ELEVENSES - the next chapter

[MaryAnnSingleton]

here we go !

Weekends could be a possibility but I would have to pick quite carefully - our weekends seem to be so jampacked full of stuff it is sometimes a relief to go back to work!!!

Half term should be fine though

I have mixed feelings about my parents moving over here, and I am sure they have mixed feelings too. But my dad's sister and her dh now live in Belgium, my mum has a brother but he has Aspergers (we think, never formally diagnosed) and is extremely set in his routines and will not visit or be visited more than twice a year. So their only family are my dsis and I who are both in the UK.
But on the other hand mum and dad have a large network of friends and are very settled in their native country. They have only ever lived in the UK for two years so have no ties to here apart from their two dd's. In an ideal world dsis and I would move back to Holland but that is extremely unlikely to say the least. Tough all round really!
And yes, if they moved here that would pretty much weaken any ties O and E have to being Dutch.

I am finding working every day extremely hard and tiring. But we have doubled the mortgage and needs must! Plus with the budget cuts threatening education I have no guarantee of a job for the next acedemic year. Especially as the two statemented children I work with are both Y6 and will be gone next year. So not the most secure position to be and therefore I am grabbing all the hours I can for this year

I do enjoy it though. Like all jobs it can be extremely frustrating and stressful at times. But at times it is also great fun and immensely rewarding. So I still count myself extremely lucky to have a job as a TA

Right, better go and get ready. I am going to watch The King's Speech with some of the girls from work tonight.

Back later

I'm sure life was easier before we could all move round the world so easily! I'm sure it'll all work out for the best Hippi...

We are usually off visiting family at half-term, will let you know what our plans are! Sorry!

Hope you enjoy The Kings Speech I really want to see it.

it is difficult about parents -am lucky that mine have always lived very close,the furthest away being Bath..even going to see dh's ma in Notts. is a kerfuffle,and that isn't so far. I do quite understand too about the losing links with being Dutch/Scottish - but it is in their blood and that's the important thing.
Am glad you are enjoying your job hippi - it must be very hard -working full time and the actual job and fitting in family stuff- I applaud you-I'd be in a complete pickle -I fret as you know !
Am sure we can fix something for half term- hope so.
Hope the film is good-am sure it is-would love to see it.

Oh no hotcross, are you away for the whole halfterm... [sob]

The King's Speech was FANTASTIC!!!! It was a very interesting story, some very funny bit, some very moving bits and the ending was beautiful - I welled up and so did many others. A must see, definately!

To be fair MAS, I am sure that my working hours are contributing to my somewhat wobbly mental state.

I do really really enjoy my job, but I struggle to get everything else done. My laundry is piling up, the house is dusty, I feel permanently under pressure. But hey ho, that is modern life (so I am told )

Right, better get going, O and E are at a friend's for tea, I need to do dinner, laundry and lunches for tomorrow. The collect the children, have dinner, get some dinner on for dh before rushing off to badminton. Gasp. Then shower and hairwash before heading to bed. And that is another day gone where I feel I have not achieved anything. I am just firefighting all the time. (Gawd I sound like such a whinger, must stop now)

oh I missed that bit about hotcross being away - we'll sort something for some time !
Glad the film was good and moving-must see it.

I do feel for you having to rush and cram everything in -I just get hugely anxious if I'm rushing as I can't do things properly,or to my satisfaction...am sure you are managing it all brilliantly -don't be so hard on yourself...

Flying in and out! It looks like we may be away the whole of half term, but I'll let you know what's happening as soon as we're certain!

Hope you're both OK today? I've got a busy day today, but will try to catch up later.

busy here to- just back from piano and off to final Mindfulness session (postponed from Dec because of snow !)

Hello Where does the week go to??? I don't even feel like I've accomplished much, but it's the weekend already! Hope you've had a good few days.

Dd is at a friend's for tea which is nice as I haven't worked out what to cook for dinner... I think she seems a bit happier at school, but I don't want to count our chickens too soon. She's still not sleeping well, but she's much more enthusuastic about going to school and seems more confident in herself. Will keep you posted

I went to a meeting at school last night, discussing the direction the school should be going in in the next couple of years. It was really interesting and a chance to let them know what we thought. Sad that so few parents went though

Hoping for a relaxing weekend!

That sounds very positive about B - will keep fingers crossed, but she may well have made a breakthrough.
Our school meeting yesterday was packed ! it was to learn about yr 9 options for GCSE and the English Baccalaureat - as far as I can see it'd mean T choosing a language if he wanted to get it-he is already picking geography and history which are also needed- it's all a bit overwhelming !
Have lovely weekends both of you

Great news about B and the friend - fingers crossed things are on the up from now on!!
Meeting at school sounds interesting, was the talk about the curriculum? I love meetings like that

Mas - choosing options already - how time flies. I can't believe T will start GCSE's next year!!! Does he have any idea about what he wants to do once he leaves school?

Things here are fine. O had a bit of trouble with some boys in his class this week - the 'cool' dudes were pushing him around a bit during group work in Science, pushing him out of the group etc. O seems fine now though so am hoping it is just one of those things.

Right, better go and make a cup of tea. Want to watch Hestons Fishy Feast in a wee while

Have a great weekend!

Am sure O can stand his ground - he seems to manage the not so nice kids pretty well.
T thinks he'd like to do something music based - h'll choose music as one of his options - he loves that best,along with hist. and geog. He also likes drama.

