspent. Ended up working much longer than planned but I know I'm going in to a relatively clean slate on Monday so that's good

lifelongfrugaleer · 15/11/2019 17:23

Happy birthday North

OP posts:
SnugglySnerd · 15/11/2019 18:25

That's not good Sea but good his teacher has his back.

Exciting news about school Cag!

I am very tired. It's been a long day. Managed to get my mascara from Boots and got a Christmas present while I was there. £14.

ChristmasSeacow · 15/11/2019 18:38

Yes, I must admit when I realised DS was autistic I was devastated - and mostly I cried and cried because I was worried that people wouldn’t love him as much as he deserves. I envisaged exactly this happening at school - a teacher who finds him tricky and doesn’t see what a lovely kid he is, and just wishes he wasn’t there. Luckily, he’s on his 4th year at this primary school (including reception and nursery) and I really think all of his teachers have genuinely loved him and been truly inclusive. They are so proud of his successes and seem to understand his humour. I suppose I’ve ‘missed with dance club isn’t the end of the world, in the grand scheme of things. But still, very unprofessional imo.

Brilliant news about the school place Lap - when would that start? And can you have the staggered start that you wanted?

At least it’s done Wolf - must be good to put that behind you.

Didn’t go to a cafe in the end but bought Thai prawn fish cakes and salad for dinner, and milk top up £6. I just cba to cook today. Bathroom guys are incredibly efficient and really hard working. Bathroom is almost tiled, fixtures and fittings arrive tomorrow and they are working through Saturday too. I think they will be done by the middle of the week, so exciting! (Cheaper easy-to-clean tiles look fab by the way. You Lot were right, as usual Wink) .

I am trying to plan the main bathroom now. I am being seduced by freestanding baths because they are so beautiful, but awkward to clean around and not as practical with splashy young children. Talk me out of it, please!

ChristmasSeacow · 15/11/2019 18:40

That should say:

One ‘miss’ with dance club

🙄

Wolfcub · 15/11/2019 18:46

Get the freestanding bath Sea. Then again I said go for the beautiful tiles Grin

LivingInLaputa · 15/11/2019 18:54

Aw sea I get it, it’s hard knowing how awesome our kids are and that others might not understand them. It’s probably just that the teacher didn’t know how to engage him and not that she didn’t want him there! But it’s still got to change.

Not sure when she will start yet, really depends on what they say about EHCP. We were advised before not to bother applying until she had a space as under the circumstances they’d probably refuse until the school had evidence anyway. But when we visited before they said she could access some support without one anyway. And I feel like combined with the very staggered start that would probably be ok. Just got to meet them and take all the assessment reports, I’ll take some examples of her work too (especially some small projects which would show just how much support she’s needed compared to most kids her age). She won’t be coming with us this time as I don’t feel I can really talk freely about her difficulties if she’s in the room!

DH doesn’t really want her to start at all until January but I feel like if they’re happy for her to try it before that it would be better as otherwise it’s just going to build up into an even bigger deal. Even if she just does an hour a day for now it’s something. DD is actually seeming more nervous now but she is definitely ready for this. ❤️

ChristmasSeacow · 15/11/2019 19:00

Ha ha, I know there were a few dissenting voices Wink. Thing is, I did like them both, just in different ways. Hotel luxury vs slightly more modern. I think I’d have loved either, which is why I though it would make sense to also be practical and cheap

Main bathroom, I’d love a copper bath. Or at least some copper/brass fittings. And pale aqua metro tiles. Maybe.

I am getting into this now and feeling a bit excited at the prospect . I actually think I might get the house renovations done at last, after a year of dragging my feet and not knowing where to start! Assuming I can actually agree what to do about downstairs layout with DH. We are at stalemate at present. Hmm

ChristmasSeacow · 15/11/2019 19:05

And budget is already strained.

