Crepeys on the Verge of an Examination Meltdown

[whattodoforthebest2]

Not sure if I should be starting the new thread as I'm the last poster on the old one - is this how it works?

There were tears all round. Another lady, with MH and booze issues, said I was her favourite teacher, and if I'd been around when she'd been at school she wouldn't have dropped out at 15.

My teacher trainer and learning assistant all shed tears too.

Thanks for all your support, crepesters. You da best.

Yay Herbs - you're a prof . Many congrat's.

Herbs

Old lady story is vvvv sad.

I was almost tempted to say I'd teacher her myself, one on one, for nothing. Just broke my heart. It's why I wanted to teach literacy, but it seems helping people to learn read is not a priority to our lovely wise government.

Aww, shoot, Herbs. That made me get busy with my bag 'n' all. It's s-h-one-t that the class is being cut.

They were very lucky to have someone with your charisma and wit and creativity. So glad it went well.

Well done Herbsy Not surprised there were tears - as WAF says they were very lucky.

Just had an email from DM's carer manager - it seems that my hunch was right - DM is being very obstructive and gets agitated when they come. On some days. On others she is fine. Oh what to do?

You'll set me off again crepeys. Wit, charisma and creativity... you are too kind.

Naturally, I celebrated my success by buying yet more clothes in the chazz shop. A fifties-style tropical-print skirt, and a Zara jacket that could have been made for me. Fits like a glove. Grand total, £12.99.

Yesterday it was a stripey t-shirt. Was tempted by a Nicole Farhi dress, and a Cos one, neither of which would have fitted but might have sold well on eBay.

Well done Herbs, that's such a sad tale of the lady trying to learn to read. I agree, a much bag shuffling moment. Are classes being closed unilaterally and will you have any contacts you can draw on to use your excellent skills?

Tilly I find it a little disappointing that the carers aren't used to this type of thing…it's common with the elderly. They should have strategies for dealing with it, not that I know what they might be. I imagine having different carers might be part of the problem. It's confusing for people with memory problems.

Beachy - FE is facing 24% cuts, and so colleges are hanging on to courses that make money. Or don't cost too much. And that show 'progression'. Very low-level literacy doesn't tick any of those boxes, so all that level classes are being cut. At most colleges. It's criminal.

My mentors at the college would no doubt vouch for me, and I'd love to work there, but they're making 30 people redundant, so it's not a good time!

And BTM, so sorry about your mum and her confusion. Is there any way the carers can let her know they're 'meant' to be there, by way of reassurance? Some kind of password, or thing that only they and her know?

Thanks Rose and Herbs. I think they are trying -they are supposed to do some cleaning/tidying/taking her shopping which seems to work on some days but on others she just keeps telling them to not touch things, etc. I know she can be like this, but they can't tell her to shut up and sit down and leave them to it I met one of the carers and she seemed nice. I think I will try to get her to agree on the things she wants them/will let them do and make it like a contract with rules like she has to go out of the kitchen when they are cleaning in there etc and get her to agree them. Well it's worth a try.

Sounds v hard BTM.

Herbs, that is awesome, well done. And about the courses being cut.

BTM, that sounds like a plan. It is very tricky I think - it is her home and she will feel vulnerable sometimes and want to kick out at someone.

Oh holy buggery. Took lump to GP. She prodded and poked and gave me an internal exam. Now I have to have a scan. Am of course working self into a state especially given my mum's ovarian cancer (though clearly we haven't got the BRwossname gene as it hasn't been rife in the maternal line so far...)

Rushes on to wave pom-poms for Herbs - YAY!!! Fab job, missus.

BTM, sorry to hear things are tricky. Hope a solution is found soon. And 'phew' and 'hooray' re: final exam. Sorry, I got a bit lost and thought that had already happened last week.

MrsS and WAF, you did both make me

Am I right in thinking there may be crepeys who can offer interesting insights about Warwick and Birmingham universities? Anyone got anything to say about Manchester or Nottingham? Dd is now muttering about biomedical sciences. But today was a good day, when she was once again convinced that she might be able to get some decent grades. It could all be off again tomorrow. Looks like we may be trekking round the Midlands at some point soon.

