Fab Feb 2009 - pass mummy the gin, its potty time!

[dinkystinky]

New thread as the old one got filled up - hope you all find it ok!

Calico - bet your DS is having a BRILILANT time today. Please dont worry - and the shorts were a good choice. DS1 loves wearing shorts to school even when its arctic Glad your DH has acknowledged he was being a muppet. Can you make it on 17th?

MoS - glad the little ones are better and DH is hopefully behaving better now. I can understand him being stressed and scared - but really not fair that he takes it out on you. I hope he takes this time between jobs to find a good way of getting rid of stress that is healthy for him - sport, meditation, whatever works - which will be a positive thing for your family.

SM - best of luck with your new job.

calico - shorts are the new trousers and that is what dt2 wore on his 1st day to school this morning and dt1 was in her summer dress

1st morning over when do I break it to them that they have to go back tomorrow?!

very of those of you with DC that started school today and hope the first days went ok. DD doesn't start until next monday and that is just a week of 1pm - 3pm. Bloody daft, hardly worth it! Finally starts full time on 19th.

calico glad you got an apology, not fair when they treat us like this is it?

dinky if only he would do something like sport. Have bullied him into joining local gym and went for our 'mot' today. We both need to put in a lot of hard work to reduce our BMI/cholestral etc and although I'm going to give it 100%, well, maybe 99% I suspect by the end of week he'll be stuffing his face again and won't have gone to the gym once.

He was in a good mood when we took kids for their swimming lessons this afternoon as had just spoken to a job agency about a possible job but then we got home, he checked his email and had a rejection for a job he'd applied for a month ago and which was 'a sure thing' and of course that set him off again. Not sure how long I can put up with this shit for. What is bugging me is the comments one minute about him HAVING to leave because of me and then next minute it is something else. I have to say I'm rather worried that he has been applying for jobs for over 2 1/2 months now and not a sniff. All well and good him saying we have money in the bank but it won't last for ever and I'll be more than a little bit pissed if everything we sacrificed to be in Saudi for will essentially have been in vain. Tonight I was reminded again that I should get a job too, think he is living on another planet and has no idea what full time child care for H would be (am guessing at least 800 pcm?) - anyone able to give a guessimate? Also, would need after school for DD so I'd have to be earning a reasonable amount to even consider it. Twunt!

Hope school goes ok for all the little ones tomorrow, am sure they will love it. ooogs are yours in the same class or did they split them?

Mos - they are in the same class as the school only has 1 intake of 30 per year. They are very diffeent and have different friends so it suits all round. Not sure how it would be if they were same sex etc...

wow, just one class DD's new school has 3 reception classes of 30 kids Am a little concerned at how she will feel about such huge numbers of children around her. She was spoilt in KSA. F1 (year before reception) had a maximum of 20 in a class but in reality only normally about 15 and F2 (reception) had a limit of 24 and in reality normally only about 20. There will be more kids in her year than in her entire former school!

MoS - DS1's school is also huge (700 students - 3 classes of 30) and I was worried too but he was and is fine - and the kids at the school generally look out for each other and the school as a whole. Its great. Glad you and DH have joined a gym - hopefully DH can channel his stress into battling with this BMI/cholesterol. And dont worry, I'm sure he will find a job now he's back in the UK - depending on where you live, full time childcare for H and afterschool care for G could cost you a hell of a lot (you're looking at about a grand a month I reckon in Sussex). Though FWIW I think it would be good FOR YOU to have a job - good for your self esteem and to give you something else to think about/focus on - once you're all settled back in th eUK.

DS is in tiny village school - intake this year was 16 which was huge compared to 9 last year . He already knows most of the kids which obviously helps but in a such a small school there isn't much choice of friends.....luckily his best pal is there too.

MOS - we pay about £50 a day for Lilian's nursery in Herts - which is why I only work 2 days a week and most of what I earn goes to cover that but it does give me some head space. Of course now I don't get a full day as I have to pick up DS at 3.15 so it doesn't really make sense but I need to have some time to do my own thing - if only to keep me in the loop for future jobs whenever that might be.... Dinky is right (as usual) - it is good for the self esteem.
Hope your DH gets some good job news soon.