Thanks MAS - he seems quite allright about it so I think it was not too big a deal in the grand scheme of things. (fingers crossed)

The Puppy Poems book I ordered from Amazon arrived today. it is gorgeous - your illustrations are fantastic! We have bought it as a birthday present for one of E's schoolfriends who adores dogs (and was always fab with Dillydog when she came for tea). Must get another copy (Amazon only had one left which I ordered) because E wll love it too

Have left E at the stables this afternoon after her lesson as she wants to stay and help out. Feels odd - she is so young and has no mobile phone to phone me should she need me. But she was desperate to stay and they are allowed once they are 8 and they have a signing in book so I think it is safe... [fret]

am sure E will be fine and dandy and that's so good that she's enthusiastic -bless her. And thanks for kind words about Puppy Poems ! My next two books are 'I Am 8' and 'I Am 9' - books of facts about 8 yr olds and 9 yr olds- record breakers,child prodigies and how old you'd be if you were a galapagos turtle -that kind of thing.
Glad O seems ok

Next books sound great - will look out for them!!

E had a great time at the stables. Dh collected her at 5 and had to almost drag her away. Aparently she was allowed to take Smallie's tack off and help put it away, she was allowed to go to the field with the other (mostly older) stable girls to bring the horses in for the night - she got to lead Jasper, a supersafe 40 year old pony, from the field to his stable. And then she was allowed to take part in the 'tractor run' which is where the yard manager drives the tractor into the field where the ponies live and the girls run alongside taking off pony food and hay at specific intervals to feed the ponies which stay out all night'.
She came home covered in mud and exhausted but so full of it

oh wow ! sounds brilliant !

Hello, how are you both?

Here everything is going well. Had O's parent's evening last week - he is doing well
Work has been hectic but I am really really enjoying it at the moment.

I have changed my name (see above!!)

I am leaving hippipotami behind as I am no longer that large. Also, my new name is an attempt to celebrate the benefits of my new house - I need to start loving this place somehow

Plus, it indicates exactly where I am - my garden is directly behind lock number nine so it 'fits' and feels right as a username.

Hope all is well with you, looking forward to hearing your updates soon.

phew,found thread ! and yes your new name is great - what a good idea !
Glad O is doing so well - we have T's parent consultations this week- it's going to be horrendously busy week anyway- T is singing with choir at the O2 arena (Voice in a Million thing) on Tuesday- won't be home until after midnight...Wednesday is parents consultations and Thursday is T to hospital for his check up and blood test (with Wagamama as consolation) Am going to see my breast care nurse too while we're there.
Am working my way through the first of two book commissions (about 8 year olds) and have a picture to do too.
Hope you both have a good week ! xxx

Hello

Wow, well done T for getting to sing at the O2 arena - what a chance!!

Good luck for the hospital check ups too, loving the Wagamama as a treat, makes it all worthwhile!!

I have bought 3 of the puppy poems books, they make wonderful gifts for her animal-loving school friends

Right, better go and get on with some housework, the weekends fly past...

aww-thanks for buying the books !

'Tis a pleasure - the books are fab! E is desperate to read one, I bought 3, one for B's party (tomorrow), one for J's party (next Saturday) and one has been squirreled away and will be for E next month as a present for a good school report and parent's evening. (bit pre-emptive but I know she is doing well and will deserve it )

oh bless

just keeping the thread going !

Hello m'lovely How are you both? Talking of both - where is Hotcross???

Hope you had a good time at the O2 Mas, how did Theo get on? On of the ladies I work with was there too - her dd is in Y6 at the neighbouring Junior School and they went up there. She said it was lovely Made me think of you

Things here are fine. Have had a lovely week at work - I am enjoying it so much! Have to remember to maintain a sense of humour though otherwise I would be tearing my hair out!!

Not much has changed with the house. Am liking it a tiny bit (still pining for my Victorian little characterful cottage) but getting a bit annoyed with our Victor Meldrew style neighbour who keeps mowing our grass! (front garden only, and there is a shared green bit between our front gardens and the road and he mows that too) Apparently he used to do it for the previous owner of our house and he wants to keep on doing it. It is nice and I know he is being neighbourly, but for heavens sake it is February and he has already mowed the grass twice since Christmas! He likes things neat, and I appreciate that, but still.....

Anyway, I suppose it is better than a neighbour who is noisy and has a van on bricks in the front garden alongside an unsused washing machine.... But I am discoverin there is such a thing as too neat

Anyroads, hope you are well and I really hope we hear from Hotcross soon!

yes,hope hotcross is ok...
I didn't go to the O2 thing but think T enjoyed it- a very long day-not back until about 1am - poor dh had the job of collecting him from school- I was in my pyjamas and awake to make sure he did get home !
We had parent consultations on Wednesday and T's report-he needs to do a bit more than the minimum as he is slipping in subjects he is very capable of doing well in-hoping this might shake him up a bit...music and history were very glowing but he really needs to put in an extra effort. He has to decide on his GCSE options by 9th- still trying to decide about German,which he doesn't enjoy much.
He had his hospital appointment on Thursday and all is well-no blood test required either so he was mightily relieved ! Went to see my breast care nurse for a cup of tea afterwards,leaving the boys in the hospital Costa - was lovely to see her and catch up-she is fab.
Supper at Wagamama too which was yum.
Am pl;eased your house is feeling a bit more homely-it'll come,I'm sure. Had to laugh at obsessive mowing And work is going well with some of these

T has chosen options-and is handing the form in today= phew !
Music,history,geography & Drama