Lose Weight 26

victory

katiepoppycat wrote: »

victory - so you are working! you can say you have an ebay business. i like the swapping lifestyle thing too, it's a big part of re-enactment - we often trade items and skills, so i'll mend someones clothes in return for them fixing my shoes, that sort of stuff. it works very well.

Where I used to live we used to buy between us all the weekly mags, best, bella, woman's own etc and swap them around, read them and finally donate them to the local doctors surgery or our hospital so nothing went to waste, I miss that here, asked the neighbour but she never buys them, so I do very rarely, she reads them and then gives them to the doc, something missing there:rotfl: in another place I lived, her son was 2 years older than mine so used to give me his clothes and then if they were still o.k I used to hand them down again. I reckon if you do someone a favour it comes back to you ten fold, we had a struggling mum with very young twins move a few doors down and with the rallying around between us all I am sure she had enough toys and clothes for her twins than she could have ever wanted or used:rotfl::rotfl:I am all for that if you can pass it on then everyone benefits:D

grannynise

3.5 lbs off (but mostly that's what I put on last week) please Raph.

Sorry no time to reply to all that's going on -- back later. XX

sarymclary

Brighton_belle wrote: »

And in times of redundancy, men suffer in their own way when losing that defining bread winning role.

That's very true BB. My BF is trying to remain objective about the threat (again), but it doesn't stop him worrying about the money situation should it happen. We're in a better position than most, as we don't have massive debt to clear, although we do have some, and we have assets (the cars/bikes) we could sell to make ends meet, but of course we have bills like anyone else. It seems to be affecting so many; my friend who visited yesterday said her DH was at a meeting to discuss redundancies/relocation for his office (he's the head), and he left that morning saying he wished he could tell the bosses to 'shove it up their *$!^' as that's how the staff were all feeling, and he was bearing the brunt of that. My B-i-L has had to take a big pay cut to stay in a job, and he's a truck driver, so not in a high paid role. My sister is a civil servant, and I hear that thousands are destined to be made redundant to cut bills (although I know the public sector have employed somewhere in the region of 600,000 in the last 10 yrs).

Victory - do you have a skill, trade or speciality you have to offer? (and don't be saucy when you answer, you minx!) For example, my BF, like your OH, tinkers with his m/bikes, and is able to buy a non-runner, and get it running, back on the road and sell on at a profit, so that's his fall-back option. I've lost sight of my skills over the years. I have office/admin/secretarial/counselling skills, but because I never felt I had a 'trade' I tend to forget I have them. However, I have been considering advertising to get people's CV's designed/typed up for them. I have a friend who takes in ironing, and has created a thriving business. Her husband was a s/mkt manager, got made redundant when Somerfield got sold off, and became a handyman (painting, fixing, gardening, etc.) with no formal training at all, just a keen DIY-er. Jobs are hard to come by, and I'm struggling to find anything like you, so I'm beginning to think that perhaps I should be looking at something I could do from home, to generate an income. Years ago, before the NVQ/OFSTED requirements, you could have been a childminder, but not now.

Katie and Granny - great losses girls!

polkadot

Sary I'd send you my cv in an instant! I have yet to work in an office in the UK and Im sure its my cv. Things are so different in SA, and I've never looked at a "UK targeted cv" so I've no idea how to fix things.

Just had a shake and gave the kids breadsticks for snacks (I did not have any:D)
So off to sort some laundry and clean the kitchen to get ready for lunch.

dmv_2

Hi all, really shouldnt be on here as I only turned the laptop on so I could get a cd out of it to listen to while cleaning. Have got a fair bit done so far, so am off to continue. Great losses coming in, I really hope to be able to report one tomorrow. Well done on avoiding the breadsticks polkadot, I dont really like them but I know my sisters say its easy to pick at the bits you give the kids without really thinking about it, so willpower is needed! Think I'm gonna treat myself to scrambled egg on nimble for lunch in a bit, feels like a real indulgence and its only around 300cals, silly really.

