Crepeys in the Long Grass of Life

[CointreauVersial]

Thanks Beachy for the frisky title suggestion.

Well, here we all are!

I may be on here stressing quite a bit tomorrow. I have an Event at work for which I carry some responsibility and which is, I think, pretty much guaranteed to flop. And I have a meeting with HR and some external consultants. No idea what the parameters of this are, but external consultants, hmm, doesn't bode well does it?

Oh that's very sad, NUFC. :(

I have been to circuits and then spent quite some time with Mr Google, mulling over my options. I fear that the SpLD course is financially out of my reach (between 3 and 4 thousand pounds) and there is not much data to prove that there's any real prospect of employment once you've done the course. I think most of the people who do the course are already in post so a) the employment thing isn't an issue and b) the employer helps with the cost. It's a bit hard not to get depressed at this stage because I do feel in a tight spot and can't quite see how to get out of it. I can't afford to do masses of volunteering and make myself completely unavailable for any translation work that does come in, but the flow of translation work gets less and less. If I consider trying to go back to teaching MFL, it rather makes me want to accidentally on purpose fall in front of a large truck so the dcs would get the insurance money. So that's not good, is it?

BTM, if you (or your dh) have any ideas about where I should go to get some proper careers advice on this issue, I'd be really grateful. Or indeed if anyone else has any ideas... I don't - as yet - feel totally gloomy, just rather frustrated at not knowing what to do for the best.

Well done, Stropps, you felt the fear and did it anyway.

Herbs, one of my sisters was memorably horrible to me because my card and present didn't arrive in time for her PFB's 2nd (second, IInd) birthday. It was indeed flaky post, not my fault. But I've lived in fear of being late for a birthday ever since.

Yet same DSis doesn't bother to be on time if she bothers at all. And last weekend she took back the earrings she'd belatedly sent for my recent birthday, having decided (rightly btw) that they suited her better.

QQ is right, birthdays can be 'loaded'.

NUFC, sorry to hear your family's news. The poor parents.

Sorry, Stropps, cross-posted, I meant about the interview. Can't advise on the educational issues but I do think doing the interview (and obviously doing it well) is a major success: you should dwell on it and give yourself a bit more than a quick pat on the back.

Just popping on to say well done Stropps for putting head above parapet. Much respect.
Good luck tomorrow OPM.
NU, very sorry to hear your news.
To all.

Thanks for everyone's good wishes: baby was a much wanted child - they had been trying for over a year.

DDil has just been on the phone: new baby has suddenly started feeding more and is no longer using the tube at all, so would it be ok for us to go earlier? Good news and it moves him closer to coming home. DH will be in charge of DGD while I have the stump removed and post fitted. Dreading the visit to the dentist.

Good luck, OPM! I am having flashbacks to various incidents when I had a Proper Job...

NU, how very sad.

Stropps, do not go back to MFL teaching. I have refused to return to press office work for the same reason.

Good Luck Rudy!

NU, sorry to hear about the termination, but good news about DGS.

Stropps, I will ask DH - have no idea myself

Spent last night out with friends at our local Secret Cinema - on a rooftop watching The Devil wears Prada from deckchairs with headphones. We were also issued with a blanket and a rain poncho. It was quite surreal sitting in pretty heavy rain, but we all stuck it out!

NU that is very painful and sad to hear.
Stropps I've often thought of seeing a career/life coach to sort out my working life failures dilemmas. Haven't done it yet though.
Rudy OPM Best Of luck

One week to go and I am sending DS2 into what has now become a war zone. It is very much preoccupying me. The youth group he's travelling with are all speed ahead. Business as usual. I'm normally cool about it but I somehow feel that I don't want DS to have to have the experience of hearing the air raid sirens and the panic of rushing to a shelter. DH is on his usual perch…on the fxxking fence. "If they say it's ok, the it's ok…" I hollered at him last night…"don't you ever feel strongly about anything?" It wasn't pretty.

Bloody hell, Rosebag, that does sound scary. I so know the feeling of always having to be the one who has to make decisions too. Sympathies. I am married to someone who can spend half an hour deciding (and verbalising) whether to have a bath.

