Elevenses !!!!!!

[MaryAnnSingleton]

ah, we can only do 1000, so here's the new one, hope you find it !

am glad you had a lovely day hippi - what book did you buy ? Have a good evening and relaxing weekend...lots of love birthday girl

Thank you

The book was 'The Victorian Chaise-Longue' by Marghanita Laski. We bought it at the Persephone book shop in Kensington Church Street. Lovely little shop

Hello! Hope you've both had lovely weekends? Did you have a good rest-of-birthday Hippi?

B is much much better and is pleased to be going to school today. Dh and I managed to avoid the bug (we hope).

Have just got back from my lovely book group and it was great! We hardly talked about the book - The Other Hand by Chris Cleave - but it was a chance for a good chat. Have either of you got a recommendation I could suggest for our next book but one? I haven't heard of the book you bought in London Hippi, is it good??

I've got one load of washing on, and a huge pile of ironing to tackle before school pick up so must go...

glad that B is feeling better and that you two have escaped bug. I recommend Patrick Gale's Notes from an Exhibition - top book !! I have saved his webchat too if you wanted any background etc from the horse's mouth !
Am feeling decidedly off today - just not quite well,iyswim..achy and queasy. Have to pop into T's old school this afternoon to look at the entries for the craft club competition - have been asked to judge it and present the prizes on Wednesday !! . Am meant to be having supper at my mum's but may just send the boys and go to bed early.

Hi MAS. Sorry you're not feeling great. Think there are a lot of low-grade bugs going the rounds ATM.

We've all already read Notes from an Exhibition sadly, or it would be one of my choices. I've just read The Whole Day Through which I also really enjoyed, but it's too soon after his other one IYSWIM. Will get on Amazon and have a browse I think.

Hello guys - not much time but wanted to check in and say hello!
Hope you are all bug-free - glad to hear B is better and happy to go into school. How is T settling into Y8?
E is doing great - loving Year 2 and she has been made School Counsellor for this term - she is delighted!!
O has settled in well too. A few issues with Little MIss Bossy Knickers again, same as last year. She is a pain! He does not seem too fussed but he does tend to put a brave face on things!

I am finding things harder. Am still not settled, I feel the expectations of the teachers on my shoulders like a thousand-weight I can't shift. I love the ancillary work, love being at the school, but struggle to keep control of the boy during 1 to 1 sessions. I still have no idea what I
am supposed to be doing with him but the teachers expect me to have lesson plans all worked out for him. One even asked if I had set him homework yet. Erm, seeing as he can't read or write, and neither can his family, what exactly would be the point???
In addition I am busy doing homework with O and E, housework, preparing lunches etc until gone 8pm in the evening and I am mourning my free time. In fact I really resent this intrusion called 'work'. But I will give it time and I am sure it will become the new 'normal'. Sob.

Birthday weekend was fab - we did the Maize Maze at Tulley's farm on Saturday night (did it last year too) - this time it beat us and we had to admit defeat
On Sunday we went into London to take my sister home (she had stayed the night) and did a spot of shopping around Marble Arch. That was lovely too

Right, better go, O and E need to go to bed and I am going to sit and stare blankly at the tv for a while.

Oh Hippi I'm so sorry you're not enjoying work much. IMHO, school need to support you more. AFAIK you haven't had any form of special needs or teacher training, so to expect you to plan for a child with such specific needs is unfair on both you and him I think the SENCO should actually be more involved in planning for his needs and you should then just be carrying out her plans. Very difficult for you. I know how scary schools can be and how out of your depth you probably feel. You CAN do this though!

Hooray for E! I bet she's absolutely thrilled Sorry O is up against little miss bossy boots again though.

B is still a little unsettled, a bit quiet, but went into school OK this morning. Typical school though. Yesterday I asked the teacher if we'd missed any letters home on Friday. No, she said. B came out of school last night clutching a sheaf of papers, and it turns out tennis started after school yesterday, so we've possibly missed signing up If she'd given me the letters when I asked, I could have rung the tennis co myself and B wouldn't have missed the first session. Will ring in a bit to see if we're too late to apply...

hello

Well, a mad day today - went on the Tate Modern trip with Y5. (my boy did not have his permission slip signed so I did not think I would get to go but two teachers popped to his house to get it done). Fab because it meant he could come, the alternative would have been a day of 1 - 1 with me which would have driven me mad, and probably him aswell). Great trip but had to park a 10 minute walk away due to road works so got soaked both going to and coming from the Tate. Then on the way home the coach broke down. A new coach got to us over an hour later, along with a police escort to close the road down so we could safely transfer the children to the new coach. Arrived at school at 5.35pm. Am pooped...

Sorry to hear B may have missed the start of tennis - I hope you can get her in for next week.