Lap I do think you might get a better EHCP outcome if DD is already in school and they can input into it with actual knowledge of her iyswim. As long as she can get some decent support in the meantime. I agree, a bit of a soft start before Christmas will mean she has less time to get worked up about it. As long as she can have some support.... it’s so tough, trying to second guess what is the right thing!

SnugglySnerd · 15/11/2019 19:36

Sea we were given precious little training in SEN on my PGCE course. We have had some since in INSET days but mostly we learn strategies to engage pupils as we go along which is probably right because all children are different and what helps one child won't necessarily help another.
I would say though that being able to effectively engage and support students with SEN comes with experience. I think more recently qualified teachers will inevitably have less strategies and will get it wrong sometimes. Unfortunately I doubt whether dance teachers get any sort of training at all in different SEN. I hope your ds's usual teacher might offer her some ideas.

ChristmasSeacow · 15/11/2019 20:50

I agree Snuggly, I live with it and am still learning about my child. And considering that a lot of kids with fairly challenging SEN go into mainstream now there should be much more support and training for teachers.

I don’t really blame the dance teacher for not knowing how to engage him... I expect they have a high turnover and pay peanuts do some will be better than others... but as a minimum they have to keep him safe (and actually hand over all the kids safely).

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 15/11/2019 21:07

Evening all

Happy birthday North 🥳

I'm not surprised you're upset sea that's rubbish of the dance teacher.

I'm glad to make it to the weekend, it's been a busy week.

Ystd spent £4 on lunch, today was a nsd.

Wolfcub · 15/11/2019 21:34

@LivingInLaputa was it you who bought Periodic? I'm looking at subatomic for ds for Christmas

SnugglySnerd · 15/11/2019 22:00

Yes dance teacher definitely needs some basic safeguarding training.

Happy birthday North! Hope you had a nice day.

LivingInLaputa · 15/11/2019 22:04

Yes just bought it on Saturday. Not sure if we are saving it for Christmas though!

Happy birthday north ❤️

Plancina · 15/11/2019 23:01

Happy birthday north Wine Cake

Had a lovely chilled evening with DP watching game of thrones (he’s never seen it before!) and eating pizza and drinking wine. Feeling very relaxed!

Bornlazy · 16/11/2019 07:45

Hope you had a lovely birthday north

Sea the dance teacher sounds a bit inexperienced. Surely if she felt that your ds wasn’t engaged she should have spoke to you about whether there was any point in him continuing, not just left him to his own devices. I think now that the school is aware of the lack of supervision they will clamp down on it as even though it’s a private company they won’t want to be associated with one that’s unsafe.

Now freestanding baths do sound lovely but I think you are so time poor at the moment that the chances of you getting to appreciate it are slim and if it’s going to make keeping the bathroom clean more difficult I’d probably avoid it. I do think your colour scheme sounds beautiful though.

northender · 16/11/2019 08:56

Thanks for all the birthday wishes. I had a lovely day which started with this breakfast prepared by DD. Lunch with D's & then evening at the cricket club. Da won a couple of awards, but my main proud mum moment was when he did a speech to accompany the awards for the Sunday team he captains. He spoke so well & picked really worthy winners.
Wolf DH has decided to apply for the job & is having to do a last minute application. He has not used the new success profiles before & it seems a bit confusing. Would you mind if I messaged you about it?

northender · 16/11/2019 08:57

Forgot to attach pic

Friendly frugaleers as the leaves fall our bank balances will rise, hopefully!
Wolfcub · 16/11/2019 09:02

@northender feel free.

Wolfcub · 16/11/2019 12:28

Beers and host-gifts bought for this afternoon and a few stocking fillers

Part of Bruce's birthday present and a few small Xmas gifts for ds and a cooked breakfast for myself at the garden centre

Did an amazon order last night and another today and a Games shop order

Feeling slightly less disorganised about Xmas now but there will be no big presents for ds it'll all be little bits as there's nothing he really needs/wants