To remind myself how far I've come - my debt diary. - SOA added

hypno06

Don't worry about the lack of energy - it is a classic symptom of early pregnancy. What is most important at the mo is you. If other things are a little out of sync, then so what - nothing matters as much as you and baby.

Good luck for Wednesday x

chocaholic110

OK, first things first, I had my scan on Wednesday and it was fine. She found a tiny baby with a flickering heartbeat in exactly the right place. She put my dates a few days ahead which was nice too. Only prob was they count that as my dating scan so I dnon't get one at 12 weeks. So nothing now until see midwife again in six weeks time.

But anyway, onto the money, which is what we're here for after all!

My Debts

Marbles Card: £3,872
Egg Card: £0 :j :beer: :j (added holiday etc and paid it straight off, so total debt not down much but at least card is clear!)

OH's Debts

Egg Card: £1,666.40

Joint Debts

A+L loan: £ £940 (only two more payments to go!)

Total £6,478.40

Total reduced in April: £610.56 (£910 added :eek: and £1,520.56 paid off!)
Total reduced since LB moment (August 2006) : £20,497.60
Total reduced since debt at highest (January 2006): £22,405.60
Target for end of June - £6500 - achieved
Target for end of July - Hmmm, will need spending mooney so will say £5,800

hypno06

Glad all was well on Wednesday.

And the debt reduction looks pretty good too - the end is in sight :j

Seaxwyn

HI chocaholic

So glad all went well at the scan and congrats on the debt busting.

Saw your question re home education and GCSEs - yes you can enter your children for GCSEs through the normal examining boards, I believe they can either go and sit them at a local school or there are some special centres for home-ed children to take exams.

I've come across home educating families that run the whole spectrum from the sort you describe to those where they all have maths A level age 10... well I exaggerate slightly but the academically-inclined ones seem to do far better than your average school attending child.

*zippy*

So pleased your scan went well it must be a huge relief :T

Congratulations on the debt busting too, amazing reduction there :T

Call_That_Music?!?

Hi - really pleased that the scan went well and WOW haven't you done well with your debt - seeing it in black and white must make you well chuffed!

Re home-ed , we went to a local college and they sat the exam as external candidates. This year they did a distancelearning course (bl**dy expensive) so I 'guided' their research etc.Next year we're planning to do 7 IGCSEs which are exam-based so no coursework. They are also free in the sense that the course spec is online. Downside is more planning for me. After that, either A levels / OU / college - we'll see ...

Glad you were able to help your son out - Primary school SATS really bug me lol. The focus is on dragging the level 3s to Level 4 or pushing the Level 4s to L5 - all for league tables. This leaves those seen as average or likrely to be OK 'fending for themselves' (exaggeration but I'm sure you know what I mean). My secondary friends then complain that they aren't the reliable predictors that they are made out to be and do their own assessments anyway - so what's all this got to do with education? erm rant over, lol.

Take it easy
K

Call_That_Music?!?

btw - i've been trying to send a message for over a week and kept getting strange messages (eg. not logged in even tho i was) and my message 'disappeared' so have just deleted all smilies and its worked - i've posted smilies before so ??
anyone else had this? ive posted tech help email but no reply

chocaholic110

Seaxwyn wrote: »

HI chocaholic

So glad all went well at the scan and congrats on the debt busting.

Saw your question re home education and GCSEs - yes you can enter your children for GCSEs through the normal examining boards, I believe they can either go and sit them at a local school or there are some special centres for home-ed children to take exams.

I've come across home educating families that run the whole spectrum from the sort you describe to those where they all have maths A level age 10... well I exaggerate slightly but the academically-inclined ones seem to do far better than your average school attending child.

hmm...interesting. Home schooling is something I have mentioned to OH for DD as she is academically well above average. Not sure DD would enjoy it though - think she would miss the social / sporting / teamwork side of it too much. So far we have been lucky as she has been challenged at school and I think her teacher next year will do so, but am not so sure about when she gets to Y5 / 6 as the teacher currently in that class happily admits that if the children are bright she just lets them "get on" so she can concentrate on the ones who might not reach government targets (arrghh!). She does keep applying for jobs though so hopefully she might have left before DD reaches that point. I know DS was bored stupid in that class.
It's very difficult though when you work in the same school - to be able to give your opinions without making enemies. I have also been told (on the quiet) that the Y6 teacher doesn't want Y6 next year (Funny that as they are the year from hell!) and that I might be moved there instead. What's the betting that the next year (when the next Y6 are both lovely and of a high ability) that she wants to be back in her own class? Hmm...school politics!

chocaholic110

Call_That_Music?!? wrote: »

Glad you were able to help your son out - Primary school SATS really bug me lol. The focus is on dragging the level 3s to Level 4 or pushing the Level 4s to L5 - all for league tables. This leaves those seen as average or likrely to be OK 'fending for themselves' (exaggeration but I'm sure you know what I mean). My secondary friends then complain that they aren't the reliable predictors that they are made out to be and do their own assessments anyway - so what's all this got to do with education? erm rant over, lol.

Lol...I could rant for hours about SATS - basically pointless, pointless, pointless! Our local secondaries do retest anyway.
And even more annoying - In Y2 our LEA positively discourages teachers from assessing children too highly so that lots of "Value added" can be shown in KS2. So it looks as though children don't learn much in KS1 then thrive in KS2 and the KS2 colleagues get credit for our hard work. Luckily I have Y2 and 3 currently so I get to show LOTS of progress in Y3 but it is all pointless and stupid. What is that quote abut "lies, damned lies and statistics?"

Phew, I really should stop talking about the education system - it gets me all fired up!!

chocaholic110

Aaargh! 1/3 of the way through the month and we are broke and things are piling up to pay for. I'm supposed to be going for a meal on friday night to celebrate the end of term (even though there will still be another week to go) and can't afford it. Can't cry off as did that the last time and I'm supposed to be driving.
Also the sole fell off DS's shoe at school today and he doesn't have a new pair of black shoes - will have to go on credit card but don't know what he will wear tomorrow!
Also rashly promised kids we would see Order of the Phoenix at the weekend. How do I get roulnd that??
Due to a serious overlooking of money on my part we are about skint this month. Next month should be fine but we need to get these next three weeks over with first.

Bit brighter news...had two viewers for our house at weekend. one was really keen, one not very interested. The estate agent phoned yesterday and said the not keen one had cancelled all her other viewings and wanted to see our house again on wednesday. She phoned again today and said the keen one has made an offer a little bit below asking price. Now, I was tempted just to accept (especially as I thought EA overvalued house anyway and I was happy with price) but EA advised to go through with repeat viewing tomorrow and see what happens on Thursday. Have never sold a house before and am half excited and half terrified! Any advice?