Learn to control money but do not allow it to control you

Wordsmith

I totally agree re the teaching. I used to teach in a prison. When the learner was allowed to pick projects and work at their own pace they produced some wonderful work. When we had to rush them through exams they neither needed nor wanted, purely in order to make the statistics look good, the learners (and teachers) were grumpy, complaining and did minimal work, and four weeks later they would have forgotten what they'd learnt. The same is true in further education colleges - everything is number driven: get students through the exams as fast as possible, regardless of their needs and wants. It was true even of pensioners - we couldn't let them come in and learn how to email, which was all most of them wanted to do; we had to force them through exams to prove to the powers that be that we were doing our jobs. I hated it. Now I teach privately only, teaching students only what they want to learn, with maybe pushing the barriers a bit in case it sparks their interest to do more. The number crunching is government driven. On the one hand I can understand it - without the proof of what students are learning, we could be swanning around doing not very much for our salaries; on the other hand, all the passion goes from learning and teaching.

InaPickle

I agree with you on the effort v effect topic, Firewalker. Very much so.

Must be efficient rather than constantly busy. Now there's an aim.

Triciaxx

Hello.:hello: I hope you don’t mind me adding my penn’orth. I’ve been following this diary for a while and am finding it very stimulating. I think that our present ‘civilisation’ is too focussed on specialising. We are channelled in education to learn more and more about less and less.

There are 3 main dangers with this, though I’m sure we could think of more – as we often say in our house “There’s a PhD in there somewhere!”

Vital connections between branches of learning – even in the same subject – are missed. There seems to be no opportunity for a polymath to emerge who could draw the threads of diverse subjects together.

In order to achieve qualifications in narrowing fields, children are forced to choose their careers too soon to have a reasonable general view of ‘life, the universe and everything’. This will resonate in their lives down the years.

We do not value practical skills as everyone ‘knows’ that to get a job you must have a degree. I completely endorse Wordsmith’s experience in teaching adults. I used to teach in the adult education sector and so many people were hungry for learning – in a subject which interested them.

On another issue, I’ve recently used a programme called Textanz to analyse my writing for overused phrases and words. I use ‘I think’ too often and that shows my lack of confidence in my views – I think.;)

Marru

I have been working on my dreamlines. I am so shocked to see how much my dreamlines differ from my day to day reality. My biggest dream (that would then make lots of other dreams possible) is to have my own place with land and stables. I can't get a mortgage due to my credit rating disaster and BF can't as he doesn't have regular income.

However I found a business for sale that have working cattery and stables that can be rent out as DIY livery. I sent the link to BF and asked if he thinks he would be able to get funding if it was to be proposed to the financers as going concern business with realistic estimated budget and cash flow.

So there must be a way if there is will. BF has experience about livery and all kind of farm work so that shouldn't be a problem. Universe, are you listening....

Firewalker

Maru, put a more developed proposal for this one 'on the other side'. Will expalin there - but needs a proper business plan. The Universe may be listening more closely than you know.

As to the dreamlines - I did find them fascinating as well. Mine are not that different - it is a matter of content and intensity.

FW

savingwannabe

Ladies, how do i do a dreamline? Should i read a book? i dont know what i want in life, to be happy i guess? no plans or anything really? never ever looked into the future much, didn't think i had one. This whole william thing has woken me up.

Firewalker

SW, this is from Tim Ferriss, The Four Hour Working Week. The idea is that we can work less, achieve more and spend more time doing things that make us feel happy and contented.

Before you go off buying the book check his website, please - it has the same name.

Firewalker

Marru

savingwannabe wrote: »

Ladies, how do i do a dreamline? Should i read a book? i dont know what i want in life, to be happy i guess? no plans or anything really? never ever looked into the future much, didn't think i had one. This whole william thing has woken me up.

SW check THIS out, further down the page there is a link to a template.

Aesop

Marru wrote: »

So there must be a way if there is will. BF has experience about livery and all kind of farm work so that shouldn't be a problem. Universe, are you listening....

oooohhhhh :j:j:j:j:j:j Universe please be listening

Marru

Firewalker wrote: »

Maru, put a more developed proposal for this one 'on the other side'. Will expalin there - but needs a proper business plan. The Universe may be listening more closely than you know.

As to the dreamlines - I did find them fascinating as well. Mine are not that different - it is a matter of content and intensity.

FW

Thanks FW - I will see BF tomorrow so we can have a chat about it. Also we will be having dinner with his friends and one half of the couple owns an estate agency Will update on the other side when I know more.