Buckle up - it's going to be a bumpy ride!

tealady

Hi If you have books that you don't want try Amazon or green metropolis, text books do sell well but watch the costings for post an packing (I used brown paper to pack smaller ones)
Have you thought about a car boot to get rid of stuff?

GotNoRhythm

Hi Tealady,
I've sold a number of books through Amazon, which was quite successful, and also tried a few car boots (the trouble with this is that I live in Yorkshire and the people had short arms and long pockets at the car boots I tried :rotfl:)
I think I was just having a grumpy rant ^^ - it took me so long to put stuff up on eBay and the items that did sell often only made one bid (99p mostly!) Still, I suppose I've got a little bit of extra cash now, rather than a cupboard full of clutter

I also looked after my friend's two dogs during half term and she gave me £30 and a bottle of wine for dog-sitting! :beer: so that's going straight into the bank on Monday :A

GotNoRhythm

HOOOORAAAAYYY!!!!! I now have my QTS certificate which means I CAN TEACH!! YEY!!!!!

Just need to find a job now...

GotNoRhythm

Still no word from the supply agency...

I'm starting to think about Christmas pressies (Well, actually I've made a start on buying pressies...) Play.com do some DVD box sets which my 2 nephews would love £15.99 and £17.99 (Star Wars and Shrek - they have eclectic taste!) TK Maxx have some nice smellies and unusual chocs and things which seem quite reasonably priced too. I think I'll post a list of what I'm getting for everyone and how much it cost - then some kind people might tell me to stop when things get a bit silly!! (I need someone to tell me to stop from time to time!) Okay, here goes... (To avoid confusion I've put people's initials so I can remember who's who!)

Mum - Chocs (£1.89)
Dad
Sis
Bro+Sis-in-law - Hamper (free wine crate), bottle of wine (£6), Biscs (£4.99)
Nephew C.N. - Star Wars box set (17.99), Star Wars Tshirt (£6), chocs in bag (£1.22)
Nephew T.N. - Shrek Box set (£15.99), Shrek the Halls (£5.99), Postman pat Annual (£2.99), Chocs in bag(£1.22), Slipper socks (£1.49)
Family H.B. - smellies (£5)
Family B.B - chocs in bag (£1.22)
Best friend - Handbag (£5), amyrillis (£2.49)
BFd's Little Girl - Slipper Socks (£1.99)
Friend K.T. - Xmassy soap (£2.99), Book (£1)
Friend S.M. - Xmassy Handcream (£3.99)
Friend's Son N.D. - Slipper Socks (£1.49)
Friend's Daugter F.D.
Work Friend S.R. - Xmassy Handcream (£3.99)
Xmas Cards - £2.50 for 10

Extras -
Butterfly Mug (£2.99)
Merci Chocs x2 (£1.89 each)

I'll update the list as I sort out what I'm going to get for the others. It's really hard as so many of my friends and/or their children have dietry problems, so foody/choccy type pressies are a no-no and a couple of them are veggie too. Not to mention all those with sensitive skin, so I have to be careful who I give what to... (I tend to go a bit mad in the shops and buy things that I think are a bargain - like chocs - but then I have nobody to give them to) So I'll make a list for the rest and STICK TO IT!! ***That's a Promise***

GotNoRhythm

Eep!
Oh, dear. I haven't been on here much lately, have I? (Been too busy tending to my cuts and grazes having fallen off the DFW wagon - yet again!!)

So, here's an update...

Following what I thought was a successful interview with teaching agency #1 and sorting out my GTC registration, I heard nothing from said agency for... months. i wasn't too worried though - I assumed the hold-up was the CRB clearance as I heard from a previous work-colleague who had to wait 4 months for hers to come through.
In Feb, i sent a cautious letter to said agency, enquiring if they had everything they now needed for me to commence work. To my surprise they sent a rejection letter with no real explanation. I was mortified!! At the interview I'd signed a contract and been given a welcome pack!!
Anyway, having given up with this agency I applied for a job through another agency and got an interview. I've had some work with them, but only about one day a week. I'm also not sure that I'm cut out to be a supply teacher - I find it really hard going, not knowing the kids or staff names, not knowing where anything is etc etc... PGCE doesn't train you to do supply work!
My plan for the easter break is to apply for nursery jobs and KS1 jobs within a 40 mile radius. My big problem is that my confidence and self-esteem are at an all-time low, and I don't believe that I deserve a job above any other candidate.
But I'm going to carry on and apply for those jobs. I'm lucky that I have great friends who do have faith in me, and tell me that I'm good at my job and that I deserve to have the job that I want, but it's hard to believe that when I've had tutors and my family telling me the opposite. I guess time will tell when I apply for these jobs - whether I get interview offers or not.