I have an interview with a teaching agency in Southampton tomorrow (head office there, but they deal with schools further west as well). But I am a bit worried that I will be putting myself in a position where they will try and put pressure on me to do stuff I don't want to do/don't feel qualified to do. Have also got a job app for a local school to get in by the beginning of next week, but have misgivings about that as well, for various reasons. Juggling around a lot of possibilities and not sure what to make of it all at the moment... And dh has just had a tentative job offer for a million (yes, really) words which he doesn't really want to tackle on his own.

Other than that, I have had all my assignments passed by the tutors and am just getting everything in order for the big hand-in day and final day of the course next week. Results in September, which is a bit tiresome, but hey. Mixed feelings about finishing, as I am sick of the course, but don't feel ready yet to be released into the wild.

X-posts, MI. Ah bum. That's very anxiety-provoking. But better to get it scanned and ID'd asap, whatever it is. Could it be a cyst?

Apparently it could be a fatty lump - ahem.

HERBYDACIOUS!!!! Well done you, but so sad for old lady.

MI, fingers crossed for fatty lump or cyst.

BTM - man upstairs is like that, although I think there is little evidence of the carers cleaning, given the smell that drifts out onto the landing.

Fantastic, Herbs! And Strops, on the home straight too.

It seems like only five minutes since you both started your courses.

Just looked at the forecast for Saturday, when we have tickets for the annual outdoor festival down our way. Looks like it will be p*ing down.

Good luck with the lump, MI. You know that you needed to go to see the GP so you have done the right thing. When will the scan be? Herbs and Stropps, well done to both of you, but make sure, Stropps, that you only do what you want to do so that there isn't the pressure. Sorry to hear about DM, BTM; hope it can be sorted.

Wildlife count isn't very good: assorted butterflies, a squirrel and a deer. We were advised yesterday to avoid a certain walk because there was a mother bear and her two cubs around - am seriously tempted to go, but probably won't. The scenery is stunning and makes my heart sort of swell with amazement. I think we're going to Banff tomorrow.

Stropps . Dp is at Wariwck, nephew did (just finishing) bio chemistry at Nottingham.... If you are doing Midlands we MUST meet up :) :)

MI fingers crossed re lump.

Knackered here - am I actually sleeping when I go to bed?

MI - I had this and it was cyst. Much relief after scan. Get it done as soon as possible.

Stropps - DD2 is looking g at Biological Sciences but I know many of the preceding year groups have gone to Kings to do Biomedical Science. It seems to be the in place although they do seem to end up living in extremely dodgy digs in Shoreditch.

Overcast today - was supposed to be walking in the forest but I may chicken out and go to the gym instead.

No word from DD1 on the party front but at least she hasn't appeared looking drunken in the DM. Her exam results are today!

NU - do not go near protective mother bear!

A friends DS is doing Biomedical Science at Kings, currently living at home but intending to move out for next term, I think. He is very hip, so will probably be actively looking for dodgy digs in Shoreditch!

MI, get that scan done asap - it most likely will be a cyst or fatty lump, but you won't know till it's done

Stropps, good luck for today.

NU, AVOID the bear though the temptation to see cubs must be intense.

Don't worry, GP has put scan booking through - she was vv nice.

I have performed a Ladysplash, dropping DD1 off en route at the station. There is a Latin trip to Bath today: 30 or so red-blooded London gels on the loose, what could possibly go wrong ? Some of them are also going on an Oxford trip tomorrow but not DD1 of course this does not worry me greatly that she is Academic Failure, oh no, of course not.

Echo what Crepeys have said about the scan MI ...try to believe the GP re. fatty lump/cyst unless told otherwise. It's the most likely reason. How soon can you get it done? Take care xxx

tilly contract is a good idea...and maybe photos of the carers on the fridge door and who does what. I would also hate someone I felt was interfering, walking in if I was a bit confused about it all. I'd be defending my territory too, I expect!

stropps dS2 is going on open days at Warwick on Saturday and Birmingham tomorrow week. We will know more then. I'm going to Birmingham with him and DH is going to the Warwick one. We may well end up in that area, as course wise, Birmingham is the front runner, although MFL and music, not sciences, of course. Good luck with the interview. Just take it one step at a time and if something doesn't feel right, you'll know.

There's a lot going on at this end...which I can't really post about but stress levels are high chez nous. I'm good with stress to be honest but it comes out in headaches and stomach trouble. Both are rearing their ugly heads at the moment.

I am shortly going to drive sarf to a meeting with voice colleague but I can't get a hold of her to check she remembers. She's nice but annoyingly scatty, I might be Billy No Mates of Kew later in this morning. Is anyone around?