Lilian started at her new nursery this morning - she was ever so clingy and upset which is not like her, but then she has always had DS with her at nursery. Just phoned to see how she is getting on and apparently she is running around in the rain like a loon - so back to normal!

9 would be a biggish class for our school. ds1's class is about the biggest in the history of the school at 12 and is twice the size of most other classes. dd has just moved into the middle room, three classes and less than 30 kids between them (in fact, barely more than 20).

This year there are 6 starting and the next few years are similar so we're likely to lose a teacher in the next few years

mos, sorry to hear about the job worries... dp has been looking for an eternity and it is hell. The longer he sits around the house the more useless he gets and it's grating on my nerves massively now My house is a pit and A and I have colds, on top of which i have all the start of year stuff for the playschool to wade through and an end of module assessment to get on with and he's sitting at the PC whining about the cold. I've pointed out several times that it's not cold if you get off your arse and move

Calico, glad your DH snapped out of it and apologised but I can't blame you for being annoyed at the petty reason for it in the first place. My dp is another who does the brooding and moods and it drives me soft.

Hello all, just popping on to say hello and will be back later to catch up

Hi
Sorry I've not posted lately, been busy with the new job.
Is going well, the classroom is all ready and the kids start tomorrow. Very excited about it.
It's been nice to have a few days to get to know the staff in my room a bit before we get thrown in with the children.
It's a class of 5 pupils, all with ASD. I think 1 of them will keep us on our toes especially, but I went along on the home visits and the children all seem lovely. Should be anice class.
SR Hope you and A get over your colds soon.
Calico Glad Lilian settled in at nursery. Luke started at a day nursery on Monday. Was a bit distressed, so I called them at lunch time to see how he was getting on and they said he was fine, had settled quickly and was running around outside.
When dp collected him at the end of the day, he was told Luke was the best behaved child there! (bet they say that to all the parents)
mos Jacobs school has 3 classes for the reception group, he seems to be ok and is enjoying it.
Luke attends nursery now 5 days a week from 8:45-15:15, plus I have to pay for his lunch, it should work out at about £150 a week.

SM and Bumps and SR - lovely to see you all on. Good luck with your new class SM - 5 sounds like a good number and its good you've got to know the rest of th e sraff. Glad L has settled in quickly to nursery and is teaching the others manners

will be off line for a couple of days as off to rural ireland for my sister's first wedding later today and apparently not much internet connection out that way - sounds like its lashing with rain and wind out there... perfect wedding weather

PACK WARM CLOTHES!

winter has arrived early here, it's wet cold and miserable

Have a lovely weekend despite the weather though

hello all SM glad new job seems to be going ok (well, withouth the little darlings there!) lets hope that the staff are a lot nicer than at your previous place. Glad L has settled well. It is so difficult when they go somewhere new, H still whinges and wimpers in the morning when I drop off at nursery.

dinky hope the wedding goes well and you don't get too cold!

DD had her home visit from her new teacher and TA yesterday which went quite well, she is really excited and can't wait to start next week although it is so annoying it is just for 2 hours per day for the first week

Nothing else to report apart from DH still being a FW oh, and I've applied for a job. Part time (20 hours) as SN TA at the local school, the junior one next to DD's new school. Feel I need to do something. No experience of course but feel that I need to get off my arse/away from DH Watch this space....

Oohhhh, good luck getting the job MOS. Is such a good role and very rewarding. Crap pay but worth it when you see the difference you can make.
I know you don't need any tips or anything, but I've found that in interview, talking about your belief and passion for every child to have the right to access an education goes down well. That your job as a TA is to support the pupil, the teacher and the school.
You have the makaton etc from your signing classes which is great too.
Do you have an interview yet?

We had the kids in for half day today, it went well (ish). There are a couple who clearly have no bounderies what so ever so the next few days will be just behaviour management and installing rules and bounderies.
1 kid we were told by mum, never gets upset, no tantrums etc, and omg did he kick off. We were all scratched to fuck and was a bit of a shock as we were all mentally unprepared. But like I say, onve he knows his bounderies, am sure he'll settle down fine, and we might get to start teaching!
They do everything completely different from the last place so am feeling a bit uncertain of what I can/can't and should do, but all that will come.
I've told the staff I'm working with that I am happy for feedback on my work and am open to constructive critisisom(sp) and I'd rather be told if they're not happy with something I do than it being kept quiet. We have all agreed that if trhere are any issues we will try to sort them between ourselves before going higher.