Hope all is well with you too MAS

Right, better go and have dinner (veg soup with lentils, potato, onion, celeriac and leek) and then try to relax ready for another battle at school tomorrow. It will get better, I know it will, but right now it is scary, horrible adn pants!

oh hippi - poor you-wish I could give you a hug and tell you it will all be ok soon - am sure it will be,but it's horrid to have to go through this initial bit.
Well done to E being made school counsellor and do hope that B hasn't missed out on tennis.
T home in v cross mood,partly because it was raining so heavily and partly because he'd not managed to finish cooking his fruit cobbler and was upset that the teacher had been cross (think he might be over dramatising -he does take things very much to heart and is always very hard on himself) It's rained so hard that our bit of roofover the utility room is leaking-it did this before,coming in under the neighbour's loose flashing-but that's been fixed -think it's just shear weight of rain forcing through the cracks..
Had a tiny op on my head this morning at my gps -nothing serious and was all ok until he couldn't stop it bleeding !! it was quite unnerving as I am hopeless with blood and the nurse had to come in to mop up and distract me..took a while to stop and now I look like the result of a cat fight with bloodied,stiff hair..yuck. Will wash it tomorrow -don't want to touch it today..
Anyway, hope tomorrow is better for you hippi..thinking of you and sending love xx

Oh my You've both had horrid days. I prescribe a cup of tea now and big glass of wine immediately after!

I have to confess I've had an OK day We got to meet B's new teacher and it all sounds good. She can certainly talk the talk. I'm still a bit about the mix of children though, but am certain B will learn a good amount this year.

I've arranged to give a friend English 'lessons'. We'll meet for coffee and I can go over her assignments and give pointers/correct bits. She really wanted to pay me, but I just can't take money from her, so we agreed she'll buy me the odd bunch of flowers! Hope it's alright I don't feel qualified to teach English - my knowledge of English grammar is worse than hopeless.

Good Morning!

Oh no MAS - what was the operation on your head for? Sounds terribly dramatic!!
Hotcross, what a lovely idea theaching your frined English. A friend of mine asked me to do the same but with German. Not sure when I could fit it in now.... eek!

Am dreading going to school slightly less this morning - but perhaps I am just getting used to the feeling of lead in my stomach...
Hopefully a better day today, keep everything crossed

Have to ask your advice - I was told last week by the bursar that if I work extra hours to let her know and she adds them onto my total for the month. Do I tell her I worked 2 extra hours yesterday because the coach broke down? Or do I let it slide?
THe reason I ask is that I am paid for 40 minutes Y5 support per week which does not actually fit onto my timetable so unless I stay behind I get those for 'nothing' - so the 2 hours overtime are just over 2 weeks worth' of 40 minutes...?
(does that even make sense? )

O is jealous E is school counsellor. He put himself up for the vote in his class but only got 1 vote Never mind.

Hope the rain did not do too much damage to your roof in the night MAS, adn I hope you both have good days today

Good grief, my spelling is awful Too many errors for me to correct - it is roaming fingers, honestly!!

um, you are ultra honest hippi - I'd probably be fretting exactly the same - if you feel ok about it you could let the extra coach hours slip and just allow the non-timetabled time to be added on and stay when neccessary but not otherwise - if that makes any sense at all ?! - or try to explain to bursar !
Roof seems ok - think it was just the very heavy rain and wind direction,doesn't normally do this in regular rain..fingers crossed.
Head thing was just a small bump,which I am prone to - my bro gets them occassionally -harmless but can be annoying,and I just feel horrid having them...will not be rushing back too soon to have another done -think I have frightened my doctor too !
The English teaching on a casual basis sounds fine and a nice arrangement to me hotcross - she wouldn't ask if she didn't think you'd be good at it I'm sure !
Hope O isn't too upset
and hope today has been much better for you hippi

Hippi, that's difficult. Me being me, I'd probably say something but then wish I'd kept my big mouth shut!... How annoying, but glad you don't feel quite so much dread about work. Am sure you're doing fantastically well!

MAS - I think you're very brave about the lump thing. I am a complete wimp about anything like that, so am in awe of you!

I've had my Polish friend here for coffee this morning and it was really lovely. I attempted to make Brownies but they were a disaster I gave them more than their time but they weren't cooked, and I'd taken them out of the oven to cool and 'set' a bit, but they were still runny so I had to put them in again...They taste OK in the end, but the edge is a bit burnt.

Hello

Ouch about head thing - sounds painful. I agree with hotcross - you are very brave, I would have been a jumble of nerves..

Work was better today - apparently all the TA's felt like I do when they first started. It is completely normal, but all ended up loving the job. I think I will too
Boy worked hard in literacy today but went to pieces in maths. Maths is after lunch and he just does not function in the afternoon. Tired, rude, unwilling, sullen, mono-syllabic, reluctant etc. The class teacher allowed us to stay in class today adn work there - he did try harder than he does in the library. So that was something. Have come out with a killer of a headache though [bleurgh]

Hotcross, brownies still sound yum - am sooooo desperate for chocolate. There are biscuits int eh staff room and so far I have resisted them [will of iron emoticon] but for how much longer??

