A fresh start

taxi73

Good luck ...I'm going to try really hard with this one!!!

Seaxwyn

Thanks Taxi for the instructions, I now have an avatar - chosen to match my name (a Saxon queen).

Nothing to report on the moneysaving front. Just as skint as ever and OH doing nothing about finding work. The college seems to have dropped him as he has no teaching at all this term.

My freelance hours are reducing as the project comes to an end sooner than expected. My part-time job continues to April - but 'restructuring' is in the air and I am hoping they offer me a permanent job. There have been hints. I'm going out to a dinner on Wednesday with the Chief Exec so hope to have a chance to ask him then. By the way this dinner is causing me yet more wardrobe stress - it's a special dinner given by the Canadian High Commission. What on earth do I wear???

Aside from money, one thing that is going well is running. I have a new running partner who is very committed and we are going out 3 times a week and running through beautiful countryside. It is the one thing that is saving my sanity.

Karmacat

I've seen a poster of your avatar! I used to have that up on my bedroom wall at college......

Is OH not bringing in anything at the mo? Ouch to that - what about that gardening thing, any luck there?

I hope the hints come to something for you - the dinner sounds very glam, potentially - do you want to stand out, or come over as a serious professional, what sort of thing would go down best, do you reckon?

hypno06

Sorry that there is no progress with OH and work. Does there come a point when he will claim any sort of benefits? Not ideal but at least it would be a bit of income coming in. Jobseekers, or something similar?

Fingers crossed that the temp work may become perm in the spring - that would be something positive, and you seem to enjoy it.....not to mention all the globetrotting and Embassy dinners you are doing!

I must get back into running - I am glad it is saving your sanity. If I had a running buddy I would be out there like a shot, but like most things in my life, left to me......it ain't getting done

Seaxwyn

Karmacat, that's amazing that you've seen the picture before, I just found it by Googling? Do you know who the woman in the picture is?

OH is bringing in the odd few quid from driving semi-regularly (take home, £8.79 a day) and occasional gardening - but he hardly ever even does the gardening. Last month he earned £58.79, in August nothing at all and July £236. I have tried everything from sympathetic support to shouting "GET A JOB!" and nothing seems to make any difference. I've cut out ads for local jobs. Today it is announced the Royal Mail are recruiting 30,000 temps so I have encouraged him to contact a postman friend and see if there's anything locally. We'll see. And yes, I think he should investigate benefits, but he is very resistant to the idea. At 59 it is very humiliating to admit you are employable.

The Canada House dinner... I don't know what to expect at all. I'm not looking to make any kind of impression, except to enjoy a free dinner and the chance to get to know my boss a bit better. I suppose I need to look at least half professional, though, which is a challenge for me. And I am touching my overdraft (the NatWest one that I try to keep out of) so I'm not buying anything for the occasion.

I too need a running buddy to get me out, I'm so glad I currently have one! Today we did 9k zizazgging up and down the scarp face of the North Downs (a mountain range similar in proportions to the Himalayas, at least that's what it felt like!)

Karmacat

I don't know, I'm afraid, Seaxwyn - I never took any notice of provenance in those days :o

I guess half professional sounds about right..... surely something from your recent purchases fits the bill?

Just thinking re the piccie - something about the French princess being presented to the English queen, somewhere in the Hundred Years War? Richard and Anne? Does that ring a bell for you?

taxi73

Sorry to hear that OH is getting nowhere with work...hope he can find something..there must be something he can do.

I hope that your job gets made permanent and that will take some worry away and also more importantly you seem to enjoy it.

Sounds very glam as well especially away to foreign places and posh dinners.

chevalier

Hi Seax

I am glad to see that some things are going right for you ie the work is quite fun. And two trips in as many months is a bonus if it maybe helps you to recharge your batteries a little.

I am very sorry that you have this ongoing issue with your OH and the college. I don't know how you can get around this I really don't. The only thing I can think of is that you take over his accounts and he gets pocket money based on how much you can afford that month rather than how much he feels like spending.

I do feel that he has to get the rest of the money owed to him. And well done to him for at least complaining about it. But he also needs to accept that he needs more regular income, for his own self esteem if nothing else surely?

But how to make him see any of the above is beyond me. Have you tried tears? Can he not get any sort of benefit?

Seaxwyn

Gosh I forgot to say my Chicago trip is off! As I was only going to give one presentation, we decided to save money and let someone else give it. Very disappointing! But in some ways a relief, as it would have been at half term.

The Embassy dinner is on, though, and colleagues tell me I need a dress. Oh no! I haven't got anything suitable, but don't want to do any more panic buying, I shall have to look through my wardrobe and hope for a miracle.

OH has 'applied' for a 2/day/week job at another college. On questioning him I found he has sent off a CV and a letter, ignoring the requirement to fill in a form - doh! So I will make him do the form, and will try to check it. I hope he gets it. But it must be very far from a dead cert, and meanwhile it will give him an excuse to do nothing else for a few weeks.

Chev, I have tried everything I can think of but he is so deep in denial, resentment etc etc that so far, nothing has worked.

Karmacat

I do feel for you about the OH, Seaxwyn, I just don't *get* that level of denial.

I'm sorry that Chicago was cancelled too - but as for the Embassy, maybe two black things together make up one dress?

Wishing you the best with it......