SM not heard yet but only applied yesterday and closing date is today so suppose they will make a decision who to interview after that. Interviews from Monday and to start asap so hopefully will hear soon. Like you say with my Makaton (did a recent two day training course in July) and my BSL and previously experience with my signing classes might make up for the fact that no proper experience.

No idea what the money is but am thinking that given that it is next to DDs school and H's nursery and of course won't have problems with child care during school hols I could earn as much as in a full time job where I'd have to sort out holiday and after school childcare as that is so expensive.

I would have assumed that jobs like these would go straight away. I know in KSA all the jobs were allocated before they were advertised. We shall see, if I get an interview I will be asking you for advice!

I'm sure you will be fine in your new job, it will just take a bit of getting used to being a bit different.

Hello all - thanks for your good wishes for the wedding day. We took lots of warm clothes but the Friday was lovely and sunny and the wedding was perfect! The party on the farm the next day was a bit wetter and windier but we all loved it, especially DS1 and Danny who was overjoyed at being on a farm and loved running around with all my new BIL's nieces and nephews (he's the youngest of 9 so there were a fair few kids pootling around).

Glad all going ok with new job SM and good luck for your interview MOS.

Is meet up on Saturday night still on? If so, what are the numbers and does Victoria work for all?

Mos hope you get the job & that Grace had a fab day at school

dinky - the wedding sounded lovely

will be spending this week getting used to having Luke without the others about!!!!

Hello. Hope the new job is going well, SM and that you get yours, MOS-(TBLS) - now there's a mouthful!

DS3 has his (now yearly) neurology appointment today. He's so fine, I've got no real worries. But things like this always make me go all wobbley. I also have a big wobble in the run-up to his birthday.

hello all, dinky glad wedding went well
oooggs enjoy quality time with Luke
swampy hope DS's appt went well.

All ok here, not heard about the job I applied for yet Closing date was only last Friday but they wanted to do interviews early this week so am guessing I've not got one. I'm always very suspicious that a lot of jobs like this one (perfect, part time term time only) go very quickly to a friend of the teacher

Had my pre Jordan (trek) meeting on Saturday in London which was good as we met a lot of the others going. What was really nice was one of the guys going was deaf and he had an interpreter there with him. At the end of the briefing I went over to 'talk' to him in my very rusty sign language. Have been teaching little ones nursery rhymes for the past two years and seem to have forgotten a lot of my 'adult' signs! He and interpreter both seemed pleased that another (albeit rusty) signer was going and it was the kick up the arse I needed to get on with refreshing my skills so have applied to go on another BSL course at my local college which starts next week. Have interview for course this wednesday and hopefully I'll get on no problem as it is the same instructor that taught me 7 years ago.

dinky I'm still up for Saturday but sadly it looks like no one else is. We are drifting apart Was so looking forward to it too!

Good luck for DS3's appointment Swampy - am sure he'll be fine. He sounds so full of beans and bright from your FB postings!

MoS - am still keeping my fingers crossed for you. Hope G had a good day at school. Still up for Saturday. Will skip on FB later on to see if can get MrsY and anyone else to confirm if they're still up for it.

dinky and SM we need to bully her into going!

All good at G's school today. She really liked it which is lucky as she will be there for the next 3 years!

Appointment was fab, thank you. Now drinking wine to celebrate.

Swampy - pleased ds3's appointment went well.
MOS - hope you get a place on your bsl course and that you do get an interview.
I applied for loads of positions and was only invited for interview from few.
If it's really something you wanmt to get into, agency work is perfect for getting yoyr foot in the door and getting ezperience.
Lots of schools will recruit agency staff that are good. The pay is better (I'm on £70 a day) but you don't get paid for the holidays or anything.

so is NO ONE other thank dinky and I up for Saturday?