victory

sary my son is soon to take his exams and finish school, he has a laid back couldn't care less attitude that drives me insane because I keep telling him he does not want to turn out like me, he has to have a trade, a vocation, something that will bring the money in, something to rely on, I have done a bit of this and that, younger days working with 18-30 club:eek:, secretarial did not like that so much,time share(the boss went bust) temping for felixstowe docks, head cleaner:rolleyes:, worked in a charity shop, assistant manageress of a video store,waitress,bar lady,worked on a builders yard sorting out their work sheets etc, but it was all a long time ago the recent one is charity shop, love working with people, worked as a customer service manageress for a while translator spanish to english, I opened an ebay shop (closed now massive dispute with paypal) used to trawl the boot fairs and sell it, made cakes (no, not professionally polka;)just used to get paid a little for the fairy cakes)so no, no real nvq's or anything like that just know what I like and that is mixing, helping, being with people, suited for shop assistant,customer liason etc that type of thing, even the spanish never really brought me in any real money, plenty of pocket money but not a real wage.
My cousin in law runs a massive cleaning business all over the country and promised me a job but nothing came of it.
We are also lucky I guess because some years ago we ran into debts, big ones, consolidated, paid it off ,took 5 years and it was so horrifically horrible that we will never ever repeat that so everything is paid cash, no cards, no debts just bills, food ,mortgage etc the usual but never do we put anything on a card, we could do with a new settee but will never get it unless we can pay it in full, you have to learn from the mistakes i nthe past:rolleyes:
We have always managed (called doing without, having to wait and appreciate it even more:D) I have always been good at BOGOF, putting away for xmas,birthdays,closing down sales, charity shops, boot fairs, saving for hols,day trips out always involve our own lunch and drink and deals,dinner out is always with vouchers,75% off in January at boots,swapping this for that and making do:D

polkadot

Victory I just want you to know that I never made a cake that looked like anything other than a round tin slapped with some buttercream before DS turned one. I've never taken a class and I'm by no means a pro. I still have loads to learn. Basically what I'm trying to say is that you need to look for something that you love to do, and let that passion evolve on its on. Im of the opinion that if it doesnt evolve on its own then its likely a phase and you should keep looking. I think you sell yourself very short and I wish you wouldn't because the reality is that when you're dealing with other peoples lives and hang ups you are motivating to the point of inspirational (in my opinion anyway). Have you considered that perhaps THAT is it, and you have been looking past your own gift for so long you dont recognise it?
Just a little food for thought...

victory

What is my gift then?

sary I have done child minding also but not as it were legally, I used to specialize in over night stays £20 a night which was reasonable and people like me were hard to come by so the lady paid and often used me, since then moved, long time ago but just remembered I used to do that, NYE was a good one for the money, like I said before done loads of this and that and have brought money into the house and food on the table but never enough for it to be considered a decent weekly safe, reliable, healthy,wage :rolleyes:

sarymclary

victory wrote: »

sary my son is soon to take his exams and finish school, he has a laid back couldn't care less attitude that drives me insane because I keep telling him he does not want to turn out like me, he has to have a trade, a vocation, something that will bring the money in, something to rely on, I have done a bit of this and that, younger days working with 18-30 club:eek:, secretarial did not like that so much,time share(the boss went bust) temping for felixstowe docks, head cleaner:rolleyes:, worked in a charity shop, assistant manageress of a video store,waitress,bar lady,worked on a builders yard sorting out their work sheets etc, but it was all a long time ago the recent one is charity shop, love working with people, worked as a customer service manageress for a while translator spanish to english, I opened an ebay shop (closed now massive dispute with paypal) used to trawl the boot fairs and sell it, made cakes (no, not professionally polka;)just used to get paid a little for the fairy cakes)so no, no real nvq's or anything like that just know what I like and that is mixing, helping, being with people, suited for shop assistant,customer liason etc that type of thing, even the spanish never really brought me in any real money, plenty of pocket money but not a real wage.

Victory - I think all us parents have those same fears for our teenagers. It's a shame kids have to make their choices for the future when they're teenagers, and their priorities are focused elsewhere at that point in your life (hormones, etc). With the right guidance and support, I'm sure they'll all do fine, but eventually they have to make their own way in life. My eldest is, I think, about to make a big mistake with the subject he's dropping for the 2nd year of A levels, but it has to be his choice/mistake, not mine. Hard to stand by, so I do what I can to guide, but at a certain point, I step back, whilst reminding him I can't finance him in perpetuity, and he will end up with massive debt, and potentially no career path.

Your work experience just screams customer services, or retail. You have a great variety of industry experience, both office and frontline. I think you're like most of us looking for work; there seem to be fewer jobs, with more people wanting to fill them.

Polka - if you ever need a CV putting together, just let me know. The key with any CV is to try to target it to the position you're applying for. If, like Victory, you're looking for a retail position, then you make sure your CV really highlights the skills, experience and attributes you have that make that you look like that is your niche. The rest is to make it easy and clear to read, punchy, with relevant facts, and a brief overview of what you are like, what you have to offer, etc.

Food so far:
B - banana, couple of slices of toast & apricot conserve
L - ham, cheese, salad & pickle sandwich on granary (20p from the Co-Op last night 375 cals)!

Right, I'm off out into the garden now. I've got 3 very large holes to dig, and then I may wash my windows too. I cycled to school this morning, and took a detour home, into a very strong head wind! I'm sure I was pedalling just to stay put at one point :rotfl: I've not tracked how long my route was, but approx. 2 miles or so.

katiepoppycat

some very philosophical points being raised here! hope you're all having a nice day.