Nice people thread part 3- Nice as pie

lostinrates

silvercar wrote: »

Spent the day at the Ideal Home Show - courtesy of the free tickets on an MSE weekly email.

Walked my feet off but a fun day out.

I wanted to go but no chance! Glad it was fun


The thing DH has been working on for ages has collapsed so he's making the most of it and taking a few days off. Probably three. Feels like an immense luxury. we both felt a bit edgy about it before accepting it probably was a good idea to use up last years holiday days.


First year for ever that I'm not even thinking about getting petrol for the car before the budget (or feeling silly for not getting it at least). Seems to me the choice is go now for really expensive petrol, go later for really expensive petrol...whether it goes up or gets put down.

vivatifosi

SingleSue wrote: »

I have been notified that my exam I have coming up for my OU course has been accepted as a home exam due to the difficulties I encountered in my October exam...huge relief to be honest as then I will have a suitable seat to sit in, be able to take breaks and no hassle with driving and being worried about the distance between the car parking and the exam hall....my mobility is really quite impaired now (still won't apply for a blue badge or DLA though, I still haven't quite got that far with acceptance).

Hey Sue, glad to hear things are looking up a bit and that you managed to get some time away. Great news re exam. I didn't know the OU did that and it must be a massive relief. Having sat a lot of OU exams I know how uncomfortable they can be so that's great.

However we do need to have a chat with you about your blue badge. DLA is a different matter as it is hard to get and you have to be in the right frame of mind to apply, but you should apply for a blue badge. I understand what you say about acceptance, but everyone I know who has one says that they left it much later than they had to due to the whole acceptance thing. They also talk about how it revolutionises their life and makes things that were previously very difficult much more simple. So rather than needing to accept something about yourself, look at it as an enabler for you and the positives of what you'll be able to do with it. Make a list of journeys and the difference that a blue badge will make. Add to that list the things that you'd like to do and would be able to with a Blue Badge. I know that's easy for me to say - sitting here able bodied and all - but several close members of my family have Blue Badges and they would all say the same. Oh, and from the sound of it, it would help the boys a bit too, even though that isn't its intended use.

lostinrates

silvercar wrote: »

I'm sure that there are private schools like that, but there are a hell of a lot that aren't. Maybe you should visit some and dispel the myth? Most private schools offer decent bursaries with a genuine intention to give places to the clever kids who couldn't otherwise afford to attend.

Very true. Have to say michaels, if at any of my schools we'd even implied that we would have been doing some serious ''thinking'' about it courtesy of the schools punishment or outreach/social programmes in some form. Contrary to your view my experience..and for various reasons I've been to a fair few private schools is that it is repeatedly emphasised that the children are lucky, their parents work hard and thats why they are there (plus teachers discounts, bursaries etc). You are reminded of it when using good facilities, when doing things fr the schools' community (often of course its not at your family's community) when having tutorials and when selected for teams, positions of responsibility etc etc. In fact...its not the private school fee attendees who sound closed from the comment.....

lostinrates

GDB2222 wrote: »

You youngsters, you! They had Beethoven's Eroica Symphony on Radio 3 this afternoon. Very nice to listen to in the background whilst I read part of a client's file.

Oh goodness, am I old now? Today is likely to be a challenge as I'm working outside with someone who does not share my listening tastes. I'm opting to propose silence as a way forward.

Davesnave

michaels wrote: »

one of the reasons I am so anti private school is I think that one of the draws is that it makes sure that little Tarquin and Chloe only get to meet other Tarquins and Chloes and are 'taught' that their ilk are better than the 'unwashed masses'.

I used to feel similarly, because our school had a fairly wide catchment and included the sons and daughters of quite a few wealthy and/or well-known folks. We also took some of the fall-out from trendy schools set up by wealthy hippies and arty folk.It seemed, if you'll pardon the phrase 'a better way.'

Even if the kids transferred at 11 to a private school, they'd grown up among 'ordinary' children, so I thought that was a pretty good compromise. I always had respect for those who could so easily have gone elsewhere.....and, of course, the donations were handy too! Their kids never seemed to have much bother with entrance exams.

All this changed somewhat in the mid 90s. I'm not sure of the exact cause, but our upmarket clientelle certainly diminished, and the school was the poorer for it, in more ways than one!

lemonjelly

vivatifosi wrote: »

I saw them when they supported U2 at Wembley. Preferred them to the headliners I'm afraid to say.

ETA: Grounds for Divorce is fantastic live and loud!

I'm not suprised they were better than U2. They were an awesome show. Fantastic use of lighting effects. Clearly a band who were enjoying playing live & being on tour. The Seldom Seen Kid is a very good and consistent album. I haven't heard the new one, but the new ones sounded good last night.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tO21KNsMiOs

and especially for viva
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcyskaMoBT0

Nikkster wrote: »

Lemonjelly - how did you find the training yesterday?!

I finally got my kit today (I'm an Early Collector) and am going to head out for the first time tomorrow... eek!

Nikkster, it was ok. Pretty straightforward. Didn't tell us anything we didn't already know. Sadly, with any questions our trainer didn't appear to know the answer & used the stock response "check with your co-ordinator".

I don't start til 6 april...

Good luck to you! Be keen to know how you get on. I'm sure when you get into it you'll develop a patter & get on really well.:)

lostinrates

Davesnave wrote: »

.

All this changed somewhat in the mid 90s. I'm not sure of the exact cause, but our upmarket clientelle certainly diminished, and the school was the poorer for it, in more ways than one!

It would be really interesting to get an idea why. I know you say you don't know the exact cause, but what are your inklings?

You were in a v tough region for competition for private schools. We thought a lot of the private primaries we looked at were rather.....uninspiring...though.

Davesnave

lostinrates wrote: »

It would be really interesting to get an idea why. I know you say you don't know the exact cause, but what are your inklings?

You were in a v tough region for competition for private schools. We thought a lot of the private primaries we looked at were rather.....uninspiring...though.

I think it was the Head. The hidden curriculum & all that.

The school now has a Head poached from one of the local private schools, and it's on the up again, or at least the 'aura' of the place is.

lostinrates

Davesnave wrote: »

I think it was the Head. The hidden curriculum & all that.

The school now has a Head poached from one of the local private schools, and it's on the up again, or at least the 'aura' of the place is.

Interesting:)

I'm grumpy...missing a day in the garden for other work and client phoned to say ''on my way'' when already quarter of an hour late. It makes sense for me to keep smiling and be flexible, but don't want to get in to another job I'll have to leave unfinished. Have walked around garden and said hello to all my plants...if I go and do that again they might feel pestered and pressured

tomterm8

I guess with the entire private school thing, as a citizen I want most people to attend state funding education, because I think it is better for society as a whole. But if I was a parent I would want the best for my child... and if that is a private school, I would send the kid to private school if I could afford it.