It's STILL tough and not getting better - so how are we coping?

D&DD

Just posting a quickie as I've not got the braincells this morning,oops afternoon(!) to read through the last few pages :rotfl:

Giger so sorry to hear about your beloved puss XX

I'm flattened under an avalanche of fruit and veg which sorely needs doing so will read through properly later.

Currently got a vat of courgette and mint soup on the go,processing more apples,picking blackberries,beans and just don't ask about flamin courgettes...

hope you all have a great day!

Lindy_-_Loo

Back to the wages, my OH works in optical retail and his salary is just over the NMW. He's not like me and will do anything for an easy life! Before I had the boys I was a store manager and I saw how much staff were expected to do for NMw, but in my store, I didnt expect it off them, I always helped and tried to work as a team. I even had a warning for being to friendly and doing jobs, like cleaning which were beneath my position. I was going to return to work for one day a week but my employers expected me to do more duties on sales assistant wages as I had the experience.

Lots of people pull a face or snigger when I say I'm going to help 2 days a week at the boys school in october when Ds2 starts and that when DS2 goes full time I would consider a job such as a dinner lady as I would be home for the boys.. They think as I have a degree and was a manage that I should aim higher - I just want to be happy (and debt free).

Sorry to hear about your cat gigervamp x

EstherH

Purpleheather, the soya mince I got only need boiling water pouring over and leaving for a minute, so even if you did have to re-hydrate it isn't a big problem. If it does fine though just thrown in that'd be great. Suppose you have to add extra water to compensate.

EstherH

Lindy-Loo, I think that's a very good attitude to have. Nobody is better than anyone else because they have a degree or better job and people will be more willing to do more if the boss is more ameniable (sp)

Now helping out at your childs school and maybe being a dinner lady will give you plenty of joy and fulfillment I'm sure. As somebody once said: "No-one on their death bed says I wish I'd spent more time at the office". I'm sure a lot though, wish they had spent more time with their family.

Fruball

Lindyloo and Esther - I am a worrier about what other people think and this hampers me I will take what you have both said on board and hold my head up high, whatever I do

THANK YOU BOTH

kidcat

Giger - sorry about your kitty, been through similar things and know just how hard it hits.

As for jobs etc, when I was pregnant with my eldest I was offered several jobs both for the company I was with and several who "head hunted" me, all of which I turned down, all paying silly amounts of money (three times what my DH currently earns - 16 years ago) and sometimes I wonder what I would now be earning. But then I think back to all the stuff I have been able to do with all my kids that if I had been working at those levels I would never had had time for and I know that I am glad I made the choices I did. As for helping in school, when I was pregnant with my DS6 I was able to spend loads of time in school helping with DS12 class as his teacher was off sick all year and they had a succession of supply teachers that left the class unsettled and difficult, the time I spent with the class meant that they actually achieved something that year and learnt, I also forged good relationships with all the kids which now DS is 12 can be priceless.
So do not let anybody look down upon you for helping at school it can be priceless for both yourself and the kids too. (I also feel that some people are jealous because they cant help out too).

ceridwen

LilacLouisa wrote: »

It would be such a shame if you felt unable to post any more. I have always found your threads to be very thoughtful and interesting.

It seems you have made a concious decision to do what you feel is right for you, and no-one should think less of you for that. Please continue to post.

Also, please enjoy what looks like being a nice weekend weather wise.

Thank you for that.

One of my takes on getting older is the compliments change from "You're attractive" to "What an interesting person"..:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:. Oh well..at least thats summat positive - and more positive than the earlier life ones that focused on my looks I guess (errr...those ones I USED to have before middle-age took over and I "vanished into the wallpaper" visually speaking...you know the one...:)).

...but there's some advantages to that as well...ie not so noticeable when foraging. Just been out and about and socialising, followed by foraging en route home - but could have done with better weather for it.

I've got me a load of cooking apples I bought very cheaply:D - so must start reading the manual on my new "Rolls Royce" dehydrator and figuring it out for drying some of them up. Hmmm....maybe some pureed apple sweetened with concentrated fruit juice and dried into fruit leathers? - or shall I try and refine my technique for bottling fruit in the oven?:think:

**************

On a different tack - Giger - sorry to hear the news about your cat:( - but, as you say, at least she had a good home for her time with you.

charlies-aunt

EstherH wrote: »

As somebody once said: "No-one on their death bed says I wish I'd spent more time at the office". I'm sure a lot though, wish they had spent more time with their family.

:rotfl: Brilliant !! Work to live, not live to work ! :rotfl:

SarahNeedle1872

Lindy_-_Loo wrote: »

Back to the wages, my OH works in optical retail and his salary is just over the NMW. He's not like me and will do anything for an easy life! Before I had the boys I was a store manager and I saw how much staff were expected to do for NMw, but in my store, I didnt expect it off them, I always helped and tried to work as a team. I even had a warning for being to friendly and doing jobs, like cleaning which were beneath my position. I was going to return to work for one day a week but my employers expected me to do more duties on sales assistant wages as I had the experience.

Lots of people pull a face or snigger when I say I'm going to help 2 days a week at the boys school in october when Ds2 starts and that when DS2 goes full time I would consider a job such as a dinner lady as I would be home for the boys.. They think as I have a degree and was a manage that I should aim higher - I just want to be happy (and debt free).

Sorry to hear about your cat gigervamp x

Was just gonna ask what NMW was, but as I was typing, I think I got it - Nat Min Wage?

I cannot wait for my son to be at school (and hopefully OH get a promotion to a good salary!) because I would absolutely love to be a dinnerlady/teaching assitant/reading assistant or whatever.... he is only three though, so OH has a couple of years to get his act together!

Sorry to hear about your cat giger

ceridwen

EstherH wrote: »

Lindy-Loo, I think that's a very good attitude to have. Nobody is better than anyone else because they have a degree or better job and people will be more willing to do more if the boss is more ameniable (sp)

Now helping out at your childs school and maybe being a dinner lady will give you plenty of joy and fulfillment I'm sure. As somebody once said: "No-one on their death bed says I wish I'd spent more time at the office". I'm sure a lot though, wish they had spent more time with their family.

Which is certainly a valid point:T. Earlier on I was expressing sympathy to Charlies Aunt at having to do lower-level lower-paid work - because she has been used to better pay, etc - certainly NOT expressing any opinions as to the worth or otherwise of any type of job. Its just that I know its hard for many people to have to accept less pay, etc from a job than what they have already achieved (and probably had to work hard at it to get there). I know how that feels personally - no disrespect to anyone in any job - but it DOES hurt to know one has been forced by circumstances outside ones control to do a job at a lower level/lower pay than what one has worked to achieve and duly had (no matter how many times you tell yourself "Well - I am managing on this pay" and "Well - the job I do is nothing to do with me as a person").