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

Charis

bluebag wrote: »

Looking at it from their point of view with loss of earnings for 3 years, tution fees, living expendes, loss of EMA for getting your A levels it all amounts to about 100k for a degree, what chance of ordinary kids managing that?

Those who do manage to qualify will be penalised still further by the tax the government intend to introduce for new graduates, supposedly to pay for the universities' continued existence, but who is to say where it will end up being spent? Rather like 'Road Tax' it will just end up in the HMRC pot.

Puddleglum

BB1984 wrote: »

I think if students want to be heard, the last thing they should now be doing is going on marches. Rent-a-mob have jumped on the bandwagon, so real students who are there to stand up for what they believe in should be doing everything they can to disassociate themselves from the mob.

RE poll tax marches - yes that "worked" (i.e. it was stopped), but there have been umpteen marches since that haven't "worked" - look at the march against the war in Iraq. Over a million people took to the streets.

I was a student in Scotland when Maggie decided to try out the poll tax there a year before it was rolled out in England and Wales. We had plenty of civil disobedience with people filling in multiple rebate forms to clog up the system, the "can't pay, won't pay" and the "can pay, won't pay."

The Scots were really riled but, when push came to shove, it was the English riots that killed off the poll tax. The ante seems to be being upped - over a million people on the streets didn't stop the war. Maybe they would have been listened to if they had been determined to wreck a bit more property than they did. (Was it McD**! that suffered a bit of collateral damage that time.) I'm not condoning violence but I can't help wondering if the tough decisions which will be made over the next few years are going to provoke violence as interest groups find that shouting loudly doesn't get anyone listening.

redlady_1

Rubbish! You dont have to go to uni to get a degree. I got mine through the OU whilst working and am currently doing professional exams. As far as I can see half of the people at uni shouldnt even be there anyway, not least if they "dont know that was the Cenotaph" !!!!!!! Not enough people take responsibility for their own actions and own futures. When I grew up, and many of you, only a few went to uni and many went on to Polytechnics or a technical college. There is a massive shortage of tradesmen now.

If you really want a degree then there are ways. They just take a bit more effort.

Not very PC but thats my thoughts on it.

bluebag

redlady_1 wrote: »

Rubbish! You dont have to go to uni to get a degree. I got mine through the OU whilst working and am currently doing professional exams. As far as I can see half of the people at uni shouldnt even be there anyway, not least if they "dont know that was the Cenotaph" !!!!!!! Not enough people take responsibility for their own actions and own futures. When I grew up, and many of you, only a few went to uni and many went on to Polytechnics or a technical college. There is a massive shortage of tradesmen now.

If you really want a degree then there are ways. They just take a bit more effort.

Not very PC but thats my thoughts on it.

Very sadly there are no polytechnics or technical colleges anymore.

My youngest daughter wanted to do an apprenticeship but there were no businesses willing to take on the five students that wished to do it... this is in a large city too. None.

My eldest daughter has just got a new job, the contract says zero hours... in other words if they don't need you they lay you off for however long they like. More and more youngsters are finding the new working world is very different to the one we grew up in.

How are they supposed to fund their education with insecure employment and dire wages ?

They have nothing left to lose, that is a dangerous situation.

rachbc

redlady_1 wrote: »

Rubbish! You dont have to go to uni to get a degree. I got mine through the OU whilst working and am currently doing professional exams. As far as I can see half of the people at uni shouldnt even be there anyway, not least if they "dont know that was the Cenotaph" !!!!!!! Not enough people take responsibility for their own actions and own futures. When I grew up, and many of you, only a few went to uni and many went on to Polytechnics or a technical college. There is a massive shortage of tradesmen now.

If you really want a degree then there are ways. They just take a bit more effort.

Not very PC but thats my thoughts on it.

What if you want to be a Dr, or Nurse or pretty much any health occupation? You can;t do that as an apprentice or though the OU...you need a degree...

Apprenticeships in 'trades' are a rare as hens teeth and funding is being cut to FE/ colleges as well as HE - especially for over 19's so no 'second chances' for mature students.

Lindy_-_Loo

Gailey -I did read about pontins going into administration, aparently a company has taken over (cant remember who) and everything is trading the same but the proposed refurbs will probably not go ahead. We paid by card and wont pay the remainder until 6 weeks before we go. We asked the boys if they wanted to go to london and legoland but they said they wanted the beach and crazy golf! Maybe they are a little young for london yet.

OH is very impressed with himself for leaving the casino so hes bought himself a dvd for £4.99 from his winnigs as a treat!

I watched phil and kirsty last night, the cakes at the kids party were amazing but I didnt like the look of the ice cream covered in edible glitter. Id love to try the pinata, it looked like a good traditional, fun party.

catznine

Still wheezy and hurting here! Never mind I did (with dh's help) get the living room de-cluttered and get the tree put up, took yesterday and today to get it decorated though!:rotfl: We have far too many decorations, we used to buy some each year, a special tradition was taking dd out each year to choose a new one, we also used to choose something on holiday for the tree as well! Poor tree is weighed down with those also all the decs she and ds have made over the years and treasured and it is not exactly themed but we love it and it is full of treasured memories! I feel so much better now the Christmas tree is up, it has definately lifted my mood. So far the cockapoo has left it alone but that may change once some parcels go underneath the branches!;)

As for the student marches while on one hand I do feel sympathy for those now having to find more to fund a course, I really don't see that violence is justified and certainly not against the police, they are human too, worried about their jobs and may well have kids themselves who would like to go to uni but now can't! They did not make the decision to up the fees! They are in fact just doing their job, I don't condone any who do it over enthusiastically but how would we react if we too were under attack, must have been really scary! Royalty didn't deserve that attack either! As for the desecration of Churchills statue and the war memorial - Shameful!!! My dd is 26 and says it is as bad as desecrating a war grave! If it were not for those that laid down their lives and Churchill we would not now have the freedom to demonstrate! As for the lad who said he had no idea of what the monument was for - I give up- he was a history student for goodness sake! I think his parents should ask for their money back! He has obviously not had a good enough education! As his dad is pink floyd member maybe he "don't need no education";) dh suggested he was just another p***k in the wall"!