Stropps could you bear to do MFL coaching? You could do it via Skype, to get over not having a plethora of local customers?

NU - so sorry to hear...

Rudy - good luck - fingers crossed!

CV - yes what colour (and size) - still tempted. Decided Beachy's linen number (even in a smaller size) probably isn't me....

My opposite neighbour has just wandered naked into his garden again.

I do wish he was better-looking.

Well, DS's birthday day was a big success. Party bags and cake at school, parents evening (bizarrely), opening more presents, out for pizza, back for cake, opening final present - a karaoke machine, which has been a massive hit. Not surprisingly, as reading lyrics ranks second only to singing in his 'favourite things' list.

Other great successes include an illuminated globe, from sis, to which he exclaimed 'I can see the WHOLE WORLD' and the helium-filled number 5 (five, V). DP's family seem to have got their dates muddled, and have sent neither cards nor presents yet, thus stringing out his birthday further.

Weather looks decidedly stormy for his party on Sunday. We may have to erect a series of umbrellas twixt house and bouncy castle!

Sorry to hear about the termination, NU. Very sad.

How peculiar, MI.

I have girded my formidable loins and have bought this swimsuit. Not the one on the model, the one with all the folds discretely 'hiding' my folds (not!)

So sorry to hear your news, NU.

Good luck today, Rudy..... will you be looking a little bruised tonight and when can we expect before and after pictures?????

Stropps, I think you need to approach the local private school anyway, and it may be that they can give advice on how to get where you want to be. You may also pick up some MFL coaching from the parents there...

Rosebag, sorry to hear your concerns. I'm assuming that the group have done their homework and will cancel if they think there is an unacceptable level of danger. Is there someone you can call to discuss it with?

Thanks Beachy OPM
Sadly, we are used to this. It's just that there's been an escalation recently and now the reservists have been called up. There is a very safe and good system for assessing whether to travel or not and this is what we must be guided by. As I said, I just feel that I don't want DS to experience the sirens and shelters on his much anticipated trip.
I'm just so mad at DH for being so passive, not in his actions just in his opinions. As Ive got older I suppose I'm less scared to voice mine, been if hey are a bit controversial. He, on the other hand is always on the fence. I then come across as a maverick, a radical and a mad woman and he looks like the rational one

Rosebag, everyone in the world thinks DP is gentle, rational, calm and has to put up with a screaming virago...

Like the swimsuit Beachy!
Glad to hear the birthday went well Herbs.
Rose, that must be scary. I guess you have to go with what the organisers say and strangle DH and keep calm!!!
MI, is he a naturist or something?

Does anyone else have problems getting their teens out of bed and off to school? DS was awful this morning. It's very frustrating as I am always the one at home. DH text me and said we can't micro-manage them. I didn't think making sure your child gets to school on time was micro-managing

So far mine get up and out under their own steam and do their own breakfast. I advise Neglect.

I think the neighbour assumes that walking out of his back door to put the dog out into the garden is Private. Which sort of ignores the fact that there are a lot of windows looking out onto his garden. Having said that, I often fling my running stuff into the machine for a 15 minute wash and leave the kitchen in my pants and socks....

...perhaps he's perving at me out of his upstairs window and feels this is a quid pro quo?

Mine did. Well DD still does, but DS needs waking at least 3 times and then shouting some days. Not good.

MI, he needs to go out of his back door to put the dog in the garden? I thought you just opened the door? And bet he is!

Maybe he's punishing me .

Beachy, that's a fab swimsuit.

I have, rather belatedly, become very excited by the World Cup. Mainly after watching Brazil's 'ludicrous display' (anyone remember that from the IT Crowd?), and the amazing footy by the Germans last night.

DP has declared himself wanting out of work, as he's exhausted, and has a thankless task. I do sympathise, and I'm sure we'd survive if he took his foot off the gas, but he says this very often and doesn't actually throw in the towel.

MI :)

Glad it went well Herbs.

Here I realised Ds's caginess about what he did at school yesterday was because it was the dreaded sex ed lesson - part one, part two is today :)

Meanwhile we have a wasps nest to deal with - alongside the unhappy hoover.....