Better go, need to collect the urchins and whizz E off to gymnastics

Oh, mentioned hours to bursar and she said to take them and get paid for them. She said I would easily make up the 40 'missing' minutes per week by going home 8 minutes late every day - and no-one leaves bang on time ever, it just does not happen

btw - O was quite philosophical about only one vote - he just shrugged his shoulders adn said 'someone has to only get one vote and this time it was me' (he is conveniently ignoring the fact he always gets the least votes, but hey ho)

oh love him - dear O xxx
glad you sorted stuff with bursar and that things look a little brighter - sorry am in haste,just back from seeing my bcn and now got to dash to junior school to do the prizes for the competition then whisk T to Sainsb.
I look less matted today I hope - I am now really terrified of having any more bumps done - I had been putting this one off for ages !! My meeting with bcn was really,really good and helpful - she is fab. Sorry to be brief- btw brownies sound yum ! I always whisk mine out 5 mins before end of time (a Gordon Ramsay recipe) because I know our oven is fast and they always seem very sticky,damp in the middle but once rested seem to be about right - always a little nervous making - mind you,I always try to try them when they're still red hot because I am so worried they won't have worked...

Hello! Just on here briefly while B does some art work to avoid having to go to bed

Glad you're feeling more positive about work Hippi. I think it's terrifying frankly to go and work in a school, but most TA's stay at the same school for years and years, so it must get better If I were consistently fit and well, it's what I'd want to try. The hours are convenient, teachers are frequently a jolly bunch and I like children (in the main)! Shame the pay isn't great... I'm sure you'll end up being needed there for ages

How did the prize giving go MAS? How exciting! Glad the hair has settled - are you sore with it? So pleased the meeting with the bcn went well too - it makes all the difference when they are supportive.

My mum went into hospital for an endoscopy for suspected cancer of the colon today, but thankfully they found a hiatus hernia instead. Still not nice symptoms, but hopefully manageable and not sinister. Phew!

I had a quick word with B's teacher this morning as she was up 3 times in the night with mysterious tummy ache, and I wonder if it's a nervy tummy, rather than ill IYSWIM. She was lovely and said she'd minister some TLC. Anyway, B came hurtling out of school tonight saying the teacher had said she was a superstar It only takes something little to make all the world of difference... We'll see if we have more tummy ache tonight....

prize giving was nice though the teacher asked me to explain why we'd chosen the winners when announcing them - eek ! she is very kind and gave me a gerbera in a pot to say thank you
Head is fine, not really sore,just need to remember not to comb there and must go and arrange to have stitches out next week !
Am so glad your mum hasn't anything sinister- what a worry, am sure hernia can be sorted though,without too much trouble.Still, not nice.
Poor B - sounds like nervy tummy but well done to kind teacher

Good morning

Prize giving sounds scary - I am rubbish at standing up adn speaking in front of people...

Glad to hear your mum is going to be fine hotcross - what a scare!!
And hurray for B's fab teacher. I hope she settles soon. (and I love the idea of art as a procrastination method - E uses writing or drawing, crafty these girls )

I think going to work in a school (especially if you have been helping out as a volunteer for a while) is much less scary than getting a job in an office. I would be terrified.
We were talking about this in the staffroom yesterday adn the general concensus amongs the TAs was that they would now not be able to ever have a 'real' job again. Whilst they are all quick to acknowledge their job is hard (as we are all given the challenging / sen pupils) they all agree it beats a job in the 'real world' hands down
I am still finding it very hard, and have a permanent knot of dread in my stomach, but I am sure that will eventually go. I ahve after all only been there 7 days....[must give it time and be patient emoticon]

I should only be working until 12 today so I am looking forward to having some 'me' time this afternoon. I need to do some chores and take dillydog for a long walk

Have a nice day, back later

am sure the knot in the stomach will loosen soon - it's because you are conscientious and care and want to do it wel,which are all admirable things.
Today is my bday so am feeling old but jolly as I've had lots of lovely messages and texts from friends...T made a card too and left me a message on facebook - awww.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAS!!!! Hope you have a lovely day Do you have any birthday plans? Am hoping you have the sunshiny day that we have here?

Eek about having to actually explain the reasons for the prize-giving. Well done!

Hippi, I'm sure the sinking feeling will gradually disperse. You clearly like children, and it sounds like you're fitting in well with the staff, so once you're on top of the planning etc, you'll be fine.

I've been feeling quite down about what I'm going to do work-wise and how I'll fill my time when B's at school. I'm not at all confident in my ability to do anything, but
I've come home to a lovely answerphone message from my ex-tutees mother. Apparently he hates big school and is bored with all the colouring in and apparently needs 'an inspirational teacher' like me and she can't see him being happy in mainstream school...he even asked if I could come and teach him at home all the time. Awww! So so sad, but early days. I'm sure he'll settle if his mum lets him... But it has given me a little boost that she thinks so much of me

I'm off to a friend's for coffee in a minute. It's all go this week, but then I'll no doubt have weeks of no social life!

thanks hotcross ! no special plans today-though my friend S popped by with a hand made card so we had coffee and a couple of Yum Yums each ! Am meant to be saying goodbye to my mum's friends from US who are staying and leaving today...then a bit of childminding after school for P. We will have something nice to drink and eat later ! lunch tomorrow with old school friend and next w/end is our fancy one away
You two are so in need of confidence boosting -you're both extremely capable and wonderful !!

Oops, have accidentally named boy No matter, it is his nickname