The Shape of Crepes to Come

[hattymattie]

Here we are crepeys - Friday 13th!

Where are you trying to access?! All areas?

Go me! I've made a dentist's appointment. Now all I've got to do is a faintly difficult interview for work, and I'll have done TWO (2, ii) difficult things today. I'll really deserve my treat of Celebrity Masterchef this evening. Or the football match.

A friend has asked if I'd like to take DS to Frankie and Benny's tonight. That's dinner sorted!

OK OPM - I think I may have found you and sent friend request - no message attached in case I'm mistaken.

Well done Herbs! Good Luck Rose!

Commiserations for your poor DD, Hatty. Here's hoping she's doing better than she thinks. And, yes, Tanya Byrons talk sounds spot-on IMHE!

I am hoping at least one of my friends wants to go walking tonight. Can't face another footy match.

Well quite perky after maths today apparently so we may be back on track after all.

Hurrah Hatty! I completely agree it would be lovely to feel something was nailed.

Well done Herbs.

I've just had one of those conversations with CDiff where I feel as if I've done something wrong...but I haven't. I ended up saying 'so we are changing the process to do X and Y at this stage, are we?'

I didn't even ask to have this extra stage built in...

Talking of Byron -I wish they'd do some beautiful poetry at school these days - I love narrative verse. I think we should have more Dead Poets - they seem to stay with you for life.

Take it back about that bit of CDiff (the publisher); she has just defended me against the other bit CDiff element (the client).

Pregnant designer, however, still plans to work with two week old.

My DS2 will be in the first cohort to do Gove's remodelled English GCSE (or will it be called an O-level - I can't remember). I'm anticipating lots of Dead Poets. Not that I object, I can still recite lots of Wilfred Owen from my own English O-level days.

I am the enemy you killed, my friend. Innit.

I bet you and CDiff end up being best buddies, MI. Just you wait.

I have a thing against poetry, whereas DP loves it. It always feels like they're trying to trick me, and saying something in the most complex way possible just to be clever.

I do like Pam Ayres, though.

So glad to hear that Hatty

Why am I not surprised by Pam Ayres, Herbs? An old favourite must be "I wish I'd looked after me teeth"

Blimey, I just got a commission. Must finish what I'm doing at the moment!

Pam Ayres - I love "I wish I'd looked after me teeth" - I do as well!

DS has called me from school - there was a break in at the a school changing rooms and DS has lost his phone, his Eastpack and his house keys. Lost of kids lost stuff and they even cut up bus passes - nice.

Oh no, Hatty, that's horrible. Poor ds - and poor you having to replace it all.

I love a bit of Pam Ayres. Not so keen on Dead Poets on the whole. And I'm another one who hasn't read 50 Shades. Couldn't be bothered as it just sounded daft.

Crepeys, I think I need to crowdsource some crepey careers advice. I went and observed some SPLD teaching at First School level yesterday and thought "OK, this whole idea of going back into teaching still scares me, but this looks really interesting and has definite possibilities". I have arranged to go and look at some Reception reading teaching because I want to see how they do the basics (have never needed to know this stuff for my dcs because they just taught themselves to read before they went to school). Today I went and spoke to a senior person at the school where I invigilate and they said that there are a bunch of TA jobs going (need to apply this w/e) for September and if I get some work in, I could apply to do the SPLD course run by the County SPLD service which would give me a Serious Qualification. The senior person was really keen for me to apply for a TA post, although she did say that of course I would earn peanuts. Still, at least it is a guaranteed amount of peanuts each month. At the moment, I can make the same amount in a week - except that I rarely do because the work doesn't come in very frequently any more.

I have a PGCE in Mod Langs and taught for a few years pre-dd, but I def don't want to return to whole class or Mod Langs teaching. Am scared witless by whole prospect of venturing out of my home office and back into a "proper" job, but someone needs to be the breadwinner and actually, I am pretty sick of what I do these days. Aside from the flow of work slowing to a measly trickle, there's no progression and the endless downward pressure on prices plus the pathetic Me-Brand marketing we are all supposed to engage in on social media just gets right on my tits, quite frankly. Also, I feel as though I need a whole new direction and identity as I need to feel like a have a point that is not to do with making packed lunches and arguing about when the hamster is going to be cleaned.

Should I dive in a try to get a TA job, start from the bottom again and try to work up at speed? Or is this all a silly idea?

Eeek, Hatty. And that's in Paris

Stropps, I would say dive in and try to get a TA job FOR EXPERIENCE (and confidence-building) The day is relatively short, and if a really lucrative piece of work came in, you could burn the candle at both ends It might turn out that you would like to move into specialist primary teaching, or become a HLTA or just use it on your CV. In any case it would get you out into the big bad world rather than festering in your office (Can you tell I'm not a fan of working from home!)

One of my lovely friends was getting fed-up with her business being too ad hoc and she decided to become a TA as it is a steady income. She is now working in her third school and is enjoying working in a specialist area which has also involved her getting some training.

Thanks, BTM. The TA jobs are at secondary level as they are in the Upper School where I invigilate. I just went to the First School to do observation because I wanted to have a look at SPLD teaching at all levels. Still need to contact a Middle School to have a look at upper KS2 and lower KS3. Am secondary-trained, obvs, so would probably be happiest working with KS3/4/5. I just don't want to wake up in 2 years and realise I'm still poor, bored rigid and have even more stress and less freedom than I do now. BUT I also do not want to wake up in 2 years and find us completely destitute because our business has shrivelled up completely and I didn't take up opportunities when they were (potentially) offered.

Go for it Stropps! It sounds like you want to, but are a bit nervous. We all feel like that at times. Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway!

Stropps - I think BTM is right - it is quite difficult to take the plunge sometimes. I'm a bit like that myself (although also hampered by inability to write good French). Maybe we should swap places

Strops - I can't offer any specific career advice, but it does sound like a change in direction would be really positive for you.

Hatty - oh, what a pain re: bag theft.

I'm sitting here with the Live Traffic website and two phones, trying to engineer a crossing-of-paths between DH (who has been stuck in a traffic jam for the last 45 minutes), DD1 (currently in her mate's car on the way back from Thorpe Park), and DS (waiting to be picked up from town). Much shouting of directions down the phone to DH. I need one of those WW2 maps, with planes on sticks.

DO IT, Stropps. Your excitement about the idea leaps out of your post. This is the way forward! You know people, so it won't be a total leap into the dark, and in a year's time you'll be amazed you ever doubted yourself.

Maybe, putting it out there, it would might be good not to be so claustrophobically close to DP, too...

Though I don't know what SPLD means.

I don't know what SPLD means either, Stropps, but I think you should do it for the following reasons:

a) you seem really enthusiastic about the idea and would enjoy the work (I am realising after 30 years in the same profession that I actually hate what I do and should probably never have done it in the first place). Enjoying the work is a big part of it.

b) you could do it without too much difficulty.

c) if it is only school hours, you could do some translating in the evening, as I have started to do.

d) although it's not very well paid, it will be a regular source of income, so will keep the wolf from the door - you will always have this, anything on top of it is a bonus.

e) although you will be starting at the bottom, you can work up at speed, to get further up the ladder quickly to a more interesting and better paid job.

What do you have to lose?

Could you take on private coaching in foreign languages to supplement your income? I did this in my late teens and was getting £5 an hour for it in 1982 - you must be able to get around £20 for it now.