Its tough, it will get better and guess what its freezing brrrrr!

tessasmum

Charis wrote: »

You're right, it's got worse over the years. Now it's ski trips, meaning you have to find the money for ski clothes, exchange trips where you have to drop everything and play host to a youngster who in an emergency may not be able to communicate in English, and summer trips to exotic places. They just don't get that some families can't afford a week at Clacton. I was so glad when DS went to a different sixth form college and didn't feel pressured to go on his old school's sixth form's long trip to South Africa.

Yes - we are concerned about all this too. We home-educated our girls for quite a few years, and when we made the decision with them that they were ready for school, we also made a family policy that there would be no overnight trips away. We have stuck to it - and they understand it from our point of view - we had concerns about their care and supervision (not to be disrespectful to any teachers on here, as my OH was a teacher so he has been on some of these trips and knows some of the things that the kids got up to!) as well as the financial implications. My eldest knows that her school organises a trip to New York every other year - she also knows that she won't be going. However, they don't feel hard done by as they go on virtually every day trip - the youngest has been to the Natural History museum last week and is off to Warwick Castle the week after next. Those two alone have cost me nearly £30.

rosieben

re the cost of school trips etc - when my ds was at grammar school I asked why he hadn't been seeing his mates during the holidays; he said they were all on a school skiing trip and that he hadn't mentioned it to me as he knew we couldn't afford it. I cried my eyes out and was far more upset about it than he was!

If I had repeated requests from school for money which I couldn't afford I would talk to the school; I've no doubt there are schools and teachers who don't realise how some families are struggling atm, but no one can know your circumstances unless you tell them; perhaps some straight speaking might result in less calls in future?

when dgd was at school in England, dd often had a request for some craft supplies or costume etc to be taken in the next day! as she was on the pta she pointed out that a lot of parents wouldn't be able to afford extras until pay day; she also found that some of the last minute requests were because of inefficiency in the school office the worst of which was sending out flyers re the school fete 2 days before the fete!

shegar

lovelife wrote: »

Well am sat here in bed crying my eyes out!!! So happy for Annie and so moved by Shegars posts. What an amazing thread this is. Full of truly wonderful woman.
Haven't posted since last week, when i was really low,been reading but havent had the energy to string thoughts together, can i just say a big thank you for the support i received, WMF, FRUGAL and HIPPIECHIC your comments were so kind and appreciated. FRUGAL i am sure you are right its definately SAD that is bringing me down! Until may last year i was taking anti depressants, i suffer from an anxiety disorder and had been on them for twelve years:eek: I felt i wanted to see how i could get on without them, and until the clocks changed was doing very well thank you:) I think i am going to try one of those SAD lamps, i have £100 quid stashed from my birthday and feel it could be a good investment.... the whole family could sit round it getting some "winter sun". Just wondering if anyone on here has tried them? Hugs to all you lovely, lovely people xx

I suffer real bad from October to February every year, Dr told me a few years back dont waste your money on SAD boxes, just up the antidepressants til Feb so thats what I do, all your problems at this time of year seems worse with lack of warmth and sunshine, and our problems always seem bigger when the weather is dank, we all have different problems in our lives, but eh keep your chins up, soon be new year here, how good is that..!:D....

[Deleted User]

Well I kicked myself up the a*** and have done the bedrooms, feel better for having done them, iykwim......OH was in the garden so out of my hair for a while, he has cleared all the leaves, then stood supervising (watching) the tractor driver cutting the hedges alnog the other side of the road.

Now have a coffee, I might change my drink wonder if that is having an effect too???

Its clouding over looks like it might rain, thankfully have not got any washing to do although doubtless I could find some if I looked.

Easy supper tonight, egg chips and beans......

stiltwalker

Wow Annie, what fab news, welcome to the baby club - we're going to have so many babies on here next year! Make sure you join up to all the internet baby clubs (nappy manufacturers, baby food etc) as they send you free samples and vouchers periodically. When my OH and I got together we kept being told to get a cave and 3 months later I was pregnant - our beautiful DD is now 20 monts and I'm 4 months gone with our second - maybe it would have happened even quicker if we had got a shed! :j

Charis

jediteacher wrote: »

The difficulty is that despite what people think schools are not rolling in money and if we want to enrich the children's education then we have to at times pay for it. This year my school is going into the new financial year with a deficit of £30,000 because there is just not enough money to go round. It is a fine balance but infortnately in order to get certain things in school we have to fund raise - computers, library books etc.

Perhaps schools should ask parents for a specific contribution, rather than a succession of last minute requests? My son's sixth form does. TBH, if there isn't enough money for 'enrichment' then the school can't afford it, if it wants to balance the books. The solution is some up-front fundraising instead of a dribble of pennies in a kind of stealth tax.

The current system sets some children up for bullying because they are unable to join in and no child should be targeted because his or her parents can't afford to contribute. Who knows what goes on at home? The parent/s may be disabled, unemployed or have learning difficulties. Or just unwilling to cough up (several times a week sometimes).