Anyway feel much better for that rant! lol sorry about that!

Must now start to get ready for next freeze as we are in the east where it is meant to be worse! DH bought some bags of salt, we have enough food in for a while and medicine and most of the Christmas shopping is done. Just need to find some energy to get it all wrapped up. Flasks and hot water bottles are at the ready along with torches and candles.

BB1984 - Well said! Totally agree!

FTM - dd had a bf that caused hurt and pain to her but it all petered out and now she has found the lovely lad who will become her hubby next year. Just stay calm and positive and fingers crossed.

Sammy K - Wow please remember to get some rest yourself if you can! Wonderful what you are doing though!:A

Mrs Vegpot - (((hugs))) for you and dh!

Right off for another lay down!

Stay warm everyone!

Catz x

shelley_crow

I've lost what sympathy I had for the students when they turned the marches into an excuse for vandalism and desecration of monuments. I finished my degree in June, things will be tough for a lot of students but unfortunately the protestors have lost their credibility with the general public I think.

Little monster's nan took him out for the day to meet santa, I wouldn't have though at nearly 6 he'd be interested but he was so excited. I dusted off my sewing machine.

God knows I'm no expert with the sewing machine but I managed to turn up my bedroom curtains and attach the bargain lining, hopfully will keep the warmth in. It isn't pretty and won't win me any prizes but it's functional, just the living room to go now, eek. I am proud of myself, I changed the needle when it broke and adjusted the tension all by myself

NualaBuala

ceridwen wrote: »

EDIT: I guess that that boyfriends workmate paying for Sister to go to meet another man is based on "I'll pay for her to see this other man and get him out of her system/find out the truth about him and then she'll appreciate how nice/generous I am and come to me" thinking. Trust me - I'm a former naive Romantic - I know how a Romantic's mind works....<cough>

Anyone know if there's there a smiley for fainting in shock? Although now I think of it, I'm not really that surprised! Buried somewhere very deep down there is still a bit of naive romantic in me too.

Mrs_Veg_Plot wrote: »

Thanks for the hugs Nulabula . I needed them today.
I don't know what happened today but after enjoying catching up with all of the posts I fell out with OH over something trivial and have not been able to motivate myself to do anything at all today. Have just sat on the sofa and veged out. Feel a bit trapped today and very low. Also feeling a bit mean as it is the anniversary of FIL's death so OH not good at the moment anyway. Need to clear the air with OH soon as we are all going out as a family to DD's athletics presentation/christmas party tonight, although DD has just informed me that OH is asleep and must be old if he needs an afternoon nap.
I know we are all allowed an off day every now and then but I do hate it when they happen especially as I have been so strong lately. Never mind. I will slap on the war paint and a smile and get my backside into gear tomorrow.

You're welcome Mrs VP, sorry things are still so tough with your OH. Would counselling be an option? Even if it were just for you to give you some support? Really hope things get easier, you deserve it pet.

gailey wrote: »

Nuala glad you seeking advice and feeling more positive.
Must admit missed a lot of the detail on irish budget is it a lot worse than our spending reveiw. plus this may be daft question but can irish people relaocate to uk and still get uk benefits as within eu. Saw the last part of the budget on bbc parlaiment last night and they seemed angry bunch.

Thanks Gailey! :A Well I'm not too sure of the details of your spending review but I guess there are similarities. We've had big cuts in our last few budgets so that is part of what is making things so tough. It seems never-ending. Higher taxes, lower social welfare (benefits), minimum wage reduction, cuts in services, extra college fees There is a general feeling of gloom and hopelessness as there have been so many job cuts and not a lot of hope in getting new ones (depending on the area). Some of the measures taken are for the best but it is still hard. Not sure about benefits transferring within the EU. I know a lot of people came here for our benefits (supposedly) as we had an open door policy. I thought that if an Irish person goes to UK (or elsewhere) the Irish Govt pays their benefits but I could be wrong.
Love the idea of the party and what you're making for it ... sounds like a lot of work but great fun too!


Pennywise .. I thought was a lovely offer, it's so nice to see such kindness

Katholicos and Seasalt - thank you lots! I am feeling better about things. What I realised today is I don't want the stress of this stopping me from making my health my main priority The last thing I want is to get sicker. So I will try to put it out of my mind when not actively dealing with it and focus on trying to be as healthy as possible.

Catz, hope you get better soon, sounds miserable. Have you seen a doc or is it a wait it out and rest as much as poss sort of thing? I have far too many decorations too! I haven't dragged them out yet as I'm waiting to get work done in the house but I will freecycle whatever doesn't go up.

Sammy - so sorry to hear about all that's going on with your family. Hope it all comes good lass.

Cranky - thanks for the encouragement:A. So sorry your sister has had to go through that, hope it turned out ok for her in the end.

Hope everyone is well and big hugs to anyone who'd like one!

CRANKY40

NualaBuala wrote: »

Cranky - thanks for the encouragement:A. So sorry your sister has had to go through that, hope it turned out ok for her in the end.

It did - it just took a long time. I paid for her heating oil last winter because I couldn't bear the thought of my niece and nephews going to bed in their coats. It can take ages, but stick with it. Hugs x