In the meantime... My 'school hols' job hasn't worked out - they don't need me. I've had to pay my full GTC membership (£33) for three and a half day's work (they are charging me again this month for the coming year - how is that fair?? How??!)
Hmm, sorry this post is turning into a bit of a rant. I just feel so disillusioned....

On a lighter note - my enormous cat has just gone to sleep - in my (otherwise empty) fruit bowl. I don't know how she fits in there. It defies scientific explanation!

GeorgeUK

Good to see you back again.

Don't knock yourself for not being any good at your job when you haven't even had the chance to work at your job. You need a permission slip before you can do that again - okay?

It sounds like you were put to the bottom of a pile of files in that agency and just forgotten about. Every so often, ring your new agency to make sure you are kept fresh in their mind (and they'll get you a job just to keep you off the bloomin phone)

It's your thread, you're allowed to rant on it if you want. Just don't knock yourself down when you haven't had a chance to start. It'll be no fun for the kids to do it otherwise

Hope everything else is getting back in order and you're well and truly back on the DFW wagon.

tealady

Hi. If you are still running a car check out https://www.petrolprices.com
If you have friends and family you struggle to buy presents for why not have a "No prezzies" pact with them. Explain you are struggling with money and so need to cut down. I would bet a few would be happy with that.

TillyTrippit

Hi GNR - please don't be downhearted by the behaviour of two agencies - there are loads, plus have you tried the local authorities themselves? Our LA has it's own supply list and they pay considerably more than the agencies - just a thought.:rolleyes:
Also, have you advertised for private tutoring? Loads of little kids have issues with literacy and numeracy and their parents will happily pay to get them the individual help that they can't get in the classroom - my OH gets £35 per hour for A Level Physics tutoring - huge amount, but not every week, just when the kids need it. You wouldn't get that much 'cos he's doing a real shortage subject, but it is worth your while checking it out.
Keep your chin up - the NQT jobs are about to be advertised in the TES - middle managment ones being done at the mo.
Take care,
Tilly
xx

GotNoRhythm

Hi, thanks guys! It's great to hear from you all. I hope you all had a good Easter break. I managed to save a bit of money with the Easter Egg buying by looking around - I got BOGOF eggs from Tesco and only got them for the little ones in the family, so not a total disaster there.

I'm happy with my supply agency so far - I just wish I could get a bit more work through them! I will look at local authorities as well, though - I live in North Yorks so there are a few other areas I could easily travel to for a day's work. (At the moment my agency have me doing 80-odd mile round trips! :eek: I get a travel allowance though! )

I'm just trying not to spend any money for the duration of the Easter hols as I won't get any money for two weeks - so I'm eating everything in the cupboards before I go food shopping again!! (Mainly chocolate Easter eggs!!) I've got lots of books to read over the Easter break, and some teaching stuff to catch up on, so hopefully that will fill my time and distract me from the shops - oh, and applying for jobs too, of course! I might even see what else I can sell on eBay. :T

Harrietbaby

Hiya GotNoRhythm, keep plugging away with the supply agencies. I qualified 6 years ago but couldn't find work to start with (ended up working nights in a mobile phone factory - even got my picture in the TES!) I actually hated doing supply as I found it really difficult with the lack of continuity. Having said this, I worked in a school quite regularly and then got taken on - they were in special measures at the time! Anyway, I'm still with the school now although just finishing maternity leave.

It's always hard when you train for something and then you're left in limbo at the end of it but just keep positive!