No one's having a go at you, Jediteacher, but at a system where, having already been paid for through taxes, there is a kind of hidden admission fee which a parent feels obliged to pay to save the child feeling bad. It's the social equivalent of having a raffle at the bedside of sick patients to raise funds for medical equipment, but it's dressed up as having a good time.

Incidentally some of this fund raising is for 'good causes' (Pudsy Bear, 'the homeless', etc.) which should be something you contribute to because you want to, not because you are being strong armed into it.

Charis

ceridwen wrote: »

there ya' go - instant family of 4. Good job you like hard work.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

It must be this list! All of us wishing for the happy [STRIKE]ending[/STRIKE] beginning! What wonderful news Annie56

seasalt_2

Many congrats Annie and wishing you a happy and healthy pregnancy and baby.

Sammykaye, we have got one of those hole in the wall vents and this winter I have stuffed it with two cheap bath sponges- it has almost completely stopped the draughts but am hoping that it still provides some ventilation - we have a solid fuel rayburn and don't want us all to get CO poisoning - although plenty of other places the fresh air can get in! Last year I made thick curtains for our hall and kitchen doors and the dog shredded them to bits! (He is a working border collie and a bit neurotic if he doesn't have enough work to do!) At least the glass is double glazed though.

I would go with lemon for a baby blanket, Catznine - although first toy I bought my DGS (before he was born) was a little pink flowery long limbed rabbit - becasue I fell in love with it - the midwives thought it was hilarious but he still has it in his cot.

Lovelife, have you asked your GP about a SAD lamp. Our surgery had a couple we used to lend out and if you are diagnosed with SAD I don't think you have to pay the VAT if you buy one. Worth asking? Also thank you kittie for reminding me about biobulbs. Will follow that one up. Look after yourself too csarina.

kidcat

catznine - baby blanket I would suggest sticking to eith er mint green or white/cream, and would personally avoid yellows, when my DD was born she ended up in hospital an extra two days due to her having worn a lemon babygrow when the doctor visited her, MW came back in the room an hour later and she was wearing a different colour babygrow - MW was stunned and said that if she had been wearing that one for Doc she would have been allowed home, the lemon one had increase the look of jaundice to past the stage where he was comfortable her being at home.

And many congrats to annie56 - and Monty too

flowertotmum

Congratulations to annie56 and jediteacher...annies these things happen..i should know..i had 2 surprises..i am sooo happy for you and monty,..ginger biscuits are the way to go for morning sickness..smartprice ones seem to work the best..and as for the lecture on being an older mum..humff..i breezed through both my pregnancies at the ages of 37 and 40...
Well i think the poundland job is a no go..the manager has been taking liberties..according to my hubby job boost contract he is to do 16 hours because of his hips and legs..well the manager keeps ringing up and almost demanding that he goes in and does more hours..he also rang the job centre to get simon(hubbys name) contract extended to 40 hrs..fair enough if he is DEFINATELY going to employ him after the work boost ,the lady at the job centre basically told him to go and jump off a cliff..i like her..we found out yesterday from the assistant manager that the manager has no intention of taking him on and has been threatening the rest of the female staff with the sack if they don't do more hours..he wants them to do it for free to help him out because he has over extended his budget..so now i have a despondent hubby who really wanted a job there and now he has lost his faith in folks..he is so upset..i am too and want to go in there and give that manager a piece of my mind...what an idiot..i feel like crying but i won't..
Well i have 2 poorly girls again...fern is going back to school tomorrow,iris got more antibiotics some stronger ones this time..she is on the mend thankfully...their appetites have improved no end thankfully..i made twinks hobnobs on sunday and they have all gone,got to make more those thing should carry a health warning..my waistline is expanding just looking at them...i have been busy though..i had decluttered my utility room and sorted the freezer's out..had to wear gloves to do that...it all just looks so much bigger and cleaner in there now..i also got a letter from the council and finally they are going to put a new bathroom in yay...our house was built just after ww2 and the bathroom is the original with all the fixtures and fittings apart from the taps which are new..thing is i love my vintage bathroom..its so old fashioned its become fashionable again...its lovely and shabby chic style..and they are going to rip it all out..oh well its a good excuse to redo it isuppose...
On the subject of schools asking for money..my ferns school is awful for it..school photos,cakes,jumble sale,charity things...wouldn't mnd but i get the letters one day and they want it the next..school trip to the panto cost £5..not bad..now this might rankle but i have to say it..we are on benefits and can afford to pay for a trip,clothes etc..what gets me fuming is the ones who i know for a fact get more money than us,go into the school and say they can't afford it..so the school pays..then they are laughing about it whilst talking on the newest mobile and the kids go around in name brand clothes..one in particular is very annoying..got a £500 pram/pushchair that even when simon was working i couldn't afford...and she brags about it...god i would love to slap her one..but i won't..sooner or later someone will say something to her..just hope i'm in earshot when they do...
Frugal..love for you and your dad..
Got to go..i feel very queasy today not sure why though could be a bug...
take care all of you ladies..